Patient education: Gastritis – Discharge instructions (The Basics)

What are discharge instructions? — Discharge instructions are information about how to take care of yourself after getting medical care for a health problem.

What is gastritis? — "Gastritis" means inflammation of the stomach lining (figure 1).

Some people have gastritis that starts suddenly and lasts only for a short time. Doctors call this "acute" gastritis. Other people have gastritis that lasts for months or years. Doctors call this "chronic" gastritis.

How do I care for myself at home? — Ask the doctor or nurse what you should do when you go home. Make sure that you understand exactly what you need to do to care for yourself. Ask questions if there is anything you do not understand.

You should also:

●Take all of your medicines as instructed, even if you are feeling better.

●Avoid taking medicines called "NSAIDs" too often, unless your doctor tells you that it is OK. These medicines can cause ulcers, which some people have along with gastritis. Examples of NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin), and naproxen (sample brand names: Aleve, Naprosyn).

●Eat small meals more often to help with belly pain.

●Avoid foods that make your symptoms worse – Write down what you ate and drank before you had symptoms. This will help you learn which foods cause you problems. For some people, these include coffee, chocolate, alcohol, peppermint, and fatty foods.

●Avoid or limit alcohol. This includes beer, wine, and mixed drinks.

●Quit smoking, if you smoke. Your doctor or nurse can help.

What follow-up care do I need? — Your doctor or nurse will tell you if you need to make a follow-up appointment. If so, make sure that you know when and where to go.

When should I call the doctor? — Call for emergency help right away (in the US and Canada, call 9-1-1) if:

●You start vomiting blood, or see a lot of blood in your bowel movements.

●Your belly pain becomes much worse all of a sudden or over a few hours.

●Your belly becomes hard or tender.

●You have chest pain or trouble breathing.

Call your doctor for advice if:

●Your belly pain does not get better even after taking medicine, changing your diet, and following treatment instructions.

●You lose weight without trying.

●You are vomiting.

More on this topic

Patient education: Gastritis (The Basics)
Patient education: H. pylori infection (The Basics)
Patient education: Upper endoscopy (The Basics)
Patient education: Peptic ulcers (The Basics)
Patient education: Stomach ache and stomach upset (The Basics)
Patient education: Acid reflux and GERD in adults (The Basics)

Patient education: Peptic ulcer disease (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Helicobacter pylori infection and treatment (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Upset stomach (functional dyspepsia) in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Gastroesophageal reflux disease in adults (Beyond the Basics)
Patient education: Upper endoscopy (Beyond the Basics)