Urgent: Erosive Gastritis - Help needed!!!

Hello everyone.

Since I can't make it to my doctor until Friday, I'm hoping to get some expert insight here...

I had a gastroscopy a week ago, and here is the endoscopy report:

ESOPHAGUS: mucosa and lumen appear normal

STOMACH: patent, normal folds and peristalsis, hyperemia of the antral mucosa with hyperemia and erosion of the corpus mucosa. Biopsy taken.

DUODENUM: Hyperemia and localized erosions in the bulb part. Proximal portion is normal.

Diagnosis: Erosive gastrobulbitis

Treatment: Nexium 1x20 mg daily until follow-up.

I was pretty caught off guard. Hearing I have gastritis was a shock, especially since I've never really dealt with stomach pain, heartburn, or acid reflux... nothing like that.

The doctor told me to take one Nexium tablet every evening.
After just a few pills, I started feeling a slight burning sensation in my stomach. Now, about seven pills in, if I eat anything, the burning becomes quite intense. It feels like something is smoldering inside me... a sort of heat traveling through.

What should I do? Should I stop taking them, or is this a normal reaction while the treatment works? I don't want to overstep and upset my doctor...😕

Any advice would be appreciated.

Best,
Jeffrey Martin46

Go see your doctor, no matter what! It’s just not smart to sit there and suffer through side effects from a prescription you were given. They'll just switch up your treatment plan and you'll be fine.

Nexium usually doesn't cause side effects like that since it's pretty much the standard go-to for heartburn, even if people overdo it sometimes.
Honestly, those pains are probably all in your head—I mean, you mentioned yourself that your stomach has been fine until now. Besides, the main focus is on changes happening in your duodenum.

So, what was the actual reason you ended up getting a gastroscopy in the first place?

That’s the issue—I can't make it because I'm not in the States right now. I already sent my mother to go in my place (at least to ask a few questions), but I won't be able to get there myself until Friday...

The reason for the endoscopy?!
About a year ago, my gut started making these awful noises... feels like I'm going to explode. I saw a doctor about it, had an abdominal ultrasound, and did blood and stool tests. Everything came back normal, so he told me it was just irregular digestion. I tried everything he suggested, including cutting out foods that cause bloating. I even searched online for advice and tried all sorts of things, but nothing helps...
Sometimes it's fine, but when those cramps start, they just won't stop. It’s becoming a real problem, too, like when I'm out with friends in a quiet place; I'm just sitting there waiting for it to happen. It's actually starting to mess with my head...
Who knows what kind of beast is living in my stomach... maybe some animal is in there messing with me... 😳 😁
To be clear, this isn't that little growl you get when you're hungry—you know, where you press on your stomach for a bit, then grab a pastry and it settles down. This is just uncomfortable...

Anyway, the doctor decided to start from scratch—a full examination of the entire digestive tract...

Maybe one day things will finally settle down in there...

Thanks for the answers and the advice...

Best... 🙏

I think the doctor made an unknown good call here, because those issues can get pretty messy fast, just like you pointed out.
The reality is there’s some stuff going on in the duodenum, but with regular checkups and the right meds, I bet the doc might switch up the prescription. Fingers crossed things stabilize soon.

So, whenever I eat something, I get this intense heartburn sensation, then it eventually settles down... hopefully that’s just how it works...

But honestly, it's so awkward. Imagine being in the middle of an exam... total silence, and meanwhile, my stomach is just churning and growling loudly... ugh... it's genuinely mortifying!! Or anywhere else where you're expected to be quiet!
At home, I can manage to deal with it... but I really have no clue why this started happening... what could be causing it!!
I've tried charcoal capsules, and now I'm chewing on those natural papaya enzyme supplements someone suggested... nothing seems better or worse... I'm at a loss for what else to try. I guess I'll just wait for the results from the Mayo Clinic in New York City; they sent everything off for testing or whatever it is!!

Hopefully things improve soon! 😕

Best,