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IBS, Anemia and Gastritis

.I'm a 34 year old female who has dealt with GI issues for several years.  I went to see my first GI in 2004 due to rectal bleeding. A colonoscopy was performed and revealed nothing. The GI couldn't find a cause for the bleeding and it stopped on its own with no re-occurence. In 6/2010 I went back to the GI due to severe constipation and abdominal pain. I was diagnosed with IBS-Constipation Type and given literature on the condition and nothing more. So, I sought a second opinion and this GI also did nothing and told me he didn't think I needed to be scoped - ridiculous in my opinion taking into account my history and active symptoms. I was very displeased and went for a 3rd opinion as I was experiencing severe abdominal pain and spasms, severe constipation, gas and bloating with visible distension and a recent onset of acid reflux. I finally found a GI who worked with me to figure out what was going on with my digestive system and performed multiple tests. My colonoscopy was clear. My endoscopy revealed severe gastritis. My labs and biopsys were clear as well and the GI placed me on a treatment regime that I appear to be responding to. I recently read my GI's consultation in which he wrote that he was highly concerned as I presented with right lower quadrant pain and reported to him a history of slight anemia.  Indeed I was told by my primary care doctor about 7 months ago that I was "slightly anemic" and I began taking slow release iron and I've never tested positive for anemia again. My first question is this...why was my GI so concerned with my history of slight anemia? And my second question is regarding the Gastritis. How and why did I develop this acid reflux? Is there any correlation between IBS and Gastritis? Lastly, will the Acidphex I was prescribed for the acid reflux "fix" or "repair" the irritation and inflammation my doctor found and am I at risk for ulcers and similar conditions or will the Acidphex prevent such disorders? Thank you. .
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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.
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1728693 tn?1332165262
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.

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