Navigating Gastritis Symptoms and Menstrual Discomfort
User Profile: 19 years old, female, 5 feet 5 inches tall, weighs 103 pounds. Non-smoker, avoids alcohol, and does not take any medications. Key Observations: Starts each day with two cups of coffee on an empty stomach. Over the past week, consumed more than four NSAIDs. Diet is highly restrictive and consists of plenty of water, though it includes a significant amount of junk food and fried items for dinner. Recent Medical History: Experienced a cold or stomach virus at the end of July that included severe diarrhea and heightened anxiety. Since Sunday, I have been experiencing persistent chest discomfort and a dull aching feeling behind my breastbone. Initially, I believed it to be simple indigestion that would resolve itself in a couple of days. As the discomfort lingered, my pre-menstrual symptoms also intensified, including increased anxiety, crying spells, and occasional cramps. After trying to eat ravioli with heavy cream on Tuesday night, I was immediately put off when it started tasting sour—this prompted me to stop eating altogether. I ended up visiting an Urgent Care facility yesterday morning, which coincided with the onset of my period. I explained my symptoms to the healthcare provider. They conducted an EKG and listened to my heart with a stethoscope, both revealing normal results. They suggested that I should temporarily avoid certain foods that I frequently consume, such as coffee and tomato sauce, and prescribed famotidine, instructing me to take one daily for a month. Today marks my first day on the medication, and earlier I felt a bit of relief after eating some foods. However, I still notice that my heart rate is above normal, and fatigue is making it challenging to stay active for extended periods. Additionally, I'm experiencing shortness of breath, and the chest pain occasionally resurfaces. If anyone has suggestions regarding dietary adjustments, recommendations for specialists, or any insights on improving my condition, I would greatly appreciate your input! With school approaching, I’m eager to find a way to manage these issues effectively.
Answers (1)
8/21/2025, 8:02:59 PM
OpenHealth AI
It's understandable to feel concerned with the combination of gastritis symptoms and menstrual discomfort, especially as you balance school and your health. Here's a structured approach to help you navigate this situation effectively.
Main Points:
- Persistent chest discomfort and abdominal issues may relate to gastritis, especially with your recent NSAID use and dietary habits.
- Dietary adjustments can significantly improve your symptoms.
- Further monitoring of your symptoms is crucial to ensure they improve alongside your medication.
Explanation:
Gastritis can cause symptoms like chest discomfort, especially when the stomach lining becomes inflamed—often due to irritants like NSAIDs and certain foods. Your recent diet, with high intake of junk and fried foods, alongside two cups of coffee on an empty stomach, may be exacerbating your condition. Famotidine is prescribed to help reduce stomach acid, which should alleviate some discomfort over time. It's also common for anxiety to heighten symptoms during your menstrual cycle, making it feel more overwhelming.
Next Steps:
-
Dietary Changes:
- Avoid caffeine (coffee), spicy, fried, and acidic foods (like tomatoes and heavy cream) for at least a month to allow your stomach to heal.
- Instead, focus on easily digestible foods, such as bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast (known as the BRAT diet) to minimize irritation.
- Incorporate lean proteins (like chicken or fish) and vegetables, but avoid those that can trigger discomfort, such as those high in fat.
- Stay hydrated, but avoid excess caffeine and soda. Aim for water or herbal teas.
-
Symptom Monitoring:
- Keep a diary of your symptoms in relation to your diet and activities. Note any foods that trigger discomfort, as this can help you identify problematic items.
- Be attentive to signs of worsening symptoms such as increased shortness of breath, severe chest pain, or prolonged fatigue that doesn’t improve with rest.
-
Stress Management:
- Consider relaxation techniques like deep breathing, yoga, or mindfulness practices to help manage anxiety, especially since stress can exacerbate gastrointestinal symptoms.
-
Physical Activity:
- Incorporate gentle activities like walking as your energy allows. Gradually increase the intensity as you feel more comfortable. Avoid strenuous exercise if you're feeling fatigued or have chest discomfort.
If you find that your symptoms do not improve or worsen despite these changes or if new symptoms arise, it would be wise to follow up with a healthcare provider to explore additional options or specialists, such as a gastroenterologist.
Take care of yourself, and remember that focusing on small, gradual changes can lead to significant improvements. Let me know if you have any further questions or concerns!
Related Questions
Are Cannabinoids (CBD) Safe? Exploring Prescription Drug Interactions
I’m reaching out regarding my father's worsening chronic edema, which has affected his legs and feet for nearly three years. The condition seems to intensify at night. He has been utilizing compression stockings to manage the swelling. We're considering the use of CBD capsules, especially since he previously experienced substantial relief for his hand arthritis from using a CBD cream, which he no longer requires. Currently, his medications include 200mg of Gabapentin, 20mg of Crestor, 20mg of Xarelto, 60mg of Furosemide, and 12.5mg of Hydrochlorothiazide, along with 16mg of Candesartan. I would appreciate any insights regarding the safety of CBD in relation to his existing prescriptions. Thank you!
Struggling with Health Decline and Persistent Discomfort
I am an 18-year-old female, standing at 5 feet tall and weighing 108 pounds. The only medication I take is for iron deficiency. For as long as I can remember, I have struggled with joint pain, starting from the age of 5. At 12, I received a positive test result for ANA, but it did not receive the attention it warranted. Unfortunately, my health has deteriorated to the point where I find myself mostly confined to bed due to extreme exhaustion, cognitive difficulties, significant hair loss, persistent pain, and repeated bouts of infections. I used to suffer from the flu nearly every month. There are instances when my arms and legs feel weak and numb, causing me to limp unexpectedly. Recent blood tests revealed an alarming decrease in my white blood cells, including low counts of absolute neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes. Following a second ANA test after several years, the results were once again positive, now showing nuclear and distinct nuclear dots. Additionally, I tested positive for the Scl-70 antibody. My primary care physician has referred me to a rheumatologist; however, my appointment is not scheduled for another three months, and I am experiencing a rapid decline in my condition, remaining mostly bedridden with limited strength in my limbs. In addition to my existing symptoms, I have started experiencing new issues such as chest pain, which intensifies with any physical activity or exertion. Shortly after the beginning of the school year, I fell ill with a virus, leading to severe throat pain that makes swallowing incredibly difficult. I feel miserable and am deteriorating quickly. Honestly, I feel lost as I can no longer enjoy life due to the overwhelming discomfort. The persistent burning sensations throughout my body are unbearable. I desperately wish for some answers to my condition.
Feeling Overwhelmed and in Pain
I’ll keep it brief. I’m an 18-year-old female, 5 feet tall, and weigh 108 pounds. Currently, I’m taking iron supplements. I visited the doctor because I was feeling terrible—completely exhausted, facing brain fog, and sleeping excessively. Concerned that my iron levels might be an issue again, I had some lab tests done. Surprisingly, my iron levels were normal, but my white blood cell count was low. Specifically, my Absolute Neutrophils, Absolute Lymphocytes, and Absolute Monocytes were lower than normal. My primary care physician raised some concerns and suggested that this could either be a benign issue or related to an autoimmune condition. To explore this further, she ordered an ANA test and a titer pattern lab test. After waiting for three days, the results came back positive for NUCLEAR, DISCRETE NUCLEAR DOTS, and SCL-70 Serological Antibodies. This was quite a shock for me. I had also undergone an ANA test when I was 10 years old due to severe joint pain and consistently experienced discomfort, but the focus back then was solely on ruling out RA, and my symptoms were largely dismissed. Now, at 18, I am in constant pain, have significant hair loss, and am often confined to bed. My immune system seems compromised; I used to get COVID and the flu monthly. I recently started college, and just on the third day, I caught a virus that left me with an awful sore throat and difficulty swallowing after just attending class. I’m so fatigued that my limbs feel numb and weak, and I sometimes find myself limping. Although I sleep through the night, after only two hours of class, I feel faint and need to sleep for several hours upon returning home, even if it's only just before 10 PM. Additionally, I’ve started experiencing new symptoms, including chest pain. It’s genuine; when I walked to class, I felt a severe and pounding pain on my left side. I have to wait three months for my appointment with a rheumatologist, and I’m really struggling to cope at this point. I’m in pain every single day.
Concerns About Wound Healing and Limited Communication from Healthcare Professionals
At 55 years old, I underwent a temporal brow lift five weeks back, and I've faced complications at the incision sites right from the start. Both areas developed tough, dark scabs along with noticeable tissue loss. The surgical team decided against debridement, and as of today, these wounds have become chronic, showing signs of mixed healing: there's granulation tissue appearing where the scabs have finally come off, but some scab remnants still cling to the edges. Each wound measures approximately 1 inch by 2 inches. One wound, which is notably deeper than the other, developed a small black dot in the center about a week ago. As of today, this speck has grown to roughly 2 mm. Unsurprisingly, this change has captured my attention. During my appointment today, I brought this up to the nurse. After observing the wound, she expressed no concern, both when viewing the photos I had sent her earlier and during her in-person assessment. "It’s simply part of your healing process," she remarked, describing it as a scab. She subsequently forwarded the images to the surgeon, who echoed her sentiment. Despite my attempts to probe further with follow-up questions, she persistently reiterated the same points. While I want to trust their evaluation, I was hoping for a brief dialogue regarding my observations to broaden my understanding. I don't anticipate a definitive answer, but I’m curious about why a scab might form in the deepest portion of a wound bed that seems to be healing. How, if at all, does this alter the typical healing timeline? The black mark has gradually increased in size—should that become a cause for worry if it persists? I have two queries for you: 1) What are your insights regarding the black spot? 2) Although I have confidence in this team's expertise, it's discouraging and lonely to be in a position where I cannot engage in a meaningful discussion that could enlighten me about my condition. Is it customary, particularly in non-urgent scenarios, for healthcare providers to deliver the simplest explanation and move on? Perhaps this is intended to prevent patient anxiety? If that's the case, I might need to reconcile with that approach.
Coping with a Persistent Ulcer from Vaping Damage
Tomorrow, I’ll be having a doctor make a house call to address a nagging issue. Given that my insurance isn't accepted by many local providers, this seems to be one of my few options for care at the moment. I’m also reaching out to my insurance company for assistance in locating an ENT specialist who might offer more expertise. Meanwhile, my anxiety surrounding my health is skyrocketing, and I could really use some thoughtful support. For reference, I’m a 26-year-old female who has used a vape on and off for the past three years, with some extended breaks in between. About five weeks back, I used a vape pen containing oil that had become excessively burnt due to repeated heating, which likely caused about a third of it to evaporate. I neglected to notice this while it was in my belt bag and found it clogged later. In an attempt to clear it, I used sanitized bobby pins and the wooden ends of incense sticks, which I now realize might have exacerbated the situation. When the vape malfunctioned, it splashed the back of my throat, causing me to panic and instinctively reach in to clean it out. I may have inadvertently scratched my throat, prompting me to stay away from vaping for a few days before I decided to try it again. After taking a substantial hit, I was instantly hit with a severe burning sensation in my throat that lasted approximately 24 hours before tapering off. I managed to drink alcohol for a few days afterward without any issues. However, soon after, I began experiencing sharp, tingling sensations deep within my throat, particularly on the right side, likely near the back of my tongue. Although it’s challenging to see, I can definitely feel it upon inspecting my mouth. Interestingly, the discomfort seems milder in the mornings and most intense at night. After temporarily abstaining from alcohol and smoking, I saw some improvement. However, while traveling about a week later, I attempted to have a beer at the airport, which felt like swallowing hot coals. My throat was engulfed in flames, with a sensation like something was bubbling up in the back. Throughout that day, I kept clearing my throat and popping my ears. The following day, I sought help at a nearby urgent care facility, where the physician diagnosed me with an ulcer and prescribed viscous lidocaine. Since then, my symptoms have changed. I now have burning and tingling sensations in my ears, occasional tongue discomfort, and sometimes pain in my jaw. Additionally, the area where my jaw connects to my neck is often tender. I’ve even experienced scalp burning and facial pain, alongside pain in my shoulders and neck that relieves somewhat with topical Icy Hot. To alleviate my discomfort, I have been gargling saltwater, avoiding both vaping and alcohol, and sipping on throat-coat tea, which occasionally provides some relief. It feels excessively lengthy for an ulcer to heal, and I fear that my initial actions may not have been helpful. I’m worried that there might be a more serious issue at play. Up until this point, I’ve never had any health concerns and never suspected any underlying problems with my throat, ears, or neck. I’m aware of the risks associated with vaping and fully recognize that I have placed myself in this predicament, yet my inability to see a doctor and obtain proper treatment leaves me terrified of a dire outcome. Is there still hope for my recovery?