Gastritis can move fast. The cramps, the nausea and the overall feeling like your body is staging a protest. Some people recover at home. Some need to be seen. Here is what actually matters.
What Causes Gastritis
Gastritis has several possible causes. H. pylori is perhaps a more familiar one of those types. This is a kind of bacteria that can inhabit the stomach and inflame it.
Painkillers are another common cause. And some NSAIDs (eg, ibuprofen, naproxen, aspirin) can irritate the stomach lining when taken constantly.
Alcohol aggravates the stomach lining as well.
Less common types of gastritis include autoimmune gastritis — there is where the body attacks cells in the stomach.
It matters because treatment is dependent on the cause. It is not just a guess but rather an actual decision made by a provider familiar with your situation.
What Gastritis Feels Like
In some cases, there are no symptoms in those who suffer from gastritis. However, when the symptoms do present it is in the form of:
- Upper abdominal pain or discomfort
- Nausea or vomiting
- Getting full earlier than normal
- Feeling sick from overeating
- Loss of appetite
- Bloating or indigestion
When it is damaged, the stomach lining can bleed. This can present as blood in vomit or a black, tarry stool.
Food – What Helps and What Does Not
The majority of gastritis cases are not related to food. Yet, there are things you can consume that do quite the opposite and in fact, may make an upset stomach worse.
Alcohol, acidic drinks and pungent or fatty foods become more poorly tolerated when the stomach is irritated.
Small meals are more manageable than a lot of food in one go.
You should not need to cut it all out in most cases unless you have a pretty clear link between food and your symptoms getting worse.
Treatment
Your treatment will depend on the cause of your gastritis.
If H. pylori is the cause, treatment includes antibiotics and the use of a medicine that lowers stomach acid. Finishing the full course matters.
If painkillers are worsening the issue then a provider may suggest discontinuing the drug, adjusting the dosage or using an alternative as necessary.
Meds that decrease stomach acid also allow the lining of your stomach to heal.
Never take leftover antibiotics related to the previous infection. Do not take because someone else with a similar complaint took them.
The right answer depends on what you actually have, which is not a guess, but a clinical assessment.
When to Get Checked
- Abdominal pain that is getting worse or keeps coming back
- Repeated vomiting
- Blood in stool or vomit
- Black or tarry stool
- Vomit that looks like coffee grounds
- Unexplained weight loss
- Loss of appetite that does not improve
- Feeling full after eating very small amounts
The stomach lining may still need time to heal even if the irritation goes down.
If either symptoms are not going away or keep coming back, then it’s worth getting checked to rule out if something is still wrong.
Come In If You Need To
Dr. Victor Fayad at Anaheim Medical Clinic is a board-certified Internal Medicine physician with over 15 years of experience in Orange County.
Primary care visits for illness are available Monday through Friday.
If symptoms are not improving, your stomach pain keeps coming back or any of the warning signs above are present, come in.
Book online or call.
Phone – (714) 576-7575
Website – anaheim-medicalclinic.com
Personalized care. Real answers. Anaheim Medical Clinic.