Question: I am a 32 year old man. I had my gallbladder removed in Easter 2012, about 2 months after this surgery, I began having strange sensations and pains in my chest at various spots and places. After numerous trips to the ER thinking I was having a heart attack or heart related problem, which after doing numerous EKGs and Stress Tests showed nothing wrong with my heart except that I had sinus arythmia, which they said was harmless and not causing my pains. They said it was possibly gastritis.

After hearing this, I flew to Canada and saw a doctor there who referred me to a specialist and that I should do an endoscopy. I was diagnosed with mild gastritis after doing the endoscopy in February 2013. My gastritis was NOT caused by H. Pylori bacteria, but they were also unable to tell me what caused it. Do you know? Since February of 2012 I was told to use Nexium, once per day 40mg. I have since cut this down to 20mg per day. So I have been using Nexium for almost 1 1/2 years EVERYDAY.

My questions are, how long do I have to keep using Nexium everyday? Is it safe to use long term like this? And How do I cure gastritis? I still get sharp pain in specific spots, or a feeling of pressure or gnawing in my chest, most times on the right side closer to the center of my chest. Should I keep taking it? I try to follow all the diet guidelines and I have cut out alot of foods out of my diet but sometimes no matter what i do and even though I'm taking the nexium, it still happens ocassionally but not as much as without it. Recently I've even had pain in and around my belly button, which I went to the ER for and the doctor there said it was most likely by gastritis.

Your thoughts?