Ughh...I don't know why I'm posting about this, but if anyone reads this journal, I just want you to be warned about the horror known as 'Gastritis.' I was diagnosed with it about 4 years ago after leaving my job. I was finally able to put a name to the writhing, burning pain I was feeling in my stomach and throat (Esophagitis) dull aches in my back muscles, shortness of breath and heart palpitations (Well, that was mad stress that I didn't realize I was under...)
A few nights ago I was struck with the worst case of Gastritis I ever had, seeing as I had it under control for a few years, I thought I was pretty much out of the woods. However, certain eating habits and stress has a way of creeping up on you. On Wed. evening I was feeling a little antsy, had some odd feeling in my upper abdomen, just below the breast area. It felt aching, and it made my heart beat too fast. It wasn't a normal 'menstrual cramp' as I um...assumed it would be. By 3am I was keeling over, couldn't sit, stand, I was scared. I got myself into a cab to the nearest emergency room.
3 hours later I am diagnosed with gastritis. I was so relieved it was nothing 'worse.' I thought I might have had a gallstone or something. Well, they put me on medication for it, for 10 days and I got a list of things of things I couldn't eat, etc..and was told to get bed rest one day.
Thursday was the worst day of my life. The pain was so unbearable I wanted to just drop dead. Forget about eating, I could barely keep down water. I spent the entire day and night writhing around, pacing, shuffling (trying to ward off the pains) moaning, groaning and literally crying my eyes out. I prayed (never underestimate it's power!) I forced myself to throw up to help with the pains, but after the sixth or seventh time there was nothing left anyway. By one in the morning I popped another medication, since it is 2x daily. I counted it as the following day. I forced myself to sleep after another prayer. The late night/morning medication did the trick, I woke up with just a dull aching and the burning, acidic pain was mostly gone.
I'm still very wary right now. My insides still feel full and gassy, my body weak. I have to very careful what I eat. Basically the diet is similar if I suffered an ulcer. I realized that I had been schlepping off in the last 2-3 months and undergoing a little bit of stress between this and that. It all just caught up to me. This was lousy, because I am in the midst of plans for things, 2 weeks ago I just suffered with the worst ear infection I ever had and that had lasted over 2 weeks itself, I could barely hear out of my left ear. That's all cleared up, but I had thought I would lose my hearing from it.
There are so many things I have to get done and things keep popping up in my face to hold me back. I just have to take it easy, one day at a time, especially after this whallop to my system.
Anyway, here is some info on Gastritis..
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastritis(For some reason, my rich-text option isn't working here)
Anyway, Wiki, forgets to mention other causes of gastritis, poor diet and stress. I am not a drinker nor do I consume abnormal amounts of aspirins. Though in the case of my ear infection, I was taking a ton of advil, which I learned is a big NO NO. That may have helped it along. Also, avoid too much caffeine, spicy and fried foods. Basically, everything good out of food! lol. I'll gradually get back on track, but I'm going to make sure I don't over-do anything.
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ladygretchen's journal
