Just an FYI to all of you .....

Posted , 5 users are following.

Since February, I’ve had CT scans,  doctor guessing with all different meds that did not help me, plus a time released peppermint that was to reduce inflammation in stomach/colon.  This would wake me up in the night with terrible burning so I quit that also.  I finally got in after a 2 month wait for endoscopy & colonoscopy.  Results of biopsies told my story from this terrible toothache type pain, vomiting, nausea, tiredness and trying to work while goi g through all of this.  

I have H Pyloi and on 2 strong antibiotics, Prilosec, protobismol & probiotic for 2 weeks.  

This has not been a fun 6 months and I’m still staying in my limited diet. I just can’t think of being this dick for ssoo long, it affects you mentally.   I hope and pray this is the ‘fix’, but time will tell and will let you know. 

I read all your distressing posts and hope and pray for all of you to get better.  

Jan 

0 likes, 14 replies

14 Replies

  • Posted

    Ooo yes.......one more thing. My entire colon is diverticulum......wondering if the H Pyloi has contributed to this also.   I read you can have H Pylori for years and not know it until it flares up combined with colon issues such as mine.   
    • Posted

      I was diagnosed Hpylori many years ago, the ER doctor had to run a seperate blood work for it b ecause it does NOT show in routine blood like CBC's. She said it would take 3 days anyways I got the call that mine was positive, I had to take that stupid nexium 40 mgs twice a day for a month or two and two weeks antibotics and had to chew the pepto tablets.  I had to wait a month or two and go get rechecked to shee if it cleared I did that by bowel samples and the results was below detactable levels meaning it cleared. There are different strains of it. The scary part is those of us who are positive are at higherf risk for stomach cancer :-( MANY MANY people have it and are unaware of it.  I had smothering feeling with stomach extenion and server constant bleching and just ill at ease I thought ALL those many years it was because I was allergic to milk but after 25 years later YEAH 25 years later before some wise and intelligent doctoir from ER said she was going to test me for Hpylori well I thank God for her because thats excatly what it was, since I weas treated and cleared of it I rarely blech and enjoyed milk for a long timne after that THAT is until this blasted DD infection and now it causes constipation and so does DD and menopause so ALL the forces are againest me! Thought I would share my Hpylori expericence with everyone. Now they say Manuka honey  how can wipe out Hpylori I didnt learn about it till years after my medical treament of Hpylori. 

      It gives most honey its antibiotic quality. But some types of honey, including manuka honey, also have other components with antibacterial qualities. Another antibacterial component in manuka honey is methylglyoxal (MG). ... The rating is called UMF, which stands for Unique Manuka Factor.?

    • Posted

      Never heard of hpylori before. Over the years, did it go undiagnosed even with a CT scan? Or, does a CT not reveal the condition? What have you been told are the special properties of Manuka honey that make it useful for treatment of gut issues?
    • Posted

      It does not show up with CT. Scan now it will during a scope they run diown your throat and take biopsies. Overview

      Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection occurs when a type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infects your stomach. This usually happens during childhood. A common cause of peptic ulcers, H. pylori infection may be present in more than half the people in the world.

      Most people don't realize they have H. pylori infection, because they never get sick from it. If you develop signs and symptoms of a peptic ulcer, your doctor will probably test you for H. pylori infection. If you have H. pylori infection, it can be treated with antibiotics.

      Symptoms

      Most people with H. pylori infection will never have any signs or symptoms. It's not clear why this is, but some people may be born with more resistance to the harmful effects of H. pylori.

      When signs or symptoms do occur with H. pylori infection, they may include:

      An ache or burning pain in your abdomen

      Abdominal pain that's worse when your stomach is empty

      Nausea

      Loss of appetite

      Frequent burping

      Bloating

      Unintentional weight loss

      When to see a doctor

      Make an appointment with your doctor if you notice any persistent signs and symptoms that worry you. Seek immediate medical help if you experience:

      Severe or persistent abdominal pain

      Difficulty swallowing

      Bloody or black tarry stools

      Bloody or black vomit or vomit that looks like coffee groundsRequest an Appointment at Mayo ClinicCauses

      The exact way H. pylori infects someone is still unknown. H. pylori bacteria may be passed from person to person through direct contact with saliva, vomit or fecal matter. H. pylori may also be spread through contaminated food or water.

      Risk factors

      H. pylori is often contracted in childhood. Risk factors for H. pylori infection are related to living conditions in your childhood, such as:

      Living in crowded conditions. You have a greater risk of H. pylori infection if you live in a home with many other people.

      Living without a reliable supply of clean water. Having a reliable supply of clean, running water helps reduce the risk of H. pylori.

      Living in a developing country. People living in developing countries, where crowded and unsanitary living conditions may be more common, have a higher risk of H. pylori infection.

      Living with someone who has an H. pylori infection. If someone you live with has H. pylori, you're more likely to also have H. pylori.

      Complications

      [Ulcers]

      Ulcers

      Complications associated with H. pylori infection include:

      Ulcers. H. pylori can damage the protective lining of your stomach and small intestine. This can allow stomach acid to create an open sore (ulcer). About 10 percent of people with H. pylori will develop an ulcer.

      Inflammation of the stomach lining. H. pylori infection can irritate your stomach, causing inflammation (gastritis).

      Stomach cancer. H. pylori infection is a strong risk factor for certain types of stomach cancer.

      Prevention

      In areas of the world where H. pylori infection and its complications are common, doctors sometimes test healthy people for H. pylori. Whether there is a benefit to treating H. pylori when you have no signs or symptoms of infection is controversial among doctors.

      If you're concerned about H. pylori infection or think you may have a high risk of stomach cancer, talk to your doctor. Together you can decide whether you may benefit from H. pylori screening.

       

    • Posted

      Contiue on Hpylori:

      Diagnosis

      Tests and procedures used to determine whether you have an H. pylori infection include:

      Blood test. Analysis of a blood sample may reveal evidence of an active or previous H. pylori infection in your body. However, breath and stool tests are better at detecting active H. pylori infections than is a blood test.

      Breath test. During a breath test, you swallow a pill, liquid or pudding that contains tagged carbon molecules. If you have an H. pylori infection, carbon is released when the solution is broken down in your stomach.

      Your body absorbs the carbon and expels it when you exhale. You exhale into a bag, and your doctor uses a special device to detect the carbon molecules.

      Acid-suppressing drugs known as proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), bismuth subsalicylate (Pepto-Bismol) and antibiotics can interfere with the accuracy of this test. Your doctor will ask you to stop taking those medications for a week or two weeks before you have the test. This test is available for adults and children.

      Stool test. A laboratory test called a stool antigen test looks for foreign proteins (antigens) associated with H. pylori infection in your stool. As with the breath test, PPIs and bismuth subsalicylate can affect the results of this test, so your doctor will ask you to stop taking them for two weeks before the test.

      Scope test. You'll be sedated for this test, known as an upper endoscopy exam. During the exam, your doctor threads a long flexible tube equipped with a tiny camera (endoscope) down your throat and esophagus and into your stomach and duodenum. This instrument allows your doctor to view any irregularities in your upper digestive tract and remove tissue samples (biopsy).

      These samples are analyzed for H. pylori infection. This test isn't generally recommended solely to diagnose an H. pylori infection because it's more invasive than a breath or stool test, but it may be used to diagnose H. pylori ulcers or if it's needed to rule out other digestive conditions.

      Treatment

      H. pylori infections are usually treated with at least two different antibiotics at once, to help prevent the bacteria from developing a resistance to one particular antibiotic. Your doctor also will prescribe or recommend an acid-suppressing drug, to help your stomach lining heal.

      Drugs that can suppress acid include:

      Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs). These drugs stop acid from being produced in the stomach. Some examples of PPIs are omeprazole (Prilosec, others), esomeprazole (Nexium, others), lansoprazole (Prevacid, others) and pantoprazole (Protonix, others).

      Histamine (H-2) blockers. These medications block a substance called histamine, which triggers acid production. Examples include cimetidine (Tagamet) and ranitidine (Zantac).

      Bismuth subsalicylate. More commonly known as Pepto-Bismol, this drug works by coating the ulcer and protecting it from stomach acid.

      Your doctor may recommend that you undergo testing for H. pylori at least four weeks after your treatment. If the tests show the treatment was unsuccessful, you may undergo another round of treatment with a different combination of antibiotic medications.Request an Appointment at Mayo ClinicPreparing for your appointment

      See your primary care doctor if you have signs or symptoms that indicate a complication of H. pylori infection. Your doctor may test and treat you for H. pylori infection, or refer you to a specialist who treats diseases of the digestive system (gastroenterologist).

      Because appointments can be brief, and because there's often a lot of ground to cover, it's a good idea to be well-prepared for your appointment. Here's some information to help you get ready for your appointment, and what to expect from your doctor.

      What you can do

      At the time you make the appointment, be sure to ask if there's anything you need to do in advance, such as restrict your diet. Before your appointment, you might want to write a list that answers the following questions:

      When did your symptoms begin?

      Does anything make them better or worse?

      Have your parents or siblings ever experienced similar problems?

      What medications or supplements do you take regularly?

      Your time with your doctor is limited, so preparing a list of questions to ask may help you make the most of your time together. For H. pylori infection, some basic questions to ask your doctor include:

      How did H. pylori infection cause the complications I'm experiencing?

      Can H. pylori cause other complications?

      What kinds of tests do I need?

      Do these tests require any special preparation?

      What treatments are available?

      How will I know if the treatment worked?

      In addition to the questions that you've prepared to ask your doctor, don't hesitate to ask additional questions that occur to you during your appointment.

      What to expect from your doctor

      Your doctor is likely to ask you a number of questions. Being ready to answer them may allow more time to cover other points you want to address. Your doctor may ask:

      Have your symptoms been continuous or occasional?

      How severe are your symptoms?

      Do you take any over-the-counter pain relievers such as aspirin, ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve)??

  • Posted

    So happy you received some answers.  It’s tough mentally and physically on the mind and body.  Good luck and God Bless!
  • Posted

    Jan, did your ct scans show Diverticulisis? 
    • Posted

      To Crosado and others. 

      Yikes.....I’m ssoo glad you posted!  All my life doctors have told me I am lactose intolerant!   I couldn’t (can’t yet) drink milk either. Even soy milk began to make me sick just before this bout in Feb!   Now I’m wondering how many years I’ve had H Pylori too!!!!  

      To answer your question about finding diverticulitis.....no ......only diverticulum throughout entire colon.  I’m wondering if this HPylori has caused the distraction of my total colon all these years.  I have a follow up in 2 weeks to see my specialist.   This doctor IS good!   So glad you shared!   God Bless and glad you are enjoying milk. Hope I can later on. 

    • Posted

      Jan, I couldnt even eat ice cream, milk or any dairy product for 25 years!  Even though I didnt eat or drink them because of my symtoms I still had the horrible symptoms and they put it off to the fact that you can't get it out of all foods and so forth, well after I got total clear of Hyplori I got brave when I got the all clear on HP and thought wonder if I can drink milk, girl I poured myself a glass of WHOLE milk and to my surprise NO symtoms at all I have since enjoyed all INCLUDING ICE CREAM DAIRY products, it even shocked the entire family because all those years they had to becareful what to fix me to eat on family outings, hoildays and ETC. 

    • Posted

      Where do I find the Manuka Honey.  Love honey on toast has been one of my treats during this last 7 months.   I’ve used orange blossom honey so far.  It seems with nausea I need something sweet. 
    • Posted

      You can find on Amazon and many places on the internet just google. I use Organic Raw Honey, it is a natural antibotic !
  • Posted

    Was the peppermint you mentioned Mentha-XL by chance? I've been reading about that. I can commiserate that this condition affect a person emotionally. Just when I think I'm in the clear, it flares up again. 

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