What is this all about?

I had a sudden gastric attack last week which caused me to appreciate life a lil bit more than i used to. For a moment, i thought i was never gonna make it. I've never felt so much pain before. I was practicaly left breathless with shooting pain from below the chest right through the back which made standing impossible for me. I had to cringe in pain in a fetal postion until the husband came to my rescue. I just can't describe how bad it was cos no words can sum it up. However, i do hope i had learnt a good lesson there and step up in taking my diet seriously.

So, i googled on gastritis and its severity if it were to be taken lightly.

While many cases of gastritis are caused by the H. pylori bacterium, which attacks the stomach lining, a lot of gastritis patients are the victim of something that actually belongs in the system: stomach acid. There are a number of gastritis treatments available, which one depends on the type of gastritis.

Your stomach naturally has acids to break down and digest foods. Your stomach has a very strong lining that stops these acids from getting out into the rest of your body, where they would be corrosive and harmful. But sometimes something happens to your stomach lining that makes it weak, thus letting the acids out and causing pain and discomfort. Gastritis — which refers to an inflamed stomach lining, regardless of the cause — is the result.

If the cause of your gastritis is indeed stomach acid rather than bacteria, there are a number of ways of treating it. For mild, occasional flares of gastritis, simple over-the-counter medications such as Maalox and Mylanta — basic antacids — may alleviate the symptoms. If the problem is ongoing, however, or becomes severe, you should see a doctor to determine whether it’s serious enough for a prescription.

And, here are 8 steps which can help in identifying gastritis and to prevent/overcome it.

Step1 Suffering from heartburn and discomfort in the stomach after eating are signs of Chronic

Gastritis. After eating certain foods the digestive system becomes upset and the person

feels a burning sensation under their breastbone. Heartburn is a sign of indigestion.

Step2 Loss of appetite especially in the morning but improving during the day is an additional

sign of this stomach disorder. When an eating disorder is evident investigate the foods

that are being eaten. Choose food items that will settle well on your stomach.

Step3 Chronic belching is a prominent symptom, the belching is happens directly after each

meal that you have and at times seems to last for several minutes then it subsides. This

is followed by a sickening feeling in the stomach area. Nausea and vomiting mainly of

saliva and mucus and very little food is another sign of Chronic Gastritis.

Step4 Eliminate those foods which cause the stomach upset, tomatoes contain acid and

therefore may be a contributor to the Chronic Gastritis. Pizza is another fast food

product that causes stomach upset. Eliminating that product from you diet will assist

you in living pain free. Other food items that can cause upset include pies and pastries.

Step5 Add vitamin supplements to your diet, include vitamin A, B and C. If stomach is still

upset use one teaspoon of bicarbonate of soda with water to help assist the ease of the

stomach pain.

Step6 Change the diet to include foods like chicken, lamb, boiled fish especially whiting and

sole are helpful to the person. Eliminate foods such as cabbage, fried foods, reheated

food, and overcooked food. Fats and sugars should be taken in moderation.

Step7 Drink plenty of water during the day. Water assists in flushing the body system and is

actually good for your body.

Step8 Watch for a sudden weight loss. The unwillingness to eat a meal due to the

uncomfortable feeling that occurs after eating may be a cause for the weight loss.

SO, if u guys out there have had a brush with or am suffering from gastritis, do share with me yr experiences and what can we do to prevent it.