Hi Kaneda2112. Thank you so much for your response. Yes, I was tested for H. Pylori and I was negative. I don't drink or do drugs. The most likely culprit on your list is stress. I was diagnosed with a generalized anxiety disorder (I'm on meds for it) many years ago. Since my stomach has gotten worse I've been trying to learn different ways to alleviate and deal with stress. I've been doing yoga 2-3 times a week since October and I am scheduled to begin psychotherapy tomorrow in an attempt to learn how to deal more appropriately with my stress. Some people get stress headaches, I carry everything in my gut. In regards to the anemia I was told it was simply that I wasn't getting enough iron from my food - which my dr said was common for young men and women.
Were you tested for H. Pylori?
I believe there are lots of reasons people become anemic - among them chronic diseases such as cancer, ulcerative colitis, rheumatoid arthritis or blood loss (for example, from heavy menstrual periods or stomach ulcers).
Gastritis occurs when the lining of the stomach becomes inflamed or swollen. Gastritis can last for only a short time (acute gastritis), or linger for months to years (chronic gastritis). The most common causes of gastritis are:
- Certain medications, such as aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen, when taken over a longer period of time
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Infection of the stomach with a bacteria called Helicobacter pylori
Less common causes are:
- Autoimmune disorders (such as pernicious anemia)
- Backflow of bile into the stomach (bile reflux)
- Cocaine abuse
- Eating or drinking caustic or corrosive substances (such as poisons)
- Extreme stress
- Viral infection, such as cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus, especially in people with a weak immune system
Trauma or a severe, sudden illness such as major surgery, kidney failure, or being placed on a breathing machine may cause gastritis
Acidphex (Rabeprazole) is used to treat gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), a condition in which backward flow of acid from the stomach causes heartburn and possible injury of the esophagus (the tube that connects the throat and stomach).
Rabeprazole is used to treat the symptoms of GERD, allow the esophagus to heal, and prevent further damage to the esophagus. Rabeprazole is also used to treat conditions in which the stomach produces too much acid, such as Zollinger-Ellison syndrome. Rabeprazole is used to treat ulcers (sores in the lining of the stomach or intestine) and is used in combination with other medications to eliminate H. pylori, a bacteria that causes ulcers. Rabeprazole is in a class of medications called proton-pump inhibitors. It works by decreasing the amount of acid made in the stomach.