Question for fellow gastritis sufferers

[MinnieMouseSlippers]

The back story is, I was initially suffering with indigestion/reflux at start of year and prescribed omeperazole which didn’t help and I was left with upper stomach pain. So after then being put on Famotidine (a different type of acid reducer) and having various tests was diagnosed with mild gastritis. The indigestion disappeared but the stomach pain continued. Meanwhile I developed acute pancreatitis which resulted in my gallbladder being removed 3 months ago and I thought that would solve the problem. But no!
Anyway gp decided my ongoing pain must be stomach related and not an after effect of the surgery, and added lanzoperazole on top of the Famotidine which seems to have made things worse.

My stomach feels inflamed and like it’s burning at times. I am sore and getting random pains/discomfort under my ribs on both sides and sometimes in my back. I am wondering if the gastritis has flared up and whether being on 2 different “acid reducers” has made things worse. I did question about the two types but was told to take them both.
Obviously I am going back to gp about this but are these symptoms typical of gastritis?
I am so fed up as this has been dragging on for 8 months. Referrals to gastro consultants in my area are just ridiculous as well.

Any fellow sufferers out there can advise?

Gastritis takes a looooong time to settle, in my experience. The smallest things sets it off again. I don't know about taking a PPI with an H2 blocker, but apparently it's quite a standard combo...

It helps to lose a bit of weight, if possible, and to avoid anything that makes the gastritis flare. There are lists of common foods and substances to avoid that you can google, but people have their own personal triggers, and also stress and worry will set it off.

I have discovered e330 (citric acid) is dreadful for mine. It's in tartare sauce and any number of things. Also, lie on your left side to sleep if you can.

What tests have you had so far? Have you been tested for HPylori?
Given your recent history there could be an element of recovery from the gallbladder surgery here and maybe the pancreatitis is taking a while to settle down. Not sure about being on two different acid blockers but they shouldn’t be making you feel worse.
Any foods in particular setting things off?

A trip to the gp seems in order to discuss but also in my area routine gastro referrals can take up to 9 months 😳

IME gastritis pain covers a much wider area than I expected and causes more symptoms.

So - the metallic mouth, the coughing, the sore throat, the pain throughout the chest into the back and shoulders.

Like many menopausal overweight women I have a hiatus hernia, so it's not going to go away any time soon - did also have treatment for positive Hpylori test, but this is now negative.

I'm trying life without PPIs which I know means a period of increased acid production, so my symptoms are particularly vicious at the moment.

You seem to have a wider variety of issues, so it's hard to say what it causing which symptom.

Thanks everyone. Yes I was tested for HPylori, had bloods and a gastroscopy where they discovered the mild gastritis but that was months ago and the gallbladder/pancreatitis issues kind of took over.

I am not overweight and have lost near enough 2 stone since March but I was cutting back on all the crap and walking a lot more, and of course I was ill so not unexplained. I don’t drink alcohol and only decaf tea and coffee and water mainly. No fizzy drinks. Fairly boring low fat diet.

I am fed up of going back and forth to the gp’s. I did have 2 ct scans, an ultrasound and an mri in June when I was in the surgical assessment ward but things could have changed since then. Feel like I have had to make a nuisance of myself to get my gp to do any tests because my symptoms have been a bit vague at times.

I have gastritis and oesophagitis...mostly under control now but it has taken a LONG time. I'm slim and have a decent diet, gave up alcohol ( I used to enjoy red wine...not lots but some at the weekend) was on lanzoprazole and famotidine. I felt terrible, and even had palpitations with it which were scary. Tests also showed I have a hiatus hernia , deep joy.

It's taken over 18m to feel back to normal, and I now only take Lanzoprazole if I feel discomfort and it flaring. I also cut out any fizzy drinks, less coffee (which I drink very weak anyway). I can now have the odd glass of wine but mostly I have alcohol free gin and tonic. It sucks.

It really does take ages to get under control!

Thank you. I think I need a definite diagnosis then I can deal with it. My imagination tends to go haywire.
I have definitely been stressed this past 2 years due to other stuff going on and that will not be helping.

Just waiting for gp to get in touch.

You won't get it under control, in my experience, just with medications. You need to change your diet to a very bland and basic one, remove most processed food, learn your food and drink triggers, and settle it down over many months, if not years.

Even mild inflammation - diagnosed with gastroscopy, ie via endoscopy - can be very painful.

It also depends on what is the initial cause, I suppose. You seem to have had a lot of concurrent problems which are related to diet.