I think this is a very common thing in menopause - gastritis and GI issues. I had an endoscopy in June. Found chronic gastritis and some inflammation/esophageal reflux. I was put on Omeprazole but I did not like how it made me feel. Like you said, Roseneath - my stomach felt like cement and I felt like I wasn't able to digest my food properly at times. It was not good. I ended up on high dose ranitidine (still on it). I am having a repeat endoscopy in September to see that the inflammation and irritation is doing better. In the US they always follow up on these things to see if the medication is doing the job, and then would switch it out or change doses if not. I guess that's better than just being thrown a prescription with no follow through!
One interesting thing my regular (Primary care/GP) doctor told me, and this may give some of you comfort: If you took 100 people our age and gave them endoscopies, about 80% would have findings similar to everything that everyone is discussing here. And I had read this before but kind of dismissed it. He said because of age, wear and tear, poor diet, stress, alcohol, etc, that most people have some gastric findings on endoscopy that do not usually cause symptoms. I have always had a very sensitive stomach so I notice everything! But he said most people do not and hence they have things going on that they wouldn't know about unless the endoscopy was done.
I hope you feel better Jeepers and you too Roseneath and all that are dealing with unsettled stomachs and all this GI stuff! xxxxx