You are correct that the alcohol caused the episode. It may not be the only factor involved but it was the alcohol that definitely awoke the sleeping giant. Now we need to put the giant back to sleep.

As far as the real cause goes, there may have been something underlying the whole time, like H. pylori. Only testing, which should be done, will determine any underlying pathology (bacterial parasites, candida, gluten sensitivity, H. pylori…).

The products you are taking are fine but lack specificity, since we really don’t know what is going on. Until you get some testing done, which I can help you with, I would add a multi-strain probiotic and a high polysaccharide content aloe vera gel or juice.

I will e-mail you details on testing.

Sincerely,

Dr. E

When I actually started cracking down on my diet and took Pepcid, I was almost normal again till I ate something that kick started the whole process again. Still taking Pepcid but after reading numerous articles on the ills of antacids and the havoc they wreck on the stomach, considering going off and seeing how diet and supplements help instead.

I’ve talked with my doctor, a nutritionist and a health store owner and they all have different opinions. Doc thinks that as long as I stay away from alcohol, take the antacids and watch my diet, I should get better. The nutritionist thinks my gastritis was pre-existing and thinks pylori has little to do with any gastritis problems. The health food store owner thinks the opposite. She thinks that it was the alcohol itself, possibly through the sugars in the beer that irritated my stomach lining and probably allowed bacteria in my gut to go out of wack.

No wonder people get so confused and become so stressed. Even the professionals can’t seem to agree. Considering my age(42) and that binge drinking seems to have triggered my current situation, not sure what to expect now.

I’ve picked up some Manuka honey, DGL and L-Glutamine to help with my problem but limited results so far the last few days. But considering that I’ve been taking them along with the Pepcid I’m actually thinking that the Pepcid might be interfering with the effects of the supplements. I seem to be having more problems with abdominal pain now than heartburn though. The heartburn earlier was very uncomfortable.

My diet for a while has consisted of plenty of fruits and vegetables, seeds and a lot of organic products like wholewheat flax bread, yogurt, and organic 1% milk. Actually, I was eating this long before my problems started. Though I mixed in some junk food as well on some days. Those days are clearly over now. Strangely enough, lately it’s the liquids that seem to give me the most problems including water right now…..

Not sure what this signifies though.

I was very glad to find this website.

I’m a 57 year old male. I’ve had digestive issues (food sensitivities) and very occasional ulcers for years. The most persistent one (just to the left of my navel) has returned a few times. I was treated for h. pylori some years ago with antibiotics.

I developed digestive problems back in May of this year, which I have pretty much solved via diet. The ulcer by my navel has returned, but seems to be clearing up with mastic gum, grapefruit seed extract, cabbage juice and garlic.

What really frightened me was the tinnitus I developed at the same time. I’ve done lots of reading on the subject. It’s irregular, pulsatile – and I’m almost sure that it’s related to my GI issues, in that eating (almost anything) seems to make it worse. I’m hoping that it will disappear with my GI issues.

I’ve been all over the place with explanations for my GI disorders – from candida, salicylate sensitivity, gluten allergy. I did consume a lot of high salicylate foods in the two weeks prior to my most recent GI troubles.

I’ve been to my GP for a check up (including blood tests – not h. pylori) and to an ENT doctor for an ear check. An MRI would be next – but I’m convinced the tinnitus is related to my GI issues.

I guess an h. pylori test would be wise – but I’m reluctant to take antibiotics, especially with the tinnitus scare. I’ve read that h. pylori can cause migranes, so h. pylori as the cause of my tinnitus doesn’t feel like a huge leap.

One other small note – I periodically develop something under two of my fingernails (always the same ones) which seems to coincide with the ulcers. Several years back, a doctor insisted that it was a fungus, though there is no external sign. Topical external fungus cures never helped. It’s hard to describe – the nails just feel uncomfortable, which makes me want to dig underneath and cut them back. It’s nothing – but a curiousity, given my bigger issues.

Anyway – any advice would be much appreciated.

Michael Crochetiere

Just MY OPINION!!

Thank you for the email. I hope that your family is doing very well. I think I can speak for Jeff as well when I say that we have had the same conversations at home about the media and such of today; it is a product of the bloom of the communication age and that the world is most likely a less dangerous place than it has ever been before less the ratings technicians would like us to believe. The media and advance communication speed, has a huge impact on the negativity that people take on to themselves, physically and mentally. We should all learn to be more discerning about how much we take to heart what the media feeds us. Also, we need to go about our daily lives and be positive; our health and quality of life is so important to us. History has proven that if a people grow too large they can not sustain their way of life, society, politics, etc. I hope that the contraction made by our society, will be in the future understood as an intelligent and positive way to keep our way of life as a democracy intact as perhaps the “think tanks” have learned from history.

Just a bit of my personal perspective.

Thanks,

Shawna

First, thank you so much for this post. I have just ordered the TheraAloe and the Apex capsules. These seem helpful for bacterial infections in general, no?

Second, I’m very curious about any other symptoms you experienced during your bout of gastritis. I have been having a range of symptoms for a year now, though the consistent ones are always GI-related. I’ve had all kinds of tests done, but only recently did my doctor discover the H Pylori antibody in my blood. We are currently waiting for the stool sample results to confirm/deny an h pylori infection.

In the meantime, I have begun taking Matuka honey and Mastic Gum. Grapefruit Seed Extract helped me for about a week and a few days (I nearly returned to my old energetic self!), but then I suddenly began having heartburn, so I stopped it. Regarding your past symptoms: Did you ever experience palpitations?

I am awakened at night regularly now with either palpitations (that often lead to a bathroom visit or two) and sometimes, sleep apnea-like startles — as if I am startled awake because I’ve stopped breathing. I shake a bit, then return to normal. I’ve had some muscle weight loss, which is scary, as I am normally thin with a high metabolism.

Anyway, I would greatly appreciate any elaboration on the effects of your h pylori & gastritis and am looking forward to giving the suggested products a go.

Sincerely,

Amy King

but really, it’s the magnesium that relaxes muscles… ???