Really scared to take pylori treatment

elllyyyyyy · 2023-08-01T17:34:46+00:00

Sorry for the double post but I'm getting more and more anxious as it gets closer to taking my first dose for h pylori. I've read people say the treatment is brutal and seen people say they had a raised heart rate, shakes, diarrhoea, weakness. I have anxiety and this is really scaring me, I reckon I would be straight on the phone to 111 as I'm so scared of health related issues. Please can I have positive experiences from people who have took the treatment, surely it can't be that bad right? It's really scaring me and making me not want to take it, but I have acid reflux and stomach pain so often now I don't know what else to do :(

Brandyb · 01/08/2023 18:37

Is this a weeklong course of antibiotics? That's what I had for h pylori and I didn't notice any side effects at all. But your post suggests this might be a different treatment. What is the medication?

Original poster

elllyyyyyy · 01/08/2023 18:38

Brandyb · 01/08/2023 18:37

Is this a weeklong course of antibiotics? That's what I had for h pylori and I didn't notice any side effects at all. But your post suggests this might be a different treatment. What is the medication?

Yes it's a 7 day course! Clarithromycin x2 metradinazole x4 and emeprazole x2 a day

OP posts:

AnneElliott23 · 01/08/2023 18:44

I had treatment years ago and am now on strong PPIs for life, I only had one set of antibiotics though for a week, plus some iron, I don't recall it being particularly bad but I'd been in so much pain before that for months and months, years intermittently, that the relief it brought was worth it for me. It will never go but my condition is mostly under control now and I can mostly eat fairly normally. Could you ask to chat to the nurse for reassurance maybe?

Anxioys · 01/08/2023 18:48

Do you know what it is like not to do it? The pain is far far worse. The longer you leave it untreated the worse it will get.

Ex ignored the requirements for treatment and eventually had to take multiple treatments and still has problems with pain and eating.

Pancakewaffle · 01/08/2023 18:49

Hi OP,

I had triple therapy for H-plot I a couple of months ago. I didn't have any side effects whatsoever.

I do also have HA, so I do totally get where you're coming from but personally it was totally fine for me

Original poster

elllyyyyyy · 01/08/2023 18:52

AnneElliott23 · 01/08/2023 18:44

I had treatment years ago and am now on strong PPIs for life, I only had one set of antibiotics though for a week, plus some iron, I don't recall it being particularly bad but I'd been in so much pain before that for months and months, years intermittently, that the relief it brought was worth it for me. It will never go but my condition is mostly under control now and I can mostly eat fairly normally. Could you ask to chat to the nurse for reassurance maybe?

Oh goodness please tell me you aren't on PPI's for life because of the medication? 😥 glad it worked for you though!

OP posts:

Original poster

elllyyyyyy · 01/08/2023 18:56

Pancakewaffle · 01/08/2023 18:49

Hi OP,

I had triple therapy for H-plot I a couple of months ago. I didn't have any side effects whatsoever.

I do also have HA, so I do totally get where you're coming from but personally it was totally fine for me

Thank you for this. Honestly the thought of taking them is terrifying me more than anything but it has to be done😭

OP posts:

Original poster

elllyyyyyy · 01/08/2023 18:57

Anxioys · 01/08/2023 18:48

Do you know what it is like not to do it? The pain is far far worse. The longer you leave it untreated the worse it will get.

Ex ignored the requirements for treatment and eventually had to take multiple treatments and still has problems with pain and eating.

Thank you, to be honest it has not been confirmed if I have it or not however I've had the pains and reflux for a year and more severe past few months, so doctor said blind treatment for one week and if it doesn't go it's a priority referral to gastro for endoscopy, they suspect gastritis but think it is caused by pylori and my symptoms seem to match. I will take the treatment of course I'm just very scared of the side effects and how it will affect me.

OP posts:

msbevvy · 01/08/2023 18:58

I was suffering so much with the H. Pylori that I felt like I was dying. After a couple of days on the treatment I felt like I had turned a corner. It was such a relief.

Original poster

elllyyyyyy · 01/08/2023 19:06

msbevvy · 01/08/2023 18:58

I was suffering so much with the H. Pylori that I felt like I was dying. After a couple of days on the treatment I felt like I had turned a corner. It was such a relief.

Thank you so much. I'm fed up with this now, I never had such bad reflux and stomach pain it is actually awful. Getting me so down now I just want to try it and see if it helps!

OP posts:

283nouveauxnoms · 01/08/2023 19:17

It’s a very simple stool test for pylori, why don’t you have that first? Mine was found on biopsy but checked I was clear by stool test after treatment. Seems odd to treat without the simple test.

OopsItsAPony · 01/08/2023 19:19

My 10 year old daughter had the treatment and had no side effects.

Original poster

elllyyyyyy · 01/08/2023 19:19

283nouveauxnoms · 01/08/2023 19:17

It’s a very simple stool test for pylori, why don’t you have that first? Mine was found on biopsy but checked I was clear by stool test after treatment. Seems odd to treat without the simple test.

Because I've had it for so long, stool sample I need to stay off PPI's for 3 weeks and I can't, the reflux is so bad it's waking me up, causing palpitations, making me almost vomit. They said the best option is take treatment and then if no better we know it's not that and we can refer to specialist

OP posts:

283nouveauxnoms · 01/08/2023 19:43

Ah fair enough. Good luck with the treatment, I don’t react well with antibiotics but it was no worse than normal.

Icepinkeskimo · 01/08/2023 19:46

I just wanted to reassure you OP, I’m assuming this is the first time you’ve been prescribed this treatment yes?
Can I ask what the combination of antibiotics and any other medication you’ve been prescribed?
Of course it’s natural to be anxious, the majority of people are honestly so you’re not alone.
Can I enquire if you are planning on working whilst you’re taking the medication?
From the sounds of it, the pain and discomfort that you are experiencing and presenting now are extreme. Try to focus on the fact this course of treatment is a relatively short period of time compared to however long you’ve been struggling for, it may help just to put it into perspective.
Has your GP/ consultant spoken to you about eating whilst you’re on this course? It’s an important factor to consider, my advice would be small “tummy friendly” foods.
So absolutely no acidic foods, no tomatoes, no citrus, no spices, don’t even think about drinking wine, and don’t look at any melons and in particular water melon! Be careful with the dairy as well. Keep your food very simple and plain and actually boring! Cut out the coffee if you can and if you can’t, then the weaker the better.
Drink plenty of fresh water, small sips don’t guzzle it, (no flavoured waters, no squash).
On this treatment you have to be kind to yourself, remember that. If you’re tired sleep, if you feel down, remember the treatment is not forever and even taking a nice shower or bath will help.

Original poster

elllyyyyyy · 01/08/2023 19:53

Icepinkeskimo · 01/08/2023 19:46

I just wanted to reassure you OP, I’m assuming this is the first time you’ve been prescribed this treatment yes?
Can I ask what the combination of antibiotics and any other medication you’ve been prescribed?
Of course it’s natural to be anxious, the majority of people are honestly so you’re not alone.
Can I enquire if you are planning on working whilst you’re taking the medication?
From the sounds of it, the pain and discomfort that you are experiencing and presenting now are extreme. Try to focus on the fact this course of treatment is a relatively short period of time compared to however long you’ve been struggling for, it may help just to put it into perspective.
Has your GP/ consultant spoken to you about eating whilst you’re on this course? It’s an important factor to consider, my advice would be small “tummy friendly” foods.
So absolutely no acidic foods, no tomatoes, no citrus, no spices, don’t even think about drinking wine, and don’t look at any melons and in particular water melon! Be careful with the dairy as well. Keep your food very simple and plain and actually boring! Cut out the coffee if you can and if you can’t, then the weaker the better.
Drink plenty of fresh water, small sips don’t guzzle it, (no flavoured waters, no squash).
On this treatment you have to be kind to yourself, remember that. If you’re tired sleep, if you feel down, remember the treatment is not forever and even taking a nice shower or bath will help.

Hi! Thank you. I've just took my first dose now and had a little cry just because I'm so scared of the effects and whether it will make me worse, I've seen so many bad reviews and people say it made them worse and gave them ibs 😥😥😥 so I've been given clarithromycin, metrodinazole and emeprazole and I've just took the 3 now. I hope I'm ok 😭

OP posts:

PinkFootstool · 01/08/2023 19:54

I've taken clarothrimycin, metronidazole and omeprazole numerous times over the years and never had an issue with side effects.

Take the pills. Avoid alcohol, avoid grapefruit and take them with food etc as directed.

Original poster

elllyyyyyy · 01/08/2023 19:58

PinkFootstool · 01/08/2023 19:54

I've taken clarothrimycin, metronidazole and omeprazole numerous times over the years and never had an issue with side effects.

Take the pills. Avoid alcohol, avoid grapefruit and take them with food etc as directed.

Thank you. I'm really hoping the side effects are minimal. I've never took this many anti biotics at once before.

OP posts:

Boredofmyguts · 01/08/2023 20:03

I finished my course last week. I took a probiotic at lunchtimes away from the antibiotics and also drank kefir/had natural yoghurt. I had diarrhoea a couple of times (not too badly, just loose rather than full on) and the worst was a metallic taste in my mouth from the clarithromycin.
I feel soooo much better now although I’ve stayed on the ppi for a bit at a lower dose with my GP’s blessing.

UtterlyUnimaginativeUsername · 01/08/2023 20:06

Well done you for taking the leap. Years ago I started on a medication that had notoriously bad gastro side effects and I put it off for days; in the end it didn't cause any problems and I've been on it since. Take it easy now, coddle yourself a bit and let the antibiotics do their thing.

SparkyBlue · 01/08/2023 20:09

I had no bad effects from the treatment and once they worked I felt amazing. It was well worth it

UnicornStarfish · 01/08/2023 20:34

Go for it OP. I took it and didn't get many side effects. I know somebody who did the treatment twice and had no side effects either.

Original poster

elllyyyyyy · 01/08/2023 20:35

SparkyBlue · 01/08/2023 20:09

I had no bad effects from the treatment and once they worked I felt amazing. It was well worth it

Thank you for your positive experience!

OP posts:

Original poster

elllyyyyyy · 01/08/2023 20:35

UnicornStarfish · 01/08/2023 20:34

Go for it OP. I took it and didn't get many side effects. I know somebody who did the treatment twice and had no side effects either.

Thank you🥹

OP posts:

UnicornStarfish · 01/08/2023 20:59

I know why you're scared, I totally get it! I googled everything and more so I was expecting it to be terrible but TBH it felt amazing like another pp said.
Good luck punching H. Pylori in the teeth!