Atrophic Gastritis

[davina70]

I had a gastroscopy a year ago ..results showed..antral mucosa showing reflux gastritis with a focus on intestinal metsplasia no heliobacter

I saw a consultant a few months later who offered no advice other than to watch my diet keep alcohol intake to low levels and stay off PPI

A year in after taking Betaine and Licorice supps with meals the pain to left of belly button is more or less constant ..I’ve stopped both supplements and I’m now wondering what to do next ..I have Addisons Thyroid and PA all autoimmune .could I have a peptic ulcer I wonder as I had bad heartburn in the night that had abated over the past year.

In UK doctors are very ill informed when it comes to rare auto immune diseases so if I’m going to see my GP I need to have some idea myself of what to signpost !!

Gastroscopy re referral was in three years although my Addisons consultant has flagged my issues back to gastrologist earlier this month.

Any thoughts would be appreciated please

[HelenR23]

HiI've got a similar thing to you with mucosa etc with gastritis and esophagitus. I've been in dreadful pain for months. I switched to gluten free and have cut out all sugar,spices,additives etc but no improvement. I have severe chest pressure daily . Unfortunately I also have severe anxiety with it too which is debilitating. I have underactive thyroid due to radiation treatment years ago. I also have other auto immune diseases. Doctors just aren't interested in any of it. I've lost 4 stone in a few months although I try and eat 3 or 4 small meals a day . I sympathise with you .

[Jillymo]

Addisons - Why does Addison's cause abdominal pain?

Addison's disease presents with gastrointestinal complaints in form of diarrhea in 20% of cases. Adrenal insufficiency usually presents as acute abdominal pain especially during adrenal crisis [5]. Studies have shown that acute gastrointestinal manifestations usually preceded Addison's crisis

Case report - ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

I also have a variety of autoimmune conditions albeit not addisons.

I hope the above info gives you a better insight of your abdominal pain and you find gastrologist who has understanding of your conditions - which is not any easy find.

[davina70 in reply to Jillymo]

I did not suggest that Addisons was the cause of my pain my endocrinologist was very empathetic to my issues and has advised my gastrologist in the hope he might suggest a way forward .

I have had Addisons for more years than I care to mention and am very well versed in its management ..thanks anyway for your reply .

[Jillymo]

Your correct Drs are ill informed with regard to rare autoimmune conditions I am finding the same issue.

I hope who ever you see is aware of the gastro issues that go hand in hand with your conditions. I wasn't implying your pain is connected I were just making you aware of the possibility so that you could pass the info onto your clinicians. Good luck with your investigations.

[davina70 in reply to Jillymo]

Many thanks

[Littlelodge123]

Have you had a test for SIBO? This is known to cause bodily symptoms and chest pressure (or pressure under the ribs) is one of them. I get this often when my SIBO is not controlled. It is a nin invase tests and co-exists with PA so worth cosidering.

[davina70 in reply to Littlelodge123]

No I haven’t thanks I will look into that

[Coco25]

Hi Davina

I have been diagnosed with atrophic gastritis about three years ago and was actually only told the name of my illness a year ago because I kept asking the name of the condition I have because no one spoke to me. I was told it’s caused by a very long history of anaemia and what frightened me at the time was the consultant said ”I’m so sorry to inform you” which only normally comes with death. In 2021 I had an endoscopy and they found two polyps (tumors) in my stomach. One was resected at the time and they said they wanted to wait 6 months to see what the other polyp would be like (it was too small to be resected. 6 months later when they carried out the endoscopy, it had disappeared. I think because I decided to use turmeric daily. So my consultant has said I only need to have endoscopy every 2 years which I was not happy with so have it done once every two years on nhs and one privately once a year. I have lots of mucus every day & I have recently started having pain in my stomach and chest every morning and the only thing that gives me relief is grating and boiling ginger to drink. I notice I’m not eating as much with only one meal a day satisfying me. I just need to change my diet and get friendly with the gym to try to improve this illness. I don’t know if my comments will help you as I haven’t heard of many people having this illness so sometimes I feel out on my own with this and not knowing too much because nothing much has been told to me on how to manage it and the best foods to eat etc. But I am so glad for health unlocked because I can talk to another person who has this illness. If there is anything I can assist you with, please get in touch in the meantime, take care of yourself.