Still feel unwell after Helicobacter Pylori Treatment

Sadly I’ve done this Helicobacter related research for more than 2 years.  I’ve been myself through hell and back with same symptoms.  I lost 2 stone and cant eat.  I have to force small amounts down my throat.  Often I felt so horrible that I thought I must have something very nasty and sinister.  But all tests for nasty conditions came back negative.  This was also the case for many other people .  Many worried unnecessarily. Did you have an endoscopy?   Believe me you’re not unusual not being able to eat.  There are so many people like you and me. Also I don’t believe that it’s classic anxiety.  I realised from many forums that sooo many people also get the anxiety, people who had no history of anxiety.  It’s seems to be very often  caused by the inflammation due to gastritis/oesophagitis. The Vagus Nerve can get irritated and would react in this way causing people to feel so horrible.  In my case and many other peoples’ cases the weight loss, loss of appetite,  feeling a lump in your throat , feeling of anxiety was caused by gastritis and/or oesophagitis.  Even if one has only ‘minor’ gastritis/oesophagitis the symptoms can feel hellish.  I had exactly the same antibiotics plus Omeprazole like you.  Are you taking the Eradication Therapy for 1 or 2 weeks?  Yes and it doesn’t feel great during that time.  After the Eradication Therapy, from my research on forums, there seem to be 2 groups of people.  Group A feel very quickly great after the Therapy.  Group B don’t feel better after therapy.  I belong to Group B.  I was in so much agony that, like so many other people,  I thought the Helicobacter was not eradicated.  But I was wrong : I tested negative again and again.  It just took my stomach a while to recover.  Unfortunately, this condition often needs patience.  And I’ve never been good at patience myself either.

My doctor is using endoscopy as a last resort just because it’s the most invasive. I’m hoping it doesn’t come to that. May I ask how long did you have h. Pylori before being treated? I’m on the 2 Week treatment and honestly besides some nausea I have no symptoms I’m even wondering if they are working. Maybe they are but I’ve just been resting a lot as I’m lucky I don’t have a job yet I think I would have had to quit if I did. If I did have gastritis how does one get cured from that?  I realize even after the treatment it will probably take another two week to a month to feel normal again. I’m right now trying to force myself to eat then I burp a lot and it feels uncomfortable as I mentioned. I’m also survive on a really good protein vitamin shake that.

I had the H. Pylori 3 years (or longer?) before I was treated.  I was very ill for 3 years.  It took them 3 years to find out why I was ill.  Meanwhile I was unnecessarily tested for other nasty illnesses (Sinus, COPD, Lung Cancer, Heart Condition) which all came out negative.  I always thought it was my stomach but the ultrasound showed nothing.   I then insisted on an endoscopy and finally they found the H. Pylori, Gastric Ulcers and Gastritis.  I took instantly the AB + PPI (Omeprazole) Therapy.  After 2 months the H.Pylori was gone and the ulcers were gone but I still had moderate Gastritis.  How lucky you don’t have a job.  That would be hell to have a job.  It sounds as you’re not feeling too bad besides the nausea.  Why are you wondering whether they’re working ?  When you get retested you have to be off the Omeprazole for at least 2 weeks.  Otherwise the test will not be reliable.  I must admit I felt pretty horrible with the nausea.  Which protein shake are you taking?  And how much/what kind of food are you managing to force down?  That’s what I find the worst :  forcing food down against nausea and waking up in the morning with nausea.

also normally you would think moving at around or exercise must be good.  But with this stomach situation I foundries almost makes it worse. It seemed resting was better.  Do you find that as well?

I’m sorry to hear it took so long to figure out never would I believe someone could have that for that many years. Im wondering the drugs aren’t working because I’m not having any usual side effects which I thought they would. But I’m now on my 4th day of antibiotics and honestly I guess not everyone is gonna get severe symptoms which I was worried I might have. Really any food I try to swallow it just starts to give me chest pain then I have to stop eating. Like after a while my food will go down but it takes time. I’m trying to eat apple sauce sometimes bananas but the uncomfortable feel gets to much and sometimes chicken.  I’m hoping I don’t have my esophagus narrowing from GERD when I wasn’t on omeprazole. I’ve read it could be gastritis as well but I hope my barium swallow might tell

me.

Resting is the best I’m constantly just sitting on the couch  I can go for walks  any more then like 30 minutes I feel such a lack of energy  and I use to be someone who could run a mile and half in 12 minutes.  As for protein shake I’m drinking orgain organic nutrition which is helping a lot. 

Hi Micheal, Just wanted to share with you that i didn't have those side effects from the antibiotics either. I felt dizzy and sleepy, but that was it. And the bacteria was eradicated after one session of antibiotics. Good luck!

Thanks know you for that! That’s exactly what’s happening to me from time to time.

The best test is of course the endoscopy.  It’s not as horrible as you think and it takes 3-5 minutes.  You can have H Pylori for your whole life without ever knowing.  It’s the oldest bacteria that ever existed.  In the UK probably 60% of people have HP and they never know because they don’t get any problems.  Only a small percentage of those people get problems.  In some developing countries 95% of the population have HP.  Well it’s a good sign if you don’t get a lot of problems.  The antibiotics therapy has been tried and tested for decades and works for most people.  Like you I used to be very fit, did skiing and sailing and going for 15 miles walks on weekends.  But the cruel stomach issues put a stop to that.  What’s that protein shake called that you’re using ?  Is it a pharmaceutical one or is it a sports drink ?

Thank you for this very informative I’ve been researching myself my wife had h. Pylori fortunately she got seem right away. I’m drinking orgain organic nutrition it says it was made by a cancer survivor patient. I’m not to sure what category it fall under but it has 16g of protein and 21 vitamin and minerals.

Hi Mary,

Yes I also found it odd that the Consultant GI Specialist DONT tell you that.  I had 2 Consultants and the first one didn’t tell me because he didn’t know himself.  Very strange.  I then saw a 2nd Consultant who told me  that rarely it goes quickly.   My problems remained for 6 months and then went totally away.  I was then super fit for 2 years.   However then the Gastritis came back (even though Helicobacter negative)..... the Consultant says it’s only mild Gastritis but it feels like hell even though mild.  My 2nd Consultant says now that with some people the symptoms are caused by Helicobacter, with other people it is not caused by Helicobacter .  In those cases they say :  The Gastritis is nothing sinister so ‘you are lucky’.   But they can’t say what causes it nor how long it takes nor do they have a cure for it.    Well, I can only say ‘I may be lucky’ nevertheless it feels like hell.   

Mary

I think this whole GI subject is all very much unknown and vague stuff.   It’s certainly not a precise science.   Many things they don’t have any idea about yet, I e what is it, what causes it and what could cure it.  No idea.    Also I think the GI Consultants have so many people coming in with horrible horrible  stomach symptoms ( because stomach issues are often debilitating)  so eventually they may get immune against all those winging patients.  Then they just split those patients into 2 categories :  a) those who have a sinister disease like cancer etc and b) who don’t have a sinister disease.  And they cant afford to worry much about patients of category b) even if they have no life as they’re busy with patients a) who are in a much worse position.

Thank you! So glad I found this site and people who can advise, share info, and who've gone through this. Blessings to you and others who responded.

Sounds like the adventure to reach total healing can be a long one. Thank you for sharing about your journey. I look forward to hearing more about how you and others are doing, and what works for you and so many others. Blessings to you!

"I think this whole GI subject is all very much unknown and vague stuff.   It’s certainly not a precise science.   Many things they don’t have any idea about yet, I e what is it, what causes it and what could cure it.  No idea."

Totally agree. I read a book now by doctor who wrote that gastritis has no link with H. pylori at all. Unnecessary make therapy at all. Other book by gastrodoc said opposite. I think they don't know it well. Once I read this is like deep ocean: doctors know only 10% of it.

You so right,  Tamas,  I couldn’t agree more with what you’re saying.

 Dr Marshall got the Nobel price for having detected the Helicobacter bacteria to be the cause of 80% of peptic ulcers and since then it seemed the gold standard to eradicate it.  Eradication seemed crucially important as Helicobacter was linked to stomach cancer.  That was decades ago and now we still don’t know whether that’s true or not.  The other 20% of peptic ulcers we’re told are due to using aspirine or ibuprofen or other NSAIDs.  Do we actually really know whether that’s true at all either?   What do we then really really know?  What are the titles and authors of those 2 books you read?

I would recommend these books to you but it was written in my native language what is not English. :-( Basically this doctor said that all the problems are linked to western foods what we have with chemicals. He examined other civilizations in Africa or South-America where has high H. pylory infection but very low ulcers among people. He thinks only this idea but nobody is sure about. I think this area will be discovered more in the next decades. But this will not helps us I am affraiding.

I’m also getting more and more worried about all these food additives.  I’m reading recently how damaging all these additives are.  I don’t understand why this is not better regulated.  Do you the names of the most damaging chemicals and food additives.  I looked yesterday in the food shop.  Whatever you see most items have about 20 or so food additives ..... names we don’t quite understand.  Are we being slowly poisoned by the food shops?   Can we trust anything?  They just put into food anything they like .... just as long as it’s  cheap.  The same with toothpaste and cosmetics.   Also 100% presses orange juice ..... it’s actually almost always one year old and gone through many chemical processes to keep it that long ... but it doesn’t tell you on the package like Tropicana or Innocent.

Definitelly. We had yesterday's news that even if we are in EU, the majority of strawberries we can buy in shops has chemicals inside. Everything is under the limit but additional effects nobody knows. Lot of small poison every day. Another example: I had girlfriend some years ago who had parents on the countryside, farmers. They grew chicken, grain and so on. I was always eating chicken from supermarket but their chicken was much better, tasty and smaller portion was enough to eat. There was a difference. You can immagine how much poison we eat all day for years.

Chicken is the worst.  70-80% of all supermarket chicken are infected with Campylobacter.  Why ?  Because all their chicken aren’t dry-hung but they’re processed in water.  And bacteria spread nicely in water.  That’s why I never ever eat chicken from a supermarket .  Friends of mine were ill bedridden for 4 months with Campylobacter.  I only buy chicken from a local farm who have a butchers shop on their farm where they’re dry hung.   They don’t cost more than the supermarket chicken either.  Why are strawberries full of chemicals ?  Do you know where in the UK we can buy strawberries that are  not full of chemicals?

I don't know where you can buy strawberries there. The strawberries are full with chemicals because they grew up far from customers (usually in Spain etc) and takes longer time to deliver to your/our supermarkets. Keep longer fresh they add chemicals to them while they grew.

Chicken and meat usually has lot of bacteria, Campylobacter and H. pylori as well. You can buy it but boil or fry/cook minimum 10-15 min at min 200 celsius. It kills all these kind of bacteria. Unfortunatelly it won't kill remnants of medicines and antibiotics what contains its meat (they it with grain/food in their life). I will never eat unboiled/unfried meat/fish anymore because many of my friends got helico by this way. Take care of it.

Well just an update I eradicated that h.pylori back in APRIL. It took over my life for 5 months I had to have two rounds of antibiotics to kill it off. Bloody nightmare and the most horrible nasty parasite I’m ok at the moment (touch wood) ive slowly started running again and going to Zumba classes I’m eating pretty healthy and cut down on alcohol I feel good when I excercise and it makes feel better for my wellbeing still have minor issues with acid reflux but apart from that I’m good🙂

Thanks for your post, Anna. My main issue now, after going through a round of antibiotics (April/May), is tummy aches. For previous 6-8 months, I had lots of face flushing, hot/feverish. Before treatment, Dr thought it was rosaecia, which it could be...I've heard there may be a connection.…it's now much improved. Also have frequent trips to bathroom, 3-4 x a day...is that a sign I'm not over it yet, or a sign I'm getting better? Dr said they usually don't re-test unless I don't feel better. Been so long, not sure if know what it's like to feel well ! Thanks again for your info.

It takes long time to fully recover. I am not healthy yet but eradication was in 2017 November. This is the most horrible disease what happened with me in my life.

May I ask, what problems have you had in the long recovery process? My main ones is feeling a bit sick to my tummy, and about every other day, I deal with about 4 trips to bathroom, not quite diarhhea. Occasionally face flushing, but much better than it was before I went through the 3 weeks of antibiotic meds. I'm disappointed that my two doctors did not say a thing about the recovery period. Nor did the recommend being tested to see if it was gone, just said they usually don't do it unless I have problems. Thanks for your post! (Misery loves company and sometimes I'm miserable!) Sorry you're going through this...sounds like you have it worse than I.

Sure. The main issue is that bacteria has destroyed stomachh linings and continuous acid does not let to heal. I think at least. They did many test, check up and so on by the best doctors who I know. On Monday I go for a check up again for one of the best doctor in my country. Diarhea never had, problems focusod on my stomach only. I had some skin problems while I had H.pylori but as they eradicated it was gone in some time. I am sure your doctors did not tell you recovery time because they don't know. I know people who recovered in 2 weeks, other 2 years. Everything depends on the body, immune system, eating habits, bacteria etc. I did test after 4 weeks of eradiction and it was not H.pylori anymore. I did 3-4 months later again and was not H.pylori. Nowadays I have problems with acid what cause pain to my stomach. Some doctors said it took 6-8 months to recover stomach if it does not hurt by acid. Not an easy way...Do you feel nausea? I felt a lot in morning especially from acid. (The stomach produce acid in nights mainly as you sleep and don't eat - of course if you eat to help digestation).

I too have  nauseous in the morning and sometimes during the day.   What annoys me the most is I have developed anciety I never had before. I take a very low dose of Sertaline to take the edge-off and relax me. Next month I am  scheduled for a endoscopy and a colonoscopy. Also my doctor explained taking the PPI’s will help heal the stomach lining and she did say it can take up to a couple off years for some people to feel completely well and free of symptoms.  Today I feel taking a yoga class , hope a feel better afterwards. 

Hope we all feel better soon.

Hi, I have the same. Absolutely. Morning nausea is coming from stomach produces acid in night and there is not enough food in stomach. Try to eat some bread with butter at evenings. Butter cover a bit stomach. Maybe helps a little. Some medicine works as the same. Anxiety I had also. I was terrifying to travel by public transport for a time. Terrible. Now I work on it, but I almost always keep medicines with me but more and more strengthen myself. At least we know the symptoms are normal for this sickness. Keep on!

Thank you! Does Pepto Bismo help? I prefer to not take much of it, wondering if it will help or hurt.

It helps. Pepto Bismo I don't know but generally products with bizmuth helps to cover stomach. Don't take if you have problems with kidneys or liver. Generally get it when you feel pain or not well stomach. Generally you get when you down with stomach and it is okay. Of course you must to talk to your doctor prior.

Thank you! I don't take it often, but when I do, it helps tummy feel better. I don't want to "cure" one problem but develop another. Will do some research.