Questions and Backstory

[CraigFL732]

Hi, first post. My name is Craig.

I am morbidly obese and suffer from lymphedema in both of my legs. I have been big all my life, but actually very very healthy until a few years ago. I never used to get sick. Then I contracted a streptococcus infection in my lower right leg from an open wound on my foot. In the months to follow I started experiencing symptoms of worsening lymphedema. With no money for decent healthcare and awaiting for Medicare to start, it was really just a lot of waiting and sitting. They actually make you wait 18-24 months from the day that your disability is granted to become eligible for medicare. If they just gave it to people when they became disabled, they could get better healthcare and get healthier quicker, but no. We have to sit around sucking off the tit of the economy, unable to work, and unable to afford health care. But I digress.

I did my waiting and finally started getting medicare in June of this year. This has basically changed everything, because now I feel like I have a fighting chance. I want to turn my life around. I want to lose the weight and my best option based on the severity of my lymphedema is a gastric bypass surgery. This will help me to lose a considerable amount of weight and my chances of successfully treating my lymphedema to be exponentially higher. So with that in mind, I found a surgeon. I began the process of getting all of the necessary tests done to be get clearance that I am safe to operate on. I had just had perfect blood work back from my doctor. Absolutely perfect health besides the lymphedema. Even healthier than a lot of men my age at a healthy weight. But then I was told I had to be specifically tested by blood for something called H-Pylori. I had no clue what it was and figured I didn't have it so when I got a call from my doctor's office saying they "needed to see me" about my blood results. I knew this wasn't going to be good news. Sure enough I have this h-pylori, with which my best guess for how I got it was from cockroaches, which were prevalent during a 1.5 year time of my life I lived with an Uncle.

So the doc put me on triple therapy. Amox. 500 MG, twice a day. Clarithro. 500 MG, twice a day. And Lansoprazole. I am already reading about other people's misfortune of negative side effects. This puts a lot of fear and anxiety in me as to how I will handle these, highly possible, side effects. I have a lot of anxiety as it is when it comes to my health. I recently developed a very severe fear of sudden death or some horrible ailment like Diabetes, all as a result to my morbid obesity and laziness. As a result of that anxiety my doctor has me on Xanax which i take with a great deal of precaution because I fear developing a need for the medication. I really try to fight through a lot of this anxiety.

Anyway onto my questions.

1.Are there any specific foods that could encourage better success while on the triple therapy treatment?
2.Are there any foods to avoid.
3.Are there any vitamins or over the counter supplements/minerals I should take during or after the treat?
4.Are there any anticipated drug interactions with the following: Alprazolam (Xanax), Clonidine, Albuterol, Probiotics Acidophilus, Centrum Men's Under 50, and Potassium Gluconate. Oh and I also occasionally smoke marijuana. I don't drink much alcohol and will be sure to not have any while taking triple therapy. Also do NOT smoke cigarettes. Quit those three years ago along with the heroin Moving along nicely...

I know I have rambled on a bit, but it helps to get it out there and hopefully get some feedback from someone else. I never really done anything like this before and I can tell you that just typing these words is soothing to my anxiety. I look forward to any knowledgeable, supportive, or humorous comments.

I bid you all a good day and good health!

-Craig

[Helico_expert]

Hi Craig,

Thank you for sharing your story. I have to remind you that most of the people who posted here are people who experienced bad side effects or had very resistant cases. Therefore, there is a bias towards the high number of side effects from the treatment. According to our patients, we hardly heard any complaints about the treatment. Hence, I believe only small amount of people are actually experiencing the side effects.

Nevertheless, if you do experienced adverse side effects, dont be too surprised. Just try to think positively and tell yourself that the side effects will go away right after you stop the treatment. It is important that you complete the treatment to avoid bacteria resistance.

There is no specific food that is recommended to boost the treatment.
There is no specific food you should avoid, other than alcohol.
No supplement is recommended for this treatment.
For drug drug interaction, it is best you consult your local pharmacist. or get a medication review.

have a read about this website about the interaction between clarithromycin and Marurijuana
http://www.ehealthme.com/drug-interacti ... -marijuana

[CraigFL732]

Thanks for replying. I appreciate you taking the time to answer my questions.

My pharmacist said that my drug interactions were okay. My question was more along the line could it have an affect on this particular treatment. I have been on strong antibiotics in the past where I was told to not take my daily multi-vitamin because it could counteract the antibiotics that I was on, which was doxycycline. I was hoping that would not be the case this time around and according to what I have read it seems like it should be okay.

I had a look at the article you linked about the marijuana interaction. That is pretty interesting and something to consider. Knowing me though I will probably test the waters on that one and see how I feel.

Thanks again for your help.

[Helico_expert]

Good luck to your treatment. Looking forward to hearing good news from you.

[CraigFL732]

Hi again,

One week into treatment. I haven't had any of the upset stomach or flu like symptoms others have posted about, but there have been some other changes that I am curious to know if they are a cause of the treatment itself or just sign that treatment is working.

From the third day until now, 7 days in, I have had little to no appetite. I can eat and I have been forcing myself to with breakfast and dinner since those are the times I take my meds. But I honestly feel I could go the entire day without eating and it wouldn't even phase me. The thought of making something delicious and just enjoying my food doesn't even enter my mind.

To add that I feel incredibly on edge. Like I am ramped up with energy, but don't have anyway of getting rid of it. Despite having all this energy, I still just want to sit at my computer and be lazy. And this also affects my eating habits because I might wake up 8-9AM and hop on computer and realized its 3 o'clock and I have had any breakfast. Its almost as if time is zipping by and I could care less if I eat or not. And at the same time I am very amped up and feel like I have a rather short fuse when dealing with others. Just getting pissed off at the tiniest thing.

Thanks in advance for any help you can offer. On the plus side I have mysteriously lost 20 pounds. Either that or my scale was broken. Maybe these meds speed up metabolism or signs that h pylori is going away and I am getting a proper metabolism?

Good Day,
Craig

[Helico_expert]

good to hear that your energy level is high. Just want to let you know that there are many drug combinations to get rid of H. pylori. You just need to have the determination to get through the treatment. Perhaps you should avoid thinking of the treatment too often. distract yourself with other positive thinking will help you through.