H Pylori and gastritis anyone?

[WilsonMilson]

Finally I’ve been diagnosed with H Pylori and gastritis. I’ve been having issues since November with upper abdominal pain, bloating, loose stools, feeling off and lately also terrible nausea and palpitations, especially during the night.

I’ve been around the houses to get a diagnosis. I went private and, long story short, had a CT scan, endoscopy and colonoscopy (the colonoscopy was unpleasant to say the least) bloods and stool samples.

Anyway, the stool test and endoscopy came back positive for H Pylori and also I have been diagnosed with gastritis.

I’m due to start 2 types of antibiotics and omeprazole. I’m nervous about the treatment as I am still feeling wiped out after the colonoscopy and am scared of making things worse, but I know this needs to be treated. Been looking at alternatives like mastic gum and oil of oregano to compliment the antibiotic treatment and hopefully clear this.

Has anyone had any experience of this and the treatment? Not sure which antibiotics I’m getting, I have to pick up the script later today.

So, I’ve been prescribed amoxicillin 2000mg a day, clarithromycin 1000mg a day and omeprazole 40mg a day. Those are whopping amounts of antibiotics. Urgh, I feel bad enough now, think my insides might implode after this.

I had H Pylori years ago, took the standard triple therapy (2 types of antibacterial and proton pump inhibitor) cleared up within a few days and I've never had any further problems.
Good luck!

@JaniieJones ooh thanks, that’s encouraging. I’ve clearly been hanging around too many online horror story groups who have scared the living daylights out of me. Maybe I’m overthinking it - my DH tells me I’m always overthinking things, which is true.

Did you have bad symptoms before the antibiotics?

I think I have h pylori and am waiting to do stool sample as I'm on Lansaprazole and need to stop taking for 2 weeks.
I'd happily take any antibiotics if it cleared it up! Dr says endoscopy will be the next thing if it doesn't clear up

I also had it a couple of years ago and took 2xantibiotics and was already on omeprazole. The problem it caused me was that it contributed to my anaemia and I have IBS anyway so it is difficult to attribute which problem is caused by what. I did react to one of the antibiotics but I am already allergic to penicillin so prone to antibiotic allergies.

I was told that there are only 3 antibiotics that work for it and you have to go for a strong dose of two of them combined to get rid of it. Apparently if you don't go for the treatment all-in properly then it can be harder to try and re-treat later as it has got used to the antibiotics you already took.

It will be fine, just do the treatment and get rid. Good luck.

'Did you have bad symptoms before the antibiotics?'

Just persistent indigestion and reflux but I had quite a demanding job at the time plus youngest dc didnt sleep well so I kind of presumed it was all stress related. My gp said it's apparently quite common, many people will have h.p and not get tested and therefore go untreated which can then cause problems so it's good you're getting sorted.

I had it about 14 years ago.
Had to do the antibiotic treatment twice as the first lot didn't work.
All fine now. (well, gallstones but that's not related)
The worst thing is the clairithromyacin- feels like a brick on your stomach. My GP told me to take it on a full stomach to make it more digestible.
Absurd it took them so long to diagnose you and with so much intervention. It's so common (60% of the adult population are thought to have it but most are asymptomatic) A blood test could have picked it up but I suppose you were referred for other things.
Hope it works quickly for you!

Worked wonders for me after months of awful heart burn. The antibiotics really made my bowels move though!! I'd but lots of pro biotic stuff for afterwards cause they really do clear out all the good bacteria in there!
Also the clarithromycin gave me a horrible sour taste in my mouth for the 7 day course but then went away.

The treatment is horrible but the consequences of not treating could be a lot worse. You could end up with an ulcer or an overwhelming infection. I had a massive infection some years ago and I have never felt so ill in my life. I ended up in hospital and caught another infection while I was in there.
So my advice would be to just struggle through the antibiotics, then take probiotics once you have finished.

I have just bought a test for HP online as I have been suffering for 2 years with what doctors diagnosed as acide reflux and gastritis.

I feel unwell every single day, light headed and like my insides are all jittery.

All they did was prescribe omeprazole 2 years ago (after I was admitted to A&E after a crushing pain in the centre of my chest, all heart problems have been ruled out with ECg etc).

Every single day I have horrendous wind at both ends. Whatever I eat makes me feel so uncomfortable in the centre of my chest, and only Peptac (prescribed) can provide some relief. Also chewing peppermint gum can bring on wind which helps.

I am so fed up and don't know why the doctors haven't suggested endoscopy or anything else. I had one 30 years ago when I was diagnosed with IBS, but had to go private first for consultation to get my doctor to then suggest it.

I had it in late summer, and still suffering with reflux now - my GP said it can take a long time to heal. The stomach pain is gone though. I was on the same three tablets although I think lower on the PPI dose. I went to the local health food shop before starting and spoke to one of the staff who recommended a probiotic to go alongside it, and I actually felt fine. Not even thrush! I did have that disgusting taste in my mouth mentioned by PP though.

I had this a few years ago, diagnosed through a gastroscopy. Had similar meds to you and it cleared up fairly quickly. I had similar symptoms just last month. All I needed to do was give a stool sample this time to check. Nothing found - but gp just prescribed omeprazole which cleared up the symptoms.

This thread has spurred me on to ask for a HP blood test to be added to the routine blood tests I have booked for next week.

@skyeisthelimit Where did you order the online test from?

I'm really interested in finding out whether I have this after a bout of what I presume was gastritis. I had a weekend celebration where I ate lots of things unusual in my diet, including alcohol as I don't usually drink. Afterwards I had about two months with awful middle of the stomach pain only relieved by uncontrollable vomiting.

The symptoms never really fell in line with anything else (ulcer etc), and the acute pain has gone now but I still don't feel like my gut is healthy and I really want to sort it out. All the "gut health" plans I've come across include foods I know I couldn't digest right now and I really don't know where to start!

The standard test is a stool sample to see if you have an active infection. The blood test can only tell if you have antibodies to it.

22names ah I got confused. Oh well I’ve asked the doc so maybe they will come back with offering the stool test instead.

I haven’t done the online one yet.

Mrspatmorespinny I got it from Amazon but do have a good look at the reviews as some are better than others.

I was going to do the test then approach doctor if it was positive .

@WilsonMilson I got a stool test from amazon too, for a couple of pounds more you can get a kit with two tests, which you could repeat just to make sure. Like you if it had been positive I would have seen the GP. The test is easy enough and it has been very useful during these Covid times when seeing a GP was practically impossible.

Sorry the above info should be for @MrsPatmoresPinny

How are you getting on now @WilsonMilson? I've just picked up my prescription today and have freaked myself out reading cancer horror stories. I feel better reading this thread as I don't know anyone who has had it. I hope it clears up for us all soon!! :)