Helicobacter Forums

Hello,

I have been found with Bipolar disorder and ulcers. H pylori was cured and ulcers were healed but Bipolar was not cured. Luckily I met a psychiatrist.

I discussed with him about lithium tablet. It striked him. Lithium test was ordered and results were as below.

LITHIUM, SERUM <0.21 mmol/L ( test result indicate this is very low)

Normal range is .4 - 1.2 mmol/L

Now I have been put on Lithium tabs 300mg * 2 daily and monitoring of lithium is done through blood test.

Usually H. pylori leads to problems related to digestive systems. which then leads to pain and diet habit change. which then leads to constantly thinking of what to eat and what not to eat, worry about trips and presentation and daily performance. which then lead to multiple stress.

during treatment, worry about treatment failure, worry about disease worsen, and the experience on side effects may add on additional stress.

when treatment failed or diagnosed with gastric ulcers and other more severe gastric disease, patients often get very stressed up with stronger treatment with heavier side effects.

I believe these are the mental stress that indirectly cause by H. pylori. not bipolar.

Hello,

All I want to say is don't forget Lithium when you are suffering from Stress or depression because of H Pylori or other gastro issues.

Even though my Triple antibiotic therapy was done in Sept 2015. and H Pylori Stool antigen test came out negative 3 times at different occasions in 2016 after this. Endoscopy colonoscopy was clean. Still my psychiatrist found lithium on the extremely low side in July 2016 and prescribed me lithium tabs.

Shared for the information of all.

Did your symptom improve?

Yes symptoms improved in depression.. There is nothing wrong in going to a psychiatrist. But getting the right test and medicine is important.

normally they don't do much testing but Lithium serum is done by them if you are not on such medicine. Feel free to ask them. as you know gastro issues could lead to. Nutrient mal-absorption.

I started 2 * 300 mg Lithium carbonate and withing 15 days i was retested. The results were not great but they improved. 0.49 mmol/L

All I had to do is ask about lithium to my psychiatrist. I see hell lot of improvement in my depression.

Its a request to everyone please share your results of lithium serum before and after.

Hi! I know its an old thread.. hoping you read this and answer me... ever since my h pylori triple therapy started last year february, i plunged into a black hole of depression and anxiety.. i went to many psychiatrists and took many prescription antidepressants, antipsychotics, benzos etc with no relief... i really want death to come now as every living moment is torture.. my present psychiatrist hasnt put me on lithium or another mood stabilizer (those are the only options left) as he thinks i am not bipolar.. after reading your post, i got my lithium serum test done and the reports will be here in two days.. i dont know if the psych will give me lithium even if the result shows lithium deficiency.. some ppl say its toxic.. anyways how are you now.. still taking lithium? Hows the depression? Were you diagnosed with bipolar before h pylori of after that? Pls pls reply

I am sorry for what happened to you. Have you check if your H. pylori is completely eradicated?

Some people does get depressed when H. pylori cannot be eradicated. If you have resistant H. pylori, we can certainly provide more useful guidance.

Lastly, try to stay positive.

No i didnt go back for a breath test to confirm eradication... since the h pylori treatment began, i have changed into a mentally unstable depressed insane kind of person... it has robbed me of my life.. dont know if it was the triple therapy that caused it or the trauma of bleeding from my duodenal ulcer which they blamed on h pylori ;(

Also i just got my serum lithium report.. mine is <0.1 which is even lower than what the person who posted this thread had before going on lithium tablets ... but my psychiatrist does not seem to be understanding enough

perhaps you should look for another doctor then.

meanwhile, i think you should go double check with your H. pylori situation. Since you had a bleeding ulcer before, if H. pylori is not eradicated, you can get another bleeding ulcer.