French patient/ask for advice

[lulluby63]

Hello,

I am French so sorry in advance for my bad English.
I was diagnosed with helicobacter in 2013 ; I underwent a treatment with amoxicillin, metrodinazole, clarythormycin. This treatment made me feel really sick. Not only dit it fail, but just after the treatment, I developped a nasty bacteria called clostridium difficile. It took me months before I could get rid of it (I had in total 3 treatments with vancomycin ).
Now, of course, I still have this helicobacter, my last breath test was : nearly 60 per thousand (In france the rate is per thousand, hope you will understand). What do you think of this dreadful rate? I am scared. Endoscopy shows grastritis.
I underwent kinds of "natural" treatments, but they all failed.

I am scared just at the idea of taking antibiotics again (due to the clostridium difficile I had, my intestines are even more fragile after that infection). My doctor has proposed PYLERA treatment (with bismuth metrodinazole tetracycline), I am really scared.

What do you think about it? Could you provide me with advice?
Thanks in advance for your help
Marie Laure

[Helico_expert]

Pylera is a good option. I am sorry that you experienced bad side effects from previous treatment. unfortunately antibiotic is the only way to get rid of H. pylori. The good news is, Pylera contain bismuth and it has been used to treat C. difficile. So the chance of you developing C. difficile diarrhea is low. in fact, we have been prescribing bismuth containing treatment for years and we none of them came back with C. difficile diarrhea.

[lulluby63]

Many thanks for your answer.
In France, Pylera treatment has been allowed since 2013 only. Is it a safe treatment ? Bismuth is a heavy metal isn't it? I have red throught the internet that some people have experienced cancer a few months after that treatment. What is you opinion about it?

[lulluby63]

I also have another question. I has an endocopy in September. There was nothing apart from gastritis. A fews days after, I developped painful burps, hearburn, oesophagis pain. Before this endoscopy, I never had this types of symptoms. now I still remain with those horrible symptoms, plus sometimes a feeling of empty stomach as if I were in hunger.
Is it possible that during endoscopy, they put me more helicobacter? Hope endoscopy is safe.
I must tell that now I am fed up with this helicobacter. My life is hell, all the more so as I have 2 daughters with severe autism, so you can imagine how I feel depressed having such a bad health.
Thanks for your listening.

[Helico_expert]

I am sorry for the slow response. has been quite busy lately. I'll try to be more active in future.

Bismuth has been around for hundreds of years and have always been used for gastric problems. it was banned in Europe for the side effect of very dark stool which misled many doctors that patients have internal bleeding.

It is a heavy metal but not easily absorb by human body. So I think if it is taken in the recommended dose, it should be very safe.

I dont think endoscopy will give you more H. pylori. Perhaps during the endoscopy, the specialist took some biopsies and irritated the stomach? I dont know. I think this is a very gray area where little is known.

[lulluby63]

Thank you so much for your reply helico expert.

[lulluby63]

I have a last question concerning Pylera.
I have red on a French internet forum that one person took pylera, then had a lung cancer 10 months after. A lungs specialist told him that it may be due to radons contained in bismuth.
What do you think of that?
Sorry to seem suspiscious but i want to be sure that pylera is 100% safe.

[Helico_expert]

I dont think there is any connection. We dont absorb those bismuth.

[ivan_m]

I took the equivalent of Pylera - metronidazole + tetracycline + bismuth as a first treatment and it eradicated my h. pylori infection with pretty much no side effects. I'm sure it will do the same for you. There's nothing you should worry about. Just be sure to take it as directed.

[Campanile]

Dear Lullaby,

I was treated in March for h pylori based on a blood test. I was so sick from the antibiotics I went to the emergency room, stopping the antibiotics after three days, but because I was afraid of the deleterious effects of HP I went on a very long holistic cure of Mastic Gum and other items. I eventually tested negative for h pylori, but continued to worry that I still had it.

Recently I had a endoscopy and colonoscopy with exactly the same horrible after effects you describe, also similar results. While I am sitting here typing I am waiting for Zantac to kick in so I can get through the day. My results showed I have no h pylori, so either I never had it in the first place or the holistic cure worked. What holistic cure did you try and for how long?

When you do the prep for those procedures you essentially lavage your entire microbiome, (LOL-the gastroenterologist complimented me on my prep.) so it takes time for it to rebuild. Although, I did not experience this misery the last time I had a colonoscopy. I was told to take Align which so far is not helping. Have you called your doctor to tell him that you are suffering? I am going to wait two more weeks and if I don't improve improve I am calling my doctor.

Also, if I chew a DGL Licorise before I eat I have fewer problems. Were you given a list of foods to avoid? My list included, chocolate, tomato, citrus, peppermint, alchohol.