esophageal candidiasis

[Justinlo]

went to doctor complaining of stomach pain. Did endoscopy they found erosive gastritis and also esophageal candidiasis. Please, does it mean I’m hiv positive. I’m so scared. Pls anybody explain what my options are and what I should be expecting

[PMRpro Ambassador]

You aren't on the correct forum for that sort of reply - this is specifically for polymyalgia rheumatica and the related giant cell arteritis. Your doctor who referred you is the person to ask and it is perfectly possible to have gastritis and thrush without being HIV positive. However - I have no idea of the rest of your situation. Speak to your doctor.

[AtopicGuy]

Hi! I presume you found this GCA/PMR thread because erosive gastritis can be a side effect of long-term corticosteroid use and sometimes appears in GCA/PMR posts such as this one:

healthunlocked.com/pmrgcauk...

Many things more common than steroids can damage the lining of the stomach (eg. alcohol, NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, certain bacteria, etc.) Damaged tissue can easily become infected. As PMRPro has said, you need to speak to your doctor, who knows your medical history. Best wishes!