Prevention
Posted: Sat Jan 29, 2011 11:17 pm
I am new to this forum. Decided to post a question.
I was diagnosed with H. Pylori in August 2010 after a scope procedure. I have suffered from diarrhea and chronic stomach (intestinal) discomfort for years. I also had a small ulcer around 1985 that was cured. Still, I have experienced gas and indigestion since then. I attributed these symptoms to the fact that I travel extensively and have lived for 8 years in Central and South America and for 4 years in Mainland China. I have traveled to every continent except Antarctica. I have even been to Perth, Australia where H. Pylori was reportedly discovered! Although we do our best to make sure our food and water are clean, we are never certain. Therefore, I thought my stomach issues were just caused by giardia or food poisoning. I have been treated several times for that over the years with temporary relief.
I was treated for H. Pylori in August, 2010 and saw a drastic improvement. I assumed I had defeated this critter. However, after being re-tested, I have not defeated it yet. So I am currently on my second treatment. I am currently living in the US, but plan to return to East Asia this fall for about two years.
My question is are there further precautions I can take while living overseas to prevent re-contracting this? We only drink bottled water. We try to eat in better restaurants, but these are often suspect. There is not much we can do to control every variable. I should add that no other family member has been diagnosed with H. Pylori, although they sometimes have similar symptoms. However, I am the only one who has severe issues. I work with farmers overseas and often travel to remote, very poor areas outside the city. The food there is especially suspect, but unavoidable due to availability and cultural expectations. I always drink bottled water or tea made with boiled water served to me by my hosts. However, the food I am served is out of my control.
Thanks for your advice. When I learned that this can lead to stomach cancer, and I realized I may not be able to avoid reinfection, it was pretty disconcerting.
I was diagnosed with H. Pylori in August 2010 after a scope procedure. I have suffered from diarrhea and chronic stomach (intestinal) discomfort for years. I also had a small ulcer around 1985 that was cured. Still, I have experienced gas and indigestion since then. I attributed these symptoms to the fact that I travel extensively and have lived for 8 years in Central and South America and for 4 years in Mainland China. I have traveled to every continent except Antarctica. I have even been to Perth, Australia where H. Pylori was reportedly discovered! Although we do our best to make sure our food and water are clean, we are never certain. Therefore, I thought my stomach issues were just caused by giardia or food poisoning. I have been treated several times for that over the years with temporary relief.
I was treated for H. Pylori in August, 2010 and saw a drastic improvement. I assumed I had defeated this critter. However, after being re-tested, I have not defeated it yet. So I am currently on my second treatment. I am currently living in the US, but plan to return to East Asia this fall for about two years.
My question is are there further precautions I can take while living overseas to prevent re-contracting this? We only drink bottled water. We try to eat in better restaurants, but these are often suspect. There is not much we can do to control every variable. I should add that no other family member has been diagnosed with H. Pylori, although they sometimes have similar symptoms. However, I am the only one who has severe issues. I work with farmers overseas and often travel to remote, very poor areas outside the city. The food there is especially suspect, but unavoidable due to availability and cultural expectations. I always drink bottled water or tea made with boiled water served to me by my hosts. However, the food I am served is out of my control.
Thanks for your advice. When I learned that this can lead to stomach cancer, and I realized I may not be able to avoid reinfection, it was pretty disconcerting.