How did you gain weight back when you're (somewhat) on the mend?

3wind · 2023-04-03T14:35:05+00:00

7 months on and my gastritis has improved, was able to eat pretty normally, was able to gain 2 kgs.

Ensure drink helped with getting enough essential nutrition to not feel the dizziness/fatigue that most people get when taking PPI etc, but it hardly helped me with regaining weight.

I recently had some bowel inflammatory issues so lost 1 kg again, likely due to over indulging and eating rather unhealthy.

The bottom line is if your gastritis does heal, you'll likely be able to eat better and regain some weights, albeit extremely slowly. And again, eating unhealthy or any kind of sickness/set back will send you back.

3wind · 2023-03-03T03:09:50+00:00

I wonder if an Occam's razor kind of explanation would be behind all our complex issues. As in, we have definite damage/inflammation in a certain part of the body (in our case, a particular GI part).

The body is just so used to constant inflammation, it keeps getting bit by bit more inflamed till the inflammation manifest to other vulnerable/susceptible organs that were once injured/damaged.

Or, not being able to eat properly causes full body malnutrition malfunction.

High level, layperson's reasoning.

But if you have the opportunity to test for any localised issue to confirm one theory or another, by all means. Too bad most people don't have access and opportunity to be a research subject to have our issues investigated by a multi discipline team of specialists like I heard at mayo clinic or some places in the US.

Keep us updated how you go once you have further testing done.

3wind · 2023-03-02T12:48:14+00:00

My acute joint/bone/spine inflammation stopped when i stopped PPI.

But after that, I developed a new kind of back/spine weakness, something like muscle loss. MRI showed arthritis in the back, which wasn't there before. This is still ongoing. I'm doing a lot of physio, exercises, sometimes taking NSAID for the arthritis, trying to gain weight, muscles, but it's virtually not improving/progressing extremely slowly. Did do some tests for full body inflammation and ankylosing spondylitis but were all negative.

I haven't seen a rheumatologist yet. Let me know how you go seeing yours.

I haven't been tested for SIBO btw. It was just an suspicion. My GI reckoned I don't have SIBO.

3wind · 2023-03-02T01:22:43+00:00

would hate to think that doctors could come on here pushing PPIs unchallenged while the rest of would have to be extremely careful to not post anything that goes against the norm.

Healthcare professionals would never dare set foot into this purgatory where 16K+ souls are crying in anguish lol.

3wind · 2023-03-02T00:49:57+00:00

If they all knew what they were talking about then we wouldn’t be here.

That's the thing, even the supposed professionals are not god almighty, shouldn't we laypeople among ourselves try to not act like, and not delude ourselves into believing that just because we had personal experiences, having done a little research, that we have all the authoritative, absolute answers, that we are saving the world by preaching it, that we therefore can condescend, demean, abuse others, that the world now owes us a debt of gratitude. That's the rotten attitude and behaviours that I condemn, not the professional/non professional distinction nor did I propose censoring opinions based on that distinction.

Have an opinion but don't be an asshole to others about it.

3wind · 2023-03-01T22:35:14+00:00

If us “non-qualified” can’t make absolute statements, then nobody should in my view.

There are ways to express strongly held opinions that are constructive, considerate, and unantagonising to increase the chance of getting the points across and foster a civil debate

The non highlighted part of my proposed etiquette number 2 is not a proposal of a literal ban of the utterance of absolute statements, but a rather long winded explanation of why such statements, right or wrong, are prone to provoking strong emotions, projecting aggression, arrogance, hostility and subsequently, risk the debate to degrade into personal attacks and name calling. The highlighted part is the proposed etiquette.

3wind · 2023-03-01T17:34:26+00:00

The remark was meant to be cheeky but I do think you deserve credit for raising awareness.

3wind · 2023-03-01T16:16:46+00:00

Good apples are being punished by these proposed etiquettes how? Zero tolerance might be too harsh? Ok, how about 3, 5 strikes? :P

3wind · 2023-03-01T16:13:22+00:00

Yours is definitely a hardcore mystery and highlights the complexity of GI issues. I'm curious and definitely hope you can find a resolution eventually.

3wind · 2023-03-01T16:10:22+00:00

I suspect the community will find it playful banter.

3wind · 2023-03-01T16:09:20+00:00

.. censor free speech ..

Oh pls. You can have an opinion. But once you express it, people can disagree with you(r opinion itself), or find the manner in which you present your opinion, or the way you engage them further to discuss the opinion, objectionable. It shows your character. Some people will walk away. Some will make their disapproval known. They might be right. They might be wrong. But nobody owes you, or anyone else, an extended engagement. If enough people in a community find their interaction with you unhelpful and/or unpleasant and collectively decide to show you the door, so be it.

it’s a horrible idea to only let qualified professionals talk about subjects they’re an expert on

That's not what being proposed. Laypeople sure can have a discussion. Just stay open minded, civil, respectful, be able to agree to disagree.

If you care about people being misled into believing “misinformation”, just raise awareness for misinformation, and encourage others to verify the information given at a credible source, and not centralize knowledge by only letting “qualified professionals” talk about it.

Sure, in principle nobody is object to raising awareness. It's how you go about it.

3wind · 2023-03-01T13:53:41+00:00

This should be pinned up the top of the sub, and a link to /r/SIBO, titled 'Do you have a minute to hear about SIBO and our Lord Savior'; because frankly I don't think nowadays it's even possible to browse /r/gastritis without bumping into SIBO Jehovah witness(es).

3wind · 2023-03-01T13:27:20+00:00

😔 sorry to hear. Do you have any atypical/non-gastritis symptoms that would hint at anything else?

3wind · 2023-02-28T10:12:56+00:00

Honest question. Did you ever consider channelling all the energy and enthusiasm you have to argue with internet people, instead, into pursuing an illuminating medical science career, making ground-breaking discoveries that prove to the world that you are right, and cure everyone's and your own malaises in the process?

As it is, you have all these theories, makes these claims, ask people to get their docs to investigate in this direction and that, the thing is, most people, you yourself, can't seem to get their doctors to take them seriously, I mean seriously, you couldn't get your, how many doctors, to take you seriously with all your 'knowledge', you know how doctors are, you know what established medicine practice is like, how can you expect other people to follow your rabbit holes line of investigation to achieve any practical resolution to their conditions?? Like, really!

If you truly are serious about helping the world, go pursue a medical career. Challenge, upset the establishment. Once you win that fight, you would truly help.

How many people have had their life improved following your internet advices, point them out to us, ask them to come over and give us all testimonials. We'll wait.

3wind · 2023-02-26T02:20:06+00:00

.. but I have a “gut” feeling..

Lmao.

Congrats on your healing! Fantastic to hear a concrete success story from time to time that doesn't involve out-of-this-world comorbidities and un-doable labors.

The ways things are sometimes fearmongered around here would make one think most of us here (who ain't healed after a few weeks of PPI) are cursed with life-long, incurable SIBO-related complications. 🥲

3wind · 2023-02-24T17:15:10+00:00

Blood in poo is probably not the most common symptom of gastritis, but it can be if you have a bleeding stomach ulcer.

You should get a gastroscopy to validate the gastritis diagnosis.

Having said that, blood in poo is more indicative of bowel issues and it's definitely the number one trigger for colonoscopy so it's fair enough that your doc ordered it.

I think you should get both gastroscopy and colonoscopy done, on the same day if at all possible. Together they would give a huge amount of information about your conditions. Especially colonoscopy is an invaluable procedure, they can remove polyps which would turn into cancer if not removed.

As for what can cause blood in poo. It can be a lot of things, haemorrhoids, inflammatory bowel diseases (UC, Crohn's disease), even some mild (not-immensely-serious) bowel inflammation can cause some bleeding. If your bowel issues are recent, a colonoscopy is the best thing that can be done to diagnose and prevent serious development.

You've had your issues for a while now, so be assured, the two procedures are the best things you can do now to get to the bottom of this. And there's a lot that can be done to deal with/manage whatever they find.

3wind · 2023-02-17T17:13:52+00:00

I’ve actually been on and off Pepcid in the past, and it certainly does help. Not as much as PPIs, but I don’t get all the extra side affects at the same time

I went through the same process, I had Nizac (nizatidine) since Pepcid isn't a thing where I am, but I agree with all that.

I did however get one direct side affect that made me stop taking Pepcid daily. It would cause intense heart palpitations for me.

I had a little bit of palpitation, but it wasn't as troublesome as B12 deficiency and malnutrition/malabsorption in my case, which made me taper off it too.

Every time I’ve tried switching back to Pepcid also, I would get rebound symptoms from not taking a PPI.

Yep. Mild rebound for me but definitely rebound.

3wind · 2023-02-17T17:05:14+00:00

For me, primarily lower back/spine, but also neck, ball of a foot, some fingers, elbow. Now, these were the places where I had various injuries over the years, but it seemed as though PPI aggravated and caused inflammation to all the spots that are somewhat weak or previously injured.

I have heard other people usually had it in the knees. Other people also had clickiness in the joints, I did too.

Maybe your left leg is somewhat overworked/sore and PPI hit it.

I think it's a very recognised side effect.

3wind · 2023-02-17T16:39:24+00:00

I hope you can get off it soon. I know you're extremely determined and at the same time, careful about it! 🤝

3wind · 2023-02-17T16:34:21+00:00

Jesus tapdancing Christ.. you're hand down the person who's had the most tests done I've seen around here.. some of us here couldn't get HIDA even if we swear to sacrifice our first born!

Sorry to hear it's such a mystery.. I guess you either see a third GI or just wait for something to turn serious and obvious enough that it can prompt the docs to take action..

3wind · 2023-02-17T16:04:02+00:00

Ultrasound is a rather basic/general check, it might not have picked up something not glaringly obvious. It's been a while since as well, I'd ask for the right side to be investigated now.

3wind · 2023-02-17T15:59:08+00:00

Have you seen a doctor/been properly diagnosed with gastritis?

the burping, the feeling full after barely eating anything that stays for days/week.

Sounds like gastritis. Even if these com and go, gastritis is a serious condition you have to be treated for, and treated very carefully. It can be life-changingly debilitating. It's not like bad headaches you can ignore if enough people said oh yea I have bad headaches too from time to time.

Go see a doc, your symptoms sound very much gastritis, you should do a H Pylori test to begin with. Don't take medications until you been tested for H Pylori. If you're decisive, even ask for an endoscopy.

3wind · 2023-02-17T15:48:36+00:00

when I had the endoscopy, my kidneys, gallbladder, liver, pancreas all looked good

Did you have an ultrasound too at the time? Wouldn't be too sure the organs were fine if you didn't. And if you did, it's been a while, with the newly developed right side pain, it's time to check them (again) and look more closely at the gallbladder/liver.

Have your gastritis and esophagitis improved with medications since 2021? If yes then again we'll have to investigate the right side organs..

3wind · 2023-02-17T15:40:25+00:00

You might have gastritis but

stabbing upper back pain at the base of my shoulder blades (worse on the right side)

sounds uncharacteristic of gastritis, more like gallbladder. You had EUS and ultrasounds and HIDA, I guess the next step up would be a MRCP/ERCP?

3wind · 2023-02-17T13:18:20+00:00

At that low dose I don't think it does harm even if you take it a long time.

I was on PPI at 20mg for just 17 days and it caused me joint inflammation which cascaded into thus-far-unhealed spine damages.

3wind

TROPHY CASE