Two courses of treatment and still in acute pain - normal?

[Chancery]

Hi, I have just completed my second course of triple therapy for h.pylori and I am still in considerable pain. Specifically, I have to be VERY careful what I eat, but it's still no guarantee that the gnawing hole in my breastbone won't just start yelping. I am unable to eat all the usual stuff, such as Coke, alcohol etc, but I can no longer eat something as harmless as a piece of fruit unless it is immediately after a meal. I used to be able to eat pears with safety when all other fruits were too acidic, but now even the ripest ones feel as if I just poured vinegar on an open wound.

It is 3 weeks since I finished the last course of antibiotics and I am still taking 2 doses of Omeprazole a day. I was booked in for a Urea test but I postponed it for a month because I didn't see how I could get by for 2 weeks without Omeprazole.

The 'gastritis' I have suffered after this second treatment seems much more acute than it was after my first dosing (in April 2009). More alarmingly I had a window of about four or five days immediately after this treatment when my stomach felt 'healed'. It felt as if something had changed for the better - it felt normal, for want of a better word - but then it seemed to plunge downhill and all the gastric pain was back with a vengeance.

Is it possible/likely that this is simply a reaction to the damage the antibiotics have done to my gut flora and the ulcer is just inflamed and angry? Or is this more symptomatic of something more seriously wrong? Would it be a good idea to take a dose of Pepto-Bismol each day to help heal the stomach lining? I always feel uncertain with Pepto as it is NSAID related and my first ulcer was 'caused' by NSAIDS (I was tested several years later for H. Pylori and found positive, but it was Ibuprofen that actually brought on my first ulcer).

If anyone can reassure me that this lack of healing is symptomatic of post-treatment that would be very helpful. Also if anyone has any advice on how to get healing going (is there anything a doctor could prescribe that would help?) or if Pepto-Bismol would be a good option I would be very grateful!

Many thanks, Chancery

ETA. Should just add I'm on a good diet, sugar and white-flour free, and I take live yogurt each day to try and help the flora.

[luci2010]

Hi,

My story is very very similar to yours... I also had 2 treatments for HP this year, I felt better for a few days after the treaments and then everything starts to go down hill again. Nothing seems to soothe the pain in my stomach, I've had pretty much all the medication available in the market and still no avail. It's been three months since I had the last treatment and I'm still in pain every single day I don't know what to do anymore... I've done another urea test and that came back negative. I've also tried probiotics and aloe vera juice, nothing helps...

If you find an answer, please let me know!!

I'm going back to the doctor for an endoscopy and a MRI soon.

Luci.