my doctor is so sure of his diagnosis

[Lisamich]

Hello!
I'm just wondering about the benefits vs. side effects of treating h. pylori.

My pulminologist is so confident that treating h. pylori will resolve all my health issues and yet, when I search the internet, I see very little which is conclusive. Of course, I make room for the likelihood that my doctor, with his medical degree and experience, knows more than I do with my google medical "degree" ha, ha.

This is my history:
1. intrinsic asthma. sudden worsening in June 2011. some improvement with inhaled cortison. PFT test results in normal range, but 15% improvement after inhaling sultanol.

2. possible GERD /definite heart burn. Started with second pregnancy in 2006. Clearly aggravating asthma. Some improvement with "pantaloc" (reduces stomach acid).

3. I've been on Avamys (cortisone spray in the nose.) since 2010. My complaint was loss of taste and an irritated right nostril. diagnosis was that my right nostral is not straight. Treatment restored sense of taste and reduced the irritation.

My doctor says these are all related and described me as a "classic pathology". He is certain I have h. pylori. He is certain treating it will relieve me of all symptoms. He is highly respected in his field. I will have a blood test on Tuesday. If it's positive, he wants to eradicate the h. pylori.

So, my questions are:

1. is there actually a "classic pathology" for h. pylori which is talked about in medical circles but not out on the internet yet? Is this diagnosis plausible?

2. are there side effects likely from the treatment of h. pylori? My continuing symptoms (breathlessness, lack of appetite, fatigue) are disturbing. on the other hand, I don't want to take unneccesary risks in treating them. but if the treatment is relatively risk-free, the hope of full health is worth it.

Thank you very much for your time!
Lisa

[rifle_li]

I think you should have a 13C UBT for H.pylori. This method is very accurate and without any pain. If you have h.pylori, you need a standard therapy. Good luck for you!

[Helico_expert]

the classic symptoms for H. pylori includes bloating, stomach pain, and heart burn. there are side effects taking the medications, such as diarrhea. however, that bad feelings will go away after you stop taking the medication. as for H. pylori, you'll have those symptoms for the rest of your life and possible get worse if not treated. so i say the little discomfort during the treatment period is absolutely nothing compare to not treating h. pylori.

urea breath test is an alternative for h. pylori test. as sensitive as blood test. but before the test, you have to stop your acid reduction pills for 4 weeks.

update us your treatment.

Thanks

[Lisamich]

Thank you very much for your quick response.

My only symptom from your list is the heart burn which is aggravating my asthma. I read somewhere on this forum that someone claimed to have needed a year to "recover" from h. pylori treatment. I'm guessing they meant it took that long for their gastritis to recover? From your post I gather that after you've taken the antibiotics all side effects subside. Is this correct?

I've read some articles suggesting that h. pylori is a part of the "natural" stomach flora and questioning the benefits of eradicating it. Could you please comment on that? (Like with vaccinations, the people against medical intervention are much more vocal on the internet than those who are for it. But 1 article I read "against" h. pylori treatment was written by a physician. I'd love to hear the educated and informed contrary viewpoint.)

Also, if it turns out that I have h. pylori (will find out Tuesday) do my children (ages 5 and 7) likely have it? If so, is treatment recommended for children? Have many children already been treated for this? Luckily my kids' Pediactrician is the one who recommended this Pulminologist to me, so the two of them should be "on the same page" regarding treatment if, indeed, my children do require it.

I have just one last question, if you don't mind. Is h. pylori prevelent in Indonesia? I was there twice in the 90's, each time for a month. I was very careful to eat only food washed in drinking water, but I wonder if I picked up the bacteria there. Do you think that's likely?

Thank you very much for your time!
Lisa
http://www.lisa.herger.at

[Helico_expert]

"side effects" by antibiotics such as diarrhea is because of the normal flora being disturbed. the antibiotic wiped out most of the normal flora in your intestine and when the minority evil ones suddenly have no more competition for food, they rise up producing toxin and irritate your stomach and hence diarrhea.

"side effects" by H. pylori, are not clearly understood yet. many people are infected with H. pylori and not everyone has the same outcome. Some never know they were infected and bring it to their coffin. Nevertheless, every infected person has inflammation in the stomach. the different severity of the inflammation may be the reason for different disease outcome.

so, once your h. pylori load is reduced by antibiotic, the stomach has a chance to become less inflamed. the recovery of your stomach depends on how inflamed it is. like some members said, it took them a year to recover. however, in general, it takes only a few weeks. Most people who recovered from the treatment dont post here. Most of those who still suffer from the H. pylori respond here. so, the statistic has to be corrected.

a few papers do suggest that h. pylori prevent asthma, reflux and other allergies. but other says h. pylori gives ulcers and cancers. nevertheless, only 10% of the infected ppl has symptoms. majority of the infected doesnt even know it. it is too early to say if H. pylori is a good bacteria. However, if the protection by H. pylori is true, then perhaps people should be infected by it on young age and get rid of it at older age.

Indonesia has high prevalence of H. pylori. however, it is not easy to catch it like that. you have to spend a lot of time with an infected person, be very close to them, like share food and drinks to be infected. it doesnt pass through kissing or touching. usually you catch the bacteria when you are young. as young as 2 years old in Japan was detected with H. pylori. and these children just carry it for the rest of their life until 10% of them complain about their symptoms.

as for your children, like what you have found. H. pylori may be providing some protections for your children. H. pylori may be in their stomach constantly inducing immune response so your children has better immunity. in this case, i suggest you dont treat it. ignore it until they are at least 12, their body are stronger, then only seek for treatment.

[Lisamich]

Thank you.