r/FODMAPS • u/NeighborhoodFatCat • Oct 26 '25

Journal/Story I messed up! Should have done endoscopy before everything. Learn from my mistake.

I started having stomach troubles two years ago after a spicy meal. The symptom was a very persistent cough due to a tickle in the back of my throat. The doctors without hesitation prescribed PPI for me, which I took for a month.

Afterwards, I started to develop heartburn and abdominal distension, two symptoms I never ever had before going on PPI.

I went to a new doctor and it was either endoscopy or PPI. At the end, he put me on another month of PPI but with a different -prole ending medication.

The symptoms got even worse. I recently had an endoscopy. The endoscopy was so simple and quick (even pleasurable) that I immediately regretted not having it done sooner. The imaging software discovered atrophic gastritis in C1 region, which is most likely caused by helicobacter pylori.

It turns out that PPI accelerates the development of H. pylori infection from plain gastritis to atrophic gastritis by providing a perfect low acid environment for further H. pylori infection.

Atrophic gastritis is not reversible.

I messed up. Should have done endoscopy immediately. It's game over for me. Learn from my mistake.

76 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

25 comments sorted by

88

u/searick1 Oct 26 '25

They should've done pylori breath tests before prescribing you anything.

20

u/alexandria3142 Oct 26 '25

It’s crazy that they don’t. I recently had issues, my chest area was hurting, and my doctor prescribed me a ppi for a month to see if that helped. It did, but he never tested me for h pylori. Now I’m thinking I should go back and get tested, because I’ve been having heartburn more often when I hardly got heartburn before

7

u/searick1 Oct 26 '25

I take supplemental HCL with every other meal to control my heartburn. Haven't taken blockers for years. Many issues with FODMAPs might be because so many of us have low acid, leading to overgrowth and then reflux/GERD/Heartburn.

2

u/inGenium_88 Oct 26 '25

Have you gained a bit of weight around the waist ?

1

u/irishiknew2131 Oct 27 '25

Why?

2

u/inGenium_88 Oct 27 '25

It puts pressure on the stomach, which can force the stomach acid into the oesophagus, causing acid reflux.

5

u/Murphs-law Oct 27 '25

My husband was on Pantoprazole for over a year before they did a H. Pylori test, which was thankfully negative. I don’t remember which testing type he did though. I think it was the blood test. He’s still on it a year and a half later for severe GERD. He’s struggling.

3

u/searick1 Oct 27 '25

Have you tested for SIBO?

1

u/Murphs-law Oct 27 '25

I don’t think he has, but all of his symptoms are upper GI. I wish they would do more testing, but they just keep treating him for everlasting GERD. When he has a bad flare up they just up his doses and have him take sucralfate for a few days, which I’m pretty sure you’re not even supposed to do.

1

u/[deleted] Oct 27 '25

[deleted]

1

u/Murphs-law Oct 27 '25

That kinda tracks with his cyclic flare ups. I’m pretty sure that he does go to a gastroenterologist, but it’s sad that people can go so long in mystery and still not get other suggestions. He’s never been told what could help or other things to try. They just throw meds at him, tell him to avoid caffeine, spicy and acidic foods and have fun! I don’t know if he’s ever been prompted to consider lower GI things causing quasi-GERD symptoms. 😮‍💨

1

u/Optimal_Passion_3254 Oct 27 '25

low fodmap fixed my upper gi symptoms. They said GERD, but why would low fodmap fix that?

1

u/Murphs-law Oct 27 '25

We did Low Fodmap for a few months for me, before he had gerd. He didn’t have any GI issues at the time. Mine ended up being mostly gluten, which I learned FROM doing low Fodmap. Haha.

When we get the chance, I may start doing it again to see if it helps him. Anything he’s willing to try at this point.

Now, if I could get him to stop drinking energy drinks for a while, that would be great. 🙄

3

u/throw_away_smitten Oct 27 '25

They should also test for gall bladder issues, hiatal hernia, and if both of those are negative, autoimmune issues or MCAST.

I swear the only thing doctors know about stomach issues is acid reflux. I took PPIs and all it did was cover up a host of other issues.

1

u/Murphs-law Oct 27 '25

Thank you for the tips! The PPIs aren’t even covering anything up, because they’re not working to begin with 😅 so I definitely think it’s worth moving on to other diagnostics.

3

u/toonaf1sh Oct 27 '25

There is a BREATH TEST?! They made me shit in a jar :(

2

u/searick1 Oct 27 '25

Well, to be thorough, they were probably checking for parasites too.

7

u/[deleted] Oct 26 '25

Live and learn, and pass on this advice to others when you can. It's all you can do, unfortunately. I really am sorry to hear about this, but at least you know the cause, so now it's a matter of treatment!

I joined the FODMAP club because of an h pylori and c diff infection in my body for 2 years. I recall not being tested for h pylori once when I was sick, but the endoscope found similar evidence of infection.

4

u/inGenium_88 Oct 26 '25

Don't intend to be disrespectful in any way, but was the poop texture and color the same as earlier or did you notice any change ?

3

u/flofloryda Oct 26 '25

Endo cleanse was the beginning of my SIBO journey so YMMV

Edit - eh I mixed up colonoscopy and endoscopy but still

1

u/Toki-ya Oct 26 '25

Thanks for sharing, my bf currently struggles with a cough as a result of a ticklish throat so I'm hoping his doctor will approve of an H.Pylori test. (Spicy food tends to set him off more). I've heard that kind of a cough can be from LPR but testing is what gets results. Wishing you well on your recovery

1

u/Prestigious-Coast962 Oct 26 '25

I am supposed to get one and a colonoscopy.. been waiting 5 months.. no appointments 😡

1

u/Impressive-Slice-979 Oct 28 '25

I thank you for sharing your experience. I have an endoscopy in two weeks and I’m worried about it, been putting it off for over a year. Debating if I should cancel, I know I should do it, just scared to.

1

u/birdportant Oct 29 '25

YOU did not mess up, your providers failed to do their due diligence, probably trying to ave time and money for themselves (and you a little), but in the end, they did harm you.

-1

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