[UPDATE -- A summary of the alternative treatments can be found at the end of this entry. You may also read through the comments to discover how these food-based medicines eradicated H Pylori for myself as well as others' experiences. Also, many of the treatments are linked and will lead you to the products I used and other sites that can offer help. Good luck to everyone in your treatment! Don't give up hope -- H Pylori infection is treatable!]
ORIGINAL POST:
Well to be fair, I’m still being tested for other things like magnesium and iron deficiencies and c difficile infection, but after nearly a year of investigating other possibilities, including heart issues — and being diagnosed with Neurocardiogenic Syncope — I’m very happy to find that many of these miserable symptoms may be attributed to one nasty little undiagnosed bug: Helicobacter pylori.
This sneaky creature happily swims in your stomach acid and buries itself in the lining of your stomach and intestines. Our immune systems 
typically don’t access the stomach lining well, so joy and long life for those buggers if they go undetected! And really, a gastrointestinal doctor, or a G.I. for short, is the person who should discover this bug and begin the eradication process. Shall I tell you how many GIs I’ve seen over the last year? I was in the hospital for almost a week last April, underwent all kinds of tests, including an endoscopy and colonoscopy, later saw Dr. A. S. [name removed - email me if you plan to see a GI with those initials] in Great Neck, NY at least five times (he finally ended our all-too-brief sessions, in which he did nothing but earn a pretty penny for each five to ten minute visit and run one stool test for parasites, by telling me that he couldn’t do anything else for me), and then saw Dr. C. W., who told me that he believes my problem to be cardiological but ran some tests that my primary doctor had already run (tests he had access to in the computer but clearly didn’t review) when I insisted that the consistent thread in all of my symptoms was gastro-related.
Not so incidentally, it was my new primary physician who finally got the correct diagnosis, despite the fact that I had been seeing GIs who should have tested and picked it up long ago.
Oh! How could I forget my very kick ass gynecologist, Dr. John Gomes? He called me in the hospital, counseling me after a few ER visits, and saw me in his office to make sure none of my symptoms were related to my female anatomy. He checked my ovaries, tested for perimenopause, etc. But overall, Dr. Gomes spent time, unrelated to his own practice and services, just checking in on me. Should you need your lady parts checked or if a baby is in your future, I, once again, recommend this OB/GYN positively!
So why have I had good luck finding such great doctors and bad luck solely with gastroenterologists? Maybe I was a specialist in the torture of the innards in a past life? Who knows. But what’s done is done, and I hope to warn others who might see Dr. A.S. (no matter how “nice” he seems during his very expensive five-minute visits with you) or Dr. W. [again, email me if you want the name], who is like a quick hurricane breeze: completely disinterested in what you have to say and focused only on his own pre-determinations of what is wrong with you to the point that he too spends only five minutes in the room before he’s gone. By the way, I faxed him a question regarding my symptoms; he had his secretary leave me a message “never to email him again” as if a fax didn’t constitute a valid communication between a patient and a doctor. And the fax actually could have pulled him out of his “it’s an arrhythmia” diagnosis if he had actually considered its contents. I wrote to him explaining that I had begun taking a natural antibiotic, Grapefruit Seed Extract, which was making me feel better. I wanted to know why. His secretary, after telling me three times on my machine not to “email” the doctor anymore, finished the call with, “And Dr. W. doesn’t know what that stuff your taking is.” Um, yeah. And I don’t know what that stuff he’s practicing is, but it sure isn’t medicine motivated by that pesky Hippocratic Oath, which actually isn’t obligatory, or a sense of accountability.
So yes, back to the H Pylori. Dr. Hazan found the H Pylori antibody in my blood, and I then had to wait for the confirmation from a stool culture to determine if I had an active infection. So what does a sick-o do in the meantime? She hunts for alternative medicines that will treat the little terds invading her intestines. I’ve been using a number of items for the last few days that seem to be helping me immensely and suddenly.
ALTERNATIVE TREATMENTS FOR H PYLORI (with Links)
(& by “alternative” I mean beyond the usual western medicine antibiotics that are obviously losing their steam)
* Manuka Honey (Active)– This is the new bomb for anyone suffering from a bacterial or staph infection — internally or externally. It’s picking up steam in serious cases of flesh wounds and post-surgery (watch this graphic video) that won’t heal due to antibiotic-resistant bugs, and they’ve also documented its use against h pylori. Expensive but well worth the investment. I’ve gotten all three of my bottles now from Amazon, though you can pick it up on other sites. And it tastes yummy too!
* Probiotics — “Probiotic strain Bacillus subtilis 3, whose safetyhas previously been demonstrated, is known to have antagonisticproperties against species of the family Enterobacteriaceae. Inthe present study, it was also found to inhibit H. pylori” (Source: AAA).You should be taking a probiotic supplement, whether you’re sick or not, but especially if you use antibiotics. After much compartive shopping and on the recommendation of Dan Hoy, I use Jordan Rubin’s Garden of Life Primal Defense Ultra, which you can also purchase on Amazon or at your local Vitamin Shoppe.
* Mastic Gum — “Even low doses of mastic gum — 1 mg perday for two weeks — can cure peptic ulcers very rapidly,but the mechanism responsible has not been clear. We have foundthat mastic is active against Helicobacter pylori, which couldexplain its therapeutic effect in patients with peptic ulcers” (Source: New England Journal of Medicine). I’ve been taking one gram a day in the morning on an empty stomach.
* Broccoli Sprouts (American Journal of Gastroenterology) — In laboratory tests the chemical, sulforaphane, killed helicobacter pylori, a bacteria that causes stomach ulcers and often fatal stomach cancers. And the good news is there appears to be enough of it in broccoli sprouts and some varieties of broccoli to benefit people who eat the vegetables” (Source: USA Today).
“A diet rich in broccoli sprouts significantly reduced Helicobacteri pylori (H. pylori) infection among a group of 20 individuals, found a team of researchers in Japan. H. pylori is known to cause gastritis and is believed to be a major factor in peptic ulcer and stomach cancer.
Scientists are focusing on the anti-cancer properties of a chemical derived from broccoli sprouts called sulforaphane. Among other things, this chemical can help cells defend against oxidants, the highly reactive and toxic molecules that damage DNA and kill cells, potentially leading to cancer” (Source: DNC).
Along with eating more broccoli, I take one capsule of Broccolive by New Chapter in between meals each day now.
* OmegaBrite – Essential fatty acids as recommended by my new therapist below.
* THE BOMB – Monolaurin (Lauric Acid) – I came upon Dr. Marcus Ettinger’s blog and this doozey of an entry in which he describes his own bout with and treatment of h pylori. He has since very kindly emailed with me and stressed the importance of the monolaurin.
“Researchers have shown that monolaurin has a direct and potent germ killing effect on H. pyloria, regardless of stomach pH. The H. pyloria germ killing ability of monolaurin has been confirmed by a second group of researchers” (Source: Wellness)
Based on Dr. Ettinger’s recommendations, I have also ordered the H-PLR (K-32) and the TheraAloe, though they have not arrived yet.
- An Antioxidant
- Has Anti-inflammatory qualities
- Produces Anti-cancer activity
- It is Antimicrobial
- Has Anti HIV properties
- May slow down the development of Alzheimer’s”
“Both the methanol extract and curcumin inhibited the growth of all strains of H. pylori in vitro with a minimum inhibitory concentration range of 6.25-50 micrograms/ml. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that curcumin inhibits the growth of H. pylori cagA+ strains in vitro, and this may be one of the mechanisms by which curcumin exerts its chemopreventative effects” (Nat. Institutes of Health).
MY SYMPTOMS (which presumably aren’t all related to h pylori & may have thrown the docs):
* I originally had a racing heart, three months of diarrhea, and would nearly pass out, especially in the middle of the night. I also could not lie down for hours after each episode. Yes, I would leap up from sleep in the middle of the night to crawl around, trying not to faint, and then have many nasty visits to the toilet. Follow that with the topper of being utterly spent and not being able to lie down due to weird chest/stomach pressure, and you’ve got a nice recipe for exhaustion, missed work, and a social life put on major hold.
* Next, I moved on to leaping up from sleep to pace for hours while my heart raced and I shook. A few times, my heart raced to the point I thought I was having a heart attack (I once wished I could just go unconscious to avoid the experience,which was painful and frightening), and then I would projectile vomit. Yum. I ended up in many ERs, to no avail.
* I have since graduated to heart palpitations and many bouts of bowel movements that are solid but frequent. Dr. Ettinger (above) recommended magnesium for the palpitations, and I have since learned how much the American diet lacks this essential element. It’s kind of incredible. Read these stories. And these. You might just avoid things like prescription meds and an invasive EP study (which was next on my cardiologist’s list! — The bug and the heart are not typically connected: “A common stomach bug may also be linked to the development of irregular heart rhythm, also known as atrial fibrillation, suggests a small study in Heart” Source: Science Daily).
Okay, so day and night symptoms include: weight loss, shaking, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea alternating with constipation, loss of appetite, racing heart, syncope, shortness of breath, palpitations, weakness/fatigue, night sweats/hot flashes, and anxiety.
The anxiety leads me to point out things that helped along the way:
* Friends. I’m going to miss some folks who sent their well wishes, and of course, I’m grateful, but a few folks pop to mind in the immediate.
Ana Bozicevic — Big thanks for many sleepless nights and encouragement and endurance and love. And the patience of a saint.
Michael Steinman — Lots of talks and love and encouragement and kindness. After Ana, my best friend.
Dan Hoy — Sound, strong advice, the kindness of someone who knows. And a killer poet too.
Alex Dickow — Your worry and suggestions and reminders of poetry from France distracted me nicely on a few lonely nights.
Caroline Wilkinson — Sympathetic and encouraging recently — thanks for recommending Virginia Woolf’s “On Being Ill” which I just got and began reading.
And so many others …you know who you are! Thank you!
* Lavender Baths — the warmer, the better.
* Massage – either from a friend, partner, or paid for — the stress of illness tenses muscles you inevitably stop using for awhile while you ruminate on sofas, in beds, and on toilets. Yes, toilets. Get those muscles touched, rubbed, and loved. Pay for it if you have to.
* FOODS — All sorts of organic soups, chicken broth, chicken legs, blueberries, kiwi fruit, sweet potatoes, kale, broccoli, Rudy’s organic raisin bread, capers, olives, avocados, bananas, carrots, lettuce, soy cheese, almonds, almond and peanut butters, fresh salmon, and oh, lots other lovely fresh items, many of which I obtained from my local Trader Joe’s. Eat well and frequently, especially alkalizing foods to avoid nasty reflux and heartburn, so the body has nutrients, is replenished often, and can fight!
I hate to tell you, because it’s tough, you need to give up –for a couple of months — your love of coffee, alcohol, white carbs such as white pasta, white rice, white bread (these convert to sugar in the gut), most fruits (also sugar), dairy (take a calcium supplement for a spell), and plain old sugar like the stuff found in yummy chocolate and cookies. Avoid other common acidic foods like tomatoes and orange juice. Sorry! Tough, but worth allowing your gut time to heal!
* Yoga – I never thought I would do it. But now Ana and I imitate Rodney Yee and his gang for about fifteen minutes, both morning and night, everyday. Easy and well worth it!
* Fennel Tea — When you do begin to heal, you may go from diarrhea to constipation. “Fennel has been found to stimulate appetite, and to aid digestion. An infusion prepared by boiling a tablespoon of fennel seeds in 100 ml of water for half an hour, is highly beneficial in indigestion, biliousness, flatulence and constipation” (S. Directory).
* Pets – Love them every chance you get! They’re very therapeutic~
* Jordan Rubin’s supplements and books. Despite the religion he infuses all of his advice with, his supplements are notoriously good (I forgot to mention above that I take Garden of Life enzymes with each meal), and his book, Restoring Your Digestive Health: How the Guts and Glory Program Can Transform Your Life, turned me on to chicken again (free range, organic, that is!).
* Goji Berries and Blueberries – No joke. Eat them once your system is able to digest well enough.
“Modern day studies have also found some benefits to goji berries; they’ve been said to have potential in fighting cancer and protecting the liver. Goji berries contain 18 amino acids, 21 trace minerals, linoleic acid, more beta carotene than carrots, vitamins B1, B2, B6, and E, selenium and germanium.
And the American Institute for Cancer Research has this to say: ‘We now know that blueberries are one of the best sources of antioxidants, substances that can slow the aging process and reduce cell damage that can lead to cancer.’
Aside from protecting the brain and fighting cancer, blueberries have been associated with lower cholesterol, protection against heart disease, macular degeneration, glaucoma, varicose veins, hemorrhoids and peptic ulcers, and healthier elimination” (Source: SixWise.com).
* L Glutamine – Glutamine Supplement Fights Effects of H. pylori Infection. Put a half teaspoon of the powder on your oatmeal every morning.
* Ginger Soother drink – delicious! It really helped soothe my gut. Ginger is good against the bacteria too. Buy direct or on Amazon.
* Cognitive Behavioral Therapist – I’ve never been an anxious person, until now. Nor have I ever been in therapy, until now. Not knowing what’s wrong with a body for so long can wear a soul thin. So one easily begins imagining the worst. So far, I’ve seen this therapist three times, and she’s been very helpful with advice that I need to hear and put into action. Plus it’s fun to talk about myself. I guess I have an ego after all. Was there ever a doubt, even while sick?
And so on.
I just want to add a few notes to round this entry off. I realize I’m lucky and am very grateful not to have something worse than a bacterial infection. Happily lucky. I’ve learned a good bit about illness, the medical system, and still don’t know how chronic sufferers of anything can keep a chin up in the face of not knowing and in the face of a medical system that is, at best, impaired, and at worst, greedy. I’ve encountered people who have far worse conditions than I’ve endured and have better attitudes and more strength than myself. I’m not a good sick person, oh how I know. I’ll spare you from my midnight considerations of the ‘other side’, but you may see a little in some of my recent writing.
Overall, I just wanted to tell those who have been in touch, thank you, and to warn others of possible pitfalls in the system. If your gut, literal or figurative, tells you something needs to be tested, something’s still not right, press your doctor or find a new one. Don’t stick with one for five visits in a row only to be told he “can’t do anything for you.” Don’t ignore the feeling of being ignored or the sense that your words aren’t being taken seriously. Do your research and advocate for yourself. Make copies of your tests and records. Keep in mind that one doc doesn’t automatically know what the other has done or thinks might be wrong. Don’t get a test, especially an invasive one, if it doesn’t sound exactly necessary. And so on. I blather, so will end for now. Good luck and wishes for a strong will if you come upon this entry in search of help! And now, on to my own healing!
~~~
SUMMARY — Alternative Medicine for H Pylori Eradication
(Thanks, Tara Williams)
The three main Natural Remedies that finally eradicated H Pylori for Amy:
Monolaurin – 1200 mg twice a day (derived from coconut milk). It’s a natural antibiotic that many use for a variety of reasons. It’s especially popular with folks who get mono (Epstein Barr virus). I would pay about 13 dollars a bottle and went through two+ bottles. I used Ecological Research brand.
The first two to three days of taking the full dose of Monolaurin, I experienced nausea symptoms “die off” and felt even sicker – but it did pass. I’m told it’s called “herxing” after the Herximer effect.
Manuka Honey (activated and only from New Zealand) 16+ or 20+ strength. Take a teaspoon twenty minutes before each meal (on an empty stomach) and one before bed on an empty stomach for about a month. I would take my spoonful after I took the Mastic Gum so that the water wouldn’t dilute it and send it directly to the kidneys.
Mastic Gum (derived from the Greek Mastic tree) 1000 mg (1gram – two pills) in the morning before food and the same at night before bed on an empty stomach. (Once H Pylori is eradicated, continue taking Mastic Gum for a few months – it keeps the H Pylori from returning and has other benefits like lowering cholesterol).
Amy also took:
Probiotic – VSL #3 – medical grade Probiotic to replace good bacteria (Amy took for about one month). 450 billion/powder packet is mid-level strength and can be bought over the counter. It’s about $90 for a thirty day supply if you take one packet of powder a day. (worked better than Garden of Life probiotics).
L Glutamine — Put a half-teaspoon of the powder on your oatmeal every morning. It helps heal gut tissue, thanks to the bacterial damage this potent bug can do. They recently also made the connection for people with H Pylori that L Glutamine slows the damage and helps to heal it.
Aloe Juice — take aloe vera juice daily (you need the unprocessed, cold pressed kind of aloe juice because it heals).
Digestive Enzymes – by Garden of Life with each meal — they help the stomach digest foods more easily, as the h pylori reduces stomach acid in many cases.
Diet is key in helping you to improve as your body fights the bacteria. If you do not adjust your diet for a few months, your gut will not be able to heal and the H Pylori will return. You should absolutely eliminate white flour products like carbohydrates (white pastas, white rice, bread, etc). These are sugars! Sugars only feed bacteria and provide no nutritional value. Also, cut out obvious sugars like cookies and ice cream! You should even limit fruits for the time being. Your goal is two fold: don’t feed the bacteria and give the gut easy-to-digest alkalizing foods and time to heal. Avoid foods like tomatoes, red meats, and dairy products too. You can catch up on calcium later. Milk is acidic in the gut. Coffee is difficult on the digestive tract. Eat foods that alkalize – do not eat acidic foods.
Other natural remedies that can be used in addition to Amy’s cocktail:
Broccoli sprouts
Magnesium is like magic, and the glycinate form is the least harsh on the digestive system. Once H Pylori is eradicated and you are healing, trying to regain your strength, consider diluting a tablespoon of Blackstrap Molasses in half a cup of water and drinking daily. Blackstrap Molasses provides an incredible range of nutrients that helped Amy bounce back (for more info from many who have used it, click here).
Oil of Oregano -Those of you who are long-suffering may want to try a few drops of Oil of Oregano under your tongue a few times a day too.
Bladderwack to keep the buggers from adhereing to the lining of your stomach.
Red Wine — moderate intake of red wine is also unkind specifically to H Pylori. Stellar Organics :-) …because it also has no added sulfites.
How H Pylori Is Diagnosed
Stool sample – Most reliable determination. But may still show positive for 2-3 months even after cured.
Endoscopy – sample tissue tests taken.
Blood Test – Blood antibody test. A blood test checks to see whether your body has made antibodies to H. pylori bacteria. If you have antibodies to H. pylori in your blood, it means you either are currently infected or have been infected in the past.
Breath test – can be done right after treatment to see if cured rather than wait 1-3 months for stool change.
Amy’s Results
Felt like gone after one month, but stool still tested positive. Two months of natural remedy cocktail and Amy’s stool results came back negative, and her symptoms were gone.
Original Symptoms — Diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pains, racing heart, shortness of breath and anxiety, miserable aches and pains in my back, legs, and arms that no doctor could conclusively say was a direct result of the infection. But I know with certainty that these weird pains and miseries were due to the infection because they have since cleared up.
hooray for you!
Oh lordy, your story sounds a lot like mine. I have H. Pylori too and am currently on my third round of anti-biotics. I have the sweats, nausea, constant bathroom visits, a stabbing pain in my side, etc. It’s terrible! Did you ever get it to subside? How long have you had it?
It’s been gone now for about two months! But I was having some trouble feeling better afterward. Turns out the probiotic I had wasn’t “recolonizing” my gut quickly enough. My new GI put me on a medical grade probiotic called VSL#3 – worked like a charm. There are two strengths for it over-the-counter. You can get it in pill form at 225 billion organisms or do what I did: the packet of powder at 450 billion organisms / once a day. Perfect – I felt better within two days of taking it.
Good luck with yours!
well here are a few things that will help with pyroli bacterias- excuse all the lower case writing but i am very tired and the message will help you- i am not a quack— my name is ronald dishinger and i live in kentucky-my website is http://www.biochemimbal-behavior.com for schizophrenics and mental illnesses. first stool sample is better than blood but blood test at least to start with- stool samples are now done with dna testing and very accurate as to what bacterias, parasites etc that are present or have been present and made there way into your dna at some point in you life- i am 70 and for the last three years suffered a hell no one should have- so bad i literally would rather have died- my doctor is Dr John sherman a wonderful human and very knowledgeable and will listen to you. at Tahoma Clinic in tacoma wash.each of his telephone calls for consultation costs 250$ but he will give you a full hour if necessary for that. i am just starting as of three days ago on his regimine but know from other research that his proticol of what he has given me will work- first, things i know from other research: first goldenseal will kill pyroli not just inhibit,quercetin 1000mg daily, probiotics,bismuth in pepto bismuth will kill, (stools will turn black because of bismuth but return in day or two after you stop taking bismuth which should be limited to two days, slippery elm 2 x as much a goldenseal(which should not be taken for longer than 9 days) tumeric,vitamin C ,grape seed extract,and camomile tea at least pint per day with four tea bags. These are things i have investigated but had not started until i knew it was pyroli and it has not been enough time yet for them to work- the stool test from tahoma clinic takes almost a full month to get results so you can do these others things until then. What Dr sherman had me get from their dispensory there: HPLR. (Goldenseal,barberry,yerba mansa, oregano oil,berberis aristala),Pancreatic enzymes by jarrow,HLC intensive probiotics, and ADP oregano oil and camolmile tea a pint 2x day 5 minutes of each side of rolling body to one side for 5 minutes each time- all done on empty stomach to allow the camomile to get to all the linings of the gut. Over 50% of world’s population has pyroli bacterias and it can lead to ulcers and stomach cancer for certain. If i can help my tel is 270 684 9233.
They finally figured out i had ‘h. pylori. i went another 5 months going through tons of tests because my doctor didn’t retest me.Finally a GI did and so i did my second round of poison ANTIBIOTICS that made me sicker anything thats starts with the word anti is not good to ingest!!! and i’m still sick its been 8 months now! i REFUSE to poision my body again! i think its fn bullcrap if its so common why haven’t i heard of it b4 i got sick and why did they order tons of tests raping my insurance! i think they want us to be sick so they can ride their money train! this is whats wrong with the health system we r treated like caddle they have feelings too! its funny that they run all these tests b4 testing for h pylori! im sick of being sick and it needs to be heard that they aren’t doing shit about h pylori! they don’t think its an emergency that i vomit every day and have no energy and can barley function! oh u have anxiety or food allergies its in your head is what ive heard from a professional doctor who thought he was a shrink! its the pharmacutical companies and doctors just wanting money! why do they perscribe nexxium so much so many people have h pylori and aren’t being treated for it because thats how they rape u for money! they dont care about us some do but consider yourself lucky lucky if u find a doctor who cares enough u listen to you and wants to help you get better!
Thanks for sharing your experience. I was just diagnosed yesterday with H. Pylori. Luckily, I have very mild symptoms: some occasional discomfort under my ribcage and my back (this started last year for which I went to a cardiologist who said my heart is healthy and I could just be experiencing muscular pains or even dehydration). Having cleared my heart, I ignored the symptoms as it was occasional and not debilitating until a few weeks ago when I experienced what I would later realize as a heartburn. It was also about this time that I first saw a gastroenterologist for consultation for my colonoscopy screening. He looked at my record and found that I am very healthy with no medical problems except for seasonal allergies. I just happened to mention to him this discomfort under my ribcage which a few weeks ago woke me up from my sleep. He told me that if it worsens or if it starts to bother me he will look at my stomach.
A few days later I experienced my first pain in the chest after lunch, as if something was blocking my esophagus. I know that it was not a heart problem as two weeks before that I had a stress test which showed my heart as healthy. I was thankful for that otherwise, I might have panicked. Remembering the information about the digestive system ( I was browsing some pamphlets and looking at diagrams of the digestive tract in the GI’s office) and recalling one of the questions in the paperwork was if I have experienced heartburn, it dawned on me that I may be experiencing it. I immediately started reading up on heartburn, what it is like, causes, etc. It looks like that’s what I have so I promptly made an appointment with my new primary physician. He said that there are two ways to deal with it: just treat the symptoms with antacids, proton pump inhibitors, etc., but the symptoms will recur or, find the cause and cure it. Of course, I want to find out what this is! Weirdly enough, I was looking at this as a science project. He said he will have me tested for H. Pylori and to check my CBC if I have anemia. CBC came out negative, H. Pylori was positive. Never in my wildest dreams did it occur to me that I have this bacteria lurking in my stomach. He prescribed PREVPAC ( a combination of Prevacid, amoxicillin and clindaerythromycin.) and Peptobismol. I am on my second day of this megadose of antibiotics and I am happy to say I don’t have the nightmarish side effects that a lot of people describe. I hope I will never have it. I plan, however, to supplement the drugs with natural remedies (Virgin Coconut Oil, Manukah Honey, broccoli sprouts, etc. that you mentioned here). I am so thankful that I have a physician that listened to me and did not dismiss my symptoms. It doesn’t hurt that he is ubercute too! I will tell you my progress with the eradication of this bacteria. I have the feeling that once this bug is cleared, I might have a better shot at losing weight (one effect of H. Pylori is not being able to lose weight). I have been good at eating healthy and exercising regularly (I even hired a trainer) but not even a pound was shed. My consolation is, maybe, my symptoms has been mild because the colonization of this bug was hampered by my healthy lifestyle.
im so happy i read this everything i read is everything iv been going threw i thought it was just pms im so amazed the meds make me feel dizzzy and nousus do but i have four days left to seee if its gone….thank you
Thank you for posting this vital information, and wonderful contribution! I have been so sick I thought I was going to die. Chills, fever, shortness of breath,, fever, swollen. lymph nodes tingling feeling my hands and feet, kidney infection rash on my face , nausea, ear became sensitive i had to wear cotton balls in them with some olive oil my weight was down to 99 . Thanks God for my husband he drove me to all the doctors Endoscopy colonscopy barium swallow, CAT ultrasound all negative !!! And those GI dr that throw out that line it is stress related is so outworn it is insuling. I used to do psy, assessment for a living I told the GI that I did not meet the required criterionplus he lacks the education to diagnosis me! If you don’t know just say you don’t know don’t insult people! I had all the tests 3 x parasite stool test, blood work and the first H Pylori test was false negative, but I did not realize at that time . Each month dragged on I could not longer go to my volunteer job if I had a actual job I would of lost it! Eleven months later I was so much worse. I was so sick so often we found a urgency clinic close to our home so everytime I would see a new dr and that is the KEY for what saved me the dr asked me if I had the H pylori test and told her I don’t recall it …she sent the nurse in they drew the blood in less than ten minutes the dr walks in the room and says, you have H Pylori it was high positive In fact I had so many tests I forgot I had it before thank God I forgot because that at least gave me a diagnosis ! What is interesting a week before the chinese med/acupuncture dr plainly said, ” you have parasite here take these.”.
Apparently he was right,.
Amy thanks so very much for creating this forum….bless you..I have been doing your protocol…for a week now….no die off from the monolaurin….stomach still bloated….i do often miss some of the doses …. and advice for remembering….like i often eat a meal and then think uh oh….i didn’t take my probiotic or my honey…i am also trying to follow an anti candida diet…..no sugar, gluten, anything acidic….found that following food combining and chewing food very thourogh seems to help….i am noticing that I hold a lot of tension in my stomach…wondering if stress brings this whole thing on..? Any thoughts on the Matula Tea??? thanks for listening.
For sophy ~
glad u are on the road to recovery. What was your test score…..? i will look up mine and post tomorrow…..I am curious of the different levels people score at.
blessings & health to all
lisa
I tried the tea once and returned it after one cup. Others here in this thread have weighed in – not so good.
Just keep at the doses – and trust your immune system to use the material correctly.
Good luck!
Oh, Amy — what an ordeal it’s been for you! At least you know what it is now and can work towards healing. Thanks for writing this.
Amy, May your next year be a completely different story — one of coming back to health & energy & a whole lot of joy. Sorry you have had to go through these recent months.
many many good wishes!
I am really “HAPPY” for you, that “FINALLY” you have an answer for these symptoms you are having. This has been a long haul for you. I wish you all the luck and healing process along the way…=)
Our medical system is definitely flawed, and unfortunately most people do not realize that they must be skeptical when seeing a doctor. Good luck with your recovery.
PS: What doesn’t kill you can only make you stronger :)
Dear Amy, my best wishes, and keep up with the good works, and also words, :-) I wish you the best, Anny
Dear Amy,
What a great entry…and what an ordeal you’ve been through. So happy to hear you are striding towards a full recovery. Excelsior! I read just about all of your posting, and maybe I missed it, but HOW did you get that gnarly little bugger in your gut in the first place? Is it just “out there” and occasionally it gets people when their resistance is low?
Love, Matt
Amy –
I’m glad to hear that you’ve gotten a diagnosis, I know how frustrating an “invisible” illness feels like – I’m sure just having an answer will lessen some of the stress (the anxiety that you’re also suffering). And here’s to you being proactive with your health – finding alternative meds and such. Sending you warm wishes for this year.
Best,
Rachel
Amy! I’m so glad you got a proper diagnosis, & will be looking to see whether you post about the success of the natural treatments, all of which seem eminently sensible. Hugs to you.
Janet
P.S. I can’t decide whether to laugh or cry at the picture of Doggie in the bath…! (My pics of Duncan getting hydrotherapy for his ACL tear are on my Facebook page.)
Amy, I’m so sorry to hear about all of this but glad you’re getting some relief. You’ll be in my thoughts and prayers. Hope this year is much better. All the best, Helen
Amy! What a nightmare! I’ve been so caught up in my own world, I had no idea of your suffering. I did look up the heart condition you were told you had and I found that to be pretty scary itself. I’m glad that’s not what you’re suffering from, but clearly, you have suffered a lot. I can’t imagine what it was like for you but this post has said a lot. I’m so so glad that you had Ana by your side. I hope your recovery continues to go well. I look forward to seeing you again soon. We can share some organic yummies and vent about our disgusting health”care” system.
Aimee
I had an ulcer and they said I was H. Pylori negative.
I haven’t been blogging so came to this post late. I’m so glad you are on your road to recovery!
Thanks for your well wishes, all!
Matt, you can just get it bc someone preparing your food didn’t wash their hands … nothing exotic.
xo
Amy, Thanks for posting your view about the matula tea. I was just about to order it and something told me to do a little more research. I have H. Pylori and have been sick for quite a while….The Dr who diagnosed me prescribed the usual antibiotics which ended up making me sicker than I already was. I have excruciating shoulder pain, burping, constipation, bad breath, anxiety (and I’m not a person to experience anxiety normally), psoriasis, bloating, stomach pain and pressure & this list goes on and on. I haven’t been thru what you have experienced, but would like to feel “normal” again….whatever that is!!!
I hear you Michele Ii can’t say i know normal for a while now..is the matula tea working? dolcevilla@aol.com if you can spare any more info I am desperate for help
just been diagnosed with h pylori and dan of some parasites also for last 4 months gluten dairy and corn intolerant..its not that i mind so much but i cheat at times and eat crap but never gluten its the sugars that get me…i have allot of anxiety..soon i will be taking supplements from my dr. just gained all the weight back after one year on weight watchers
Hi Amy I came across your blog while looking up H. Pylori ( I am a nurse and work on Long Island). One thing it seems you may have overlooked is the use of bladderwack to keep the buggers from adhereing to the lining of your stomach.
You blood type also plays a role here, non secretors have more H. Pylori then secretors. I do wonder what blood type you are? I also know that you would benefit from following either the Genotype diet or the Blood type diet, both designed to heal the intestinal lining.
Your GI doctor sounds unusually, most are just prescribing the same old stuff. Peace!
Andrea blood type A Warrior
Never heard of Bladderwack! Will check it out!
I don’t know my blood type – can you believe that? I used to know, years ago, when I donated blood regularly. Hmm… I’ll figure it out and investigate. Thanks for the advice, Andrea!
Thank you for your post Amy. And I’m so glad to hear that you’ll soon be on the mend. I am in the phase where the doctor tells me to eat more fiber and exercise. It’s all very frustrating because I know this isn’t IBS and my symptoms are getting worse, and more varied. My family history of cancer is a nightmare so of course I am imagining the worst. My question is: what was your level of h pylori? My doctor did order a test, after I asked her if I might have an infection, but my level came out in the “normal” range. However, I have been taking probiotics which does alleviate the symptoms to a point and I’m wondering if that would give me a lower number on my lab results thereby making my doctor (and I use that term loosely) think that the number is not high enough to create my problems. I have a pelvic ultrasound tomorrow and an appointment with a GI specialist on Friday, but any comments would be welcome.
Dear Amy,
Thanks SO much for posting this… I was afraid I was alone and crazy!!! Everyone told me all my “symptoms” could not possibly be from the h pylori.. but you named them all.
I can relate- especially the “bad nights”. used to be like Goldilocks… moving from bed to sofa, to chair, to bed, just trying to get comfortable enough to get some rest.
And be glad you are not a middle age woman!! I was told it was anxiety ( never had problem before in my life) and it was “hormones”, so was prescribed antidepressants… which did NOT help!! I hope you feel better… I am still feeling like ” junk” after 3 megadoses of antibitotics,and from all the pain and stress on my body for months and months.
Please feel free to contact me with any valuable information to aid my return of a “normal life again”. You have already given me more than any of my MANY doctors have helped me. Thank you for your courage to publish this… you will never know how much it has helped me mentally to know I am NOT alone and NOT crazy!! God bless you!!!
UPDATE and a few random replies (apologies for not directly emailing everyone!):
A month into my alt treatments, I tested positive again for h pylori. But my doctor explained that “positive” simply means I still have the bacteria present and active — the results from LabCorp did not describe how much. She said since I was improving to go ahead and continue with my treatment; she went on to explain that even people who do the triple antibiotic therapy have to repeat it many times to eradicate it. So. What to say — much of the gastritis has subsided, though I am still being very cautious about six weeks later with exactly what I eat. I do still feel my gut reacting to something extra fatty. I’m trying to be consistent with my Aloe Gel, as well as the Manuka Honey, Mastic Gum, H-PLR (K-32), Garden of Life Digestive Enzymes, Probitics, Monolaurin and other items I’m a little less consistent with such as Garlic pills, Vit C, Calcium and Mag, OmegaBrite Essential Acids, etc. I’ve never had to pay attention to my health and everything I put into my body this much before in my life.
But the gist is that the bacteria really do a number on a person’s gut, which affects everything else, including the immune system and the heart. I was definitely experiencing Sinus Tachycardia (I saw a second specialist who confirmed) during my “episodes”, which calmed to palpitations as I improved and has abated all together now. Mostly, I’m just working on eating properly, taking the “meds”, trying to get a little more exercise into my life, and making sure my body rests as it needs. Consider that the bacteria create something of an “open wound” of your gut. You would not expect such decimation to heal instantly, would you? Bacteria can take months to kill off and the flesh, esp internal flesh, takes a long time to heal, your body takes a long time to recover, etc. So I miss a lot of things like a glass of wine, my daily cup of coffee, and oh my god – chocolate (though I do have a slight treat/cheat now and then), but ultimately, I assume in a two or three more months, this will just be a bad memory and I’ll be back to eating some of the things I loved, though my eating and a few behavioral changes will certainly stick. Getting sick teaches lessons.
Oh – a few other pointers. I’ve learned from some Thai doctor online that it is best to try to imitate those stomach acid reducing drugs by just drinking water all of the time (he suggests mixing in a quarter teaspoon of baking soda, which I fail to do). I mean, I usually drink a lot of water bc I teach, but now, I’m constantly aware of trying to keep my stomach acid a bit diluted; the bacteria somehow use your stomach acid as a protective measure and also dine on whatever heavy things tend to sit in the gut and need more acid to process like meats and the like. Also, they don’t like green tea. I sip a couple of cups daily and get my caffeine fix that way too. Particularly tasty is Revolution brand – Organic Green Earl Grey Tea.
Hope that’s all helpful and answers a few questions for you. Any doc who tells you that H Pylori doesn’t cause “those” symptoms simply isn’t acknowledging that studies are ongoing regarding this bacteria and just how extensively it can affect the body. As many of you know, the bacteria were only discovered in the sixties and now there’s even a study looking into the fact that it may be able to be transmitted sexually (though orally would be enough). Any doc who proclaims to know just exactly what symptoms are possible and what aren’t – definitively – is playing god. Since treating this bacterial infection, my improvement has been visible and measureable, and the subsiding of many “unrelated” symptoms is no accident.
Be well everyone!
One last thing: I get constipated sometimes since the intestines haven’t healed properly yet — it can take some time to process food and it takes awhile for intestines to recover. A little fiber by way of Metamucil helps now and then, as does the constant intake of water. Flush everything out of your system as much as possible. Water and exercise (build gradually as you heal)!
Also, I may graduate to Bio-HPF as I just read up on it online after I finish the bottle of H-PLR (K-32). Will keep you posted about the results. Those of you who are long-suffering may want to try a few drops of Oil of Oregano under your tongue a few times a day too. It tastes awful but does help. I actually tried it nearly a year ago for a few days when I thought I might just have a parasite, and there was some improvement in that short time. But I gave up when my parasite test came back negative. I didn’t realize it was likely fighting the h pyrlori then since I didn’t know I had h pylori for another year!
Hi Amy,
I’m Josh, and I am also from Long Island. I’m 33 years old, and about a year ago I too was diagnosed w/ h pylori… I didn’t know how I got it, seeing I eat really well and lift weights/run 3 days a week. I am in excellent shape, so all these symptoms I was having made no sense to me. I had (still have) tingling over my left eye, elevated blood pressure (which I NEVER EVER HAD) burning on my left side of my stomach, starting right above my hip and elevating to right below my nipple. These symtpoms became debilitating after about 6 months. The burning was intollerable. And it wasn’t reflux, it was just buring on the left side of my stomach in those two areas I mentioned above. It would occur about 1 to 2 hours after I ate. I went to the doctors and had a blood test. 1 week later it confirmed that I was in fact H Pylori positive and the infection was active. Stool sample revealed no blood in the stool, and nothing abnormal. However, tripple therapy did nothing for me but worsen my symptoms. I ditched the doctor and began seeing a naturopathic physician who put me on BIO-HPF, GASTRAZYME, COD LIVER OIL, DFH COMPLETE MULTI VITAMIN and 2 – 3 grams of MASTIC GUM. I’ve been on this regimen for 3 months and I am seeing steady improvment. I still have bad days, and certain foods still bother my stomach (sooooooo frustrating)… It’s idiopathic really, I coudn’t pin-point what particular food gave me the burning in my stomach. Sometimes chicken would, other times chicken would cause no symtoms at all! (go figure) However, point of this posting is to let u know that I too take the BIO-HPF that you mentioned and it has helped. I have to add that garden of life digestive enzyme powder you mentioned. I really hope this does the trick. I’m finishing school to become an English professor and this all has been so distracting to me. Please let me know how you’re doing with your progress. It would help me out a great deal to know someone else in the area has had success wtih the herbal regimen. Thank you for reading all this, and hope to hear from you soon!
Hi Josh,
I know what you mean about the food — some foods are fine, the next week they’re not. I think there’s a learning curve, combined with the body simply needing *time* to get better.
I’ve only been doing the BIO HPF for a month now, I think, but all of the ingredients seem to be focused on getting the digestive system healed and back on track. Trouble is, whatever happens in the gut affects everything else. For me, I get lots of chest pressure and palpitations whenever I am “backed up” — that is, instead of feeling constipated per se, my chest responds to the back up. I’ve also, in the past, had weird pains in my left side up high near my breast and armpit. When I feel pressure now, I drink fennel tea, lots and lots of water, do yoga, massage the colon (there is a specific method for doing so — look it up online) and then wait. That part is a bit scary because the palpitations register as ‘something’s wrong with my heart!’ but there isn’t. Once I go, I’m back to feel good again.
I’ve been at the whole curative thing for about two months now and I am considerably better. Each day, I feel a tad bit better as certain feelings and strengths are restored that I had forgotten about. I got so used to never feeling okay that I forgot what it’s like to be healthy. Now, I’m unlearning the habit of checking every little twinge and ache and gut reaction to food. My mind says, shit, where’s the nearest hospital as soon as I feel off. But then I realize that I have to reign it in and not focus on such thinking. And sure enough, it does resolve itself in an hour and sometimes not for an entire afternoon. I do have bad days still, though nothing so bad as before, but these are getting to be less frequent and the feeling good is just making me happy overall.
I’m holding out hope, and feel somewhat certain, that I’ll be back to my old coffee drinking, beer swilling self in a few months, though I’ll never be the same self after this trial. I’ve learned lots about time management and focus, though I’m still trying to put it all into practice!
Anyway, I too am continuing to consistently take mastic gum every morning, do yoga daily, Bio HPF, Manuka honey, vitamins, OmegaBrite fish oil, magnesium and potassium in moderation, lots of carrot juice, Garden of Life probiotics, still taking moderate doses of Monolaurin, and just generally eat well. I also take walks to clear my mind and build up my energy reserves again. I’m still avoiding acid-causing foods like the plague such as tomatoes (love & miss some Italian foods), certain fruits (prunes are a big no!), no raw foods such as sushi, and coffee, which I desperately miss but wreaks havoc on a healing digestive track. Oh, I’ve been drinking half water, half lemon/ginger/echinacea juice from Trader Joe’s regularly too. The lemon kills bacteria, the ginger is unkind to h pylori specifically, and echnicea just boosts the immune system. With all of that, I’m definitely on the mend and am looking forward to a happy, productive summer!
By the way, you might want to eat more veggies these days (not the acidifying ones – i.e. asparagus, yes – broccoli, no!) and let meat be more of a side dish. I eat an egg in chicken broth each morning for protein along with a bowl of oatmeal with lots of organic wild blueberries. Meat is a lunch additive sometimes such as shrimp or salmon but you can get your protein from hummus, eggs, some fish, and you need milder cooked veggies to allow your colon to heal. Meat is difficult to digest and takes awhile. It’s a bit of a hardship on your colon, and though you’ll likely be tempted when you’re feeling fine, I think it should really be done moderately for a number of months.
Anyway, enough with the advice. Here are some well wishes that you feel much better soon. I do believe the other symptoms you describe will mend as your intestines and stomach mend. I think they are side effects since your whole system is affected by what happens in the gut. That’s why certain emotions originate in the gut (i.e. “my stomach dropped” when faced with fear) – because it all goes back to that “central” nervous system that has been struggling with an infection: give it time to heal and treat your gut like it’s been decimated and needs time to mend! It will start treating you better in return! Not that you’re not doing so… I’m just typing it out for all interlopers who might be dealing with this bacteria: be delicate with what goes into your gut for awhile!
Good luck & be well!
Amy
hi there, good article. I too have been dealing with this persistent bacteria. The monolaurin is something I had not heard but will add to the mix.
I have found that light alcohol consumption is fine. Some studies show that it inhibits h. pylori infection. However if you already have an ulcer it might not be ok. Also spirits are not ok in any amount. By ‘light alcohol consumption’ I mean one beer, or equivalent wine, every other day. Which can be quite relieving if you have gotten used to none.
i suggest Stellar Organics :-) http://www.stellarorganics.com/ …because it also has no added sulfites.
One other cheap, effective thing to add to the mix is olive oil. Did you mention that? Anyway good luck to you, thanks for the article.
Thanks, Jonathon. You’re right: there are actually studies that moderate intake of red wine is also unkind specifically to h pylori. Good news! I have lately been imbibing a half a glass of a pinot now and then. And thank you for the tip about Stellar Organics — I’ll have to check them out!
Oh yes, I do eat olives from the local olive bar regularly – yum!
To those with the burning pain and palpitations and irregular heartbeats, H Pylori it’s not! I have suffered with this same syndrome since age 25 for almost 32 years now. I gets better and gets worse and there is no method to the madness! What I have discovered is that daily treatment with prilosec up to 40 mg or more lessens the paplitations and burning pain and puts an end to the night time racing heart and sweats. This burning pain is not from an ulcer!
I will give you an intriguing clue as to what causes this. It is not H Pylori, which can be eliminated with common antibiotics, but in fact a virus that resides in your nerves, similar to herpes. When that virus flairs up just like herpes, it causes your nerves such as the vargas to become irritated and become succeptable to the acidity, caffiene, etc in your body thus causing these irregular heartbeats. You will know when this virus flais up not only by the burning pain in your chest but also by ecema patches of skin and skin eruptions you may have in other parts of your body. The virus travels along these nerve cells and like herpes you can’t get rid of it only live with it! The pain is similar to the neuropathy you get from herpes zoster. Anyone have any similar recurring virus outbreaks?
YES. Completely what I have experienced for 7 years until disabled
Thanks, Tony, but I think your strain of Herpes virus (there are six!) is either Shingles (Herpes Zoster) or Epstein Barr Virus. I know now exactly when I get palps and why — they’re usually due to constipation caused by the H Pylori – and they have mostly abated. And I never get skin issues such as eczema. My issues have slowly been resolving over the past two plus months with treatment, which also tells me (besides the confirmed bacterial test) that I am dealing with a bacterial infection and not a virus that cannot be cured.
I wish you well in your struggle against your virus!
I got a question. What are the mucus cells called? Im doing a report about ulcers and I really need this. I also need to know what are the acid cells called. PLEASE HELP ME!
hi amy, i have been passing the similar condition that you u passed thru for a year. i rely know how it feels. i tried allopathic medicine taking different powerful antibiotics. But it didn’t improve my symptoms. then i search for the alternative medicine n saw ur page. i m very grateful that u’ve posted all the solutions to recover from h pylori. i m tryin to follow it. i m sure we both will recover from this disease n then chat with each other sayin i have no more disease. i know god is watching us. i m sure he will help us.
As of June 2009, my test for h pylori came back negative! Joy!
Amy,
I’m so glad your test is negative. Are you symptom free as well? My breathe test came back negative but I still have headaches, nausea and insomnia and sometimes I feel my heart racing. I do take anxiety medication it does help but I’m wondering if I should get re-tested.
HI AMY,
I JUST GOT DIAGNOSED WITH H PYLORI A FEW DAYS AGO.I AM ON THE NASTY ANTIBIOTICS THAT MAKE ME SICK. I HAVE BEEN SICK FOR 4 MONTHS TIL THEY FOUND IT. I ACTUALLY TOLD HIM TO LOOK FOR IT . HE FOUND IT THROUGH AN ENDOSCOPY. HE WAS READY TO SEND ME TO THE CLEVELAND CLINIC. FOR MONTHS I BEEN VISITING DOCTORS AND THEY ALL WANT ME ON ANTIDEPRESSANTS CAUSE OF THIS. I,VE HAD MOST OF YOUR SYMPTOMS.I CHEW MASTICA GUM EVERYDAY AND HAVE MANUKA HONEY. I WISH I COULD TALK TO YOU IN PERSON. THERE WERE TIMES I WISH I COULD OF WENT TO SLEEP AND NOT WOKE UP. IT AFFECTED MY FAMILY LIFE.THANK GOD I ALSO HAVE GREAT FRIENDS AND FAMILY.
HI AMY,
I JUST GOT DIAGNOSED WITH H PYLORI A FEW DAYS AGO. I WENT THROUGH EXTENSIVE TESTS. MY GASTRO FOUND IT THROUGH AN ENDOSCOPY. I HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS YOU DID. I WISH I COULD TALK TO YOU IN PERSON SO I CAN SEE HOW YOU HEALED YOURSELF.I AM ON ANTIBIOTICS AND THEY ARE MAKING ME SICK. ALL THE DOCTORS WANT TO PUT ME ON ANTIDEPRESSANTS.
amy,
I thank God for discovering this wonderful site, it would really be a big help, because I also suffer from almost the same symptoms for almost a year now, after treatments which I can’t remember how many and how much I spent, and until now I’m still looking for a permamanent cure, hope your treatment will help me too, I am not yet tested for h pylori, and I asked my doctor about that, and told me the test would cost me much, told me if my symptoms persist, we have no other option but to test me for h pylori, which I believe is the endoscopy, I’m so glad I have someone to talk to now about my condition, thanks and looking forward to be friend with you
vicky
pls can you help me, I’ve been researching all day and night for a treatment for my daughter who is 21 months old, its been hell for us, she has been so ill really from birth, with ear infections etc.. we now believe it all started with me and I passed it onto her the horrible H-Pylori bateria, now we need to treat her, but dont’ want to give her more antibotics as the doctors have already given her so much with with ear infections, its destroyed all her good gut bateria, (if only I knew then what I know now) but that is the past… how do I treat her???
very sad Mummy
HI, I JUST FOUND OUT THAT I HAVE H PYLORI AND I’M A BIT CONFUSED ABOUT THIS, I NEVER HAD ANYTHING WRONG WITH ME AND I WAS READING WHAT HAPPENED TO YOU AND I AM BARELY GOING TO START TREATMENT FOR THIS BACTERIA, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW MORE INFORMATION ON HOW THIS CAN GO AWAY AND HOW I CAN PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING TO MY 11 MONTH OLD SON ON ANYONE ELSE. THANKS
Hi,
I can’t tell you what to do for your child as I’m not a doctor. I can only tell you what worked for me, which I’ve outlined in the post.
Basically, I used “alternative” meds, based on the crazy notion that food can heal. If food can make you sick, it also can make you well and sustain health.
The main three main “drugs” that finally eradicated the H Pylori were 1200 mg. of Monolaurin twice a day (derived from coconut milk), Manuka Honey (activated and only from New Zealand), and Mastic Gum (derived from the Greek Mastic tree). I did add in several other healing agents consistently like L Glutamine (a powder I put on my oatmeal, which helps heal gut tissue, thanks to the bacterial damage this potent bug can do), Aloe Juice (from the aloe plant), among other items.
It took me a while to research, implement these remedies, and restore my health. You need patience because the bacteria is not easy to eradicate, whether you’re using antibiotics or what I’ve outlined. I hope this information helps.
One more thing: diet is key in helping you to improve as your body fights the bacteria. You should absolutely eliminate white flour products like carbohydrates (white pastas, white rice, bread, etc). These are sugars! Sugars only feed bacteria and provide no nutritional value. Also, cut out obvious sugars like cookies and ice cream! You should even limit fruits for the time being. Your goal is two fold: don’t feed the bacteria and give the gut easy-to-digest alkalizing foods and time to heal. Avoid foods like tomatoes and dairy products too. You can catch up on calcium later. Milk is acidic in the gut.
My diet over the past two months was pretty much a boring one: chicken soup (simple molecules), cooked veggies, brown rice, avocados (for good fat content), olives and capers, among other bland “safe” foods. It was very difficult as I love my coffee and my glasses of wine, chocolate, pasta, pizza, etc. But it worked. And I’ve actually come out eating better now, even though I’ve returned the occasional cookie and other desserts.
You should obviously keep your physician informed about whatever choices you make.
Good luck – let me know if your child improves!
Amy
hi my name is viviennei have had the bacteria pylori for a good few years and have many courses of antbiotics . they work for awhile but it has reed its ugley head again . .so i am going to try the things you have listed .i get cronic heart burn with mine . i have ibs and i think thats all to do with it . and have been ill for some time akes and pains anxity all the horrid things . thank you for your help. i am from kent england .
p.s. The more you research, the more you’ll find that antibiotics often have side effects and do decimate the good flora (bacteria) in your gut. Make sure you take a probiotic to replenish the good gut flora. You can eat plain Greek yogurt too.
You may also want to take Garden of Life Digestive Enzymes with each meal — they help the stomach digest foods more easily, as the h pylori reduces stomach acid in many cases.
I have had H-Polari for years and have taken several rounds of antibiotics. I have read so much in the past several hours that i’m so confused. Please tell me what works and where I can buy it!!!
Bea,
The three main “drugs” that finally eradicated the H Pylori were 1200 mg. of Monolaurin twice a day, Manuka Honey 16+ or 20+ strength, and Mastic Gum – 1 gram each morning and then again at night.
You can buy all of these on Amazon. They are linked above in the original blog entry.
Amy
I’m so relieved to read your story. I had a similar story.
Mmmmm muuu
M multiple m
I am so releived to hear you similar story! I had like 5 emergency room trips, I had allergies and bronchitis going on at the same time and said I couldn’t breath and they looked at me like I was nuts and my Dr (who I saw like 10 times in a month) prescribed me anti-anxiety pills. The only anxiety I had was wondering what was wrong. You tell all these people “also” I hurt right through my abdomen and they just ignore you. But thanks to my P.A. (I always thought I wouldn’t go to one) she did the blood test and caught it! But I hate anti-biotics and am struggling with trying the broccoli and vinegar. Am scared of the antibiotics but I may have to resort to it even though it may not work. any ideas?
Hi Kelli,
I eradicated the bacteria without antibiotics — please read my note to Sam below. Primarily, you have to stick with the three basics: Monolaurin, Mastic Gum, and Manuka Honey. At least, that’s what I did for about a month and a half. Plus, you have to adjust your diet. Review my above comments to understand what that entails. It’s not easy but it will be worth it if you get your health back!
Good luck and feel better,
Amy
Kelli,
Are you doing better? I was also prescribed anxiety meds and I probably did have anxiety but only because they didn’t know what was wrong me and I felt so ill How did you beat hpylori?
Liz
Is there anyone alive who has recovered fully from H Pylori? It doesn’t sound like it! Or is that people who make a uncomplicated recovery just don’t go on the internet to tell everyone about it?
I’m pretty depressed right now and reading forum posts about this disease makes me even more depressed. Just feels like I’m going to suffer from it for the rest of my life. I have other health issues and when everything coincides i just want to top myself. Not that I would, but that’s how I feel. When I hear about herbal medicines it makes me think of what a comedian once said. About how humans have been experimenting with herbal medicine for thousands of years. The stuff that works was turned into ‘medicine’. Everything else is ‘pot pourri’!
Sorry if this brings anyone down.
I don’t think this is a valid comment, especially as Amy cured herself using natural/herbal medicines. Whatever the docs give you for H Pylori doesn’t work. I hope you followed Amy’s advice and are now well.
I’m more depressed than ever now that you deleted my comment. Makes me think there really is no cure and you’re all in denial. I wish denial worked for me too.
No one deleted your comments – they have to be approved before they appear.
And it’s not “pot pourri” by a long shot – I successfully eradicated my h pylori nearly two months ago with consistent use of Mastic Gum, Manuka Honey, and Monolaurin. I’m back to normal. If you’d read my comments and follow-up, you would have learned that. I was sick as dog, tested twice for the infection, and finally got back to normal after my “pot pourri,” whatever that term is supposed to imply. If you adjust your diet and stick to the “pot pourri” you can do it too. But you have to adjust your diet – that’s the catch for everyone, even people who use antibiotics. They want to keep eating the same stuff as though the medicine will do it all alone. Trouble is that the bug lives in YOUR STOMACH, so what you put in there counts! Adjust your diet for at least a month, you may actually be successful. Otherwise, you’ll remain depressed and thinking there’s no way out.
Good luck.
I’m sorry. Was feeling pretty depressed at time of posting. The potpourri joke was actually funny when I heard it. Guess you had to be there!
Re diet, I’ve cut out tea, coffee, sugar, sugary foods/drinks, tomatoes, red meat (but not entirely), milk, dairy products except probiotics and live yogurt but I’m cutting back on the yogurt. I do eat white rice but I’ll try switching to whole grain. I’m more or less following the diet for candida and gluten intolerance.
The problem is I’m not entirely sure that it’s the pylori that’s causing my symptoms. It’s obvious to me I have developed gastritis judging by the reaction of my gut to food. My stomach feels like a witch’s couldron, bubbling away and making popping noises for several hours at a time. Lot of general discomfort. The burning pain in the belly isn’t so bad now, and the awful diarrhea (which according to what I’ve read isn’t really a distinguishing H Pylori symptom) is much diminished now but always threatening. Now I’m tending towards constipation. But I’ve also developed pains in my kidney/liver area..also very recently a very odd pain in my lower leg which can be quite severe. Unfortunately my doctor doesn’t seem to want to investigate more serious issues and has prescribed IBS drugs which I’m not taking. Infact, he hasn’t even ordered a test to see if I’m clear of the infection.
My issue isn’t really about H Pylori eradication. This can be achieved through anti-biotics alone. I’m more worried about whether my stomach will ever return to it’s old self. Much of what I read seems to suggest that people continue having problems for months and years. That’s the depressing part.
I’m glad you’ve made a recovery. I guess that means there’s hope. Thanks for responding.
Hi Sam,
I’m going to respond in order of what you wrote.
Let’s see — I cut out yogurt because it made my gastritis worse. Some people say it does not bother them, but it certainly did for me.
I got used to brown rice, though I love white rice. In fact, even though I’m better now, I switch back and forth and consider the white rice to be a treat.
As for the probiotic, I was taking one of the best on the market: Garden of Life Ultra Probitic. However when I finally got a decent GI, he said I have to recolonize my gut and told me to take the middle-strength dose of a medical grade probiotic called, “VSL#3″. I actually still take it. The low dose comes in pill form and has 250 billion organisms in it. I take the middle dose, a packet of powder each day, that has 450 billion organims in it. This made all of the difference. I can’t even explain what a difference it made. I went from feeling sick all the time to feeling more energy and healthy again. VSL#3 has to be prescribed at the highest dose, but the middle dose is over the counter. However, it is expensive. It’s about ninety bucks for a thirty day supply if you take one packet of powder a day. It’s your call – but for me, investing the money in that probiotic was worth it.
Your constipation seems normal I went from three months of diarrhea to months of constipation. I had to use glycerin suppositories daily for awhile because the “back up” made me feel even sicker than the h pylori. That took awhile to go away but did after I was taking the probtioc for a good two weeks.
My regular doc also suggested IBS to me, which I vehemently disagreed with. I never had so these issues before the infection. Trouble is that docs don’t know the extent of what h pylori does because no one can really conduct studies of long term infections – they try to get rid of it as you know bc it causes stomach cancer. So research is quite limited, as my new GI has explained in depth. They finally recently did make the link between heart disease and h pylori though. Clearly, the bacteria does not limit its effects to your GI tract.
My own symptoms also included lots of miserable aches and pains in my back, legs, and arms that no on doctor could conclusively say was a direct result of the infection. But I know with certainty that these weird pains and miseries were due to the infection because they have since cleared up. Many times I thought I was dying, had cancer, imagined my pancreas and liver swollen, on the verge of a heart attack, etc
You can definitely recover from the infection after it’s gone. I’ve been diligent about my probiotic and take aloe vera juice daily (you need the unprocessed, cold pressed kind of aloe juice because it heals). I also thought I was damaged goods because I was surprised that my test results came back negative but I was still feeling so horribly. However, my gastritis healed up first, then the rest of the problems dissipated slowly but surely. I actually kept thinking that something else was wrong with me because of the other stuff that felt unrelated. I thought for sure they were going to tell me that they found gallstones later or some sort of liver issue. Alas, I kept feeling like I was fighting a virus as well. Oh, I also thought my stomach was damaged and couldn’t produce acid properly anymore. Not the case. My GI explained that it was the imbalance in my intestinal flora that was giving me such a hard time, hence the probiotics. So with time, the body does heal if you treat yourself right. Get rid of the buggers and then be careful for another few weeks – I know it’s hard to believe when you’re feeling the pain, esp pain that is so inexplicable, but it will go away with time and care!
Welcome,
Amy
Sam,
Sorry to hear you and others are feeling like I did several years ago. I ended up having that nasty bug H-Pylori. Doc gave me some meds. Meds gave me more pain than the bug did…LOL…Although they did alot of good but I can’t help but feel that bug is back again for some crazy reason or it never completely died off. My Doc never ran another test to see if it had disappeared. Funny how so many of them are very much alike. I have come across some awesome material regarding the use of a magnet. Using a pole finder, http://www.emovendo.net/magnet/magnetic-pole-searcherfinder.html if the RED end of the finder points to the magnet, this side of the magnet will reduce swelling beyond your wildest imagination. Used a 2 each 49 pull magnets on both of knees after they swollen from walking 7 miles and the next morning, approx. 80% of the swelling was gone where before the swelling took 3 months to go down. Used the magnets again the next day and it took about 10% more of the pain away. The pain was so small that I didn’t even use the magnets again. Oh! I kept the magnets on for about 8 or 10 hrs that first day. Regardless, unsure if the magnets might help your tummy out but it may help. make sure if you do use the magnets, the RED side of the pole finder MUST point to the side that touches your skin. Don’t ever put the opposite side of a magnet where the pole finder ”green end” points to the magnet near your head or where you might consider you have an infection. It acts in reverse. It brings about bacterial to multiple which can be good if you are looking to increase the bacterial in your guts to digest your food but otherwise could cause you great harm. The research done on the magnets was Roy Davis. He was a scientist who did the work back in the day (1920 s). He research magnets for 20 years for health benefits. If you do some research on this guy, you’ll understand why his work is never mentioned or used for medical problems today (many doctors would be without work). Regardless, his research has worked on my tummy as well. I had a ventral hernia repair done and that is no picnic afterward s. The screen mesh he put inside of me to hold together the tissue causes a lot of inflammation by rubbing on the guts themselves. Nothing can be done about it other than to take out the screen mesh!!! Already question my doc about it months after I had the surgery. Regardless, I placed a 12 pound pull magnet on my tummy and needless to say it worked like a dream come true. Still use them today when the pain is bad enough. After performing several test using different strengths of magnets, I found the stronger the magnet the better and round magnets are better that square. The round focuses the strength better and to a greater depth. To explain how the magnet works is that it basically mimics the signal the brains produces when trying to make a repair. The magnet boosts the signal in the area you place the magnet. I am assuming that our bodies for some reason or another do not put out a signal as strong as the salamander which can grow another part of their body with the exception of their head which is logical……hope all this information helps and who knows, may be someone else will read what I left here and find the magnets to help them in others areas where they are experiencing pain…………as a RULE, use only the side the RED end of the pole finder points to and I would only use ROUND magnets. I would suggest buying the 2″ x 1/4″ magnet on the site i suggested earlier because it is easier to tape onto the body. http://www.emovendo.net/magnet/2-x-14-disc.html
I was using a 3/4″ x 3/4″ which worked great for my knees but it was a serious pain taping them on. That website no longer sells a 3/4″ x 3/4″ for some reason or other.
Warning!!!!! Do not bring these magnets near one another. they will pull into one another and they will crack and pieces will fly apart and it might strike you in the eye and blind you. Make sure you wear glasses when handling these high strength magnets…..
God Bless & Best Wishes in Life to All
Hi Amy
I was diagnosed with HP, a bleeding stomach, inflammation inside my body and a B12 deficiency 2 months ago and had the triple eradication therapy. Thought i was doing ok until the raging heartburn started up again recently. Went to see my doctor last night and he said he doesnt think my HP has gone. I’m awaiting a breath test August 18th 2009 and will receive results the week after. I have been suffering from fatigue for over a year and believe this is because the nasty HP bug has been eating away at my gut, hence bleeding and not absorbing nutrients. By the way, if you are diagnosed with B12 deficiency too, you can have a B12 injection.
Had been taking Manuka Honey UMF 16+ and glutamine (supports the immune system etc).
So, dont know if it has gone but dont think it has. Am now going to try mastic gum, more manuka and lauric acid (which was a little hard to find and had to order from the US).
Will let you know how I get on.
I think the key is to be very kind to your stomach and rest as much as you can. I have taken up Yoga also.
good luck everyone, we can beat it! x
Yikes, Frances!
I didn’t have the bleeding stomach, incredibly since I went undiagnosed for a year – that sounds terrible. I do have a friend who gets the B12 injections due to the h pylori.
I don’t understand why docs do the breath test – the stool test is much more certain, though it’s not as ‘convenient’ for the person dealing with it. But my doc always ordered the stool test because it is more reliable.
I do hope you try these methods –
Mastic Gum – 1000 mg in the morning before food (two pills) and the same at night before bed on an empty stomach.
Manuka Honey – I don’t know how you were doing the honey but you’re supposed to take a teaspoon twenty minutes before each meal (obviously on an empty stomach) and one before bed on an empty stomach (I would take my spoonful after I took the Mastic Gum so that the water wouldn’t dilute it and send it directly to the kidneys.
Monolaurin — (it’s derived from coconut milk, so is food based and safe as well) 1200 mg each morning and 1200 mg each night. It’s a natural antibiotic that many use for a variety of reasons. It’s especially popular with folks who get mono (Epstein Barr virus).
Don’t buy Lauric Acid because it is not as potent as Monolaurin. You can find Monolaurin at any Vitamin Shoppe and even easier: it’s online at the Vitamin Shoppe as well as Amazon. I would pay about 13 dollars a bottle and went through two bottles.
And absolutely L Glutamine! I was putting it on my oatmeal everyday — they recently also made the connection for people with h pylori that L Glutamine slows the damage and helps to heal it. Good call on that one!
Yoga is great! I now own several of Rodney Yee’s short routines on dvd.
Hi Amy
thanks for your reply and for the tips. Sounds like you ate a lot more honey than me, I think I may need to eat a bit more. I have read that it is best to eat it on a cracker because the stomach can hold it for longer, but I dont know really. Just such a shame that these things are so very expensive and that the NHS dont provide funding for alternative medicines! (that will be the day eh!)
Please avoid sugar everyone, it does much more harm than good.
Will let you know how I get along.
best wishes
Frances
Hi Amy,
I read your reply with interest, especially the description of your symptoms. I’m just a bit puzzled though. Are you saying you eradicated the H Pylori bug using these natural products alone or did you at some stage have the standard antibiotic treatment?
I did not use antibiotics. I’m allergic to the two main ones: Biaxin (Clarithromycin) and Amoxicillin. So my doc agreed to let me try my “alternative” meds for a month and to test again. By a month, I was feeling so much better, I thought I would certainly test negative. But I tested positive. I explained how much better I was feeling, etc, so she agreed that I should try for another month. I test again at the end of that month and it was negative. No antibiotics, so no side effects. Some foods and food based “drugs” such as Monolaurin, derived from coconut milk, heal! That’s how they did it in the “olden” days.
Wow! You deserve congratulations for that. Thanks for telling us about your experience.
I have had that too in the past. No fun. Also had an ulcer before and just a generally poor tummy many times. Now I’m using align, a new product on the market after just going through another series of antibiotics for the tummy. Check it out (align) and ask your doctor. Glad to hear you’re on the mend and sorry to hear you weren’t well.
Great Blog Amy,
I was wondering if you were taking any medications during your alternative therapy? I am taking pantoprazole and randranitdine right now along with grapefruit seed extract, manuka honey, oregano oil, probiotics, gogi berries, bluberries….etc. I will also try some of the alternative therapies you have mentioned here. I am so happy you cured yourself without having to take antbiotics. Congrats!
Thanks
D
Hi Dee Dee,
No, I didn’t take any other medications. Good luck!
Hi Amy,
Thanks so much for sharing. I too have suffered digestive distress for years and endured the “we don’t really know, so we will just call it IBS and give you a prescription for a proton pump inhibitor” joys of the US medical establishment. A colonoscopy showed only minor irritation and the best they could do was prescribe a muscle relaxer which I take only when truly desparate. Finally, after 4 years of suffering and my refusal to take the PPI without someone proving to me that squelching my stomach acid is actually good for me, they did an upper endoscopy and found much inflammation but thankfully no ulcers. I await the pathology report and am actually hoping the cause is H. pylori, as so many of the other possibilities are very frightening given the rest of my medical history.
During these years of ill health (sometimes REALLY ill) and diagnostic limbo, I realized no doctors were really going to help. I set out to figure out what I could do on my own. Obviously my journey is ongoing. While my health isn’t perfect, at least I can get around, think more clearly, and eat a bit these days. I actually look pretty healthy on the outside now, which I certainly did not 2-3 years ago. There are some things I figured out on my own that help digestive distress, energy levels, and interesting heart rythyms. Figured I would share in case it works for someone else………..Digestive problems are the root of all my symptoms. Magnesium is like magic, and the glycinate form is the least harsh on the digestive system. Grapeseed extract does help! Astragalus, glutamine, DGL (licorice), mastic gum, fresh and crystallized ginger sooth the stomach and gut and help ward off reflux. Virgin coconut oil is awesome. Borage oil helps with inflammation. Omega 3′s are VERY necessary. Food intolerances or other triggers must be identified and the offenders strictly removed from the diet (that would be dairy and alcohol for me).
Hope this helps someone. Best of luck to you, Amy, and all of us on the mysterious digestive disorders roller coaster.
Angel
Thanks for all of these tips, Angel! They are very helpful. And I hope you get a diagnosis soon, with quick relief to follow. Best to you, Amy
Hi Amy,
Reading your entry and all these comments is comforting beyond belief! I’ve been suffering the exact symptoms – including the racing heart, shortness of breath and anxiety, and have asked the doctors here in Japan for the H.Pylori test & they’ve all refused. It’s been suggested that I have ‘women’s problems’, which is infuriating! I’ve been struggling physically and emotionally to stay on top of these and am now having to return home to get the treatment. I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to write about this – it’s obviously a subject the medical world is not taking seriously and it’s such a relief to know I’m not alone!
Amy,
Thanks for your post. I’m posting this message to let folks know that I’ve tried
the mastic gum and manuka honey. The mastic gum and manuka honey
definitely kill h. pylori. I have experienced no side effects with the mastic gum; however, from my personal tests, it appears a sthough
the manuka honey maybe killing some “good bacteria” along with the h.
pylori. I believe this is true because after taking the manuka honey, my h. pylori
symptoms vanish but then my breathing is slightly affected—when this
occurs, I take a few probiotics and then my breathing is returned to
normal.
So, here are my questions: do you think the manuka honey is
also killing some “good bacteria?” Is that the reason why you had to use
the VSL#3 medical strength probiotic? If so, then maybe the VSL#3 should
be added to your list of three: 1) mastic, 2) manuka, and 3) monolaurin.
Ray
I think you’re right, Ray. The Manuka must have killed off good and bad alike…
Hey Amy, My blood test was negative for H Pylori. I am going to see GI specialist on Monday. How conclusive is a blood test?
PS. I worked on ” Lars and the Real Girl ” glad you enjoyed it, interesting film to work on!
I think the blood test is good in terms of determining if you have the antibody in your blood, which means that at some point you have fought off the h pylori. Yes, just looked it up:
“Blood antibody test. A blood test checks to see whether your body has made antibodies to H. pylori bacteria. If you have antibodies to H. pylori in your blood, it means you either are currently infected or have been infected in the past.”
So if you haven’t been “invaded” you won’t test positive for the antibodies, and they won’t test you for the bacteria – you likely don’t have it.
Cool that you worked on Lars! Great film! Good luck figuring out what’s going on with your gut!
Amy,
First, thank you so much for sharing your experience with us. Could you please tell me if you or anyone else you know of have had any nausea symptoms during the “die off” or healing period? Or do you know if that is a side effect
of either the mastic gum or manuka honey?
Your story has given me a lot of valuable information and hope.
Thanks again,
Candace
Hi Candace,
You’re most welcome! Yes, the first two to three days of taking the full dose of Monolaurin, I experienced “die off” and felt even sicker – but it did pass. I’m told it’s called “herxing” after the Herximer effect (http://www.earthtym.net/ref-herxheimer.htm). I don’t think it was from the mastic or manuka – pretty sure it was the monolaurin. None of these has actual side effects though; they are all food-based treatments and fairly mild. It was definitely my body dealing with the toxins of lots of bacteria dying and needing to be filtered from my body.
Hope that helps!
Amy
Hi Amy:
I’ve been so sick for nine years. The most overriding symptom is by far my constant stomach pain/burning and fatigue. I was tested and treated for h pylori about six years ago. I had some relief for about a week, then all the symptoms came back. An endoscopy after the treatment showed no HP. I just had a stool test done that shows positive in the stool sample. I have an alternative MD that is putting me on several different things, including monolaurin. I just wanted to know, though, (but don’t want to get my hopes up too high), you mentioned when you were sick you felt like you were dying. Did the infection really disable you? I’ve been sick with this stomach stuff for so long. I had to leave my job in 2003. Also, have you ever heard of h pylori affecting the thyroid? My hair is so dry and falling out and I have 15 pounds I just can’t lose, but my thyroid tests are always normal. Please advise, and thanks.
Karen
I feel like my life is over. I can’t eat, can’t sleep and the only thing that takes away the severe stomach pain is red wine. I have been missing so much work, and the stress over the bills not getting paid just makes it worse. The pain first started in March of ‘04. I ended up in the ER, got a prescription for Prilosec and changed my eating habits, courtesy of a book – The Schwarzbein Principle. I took the pills for a year. It worked. Until December of ‘08. The pain came back. I went back to the ER, got more acid reducers and nausea pills. I stopped taking them. It made it worse. I saw a primary care physician and had an H Pylori blood test done. Negative! But I have all the symptoms!!! I have been looking up natural cures and don’t want to see another doctor (I don’t want an endoscopy and I don’t want to do triple antibiotic therapy) – all the testimony I have read says it makes it worse. I don’t have health insurance anyway, and I’m still paying old hospital bills over this (which does not help with the stress).Drinking red wine – particularly Merlot is the only thing that actually makes the pain GO AWAY. You have to drink at least 4 glasses at a time, though. I did research on red wine and H Pylori…and I’m not crazy! For me, it’s best to drink it when the pain first starts. Researchers say moderate red wine consumption helps reduce bacteria in the stomach. Preventative drinking does not prevent the pain, though. And you end up toasted. If you wait until the pain is completely full blown, you will vomit from a combo of the pain and drinking. What kind of life is this? But, I will not quit until I beat it. H Pylori……Kiss My Butt!
Below is a list of my symptoms, triggers, what I’ve tried so far and what I am looking in to…
MY SYMPTOMS:
Severe upper stomach pain (sometimes feels like an elastic band of pain that wraps around and includes middle back pain).
Nausea / Vomiting
dizziness
lack of appetite
lack of sleep
missed work
anxiety…nervousness, irritation
irregular heartbeat, or tightness or pressure on chest (feels like high blood pressure).
bloating
depression
weight gain in mid-section ( but I am not eating!?!?).
MY TRIGGERS:
pills- Aleve, aspirin, acid reducers, allergies…etc….
greasy or fried food
fast food or restaurant food
sugary food
man made carbohydrates… breads, pastas, cereals
stress
coffee
physical activity (bending, lifting or reaching)
lack of sleep
hard liquor/beer
anxiety
WHAT I HAVE TRIED SO FAR:
Proton pump inhibitors – Pepcid AC, Zantac and Nausea pills etc…
Maalox and Prilosec .ALL THESE, DID NOT WORK.
HELPS: red wine for the pain, for eating: yogurt, manuka honey, chamomile and lavender tea, apple cider vinegar shots, though quite nauseating… relaxing cd’s, lavender epsom salt baths, vinegar rubbed on site of pain, taking it slower…
WHAT I AM LOOKING INTO:
Broccoli sprouts (not the florettes you buy in stores), aloe vera juice, mastic gum, grape juice, licorice root.
I hope this helps anyone. Keep fighting!! You can win!!
UPDATE! ALOE VERA GEL REALLY DOES HELP!!! BEEN PUTTING A CAPFUL IN HERBAL(CHAMOMILE) TEA ABOUT 4 TIMES A DAY ON A SCHEDULE OF 7AM 11AM 3PM 7PM 11PM.( DIRECTIONS SAY 1-3 TIMES A DAY)…I AM DOING 4 DOSES AS MENTIONED ABOVE. NO PAIN FOR A WEEK. WOW!!!! IT HAS NATURAL HERBS ADDED THAT I HAVE SEEN ONLINE THAT HELP FIGHT THE BACTERIA. IT TASTES MINTY.
I HOPE I CAN HELP! It is not too expensive either…got it at the local health food store for twelve bucks for a bottle…you can get it online too, though at: vitacost.com/lily of the desert/stomach formula (aloe vera 80).Sorry, tried to post a link..I know you are not up 2 searching….I just wanna help. Try It. Please. My email is jencovey@live.com…let me know if I helped you…
Hi Amy IAm a South African woman age 58 and have been suffering with H Pylori propably since 1982 when I was diagnosed with leukemia treated and suffering many years later and with all symptoms mentioned by you and all other people on your site went for every test available at the time but after passing out a few times a MD in Brits tested me positively in Sept 2009 for H p was treated and was Ok for a while but symptoms returned twice and was treated accordingly Iam going for a Gastroscope tomorrow to determine if the Buggers are dead or not meanwhile I am suffering with heavy gasses after eating or drinking certain items
Hi Amy,
I have been dealing with a rather complicated health issue since January 2009. I was told first I had parasites and got prescribed Metronidazole. That completely killed the parasites and my whole digestive system. After a month of not eating well and 2 GI’s later, I am told that I have H. Pylori. I was given the antibiotics, but I still test positive for it. I am not about to kill my body with a second round. My main concern is that I have it that I lost 41 pounds and the doctor says that Pylori does not cause weight loss. I saw in your post you had lost some weight too, but was wondering if it was that much as I do.
I wanted him to do a colonoscopy but I was told I would be at risk because all the weight lost. I am 39 years old female.
I do have all your symptoms palpitations at night, anxiety, odd pains, diarreah alternated with constipation, etc.
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
I have had H.pylori for years and just found out what it was. Years ago I lost much weight and than in the last two years I have started to gain for no reason since my eating habits hadn’t changed. Finally had a scope down my throat and am on my last day of antibiotics. Hoping that it has gotten rid of it when I go to be checked in four weeks. So from my experience it was weight loss (much) than gaining.
It’s a terrible feeling not to be in control of one’s body. I mean, terrible. I shudder when I recall my “episodes” of racing heart, shaking, the projectile vomiting. I remember thinking that I wish I would just pass out already so that I didn’t have to experience it. Begging whatever higher power there is for some relief. Just feeling depressed all the time. I have come to the conclusion that I don’t know how chronic pain sufferers get through it. I’m a terrible sick person.
That said, I will reiterate that this bacteria can be eradicated. I did it with several food “medicines”, and while I don’t know which one worked, either one alone or all in combination, they did and they were not antibiotics from the doctor. Should you find yourself fighting H Pylori, consider doing the 1200 mg of Monolaurin two times per day, four teaspoons of Manuka Honey on an empty stomach per day, and 1 to 2 grams of Mastic Gum per day. The other supplements are meant to help heal the gut such as Aloe Vera. You will definitely need to follow up with a strong probiotic — none worked for me until I began VSL#3.
For those of you interested in a quick fix, you’re out of luck. This bacteria does damage and the docs haven’t been able to do long-term studies that discover exactly what. But they’ve recently connected this bacteria to heart disease and sinus issues. Recently as in last month. So they won’t go out on a limb and acknowledge that all of your symptoms might be related to this bacteria.
But you’ve gotta figure – nothing lives in your stomach acid – except H Pylori! How tough and determined is this bacteria? It burrows into your stomach lining and can live there for the life of the host. Everything coming through that stomach, esp sugars and anything that does further damage to the flesh, helps the bacteria thrive! So you *must* adjust what you eat and your levels of stress. See my note above about food changes. Consider the change temporary and give your gut a few months of the “bland” diet to get back on track. (By bland, I don’t mean what the docs usually prescribe like crackers – carbs are a huge no because they’re sugar).
Okay, good luck to all and thanks to everyone for sharing their experiences and advice!
my mom was hit hard…first she had hives for 2 years..then at thanksgiving last year, had no energy. By xmas, she went to her doc and was anemic..had another test scheduled but went to emergency…10 days in and sent her home Now its 2 months later, after changing her diet and many supps and herbs…all the symptoms of h.pylori..one reaction I’d like to know if anyone else experience this: She’ll try to eat and she gets a painful air bubble from down below…she then hacks and heaves trying to bring it up ..lots of bubbly foamy mucusy spittle comes up..saliva…and then pure exhaustion and can’t eat after that
any one get that symptom? just awful to watch no vomit just retching and lots of foamy snappy spit
do tell
thanks for all the info
love to all
Amy,
Thanks for posting these suggestions. My wife will definitely try a course of this more natural treatment.
Two more points to consider:
Many of the readers here are discouraged and understandably so. Years of chronic pain with no ready answers from the established medical community can seem hopeless. To all of you in this situation, please stay hopeful and active in finding alternative treatments. Forums (physical or virtual, such as this one) are great knowledge resources as well as emotional support. Maintaining a positive (and realistic) attitude and keeping an active mind is crucial to any recovery.
Secondly, H.Pylori (like many potentially harmful organisms, such as candida, C.Diff) is ubiquitous in humans (>80% in many populations). When our systems are “out of whack”, these bugs could start to cause problems. It’s also very possible that, due to living in relatively sterile environments, exposure to these common bugs later in life can cause bad reactions. I’ve read in the Times that exposure to common bacteria and organisms during childhood is actually quite normal and “regulates” the immune system (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/01/health/research/01prof.html?scp=1&sq=children%20hookworms&st=cse) Additonally, H.Pylori (in non harmful quantities) could actually be beneficial in that it has been linked in appetite regulation. So think of your body as an entire ecosystem of flora. Things like stress, poor diet, excessive drinking, etc can allow some of those buggers to get out of control. Western medicine tends to look for cures (ie antibiotics to kill bacteria), but in cases like these, it is probably more beneficial to reestablish balance in our bodies.
All the best,
Larry
Hi amy. Another thing that will help with your fight against this nasty bug is the water from Young Coconuts. It’s sterile and has been used as an intravenous solution in Asian countries, it has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it’s more hydrating than water and has more electrolytes than sports drinks. It’s highly alkalysing and soothes the stomach. It aids digestion. Most importantly… it’s delicous! It’s low on fat and sugar and in fact one Young Coconut (including the meat) has only about 4 grams of fat. The meat can be used for curries where you can add the other h pylori fighting spices such as turmeric, cumin, chilli etc. It can also be used to make coconut milk and some yummy deserts. You can find young coconuts at Asian grocers if your fruit and veggie shops don’t supply them.
I have also been able to kill off the H.Pylori with Mastic Gum treatment. I also ate broccolli every day during the treatment, pribotics and eliminating any foods that bothered my stomach. I read about H.pylori and had several of the symptoms including losing a scary amount of weight, when diagnosed I was down to 105 pounds. I asked my doctor to test me for it, the test came back positive. He wanted to start me on antibiotics and like Amy I am allergic to them. I treated myself with Mastic Gum against his advise and two months later my stool test was negative. He was impressed. One thing I did add to my daily diet beside broccoli was Rooibus tea which is similiar to green tea only I like the taste better.
To make a long story short. I was diagnosed with atrial fibrilation in 2005 and had episodes that sent my heart up to 160 beats per minute every two months regular. My heart has been quiet since January of this year, not even one blip. I am not sure I am healed of that heart condition because it has not been recognized that stomach issues can cause it, but as time marchs on we will see.
My stomach feels wonderful, no pain, no bathroom runs, my bowels are perfect and I have gained up to 111 pounds with my goal to be my weight before H.pylori which was 120.
It can work, but you have to really be diligent and do everything you can to eat right because that is an important part of the equation.
first of all, thank you for coming to my blog, and giving me a comment about my issue with h pylori. i dont know how you found my site. anyways, i have few questions about it.
1) can you really confirm you are cured, when the test say it is negative the 2nd time? or can it means that the result show it is negative, but it is possible the test didnt detect it?
2) what does it mean when they say, you may be cured, but it could come back ( not from a new infection) . does it mean the bacteria was reduced by medicine, but was not eradicated?
3) if they prescribe antiobitocs, and the test show negative, do you still encourage people to still take this natural remedies? or the negative could be an inconclusive one?
4) i dont have the symptopms you have. i am not sure why. but i tested positive for h pylori. why is that so? i do have bloating though. could it be caused by it? and also constipation. just dat.
5) whenever i eat, my stomache gets bloated and hardened, and i am thinking, could it be because the bacteria is feeding of the nutrients? i read somewhere that stomache can get bloated because of overgrowth of bacteria. my other parts are not bloated though.
regards, aniq
Hi Amy,
So glad to hear you’re better! I’d really like to try the bland diet but am not too sure of what it entails. Any tips on what to eat throughout the day? I’m thinking that would be a great start to feeling better. Thanks!
Hi Amy,
been diagnosed that i have HP after having endoscopy last 25th of august.
I have been suffering PAIN from HP i call life threatening for the past 2 months..And none of the medicines ( prilosec, pepcid ac, antibiotics worked for me )
I came across this ALOE VERA JUICE for stomach and BELIEVE me after drinking it ( 2oz to 4 oz daily) my pain gone completely..it was such a miracle to me ( next to God of course) and u were right u really have to watch your diet constantly..
its good to know that i am not alone for this kind of illness..we will fight this Amy!!!
I am really sorry to hear about your pain and happy that you eradicated the bug. I also appreciate ur courage to do lot of research and help h-pylori sufferers with ur blog.
Regarding my family, My husband is suffering from kidney stones, kidney inflammation. Recently we found he is suffering from chronic gastritis and H-pylori. I also found that i am infected with h-pylori. I am really scared about my 2.5 months baby girl getting infected as we both have. what precautions should we take to avoid spreading? My husband completed his triple therapy and i am on triple therapy from 2 days.
I want to talk to you. Is it possible for you to give your contact number
Just wanted to find out how long to follow this treatment of MH, MG and ML is it long term or just until you feel the infection/stomach issues are gone
Hi Cathy,
I took all three for about six weeks or so. I tested again at the two month mark and all was negative. However, I felt like I was negative at one month, but the test came back positive still. I don’t know exactly how long past the one month mark until I became negative. But not more than two months. I was also careful with my diet the entire time. Good luck!
I am on my fifth day of anti biotics for H. pylori, had the endosopy and tested positive. I have had it for years and went to the doctors so many times that he started to tell me I was a hypochondriac which angered me since I know my own body. He finally sent me to a cancer doctor three or four years ago she ran several blood test and said I have a blood platelet dysfunction. Told there was nothing that could be done unless it turned into lukemia, for joy. I started to get worse and went to see him last month and was sent to the cancer doctor again and she sent me to the doctor that found the H. pylori. Once the biopsy came back positive and I did much research on H. pylori I too was shouting “Thank God I have H. Pylori” because FINALLY they knew I wasn’t a nut case who enjoyed wasting my time going to the doctors or wasting the doctors time. I can only pray that the anti biotics will rid me of this. I have dealt with all the same things I see written here, losing my hair in bunches, brusing, mild pressure headaches, eyes burning, body aching all over, nausea, loss of weight than gaining weight when not even eating much, loss of muscle tone because of fatigue and not being able to function and on and on. I was beginning to think I was nuts for a minute. I had the upper GI and lower GI and the colon and so on. I cannot tell you I never thought I would say I am Happy to find out I have something But I am. Now they know I was telling the truth and am not a hypochondriac. I would like to know once this is gone and test is negative will I feel like my old self ever again? Thank you so much for this blog and sharing.
Hi Cynthia,
No guarantees as I’m not a doc – but I’m back to normal, especially after I took the VLS #3 for a month. It did take awhile though, so you must be patient. Once you’re on the mend, you’ll still have aches and pains and ailments for awhile – but it does clear up! Stay the course!
Amy
Hi Amy,
Could you advise what you ate exactly what your diet consisted of? What is your opinion on homeopaths ?
Please reply
Thanks
Samantha
Hi Samantha,
I’ve outlined my diet in the entry and in subsequent comments – please go over them. Basically, you must avoid all carbs, especially white carbs like white rice and crackers/bread, etc. Avoid sugars, coffee, alcohol (though some say a little red wine is good). Eat cooked organic vegetables, cooked chicken, etc. Basically, you want to eat foods that alkalize – do not eat acidic foods as you don’t want to raise acid levels in your stomach for now. And avoid sugars because bacteria feed on sugars. Look up foods / diets that alkalize, though I’ve linked to some above.
Amy
You know this is all good but at this time now financially it is more expensive to pay for things that are healthy for you. Unfortunately it’s always cheaper what isn’t good for you. I would like to return to the country and grow my own. When I am able to afford some of the things listed I will incorporate it into my daily life but for now it has to as I can afford it.
I never saw a homeopath.
Hi Amy
Thanks for your quick response and for all the info. Really helps :)
I also have an underactive thyroid, which I am taking medicine for but am tired
of all the medicine thus being the reason why I was considering seeing a homeopath. How did you find out about these products to take, was it through trial and error or how? I will definitely look on amazon for those products, thanks so much.
I tried to find “alternative” products that also had some sort of validity via published medical studies as I wanted to share them with my doc and get her support. Most of my research came from the internet.
A lot of the products above are linked to Amazon, if you click on the names.
Good luck!
Hi Amy,
Thanks for sharing this information as many of us suffer for years and we become advocates for our own health. Now that you completed the treatment with the 3 main supplements what do you take now for maintenance. Thanks
Hi Cathy,
I’m just more cautious with what I eat, though I’ve gone back to some of my old habits – not to any detrimental degree though. That’s about it! Once in awhile if my stomach feels a bit off, I pop a Mastic Gum, which is good for digestion, regardless of H Pylori. Good luck, Amy
Hi Amy,
Thanks for sharing your experiences with us. I’m 25 years old and have had chronic gastritis for about a year. It all started with me feeling really nauseous and I threw up almost everything I ate, for 2 weeks. I started taking Prilosec and mastic gum and stopped throwing up.
Later I developed breathing problems due to chronic gastritis and acid reflux. The acid went up to my heart cavity and I felt a numbness in my arms and had heart palpitations. I thought I was having a heart attack. I had to go to the ER 3 times because of it.
I have to breath hard everyday and have sleep apnea because of it. I cannot work and I try to at least to go school, but it’s embarrassing because I keep taking deep breaths to try to fulfill my breath.
My throat hurts almost everyday. It feels like there’s something inside putting pressure on it. I have a dry cough and I keep having to clear my throat. I cannot breathe through my nose very well as I think the acid or whatever goes all the way to the top.
My doctor found an active H. Pylori in my stomach and put me on 1000mg of antibiotics twice day and Nexium. I’m still taking them as I have a couple days left.
Here’s my question:
How long did it take you to eradicate H. Pylori by using these alternative treatments?
I just read your entire blog and am half asleep, so I will be reading it again tomorrow and writing down the products I need to purchase.
Thanks again for sharing with us.
-Ish
I just read the comments and your replies and read that you started feeling a lot better after a month but you still tested positive, and kept taking them for another month and you finally tested negative.
I’m excited and hope that this helps me. I need some sleep now. :)
Thanks again, Ish
Hi Ish,
Good luck! You should get some Slippery Elm lozenges to ease your throat pain (from the Vitamin Shoppe or any health food store).
Amy
I actually have slippery elm, but stopped taking it after I didn’t feel my gastritis going away. I’ll start taking it again for my throat.
Thanks
Okay, I would try AloeForce Aloe Vera for the gastritis. That’s the best one (don’t get it with the Herbal Formula). Take 2 ounces in the morning and again at night. AloeForce doesn’t heat the aloe plant to get the juice; it’s cold pressed, so at its full potential for healing the gut.
The Slippery Elm helped sometimes for me – my throat would hurt and also get very tight throughout my esophagus. It eased it now and then.
That’s about all I can recommend until the gut starts healing, which will take a little while.
Feel better.
Ish, just a word of caution. If you are on the antibiotic treatment and plan to finish that I would get checked after that to see if the antibiotic killed the HP. Then, if it didn’t I would go for the natural. I am very apprehenisve about doing several treatments at the same time as that can overtax your system. It is my belief that the Mastic Gum acts as a natural antibiotic (without all the side-effects), so if you are doing both that has to be rough on any good bacteria. Are you taking a good probiotic with the antibiotic. I took probiotics with the Mastic Gum treatment because I figured if the MG could kill H.pylori it may be killing some of my good bacteria too. All worked well for me and in 60 days with Mastic Gum, lots of broccoli, good food and probiotics my HP was killed. Just don’t overtax your body, that could lead to other problems. Sounds like you are dealing with a lot already. Sharon
Hi Sharon,
I’m going to stop taking antibiotics and take probiotics for a couple days before I take the “3 Main Drugs” that Amy took.
Thanks
My daughter brought something to my attention which I would like to pass along. She asked me about the tongue scraper I use to clean my tongue and my partial plate and how do I clean them. At first I didn’t get where she was going with that question than I got it. She suggested I get dental tablets and clean them both daily. So I suggesting to all who have H. Pylori or have been cured; if you use the scraper have a partial or dentures make sure you clean them daily really good. The reason she asked me is because I had a bad habit of taking my partial out of my mouth and shoving it in my pocket or purse. I have since stopped a lot of things I used to do. I now know why Howy Mendel doesn’t shake hands unless his gloved. LOL
I found another really good blog from a doctors who also had H. Pylori.
He explains how monolaurin works to kill the virus.
http://www.advancedhealing.com/blog/tag/monolaurin/
I have partials and I am extremely careful to clean them each time I brush my teeth and I soak them at night. I also change my toothbrush every month and when I had H.pylori I rinsed my toothbrush in peroxide each time I brushed my teeth. Bacteria like H.pylori love the mouth as an entry. Sharon
I’m very glad you were diagnosed.
I have had not as bad symptoms as you did, but I had lot of digestive discomfort and have been seeing doctors for 15 years (I’m only 30)
All of the doctors would just send me back suggesting to eat more fiber. 15 years later I went for a physical to a new doctor, and I casually mentioned my issues without much hope. And he listened! (tears) He run number of tests and found H Pylori. I will be going now to gastroenterologists to check if this bug did not make whole in my stomach, or even worse, caused a cancer.
I was also surprised to hear that many doctors refuse to treat H Pylori! they just believe it’s “normal” to have this bug that is slowly and often quietly eating you up to a cancer.
So much for the best medical care in the world!
amy,
I noticed you took the 3 MH, MG and ML all in the morning and at night… did you take them all at once? or did you wait an hour in between? etc… Also with the aloe vera and other supplement as probiotics did you take those at the same time with the triple therapy. Just want to find out if it is overtaxing system by taking all at once or should they be taken separate throughout the day etc…?
Thanks Cathy
Amy,
Here is the updated portion of my blog post. It adds more clarification to some products that are used for H. pylori and a link to my new research and treatment of biofilms. I have found that this is the missing ingredient to easily and successfully eradication H. pylori.
…Third, was to keep the buggers from coming back and keep the healing process moving forward. I took digestive enzymes w/HCl* – 1 w/ea. meal, plant based enzymes – 1 w/ea. meal, zinc** – 50mg’s 2x/day, L-carnosine** – 500mg’s 2x/day, mastic gum*** 1, 000mg’s 2x/day, TheraAloe**** – 1 ounce 2x/day, chlorophyll – 100mg’s 2x/day, and tons of distilled water for 6 weeks. I was now better than before my first symptom.
All-in-all it was a learning experience, and one that has made me a better doctor, and a more diligent medical detective.
FYI: Gastritis is not a single condition, but several different conditions that all share inflammation of the stomach lining as a common symptom. Gastritis, most often, is caused by prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen or aspirin, drinking too much alcohol or infection such as Helicobacter pylori bacteria (H. pylori). It may also occur after a major surgery, severe infections, trauma-injury-burns, or severe infections. Some diseases, such as pernicious (B12 deficient) anemia, autoimmune diseases, and chronic bile reflux, can cause gastritis as well.
*Microscopy studies of the motility of H. pylori in gastric mucin at acidic and neutral pH in the absence of urea show that the bacteria swim freely at high (alkaline – achlorohydria) pH, and are strongly constrained at low (acidic) pH. Also, H. Pylori, through enzyme reactions promote increased ammonia production, which raises the pH of its environment – allowing it to move more freely.
(**)A combination of zinc and L-carnosine has been shown to prevent gross visible damage to gastric mucosa caused by ethanol ingestion. This combination also acts as a potent antioxidant, specifically benefiting the gastric mucosa.
***There is conflicting data on whether mastic gum kills H.pylori in vivo (live human trials). There is evidence that it aid in the healing of the gastric mucosa. I used it for healing rather than as an agent to kill the H.pylori bacteria.
****TherAloe is a high molecular weight polysaccharides containing aloe vera juice product. It’s healing capabilities, as far as I am concerned, are quite profound on the gastric mucosa.
If you need to talk to me about this, give me a call. I can help with diagnostic testing and products. Marcus Ettinger DC, BSc. (714)-639-4360
September 13, 2009 Update – I am now taking, Source Naturals – Broccoli Sprouts Extract, which provides 2,000mcg’s sulforphane daily. This is equivalent to eating more than a pound of fresh broccoli.
Supportive data: Dietary Sulforaphane-Rich Broccoli Sprouts Reduce Colonization and Attenuate Gastritis in Helicobacter pylori–Infected Mice and Humans
October 03, 2009 Update – H. pylori most likely will live in biofilm colonies which make them even harder to kill or be identified by our host defenses. Read more about biofilms here and my protocol to remove them. BIOFILMS
http://www.advancedhealing.com/blog/2009/09/25/dr-ettingers-biofilm-protocol-for-lyme-and-gut-pathogens/
Dr. Ettinger
Hi, Amy -
Wow, reading through your story and the follow-up posts has been enlightening; thanks so much for taking the time to share with others. I had an upper GI performed last week and today learned that my h pylori test came back negative. Yet, the symptoms I’m having seem very similar to those you’ve written about. Anyway, figuring a more natural approach to Rx, including supplements and dietary changes, very likely can’t hurt, I’ve purchased the 3 “drugs” you’ve recommended along with some Aloe juice (yup, the cold pressed good kind you mention.)
I see, though, that Cathy has recently posted a question, and I have the same one: How did you take these 3 supplements (meaning time/day; separately or together; etc.) AND how should additional supplements (for example, the Aloe juice) be worked into the dosing schedule.
In advance, thanks for helping me with this – and again for all you’ve already done to help.
I thought I explained above but will give it another go. I took all three simultaneously for about a month and a half. Maybe longer – can’t recall now. I don’t know if this was a good idea or not because ultimately I depleted all of my good flora in my gut. Though that could happen if you do the antibiotics too.
I took the Mastic Gum in the morning on an empty stomach. I then swallowed a teaspoon of Manuka Honey. Waited twenty minutes, then I took the Monolaurin with breakfast. I took a teaspoon of Manuka Honey before each meal and a fourth time before bed, along with the Mastic Gum again. I took the Monolaurin a second time with dinner. 1 Gram of Mastic Gum morning and night. Three or four pills of the Monolaurin twice a day, with breakfast and dinner.
I was tested at one month, and though I felt considerably better and thought the h pylori was surely gone, I still tested positive. One month later, I tested negative. I feel fine now. Recovery took me awhile. I had to replenish the good flora in my gut after I tested negative because I felt like I was fighting a virus or something for awhile. The GI gave me VSL#3, which made me feel better in days. I took it for about a month or so. I no longer take it. The only thing I still take is one pill of Mastic Gum (1/2 gram) at night before bed on an empty stomach and one pill in the morning on an empty stomach. This is fine as it keeps the h pylori from coming back as well as helping to get rid of the bad kind of cholesterol. The Greeks take Mastic regularly as a digestive aid. I’ll likely continue this for another few months to be on the safe side.
Good luck to everyone! Be patient, stick with the diet, and happy eradicating, Amy
By the way, be careful with too much Manuka Honey – I think the honey is what kills both the good and bad bacteria. You may want to give the Mastic Gum a try because people with heartburn take it, not just those with h pylori.
god bless you all guys
everyone of you on this website helped me a lot
i check it every day to see the new updates and developments
big THANK YOU to amy and Dr. Ettinger
i live in adelaide australia and yet have not met any specialist (Gastro Ent) able to help me appart from the usual poison(antibiotics!!!)
i am waiting for a delivery with the products used in the Dr. Ettinger’s protocol
at the moment as angel amy suggested, i am taking the three Ms but still have days when i am in a lot of pain
wishing you all a good week
Hi
I am also from Australia and I am finding it impossible to purchase any of these products namely mastic gum, because customs won’t allow it, can any aussies out there please help
Hi Amy
l suffer from Helicobactor H Pylori & l’m currently writing a peice on what l been through & hope to finish it in the next few days so everyone can get a outlook of how this infection can hide itself & mimic itself. its a very powerful infection & put me through 20 years of hell but was only discovered back in August 2009
kind regards to all
Hi Amy & to all the readers:
I have this one big question in my head that i want out:
How long does it take for one to get Ulcer or worst Stomach Cancer when a test result show infection of H Pylori? How many days/months/years?
From what I’ve read so far people still have H Pylori, but are fighting it with non-prescription methods, but still have H Pylori, now doesn’t this still lead the way for Stomach Cancer?
Thank you in advance. Love Halil
hello amy, would you advise that along with the gum, honey etc taking vsl#3 daily with such would help.
I’m so grateful for this blog. I also live on Long Island, was just diagnosed with H Pylori (after being diagnosed with erosive gastritis). One day I had an iron stomach, and the next all hell broke loose. But I believe this has been going on since I was around 12 on & off and for the past few years had really been building up.
Has anyone had glucose or adrenal problems from H Pylori? Joint Pain?? I have had multiple problems for the past 4 years since being on high dose steroids. I noticed after starting PPI’s that my joint pain has gone away. And of course the low blood sugar has now turned into high blood sugar due to taking aciphex.
I am also not pleased with the followup with my gastro. They want me to take the abx that sound like pylori (pylora??) which I’m starting today, but don’t want me to follow up with endoscopy for an entire year! I’ve told them my blood sugar is unacceptably high because of the aciphex. They want me on that for 6-12 mos – just in CASE my problems are because of “silent reflux”. I’m super frustrated. Can anyone recommend a good gastro in Suffolk County?
I’m also taking DGL Licorice (regenerates mucous lining), and Aloe Vera Juice, which turned things around for me. The bloating however is still there, despite the PPI + alternative remedies. I have to be careful about things like ginger or anything spicy because of the erosions. Peppermint tea really helps too.
Grateful for any response!
Actually, I should have said, they also don’t want to retest me for H Pylori for a year, and in the meantime they want me on aciphex (=high glucose) for a year needlessly.
Sorry, one last past…has anyone tried taking Wobenzyme with abx? I was thinking about it, but am A) afraid of a die-off reaction and B) Afraid it will be too harsh on my erosions….
It’s suppose to remove the protective wall around bugs so that they are exposed to the abx treatment…I guess much like the Lauric acid appears to do..I think (??)
hi amy,
would you recommend taking the probiotic in conjunction with the other honey, gum etc?
Yes, I would take the probiotic while taking the other meds.
I just want to say thanks for all your dedication to this site! How amazing!
I stumbled upon your site while googling H Pylori…what an awesome blog. My son has been sick for many months – he is now 6 months. He has been puking and crying since he was about one month old. The doctor has done so many tests – constantly saying that it must be GERD, however, none of the tests have shown that he actually has GERD. The doc has given our son medication to treat the GERD for over 4 months now – but nothing helps! I heard about H Pylori on Dr. OZ one day and decided to ask the hospital to test my son for it – and they did! He tested positive. However, our doctor doesn’t want to do anything about it…he just wants to treat our son for GERD.
Also, my husband over the past 4 months has been having ‘heart problems’ exactly like you had mentioned above. We plan to get him tested for H Pylori too. He has had tests done on his heart and everything comes back normal.
So thanks for the information and the dedications!
Nikki,
I hope you all figure out what’s wrong very quickly and feel better soon. I hate that a baby is suffering from this – it’s not right!
Good luck and warm wishes,
Amy
Great information. After suffering from digestive problems for over a month I was losing my mind. I had the burning sensation, gas, bloating, constipation and other symtoms. I went to the doctor did some tests I was called back that I had HP and was given the triple therapy treatment. I finished the treatment but still don’t feel fine. I was beginning to feel that I was suffering from some kind of serious food poisoning. So I was going to see the doctor again tomorrow since I’m still not feeling well. Anyway I will still go but on way back I will seek other treatments. i’m going to start with aloe vera juice then go from there.
Thanks Amy and all and wish me luck.
Cindy,
Even after I was found to be negative for H Pylori, it took me a long time to feel okay again. Give yourself some time and be careful of what you eat. I’d suggest taking a low dose of Mastic Gum daily on an empty stomach (before you get up and before you go to bed – one capsule each time) to help keep the H Pylori away.
Good luck and good wishes that you’ll feel better soon,
Amy
I am so thankful I found this site! I don’t know that I have H-Pylora but have symptoms of severe burning of esophagus,mouth, throat & stomach. A month ago after a bad attack of burning needle like pains across & down both sides of abdomen, across the pelvic area, & fever, ended up at the hospital for a full abdoman & pelvic scan. Doc didn’t order throat or stomach scan! On antibiotics I felt well, renewed until the 1,000mg 2xday wore off, no more antibiotics & Dr., said “no follow-up. I have racing heart, sweats,shaking, nausea, faint, weak, wake up w/bad taste in mouth, bad breath, and feel like I’m on fire. What I have read at this site are safe natural alternatives to try. With my varied symptoms,tests, bloodwork is good, etc., Dr’s don’t want to be bothered. This started after being on a cholesterol lowering drug & I stopped it because of the horrible after-effects,throat-stomach burning, choking, chest burning, hard to swallow. For high inflamation, a Dr’s guess of immune disorder I was placed on Methotrexate & 2-hour IV treatments of Remicade(chemo) every six weeks which lowered my over-working immune system & has worsened my condition. I’m weak from little food,the burning throat, constant inner ear, sinus infections. Eating (nausea & burning) food in general & loss of sleep is doing me in. Was not aware that Mastic Gum killed both good gut bacteria & bad. I’ve found three companies that one can trust for quality & potency. One company is quite reasonable in pricing especially for Probiotics-16/16 Strain Formula. I use also Colostrum with Taurine. Colostrum is the first substance a nursing mother gives her newborn designed by nature to keep baby well. I use L-Lysine and L-Proline(all in one) essential free Amino Acids. L-Lysine needed for tissue rejuvination repair, L-Proline involved in production of cartilage & collagen, supports musculoskeletal system, the joints & the essential components of arterial linings & co-factor for Vit-C. Aloe I can’t use because of fibromyalgia & Aloe’s high salicylates. I use MSM (Methylsulfonylmethane) tablets. Could this take the place of broccoli sprouts? Any help would be appreciated and I feel so fortunate to have accidently found this site! I have Mastic Gum in the house, had forgot it so just took one & the burning is there but so much better!!
Betty,
You should get your doctor to run the test for H Pylori – it is not an expensive test and would be unbelievable if he refused.
Take the Mastic Gum for a long time – it actually reduces cholesterol too! Read Dr. Weil’s note about it: http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/QAA400531/Medicate-With-Mastic-Gum.html
I don’t know about the MSM so cannot answer your question. Try posting a note to Dr. Ettinger’s site – he’s good about replying.
Good luck and feel better,
Amy
Hi Amy, first off thank you for the very informative website as me and a lot of people have gained help from it. Thank you.
I have read everything in the website but I am confused about Monolaurin.
you said on the site:
Amy King:
“Monolaurin — (it’s derived from coconut milk, so is food based and safe as well) 1200 mg each morning and 1200 mg each night. It’s a natural antibiotic that many use for a variety of reasons. It’s especially popular with folks who get mono (Epstein Barr virus).
Don’t buy Lauric Acid because it is not as potent as Monolaurin. You can find Monolaurin at any Vitamin Shoppe and even easier: it’s online at the Vitamin Shoppe as well as Amazon. I would pay about 13 dollars a bottle and went through two bottles.”
My Question is, isn’t Lauric Acid an ingredient of Monolaurin? so it’s part of Monolaurin, but you say don’t buy lauric acid?
and the product that’s in Vitamin Shoppe or Amazon has the 90 caps 300 mg by Ecological Formulas. Is this the correct product?
Thank you Amy and everyone else for posting.
Hi Amy, first off thank you for the very informative website as me and a lot of people have gained help from it. Thank you.
I have read everything in the website but I am confused about Monolaurin.
you said on the site:
Amy King:
“”"”“Monolaurin — (it’s derived from coconut milk, so is food based and safe as well) 1200 mg each morning and 1200 mg each night. It’s a natural antibiotic that many use for a variety of reasons. It’s especially popular with folks who get mono (Epstein Barr virus).
Don’t buy Lauric Acid because it is not as potent as Monolaurin. You can find Monolaurin at any Vitamin Shoppe and even easier: it’s online at the Vitamin Shoppe as well as Amazon. I would pay about 13 dollars a bottle and went through two bottles.””"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"
My Question is, isn’t Lauric Acid an ingredient of Monolaurin? so it’s part of Monolaurin, but you say don’t buy lauric acid?
and the product that’s in Vitamin Shoppe or Amazon has the 90 caps 300 mg by Ecological Formulas. Is this the correct product?
now also this dr named Dr. Jon Kabara was the man who invented Monolaurin according to him. i don’t know. and his product is http://www.lauricidin.com/
But I will buy whatever worked for you, all I need is the name of the manufacturer or name of the product. Thanks Amy.
Hi Mario,
Monolaurin is potent and derived from Lauric Acid – Lauric Acid does not offer the same strength. Here’s a brief breakdown:
http://www.naturdoctor.com/Chapters/Vitamins/Supplements/Coconut_oil.html
I used Ecological Research brand:
http://www.amazon.com/Monolaurin-Ecological-Formulas-300-Caps/dp/B000WP67TG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1259289018&sr=1-1
Good luck to you!
Amy
Thank you Amy, you’re the best!
You got my vote for the Nobel Award unlike Obama.
Thank you Amy, you’re the best!
You got my vote for the Nobel Award unlike Obama.
You’re an angel for taking the time to reply back to each one of us. thank you.
I haven’t seen a GI yet cause the earliest appointment my family doctor got for me is in March. I’m from Toronto, Canada and this is how the system is here. It’s hard to get an early appointment with any specialist.
My other question for you is, when you saw your GI did he/she recommend VSL#3 medium dose or did you bring up the term probiotics?
What shall I tell my GI? any pointers? I’ve been taking Mastic Gum, Manuka Honey, L-Glutamine, Broccoli Pills, Fermented Milk(50 billion organisms), and I have been on a diet consisting of Alkaline foods and avoiding acidic food.
Do GIs know about what you know? Can you be my GI :D
Welcome, Mario. My GI brought up the probiotic bc I said I still wasn’t feeling well even though my H Pylori test was negative. He said it was likely because I killed off a lot of the good flora (intestinal bacteria) and that I should replace it with medical grade probiotics. He gave me samples at first to see if they helped; they did. I continued on them for about a month or so. You should consider getting the VSL #3 bc I think the Manuka Honey is what kills all bacteria, both good and bad.
My GI was very open to my “home remedies.” Listen, foods can hurt and foods can heal. Most docs know that. Mine wrote down every item and the dosages in case he encountered another patient who reacted negatively to the standard triple therapy regimen. As you can see above, I have linked several medical studies proving the efficacy of Manuka, Mastic and Monolaurin. The research is there – it’s just that there is a standard response to H Pylori called triple therapy. Any doctor worth his or her weight will check the research and supervise your progress under those “alternative” regimens.
Hi Amy,
I found your website while searching about Matula tea. I am not sure how that search resulted in finding your site. Anyhow, have you heard of Matula tea?
I have been suspected to have H. Pylori. Blood test came back elevated. My doctor, based on symptoms and the blood test alone believe that is what it is. Of course, antibiotics have been prescribed. However, a stool test revealed that I have no beneficial flora growth. I also am suspected to have leaky gut- have you heard of this yourself? I have a history of antibiotic use- did you?
Since the onset of the huge array of symptoms- I have become very reactive to almost all foods I try to consume. I never had these reactions previously. When I say reactive, some cause shortness of breath, others hives or body itches, others unusual pressure in my head and ears, or bloating, abdominal pain. My diet is not an issue- no milk, cheese, sugar, pastas, rices, night-shade vegetables, juices, fruits, coffee, etc. All of it has been out.
I have had a huge assortment of symptoms- very similar to yours. Not all of them are present still- burning/stinging skin, abdominal pains (mostly upper), stinging/burning in abdomen, burning in chest, burping, bloating, anxiety/panic, chest tremors (feeling of quivers/panic), increased pulse/heart rate, pulsing pains or spasms, muscle soreness, fatigue, unintended weight loss, etc.
It doesn’t seem like you developed any food sensitivities besides increased abdominal pain or gi issues associated with the wrong food. This former sentence was a question really. Did you experience hives or shortness of breath or increased panic from food? Also, did you have cognitive effects besides anxiety? I am more emotional and down- not like myself. Was your sleep impacted at all?
And also, have you heard of the Matula tea I mentioned above?
Thanks so much in advance.
-Mary
Amy,
This post has really become quite popular and you are doing a great job moderating it! This is for Mario – A little clarification on the Monolaurin. Monolaurin is 100% lauric acid. Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is 50% lauric acid by weight. Lauricidin is just a proprietary version of lauric acid and no more effective than Monolaurin 600mg caps (2 caps 2x/day) by Ecological Formulas. Note: I would not use Monolaurin alone. Add H-PLR (Apex Energetics), a multi-strain probiotic, vitamin C, maybe some mastic gum and/or Manuka honey, maybe some L-glutamine or aloe vera gel to soothe the tummy, and plant based enzymes for aiding digestion.
Another note: I am blown away at the effectiveness of the H. pylori protocol once I started addressing “BIOFILMS” This is truly the hidden “Why” behind why chronic infection won’t heal. (scroll down to – October 03, 2009 update) http://www.advancedhealing.com/blog/2009/09/13/heartburn-gastritis-gerd-achlorhydria-or-h-pylori/
Take care,
Dr. E
Hi again Amy,
I posted above not too long ago. I wanted to thank you for starting a blog like this to help people.
I have re-read some of the information you posted and realize I have the answer to at least one of my questions (if your sleep was disturbed). The obvious being yes now that I looked over your symptoms.
Please, if you can reply or e-mail I would appreciate it so much.
When you had the H. Pylori sort of at its worst or bad- did it cause cognitive effects? I am trying to figure out what exactly is happening to me. I have not had these specific symptoms for weeks and now, tonight am having those symptoms. I noticed to it is worst when I lay down or attempt to sleep. My heart races for no reason and there is like a ‘panic’ or ‘quiver’ in my chest that I am not causing myself. I try to sleep through it. It seems to stimulate my mind and won’t allow it to shut off or rest. This is particularly hard to deal with. I am so fatigued mentally- I literally can see words I have read about weeks ago when I close my eyes for example. It is though my mind is overstimulated, but not in your normal fashion– like drinking too much coffee or brainstorming something stressful. It is quite different than that. I have not missed sleep again really until tonight. So lack of sleep isn’t the reason. Did you experience that while dealing with it? I am extremely extremely thirsty- cannot quench my thirst and so short of breath. I drink non-stop too, more water than I ever have before. All of this is with the onset again of the chest burning, nausea, feeling like I want to throw up, indigestion, abdominal bloating. I have connected it to this now. Especially the quiver-feeling in my chest. Did you ever awake frightfully? I have not for weeks, but previously would awake out of sleep with fright and a racing heart. I had no idea where it came from or why. I think the adrenaline and stress hormones are what stimulate the mind at that point to not shut off or get fatigued. I am not sure. I have even considered whether by products of H. Pylori can migrate to the brain, especially if there is a leaky gut. I have no idea, I just want to be better, regardless if I make sense of it or not. I almost forgot that this happened to me before (weeks ago) until it did again tonight. The impact on my brain is amazing– like nothing I have ever experienced before. Only someone who has gone through this can understand that. I told you in my previous post that I am so sensitive to almost all foods I try. So, I may be dealing with more than just bacteria (nutrition). Today I was barely able to eat much with the exception of a few things.
This is so hard to stick through. It seems as though some people with H. Pylori never experience such extremes as you did and I am. I am trying to figure out here if there perhaps is more going on or if the same happened to you. I have had so many tests with normal results. I have had scans as well with okay results. The H. Pylori blood test came back elevated and more than it was previously.
If I could just talk to someone else who has gone through this– perhaps it would ease the road.
During your nightly ‘attacks’– would your mind do the same when attempting to sleep? Weeks ago I did not have any of these symptoms- amazing. I did not have anxiety, panic, acid reflux and the whole bizarre assortment of symptoms.
I thank you in advance for any help at all. Thank you for your time you don’t have to offer, but do.
Hello All,
Thank you so much for starting a blog about H-Pylori… I think I am going to cry as I type…. I have been struggling with this for 6 months and it has been near impossible to diagnose…. All of the symptoms seemed crazy… Started in Feb. 2010 with heart palps. that sent me to the hospital. Then progressed to entire body weakness, insomnia, 15 pound weight loss, nausea, burning in my stomach, extreme nervousness and anxiety, dizziness, restlessness, I just feel like my body can’t stop, shakiness. I tested positive for H-pylori in April. I was then told it was gone in May, but it isn’t. When you tell someone about all these symptoms, they think you have lost it. How can formerly healthy person come down with all this at the same time. This has really taken a toll on my life. I am a young mom and wife and I can’t function properly. I can barely take care of myself, much less my family. I am having a sad day, but there is hope. I am going to listen to Michael Buble and start taking Mastic prescribed by a Homeopathic doctor tomorrow. I also made some changes to my diet thanks to this blog! Everyone hang in there… there is hope and I not going to give up! I know someday I will wake up and feel better~
You are the first person who has had the quivering chest like I used to have. My doc decide to remove my gall bladder. Apparently the gall bladder was non functioning for a very long time . The surgeon had trouble removing it because of scar tissue.Now after ten years, I still have sour throat and tongue. Probiotics have help a little. How are you now?
I’m fine. Sorry to hear about your gallbladder. Sounds suspicious. One doc wanted to implant a defibrillator in my chest. I got a second opinion. No defibrillator and no more heart issues now that the infection is gone. It’s been years now, and I’m still fine. I also eat better than I did before I got the infection. This is your chance to improve your eating habits.
Mary,
It seems like it has been a couple of years now. How are you? What every happened to your symptoms?
Hi Mary,
Sorry to be brief – absolutely I had the quivering stuff in my chest. I didn’t understand why I was always shaky, why I couldn’t lie down, why my doctor couldn’t understand the notion of not being able to lie down (she said one other patient had complained of such a thing, though she knew of no cause), etc. You are not crazy! That bacteria really messes a body up! As for my mind, I don’t really recall. I was pretty much anxious, couldn’t sleep, chalked it all up to sleep deprivation and malnourishment since I lost all body fat – even my breasts shrunk, believe it or not. I am normally thin, so I was a sack of bones, literally. I don’t know how else to describe it.
I think you should find a new doc if yours isn’t helping. A good GI is especially hard to find and they are often unsympathetic. If you are having mind issues, then you really need to get to someone who is going to help you, not just prescribe a bunch of anti-anxiety meds. I fought that. I was miserable, but I knew that I had never been anxious before and that something was really wrong. Basically, after so many bouts of heart “spells” or episodes that resulted in extreme racing, tachycardia, and then projectile vomitting and massive diarrhea for months on end, I was mentally at odds, writing goodbye letters and feeling like … well, about how you are describing.
Oh, when I was able to get to sleep, even after I was recovering, I did have those times where I was startled awake by weird gut spasms, frights, pains, etc. It took a long time for those to abate too. You are not crazy, though no one ever gave me an answer for those bouts either. Just hold on to the fact that you will get better! Just really try to seek someone who is sympathetic and will believe you. Also, try emailing Dr. Marcus Ettinger — he’s linked above and is really very helpful! He always answers and is sympathetic after having the bacteria himself. Drop him a line, for sure!
Good luck and many good wishes, Mary!
Amy
Hi Amy,
(and others- thank you very much for your responses)
Thank you so much for your response- really.
It means a lot to hear someone say they definitely can relate.. and especially in the ways that don’t seem all too common for H. Pylori.
When you said you had the ‘fright’- what was this like for you? Did you wake up or get startled frightfully? It seems the fright is all directly associated with the quiver-like feeling in the chest area. And as you and I know– the quiver feeling isn’t simply ‘anxiety’. It’s totally different.
I was wondering though if you can recall if the fright actually brought frightful thoughts or feelings too. It is startling, especially when you are trying to sleep/lay down.
My mind also fatigued– it almost acts over-stimulated (like a caffeine buzz but no caffeine). Did you have trouble getting your mind to rest..? Again, this is different from just thinking or stressing over the day (like a lot of people do before bed). I think you’ll understand that just fine.
Did you have any chest burning, burping or abdominal bloating?
I am sure all of this can connect in one way or the other.
Thank you way in advance for your response- it is so helpful.
As for the Monolaurin, where do you advise to purchase this? How many bottles do you suggest? I am sure you have given advice about this somewhere above– so hopefully it isn’t too redundant to answer again.
Mary, I’m not Amy, but because you mentioned a racing heart etc. I wanted to let you know that I was diagnosed with Atrial Fibrilation in 2005 and later found out that some scientist believe that AFIB is connected with H.pylori, which I discovered I had this year. I have had less AFIB episodes since I have had the negative results on H.pylori after treating myself with Mastic Gum. Just a thought on the heart issue. You can also find some good information about rapid heartbeat and afib at http://www.afibbers.com Good luck, Sharon
Hi! I just wanted to add to Sharon G’s post.
I had the SAME symptoms as you all, anxiety, shaking, chest pain, nausea, weight loss, ect…. I was diagnosed with H pylori and went thru THREE rounds of the mega antibiotics. Then the Dr told me I was still positive was to start a round of Special TB drugs to rid the H pylori. I said NO and sought another opinion. After another endoscopy with stomach/ esophageal biospy which came back negative( the positive for hpylori was breath test). Dr said this was the first time he had anyone every positive on breath test and negative on biospy. Yea…sure!
I only wish I had found this site before all the antibiotic treatments. I still have some anxiety, difficulty sleeping at night, and try to be very careful what I eat.
But after all this I was finally diagnosed with PSVT, cause unknown??? Could this be from the H pylori??? All of my symptoms started with h pylori and ESCALATED BIG time when I started the first doses of antibiotics.
Like you -all my FORMER Dr and ER drs said it was all in my head/ anxiety which I never had a problem before in all my life.
So Amy any suggestions now?? I can eat some foods again ( very selective), ve gained some of the 40 lbs back I lost, but still have anxiety at times ( on a beta blocker), fatigued, gas,the fluttering in chest and body, and just feel like a shadow of my former self.
Any suggestions from anyone are so greatly appreciated. This post is wonderful if for nothing else KNOWING I am NOT crazy.
Kristi, did the doctor ever do the simple stool test on you? The first test I had for H.pylori was blood which showed positive, then after treatment with Mastic Gum for two months I had a stool test and it was negative. Seems they would trust the stool test as I understand that is the best after treatment. The blood test is no good after treatment.
For anxiety, you might try L-Theanine, it has made a big difference in my life. They originally put me on beta blockers for AFIB, but I couldn’t function on it, so went off and now only use supplements for my AFIB and rarely have an episode.
Sharon
Kristi, here is a link about L-Theanine http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/L-theanine
Sorry Kristi and everyone, meant to post this link too. This is the kind I use and it is wonderful.
http://www.vitacost.com/Source-Naturals-L-Theanine?csrc=PPCYAH-source_naturals_l-theanine&mtp=std4mQrLvZt|pcrid|15155333511
Sharon,
Thanks.. I have tried l -theanine, great stuff but I do feel somewhat drowsy.
But it is good stuff highly recommended by naturopath. What other supplements do you use for A fib?? Please post it might help others here who have the anxiety/ tachycardia. Thanks again.
Kristi
Hi Sharon, i have a racing heart also, but i just thought my racing heart had something to do with blocked arteries. You said you’re taking supplements? What supplements are they? natural remedies? can you tell me the exact name of the product? And, did your racing heart issue got cured now? Doesn’t one need to get a simple surgery to remove the blockages in the nerves to the heart to cure heart racing?
Kristi, here is my protocol for controlling afib without medication. Magnesium Glycinate Chelated – 200 mg two times a day, Magnesium Citrate powder in a hot drink before bed 200 mg – Total 600 mg a day of Magnesium;
Q-Absorb Co-Q10 – 100 mg @ 1 per day;
Potassium Gluconate – “NOW Brand” 540 mg, powder, 5 tsp per day in water or juice. NOTE: RDA requirements for potassium is 4700 mg a day. Through a 20 day food study I found I was not getting enough potassium, so supplementing 2700 mg helps me make it to the 4700 mg. NOTE: Do not supplement potassium unless you are sure your kidney’s function properly or you have no kidney problems as excess flushes out through the kidneys. Taurine – “NOW Brand” 1000 mg – 3 times a day. L-Theanine 200 mg Note: I take at night. If I am having a stressful event or day, I may take up to 600 mg during a day. If I have an afib episode I may take another 200 mg.
Sharon
Sharon!
Rapid or racing heart is known as AF?
How did you get diagnosed with Atrial Fibrilation? Stool Test?
I have racing heart sometimes, how can I get my Dr to get me tested to see if I have this?
You’ve listed so many supplements, that’s alot, my question is, wouldn’t it be simple if you were to go thru the tachycardia surgery which is painless and it’s thru the groin.
Take care – Mario
Mario, I have Lone AFIB which means my heart misfires, but I don’t have any underlying heart problems. AFIB is not just a racing heart but also beats irratically. I had my first known episode in 2005 and in the Emergency Room they diagnosed me with Atrial Fibrilation. It was done through EKG and then later I had a Echocardiogram (which I have every year) and that verified that I did not have any other heart conditions. I also wore a heart monitor and AFIB was captured on the read out, so I had several confirmations.
My doctor is a Electrophysiologist which specializes in AFIB. He is pleased with my supplement control protocol for afib and has not suggested medication. The surgery for AFIB is called Ablation (they burn the misfiring portions of the heart). I do not qualify for this surgery as I am not in consistant AFIB and I am able to control it. AFIB will not kill a person, but you can throw a blood clot if you stay in AFIB too long without conversion. I have an agreement with my EP that I will go to the ER if I go to 24 hours. I usually self-convert within 3-21 hours so have never had to go to ER since being diagnosed.
I don’t have tachycardia so the surgery you mention would not be beneficial to someone with AFIB.
Hope that explains it a little. Sharon
Hi again Amy,
I know you have yet to reply to my previous post (you can see it above).. but, another question came to mind. How much weight loss did you incur? Did you manifest any symptoms of malnourishment at all?
I have lost over 10 pounds- you said you were a sack of bones (and nothing to lose to begin with). I did not have much to lose either. It all began with acid reflux, memory lapse, feeling off, nausea, abdominal pain. I tried to eat relentlessly and lost weight anyway. Then, I started becoming sensitive and reactive to food and more symptoms popped up. I seemed to lose weight initially regardless of what I ate. Unlike you, I do not vomit so am not losing that way. It really is more of a wasting process of fat so my body can acquire energy.. that is what it seems. Now, my food intake is so minimal due to being restricted. Did you have reactions to food? Throat agitation, hives, shortness of breath, or the racing heart to food? I am trying to see if H. Pylori can be a causative of leaky gut?? There does not seem to be much literature on H. Pylori and intestinal wall damage. It all revolves around Candida primarily. I know the two usually coexist. But, I wonder how much H. Pylori can contribute to intestinal permeability and hence the reactions to food and other systemic effects.
Do you recall being disorientated, having memory loss, being confused or the like? I am asking so many questions because you have been such a help. Your situation has been similar to mine. I know you thought you were pretty bad (writing the letters to people- as you said)- so, would it be silly to ask if you were depressed and not yourself? When this all begin, I felt ‘off’- something just wasn’t the same or right with me..
It’s probably likely you had the H. Pylori for some time (I think you mentioned this somewhere)- I wonder what precipitated it to suddenly get worse with you (to where it was noticeable and not ignorable).
When starting the monolaurin- what should be expected? Do you get more nauseas or sensitive? Did you have candida issues as well? Did you have a history of antibiotic use?
If you can answer– it would assist me so so much.
I know you did not feel well quite yet weeks into your protocol/treatment- but, during did any of the symptoms gradually subside or did it take weeks before you noticed anything? Did you have extreme bloating?
Thanks so much Amy. I am trying to help myself just as you did.
-Mary
Hi Mary,
I don’t recall being disoriented, though my mind was certainly not steady. I was anxious and depressed. I do not recall any memory loss or serious confusion though.
I did have the infection for at least a year before it was diagnosed, and thus, it was untreated for awhile.
Yes, when I began the monolaurin, I experienced herxing, which I mention in the comments above and give a link to this phenomenon. It is a reaction to the bacteria die off – you may feel even sicker than you have been, if that’s possible, because the bacteria are like toxins that your body has to process and get rid of, so you don’t want to go too fast in the killing.
I don’t know if I had candida but I was quite cautious with my food intake, including eliminating ALL sugars. I did not have a history of antibiotic use, except maybe once a year at most for the occassional sinus infection and twice before pneumonia. Overall, I have been mostly healthy and drug-free.
My symptoms did gradually subside, though not as quickly as one would like. It took a few months for all to clear up, and that was with a strict diet and medications as noted above. I certainly did have bloating at times.
I hope that helps — good luck, Mary.
Best,
Amy
Hello Amy,
God Bless You. I have recently been diagnosed with H pylori and C diff although I have no symptoms from C diff. I have all the symptoms you described, sadly I can’t eat broccolli or many of the natural remedies, as I have to take a blood thinner because of an artificial heart valve nothing green pretty much, or anything with vitamin k. I will start triple therapy tomorrow, and hope that it doesn’t lead to a c diff infection, as that could be deadly, for me.
But my point is I thank you, I have worked as a CNA for 27 years and I usually have things figured out before the doctors do but for the life of me I couldn’t put these symptoms together. The sweats the palpitations, shortness of breath, until I read your posts. I was thinking so many things, I’ve had a lot of wrong diagnosis in the last couple of years, one doctor even caused me a stroke this summer, now I have short term memory loss and speech problems and I am only 43. But seriously I never thought a person could get so sick from this. I lost 30lbs in 3 mo. Ate a lot of yogurt then, other than pain in my stomach I didn’t feel sick. It has been the last two months that the other symptoms have been driving me nuts. Thanks again, and it is such a relief to know what it is I must say HOORAY I have H PYLORi!
Hi Amy
Still feel awful. I can’t imagine having this for a year because i’m nearing 2 months of hell. Seriously depressed and sad. The worst part is my doctor moved and i don’t have a doctor at the moment so I have to start hunting for a new doctor. We have doctor shortage. my tummy and chest feel like its on fire. I have lost apetite iknow the weight will also come down. Anyway i know there are so many things suggested that help but can you narrow it down to top two must haves. I will try to stay upbeat.
Thanks Amy and all and wish me luck
Cindy,
Take the Monolaurin and the Mastic Gum – top two. Eliminate all carbs, sugars, alcohol and coffee.
Best,
Amy
Hi Amy and all,
I just wanted to mention a web site that I found helpful in helping me deal with h pylori. I hope this is ok with you Amy. It is so good of you to start this blog. I’ve learned a lot from David Hompes, who specializes in natural treatment for h pylori. Here is the link. http://h-pylori-symptoms.com/
To your health,
Nancy
I ordered David Hompes book and it has a lot of good information in it. The only thing I didn’t like was he sends me e-mails promoting a consultation with him about h.pylori and it’s not cheap. So, just be aware when you get on his e-mail newsletter you could get some solicitation for his services. Sharon
A general heath note – I read somewhere that wine can keep lots of illnesses away including digestive system parasites – a testimony to this is the old French man who smokes 20 cigarettes a day and yet lives to be in his eighties! Why? Because of the wine that French people drink more than anyone else in the world.
So why not try drinking one or two glasses a day and see how it makes you feel bearing in mind that it has been reported that it (wine) can become harmful if 3 glasses a day is exceeded. And people with stomach ulcers should not drink it with empty stomachs.
Get used to drinking wine and stay healthy and live longer, I wish I could ……!!
Nancy,
Have you tried David Hompes’s program yourself?
It would be beneficial if someone who’s tried his suggestions to post here.
Rod and all.
Sorry to take so long to get back to you and this thread. I liked David’s book as an educational resource. One of the most important things that I got out of it is that candida or yeast infection accompanies h pylori. Last year I treated h pylori with Mastic Gum, BIO HPF, but felt better after I added 3 phases of Aqua Flora, a homeopathic formula to fight candida. This is a clinically proven formula to fight candida that I used whenever I had candida problem. Matula Tea that David mentioned fights both, h pylori and candida. I did not stay on any maintenance dose of anything and the symptoms came back.
I understand that ADP, Standardized extract of oregano, emulsified in a sustained release form is beneficial if tolerable. “A.D.P.is useful with toxic bowel syndrome, intestinal parasites, sub-acute bacterial and viral infections, candida and other fungal/yeast infections.” http://www.doclocke.com/prodlist.htm. I am learning how to use it more effectively.
It is my understanding that that once you had hp you can easily get reinfected. Dietary change, eliminating gluten, dairy, sugar, alcohol, and yeast, is permanent. I suffer if I deviate.
I did try Matula tea, and it helped but I did not stay on a maintenance dose, so the symptoms came back. I am getting retested to make sure it still h pylori that I need to treat. If David is right and candida is a part of the problem, and judging from my own experience I agree with that assessment, than using honey is not helpful, but rather might be harmful. I do poorly with any kind of even natural sugar, or more that 1 fruit/day.
One treatment that helped me be hp free for about 6-7 years was this protocol, prescribed by an integrative medicine MD: Carafate (a prescription drug), SF 734, Mastic gum, and a probiotic, all for 1 mo. 60-80 oz of water/day were also prescribed.
I am looking into the benefits on monolaurin.
I have not read all the posts on this blog so I do not know all that is being discussed, but I hope some of you will find my comments helpful.
Amy,
It is really great that you started this blog.
Elena, I hope you stay symptom free.
Happy Holidays, and a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year, everyone.
Nancy
Rod,
Diet wise, Hompes’s program is not much different from the protocols mentioned here. I also read his book and I can say that it doesn’t bring anything new appart from that matula tea originated somewhere in South Africa if I recall well!
His protocols are ok and mainly I believe help to suppress the H Pylori but they do not provide the help needed to eradecate it and as a proof of it is the fact that his own H P’s infection is back after 3? years.
I wonder if anybody here tried the matula tea he talks about in his book, I myself have followed Dr E’s protocol and shall soon find out if my H P’s saga is over!!!!
It is also worth reading about Dr Ohhira’s Plus OMX probiotics.
elena,
I hope it works for you – please let us know your findings – all the best.
–
Someone mentioned “Kefir” on this board and I did some research on it – it sounds like a magic food which everyone should include in their daily diet – if you are going to eat it regularly you must make sure you either buy the homemade one or you should make it yourself with organic milk – goat milk is preferred to cow’s but do not use processed milk if you can help it -
rod,
good news,I am over and done with the H P’s ordeal, the breath test confirmed that the eradication therapy was successful and all what I did was to follow amy and Dr E’s protocol mentioned here. BIG THANK YOU to both of you guys.
Now it is time to heal those soar spots left behind and keep my stomach clean and happy.
Congrats, Elena! Great news! I’d stick with half the dosage of the Mastic Gum for awhile — the breath test only measures levels of acceptable bacteria, so to stave off a return, keep taking Mastic Gum on an empty stomach at half dosage for another month or so. I did for several months. I think the protocol is six months but I ain’t doing it that long! It’s okay to take as it has no side effects and has the added benefit of getting rid of bad cholesterol.
elena,
I am very happy for you – if you don’t mind can you put down the exact procedure you followed (I know it’s what Dr E suggested) but it would be nice if you could hightlight what you did.
I hope you can keep this bugger out of your system for good.
Amy and All,
Just a question for you all-
How long til we are “back to normal”?? Or is it never going happen again??
I feel pretty good for quite some time as long I really restrict my diet. If I eat any greasy, spicy food or chocolate, or eat late at night -WOW!! I wake up as I did last night, feeling like I am having a heart attack, chest pain, heart racing, nauseous, ect…
I also had my GB out through all this- GI dr said it is common for h pylori patients to have GB issues. She said there is a theory that that the bacteria infects the GB and causes damage?? ( I tend to believe its the 3 mega rounds of triple antibiotics that did it to me).
Anyway, I would just love to be able to go out, have a drink ( all alcohol makes me ill), or have a piece of dessert, preferably chocolate, but everytime I do I incurr the wrath of my digestive tract… OUCH… for days, even weeks!!
And I have to start rebuilding my strength and feeling good again!!
Anyone else have this problem?? Or are we all doomed to a life of chicken noodle soup forever???
Also is there anything natural anyone takes for “instant” relief for stomach ache, indigestion which works?? I love the mastic gum, but it is more long term in my opinion??
rod,
I followed the A and B steps from Dr E’s procedure:
A 1. Monolaurin (I use the Lauricidin 2 x 1/2 scoops daily check the http://www.lauricidin.com/
2. Nattokinase( 1 x 2 per day)
3. Mastic (my favourite product is GastroMend-HP made by designs for health, 2 x 2 per day every morning on empty stomach and night before bed)
4. InterFase Plus TM ( 3 x 2 per day between meals)
5. L-glutamine (2 heaped teaspoons in my peptic ulcer fruit smoothie)
6. Liquid herbal remedy( custom made by my herbalist made from hawthorne leaves and stems, turmeric, goldenseal, licorice 7.5ml x 2 daily- I also developed a heart condition so she, the herb lady, put me on hawthorne and guess what, my heart loved it!)
7. Manuka honey (1 x 2 teaspoons as amy said on empty stomach together with mastic)
8. I juiced everytime I had some time before diner: cabage, broccoli and carrot
9. During the day to keep my pain under control, I drank a misxture of the following tea: pepermint, green, pao d’arco, sage and thyme
10.I MIND DIET even now and I need to be doing it for many months still to come, just because the multiple ulcerations I have left in my stomack. The only naughty think I’ve done was to drink a cup of coffee in the morning, I couldn’t give up on it!!!!
11. Now I am the doing the C step and keep the mastic going as amy suggested + very strong probiotics
12. Also saw the herb lady yesterday, she put me on a different remedy now meant to heal and take the pain away made from: hawthorne again, marshmallow, dandelion, dandelion rt and withania- she also suggested to go on a low salicylate diet to minimise pain
13. I couldn’t take Serrapeptase (step A product) as I have lots of little ulcers in my stomach
Do not be intimidated by the length of the list, it only requires a bit of self discipline and financial effort but it pays off in the end. My GP lady was quite amased to see the result of the breath test as she is skeptical when it comes to alt treatments.
Keep up the good work and do not give up as I belive that persistence breaks resistance.
My biggest issue is the constant bloating and constipation. These have really impacted heavily on my quality of life. Any advice? PIppa
Wow Elena, what a list – you must be so disciplined. I wish I had a secretary like you :-)
BTW, how do you know you have lots of ulcerations? Have they been picked up by endoscopy or you just feel you have them?
Pippa,
Yours probably have nothing to do with H.Pylori – they could be diet related, IBS or intenstine problems. Can you give more details?
rod,
yes I had an endoscopy done a couple of months ago.
pippa,
give this a good read http://www.crohns.net/page/C/PROD/OMX1030 and have the blood and breath tests done to see if there is a H P infection.
I had and gastroscopy and the results were positive for H Pylori and I was reading that constipation can be a sympton.
“”It is known that H. pylori cause low stomach acid (see Heartburn & Acid Reflux) by damaging the parietal cells of the stomach. As a result, food is not processed properly in the stomach. Undigested food may be released into the intestine, creating a domino effect that ‘backs-up’ the entire digestive system.
Thanks for the website :)
Okay Elena, hope you will be completely cured.
I am living in a different part of the world atm and I won’t be able to follow any of the stuff you used to cure yourself, the only thing I can do atm is eat the coconut itself and I am not sure if that’s enough to kill the little buggers!
Pippa,
It might be worth looking at the site that Elena gave you. Just coz you are HP positive should not mean HP is the cause of your problems – as I am sure you know lots of people have HP who show no symptoms at all.
Cheers will do :)
rod,
if you don’t mind, where do you live at the moment?
Elena,
If you can email me ( rodaskani@yahoo.com ) I will let you know as I’d rather not say on the board for a reason.
Amy,
Following below, is a summary of your H-pylori treatment, diagnosis, symptoms, and treatment results listed throughout your blog. Your info is SO important, and I am soooo grateful, that I wanted to give something back to you, and make it easier for others to have your most important and up to date info at the top of your site.
Thank you!
Tara
The main three main Natural Remedies that finally eradicated the H Pylori for Amy:
Monolaurin 1200 mg. of twice a day (derived from coconut milk). It’s a natural antibiotic that many use for a variety of reasons. It’s especially popular with folks who get mono (Epstein Barr virus). I would pay about 13 dollars a bottle and went through two bottles. I used Ecological Research brand:
http://www.amazon.com/Monolaurin-Ecological-Formulas-300-Caps/dp/B000WP67TG/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1259289018&sr=1-1. The first two to three days of taking the full dose of Monolaurin, I experienced nausea symptoms “die off” and felt even sicker – but it did pass. I’m told it’s called “herxing” after the Herximer effect
Manuka Honey (activated and only from New Zealand) 16+ or 20+ strength, take a teaspoon twenty minutes before each meal (obviously on an empty stomach) and one before bed on an empty stomach (I would take my spoonful after I took the Mastic Gum so that the water wouldn’t dilute it and send it directly to the kidneys. (From my personal tests, it appears as though the manuka honey maybe killing some “good bacteria” along with the h.pylori. I believe this is true because after taking the manuka honey, my h. pylori symptoms vanish but then my breathing is slightly affected—when this occurs, I take a few probiotics and then my breathing is returned to normal.)
Mastic Gum (derived from the Greek Mastic tree) 1000 mg (1gram – two pills) in the morning before food and the same at night before bed on an empty stomach.
Amy also took:
Probiotic – VSL #3 – medical grade Probiotic to replace good bacteria. 450 billion/powder packet is mid-level strength and can be bought over the counter. It’s about $90 for a thirty day supply if you take one packet of powder a day. (worked better than H-PLR (k-32))
L Glutamine Put a half teaspoon of the powder on your oatmeal every morning. It helps heal gut tissue, thanks to the bacterial damage this potent bug can do) they recently also made the connection for people with h pylori that L Glutamine slows the damage and helps to heal it.
Aloe Juice (from the aloe plant) take aloe vera juice daily (you need the unprocessed, cold pressed kind of aloe juice because it heals)
Digestive Enzymes – by Garden of Life with each meal — they help the stomach digest foods more easily, as the h pylori reduces stomach acid in many cases.
Diet is key in helping you to improve as your body fights the bacteria. You should absolutely eliminate white flour products like carbohydrates (white pastas, white rice, bread, etc). These are sugars! Sugars only feed bacteria and provide no nutritional value. Also, cut out obvious sugars like cookies and ice cream! You should even limit fruits for the time being. Your goal is two fold: don’t feed the bacteria and give the gut easy-to-digest alkalizing foods and time to heal. Avoid foods like tomatoes and dairy products too. You can catch up on calcium later. Milk is acidic in the gut. eat foods that alkalize – do not eat acidic foods.
Other natural remedies that can be used in addition to Amy’s cocktail:
Broccoli
Magnesium is like magic, and the glycinate form is the least harsh on the digestive system.
Oil of Oregano -Those of you who are long-suffering may want to try a few drops of Oil of Oregano under your tongue a few times a day too.
Bladderwack to keep the buggers from adhereing to the lining of your stomach.
Red Wine moderate intake of red wine is also unkind specifically to h pylori.
Stellar Organics :-) http://www.stellarorganics.com/ …because it also has no added sulfites.
How Diagnosed
Stool sample – Most reliable determination. But may still show positive for 3 months even after cured.
Endoscopy
Blood Test – Blood antibody test. A blood test checks to see whether your body has made antibodies to H. pylori bacteria. If you have antibodies to H. pylori in your blood, it means you either are currently infected or have been infected in the past.
Breath test – can be done right after treatment to see if cured rather than wait 1-3 months for stool change.
Results
Felt like gone after one month, but stool still tested positive. Two months of natural remedy cocktail and Amy’s stool results came back negative, and her symptoms were gone.
Symptoms
Diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pains
racing heart, shortness of breath and anxiety,
Miserable aches and pains in my back, legs, and arms that no doctor could conclusively say was a direct result of the infection. But I know with certainty that these weird pains and miseries were due to the infection because they have since cleared up.
Nice job summarizing, Tara. Kind of you to do that. It should be really helpful to all.
Nancy
Hi Amy,
I am confused about how much Monolaurin to take / day. You said 1200 mg. twice a day. But the link show it is sold in 300mg capsules and you said you only bought 2 bottles. Taking 1200mg in a.m. and 1200mg in p.m. would mean 8 pills a day! Can you clarify? And am i correct in understanding you suggest taking this at the same time as taking H-PLR (k32)?
Thanks!
Tara
Dear Amy,
Your blog posting is fantastic and I hope you continue to moderate it for a long time to help everyone and that you are rewarded for it with longevity. I have suffered from this far longer than most on the post, for too many years to count. I had my allergies tested and went gluten/dairy/sunflower and more free for about 3 years and it has cleared everything up except the pain. I’m going to try adding your protocols and I will let you know if it goes away.
A few things that have helped me manage of the years: I use coconut oil, the Artisana brand for all of my cooking (fish) and raw and I freeze blueberries in the summer and put them in my smoothies all winter long, I add coconut meat to my smoothies and I use the coconut butter in my waffles that are made with Bob’s Red Mill gluten free pancake mix and egg replacer.
For chest palpitations and episodes: Emerg-C in water just before bed can prevent them for me, if you have episodes of lying in the bathroom in pain and disorientated with constipation or dihharea, always have a packet you can get to and use it right away, it will save you especially if you are on your own.
I was diagnosed with IBS in my teens and Chron’s or Colitis in my 20s, I’m in my 30s now. To figure out the foods you are allergic to, the best way is an Elisa blood test, everyone’s results come back differently, they really do, I’ve seen many tests. The only correlated results are those between mother and child.
Dear Amy,
I was wondering if you could please email me at Vesta314@gmail.com
I have H. Pylori and wanted to ask you a few questions. Thank you so much for posting all of this great information!
I have been having nausea, burning, sweating, etc in my stomach area. My gastroenterologist gave me an endoscopy and said I have gastritis. He wanted me to take Acidiphex or one those. I’m trying to do this naturally by proper combining my foods and taking Okra Pepsin which was prescribed by another dr of alternative med. It was helping and I was feeling better, but then it starting getting bad again. It wakes me up during the night, and I’m very frustrated. I’m trying to eat right, but never know what’s going to set it off. I’m about ready to take Acidephex or one of those other proton pump inhibitors to see if it heals up. I’m so emotional and upset, and my husband it very frustrated at this point and it tired of hearing about it. He thinks I’m overreaacting. I need to talk to someone.
Sandi,
Consider getting tested for h pylori. I struggled with gastritis for years before I found out that h pylori, not just stress, might be the cause of it. If you test positive for h pylori, there is plenty on this blog to help you decide on the course of treatment.
For quick temporary relief you might want to get DGL or deglycyrrhizinated licorice, fructose free/sugarless, for soothing relief for the stomach lining, by Enzymatic Therapy. Vitacost carries it (online). Also, l-glutamine powder should provide quick relief until you get tested for h pylori and get on a program to eradicate it, if the test indicates it.
Diet wise think of cutting out gluten dairy, sugar, yeast, limit fruit to 1/day, preferably low sugar content fruit like apple, pear, peach.
Your emotional state is fragile in good part because you are not absorbing nutrients from food. You will feel better emotionally and physically once you get a right treatment. Meanwhile, take a deep breath and try to relax. Good luck.
Thanks for the advice Nancy. I had a blood test by my Gastroenterologist for HP and it was negative. I don’t eat gluten, and limit my sugar intake. How did you get better? Will Mastic Gum help?? I’m on the proper food combining diet and I take Okra Pepsin which helps, but I have to be careful of my diet and what I eat. I may have to look into the DGL and L Glutamine.
Sandi,
Be aware that some medical professionals recommend breath and stool test to test h pylori rather than blood test only. Some consider the blood test unreliable so you might want to consider doing more research about that.
For many years I really did not treat gastritis other than with diet modification (based on my own hunch and research) and learning to relax because some years ago I was told it was stress related. An integrative medicine doctor diagnosed me with h pylori in 2003 and his prescribed treatment worked very well and I felt well until a year or so (see my recent reply to Rob about the treatment, if interested). I have a hunch h pylori is back. I put myself on natural treatment for h pylori now while undergoing more tests, and my usual spartan diet, which I adhere to all the time–gluten, dairy, sugar, yeast free, with proper combining. I immediately started feeling better–experienced energy lift, emotionally calmer, less bloated. I also added additional organic magnesium called Calm by Natural Vitality (powder, raspberry flavor-delicious!) to my custom nutritional formula because of its calming properties and its role in energy, helping restore/maintain bone mass, enzyme production and many other benefits.
I hope my experience helps you in some way and that you feel better soon.
Progress Update:
I started taking the mastic gum, honey and licorice tea and after just one day, I was exhausted and I had to stop. My heart is not too strong aparently as its been many years, so I got Hawthorne, L-glutamine, CoQ10 and L-arginine and I’m going to do a few days of it first. I definitely have H.plyori, there’s no doubt now. I did feel some pain relief and once I’m stronger I will bring it all on a little bit slower and report back.
Thank you Amy.
Amy,
I too have h. pylori and went the antibiotic way but after two days I had rectal bleeding and was told to stop. I then frantically looked for ways of healing myself and finally went to a local herbalist who is now treating me. With my hp I also have acid reflux which I am able to control (occasionally take antacids when it gets bad) but it flairs up when I eat the wrong foods. I too started with the alkaline foods but I wasnt getting enough fat and protein so I branched out. My herbalist told me that my intestinal walls are weak and have low acid in my stomach and need to build it up. Once the acid is high again in my stomach my acid reflux should stop. I am taking a number of products including mastic gum which I feel coming up in my mouth. It’s a metalic smell and taste. Someone told me that the h. pylori is being killed off when you smell/taste it. Anyway, to make a long story shorter I need some advice on what particularly to eat. The brown rice and legums give me acid as they are all acidic. Would appreciate your help or your readers. Many thanks. Maria
Maria, I had the metallic taste and was also told it was the bacteria dying and that proved to be true because the Mastic gum killed it for me. I also had a problem with food, lost from 123 lbs to 104 and I was a walking skelton. I had so much pain when I ate normal foods. I finally ended up eating lots of broccolli and rice, scrambled eggs, grilled chicken, rice toast and that was about the extent of it, everything else caused pain and went through my system like I had taken a laxative. After I got back the report the bacteria was dead I knew I had to gain some weight so I started eating non-gluten pretzels and natural peanut butter and banana’s every day. I have slowly gained back some of the weight (I usually stay around 113 lbs which is still underweight for my height, but at least I am gaining or staying stable). I still can’t eat gluten products so I don’t expect to gain back to 123 lbs anytime soon and besides I would have to buy all new clothes :-).
Have you tried bananas? They seemed to do me okay. I also tolerated broccolli and ate a lot of that. I also understand that H.pylori hates broccolli sprouts and because I couldn’t eat raw sprouts I did the next best thing, fresh, steamed broccolli every day. I also took a good probiotic daily and that helped some.
It is so hard while the stomach is healing because everything hurts, but hang in there if you are tasting metallic, then something is happening. Sharon
Hi Amy,
Thanks for the response. I recently learned that my problem is not acid but the overproduction of acid from eating lots of acid-creating foods and bad food combination (this summer I ate and drank lots of acidic foods/drinks). So my plan is to slowly start combining the alkaline foods with acid foods to see how I make out. Currently, my diet is organic free-range eggs, fruits, all vegies, almond butter and a banana one hr before bedtime. It helps keep the acid down (believe it or not). I have to watch how much fruit I eat because it turns into sugar and the hp loves sugar. I also have bought a lot of gluten free foods but they give me acid so I stopped (especially the grains). I’ve come a long way but still have a way to go. I lost 16 lbs from 128 to 112 which I need to start building up.
Thank you for your support and if this can help anyone so be it. All the best to all of you and let’s get rid of this pesky HP in 2010.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!.
Maria
Hi,
I reduced my omega oils and my dizziness went away. I have to take the mastic gum at night because its so strong, wow does it ever work.
The best alkaline food is salad leaves of any kind just raw, they will soak up acid. Having protein right before bed is what athletes do to put on weight, a couple of table spoons of a nut butter are good. If you have meat at a meal, have an enzyme with it and it will help the tummy digest it easier. Beef is harder on the tummy than chicken or turkey and fish is the easiest to digest.
I’ve been gluten and dairy free for years, it on its own definitely won’t cure h.pylori, but with the honey and mastic gum its working. The honey doesn’t seem to affect candida in a bad way at all, my gums are pinker than I’ve ever seen in my life after just the last several days and the pain I had from one tooth is completely gone.
To everyone’s good health in 2010!!!
Joellyn,
What did improve your gums, the mastic or honey?
Realistically, the gum improvement I can’t pin down because I started both at the same time. I’m also taking acidophilis (one that doesn’t have dairy ingredients). The toothache I had for quite awhile that disapeared too. The gums aren’t staying pink 100% of the time, so I know I’m still fighting the battle.
The tongue and gums are always a good sign of health if they are nice and pink. My gums used to bleed when I brushed them and I think it was because of the H.pylori and after treating myself with Mastic Gum my teeth have stopped bleeding and they are very pink and my tongue never has that white look that shows something is wrong in the body. One thing that I learned from my local health store person is that a person should scrape their tongue while treating for H.pylor because the bacteria can be disposed through the tongue area, that is why some have a metallic taste after taking Mastic Gum, it is the bacteria dying. So I scraped my tongue for sure! Good luck, I know I feel so much better now. Sharon
I meant my gums stopped bleeding not my teeth…whoops, that would be something to see :-) Sharon
Sharon, I am afraid I am going to have to take 4 marks away as you took more than 30 seconds to correct yourself :-)
Rod, I am a writer and we writers always proof, but contrary to my regular habits, I failed to do it and thus the bleeding teeth. I will accept my marks graciously, I’m used to red marks on my papers anyway. Sharon
In the last couple of days (holiday) I cheated and had acidity food (crab cakes and red meat). I noticed that I have constant burning in my upper mouth, tongue and throat. Antacids dont help. I looked it up on the internet and it could be Burned Mouth Syndrome which is caused by acid reflux, medication, over brushing teeth and use of mouthwash. Would like to hear from others who have experienced this. Thanks. Maria
Hi, Maria I have the same symptoms like U.. I was such in pain yesterday burning in my stomach throat and yes my mouth. After soaked all my toothbrushes in Hydrogen peroxide I dont have that feeling anymore woke up this morning feeling sooo much better… I will follow Dr.Ettinger program !!!I do all the diet sinds March been from one dokter to another.. they all give me PPI’s and it is not working I was indeed diagnose with the H.Pylori bacteria in March got anitbiotic for this… I have pain under my left breast this is because of the bacteria Had a breath test again for H.Pylori and the test is negative…The pain is still there after the antibiotics.. so maybe the H.Pylori is still in my system….
You should get in touch with him if you want some one-on-one help! I’m still H Pylori-free, this many years later! Good luck, Amy
Sharon,
Do you write about health subjects? If not, can I ask what you usually write about?
Maria,
Very odd symptoms indeed — What medicines are you currently taking? I wouldn’t use any of the mouthwashes on the market, they would probably do more harm in the long run – why not gurgle some red wine in your mouth instead? More pleasant as well.
Rod, I write nonfiction and fiction, mostly short stories. I was a free lance writer for a local newspaper years ago. I have written an article for a Canadian newsletter on my H.Pylori experience which was published last year. I also publish a monthly newsletter for my church.
I had a short story published in a local book two years ago and four short stories in 2009. These books were published by the local writers group. I am also writing a historical fiction novella about my mother’s life in an orphanage in the 1920′s. This should be out by the end of 2011. I am also writing a historical fiction novel about my family who has deep roots in the South with two uncles being officers in the Confederate Army a lot of historical stuff on them. Don’t know when that will be out, it is a real challenge to write because I have so much material that I have been gathering for years to write the book. I have written about 6-7 chapters so far.
You can check out the current book of short stories by going to http://www.amazon.com and search for a book titled Southern Side Up IV, you will see my stories listed (Sharon Glass). Writing is my means of relaxing. I will never be a James Patterson and I don’t make any money at it, but really enjoy making characters come to life. I do hope to make some money with my novella, but we’ll see how that goes. Thanks for asking. Sharon
Rod,
I’m working with an herbalists and he prescribed a whole bunch of things…mastic gum, probiotic, Slippery elm/dgl/cuttlefish, liquid chlorophyl, Natural Esophaguard and few others. I did burn my upper mouth with a hot apple about 3 weeks ago and it went down my eshophagus. It was not a smart thing to do but I thought it would heal by now. I stopped using the mouthwash and toothpaste and using a paste of salt and baking soda to clean my teeth. I’m not sure whether the hot apple caused the burn or something else. I get to see my ETN next week and will see what he says. Gargling with red wine might be fun but I’m not about to try it because of my reflux.
Maria
Its about 5 days into treatment now and things have improved fast. I can now take 500mg of mastic gum and not have to rest. My stomach doesn’t feel like there’s a knife in it any more. I do get the metallic taste off and on and I’m using blueberry juice too which is really helpful. I’ve started giving some to my family now and I can tell they have the bug too, but just not as bad as me. I’m going to follow the full treatment for 60 days and then try to figure out a maintenance program. If you’re even considering if you have this, give at least the mastic gum or honey a try. My gums are still pinker and it seems to the be the mastic gum because I forgot to take the honey yesterday.
Joellyn, I contacted the company that made the brand of Mastic Gum I took and asked them about taking one capsule a day for maintenace and they advised for maintenance I should take Mastic Gum for thirty days once a year. Which is what I did. Some seem to be on a regular maintenance and I am not sure where I read that at. If someone does regular monthly maintenance, please share what it is. Sharon
Hi folks,
I have bought a fresh leaf of Aloe Vera, before I use it I would like to know if it’s ok to drink the gel? I am not sure if it’s all safe to do this as I’ve come across conflicting reports. Hence, I would appreciate to hear from anyone who’s used this internally before.
—
Sharon, good luck with your writing – very interesting work you’re doing.
Maria, hope your burns get cured soon – I shall now watch for hot apples as well as hot girls – only kidding :-)
Rod, are you talking about the actual Aloe Vera stem? The one you break off the plant and open up to get to the gel? You called it a leaf, I call it a stem because it actually does not have leafs. If you are talking about the stem, just put a little bit of the gel inside the stem (tiny bit) on your tongue and I think that will sway you from wanting to injest the raw aloe vera gel. It taste awful! You can buy extracted aloe vera juice which still doesn’t taste real good straight, but can be tolerated. You can also mix it with a little juice and you can get past the taste. I actually was able to tolerate the straight aloe vera juice, one ounce every morning when I was treating myself for stomach pain because juices irritated my stomach. I finally got used to the taste.
Pure aloe vera gel straight from the plant is great for burns, scrapes, bug bites etc. I have a huge plant that I break off a stem and open it up for the gel for that type of treatment. But, I wouldn’t ingest it straight from the plant because it is way too strong, don’t know if it is safe to injest without some diluting process either, don’t know the answer to that, but a health food store could probably tell you.
Sharon
I too bought the Aloe Vera but havent used it much. I think it’s primarily for ulcers but not sure. Anyway, I was getting reflux with it but then I get reflux with everything. Just a bit of info. I juice a lot (at least once a day). Cabbage, celery and half a carrot works best. You can do other combo’s but this works best for me. I’ve been juicing fruit but stopped because the hp loves sugar and I dont want to keep it alive.
My mouth burns come and go but I’ll check it out with my ENT when I see him later this week. All the best.
Maria
Sharon, yes we’re talking about the same thing. I did ingest some after my last post and I’m still alive!! – it tastes what I assume poison would taste like, absolutely horrible but I intend to finish off the leaf (stem) as I hear nothing is like the raw stuff. I will post the result if my pains go away. However, if you don’t hear from me again that would mean the stuff has killed me – only kidding :-)
Rod, I would be careful because it does seem that I read something one time about the pure, raw stuff could cause some problems, I will try to track down that information. I think there are some things that are okay raw and some things end up being bad for you. I hope the aloe vera gel is not one of them. Sharon
You can get the aloe vera juice in any health food store. The raw stuff is good topically, but there are things they remove in processing to make it a bit safer. Its kind of like raw leaves, they generally are amazing for us, but we need to rotate them because of the chemicals they contain so we don’t get a build up of them in the system.
I just got a sore in my mouth, I wonder if its the h.pylori trying to get out???
Sharon, I appreciate your concern – but I have no choice but to try something – I think as long as I just eat the gel I should be alright. Plus I really want to test this thing to see what all the hype is for!! I am really fed up with the pains and HP so I must try this first and then go to Mastic gum – also my bilirubin has always been on the high side, so I want to see if AV will bring that down as well, as there are some claims that AV has cured someone with a liver cancer!
The cold pressed aloe that I link to does not go through the nasty process of removal. It is the best aloe you can get.
Just a quick update its been over a week now and I feel terrific. I take the mastic gum on an empty stomach only now (it really doesn’t work as well when you’ve had food). I’ve gone up in dose to 6x500mg pills over a 24 hour period and I’m not in stabbing pain this morning. I’m going to get the lower dose pills which I hear are more effective this week. If you have this, get yourself some mastic from anywhere right away.
That is great Joellyn, I know how good you feel because I remember how good I felt when I started getting better. I also took my Mastic Gum on an empty stomach. I took 1000 mg morning and 1000 mg evening. Are you taking 3,000 mg because you were told to take that much? Just wondering. Sharon
That’s excellent news, Joellyn! Very glad to read of your progress…
I have just been reading about the wonders of “Raw Cabbage Juice” in curing ulcers. Has anyone tried it on a ten day period?
Anyway, I think you should all read the site below as there are some really promising stuff mentioned about cabbage:
http://lyme.startpagina.nl/prikbord/10186874/kool-het-middel-tegen-maagzweren
Joellyn,
It’s lovely – keep it up and keep us updated please.
I tried the cabbage juicing for a bit – it’s a real hassle (buying cabbage every day, cutting it up, juicing it after you buy the juicer, do it all again several times each day, cleaning the juicer, etc) and doesn’t taste good to top it off. I think I stuck with it for maybe four days. Good luck if you can stick with it!
The reason cabbage is effective is because its high in l-glutamine, I’m taking the supplement form instead simply because its easier. Beets are too.
Amy, youre’ right about the hassle – I’m feeling it with Raw Aloe Vera after my 6th day and I don’t even have to juice! I think I’ going to make a soup with it and see how it goes.
Joellyn , you’re right about the glutamine in cabbage but it has a lot more to offer than just that. It’s nearly a complete meal on its own and when mixed with potatos and celery to make a soup it will even be more complete.
I think Broccolli is too, I couldn’t do the cabbage because it is a gas producer and that brings pain for me.
Hi Sharon, I’ve had this problem for likely about 20 years so I’m taking that much because it takes that much to not be in pain all day/night and it works. I’m not seeing any negative side effects. I’ve changed the way I eat so I can get an empty stomach. I read some articles online that used higher doses. I do want to be careful with the liver of course, but it seems to be fine. I’m really in tune with my body. I haven’t had gluten or milk products for years and just needed to get rid of the pre-existing ulcer. Once its gone, I’m hoping it doesn’t come back. I’m definitely planning on a small maintenance dose of some kind.
Has any one had thrush (candida of the mouth)? I was just diagnosed with it and my gp gave me clotrimazole (troche) and it’s not working. My gp said he cant do anything more for me. There must be something out there that works. If you have had this experience please let me know and how you got rid of it. Many thanks. Maria
The Lord has brought me to your website!
I have been on lots of forums reading about struggling people and I will be sending them this way.
Blessings to you my sister!
Try a really strong powder acidophilus and let it sit in the mouth for a bit before swallowing. Gargling with olive oil (natural or organic) really helps, you can alternate with baking soda teeth cleaning to keep the teeth white.
Has anyone with Gastritis been drinking more than 4 cups of Green Tea a day? There are some reports that Green Tea heals gastritis and inhibits H. Pylori.
Seventh-day Adventist
Why did the Lord put this little bugger into the man’s digestive system and left us with no easy way of getting rid of it? Talk to your Lord and let us know the answer!
I don’t believe the lord did at all! I believe the enemy did, the lord doesn’t punish us remember that!
According to the following link, Pylori may protect you from certain diseases (item 5):
http://www.siberiantigernaturals.com/evpofaq.htm#o5
That was an interesting article Rod, thanks for posting it. I think the mastic and the pine nut oil likely do the same thing towards healing ulcers in a much more natural way than antibiotics ever could. I’m allergic to pine nut oil, I tried it before, but its great to have many options.
I am continuing to feel much better for those following. I stopped for a day and half to do a breath test for my doctor and the severity of the pain has permanent decreased, but it did come back. Since I’m only a week and half in I was expecting it to and I’m very impressed so far with the mastic.
Joellyn
Having read that article I am not really sure if I should now get rid of my Pylori – it’s really confusing now. What I think I will first do, I will try to heal my ulcer first by drinking lots of green tea and trying to eat pine nuts and if that cures my ulcer I will leave it at that.
BTW, Mastic Gum and Pine nuts oil act differently – mastic gum kills HP but pine nut oil only repairs the stomach linings by attacking the build-up of the free radicals in the body.
Have you tried eating the pine nuts on their own to see if you’re also allergic to the nuts?
It is the overgrowth of H.pylori that causes all of the problems, it is like Candida. You can have serious problems when excessive H.pylori shows up in your system, serious enough to cause an ulcer or even stomach cancer. So, it is a fact that H.pylori is part of the good/bad bacteria equation that we need in our body, but an overgrowth can cause serious problems. Killing it off does not mean you will not have normal levels of H.pylori come back in your body and interact as it should. But, when this bacteria buries itself into the lining of your stomach where the good bacteria cannot reach it, that is a bad thing. I understand the concept of not killing your bacteria, but the natural good/bad equation is a good thing, overgrowth is not. This is just my opinion. I would not hesitate to try and kill off an overgrowth of a bad bacteria. Sharon
Hi Rod,
You know I made a mistake when I said I was allergic to it, I was thinking of a different oil I tried before. I actually have the massive Costco size bag of pine nuts on my counter and I use them almost daily. I put them in with roasted potatoes, baked fish and all sorts of stuff. I can’t say they’ve ever helped my ulcer since I’ve used them for years, they do taste good and I’m somewhat addicted to them :) Its easy to get pylori back, so I’m going with get the ulcer gone because the kinds of cancer it causes are far worse, stomach cancer isn’t treatable even Gerson has trouble with it. You can always let it reinvade you later when your intestinal lining can handle it.
Stephanie
Hi Joellyn (Stephanie = nice name)
It all sounds tastey I mean the nuts :) but it seems a lot of hasstle to extract them if as you say they won’t cure ulcers.
It seems killing the HP causes some cancers and not killing it causes other types, even the so called experts can’t be sure, so how are we supposed to know?! No wonder why so many doctors just don’t bother and take the easy route by just prescribing anti-acids.
God Bless you Amy!!! Thank you from the bottom of my heart for this Website!!
One question……..What brand Manuka did you use from Amazon?
I’m using an off brand from the health food store for now thats 16+.
But I want to mirror you as close as possible to get rid of this H Pylori.
THANKS AGAIN!!!!
Douglas/Grand Rapids, Michigan
You’re welcome, Douglas! I usually ordered the Wedderspoon from Amazon. I also bought from ManukaHoneyUSA. I couldn’t tell the difference. Good luck and feel better!
hi amy .:) i was diagnosed with HB-p and Chronik Gastritis bulbitis eroziva ( i`m from macedonia and i can not find nothings from this products in my country. i have some friends around the europe and i need to order some products but your list is big and i do not know what to chose. so i need some help. and smth. more about diet list. not food that i can not eat cuz i dont eat nothing only patatos and some probiotic yogurt .. but what to eat ? sorry about my englis
I have Atrophic Gastritis, and get tested for hpolyri next week could of had thi bug for near three years, ive had gatritis forever… and the DOC NEVER did the test and I didnt know about it gosh! SO Ill be happy to get another endoscopy and blood work and biopsy! Thanks for the info you have helped me on my gastriits journey.
Any idea why the mastic gum and manuka honey may burn my stomach a bit when taking it? is that a good or bad thing…
I, too, like Gina think the Mastica and the DGL I’m taking for the HP make my stomach burn. Is it possible it’s die off? I’ve been on them for a week now. Thanks.
I take the VSL too and it helps to cool off the effects of the Mastic, just started the VSL for two weeks now, my doctor prescribes it for me and my insurance pays it!! :)
I have some questions, after reading most of the comments Ive learned that even after you are tested negative you will still have some of the discomforts? My other question is this does everyone who gets rid of their h pylori have a heart issue? because thats what it sounds like. Also Amy do you suffer from any heart issues and if so what have you done to cope?
I didn’t have that problem, but I’ve used probiotics. My symptoms are nearly totally gone now, but not 100%. I’m very pleased with the improvement and I’ve lost my 10 year title as an amazing belcher because I can’t at all anymore. I haven’t drunk pop for 3 years, so it really was the pylori causing it. If you haven’t reduced gluten (wheat) and soda and you’re trying to get better, you will have much better results if you do.
Gina, what is VSL? I dont believe I’ve heard of it. I too get a burning in my stomach but dont know what is causing it since I take so many things. Thanks. Maria
I just want to say how great it is reading all this info. I was diagnosed in November (H-Pylori) and did the quad therapy and it did nothing. My husband and I are going to try the natural route like Amy. My stomach is killing me and I can’t wait to receive my orders. I was wondering how long my husband and I should continue with the natural remedies. I was diagnosed but not him. He is willing to take the treatments though because he doesn’t want to reinfect me if we can clear it up. I think he is infected as well now. He also is a belching champ!!! (and it is constant!!) Also should I continue with the prevacid in the morning as well?? Thanks for all the help this site has given me and especially Amy. Regards, Patti
I hope you both feel better very fast, Patti!
Hi Amy, a quick question. I’ve been taking the mastic gum now for about a month and a half. Is this enough time to kill the hp or should I take it a full 2 months?
Thanks,
Maria
Maria,
VSL is a probiotic. Feel free to Google it or check my links. I took Mastic Gum much longer than two months, even after the infection was gone because it helps to keep it away — h pylori is notorious for coming back. You can take it as a preventative; Mastic Gum has been used for a long long time by the Greeks as a digestive aid and also has other health benefits such as eliminating the bad cholesterol. It is in the protocol to continue using it as maintenance for a number of months (at half the dose) once you test negative for h pylori.
I do not, however, know if Mastic Gum alone can eradicate the h pylori. Is that the only medicine you are using? I don’t think it is enough.
Best,
Amy
Amy,
Do you know if any of this, (mastic gum , monolaurin, probiotics) will have an adverse interaction with Armour thyroid? I take that in the morning on an empty stomach as well.
Hi Patti,
I really don’t know. You should check with your doctor.
For folks with Hypothyroidism – ask your dr. if you can take your medication at night 2 hours after dinner.
Here is an article from Wall Street Journal (December 28th, 2010), that you can take to your doctor.
The Wall Street Journal link is- http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703814804576035641517516376.html?KEYWORDS=Thyroid
Scroll down the page till you come to this ….
” Hypothyroidism: People with an underactive thyroid can boost their hormone levels by taking thyroid medication at bedtime instead of in the morning, the most common schedule, according to a study in Archives of Internal Medicine. Hypothyroidism affects about 4% of Americans, causing fatigue, weight gain, depression, intolerance to cold and other health problems. The medication levothyroxine sodium is a mainstay of treatment. In a six-month pilot study of 90 patients in the Netherlands from 2007 to 2008, patients were instructed to take one capsule in the morning and one at bedtime for three months (one containing levothyroxine and the other a placebo). After three months the pills were reversed. Taking the medication at bedtime was found to significantly improve thyroid hormone levels. Researchers believe that taking levothyroxine on an empty stomach results in better absorption and that taking the medication 30 minutes before eating breakfast may be too short an interval.
Caveat: The study was conducted at a single site in the Netherlands, where eating habits might be different than those in other countries or cultures.
Title: Effects of Evening vs Morning Levothyroxine Intake
http://archinte.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/170/22/1996?maxtoshow
…”
You say that Manuka honey is good, but it is HONEY, and you say elsewhere that honey is acidic.
If one has to have more alkaline foods, then why would Manuka honey be in there as a cure for stomach disorders?
Manuka honey is the one exception since its healing powers outweigh the acidity *and* sugar contents! A health care practitioner said as much to me as well!
Maria,
You may want to have a read of the following link. It’s about Candida Albicans. I hope it will be a help to you:
http://www.regenerativenutrition.com/natural-supplements-cure-candida-albicans.asp
Amy, thanks for the link on Candida Albicans. I will look into it.
On the mastic gum, I have 9 more days to take it to make it 2 months usage. I’m also getting a burning in my stomach which leads me to believe it is caused by the mastic gum. I am now taking the mc one in the morning and one at night to see if it will cut back on the burning. I am also taking other supplements (which includes treatment) for hp and for my stomach lining repair.
By the way, why are you glad you had pylori?
Maria
Rod provided the Candida link.
I don’t know what else you’re taking, so I don’t know what’s causing the burning. I didn’t have burning, but I also didn’t have any ulcers. Do you have ulcers? Mastic Gum did not burn my stomach.
I was happy I had h pylori because my heart issues went away as I got rid of the infection. In other words, I didn’t have a heart condition, so I was glad.
Amy, what kind of heart issue did you have? Sharon
Hi Sharon, I describe it in detail in the entry above and then refer to them as “episodes”. It culminated with a diagnosis of “Brugada syndrome” which I did not have in the end.
Amy,
How did the doctors finally rule out brugada syndrome? I’m sure they did EP testing, EKGs that proved you had it?
Thank You
I had all of the tests, except the EP study. I refused. That was the precursor to treating the Brugada. I had an ECHO, many EKGs, etc. I sent the EKG my electrophysiologist used as the basis for her diagnosis to Dr. Ramon Brugada in Spain. He’s the son of the original doctor who ‘discovered’ Brugada syndrome. He kindly informed me that he saw no signs of Brugada (I still have his emails from ’09). I got a third opinion at the premier heart hospital on Long Island: St. Francis. I was taken care of in their Arrhythmia & Pacemaker Center. Nice facility, very good docs.
While I was sick, I was diagnosed by my first electrophysiologist as having Neurocardiogenic Syncope by tilt table. However once I was better, I do not know if I would test the same. Maybe. But I’ve always had low blood pressure and, at that time, I was emaciated and having arrhythmia. I don’t have them anymore and I’m no longer weak and emaciated, so who knows what the tilt table would show now.
Why? Are you having heart issues?
I do not have ulcers. this is what I’m taking… liquid chlorophyll to sooth and heal my intestinal membranes. Slippery elm/Licorice/cuttlefish bone 20 (this is a mixture). Pepzin GI soothe, Resveratrol to kill the h. pylori, esophaguard and many vitamins. It may be a combination of all along with the mastic gum that may be giving me burning.
I’m glad you dont have a heart condition. God Bless!
Maria
I don’t know about most of those supplements, but I took Mastic Gum for many months and my stomach never burned.
Has anyone had success with oil of oregano for candida? I just received it in the mail but it doesnt say how much or how long to use.
Thanks
Maria
Hi Amy,
Just got all my goodies two days ago. The Manuka honey is amazing in soothing the stomach. I got monolaurin in a huge jar from Amazon which is the economy size and more cost effective for people. It is the same as buying 22 bottles of the 300mg, it was $46.50 if that helps anyone, and has a three year shelf life. I just wanted to ask I also got the VSL #3. Do I take that along with everything else or do I wait to take it in a month or so? I also got the HR-32 I was wondering about how and when to take that also it really doesn’t say on the bottle. Thank you so much for this website, I so appreciate all the input from everyone. Thank you Amy
Hi Patti,
I took the VSL after a few months because I was feeling off – my doc said I had killed the good bacteria in my gut. I took it for about a month. I would say take a small amount as you go along daily, but perhaps not full packets.
As for the HR-32, check out Dr. Ettinger’s site linked above – he has specifics.
Good luck!
Amy, I’m not sure If I missed it or not, but did the Matula Tea do anything at all?
I only took it once and had diarrhea the same day. I complained to the tea company and they gave me a refund once I sent the unused tea (all but one bag) back.
Licorice & Pylori, a must read:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12127165
kindly tell me about this Matula Herbal Formula?
is it effective for h pylori come to mastic gum ??
I do not understand this question.
Amy,
I was so relieved to find someone else who had the exact same symtpoms as me. Especially the problems when trying to sleep and the feeling of passing out. Doctors prescribed all types of sleeping pills and none of them work. I am now taking Adivan and antihistimes to get some sleep.
Your website has given me hope that I can overcome this. I was beginning to think there was nothing that can be done and there was nothing on the market that could eleviate the symptoms. THANK YOU!
I’ve been sick for 4 years and unable to work for 2. I also saw several GI docs as well as several other types of docs. Diagnosed with IBS and anxiety – GEEZ! My latest doc – thank goodness for him, found the H. Pylori.
My questions is…did you have any side effects or worsening of symptoms when you started any of the alternative treatments? I have ordered the items you recommended but was wondering about this? Expecially the Broccolive.
I have tried different oils – olive oil, Pine nut oil, garlic – and they made my acid reflux and chest pain significantly worse. I am still on Mastic gum (for about 6 weeks) but not feeling any better. I am hoping your recommendation will give me some relief. I have also been on a strict gluten free diet and stay away from dairy and citrus fruit.
I have also taken probiotics and it makes the gas and cramping worse. Did you have any problems with this also.
Any help you could provide would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks again Amy and I am so happy for you and your success!
Tamster
Hi Tamster,
Yes, when I first began the medicines, the “die off” of the bacteria makes you feel sicker because they become toxins your body has to get rid of. It’s called “herxing.” I link to this effect above for more explanation.
Feel better! Amy
I must say this as when I read through H.Pylori forums I come across this misconception that if someone has some health problems that doctors cannot cure and they are also diagnosed as HP positive then that problem must be caused by H.Pylor — this assumption could be very dangerous – the problem may or may not be due to HP — for instance there was a girl who thought her symptoms were caused by HP where as a matter of fact she was suffering from a hernia — the fact that she was also HP positive was irrelevant in her case — bearing in mind that a great number of people in the world are the carrier of this bacterium should make you think twice before you put down every undiagnosed pain you suffer from down to this bacterium.
Another thing I come across is because we assume certain foods are bad for our ulcers or make the HP to propagate, we tend to deprive ourselves of essential proteins and vitamins our body needs to repair itself, which will consequently make our situation even worse in the long run — you will find if you stick to a sensible diet and just stay away from very greasy, sugary and very salty foods you won’t have to avoid any other types of food to starve yourself.
Although, I myself am very restricted as regards all the stuff that some of you people can buy in the western world – I have tried a few raw things like Aloe Vera, licorice, green tea etc, but I have found the humble glass of water eases my pains more than any other of the stuff I mentioned —- simply have at least one glass of water when you wake up in the morning and one 30 minutes before you go to bed – as water weakens the acid inside your stomach, if you do suffer from gastritis or ulcers, then your stomach should feel a bit better and if doesn’t, you may be suffering from another cause which really needs to be investigated by a specialist.
Rod, I think that the only time a H.pylori diagnosis is made is when a person has an elevated reading of H.pylori. I certainly would never recommend self-treatment without diagnosis. Once the test is back it will show elevation or not, that is how it is diagnosed. That is how my doctor explained it. There is also medical concern for the bacteria causing ulcers and possibly stomach cancer, (my doctor also told me that), so it is not a good thing to have elevated H.pylori readings and even if it turns out to be something else, the bacteria should be taken care of.
Rod said: “bearing in mind that a great number of people in the world are the carrier of this bacterium should make you think twice before you put down every undiagnosed pain you suffer from down to this bacterium.”
Sharon says: I think we all know that H.pylori is part of the good/bad bacteria that normally live in our stomach and system. However, when diagnosed with H.pylori we are not talking “normal”. As far as undiagnosed pain, all of my symptoms leaned toward a bacterial infection and had my treatment not worked I would have been looking into what else it could be. So, it is up to a patient to follow through and then follow up if satisfaction and relief do not come with a certain treatment(s).
Rod said: “Another thing I come across is because we assume certain foods are bad for our ulcers or make the HP to propagate, we tend to deprive ourselves of essential proteins and vitamins our body needs to repair itself, which will consequently make our situation even worse in the long run ”
Sharon says: It is a medical fact that certain foods irritate ulcers and other stomach disorders. I do agree that a person should strive to make sure they have what is needed for the body to function and they may have to look for other foods to do that, but it is a medical fact that some foods do not agree with certain people and their system. I often doubled over with pain when eating certain foods and probably not because the H.pylori was rejecting the food but because the lining of my stomach was so irritated with infection that the food only irritated it more. There was also a possibility that I had developed an ulcer (my doctor made this assumption because of the pain I had when eating certain foods.)
Rod, I do agree with your water remarks. I drink 1/2 of my body weight in ounces of water a day, starting early morning, throughout the day and ending the day with a glass. I have done that for years, however, that did not stop the horrible pain my system went through until the H.pylori overgrowth was killed.
But, everyone to their own opinion, however,I think we should keep in mind that not everyone fits into another’s opinion.
Sharon
Healed of H.pylori (medically confirmed) by Mastic Gum, probiotics and eating the “right” foods and of course water. None would have worked as a stand alone treatment.
Tamster,
I had side effects from Broccolive and I had to stop it.
Elena,
Thanks so much for the info. I seem to react to so many things nowadays having the HP so I appreciate you letting me know how you reacted. I will be sure start with a small dose and see how it goes.
Again, thank you!
Tamster
Rod, you’re so right. I had difficulty breathing and pressure in my chest and upper stomach back in June last year and after a few trips to emergency, believing I was having a heart attack, and many tests to rule out any heart condition, I was diagnosed with Acid Reflux and sent home with PPIs. I rested and my condition improved but after stopping the PPIs a month later, I got a severe burning sensation in my stomach. I then had a gastroscopy and they found severe gastritis and HP. They sent me home on the tripple therapy and later had higher doses of PPIs, yet my conditioned worsened. It got to the point where I couldn’t eat anything at all and even drinking sips of water felt like I was pouring acid into me. I was put on a drip for a week and was given more PPIs, both orally and intravenously. I got worse again. The doctors were baffled and when I suggested that the PPIs might be making me worse they agreed with me that I should cut down and try to stop them. I went home, still feeling horrible, still unable to eat. I lived on a banana a day for the next three weeks and even that was forced. I then saw a Naturopath and over $3K later, some licorice, some mastic gum, and many many other natural remedies, my stomach improved dramatically, however as my stomach improved and I had more energy, I began doing things again and my breathing problem and pressure came back with a vengeance. Christmas Eve and Christmas day was the worst and I thought I was a gonner, really struggling to take a breath in. Turns out I had Costochondritis from the start and the PPIs caused all the stomach problems and I ended up with a leaky gut. I probably had the HP since I was a child and it had never effected me. I’m still not convinced that the HP was the cause of any problem because when I had a second gastroscopy in hospital after the tripple therapy treatment, I was found to be negative yet my condition worsened. I then had a breath test a few weeks later which came back negative and my condition hadn’t improved. I, like you, believe that doctors are too quick to blame the HP and by doing so, cause more problems to your digestive system than you had initially. So anyone out there with breathing problems and pressure in the chest… feeling like your stomach’s pushing into your chest. If you have diffuclties wearing a bra (ladies), if you you get worse after drinking caffeine. If you get worse after driving too long, vaccuming, repetitive and shaking motions like doing the dishes, brushing your teeth etc, lifting or raising your hands above your head, if you get a weird sensation that feels something like heart pulpitations, if your conditions worsens when you overexert yourself, if you feel like you have inflammation or pain just below the rib cage (upper stomach) please check for Costochondritis.
Isabel, I am glad that you were able to find out what was wrong with you, and being able to find an answer. I had never heard of Costochondritis, so I looked it up and this was the definition:
“Costochondritis (kos-toe-KHON-dri-tis) is an inflammation of the cartilage that connects a rib to the breastbone (sternum). It causes sharp pain in the costosternal joint — where your ribs and breastbone are joined by rubbery cartilage. Pain caused by costochondritis may mimic that of a heart attack or other heart conditions. Your doctor might refer to costochondritis by other names, including chest wall pain, costosternal syndrome and costosternal chondrodynia. When the pain of costochondritis is accompanied by swelling, it’s referred to as Tietze syndrome. Most cases of costochondritis have no apparent cause. In these cases, treatment focuses on easing your pain while you wait for costochondritis to improve on its own. ”
Another name for costochondritis is fibromyalgia, which is common in thousands of people. Much like H.pylori it is a major cause of inflammation and with H.pylori and the triple treatment which just added to the irritation in your stomach it appears you were a walking case of inflammation. Bless your heart, that must have been horrible. I know how bad I felt with just H.pylori, I can’t imagine battling the infection you had plus the side effects of the strong medication. When the natural items started working that meant your inflammation was coming under control. We usually do jump right back into “normal” life when we should wait for out body to heal. When I was treating for H.pylori, I stopped everything in my life (except work), no meetings, no nothing, just constant rest. I didn’t allow my body to do anything but its natural work. I did this by eating right, lots of water and much rest.
I am really happy you found your answer and that it was not life threatening and now you know how to handle it. Just listen to your body and rest when it says, “I’m tired.”
Sharon
Isabel
What an ordeal — is your Costochondritis completely cured now? What medication did you use for it?
Hi ,
I have done endoscopy with h pylori CLO test positive with antral and duodonal ulcer with clonoscopy i find out ileal ulcer
I started with triple ant medicines with one docior but no relief i tried with another doctor he prescribed pantocid and then rifagut rifaxin and then ritadine
now after 3 months i gain some weight but not able to digest all food like white rice buk ok with brown rice so please tell what should i do ?
should i retest again ? but in mumbai india there is only urea breath test no stool test available which according to some site more accurate
should i restart with herbal therapy ?
i think i have yeast overgrowth also after check with spit test
so what do you think in my case is helpful to get clear with h pylori and other symtoms like bloating and stool is still not normal ?
kindly reply
Aby,
You must realise none of us here are qualified to tell you what to do – I wish that I could help you but I can’t even help my own case.
You must go back and see a specialist – can’t a herbal specialist help you to cure your ulcers? – I would have thought you must have a few of them in India?
As I said I am very much like yourself and with what I have available to me I have not been able to cure my own ulcres.
Did anyone else experience a bad reaction when you started the Monolaurin besides Amy? I want to know what to expect. And, is there anything one can do to ease the symptoms of the Herximer effect?
I feel so sick now, I am afraid to start the Monolaurin.
Please advise.
Thanks!
in the same time i find that i`m infected with hepatitis b.
so dont know what to order ? because my liver
any help ????
julia
If you are infected with hepetitis B, then your priorities should be to get that treated first. If you are suffering from some Pylori-like symptoms, those might even be due to your liver malfunction??
When people have serious illnesses they should really get advice from specialists. Delaying your treatments and searching for cures on the internet could lose you valuable time. I will repeat again; none of us here are qualified to give serious advice to each other – forums are only for sharing our own experiences we’ve had with our own illnesses and should not replace one’s seeking the treatment from an specialist.
hi amy king ,
can you answer my queries?
Aby,
I am not a doctor and have only recommended what worked for me regarding eradicating H Pylori. Your case sounds much more complex. Honestly, I did not do the antibiotic regime because it sounds like it may have been more harmful to me than good. I cannot say the same in your case, but if it didn’t work, perhaps you should consider doing the regime outlined above. A number of people here have noted what worked to heal their ulcers. You should read through the comments and determine what course might help you. Are you being careful about what you eat? Spices cause problems with ulcers – do you eat the lots of curries? Oddly, there is a lower incident rate in India with H Pylori because the turmeric so prevalent in your foods keeps the bacteria at bay.
I’m sorry not to give better advice – consult an herbal specialist as Rod suggested.
Best,
Amy
Hi all,
I had a negative test for h.pylori.
I’m continuing to use the mastic because its really helpful for the mouth, along with coconut, aloe juice, l-glutamine for stomach lining repair and solaray multidophilus (a dairy and gluten free acidophilus). I couldn’t use the VSL#3 because its grown on dairy and will give me nosebleeds, but the solaray is a great alternative if you’re allergic, the doctors can’t prescribe it though so you have to buy it.
Thanks for the board, its really helped my health.
Success! Congratulations, Joellyn! I’m so glad to read this news. I think you’re very smart to maintain some of these aids because they’re each health in their own right and will continue to help you heal as you pass the next few months. It took me awhile, even after the negative result, to feel back to my old self, so good for you for being sensible.
Be well,
Amy
Amy,
It’s Tamster again. As I stated to you earlier, I have the same weird nightly symptoms that you were getting because of the HP and my acid reflux is not even close to being controlled, even being on 30 mg twice a day with Prevacid. Nothing seems to help. (I have had severe acid reflux since I was a child and have seem many doctors and numerous endoscopies but they just keep giving the same meds.)
I have been using the Mastic Gum for 2 mos now for the HP not getting any better. I have been trying the other things you recommended – Grapefruit Seed Extract, Manuka Honey, Turmeric, as well as a couple of other oils. I have just received the shipment of the Monolaurin but the problem is this. All of these things I have tried have increased my acid reflux by 100%.
Was your acid reflux much of a problem through the course of treatment you followed? It has made my nights a complete horror again – laying on the floor passing out then running to use the toilet. The chest pain is extreme again as well as breathing problems.
I am considering that maybe I should look into the incisionless acid reflux surgery before I attempt to heal the HP. I have a surgeon in the area that does this surgery but am not sure I would be considered a good candidate. We’ll see.
I see my regular doc in two weeks (who recommended the herbal treatments for HP) and will get his opinion, but I know he thinks the HP is causing the majority of the reflux.
Did you have any of these severe problems with reflux? And if so, what did you do to ease the reflux?
Please advise.
Thanks Amy!
Tamster
Tamster,
I concur with what others have said: cutting out all carbs and sugars likely meant I cut out most, if not all, gluten, while I was sick. Anytime I would try to eat something like a seemingly innocent bowl of pasta, the reflux would flare. That’s why I went to eating lots of veggies in chicken broth many days. The stomach needs cooked foods when sick and mostly the health kind in a redundant fashion. It gets old but you have to stick to it.
As for you having too much reflux, despite being on two large doses of Prevacid daily, well, that sounds suspect. Especially since you’ve been using it since childhood. Despite the way these proton pump inhibitors are prescribed long term, they were created for temporary short term use only. The long term effects, they are finding, may be worse than the temporary relief. I’ve read a few studies recently in which it is indicated that long term use increases the need for them, which to me sounds like an addiction.
Additionally, there is a confusion over whether a person has too little stomach acid versus too much: the symptoms are the same, so doctors just assume too much and go with the drug companies’ directives and prescribe, seemingly forever, these temporary stomach acid reducers without actually testing if a person has too little stomach acid. If you have too little and then proceed to reduce what little you have, you are likely making things even worse. The stomach can only compensate for so long.
There are tests to determine if you have too little stomach acid. You need to ask, nay, demand that your doctor determine if you have too little. I’ll post more information in a minute. In the meantime, I would advise you to increase your water intake and re-read this entire thread to see if anyone else experienced similar symptoms as yourself. My reflux certainly did diminish when the H Pylori was gone, but it was never as bad as you’re describing. Also, please take very seriously the restriction/disallowing gluten and carbs into your diet. It’s very hard to get them out, but they need to go for awhile at least.
Best,
Amy
One last thing: consider taking an enzyme pill that includes Betaine HCI with each meal. It helps to break down the food and may ease the acid reflux. One I used was Solaray Super Digestaway – http://www.vitaminshoppe.com/store/en/browse/sku_detail.jsp?id=SO-1284
Tamster, have you ever gone Gluten free? So many people are gluten intolerant and when they stop gluten a lot of symptoms stop. I know I cannot do gluten as I have pain and get very ill. Just a thought, you may have already done the gluten thing. Sharon
Tamster,
Go to http://www.GreatTasteNoPain.com
Its what worked for me with bad acid reflux!
Good Luck, Doug :)
Just a note for followers, I am gluten free and know I wouldn’t be better otherwise.
Just the tip of the acid iceberg
Conventional Western medicine treats acid reflux on the premise that if we can stop or neutralize the hydrochloric acid (HCl) produced in our stomachs, we can solve the problem. If the acid is causing the burning, then take away the acid — right? This can certainly help some people in the short-term. But in truth, the approach only solves a portion of the problem: the symptoms. And inappropriate or long-term use of antacids (like TUMS or Mylanta), proton pump inhibitors (like Nexium — the “Purple Pill ”, Protonix, and Prilosec), or H2-receptor antagonists (like Tagamet, Pepcid or Zantac) can set you up for more problems down the road.
In my experience, most patients with GERD or acid reflux are suffering from too little acid, not too much. Let me explain. During healthy digestion, your stomach uses an acid cocktail made up of hydrochloric acid (HCl) and the powerful digestive enzyme pepsin to break down food into the vital nutrients your body needs. Pepsin requires a highly acidic environment to do its job, and when HCl is low — which can happen for many reasons, including age, poor diet, infection and overusing antacids or other medications — it becomes increasingly difficult for your stomach to fully process your food.
Wanting to get the job done, the stomach may initially respond to low acidity by releasing more gastric acid. This effect, sometimes referred to as acid rebound, can also occur after taking antacids such as TUMS: in response to the acid-neutralizing effect of the tablets, the stomach works to replenish its acid supply. But ultimately, prolonged use of acid-inhibiting medications such as PPI’s or H(2)-receptor blockers can induce a state of hypochlorhydria, or chronic low acid, perpetuating the cycle of indigestion. And once you stop the meds, you may yet face the issue of acid indigestion because you have not yet addressed its underlying causes.
So, even if medication to block acid production helps in the short-term, it’s not a solution, and over time it can actually exacerbate the problem. Instead of masking your symptoms, investigate the root causes. This is the best way to prevent GERD from worsening — and even cure it.
Finding the root cause of acid reflux
In my practice, the health of a woman’s stomach and gut is paramount. For patients with digestive complaints, we often recommend in-depth diagnostic tests. In the case of acid reflux, for example, testing for the presence of antigens from the bacterium H. pylori or IgE and IgG testing for food sensitivities may be useful. In some women, we may also check to see if hormone levels such as estrogen, progesterone, or cortisol are unusually high or otherwise off-balance. Be forewarned, however, that conventional doctors may be unfamiliar with this type of testing and look askance when you request it. That said, I have seen the information that this kind of testing provides totally transform people’s health!
Because we are all individuals, the path back to where your GERD began can be different for everyone. Here are some common causes to investigate:
http://www.womentowomen.com/digestionandgihealth/acidreflux.aspx
~~~~
If your doctor doesn’t know how to tell, you need to find one who does.
Nearly every senior you meet is on three medications (at least). They are most often a BP medication, a statin drug for cholesterol, and something for acid reflux. In fact, the dozens of medications for acid reflux bring in billions of dollars annually. For many people they may be making the actual problem worse.
Acid reflux occurs when you have acid remaining in your stomach that should have been neutralized by your digestive system. It can cause both flatulence and burping, and, in extreme cases, even regurgitation. To control it, the standard practice is to simply give you an acid reflux medication.
Few doctors ever test to see if the real problem is that you are simply not digesting your food quickly enough. Your food should completely empty out of your stomach in about 90 minutes–not three days or a week. It takes stomach acid to digest your food. As we age, our systems naturally slow down in production of the acid necessary for digestion.
If you do not have enough stomach acid to begin and complete the digestive process, your food will do what food does when you leave it sitting for days and days in a warm place. It will rot! It will begin to grow mold and become putrid, emitting its own methane gas. That gas has to go somewhere–and if it’s in your stomach, it’s usually going to come UP before going down and out.
The standard medical practice is to just give you more antacids–like Prevacid, Prylosec, and others to kill the acid. Good going. So now that the food has created its own acid, we have to kill that too, forcing it to sit there even longer.
So How Do You Know?
What Can You Do About It
If your problem is being caused by too little natural–and healthy–stomach acid to digest your food, you need to add acid, not kill what little you have. First, you need to have a knowledgeable doctor confirm that this is your problem. The average doctor either doesn’t know or won’t tell you that this could be your problem.
Once you have verified that your food is sitting in your stomach too long, you can purchase non-prescription supplements that will help. You need something to produce acid to digest your food, and you probably need digestive enzymes as well. Since it is difficult to create exactly the right amount of acid with external supplements, you may also need something to neutralize the acid after the food has been digested.
Nearly everyone over 50 could use digestive enzymes. There are several brands available. You should do some research to see which ones actually work. Digestive enzymes not only help your food empty out of your stomach, but also keep the digestive process going in your intestines.
One way of creating additional acid is with an inexpensive supplement called “Betaine.” You won’t find it at Wal-Mart. You can purchase it at some health food stores; also a large GNC should have it. The easiest way to find it is through the internet at [www.iherb.com].
You can take from 2 to 4 Betaine capsules with every meal. You should take them just before eating as they work with your food to begin digestion.
If too much acid remains in your stomach after the food is gone, you will know it because you will begin to get heart burn. DGL is an extract from licorice that will calm the heart burn by neutralizing the excess acid. However, it will not stop the digestive processes. It is also non-prescription and easily found on [iherb.com] and possibly other websites as well. Local health food and supplement stores may have it, although we have not looked there.
Why not just keep going as you are?
There are certainly other causes for gas pain and poor digestion of food. You need to find out. However, the decreased production of digestive juices is one of the easiest causes to fix–and is the least known about. That’s because it doesn’t require expensive drugs, and most doctors are into giving out drugs, not actually curing the problem.
However, failure to cure the problem will lead to more and more medication that will ultimately fail to work. Failure to properly digest your food can lead to Perforated Bowel Syndrome (also called “leaky gut”), to uncontrollable gas, and ultimately to cancer. But, of course, that’s the ideal. The more drugs you take, the worse the problem will get, and the more likely that you will need the surgery–which means you contribute to the almighty no-health-care cartel that controls the finances of this country under the guise of treating illnesses and diseases.
Be aware, however, that most insurance companies will not pay for anything they consider “alternative” even if the treatment has worked in thousands of cases. Regardless, find a doctor who knows how to verify that this is your problem. If it is your problem, you will save thousands of dollars that you would have spent on medication and will also avoid the ultimate surgery that is recommended once your stomach starts refusing to keep anything down.
This article is for information only. We do not attempt to diagnose or treat any person’s disease.
Karen Ruff, D.A. is a Registered Financial Representative, a freelance writer and insurance agent for a 128 year old nationwide company. Licensed in South Carolina and Georgia, she specializes in life insurance, annuities, and is certified in long term care. She also provides cancer insurance and alternatives for protecting senior savings and investments.
Dr. Ruff is the owner of a quarterly newsletter “Senior Sword” which is available in print or as a PDF email attachment. For additional information, email silverscribler@aol.com
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Karen_Ruff,_D.A.
~~~
http://www.peoplespharmacy.com/2009/12/23/getting-off-drugs-for-gerd-requires-strategy/
Why Stomach Acid Is Good for You: Natural Relief from Heartburn, Indigestion, Reflux and GERD
Natural Alternatives to Nexium, Maalox, Tagamet, Prilosec & Other Acid Blockers: What to Use to Relieve Acid Reflux, Heartburn, and Gastric Ailments
Hi Tamster,
It’s quite possible that your acid reflux is caused by the very drugs they’re giving you to prevent it. I don’t know if you’ve read my story above but it was the PPIs that caused me to have stomach problems and become too acidic. I never had any stomach issues till I was put on PPIs in emergency for an unrelated problem (costochonditis) which I’ve only recently discovered I had… that was causing me the breathing problems. Every time my stomach problems got worse (from the PPIs) they’d either switch to another brand, up my dose or give me two different ones to take. I ended up on 40mg of Nexium, twice a day, 40mg of Somac, twice a day as well as Zantac. I got so bad, I ended up again in hospital on a drip for a week because I couldn’t eat or drink water yet they kept injecting me with PPIs… this of course made me a lot worse. I got fed up with it. I knew that it was the PPIs that was causing the acid but no doctor would listen. When I asked my GP to lower my doses so I could ween off them, she rolled her eyes at me, told me that I should increase my dose and that I will be on them for life. I told her “NO I WON’T!!” and left. I reduced my doses myself that night and prepared for the worst because I knew I would get acid rebound. This happens because of gastrin levels rising. Gastrin is the hormone that signals your brain to produce more acid when needed. After you eat, gastrin rises, you produce acid to digest your food, when digested, gastrin levels drop and you stop producing acid. When you’re on PPIs, you’re not producing any acid so your gastrin levels keep rising to astronomical levels, especially if you’ve been on it long term. So when you come off them… or even while on them, they stop working and you produce more acid than even before. You really should reduce your doses over time to reduce the acid reflux and eventually get off them. They cause many problems like ulcers, gastritis and a leaky gut. You end up with bacteria overgrowth, candida overgrowth and malabsorption. I highly recommend going to see a naturopath. It’s expensive but if you’ve been suffering since you were a child, it’s probably worth it. I’m on the mend and my stomach issues are almost gone and now I can battle away with the real cause of my breathing problems… costochondritis, which is also improving after seeing a physiotherapist.
Good luck, I really know what you’re going through.
Sharon and Rod,
Thanks for your comments. Sorry I didn’t see them until today. I don’t check in as much… that means I’m improving lol. I used to check this thread everyday when I was crook. It’s been really helpful reading it.
Rod, no the costo is still there but it’s getting better. We’re not sure what’s causing it but we think it’s from an injury. At the moment I’m doing exercises to build the mucles around my back and rips. I cannot take any antiinflamattory medications for it because they’ll make my stomach problems flare up again. I’m taking some natural things for inflammation like turmeric and ginger tea (which has helped me so much) I add ginger and turmeric to my food when I’m feeling the inflammation flare up. I also take some other natural rememdies for the stomach problems which help with the costo as well. I’m taking Musashi’s Creatine Recovery Stack which has the amino acids… creatine, l-glutamine, taurine and others, to help repair and build up tissue and muscle mass. I’m taking glucosamine as well. Heat packs help on colder days and I lay in the sun for 20 minutes on warmer days. Every now and then I still get the stomach problems because it takes a while for your system to get back to normal so I add a bit lemon or ACV to my water whenever I’m feeling a bit acidic. All in all though, I can say 80% better than I was 3 months ago when I was at my worst.
Hi Amy,
I am looking for buying stool antigen kit for h pylori as this test is not available in india
if anybody has this kit or know any site from where i can i buy it online kindly share it
Thanks
I just want to thank everyone for your help and suggestions for treatment. I have been off gluten and dairy for 3 years – when all of this started. However, I was checked and am not allergic to gluten and was also tested negative 3 times for Celiac’s Disease. However, I do find that gluten still triggers flare ups of the H. Pylori.
I see my environmental doc in two weeks – he does believe in alternative meds over traditional treatments, so I will talk to him about your suggestions.
I do believe that I need digestive enzymes to aid my digestion – it seems that food just sits in my stomach because that is where most of my pain is after eating. As well as pain in my chest and espophagus.
I also believe I will start weaning off of the PPIs – though I did try it before and the reflux became much worse – but didn’t know this was just my body trying to adjust my acid levels. I just want to be sure I have something in place (herbal) to ease the reflux during this weaning process. I appreciate your suggestions on this and will give them a try.
I don’t know how to express how thankful and appreciative I am for all of you helping me through all of this. This has been the hardest time of my life – I had to give up a job I loved and I feel, at times, that I will never have one day that I feel well and normal again and will also never be a viable contribution to society again. My family has been great through all of this but I know how continually worried they are about me and how hard they try to keep my spirits up through all of the pain and endless and “waste of time doctor” visits.
Again, thank you and I will try to keep you all posted of my progress.
Tamster
Tamster, you said, “However, I do find that gluten still triggers flare ups of the H. Pylori.” I know you said you tested negative for Gluten allergy, so did I, then I learned that gluten allergies and gluten intolerance are different, so that is why I decided to go gluten free and it worked. So, you might consider that if gluten causes your situation to be worse, then you should think about going back to gluten free.
Another thing you might consider is getting some PH strips and check your urine to see if you are acidic or alkaline. Being to acidic can be bad. You should be more alkaline, around 7.0. You can talk to the pharmacist and tell him what you want to do and you can buy the PH strips from them. Or, that is where I got mine, most pharamacies have them. I took my PH test several times a day for a week, then once a day and I was surprised that i would notice my stomach acting up and sure enough when I checked I was acidic. Then I would strive to get back to alkaline. I think this has a lot to do with the stomach issues we often have. Hang in there, you are trying to do all things right, it just takes awhile for the body to balance out. Sharon
hi amy ,
kindly answer my query if you know about the kit
My doctor tested me. I don’t know about the kit. But a quick Google search for “H Pylori Test Kit” brings up many, many results of kits for sale.
Tamster
Keep away from putting all those chemicals inside your body and instead eat some real good organic food, keep your spirits up and be hopeful and your body will eventually respond – our thoughts are with you and all those who are not feeling well …
THANK YOU SO MUCH YOU HAVE REALLY HELPED ME I SUFER FROM H PYLORI AND HIGH COLLESTROLE AND A FEW OTHER THINGS TO THANK YOU THANK YOU
YOU ARE A KIND PERSON TO TAKE THE TIME TO CARE ENOUGH TO POST THIS FOR ALL TO READ
AMALITSA
My gut has improved GREATLY the past month
on a diet and brown rice, organic chicken and little beef.
It is imperative that one eliminates common food
allergens such as casein (dairy) and gluten (grains)
to prevent inflammation in the intestinal tract aka leaky gut syndrome.
Supplement-wise, aloe vera juice, slippery elm, marshmallow root,
MASTIC GUM, DGL and cabbage juice are all sure fire ways to
correct ANY ONE’S gut! I put my word on it.
Good Luck to all pylori sufferers.
Dear Amy,
hello =) I’ve been researching H Pylori and came across your blog looking for some good tips, so I’m glad you posted this.
Normally I don’t comment people’s blogs, but when I read your “unknown” symptoms I couldn’t help myself, lol.
I love the vibe you seem to give, at least in your writing, and you seem like you’re ready to research any symptoms you can on your own, whereas most people are letting their doctors feed them BS and don’t ask questions
Your heart attack and crazy getting up and moving around and feeling faint and vomiting are all symptoms of poisoning
MSG in fast foods and other salty seasoning flavors to make things taste better, poisons us
ASPERTAME in soda is another good tasting poison and your symptoms match perfectly
these combined are TERRIFYINGLY poisonous, PLUS the “flouride” they put in our water (which is waste products and flouride is used to cover MANY more poisonous waste products in the water but they won’t tell you about)
These things sound like silly over paranoid accusations, Why would they put these things in our food and drink and how could they get away with it but PLEASE research the drugs they put in our food because you show STRONG poisoning signs.
Do you have any memories connecting foods with these poisons to the “attacks”? and the hospitals COULD figure this out… you probably know, and that our knowledge these days is advanced enough to know why you would have this severe poisoning
Please stay safe, fast foods are very poisonous, not just fattening =(
with LOVE
me
PS. If you’re interested I would LOVE to send you all the info I’ve found that I can to help back up my little “theory”. It’s why EVERYBODY is sick. we shouldn’t ALL have at LEAST one terrible disease. People can be healthy, they just don’t realize what they’re consuming
Hi
I am from Australia and it is difficult to get even the most basic remedys here- mainly Mastic Gum- does anyone out there no suppliers in Australia
Great blog – thanks everyone
Hi Jan,
I’m also from Australia. I purchased Mastic Gum and DGL Licorice from the US (from ebay). You can bring items into Australia but you have to check the ingredients of the items against a list of customs prohibited items.
You’re only allowed to bring in 3 months supply at a time. For instance if the recommended dosage on the bottle of Mastic Gum is 2 tablets twice a day and there are 60 tablets, you can order three bottles because 1 bottle will last 1 month.
You’re also only allowed to bring them in for personal use and you’re not allowed to sell them here…. which is probably why no one else sells them here.
Thanks Isabel
I have just ordered the Mastic Gum and waiting so I can start treatment- how is your progress are you beating it!- Its so good to read how the symptoms I have been experiencing for quite some time are not imagined or that you may have organs that are failing and there is a reason for all this bad stuff- bring on the natural treatment -I’ll look forward to killing off this intruder- Hope your health is improving
Cheers Jan
Hi Jan,
You’re welcome. As I’ve written above, my stomach issues have improved greatly but I’m still having costochondritis issues… although that’s slowly improving too with physio and certain exercises.
I highly recommend taking the following supplements or foods: Mastic Gum, DGL, L-Glutamine, Goji Berry Juice, Probiotics and Zinc. Add ginger and turmeric to your foods to reduce inflammation. Ginger will also boost your immune system. Have a teaspoon of Cold Pressed Virgin Coconut Oil a day.
HPylor is a normal bacteria in your gut. When your digestive system is out of balance the bacteria increases. You have to get this balance back otherwise your symptoms will never subside. When eliminating HPylori, be careful because you’re likely to kill good bacterias too and allow candida to overgrow, causing leaky gut, inflammation and malabsorption.
Check the Inflammatory Factor of the foods you eat on http://www.nutritiondata.com to increase the anti-inflammatory foods and reduce or eliminate the inflammatory ones. This site is also useful for tracking your daily intake of vitamins and you’re probably lacking some already so I suggest you take a good multivitamin in liquid form.
Whenever you get that burning sensation, eat some raw ginger. It will burn your mouth but ease the stomach.
Lemon juice/ACV.. when you can handle it, add it to your water and food.
Garlic… also anti-inflammatory. If your stomach can handle it, add some raw garlic to your food every few days.
Good luck with it Jan, hope you get better soon.
Hi all,
Can someone pls point me towards specific foods to eat whilst doing the diet?
(im not sure i know whats left to eat once cutting out dairy, gluten and acidic foods)
many thanks
Cooked vegetables, brown rice, keep it towards the ‘alkalizing’ side.
Foods like red meat exacerbate the problem because it takes
sufficient stomach acid to break it down.
Like Amy said, it’s a boring diet but you’ll be cleaning up your
life in a lot of ways after this experience. See it as your new found blessing
Best of luck
Luke
Thanks for the reply much appreciated.
whats the best thing i can make and eat that is enjoyable and not dry?
vegies on rice sounds ok for a couple of days…
Thanks agian
Switch up protein and vegetable sources every couple days.
i.e turkey, chicken, fish, any white meat
for carbs turn to only vegetables and brown rice since rice
is non-allergenic. This is key! As far as vegetables go,
broccoli, asparagus, celery, carrots, zucchini, etc.
The main point is the rotation. Make it fun. Don’t stress over having pylori. It’s like getting a cold, it comes in, it goes out!
for now… thru bleary eyes… and tears. all I can say is wow. i have suffered since I was 8 or 9 years old.. now 39 and almost unable to function, my doc finally did a fecal test. funny, we were only going to test for parasites, but the only test she had included the h-pylori. Finances were tight and it was another $90, but I told her, there must be a reason. To even think that after years of being ill with stomach and joint pain, heart palps, depression, exhaustion, cloudy thinking??? tears. I will be back to read more when I am less exhausted. I’m so happy i picked back up my laptop at 12am. bless each and every one of you. many many thanks.
-heaven
Could anyone advise if it is alright to take the manuka honey in tablet form, i cannot take it in its original form no matter how much it helps:) Thanks.
well for three months they have been testing me I thought my hiatial hernia was back but they have already said my blood tests positive fro h pylori but you know they want more blood work and stool samples after mris and cat scans all with no insuracne mind you I am so thankful to come across your site I am only 4 feet 9 inches and used to be 100 pounds on a good day but for three months now and alot of throwing up what I eat 3 days a week it is hard to stay at 95 not good I hurt Im angry and dont even know why well now I do thank god for you I am going to try to get the three main things you talk about now and see if I can help myself since I feel like the drs. are either uninformed ignorant or don’t care . So again I thank you and look forward to healing, oh and since cancer runs rampid in my family I would like to get this out of me Doll
Doll,
The mastic and the probiotics are really essential. To save money, you can buy coconut oil and just eat a couple of tablespoons a day. It really does work and it does get rid of intestinal pain.
My pain/burning is localised on the right side abdominal.Anyone experiencing this. I have burning on my back side once in a while. i got retested for pylori still very positive. The Drs. seem to be so tired of my compliants and yet i’m suffering. i just had pelvic ultrasound to check female stuff make sure all is okay and will go back to get results. I can’t imagined suffering like this for years. I’m alreday 6 months an i’m tired. to faster recovery everybody.
Cindy, have you had your gall bladder and appendix checked? H.pylori can cause appendix problems too. Have you done any treatment for the H.pylori either through traditional treatment of natural? Sharon
Hi Sharon
I had the triple therapy treatment and prevacid. Waiting for the mastic gum shipment which i just ordered. i have been taking aleo vera j also.
Iam going to ask the doc about the appendix and gall bladder. I did some test a while back and was told that all is okay. I’m so ready for this dr. that I have written my Q’s down on apiece on paper. Good luck you all.
Get yourself checked for an ulcer. Now!
hi cindy, i have the same pain as u mentioned in my right side of stomach and my shoulder blades, they checked me for gall bladder everything was fine, my dr said the pain is coz of h pylori,
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2010-03/muhc-cri031710.php
This information may be of interest.
Could regulating intestinal inflammation prevent colon cancer?
MUHC/McGill research team demonstrate for the first time the important role of 2 proteins in the process of inflammation and colon cancer.
Hey guys,
I originally posted on Sept 16th 2009 with my story and stated that I had H. Pylori. I took Monolaurin, Mastic Gum, Manuka honey, and Broccoli sprout pills for less than 5 months.
I caved in and took the doctors recommended antibiotics. I only took those for about 3 days before I couldn’t handle the way they made me feel. I took Monolaurin and mastic gum more than anything else. I went back for a retest in Feb. and my H. Pylori was gone. I’m sure the Monolaurin and mastic gum had a lot to do with killing it.
I still have really bad acid reflux and sometimes gastritis, but I think that’s another problem. I’m supposed to have another endoscopy done in the near future.
I also took
Ish, Be careful – you may have depleted your good bacteria too. That’s what I did! I felt off after I was infection free, until I started taking the VSL#3. Try that or another strong probiotic.
I was diagnosed with pylori a few months ago, after I had pain for a few months in my belly. First the doctor ordered a breath test, then I a had an endoscopy done as well as a colonoscopy. Thanks God I had no ulcer, but they found this killer bacteria, that gave me many sleepless nights.
I choose to try supplements before I would take the antibiotics, which the doctor wanted me to take.
I started with the Manuka honey, which did not help me, then I took tea from a Chinese herbalist, then I took the pine oil, which is sold on the web, I took different pills from Standard Process, I took the good bacteria’s in the morning, etc.
It got to a point where I was so depressed that I would just cry. I was constantly in pain. Whatever I eat, gluten free, no cheese, I cut out coffee, sweets etc.
Yesterday, I thought that I give it a last shot and walked into a homeopathic pharmacy in Santa Monica, before I would call the doctor and tell him that I am ready to take the antibiotics.
Kristin, a lady who works there asked me what I need and I told her almost under tears what I am going through and that I spend already so much money…and that I have this bacteria called, pylori. She knew right away what I was talking about and assured me that she could help me.
She recommended me 3 things and I paid around $120:
-L-Glutamine from Designs for Health (3×1 teaspoon a day in a glass of water)
-Quantum Stomach Complex from Premier Research Lab (2 Capsule, 3 times a day, 15 minutes before food with a glass of warm water)
-Mastic Chios Gum Mastic from Allergy Research Group (1 Capsules 3 times a day with a meal)
After already one day, Praise God for it, I feel so much better. I eat a big piece banana cake today with a cup of coffee, what I have not done in months and I felt fine, it is almost like a miracle, and this only after not even 48 hours.
Never forget: GOD loves You
I have writen above text one month ago. I will be retested again next week, but I have not had pain and eat everything again. I believe the LGlutamine and Mastic Gum really killed it.
Hi Amy
I have just been tested for Pylori after suffering for 14 months. I suffered food poisoning in March of 2009 and have been unwell since. All the symptoms are pointing to Pylori…acid, stomach bloating, diarrhea every day for a year, faintness, heart palpitations, pain in my stomach and joints, just a general feeling of having something wrong and no-one taking it seriously…I was told I had anxiety with the breathing problems! I have gained a lot of weight and just don’t feel like I am digesting anything properly. I am now awaiting the outcome of a blood test. I am almost hoping it is positive so that I have an answer to what is wrong with me. I have never felt so rotten in my life, getting to the point where I just exist on a day to day basis. I just stumbled upon this site and its given me some hope that there will be an improvement, so thank you.
Sue xx
I wish you well, Sue – please keep us posted!
I wish I could find out if people have had success with Matula Herbal Formula. I read through this entire blog and there is barely a mention of it. David A Hompes with http://www.h-pylori-symptoms.com says it works fast for his clients. Is he just selling for the company or is this product working?
I got it, tried it once, had diarrhea immediately, complained, and they accepted it for return. I haven’t read success stories about it except at the website that sells it. I don’t know if David Hompes used it or is just marketing it, but not long ago, his H Pylori returned.
Stick to the protocol outlined here and try to do everything, you really can’t afford not to because it will take longer and cost much more in the long term. It really does work.
How can I heal mild inflammation without the hpolyri which ones out of the list do I need.. confused.
The Garden of Life founder Jordan had gut problems and his stuff has really been good. There is as much good and bad about him on the web from different people. I’ve met some of his team in person and found the most important thing he offers is a probiotic that works for people with dairy allergies called Primal Defense and his recipe for Brasco’s Broth is very good, you need a big slow cooker or a big pot and then you can freeze batches. My h. plyori test was negative. I’m using clay as well (you eat it) and its amazing for clearing out the intestines. He also recommends mastic and licorice, they really work.
Hi all,
I’ve been using the suggestions outlined here and more to treat h pylori but keep testing positive (2 stool tests and endoscopy biopsy) even after 6 months of treatment.Overall I feel much, much better since I started the treatment but sometimes I feel worse–pain and burning in my stomach and upper middle back return. I am searching for a solution as to why. I have not been able to take digestive enzymes because they hurt my stomach. I recently found a formula for those with gastritis, Gastric complex by Integrative Therapeutics and am hoping it would help. I also increased magnesium, mainly from sea minerals recently. This helped eliminate muscle stiffness in my neck, shoulders, an upper back, which adjustments and deep tissue therapy used to helped eliminate but not in the last year. While benefits of magnesium are great, besides the ones I mentioned, according to one article I found, this extra magnesium might have lowered stomach acid, which stimulates h pylori growth.Here is the link to the article for those who might be experiencing similar problems.
http://www.acu-cell.com/dis-hpy.html
Any thoughts/comments are welcome.
Here is to eradicating h pylori!
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
One of the things I found out is that the Thai people don’t have h pylori, they use a lot of spices in their food and coconut. They have to be non-irridated for spices and organic or they don’t work. Things like cayenne pepper and raw organic coconut oil (Artisana) added to anything really help. I decided to kick the last of my health problems and I’ve gone 100% raw foods and I have incredible energy (I was up until 2pm last night and up at 7:00 am this morning bright and cheery), I used to go to bed at 9:00 every night because I was so tired. I’m working on becoming a raw food chef so I can teach others. Keep fighting for your health.
Hi Joellyn,
Thanks much for your note. I love Thai food but have not had any in a long time. I use cold pressed organic coconut oil but have to be careful with hot spices like cayenne pepper, curry–they irritate. It is cool that you eat raw food and training to be raw food chef. I eat a good bit of my food intake raw, mainly salads and raw veggie juices and certainly appreciate their nutritional value. I just need to somehow stabilize and heal my stomach. I am trying Siberian pine nut oil along with other things. It seems to calm my stomach better than any other supplements. I seems very promising. Russians have done some research on it and it is clinically proven to heal gastritis and ulcers. I should know more in a few weeks.
Besides physical remedies, I am looking into my stress issues. I have a feeling my symptoms got worse when the stress level hugely increased in the last month. I resumed my early morning walks and some yoga after 2 year hiatus and am looking for other ways to relax. I hope this goes a long way in helping.
Good luck with your chef aspirations!
Nancy
This article explains more scientifically why H.Pylori causes less cancers in countries like Thailand and India:
http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2180/9/175
I have tried the mastic gum with monolaurin for 15 days but it seems to give me more pain than relief!
Did anybody experience this problem?
I was dignosted with H.pylori last year so I took the antibiotics Hpac for one week. I felt great for 2 weeks and then all the symptoms came back again and worst then before. I read Amy king recommendation about Mastic gum and monolaurin but it seems to me they don’t help much.
I also tried the Matula tea and it doesn’t help either.
I don’t know what to do.
When I read scientific articles, they pretend that the eradication rate is about 80 to 90% but from the stories of people it seems like nodoy got rid of this nasty bacteria.
Wich good health for everybody.
You don’t erradicate it completely because its a bug that everyone has, its all about bringing it and other nasty gut flora back into balance. We have to have gut flora and adding in positive probiotics and cultured/fermented foods is required to maintain it for the long term. Some animals live off the by products of their gut flora literally.
Hi Amy,
I am having a bunch of tests done to see if I have some digestion bugs like H pylori. I have been ill since 2007 with Celiac Disease and hypothyroidism but lately I have felt immensely worse. I have painful belching that is only relieved if I lay on my left side, abdominal pains, some sensitive glandular pain, back pains, worsening breath, severe weight loss… just to name a few.
I read about your holistic approach and that is the road that I am on now because mainstream medicine has gotten me nowhere. My Gastro when asked if this could be h pylori said ” If I tested 10 people for it 8 of them would test positive” What kind of crap statement is that. I am feeling truly awful here. I cannot function anymore. I am to weak because it seems like my body is constantly trying to fight off something.
I sent my tests to Lab Corp as well. I am having the stool test but if it comes back positive, I don’t think my Gastro will treat me for since he does not believe in it. I want to try the natural way but I had a bad reaction to some coconut oil that I was eating for good fat. My throat swelled up and had to go to the ER. My intestines have been through hell these last three years. Now it seems like I am allergic to things that never bothered me before. That mastic gum is made from the pistachia tree. I don’t want to risk having a reaction then having to run to the ER. I don’t know what to do because I know he won’t prescribe me antibiotics because he denies it’s even an issue but I have lost 60 lbs in two years but all my regular blood work keeps coming back fine. Just doesn’t make any sense. Thanks for any reply to this in advance, Theo.
Hi Theo,
I hope you will be fine from your symptoms. If you are doctor doesn’t believe you, change the doctor then.
As I said before, I tried the mastic gum and the monolairin but I got more pain than relief from those two so I stopped taking them. I don’t understand why I got pain from those two components.
Take some probiotics, you will be fine.
Hi Theo,
I hope you feel better soon. Here are some ideas/suggestions you might want to consider. You may have to take smaller or even very small doses then recommended of anything you decide to try, except maybe a probiotic–it may calm your stomach and help you absorb some nutrients. I use Healthy Trinity by Natren.I particularly experienced a calming effect of a probiotic after a colonic when the therapist filled my colon with it. You need a doctor’s prescription for that and you need to find an integrative medicine physician, that is a physician open to alternative approaches.Having some colonics might help you. It will remove old stuff that might be poisoning your system and it will hydrate you. People do not realize how dehydrated they are and this is a quick way to do it, especially if you have inflamation somewhere in you gut. I always feel better after a colonic–but must be low pressure, slow fill for me. In my view it is really difficult to achieve or maintain good health if your colon is unhealthy. I hope also that you have some sort of hot compress–I use one made with grains and heat it in the microwave for 2-3 minutes and put it on my stomach for 20 min or so. It always feel soothing. What might also help, and this may sound paradoxical, is try to relax and trust you will find the right solution for your problem. Do all the testing you feel you need to but also ask the universe for guidance and trust it will provide it. I always feel better when I take this approach to my health or any other problems. Good luck to you. Nancy.
Hi Amy,
I’m so glad you posted this h. pylori page! I tested positive for h. pylori back in March ’10. Since then, my doc put me on a product called Pyloricil by Ortho Molecular. It has mastic gum, bismuth, and a bunch of other herbal stuff. The symptoms drastically reduced/disappeared within 3 weeks! Since then, I’ve taken your advice and have kept taking 1 g mastic gum and probiotics every day. I’m thinking I might add the monolaurin too. I don’t know if it’s completely eradicated, though. Will know in a couple of weeks.
Tell me, is your h. pylori gone now???? I’m so curious to know….
Warm Regards,
Stephanie
Oops. I just read that you tested negative after 2 months. Congrats on kicking it!
Just picked up some monolaurin–here’s hoping!
Thanks, and good luck to you! I do think the monolaurin combined with a modified diet really works! Feel better~
I have been diagnosed with H pylori last November and did the antibiotics and some alternative medicines. The results show negative for hp. I had a second encoscopy and my gi dr said I have chronic active gastritis. He wants to treat me with another antibiotic because he thinks I still have hp only in a different place. I checked with my regular dr and he is against it and referred me to another gi guy. I agree, this is too soon to take another antibiotic. I was wondering if anyone out there has a similar problem with gastritis/hp and what are you doing about it. Many thanks.
Maria,
You either have H.P. or you haven’t – you can’t have H.P. in a different place.
What has happened your H.P. has been eradicated but your gastritis hasn’t been healed yet – if I were you I would refuse to take more antibiotics – just give more time to your gastritis to heal and eat well in the meantime.
Maria, I agree with Rod – taking another antibiotic isn’t going to heal your gut any further, and that should be what your doc is focused on now, not eradicating HP that isn’t there. As noted earlier, you may want to give the VSL#3 a go as it helps replenish the good bacteria you need for healing. Aloe Vera also helps with gastritis. Get the cold-pressed kind (not the heat-extracted kind). Best of luck, Amy
Hello, I read this, and it actually made me feel better. I just got h. pylori eradicated from me about 2 years ago, but I still have some lingering symptoms. I had the racing heart, but I think it’s gone, for the most part. I still have aweful belching and my stomach hurts a lot still. I was actually diagnosed with it from a test my chiropractor gave me. The medical profession is sad. I went from doctor to doctor, and a chiropractor diagnosed me, which is insane. The gastroenterologist doesn’t do anything for me. I still have really bad stomach inflammation, so if you know anything that is specifically for that, let me know. I am just so glad to see that I wasn’t the only one out there. I wasted my whole 20s so far dealing with this debilitating infection. I am going to be 24 and I want to enjoy my life. This infection sucks. Thanks for writing this!!!
Hi Amanda,
You might want to try a low dose of the VSL#3 probiotic as well as a daily dose of cold pressed Aloe Vera Juice. Bot help with inflammation! I hope you feel better, and yes, I sympathize with your frustration with the medical profession. Acutely. Be well, Amy
Amy,
Thank you for that. I will go purchase the Aloe Vera juice today. I already have probiotics, so hopefully both together will help. Again, thanks for the suggestion.
~Amanda
No problem. Just know that over-the-counter probiotics aren’t always so great. I was using Garden of Life before my doc gave me VSL#3. The GoL is supposed to be high quality but wasn’t doing the trick. You can get a lower grade version of VSL#3 from select pharmacies. The official site can tell you the store closest to you (just enter your zip code) or order online — http://www.vsl3.com/
Amanda, if your stomach hurts, take DGL, deglycerized licorice. It coats it quickly and has been shown to help regrow the mucosal lining quickly. If you’re still getting the belching you may still have it, I’ve had awful belching the last year. A good test is drinking water on an empty stomach or getting hungry. If your stomach is empty and you start belching, then it’s probably not from just bacteria/yeast, but from h pylori’s urease, that converts the urea your stomach excretes to digest food into gas, a base (possibly ammonia) to counteract the acid so it stays alive, and a free radical (bad). Rosemary tea inhibits the urease, also green tea.
This and mastic gum should help kill it but you may want to do amy king’s mankua/coconut oil/mastic/probiotic recommendations since they will kill either normal bacteria/yeast or h pylori. I had this happen at a friend’s and I asked if they had turmeric, and felt sooo much better, despite the nasty taste of the turmeric. The belching plus the burning feeling is horrible.
Tim M.
Rod & Amy, thank you both for your feedback. I want to know which strength of VSL#3 should I use —- the high or low quality. With the hp possibly gone do I need the high grade? The Aloe Vera I am using but not sure if its cold pressed. If not, I will switch. One more question, a friend of mine also has h pylori but his symtoms are nausia and vomiting. He lost 30 lbs and has no apetitte. How can I get him to eat and what?
Thanks again. Maria
I actually have the higher dose, which comes in a packet of powder. The lower dose comes in pill form. I only use a little sprinkle in a glass of water about every other day to maintain health – so a packet lasts me about a week or so. I think it’s more economical to go this route instead of buying the lower dose bc you’re likely going to take a whole pill, rather than just a sprinkle each day or every other day.
As for your friend, I’d get him to take some medicine right away (i.e. Monolaurin, Manuka Honey, and even the Mastic Gum). He needs to make himself only cooked healthy foods that are very benign like chicken stock with well cooked chicken legs and lots of fresh organic veggies. I got through the first month with this food basically. You have to give up a lot of things you don’t think about to give your stomach time to clear up and heal. If he keeps eating regular stuff like carbs (i.e. bread, white rice, breads, cookies, etc), coffee, alcohol, sugars, etc, he’ll stay sick and nauseous. This basic soup is very good bc it doesn’t cause upset and is soothing and restorative.
I can testify to all Amy has said regarding helicobacter. I has similar symptoms and was diagnosed with anxiety. Antidepressants just caused me to have a temporary personality change for the worse!!! Also diagnosed with hormone imbalance which I am getting treatment for but amazingly now I have had second lot of antibiotics and having natural therapies from my naturopath, those hormone levls are actually coming back to a more normal range!!! Also had the dreadful chest pains, palpitations etc and was convinced I had heart problems hence the anxiety diagnosis!!! Still have pains in side from time to time but much better than before. They are less frequent. I am waiting on breath test results as I have finished second lot of antibiotics. I feel that i still have the helicobacter but in more minor proportions as some symptoms still exist and I need to be really diligent about my diet. No more cheating with chocolate and potato chips. It is only for a small amount of time in perspective really. Not a lifelong change to diet although I am sticking to a much healthier diet. I too thought I would be told I had gall stones or liver problems but I really believe it is the H pylori.
Another good site if you want to compare notes with Amy’s is David Hompes. You will find his corellates perfectly with all Amy says. He too had this bacteria and defeated it. We can be well people. Take note of what the recovered and recovering ones tell you and stick at it, keep focused and these little critters will be obliterated.
Hi Maria,
About your friend, she/he needs to go to the hospital as soon as possible – her/his case could be more serious that just an infection – any illness which results in sudden weight loss of that magnitude must be investigated urgently by an especialist – self-curing could be dangerous and futile. So please ask your friend to seek professional advice straight away.
Good luck to both of you and let us know how your friend is getting on.
Hey all,
What do you all think of the Matula Tea Formula? I’ve heard equally good and horrible reviews, and I’m curious to know what you all think. Is it a total waste of money? It is pretty expensive…
Trying to conquer this,
Steph
Hi Stephanie,
The matula tea doesn’t work for me at all. I bought because of the pain in my stomach from H.pylor and it does nothing for me.
I took Hpac before and it made me feel myself for 3 weeks and then the infection came with revenge. Then I decide to buy the matula tea that does nothing claimed.
I’m not able to work or do nothing and I had to pay 200$ for the tea, shame on the matula tea liars.
Becareful, this matula tea is a big scam.
Amy;
What is the name of the doctor you are using now and is he/she a GI specialist and what city is practice located?
Thank you
My primary doc is Dr. Hazan; my GI is Dr. Tromba — both very good! Located in Garden City, Long Island – NY.
I Have A question…
My Hpylori was 76 2month ago…
yesterday i went too lab & i gave UBT test…
My resualt is 17
I want to know ihave a h.pylory Or Not?
Tnx.
Hi Amy,
I am glad you had H Pylori too! :) I believe that there is a reason behind all things. Finding your posting is a true blessing. I am so glad that you took such a negative experience and and turned into something positive by sharing it with the rest of the world and helping others out. So thank you.
I was diagnosed and was so glad to know I wasn’t dying!! I thought it was going to be an easy 2 week treatment. After suffering through the antibiotics I am still positive. My Dr. wants me to do it again for 4 weeks. I was so excited to find your posting and have hope that I will not have to go through that again.
I am diabetic and not sure how I will do with the no sugar deal as I tend to go low quite often. Have you read anything about “less h pylori feeding” sugar foods by chance? Also I know to stay away from the white starches and carbs, but what about wheat pastas and breads?
Thanks and God Bless!
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
When you have HPylori, you have gastritis and the white carbs and sugars are very inflammatory. It’s not so much that HPylori feeds on them, because they feed on all nutrients and dead cells etc. What really helped me was a website that told me what foods were inflammatory. If you go to http://www.nutritiondata.com and type in a food product, you’ll see the IF (inflammatory factor). Try and have more foods that are anti-inflammatory to allow your gut to heal. Turmeric is probably the best thing to introduce into your diet because it’s anti-inflammatory, high in antioxidants and stops H Pylori adhering to your stomach lining. I went off all carbs for a while and it really drained my energy. Slowly I introduced few of them back into my diet. I still have very small portions of them and there are many foods that bring the symptoms back if I overdo it. Healing takes time but you’ll get there if you listen to your body. The first carb I had that helped the most was rolled oats (oatmeal). It’ll give you some energy and it’s high in protein and other goodies. It also didn’t flare up the sympoms but relieved them for me. Try and have a small amount at first and see how you react to it. Sweeten it with stevia and don’t add milk to it.
Good luck, I hope you get well soon.
Hey all!
Guess what?? I tested negative for h. pylori!!! (stool test x 3). My doc discovered it back in March and said it was a bad case. For ONE MONTH he made me take a product call Pyoloricil by Ortho Molecular, one capsule in the AM and one in the PM. It’s a completely natural product and it has some of the ingrediants that Amy listed above. (My doctor prefers to use alternative medicine when he knows it will work–he said he’s had 100% success in treating his h. pylori patients with Pyloricil. I was skeptical then…not now!!!) It took exacty 18 days for me to notice a weakening of symptoms. By the third week all symptoms had disappeared!
I then took 1 gram of mastic gum every night after I finished the 30 day Pyloricil treatment and a probiotic every morning (you know, just in case.)
Now: NO MORE H. PYLORI!!!
In case you’re interested:
http://www.orthomolecularproducts.com/ProductDetails.aspx?id=70e581cd-710c-4871-afbd-f0597ab04642
Stephanie, well done you cracked it at last and I’m happy for you.
So in that case “Pyoloricil” should be the stuff that everyone must try first as it seems to be the good old Master Gum stuff — I have to find someone to get it for me as I live in an unfavaourable part of the world atm!
Come on all, try Pyoloricil if you can get it and post your results here, please.
I hate spelling mistakes, it should read “unfavourable”
Hey Rod,
I hate spelling mistakes too! The product is called “Pyloricil” by Ortho Molecular–not “Pyoloricil”!
Hope you can get your hands on some. It’s powerful stuff!
Can anyone tell me if they have had unbelievable back pain with their h-pylori. I was treated for h-pylori last January (2009) and since then I have had crippling back pain. Nothing seems to relieve the pain. It is located in my lower back and tailbone area. I am going for test and x-rays in Sept but it is not soon enough for me. I am hypothyroid(have been for years) and am probably going through my change as well. Every time I ask my dr he seems to sluff it off like it is my change that is the cause. Which it could be but I want to know for sure. I also have high blood pressure which I have never had in my life and I am 52. I am going to be tested in Sept again for the h-pylori to see if it is still there. I was treated with antibiotics for 2 weeks and then did Amy’s lists for about 2months after. Have done nothing since. I just feel really bad and want some answers.
Hey Patti,
I’m hypothyoid too (Hashimoto’s). Have you been checked for Hashimoto’s? It can mess with your blood pressure. Also, I’ve read that these gut bugs can play with your b.p. as well.
My lower back pain was situated around my kidney area. This clued me in to the possibility that my adrenals were exhausted. Sure enough, I took a saliva test (ZRT laboratories) and I do have moderate adrenal fatigue.
I’d like to say that being hypothyroid increases your chances of hosting other gut bugs that you may not be aware of. Even though I have been cured of the h. pylori, I just found out that I tested positive for candida, klebsiella, blastocystis hominus, and three other parasites–all of which have entirely stripped my stomach lining!!! Be sure to investigate the other possibilities as they can wreak as much havoc as the h. pylori. (***Doctor’s Data has a fantastic test: Comprehensive Stool/Parasitology Test X 3. It tests 17 different aspects of your GI tract and includes testing for h. pylori.)
But ridding the h. pylori has made me feel MUCH better…
Blessings,
Stephanie
stephanie — naughty with that initial spelling of “Pyloricil”. I just copied and paste it from your message and it took me 5 minutes trying to teach myself how to pronounce it :-)
Patti — sorry to hear about your case. Who knows what negative effects these strong antibiotics could have on the body when they kill the good bacteria in the system. If I were you I’d try to find a caring Dr and let him do the diagnostics for you – I’ve said this before, when things get to a complex stage one should not seek advice from uncertified people. Once the issue is diagnosed properly then one can seek further help from those who’ve experienced the same problem themselves.
Amy: I am so glad I found your blog! I’ve been diagnosed with H. Pylori off and on for years. I’ve tried so
many of the triple antibiotics which made me feel sick and nauseated during the treatment plan. I was on Prev-Pac in January and had the Urea test last week to find out I’m still positive. The doctor has prescribed Pylera for 14 days along with 2 acid reducer omeprazole. This medication really frightens me! Especially the warnings regarding the Central Nervous System…..numbess & tingling of arms and legs, peripheral neuropathty and convulsive seizures! Also there’s a possibility of this drug causing ? colitis. After reading all the feeback on your blog I have decided to try the alternative treatments. I don’t know which is worse taking the antibiotics and taking a chance of having serious side effects or not treating it and possibly getting gastric cancer or MALT. Tomorrow I will visit the health food store and buy the products that helped you took and that will hopefully help me! I have one question…..Is there a website or diet that I can look up since it doesn’t look like there would be a lot of things to eat. I know what to avoid but just need suggestions on what to eat! Any help would be greatly appreciated! Keep up the good work! I have learned a lot! Thank you.
Hi Marcia,
There’s a good bit of info on the “what foods” throughout the comments’ section, but I’ll say a few things quickly. First, your diet will have to change dramatically for a good period of perhaps two months or more. Folks don’t like to hear that because they like what they like. I got myself to a very basic “bland” diet, which turned out to be healthy in the long run as I am much more aware of what I’m eating, and my slight-addiciton to sugar has diminished. I steal eat a bit of chocolate and a few cookies now and then, but a little satisfies me now whereas I used to be able to down a whole pint of Ben and Jerry’s, no problem. The thought sickens me at this point – no one needs that much sugar in one sitting.
Anyway, I don’t know if you eat meat, but I basically made a “soup” at least once a week that would serve for a few meals. Very simple and affordable. Go to Trader Joe’s or your local decent food spot. Get several things of organic low sodium chicken broth. Pick up a few (3-6) organically-fed free range chicken legs (or if you prefer breasts, etc). Also pick up some carrots, small potatoes, kale, spinach, peas, broccoli, etc – basically any veggies you like and cook them altogther for a few hours. The broth and chicken are simple molecules and easy to digest – they also provide you with sorely-needed protein, esp if you haven’t been digesting properly. The veggies are integral, esp rich leafy greens and butternut squash, because of the vitamins you are also not absorbing. You should also consider taking a good multivitamin and some Vit. K.
Anyway, that’s one meal that goes a long way. You’ll get bored with it, but it’s nourishing in a way that you need if you’ve been suffering with H Pylori for awhile. And it’s not acidic. If you’re feeling lots of reflux, you’re likely inflamed in your stomach and gut — try taking some good quality Tumeric pills for inflammation – I did for a period and they helped.
You’ll need to avoid all spicy foods, alcohol, coffees, carbs (esp pasta), etc. You can try things like tofu stir fried in nutritional yeast with a little soy sauce and olive oil. Or slice and bake the tofu with soy sauce. Make loads of steamed veggies with every protein such as steamed zucchini, yellow squash, string beans (green beans), asparagus, steamed potatoes, etc. Another basic protein, if you eat meat, is baked salmon and flounder. Avoid fat-heavy seafood like catfish and raw seafood. I think I ate some steamed shrimp now and then as well as whole canned sardines with the skin and bones as other forms of protein, usually with a whole avocado and some other steamed veggie. I also ate the occasional veggie burger sans bun when I was really bored.
Breakfast was often oatmeal with blueberries and on the side an egg cooked in chicken broth. Oatmeal is good as it soothes the stomach. You should likely avoid most fruits for awhile as they are sugars. I did have the occasional piece of raisin bread with butter but not too often. Again, avoiding carbs is difficult because you don’t even realize how many carbs you eat until you start to eliminate them from your daily diet.
Also, switch to green teas as the pylori do not like them, and they contain antioxidants. They say a glass of red wine, when the gut inflammation is gone, also helps keep h pylori at bay. I drink a glass every other day now and still no return of the pylori. (I like to chalk up the wine to fighting the good fight, but I really just love it.)
Once you start to feel better, it will be difficult not to quickly revert to your old diet — but you need to stick to this “safe” one for a bit longer. I was quite tempted to start up with my usual coffee and chocolate chip cookies when things felt even half better. Bad idea.
Anyway, I think if you explore enough and mix up your “typical” sick person meals, you’ll make it through a couple of months of not-exciting food.
It’s possible to kick this bug with natural food healers no matter what the medical industry tells us. People have done it, as evidenced by the comments right here. Some may take longer than others; some may cheat while others might have a not-as-fast immune system (or one that’s busy defending elsewhere in the body), but we’re able to help ourselves against this bug —
Good luck with this; I think you’re right to be cautious about medicines that promise one thing but the “side effects” threaten even worse…
Oh yes, stomach cancer from H Pylori is not a quick happening thing — it takes years, from what I understand. I don’t think you’ll be taking any risk if you give yourself a few months with these food-based meds to beat the H Pylori. In fact, my guess is that you’ll fare better for it.
Best,
Amy
Hi Amy:
Thank you so much for all your help!! It’s very encouraging to know that this bug can be conquered with alternative medications. I enjoyed reading all your responses and I have your website in my favorites now.
Today I started watching my diet closely and I’m getting myself on the right track.. I’ve been on the internet reading about alkaline foods. I like you had the sugar cravings. I am diabetic but I’ve been maintaining it with Glucgophage and diet. I’m not big on pasta, or meat so I don’t think I’ll have a problem with carbs but I know I must eat protein. However….I do love all fruits and since it’s been in season I had been eating lots of it. But I do know I’ll have to be careful on what fruits I eat now. I definitely want to get rid of this nasty bug! Over the years I”ve been on three antibiotic treatment plans and I did not feel well the whole time……nauseated and just felt sick. The last few days I’ve had almost a constant headache. I thought it was a sinus headache but the antihistamine and sudafet didn’t seem to help so maybe it’s not due to that.
Today I bought the Garden of Life Probiotics but the Fruitful Yield health food store did not have Mastic Gum or Monolaurin. I did see on line that a local VItamin Shoppe has the Monolaurin but it’s 300 mg. Would this be the right dose? If this one is O.K. I may go there tomorrow to buy it because I want to get started on it asap.
I have been eating oatmeal for breakfast and in the past added a little milk and splenda but this morning I added a little more water and I used cinnamon to sweeten it. It’ll be a learning process but if I get rid of this bug I don’t want it back……..so that will encourage me to change my eating habits. I did not know that bacteria feeds on sugar so this has been a “wake up call” and I’m eliminating it now.
Again thank you so much Amy for all your help! I’ll stay in touch and let you know how everything’s going. it’s nice to know that I’m not alone fighting this nasty bug! Take care.
Marcia
Hi Marcia, I ate to the way Amy did for over 4 months. The only think I like to add is a comment about salt. Sodium is very harsh on the stomach so I avoided soy sauce and normal table salt. I mostly used “black salt” or “kala namak” instead. It’s very salty but low in sodium and it’s good for gastritis. It’s a bit smelly and smells a little like eggs but it tastes nice. A lot of vegans use it. Another meal which was a staple was an omelette for protein. I didn’t use the egg yolks because they’re very inflammatory. I whisked 3 egg whites with some some turmeric powder and garlic powder, some black salt (for the egg taste), a touch of black pepper. I added a sliced mushroom and a half an avocado, chopped parsley and any other fresh herbs and some thinly sliced kale or chards. It looks and tastes like a normal omolette. I also had salmon once or twice a week cause it’s also anti-inflammatory. You can have some chicken (organic). I usually baked it with some turmeric, ginger, garlic, lemon, black salt and a bit a teaspoon of coconut oil and baked it with veggies. A good salad to have is finely chopped chards, half a small tomato, diced, half an avocado, diced, some sea salt and some pepper or cayenne, some lemon juice and a couple of tablespoons of flax seed oil or avocado oil. Avoid milk if you can because it’ll stop you absorbing many nutrients and slow the healing processs. I have almond milk instead which tastes bleh but I have it in a yummy smoothie. The vitamin E in the almonds will soothe your stomach. Only use raw almonds. I blanch half a cup the night before and soak them in water in the fridge. In the morning or when you’re ready to have them, blend them with some water (i usually add a bit of hot water so that it’s warm instead of icy cold), then when it’s blended and creamy, add some papaya (paw paw). It’s full of digestive enzymes. You can sweeten it with some stevia and later when you heal you can try adding some banana but not yet. You’re probably full of candida too from the PPIs so have some coconut oil daily to kill it off… start of slowly, 1 teaspoon each day for the first week and then increase it to two, then a tablespoon.
Another thing that you might want to consider is castor oil and oil pulling. You can google “castor oil pack” and “oil pulling” and read about it. I swear by both of them. I don’t do the pack but I rub small amount of castor oil on my stomach every day to stimulate my liver to help get rid of toxins, and i oil pull two or three times a day alternating coconut, sesame seed and olive oils. Remember HPylori and a bunch of other bacteria lives in your mouth as well as your stomach.
Hope this helps and good luck with your recovery.
Hi Isabell,
Thank you for responding to my blog! It’s very helpful to talk to others who have been fighting this nasty bug! I enjoy reading all the blogs to educate myself regarding my diet and alternative treatments. After reading about all the possible side effects with Pylera I just couldn’t talk myself into taking it. Especially with the warnings with the CNS and possible convulsive seizures…..peripheral neuropathy and tingling in the legs and arms. I would much rather try the alternative treatment any day and wished I would have know about this site in the past.
I have not heard of black salt, almond milk or coconut oil. Do you buy these products at the health food store? I also did not know that egg yolks were very inflammatory……so thank you for that adice! You gave me some good suggestions on food choices so I will try those. Today is my first day of omitting milk products, fruits, flour and sugar from my diet. I’m sure it’ll take some time to get accustomed to a whole new lifestyle of eating. If I ever get rid of this nasty bug I don’t want it back so I’ll try to stay consistent with this diet!
I really appreciate your comments and I will check back frequently on this site for new information! Thanks again!
Marcia
Hi Amy:
I have a couple of questions regarding the H.Pylori. I started on the meds you recommended yesterday and was wondering if it’s normal to feel exhausted? Today I have no energy and I wasn’t sure if this was normal. Also, I have the abdominal bloating today. Is this normal when starting out?
I have a difficult time eating oatmeal without milk. I bought the lactose free rice milk……is this acceptable?
I have the Garden of Life Primal Defense probiotic……..500 mg. mastic gum and Monolaurin with (100 mg. Calcium, 300 mg, Monolaurin, and 7.5. mg. Inosine). I’m not sure when or how much to take of these meds. I would appreciate your help.
Your pomeranian is adorable! She looks like my pom that will be 15 y rs. in Nov. but still looks like a teenager!
I read in your April 2009 blog that your H.Pylori came back. Are you still positive?
Thank you for your help.
Marcia
Hi Marcia,
My H Pylori never came back. Not sure what you read.
My pom is 14! Congrats on yours too!
I took 2 Mastic Gums in the a.m. and then again at night. The actual doses are above in the entry or in the earlier comments. I took a whole lotta mgs of Monolaurin daily. I would follow Dr. Marcus Ettinger’s dose recommendations. I’m pretty sure I did. Something like 900 mgs in the a.m. then again later. But don’t take my word on that – follow his dosage. He’s linked above near “The Bomb”. Just found it – he recommends The Bomb of 1200 mgs two times a day under “Treatment” here — http://www.advancedhealing.com/blog/2009/09/13/heartburn-gastritis-gerd-achlorhydria-or-h-pylori/ I think I actually did 1200 *per* day instead of twice a day, combined with the Mastic Gum and the Manuka Honey.
And YES! When you first start taking the meds, the bacteria die off and have to be purged from your system. They are toxins that the body has to work to eliminate. Leaves you feeling exhausted and sometimes sicker, but that will pass in a few days. This effect is called “herxing.” Here’s a link describing it: http://www.earthtym.net/ref-herxheimer.htm
Hope that helps. Best, Amy
I also suffer from H. pylori. I was diagnosed on Aug 9 and currently on antibiotics under the supervision of GI. I never took pills especially antibiotics. My stomach issues started two years ago. My primary doctor for years kept telling me I have IBS during my teen years, but never tested me for a parasite and bacteria. I knew there was something major wrong. It was not IBS. I suffered from constipation for years. Then, two years ago, my stomach got worse. I could no longer tolerate gulten and dairy. I had an intestional blockage, which ended me in hosiptal. Now, I don’t eat gluten and dairy. No fish or meats because I am a vegetarian. Before starting the treatment, I was having severe bloating, constipation, gas, dark stools, indigestion, burning. I tried natural treatment such as Manuka Honey and Mastic Gum, but it did not do a thing for me. In fact, my symptoms kept getting worse even when I changed my diet to alkaline foods. Finally, I went to the GI and the blood test came back positive for HP. Tommorrow I am seeing a natural doctor. On my antibiotic treatment, I also take probiotic 50 Billions to prevent diarrhea and yeast infection. I am also taking Ginger for nausea. I hope the Ginger helps. I just hope the treatment works. I am doing everything in my power to eradicate the bacteria which made my life living hell. As a result of HP, also made me very depress. Hopefully, after the treatment HP will be gone. I hope the antibiotic works since I never took the bad tasting antibiotic before. My diet is vegetarian with lots of veggis and fruits. I also take probiotics. Does someone has a suggestion to help me eradicate the bacteria.
hello everyone ! i have “IT” too …damn , fucking bug i feel used by “it” its nice to know that u are not the only one i wish u all good health ! so sorry for my lame english :D
To those with the burning pain and palpitations and irregular heartbeats, H Pylori it’s not! I have suffered with this same syndrome since age 25 for almost 32 years now. I gets better and gets worse and there is no method to the madness! What I have discovered is that daily treatment with prilosec up to 40 mg or more lessens the paplitations and burning pain and puts an end to the night time racing heart and sweats. This burning pain is not from an ulcer!
hi everyone! check out these links ,i know ….not proven to cure HP but it might help .I wish u all good health in future !!! DONT BUY MATULA HERBAL FORMULA i had it DOES NOT WORK its just waste of your money and nervs. http://www.drclark.net/en/cleanses_clean-ups/liver_cleanses.php http://www.health-science-spirit.com/electromag.html
Does anyone know how long it’s safe to take mastic gum for? I’ve been taking it for 3 weeks (1000mg in the AM and 1000 mg in the PM) and just ordered the Manuka Honey and Monolaurin. How much longer for the mastic gum would you guess?
I feel much much better but still have some gurgling in the stomach.
Is apple cider vingear good for HP? I took some today and it make me feel icky.
also…. Amy said 1200 mg of monolaurin daily. Is this 2 divided doses of 600 mg each?
Thanks!!
Hi, I also have this helicobacter virus. Can someone advise me what to do? I literally am like a drug addict when it comes to chocolate and chips. I literally can’t give them up. Its not like i eat a lot of them i just have to have a little bit every day. I have managed to give up all other bad foods except for these 2. Ive just started on antibiotics from the Dr for a week. I’m going to finish this course and if this virus hasn’t gone then that’s it, no more meds I’ll try the natural way. But how can I when I have this addiction.
PS I take take nexium months back and yes it did get rid of my heartburn but not the HP apparently.
I’ve had the same problems since I turned 19. I’m 20 now and I seem to have most of it under control, but I feel it still lingers. What helped me was switching to a low-carbohydrate diet. Eating more saturated Fats like Coconut Oil and more protein. I completely got rid of Bread, I don’t have any use for it personally. Also, you should be avoiding Sugar like the plague. I don’t feel that Fruit is even healthy in some cases because we tend to eat too much. Maybe a FEW small wild blueberries…
I also eliminated things like Milk and Yogurt as they seemed to make it worse. I have butter a lot since I don’t have any reaction that I know of to it and I love it. Go figure I got lactose intolerant after they put me on Doxycycline after an Elisa test showed positive. I figured I had Lymes disease and probably did as I had several encounters with ticks. However, Western Blot was negative so they claim it’s not lymes and I’m pretty sure they’re right.
I also found out I’m allergic to Amoxycillin after getting my four wisdom teeth out and having a reaction to it after 4 days.
I’ve gotten past most of the symptoms and am still on digestive enzymes and probiotics. I even do fiber once in a while.
My doctor was useless in all of this. However, endoscopy showed I have a Hiatel Hernia and that is the main cause of my acid reflux.
I don’t agree with you on several things like drinking water to delude your stomach acid. I feel that’s the reason why I – probably, not confirmed – have H. Pylori is my Stomach Acid was too deluded so they got a chance to grow instead of being wiped out. Heck, maybe I’m wrong. But I feel better if I avoid water while eating or soon there after. I drink water in between meals instead and it keeps the acid reflux under control and I barely have burning at all unless I eat something that doesn’t agree with me.
I’ve tried everything but mastic gum, the honey, and some other things you suggested. I will start them once I find a job and can afford them. However, I take a teaspoon of tumeric and cinnamon or just sprinkle it all over my hard boiled eggs since I don’t use salt.
I think you should look into a low-carbohydrate diet and increase your fats and proteins and decrease your carbohydrates. I feel soooo much better since I have and I’ll continue to fight this battle until it’s gone.
Love your post, thanks.
I just recently got diagnosed with H. Pylori and was wondering exactly how my diet for the next 2 weeks while i get treated with the antibiotics is supposed to be. The reason why I am so concerned is because my doctor gave me a list of foods that i should eat and foods I should avoid and so it seems to be completely contradictory to the information that i have read online. I started my first day eating a plain bowl of brown rice with chopped raw green onions, 2 peaches, a kiwi, and some light tea, and some strawberry Jello (as all of these foods seemed to be approved on the list that my doctor has given me). Then when I went online, there are articles that say, fruits should be extremely avoided due to the high sugar content, Jello should also be completely avoided unless it is sugar free (even though my doctor’s list says ALL jellos are okay to have), any types of rice should be avoided due to the starch content and that tea and tap water should also be avoided completely due to possible spread of infection. I wasn’t this paranoid about this until i read that H pylori could lead to stomach cancer but now im going crazy trying to figure out what i am supposed to eat, I seriously am on the verge of just starving myself for the next two weeks. I was about to make some beet soup for myself (because it says home made vegetable soups and beets are okay to eat on my doctor’s list) but then i go online and it says that anything that is a hot liquid should be completely avoided.
Can someone please help me figure out what foods i should eat and what specifically i should avoid? I am already taking the prevacid pack as antibiotics (prevacid, biaxin, amoxicillin) but I really dont want to starve myself for the next two weeks.
I was too diagnosed wth h pylori and since than ( 2 weeks ago ) i’be been obsesed wth this. Every free second I have I’m online trying to find if someone eradicate the bacteria with natural remedies. As someone has mention before it seems like eveybody tha has it can not get rid of t anyhow and there are no testimonials from anyone that is cured even with antibioticll. Its depresing. I just got my prescriptoin from the worst doctor that i’ve met in my life that I pay him 400 cash cuz I don’t have insurance and he lteraly kicked me out of his office when I went to get them and ask f I want to talk with him. He showed me the door saying here are your prescription. So I, stunned, said. Well I want to know how to take them, a det that I shoul follow, side effects, what is the chances that they will help, what f Im allergic on something??? And he just look at me and says; well you do whatever you want, take them or not!!! wow! can you believe it ? I mean I just wanted to smack his f**** face. So I left seing no point or hope that he want to help me anyhow. Maybe he was racist ( he was asian and Im white ) and I was the only white patient in his office. Anyway… My stomach problems start with taking antibiotics the begging of 2010 for allergies.( Also the doctor that tested me for allegies got my 450 and was completely wrong ) and I found on my self what Im allerging on so I’be been fine since that day on. ( by the way meanwhile developed astma,several sinus infections, cough that I thought I was diying from, 100% nasal congestion) And how absurde. I was wearing the allergen on me the whole time: PERFUME ! damn chanel! Im not joking. since that I’m free from eveything. :) thak god for that, but the stuped doctor that gave me the antibiotics messed up my digestive sistym. I had pancreatitis in may and after that couldnt eat anyting or 1 month . afeter 2 months I got in normal and start eating enly heatlhy foods and that 1 month ago I had in 2 days maybe a jar of peanut butter. ( way to much fat ) The next 4 days couldnt eat anything and start eating only fruits and drink coconut water. the pain was bearable but still bloating even on empty stomach… long story made short. I’ve been eating super heatly even since ( 1month ) fruits, vegetables,brocculi, brocculi sprouts, coconut oil and water, for lunch a little salmon or chicken,good gluten free oats with flaxseeds, camomile tea, no alchohol, no coffee, eating regulary, small portions. no food after 8pm. O yea. forgot Manuka honey too 4 times a day 1tbsp before food. Im feeling better , stll some pressure and fullnes all the time, some pain now and than and some belching. The worst s though I have zero energy and being a gym juncky Im depressed. I lost also maybe 20lb in the past couple of months and eveybody thinks that I did it on purpose. I will add probiotics in my diet from tomorrow, also will look up what is monolauring as I dont know what it is, also will ad fish oil, aloe vera and try to do some yoga and exersise no matter how low I feel. I will do that for 2 moths and hoping to kill this bactera. ** if it dosent’ happen I wll take the antibiotics followed with good probiotics and healty diet. Meanwhile, if someone had a succesful antibiotics eradication please let me know. I want to hear at lease 1 person was helped by the doctors who dont care about helping , only care about the money they make. good luck to everybody. I’ll keep you posted
Juliana
Hi Juliana
thanks for post. I had similar situation. I was prescribed pills for my sinus and then boom, got sick as crazy week later. Now I have sinus, cold and HP. Most of doctors dont do much, they just know how to prescribe pills. It is ridiculous!!!
Hope you are feeling better now.
I am trying hard!!!!
liliana
Hi Amy, I still have the hp which I desparetly need to get rid of. I’ll be on my second round of antibiotics (first round I took for 6 days) and worked with an herbalist which didnt help me. I am down to 100 lbs and can’t afford to lose any more. I am still not clear on how much and which fruits and carbs I can eat during my treatment, if any. It may not make a difference if I’m doing the antibiotics. I have cut out all sugars, alcohol,
caffeine, etc. Thanks for your help.
Hi,
Try using protexid for any stomach problems
I think each and every individual is different and what works for some won’t work for others.
As much as i hate it if i eat marinated salmon and fish my stomach feels so much better for it, I’m going to try hard to just have this with salads and steam vegies. Oh and btw i took the HP7 treatment that my dr advised for the 7 days and felt great but when i stopped taking them I feel 100 times worse now!
My dr wants me to take another 7 day course but i just literally can’t do it! I’m in Australia and a naturopath says he has something i can take that will get rid of it but knows??
Dear Tabby,
I don’t normally check this website since I tested negative for h. pylori (finally!) but I do visit every once in a while. I just have to tell you (and every other sufferer out there) what finally worked for me. And no, it wasn’t the antibiotics!
My doc put me on a product called Pyloricil by Ortho Molecular for one month. It has many of the ingredients that Amy has so kindly listed above. Let me tell you, the first 17 days on the product were really rough–I felt so sick and could hardly eat anything! But then, I started improving in leaps and bounds by day 18 onward.
After I finished the product, I took some of Amy’s advice and continued with the anti-pylori protocol for an additional 3 months, just to make sure it was all gone. I strictly adhered to an anti-candida diet (good for pylori too), took lots of organic coconut oil everyday, took 1 g of mastic gum (Allergy Research Group) before bed on an empty stomach, and took probiotics every morning (Ortho Biotic). I tested negative for the h. pylori in August (3 samples all came back negative).
I hope this will give you hope. The h. pylori is absolutely wretched and I feel for you! But there is hope! So I just thought I’d share my story.
Warm Regards,
Steph
Steph, What is pyloricil ??? and do you feel normal and better? can you eat anything now? I’m happy I hear someone got better, that mean there is hope.
Hi Amy,
I have so many questions and don’t even know where to begin. I came across your website and have had so many mix feelings, happy because all of the symptoms you mention I have and others you don’t . I started back in feb 2010 with dry mouth and stomach aches, but it went away and came back this summer since then I have not been myself. It was when about two months ago I was told I was positive with Hpylori. I have so much symptoms sinus pressure, sometimes dry mouth, pressure on my upper palate, aches on the left side of my stomach, muscle aches, fatigue, after I eat I belch, and feel soooo full. I haven’t lost weight, or throw up, but I do get dizzy at times.
I went to see a GI dr who did an endoscopy on me and said it came back normal, no more hpylori!?! I was like huh? I still have all these symptoms even after doing forteen days of triple therapy antibiotics. Now I ordered the pills you mention on your website to give it a try because I don’t know what else to do. I have no medical insurance and I am unemployeed right now too which doesn’t help. I am 32 yrs old and going to school and it’s affecting me my lifestyle. I have developed so much anxiety, and feel like I have something else more serious. I am always trying to diagnose myself through the internet and don’t know what to do. Could it be possible that I still have the bacteria? I am doing probiotics 50 billion aday the refrigerated ones and was wondering what you could advise me. I have a six year old son and I am sooo depressed in the way I feel I just want this nightmare over. Thanks for your time and hope to hear from you.
hi katherine, I can tell you from my experience after the antibiotic was normal to feel bad because they destroy everything both good and bad bacteria and your digestive system needs time to recover. That could be reason you still feel soo sick. After I finished with the triple therapy I felt the same as you are now, but unfortunately I am still hpylory (+). maybe you heard of candida albicans overgrowth, usually come after the use of large doses of antibiotics and can cause symptoms such as fatigue, muscle aches, belching, indigestion, and it appears that Candida is worse than hpylor to overcome … unfortunately.Here’s something that you can try for indigestion, called digestive enzymes, I bought and it really helps http://www.iherb.com/search?kw=digestive%20enzymes#p=1&sr=0 ..i bought irwin naturals full spectrum and i feel much better now . i hope this helps ,and i wish everyone great health in future!
Hi Amy,
What a great blog! I can feel for you..I’m going through some burning in my stomach and nothing seems to help. I’ve tried mastic.. It didn’t cure my problem and I broke out in a rash from it. I tested negative for h pylori. I don’t want an invasive endoscopy done. My ND said it could be other bacteria besides h pylori causing an overgrowth due to taking antibiotics. At least you knew what bacteria you were dealing with! I almost bought that matula tea but a friend showed me posts of it not working at all and at $175 for a box of tea…not worth the test. My only other course is manuka honey. I also noticed that GMO gluten grains cause more inflammation, so it looks like I need to stay off of them. BTW, I follow the blood type diet from Dr. Peter D’Adamo, and I’m not 100 % compliant, but I should be because I’d be feeling a lot worse if I didn’t follow my “A” diet from him.
I had many more digestive problems when I was eating the Standard American Diet. Also, I read that chicken causes inflammation in the intestines.. and I get diarrhea from it myself. Just an FYI. So thanks for the info!
Wow! Thanks for posting all of this information. My 13 year old was just diagnosed with H.pylori and I am so glad I can try something other than anti-biotics! She weighs about 116 pounds so I think I can give her the same dosage you were taking Amy. Does anyone have any input on that? I will run the dosage by her Dr. just in case. I already went to Whole Foods and have everything I need! Thanks again!
hi, does anyone who has h pylori has sensitivity with light , dizziness , headache, ear noise? i been daignosed month ago with h pylori it change my life completely ,,, plz answer mee,,
farn,
You complain of “sensitivity with light , dizziness , headache, ear noise”
Have you been eating too much calcium? I did for a little while and would get all of these after having some cheese or milk or even prunes.
It was very trippy eating even small amounts of calcium for those few days.
If this is it, and you get it from calcium, you might want some lemonade/limeade (acetic acid, Vit C for making sure that doesn’t clog in your kidneys and give you a stone) and potatoes (potassium) with a little salt (sodium). Your kidneys maintain a Na/Ca/K balance, so if you have more of the others that should help them get rid of the extra calcium. Take magnesium as well! This will help get that calcium into your bones and out of your kidneys if that’s it. I’m not sure, but in my case I suspected the headaches were from some sort of osmotic pressure change.
Taking too many B vitamins can cause ear-ringing. Sometimes caffeine or alcohol as well.
TIM m ,, thanx for reply and information, i had blood test done months ago my biliribun was high and i am on diet , my dizzyness and headcache is gone but i have eye sensitivity still,,,, i never drink alhohol or caffiene , i been in amy’s diet for about two months, my most of them problems are gone, but as i stopped taking manuka honey i started having stomach burning again i really dont know if i still have the h pylori or not, i have to see my dr for a stool test, thanx again,,
wELL MY STOMACH IS FEELING A LOT BETTER AND iVE JUST FINISHED THE TABLETS THE NATUROPATH GAVE ME.
Funny name but they contain a lot of tumeric. The naturopath claims this is what cured his h pylori.
Ive also been trying so hard to stick to the diet mainly the anti candida one. Its driving me batty and i still cave in at times and have bit of chocolate and a few other nasties. oh and i also started taking manuka honey today and have some mastic gum aswell. havent tried that yet, havent even opened the bottle, do u chew the gum or swallow with water////???????
Mastic Gum should be in pill form – you swallow it.
Hello Amy and friends. I was just diagnosed with H Pylori yesterday after an endoscopy. After reading the horrible side effects possible with the standard medical treatment, I started searching for alternative medicines available. I happened on your website/blog and found it very helpful. More than helpful. While I was shocked about my diagnosis – because I was not symptomatic or so I thought, but now that I think about it, fatigue and unexplained aches and pains make sense to me. For some reason I did not start the prescribed drug treatment and I am so relieved that there are other avenues of treatment. I plan to order and begin your recommended therapies immediately and will continue to post. I hope I have the same results as you and others on this blog have had. Wish me luck and a much happier gastro system sans H Pylori.
Do you suppose its okay to have just 1 cup of organic coffee a day? or even half a cup?
I wouldn’t do it, Tabby! Green tea is a safer alternative, and it fights H Pylori. Also, coffee is one of the hardest things on the gut to digest.
Hi Amy,
I’m a 43 yr old male. I’ve been healthy and strong all my life, having played sports all the way to the college level and never experiencing chronic ANYTHING.
I just finished reading your blog after waking up in the middle of the night and researching h. pylori treatments, something that’s becoming a routine for me. I partially blame myself for spending many hours in front of a computer with bad posture for my stomach problems. Anyway, your bad experiences with docs touched a nerve. My GP is supposed to be a gastroenterologist. After complaining of discomfort from my throat to my lower intestine, he cherry picked symptoms to match a diagnosis (acid reflux). When I asked him to do blood work, he did – for my cholesterol! He put me on a PPI and some time after that, I was losing my balance to the point of almost falling down. I went to the emergency room and got a CT scan for what I thought was a neurological problem (like a friggin’ tumor). I was diagnosed with vertigo. Since dizziness is a side effect of PPI medication, I didn’t need to be a detective to realize that there was a possible connection.
After realizing that you weren’t selling anything, I studied your observations closely. Personal accounts like yours are few and far between!
Because of your blog, I have a starting point for researching alternative treatments that my doctor is simply unwilling to entertain. Thank you!!
Perhaps someday, we Americans won’t spend so much time resting on our laurels and realize how much we’ve fallen behind in some areas of health care.
Best regards,
Mike
Hi Mike,
I feel for you – dealing with docs who conform symptoms to fit diagnoses is frustrating and far, far too common. Glad the blog post will help you in your research! And yes, it’s incredible how much the prescription drug industry dictates exactly where our health system will, and will not, look for remedies. Good luck getting better, Amy
Hi Steph,
For how long did you take Pyloricil?
Thanks a lot.
Hi Jean!
I took Pyloricil for one month exactly. I took one capsule first thing about an hour before breakfast, and then I took another capsule at dinner. I took about 2 Tb. of extra virgin organic coconut oil/day, and I also drank a lot of aloe juice during this time as it tremendously soothed my stomach. Lots of raw garlic too. And NO starches/refined carbs/gluten/sugars/fruit/dairy! I had to say bye bye to my oats, rice, and potatoes for a while…that was tough…
I should add that after the month on Pyloricil, I was nervous that the infection might return (or wasn’t completely out of my system) so I took 1 g mastic gum (Allergy Research Group) before bed every night. I also kept the same diet restrictions and I kept drinking the aloe juice and taking coconut oil.
That’s what has kicked the pylori for me. I tested negative in all 3 samples of a stool test.
Best wishes! You can do it.
Steph
Hi Steph,
From your note you gave up just about everything. I want to know what solid foods you ate for breakfast, lunch and dinner and snacks , if any, during the month Thanks.
Hi Maria,
Yes, I was extremely strict about my diet, but I don’t regret that at all as I think it may have helped me lick it in the end!
Here’s a good picture of what I ate on a consistent basis:
.scrambled eggs, a little salmon or tuna (rarely), and steamed veggies for breakfast
.lunch and dinner: home-made broth, chicken and beef, + cooked veggies, coconut oil, avocados, garlic, and Celtic sea salt. Lay off the spices as it can irritate the delicate stomach lining.
.aloe juice between meals.
And that’s it. Stay away from anything that “hurts” your tummy.
I will warn you that I felt soooo sick for almost 3 weeks into the treatment. It’s called the Herxheimer effect, so don’t give up and think “it’s not working”. Then I felt enormously better.
Some people may have a tougher time eradicating the h. pylori, so stay on the regimen as long as you feel the infection might still be there. I had an aggressive form of the h. pylori but caught it in it’s earlier stages. Maybe that’s why I was able to kill it so quickly, I don’t really know.
Just want everyone to know how I “licked” it, so hopefully it will work for you too. It’s a MISERABLE little bugger!
Blessings,
Steph
I can’t stick to the diet but I’ve been taking mastic gum, coconut oil, tumeric tablets, lots of garlic everyday, vit c and E, olive leaf extract and probiotics. I’ve been feeling nauseous so I’m hoping its because something is killing off this bug.
Hi Amy,
Here the link:
http://www.helico.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=33&t=165
He answered somebody who said Zinc carnosine as the best treatment against H.pylori ( His nick name is Barjammar). He said that this stuff are unproven and they have weak activity against H.pylori.
And here you can see that Barjammar is Dr Barry Marshall:
http://www.helico.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=40&t=4
I believe in the natural approach Amy, don’t get me wrong, but I didn’t notice much improvement. I’m having heart palpitations and so much stomach and back pain. The triple therapy relieved my pain just for a week but then I got my symptoms back. I tried the mastic gum and the manuka honey but I still have these pains.
Next time I will try pyloricil and monolaurin and I will up date if there is any improvement.
Keep up the good work.
Sorry Amy, I answered in the wrong place. I’m sorry again.
I thought some of you you might be interested in this:
http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM199812243392618
…just in case your doctor laughs at you for considering a remedy that doesn’t come from pharmaceutical company.
Mike
Hi Mike,
The activity of mastic gum against H.pylori is controversial. Here two studies that show that mastic gum has very little or even no activity against H.pylori:
http://www.thefreelibrary.com/The+effect+of+mastic+gum+on+Helicobacter+pylori%3A+a+randomized+pilot…-a0226382591
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12562704
That might be the reason why some people has succes with the mastic gum and some don’t. Also we don’t know if H.pylori can be resistant to the mastic gum as it can be very easy resistant to the antibiotics.
Has anyone here ever tried that diet devised by Be Wilder from the yahoo group? I’m really curious to know whether someone could get a coronary from eating all that fat she recommends. like 6 tablespoons of butter a day and 6 tablesppons of coconut oil a day and all that meat aswell. Yuck, I have a gallbladder issue also I’m sure eating like that would kill me! But it appears that diet has helped a lot of others though.
Woohoo!!! I just rang the Drs office and found out my breath test came back negative so mines gone also!!! Thing is now I don’t know now whether it was the antibiotics that got rid of it, or the Tablets the naturopath gave me that did it, or the gluten dairy sugar free diet I’ve been on (mind you, I could never stick to it 100%) that did it, or the mastic gum etc etc….
Amy, you are an expert on H.Pylori. What about a vaccine against it? It is so easy to get infected, what if it happens second time to someone? Though, I ‘ve read that re-infection rate (if not considering the re-infection in the first year, which can be incomplete eradication) is low.
I’m not an expert, but I do know that some people get H Pylori a second time once it’s been eradicated. I don’t know why – perhaps they didn’t change their eating habits enough or are exposed to it by a partner again. I have been free from it for sometime now, thankfully.
Hello,
Does anybody know where we can buy a probiotic that contains L.fermentis? I read that taking this bacteria is almost comparable to the triple therapy:
http://www.wjgnet.com/1007-9327/16/445.asp
It seems very interesting that this probiotic ( L.fermentis) gives up to 70% eradication rate:
”Accordingly, lactobacillus treated groups and triple treated group showed a significant decrease of H. pylori bacterial density, with an eradication rate of H. pylori 70.0% in gastric antrum and 60.0% in gastric body in L. fermenti treated group”
Hi Jean and all,
I do not know about L’Fermente but here is a link to an excellent probiotic by Dr. Ohhira, which has a strain that kills h pylori and other hard to kill bugs. http://www.crohns.net/Miva/education/articles/OMX_probiotic_Nan_Fuchs.shtml. Nan Fuch, Ph.D. in nutrition classified it as #1. More info on the distributors site http://www.essentialformulas.com.
There is a different philosophy behind this product in that it remodels the colon so it produces its own lactic acid http://www.crohns.net/Miva/education/articles/Probiotics_Support_the_Colon.shtml
I’ve been taking the professional formula for 2 weeks now and am noticing a big difference. All the gas and bloating is gone, my stomach was never flatter. From everything I read, this is the best probiotic, and judging by my own short term experience, it appears to be so. Crohns.net has the best price. http://www.crohns.net/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=OMX1060. There is 25 years of University research behind this product.
I’ve been fighting h pylori for a year now and so far none of the natural remedies I tried killed the bug. I feel good though, but I am hoping this probiotic takes things over the top and finally eradicates it. Gastric Complex by Integrative Therapeutics digestive enzymes helped a lot, they did not hurt my stomach like many do with protease and/or hydrocloric acid. It is designed for people who need to rebuild their stomach lining caused by gastritis/h pylori.
Anyhew, some of you find this info helpful. Best of luck getting healed.
Happy Thanksgiving.
Nancy
Hi Nancy,
You are absolutely right the quality of the probiotics. One study done to verify the viability of the probiotics in the capsules, they conclude that the majority of the probiotics in the market have dead probiotics and even low quantities than what it’s claimed.
Also I saw that the probiotic you mentioned has L.fermentis :D. This bacteria is capable of colonizing the stomach and the duodenum. L.acidophilus cannot survive the acid like L.fermentis.
In the link that I put before, L.fermentis was given for a short time and it has an eradication rate almost like the triple therapy (60% to 70%). Also the study was done by an university. So it is an independant study. Not like other studies done by the company who sells the products (ie, cranberry juice and broccoli).
The bad news with the antibiotics is that H.pylory can become very quickly resistant to them. However, some studies suggest to increase the dose of the antibiotics to overcome the resistance by saturating the efflux pomps of the bacteria ( increasing Flagyl and doxycycline to penetrate the bacteria).
Thanks again for the link for the probiotic.
Jean.
Hi all,
Here’s another test done which proved Mastic Gum had no effect on Pylori in VIVO:
http://jac.oxfordjournals.org/content/52/3/522.full
Rod and All,
I do not know how effective mastic gum is in helping eradicate h pylori but that particular study is not really comprehensive enough to tell us much about the effectiveness of mastic gum: the study sample size is too small, the duration of the study is to short and lacking proper design. Usually mastic gum is part of the treatment, not the whole treatment. It would be like taking one part of quadruple drug approach to treating h pylori, and taking one drug say prilosec or its prescription alternative and testing whether it kills h pylori. It will not do the job. Moreover, using drug testing standards for natural supplements often fails, because of drugs’ different design but it is nevertheless used to discredit natural supplements’ effectiveness for various reasons. I could go on about deficiencies of this study.
I tried Prilosec alone and it did nothing for me. I so far have refused other more comprehensive drug therapy because other than Prilosec I have not taken drugs in 2 decades and I am highly reactive not just to drugs but to supplements as well. I have to start with small doses.
So far my natural remedies approach has not eradicated h pylori but it made me feel much better. I have been using natural remedies such as Bio HPF and ADP by Biotics, Mastic Gum, various probiotics for a year and very healthy diet as always. Although I still tested positive for h pylori in April and August, I have been feeling good. I started to feel better immediately after I started taking those supplements last December (2009). I added Gastric Complex and pine oil from Siberian Tiger Naturals (for good antioxidant properties) in June, which helped with stomach burning and digestion. That pine oil also hydrated my hair and skin–they never felt softer! I am excited about Dr Ohhira’s professional formula probiotics as it contains lactic acid bacteria strain that effectively kills h pylori. I will test again after being in this probiotic for a month to see if h pylori is finally gone and will report back. I certainly hope that finally does it.
My overall point is that we are all very complex organisms and no particular therapy will work the same for all individuals, which is what medical field has been trying to suggest with its drug therapies. The same goes for natural remedies. It took a friend of mine 2 years to get rid of h pylori using natural treatment, which is all she could handle. In Greece mastic gum works well for its population. Other factors of Greece population diet need to be duplicated in the studies to see why h pylori is not an issue for its population.
Happy Thanksgiving and good health to all.
Nancy
Hi Amy,
Thanks for posting this. I’ve been going through it all plus a lot of stiffness & difficulty walking. Oregano oil with carvacrol is helpful, mastic gum amongst others, manuka honey is making me constipated though and I’m still waiting for monolaurin shipment.
I would like to buy bladder wrack seaweed. I have only found it either in flakes or in powder form !
Websites where I can buy bladder wrack are greatly appreciated
thank you
Rosie
Hi Everyone,
I have been reading all your post and hoping to get rid of this hpylori that’s driving up the wall. I started with symptoms in February of 2010, and it’s just have gotten worse. I have so many different symptoms that I have read on the internet that people post who have this HORRIBLE! bacteria. I recently purchased pyloricil because I have that Steph highly recommends it and that it has worked. I was just wondering what I should look for if I am allergice to it and also how should I take it? I currently unemployed with no medical insurance and my son is 7 years old and I am so miserable, it’s so HARD to deal with. My doctor told me it’s anxiety, and my GI did an endoscopy on me and found nothing, besides esphogitis. I don’t get it, but I they found it in my blood result and gave me weeks of triple therapy and I have not gotten better, so I am looking for other alternatives. ANYTHING! to get rid of this nightmare! My body aches, my left side aches in pain depends on what I eat, and I feel exhausted all the time, depressed, get anxiety attacks, and heart palpitations.
I also got some mastic gum recently, but when I take them it makes my pain on stomach go away, but gives me body aches, does anyone know why?
Please if anyone could advise me on how to get rid of it this Hpylori bacteria forever!!!!
I ask sincerely for you help :(
Thank you sincerely
Katherine :(
What amazing reading! I thought I was the only one in the world with this bacteria, no-one I know has had it or even heard of it!
My symptoms started May 2008, (continual nausea feeling) the doctor gave me lansoprazole for 3 months (an alkaline) which didn’t work, hardly surpising as H-pylori likes an alkaline digestive system, that’s why they bury into your lining to get away from the acid. However we do need acid to aid digeston, that’s the dilemma.
After 2 years of suffering with a selection of symptoms as people have posted on this site, I asked my doctor for a stool test which came back positive for H-pylori. She gave me 1 week of the triple antibiotic therapy, and for 1 week after that I felt great with lots more energy. Then after that I felt really ill, much worse than before but with a difference, a huge sugar craving and a terrible ache between my shoulders. I researched the internet and put this down to a yeast overgrowth in my gut as a response to taking too many antibiotics. My doctor then gave me a further 2 weeks course of antibiotics, exacerbating the problem even further. I had days off work and felt miserable all the time.
I accessed the internet for help and came across the David Hompes website, a nutritionalist based near my home town Leeds, in England. I paid for a consultation, he organised a stool test to check if there were any other bacteria that shoud be treated ( very important) My results also came back with a yeast overgrowth which I had expected due to symptoms. I followed his advice and regime for weeks before starting treatment for H-pylori and believe that this was the right thing to do as supplements will not be effective until inflammation in your gut subsides.
For 60 days -
eliminate gluten from your diet, this is a sticky substance that inhabits the gut and prevents the good nutrients from being absorbed
eliminate processed cow’s milk + foods (alternative could be unpasturised goat’s milk and cheese)
Avoid soy
Cut back on sugar ( also meaning foods containing carbohydrates, potatoes, pasta, bread etc.)
Throw out the bad fats, only cook with coconut oil, butter, ghee or lard
I must admit, breakfast was interesting! No more cereal + milk, or toast + jam ( see David’s site for ideas)
After the 60 days do a stomach cleanse for 30 days, this could be-
herbs to kill H pylori plus probiotics
Also a yeast cleanse if your test is positive for yeast overgrowth
In June I personally tried, Beta Glucans, Berberine, Olive leaf extract, Zinc-L-Carnosine and a brand of probiotic + yeast killer called Syntol, although the probiotic in this was 13 billion which is the minimum you should be taking, it may have been wiser to search for a higher dose on reflection.
I was trying to avoid the cost of the Matula Herbal Tea at approx $130 for a 30 day course, even though they offered a refund or another box if after 30 days it didn’t work!
I eventually gave in as the other supplements weren’t really helping and at the end of July I ordered the tea and took it for the month of August. + a strong magnesium to stop the tremors and anxiety
I gradually started to feel better, no sickness and bundles of energy! I would walk the dog, go horse riding then walk the dog again all in one day.
I had continued contact with my doctor who arranged for scans of my abdomen, the latest endoscopy where biopsies were taken was in October and I am pleased to say no bacteria was found. He found no ulcers but a hiatus hernia which I didn’t know I had and fortunately doesn’t cause me much discomfort.
I was feeling great until 3 weeks ago when a gastric bug at work set me back in health. Now I’m not sure if it’s the H-pylori returned or just my poor digestive system taking longer than the average person to recover from the bug. I think I’m paranoid about the H-pylori returning and don’t know whether to buy the Matula again.
Whatever! the Matula worked for me as the biopsy results showed.
There’s lots of stuff out there it’s just trial and error as everyone is different.
It’s just good to read others comments and share stoires
I wish everyone the best of health for 2011
Susan
Hi Jean, im not sure about giardia ,maybe i will test myself,if it doesnt cost too much :D.Right now im on turmeric+monolaurine+mastic+salmon oil softgels,so far didnt notice any improvement i started taking this two months ago :(,but i have hope…I am curious about oregano oil seem like its very potent against bacteria,dont want to be rude or anything , btw why is that u want to reach me via email? good luck everyone! :)
Hi infected fan of Amy,
The problem with giardia is the stool tests are not accurate. I did 6 stool tests and I was negative for giardia. Then I met a lady that was infected from her dog by giardia and she told me also that stool tests were negative for her. I discussed with her my symptoms and they almost fit. She was also misdiagnosed with H.pylori. Endoscopy and stool tests showed no H.pylori after. She described for me her heart palpitation as well as the acid reflux.
The reason I asked you for your email is to discuss with you your symptoms in more detail if you don’t mind. Anyway, it’s your choice. If you feel confirtable in the forum we will discuss them here then.
Have a nice night.
Would any of you, lovely people, know a good site on mycoplasma & alternative treatments? Has any of you come across such an infection?
hi amy,,, i started taking manuka honey 20+ with mastic gum one and half months ago, it really worked for me my diarriah is gone , i feel energitic, no dizzyness or headache so far , but 4 days ago i stopped taking manuka honey and i started having stomach pain and burning and back pain again, i just called my dr to make an appointment for a stool test so see if the h pylori is gone or not, ,,,, i still take my mastic gum, and my diet is changed too no rice, no white bread, no sugar, ,,,
plz tell me if u or anyone here started back pain and stomach burning after they stopped manuka honey,,,
sorry for my weak english,,,,
hi every one,, i did take the stool test after one and half month of taking manuka honey and mastic gum and test result came back positive, i asked my family dr to refere me to a GI specialist, i been really stirct to my diet , i really dont know if i should continue taking manuka honey with mastic gum or should i start taking pyloricil\?/ plz any recomandation ,,, thanx
hi amy,,, i am too infected with the disturbing bug, i want to know how mg magnisim , zinc, and vit k did u take per day, u also recomanded taking multivitamines should i take it in tablet form or syrup form, i have centrum silver in tablet form,,,
about the fruits i eat one banana every day , one apple and some grapes, i dont know if i continue eating fruits during the remdy or not, plz answer ,,,
Hi Maria,
Thank you for your reply.
Like I said in a previous post, gardia which is a parasite can give you gastritis. H.pylori is not s super bug. You can ask any microbiologist about that. I used to believe that H.pylori was causing all my problems because the DOCTOR said so. But now after I checked for H.pylori and I found I’m negative also and that there is a still an inflmmation, I knew for a fact it’s a parasite ( protozoa).
Pyloricil worked for some people because it contains berberines and bismuth which works against protozoa.
The people who really suffered from H.pylori never had symptoms like ours. They usully had stomach ulcers and some acid reflux but no bloating.
I believe that shooting at the right bug is so important.
hi , does anyone here done endoscopy? how do they perform it, i saw a GI specialist today he ordered endoscopy for me, dr said they will give me some medication to make me asleep while performing the test, i was wondering if anyone hase done the test b4, plz response me thanx,,,
Hi Fan,
I believe that I was misdiagnosted for H.pylori ( even if I was positive, it is not always the culpit). As you can read from my posts before the remedies listed by Amy and others also are effective against protozoa like Giardia. Berberine, lauric acid, bismuth all have antiprotozoal activies. Why I pick on Giardia because it’s highly infective ( like hell) and also it can causes Gastritis and deodunal ulcer.
All what I recommand to you is to test by PCR tests for some pathogens and see if you are positive.
My case is complicated because I have a protozoa with unknown taxonomy ( not known for the medical community).
Ask your familly doctor for stool tests for Ova and parasites ( 3 tests with fixative) and also you have to stop taking anything before the test ( 1 to 2 weeks) so you won’t get false negative.
You can ask me any question if you need help at my email : jyt(at)live(dot)ca
Wish you good luck.
Hi Fan,
Try NAC ( N-acetyl-cysteine) to disturb the biofilms of H.pylori. Add to that EDTA to chelate the iron from H.pylori.
After the treatment wait and then test.
Did this end up aleviating the anxiety as well? My 10 year old daughter has h pylori and terrible anxiety that has now turned into a phobia of throwing up. She has felt sick for so long that now all she worries about is throwing up because she always feels so nauseous. Interestingly enough, she has never thrown up. But it is what she worries about all the time. If I can get her stomach/gut to feel better, did you notice your anxiety level off then as well?
My anxiety did ease, but it took a little while. You feel unsafe in your body when your gut is affected so directly. There are actually similar cells in your gut to those found in the brain. I forget the technical / medical term of those cells, but they’re there. You might want to ask your doc about a temporary low(est) dose of anti-depressant or anti-anxiety pill. I used one for two weeks but quit it as I didn’t want to get addicted. I think it was Paxil.
hi, amy i have been using mastic gum & acidophilus for 2 weeks ,i am still feeling anxious ,depress lack of sleep,fatigue , is this a die out effect
I don’t know if the Mastic Gum is enough to use alone. You may be experiencing die off, but I think you need to take the other two M’s – Monolaurin and Manuka Honey. Have you tested positive for H Pylori?
yes i was tested positive, i have used manuka but seems to have a burning effect ,can i use olive leaf extract instead of monolaurin. When symptom will disapear
when the symptom will disappear
i have a question about broccoli sproutc and mastic gum,,, , how much broccoli sprout should we eat a day to fight h pylori? should it be the fresh broccoli or in pills form???? which brand of mastic gum should we buy, i bought the jarrow farmula is it the right one ?
thanx
farn
Dear Amy, several years ago I started dealing with insomnia due to a racing heart when I would try to sleep. My MD at the time told me, after a complete cardiac work-up that it must be anxiety. I never bought this diagnoses but started taking ambien to help with sleep (but have stopped for over a year now). I only had the burping and increased heart rate that are symtoms of GERD (which is caused by h. pylori). I now realize, with the help of my current MD, that it is likely H. pylori. I’ll be tested in two weeks, having to wait a month as I took bismuth for a week. The best information comes from The Helicobacter Foundation website–it’s written by Barry Marshall (he received a Nobel in 2005 for discovering h. pylori). For instance, to stop the racing heart I never lay flat–my heart and head are always above the stomach. Melatonin helps the lower esophageal spincter from relaxing so less acid enters the esophagus, and also helps with sleep. I eat very little after 6pm giving the stomach time to digest. In reading your blog I saw little on how powerful bismuth is in fighting this bacteria. I also wonder why I didn’t see anything about cranberry juice in your blog–it too as proven effective in research. And for me personally. Since I begun learning about h.pylori, and learning ways to address it, I have begun sleeping in a normal and healthy manner. My heart goes out to all fellow sufferers. Did you know that 2/3 of the world population has this class one carcinogen but we see so little about it in media.
Hi, I was told from blood work that I have it and put on prev pac, which I am scared to take after reading everything about it. I am going to try the Manuka Honey, Mastic Gum and Monolaurin. My question though is can the pills be crushed since they are herbal? I have a hard time taking pills, I also looked it up but couldn’t find anything about doing it this way. I will ask the herbal store when I go to buy them but just wondered if you had any input about doing it that way. Thanks for this site, it really helps ease my nerves about this.
Makes me wish mine was hpolyri at least you can get rid of it.
My gastriits is mild gastriits but its from taking a antibiotic for a Urinary Tract Infection- Cipro.
By day three of taking it I had burning under my rib, pain, belching, bloating, gas. Gastritis.
I am eating an organic and good alkaline diet.
I’m taking things like mastic gum, turmeric, Aloe Vera, chamomile, marshmallowroot, slippery elm, VSL3, ginger, list goes on… without much difference.
I wonder if its just going to take a long time t o take effect or if it never will. I know the stomach takes a long time to heal, sometiems I dont know if I’m better off going on a acid drug like nexium but I am not sure what more to do at this point or if maybe i have to just continue to deal with the pain and one day the herbs do something! I wonder if its not helping cause its not turning off the acid giving the stomach time to heal, no herb can really turn off acid. But is it going to be neccessary or can I heal this herbal. All the questions with little answer! Id hate to think Im stuck this way for years from one antibiotic!
You might want to consider digestive enzymes without protease-a protein digestive enzyme — it is hard on the stomach for those who have gastritis. One formula that helped me a lot is Gastric Complex–it took about 6 months but it works, at least it did for me. Check out this site for more stomach issues/support: http://www.modernherbalist.com/stomach.html.
If you decide to try Gastric Complex, the best price I found s on Health Designs web site: http://www.healthdesigns.com/integrative-therapeutics-gastric-complex-with-gamma-oryzanol-and-dgl-180-capsules.html.
Best to you.
Nancy
I have followed this blog for 6-7 months now…Very interesting reading! I have now come to the conclusion that my symptoms mirror Amy’s in several ways with just a few notable exceptions.
My background: I started having heart symptoms 11 months ago (crazy palpitations, etc.). I was checked out at the cardiologist with a stress/echo test and all came back OK. Around the same time, I was also diagnosed with hypothyroidism and Hashimoto’s. A few months later, a stool test revealed I had an active H Pylori infection. The single biggest confusing issue has been that I never know whether the source of the symptoms (there have been more than my heart) is coming from the thyroid problem or the H Pylori infection. Plus, the thyroid meds are known to cause heart palps as well!
The stool test that indicated H Pylori was ordered up by an out-of-state DC who I was consulting with on the Hashimoto’s. I took some H-PLR as he thought it was a recent infection. I saw a new gastro doc last month to get re-tested and was laughing on the inside for the whole appointment! Amy’s experience was spot on…the guy was completely full of himself and crass (he told me during the first 5 minutes of the appointment that everything I had done with the DC was bu&$sh*#…nice, huh?). Once he saw the stool test used PCR criteria to show a positive, he toned it down a bit. The funny end to that part of the story is that all he wanted to do was to shove the thing down my throat and get on with the gastroscopy. When I asked if either the breath test or the stool test were accurate indicators of an H Pylori infection, he answered “Yes, very accurate.” When I asked him to perform either one instead of the gastroscopy, he responded that “We don’t do those tests in this office.” Great–just the big bucks tests…So, I may have to come out of pocket to get re-tested.
As I mentioned at first, I do have symptoms that mirror Amy’s, such as feeling as though I have heart issues on many different occasions. Of course, that brings on its own set of anxieties, as one never knows when the symptoms are going to hit. And, forget about mentioning to ANY doc that you think the heart issues may be linked to H Pylori…You get laughed out of the office! However, unlike Amy and many others, I have to say that for the most part, my bowels perform like champs! I am very regular, and have never noticed any subsiding of symptoms after a potty break, such as I think she experienced. Aren’t most H Pylori infections accompanied by more severe bowel problems?
All this to say that it’s high time that I get on with Amy’s “triple therapy” approach and see if I get any results. I was already gluten-free for 5 months (I’m not right now), but just never saw any real benefits from it. I eat very healthy foods, but I know I need to “tone down” the spiciness and turn up the blandness a bit. I’ll report back in a few months. One more thing…I thank God that Amy wrote about her experiences. I think it’s helped many people more than she’ll ever know!
Amy, I’ve been reading this forum for a month and a half and I’ve been following your protocol (manuka honey, monolaurin, & mastic gum) along with aloe vera juice. I have pain under my lower rib cage on my left side (it may be an ulcer). If you had any pain, how did you heal your pain and how long did it take to go away.
Hi Amy
Just wanted to tell you that I am sooooo glad I found your website. I have been suffering for 2 years now- and no one knew what was wrong with me. It started out that they said it was acid reflux- then I had an endoscopy done and the doc said I had a small Hiatal Hernia and pylori. I have been on 2 rounds of the triple therapy(H- Pak) and I am still sick. Having pains in the lining of my stomach and acidy all the time. I have been on acid inhibitors for about 2 years now and am trying not to take them anymore.. I have now purchased the manuka honey 16 and a product called Gastro Relief which contains some mastic gum and zinc carnine. Probiotics(61 Billion).also taking L Glutamine in water everyday and bladderwrack tea at night(yuck)- still have burning in my stomach. Am trying to follow the diet that you outlined above- quite difficult as I’m a sugar person…but so far have managed to stay on course. What do you think about eating popcorn? I need something to get me through the evening…
Thanks
Elaine
Please try Oil Pulling (OP) too to fight H Pylori as well as minimize recurrant infections. It is also good for many other things too (yeast infection, candida, thyroid problems, diabetes etc). It is an ancient Indian Auyurvedic practice, can be part of your regular health practice.
You can do this In the morning – before breakfast and on an empty stomach. Clean your tounge using a tounge cleaner before you begin this process to get maximum benefit. (I buy steel tounge cleaner from an Indian grocery store for a few bucks). Take 1 – 2 teaspoon of oil in your mouth and swish it around your mouth for 10 minutes (initially you many not be able to do it for more than 3-4 minutes). Try and push and pull between your teeth using the swishing movement of your tounge, cheeks as well as jaw. (DO NOT SWALLOW THIS OIL). After sometime the oil will get a whitish hue. Spit it out and then brush and rinse your mouth.
,
It is recommended that this procedure be done with Sunflower oil or Sesame oil – but I have had success and very good results with coconut oil.
OP should not be done if you have dental fillings as it can dislodge it. I have been using OP because of adult braces and it has removed debris, plaque as well as abrasions from my mouth – besides many other health benefits. Ihave used coconut oil and it has been great. However – organic extra virgin cold pressed Coconut Oil is a waste of money for this procedure – I use instead the “Parachute” brand cooking coconut oil that I find in Indian grocery stores in the US for a few bucks. (use the kind made for cooking – not for using as hair oil). Coconut oil has monolaurin and Lauric acid in it which is essentially dissolving the outer layer (biofilm) of the bacteria, so that the bacteria and fungus etc die off. For consuming internaly I would recommend using only the extra virgin cold pressed variety of coconut oil (or else you will clog your arteries). I spit it out in my toilet pot – so that I do not clog the sink.
It helps with the bad breath associated with all kinds of digestive ailments too.
One of my problems was that even when the pain of the acid abated (even when using PPIs), I was consumed by a never ending hunger…I used the following drink to remedy that. I drink it with all my meals – the Indian yogurt is very light and a great source of live lactobaccilus. Cumin, asaphoetida and Kala Namak are also digestives-
Blend the following and enjoy -
1/2 cup of “Deep” brand low fat yogurt (Dahi) from Indian grocery store
1/2 cup of warm water or warm milk (what ever you can tolerate)
1/2 tsp of Cumin (dry roasted and powdered)
1/4 tsp of Kala Namak (Black Salt) or according to taste
a pinch of powdered Asafoetida (Hing)
I got all the ingredients from Indian grocery store (in the US). I dry roasted a big batch of cumin till it was all smokey and dark brown, and after it cooled I ground it in my coffee grinder. I stored it in a mason jar. I bought all the ingredients from an Indian grocery store because these are everyday cooking spices and ingredients in Indian cooking and so they always have to keep fresh stock.
Another thing that has helped me to compensate for my daily tea and coffee habit is the following concoction -
Mix equal quantities of Ground cumin seeds (not roasted), Ground Fennel seeds, Ground coriander seeds, Ground ajwain (carrom seeds?) . Use 2-3 teaspoons of this mixture and put in 6 cups of water – boil and reduce to half. Strain, and drink this hot during tea time, or cool it and drink in lieu of water. All the spices listed above you can get at any Indian or Pakistani grocery store world wide. And it costs just a couple of bucks – unlike online or in a health food store.
You are a God send Amy, I have been struggling with the EXACT same symptoms for some time now. I too live in a big city, Chicago, and I’d like to think that these doctors would be qualified to help. It’s unfortunate that greed has hijacked the system.
I have been doing some natural alternatives, but I have learned even more from you and I’m so grateful to have found your story and I’m so thankful that you took the time to share YOUR research with the rest of us who have been long suffering.
After you cleared up the bug, were you able to have bread and sugar and coffee, oh, how I love my coffee in small amounts? I certainly don’t want to give up everything I love.
I wonder, once we have the bug, does it really ever eradicate or does it lie in wait, waiting to be triggered again?
God Bless
Toni
Hi Toni,
I have not had the bacteria again. It can be eradicated, although it does recur in some people. I have been h pylori-free for about two years now. I also drink mostly tea now, but I do have the occasional iced coffee and dry cappuccino. Good luck to you!
Amy
Hi,
I just want to say, like Jean, for the ones that do not feel better, after the h pylori protocol, that it is probably not h pylori the problem, if you had it, it is probably dead by now, but you should take a look at parasites instead. Giardia can also live in the upper GI track.
Fred
hello amy,
can someone with lower stomach acid use mastic gum,
does mastic gum lowers blood pressure & causes palpitations
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2011/04/12/beware–bacteria-growing-in-your-gut-can-influence-your-behavior.aspx
hi amy, i had a stool test for h pylori again came possitive i really dont know what else should i do to get rid of this nusty bug, nothing seems to work on me, i am working so hard dont know what am doing wrong ,,,,,,
Jean,
I received my metametrix test today, I have pinworms and unknown parasite, what is your parasite?
Hi Fred,
I’m happy that you at least found what wrong. You might have Dientamoeba.fragilis which is a protozoa that lives with the pinworm.
Check the web site http://microscopiccreatures.lefora.com/
There is so many information there.
Me I got PPTU which means that there is a protozoa unkown. But I know that it’s not H.pylori for sure. And by attacking the protozoa I feel fine.
Best regards,
What do you use?
Hi Fred,
For pinworm, you should to use Albendazole or any dewormer.
Pinworm is a vector for Dientamoeba.fragilis which is a stubburn protozoa that leads to IBS and chronic fatigue syndrome.
For Dientamoeba you should try Monolaurin, caprilyc acid, black wallnut, wormwood.
The only probiotic that might help against protozoa is S.boulardii because it’s a yeast and uses Mannan receptors to compete with the protozoans.
Check: http://microscopiccreatures.lefora.com/
with Dientamoeba.fragilis and pinwom you sould clean your hands very frequently to minise reinfecting yourself.
Jean,
which parasite do you think you have and how do you treat it?
I’m currently taking mebendazole for the pinworm.
Fred
Hi Fred,
Mebendazol should work fine against Pinworm. You should take it again after one week to kill all the eggs that became adults. If you check the web : http://microscopiccreatures.lefora.com/
You could find that Pinworm is a possible vector for a protozoa called dientamoeba.fragilis. This protozoa is linked in more than one study to IBS. You should treat first the pinworms and then see how you feel.
Regarding me, I got PPTU from Metametrix which means that I have an unkown protozoa as well as Giardia. The forum I created is just to deal with protozoans infections.
Which protozoa do you have?
Jean
I have pinworm and pptu, I took my first batch of vormex, works great for the pinworm, will take an other course next week, and a third in four weeks.
For the pptu, might be something like dientamoeba, I ordered flagyl, secnidazol, Nitazoxanide and Furoxone.
Fred
Hi Amy, I am a few years late on this but as I reseached for HP I stumbled on your blog. You are fantastic and amazing. You say you aren’t a doctor but you ought to be.
I was diagnosed with HP and have been through the usual frustrations. Eventually I came across David Hompes’s e book and haven’t looked back. ( Search for him ). Most of what you have given us is what he advises but you have given me a lot more now. I could say you should charge but I know you have a kind heart and when you follow the heart all else fades away. That’s what happens after a crisis, love and compassion begin to flourish.
You make a difference, thanks for sharing this wonderful planet with me.
Blessings Steve.
Thanks very much, Steve! It’s good to hear your words, Amy
I am treating h. pylori with Pyloricil, the same as Steph did. This was recommended by my naturopath. I asked if I should add Monolaurin; he said to add it and see how I respond. (He had me taking this before for boosting the immune system).
My first 10 days taking Pyloricil were awful. I got stomach pains that I never had before. So my dr. said to take 10 days off and boost the gut with a supplement with l-gluatmine among some other ingredients. I want to eradicate this ASAP so I’ve started taking only 1 pill a few days ago. I’ll work back up to 2/day soon.
Jean – along with the h. pylori, my stool test revealed an unidentified protozoa. The result said that if I have no stomach issues, it may not need to be treated. My naturopath said I”d need to get treatment from an MD as herbals are too slow for protozoa. Though I’ve not addressed it yet as I’m now focusing on the HP.
However, I already knew I had a protozoa as I had a blood test done by Fry Labs in Scottsdale, AZ. He’s fairly recently identified a new protozoa which is linked to IC, lyme disease among others. I was working with a practitioner for IC (a bladder condition) and she works with him. I chose not to treat for it at this time b/c I can’t find anyone in the chat boards who’s successfully cured their IC from eradicating this protozoa.
Hi Renee,
I don’t know what do you mean by unknown protozoa? Did you tested for its DNA 12 S or they saw something under the microscope.
Anyway the presence of H.pylori in the crime scene does’t prove that it’s a responsible for your gastro disconfort. Even if Pyloricil will work remember that it has a lot of things that work against Protozoan as well. In your case it seems you have Bebesia protozoan infections which is a protozoa that can be carried by ticks like Borrealia which is the cause of Lyme disease.
Regarding H.pylori, my personal position is that in many cases this bacteria is innocent. There is no prove that it is responsible for Gastro problems. Science doesn’t distingish between strains of H.pylori that are pathogens and the one that are probiotics. It’s like E.coli There is a probiotic one and there is a deadly one also.
So I’m trying to make a pharmaceutical protocole for the protozoan infections. The majority of probiotics does’t work against protozoa. The only one that is studied is S.boulardii which is a friendly yeast and has been shown to decrease the number of Blastocystis.hominis in children infected with this protozoa.
So if you need any information regarding protozoan infection feel free to contact me or to check my forum:
http://microscopiccreatures.lefora.com/
Best regards and don’t give up you will beat these beasts and you will be healthy again.
Jean
Was just diagnosed this week. Unofruntately the way the Dr. wrote the prescription for some reason pharmcy doesn’t get it. Hmm.. and of course it is a long weekend.. so have to wait till Tuesday to get new prescription so trying to think of what I sahould be eating or doing till then. Am also going to see a Naturopath. Glad to hear that many of you have been cured. Hoping for the same results.
Hello peoples
Here is Leon from Poland
My answer for HP is:
Cranberries raw or dried to eat and 100% cranberries juice can be diluted with water (am trying to get dried ones with no added sugar but very difficult to get in poland all sweetened).
If you choose probiotics choose L. Salivarius then becouse this strain eats HP.
( Im not tried yet L. salivarius becouse cant get it in f*king poland)
So I leave to you discover how or if it works.
I wish to buy L. salivarius from america or wherever in the world but have no bank account. :(
I wish to get L. salivarius some lucky day or if somebody help me to get it. I trully believe it`s works.
My story now:
Ive found about a month ago that ive got this nasty bacteria in my digestive tract I yell HP!!..
Ive done a blood test as well and it shows over normal level antibodies/gens for HP..
another sign that bacteria is present is a white coating on the back of tongue which has dissapear after eating cranberries and/or drinking cranberry jiuce of course both with no sugar added !!!
Thats why i see cranbeery works becouse symptoms goin away very quickly.
Compounds in cranberry prevents Hp to stick to the any surfaces in the digestive tract so bacteria is pushed out from the body.
I ve been battling with candida from 2 years now but i know now that main problem was and is present helicobacter pylori…
Now I understand more and think that everyone with HP got candia as well..
HP to survive in stomach produce ammonia to neutralize stomach enzymes and makes alkaline ervinonment.. simply stomach with no or less enzymes cant digest food.. undigested properly food cant feed the body and going pass digestive tract/gut.. undigested food couses food allergies and feed candida as well..
thats how i see this going.. it sounds very logic to me..
So way to heal i think is the diet plus suplements like:
- cranberry,
- l. salivarius,
- etc. like mastic gum, matula tea, broccoli sprouts and others ive read about but not tested yet.
Try eliminate from Diet:
- eliminate simple sugars,
- gluten becouse mucus over production
- all diary products becouse mucus over production,
- red and other meats for time
- dont smoke tabbaco/marihuana
- drugs
- coffe and stimulants like caffeine
- painkillers
- everything what is hard to digest
- black tea
** thats my opinion but problem is that i cant tell you for how long so dont take it seriously plz.
What I eat now for every meal is mix of everything like:
tablespoon of:
- grinded millet,
- buckwheat flakes
- quinoa flakes
- chickpeas flour
- amaranthus flour
- dried raisins or apricots or plums
next I do is pour all igredients above in 350ml of boiing water (and cook for about 1min)
next I do is:
put into simple coffe grinder tablespoon of:
- flax seeds
- poppy seeds
- hemp seeds
- sometimes nuts it can be walnuts or hazel nuts or almonds ( i use only walnut becouse allergy for athers)
after seeds and nuts are grinded fine I putting this into cooked stuff and mixing everything.
It seems to look like complete food for me which contains carbohydrates, proteins, fats, fiber and much more.
What Ive noticed after 2 days of eating like that is:
- stools looks perfect
- going 2-3 times daily to the toilet
- no constipation or diarhohea (i had no regular bowel movements by the last over 2 years)
Im start adding some stuff to my meal like:
- few drops of black wormwood complex,
- anticandia herbs in powder maybe they help kill HP
- tea spoon of glutamine powder
Will see how it will works
I will be more than happy to share experiences with any one.
my email is:
wozix250@hotmail.com
In this blog I see the best of people, in that they are sharing and connecting. In times of illness, overwhelm and crisis the true human potential of growth and compassion shines through. To be aware of this is important in the healing process of the mind, body and spirit. Crisis can direct us to change and in that change can come an awakening and the awakening will lead you on a spritual journey. On the journey you discover many insights and one is about the cycles of life and with these cycles comes more spiritual growth and insight.
All the wonderful information on this blog is such a help and I hope you get inspiration knowing that this cycle and crisis you are at will bring growth and insight. Stay disciplined and accept and surrender to this time to gain peace and clarity in your choices and like Amy you will Be happy you have H Pylori.
Believe in yourself and what you do.
Blessings Steve.
I was recently diagnosed with H Pylori after a blood test showed a high eosinophil, (immune cell), count. I was also having a lot of bloating and loose stools. I was lucky enough to have a doctor that suggested testing for the bug. Wanting to eradicate this bug, I did go through the two week course of two antibiotics along with Prilosec. I did get some relief; however, there were some mild side effects and I know that my natural flora was also destroyed by the antibiotics. I’ve been doing research and am currently taking the Manuka Honey, a good quality Probiotic, Digestive enzymes, Aloe Vera juice, (two ounces per day), and DGL, (chewable licorice). I have improved; however, I’m still having some bloating. In doing my research, I also came across a web site by David Hompes, (www.h-pylori-treatment.com), which has some very helpful information. He strongly suggests Matula Tea as it was the only thing that completely cured him of the bug. It’s expensive; however, the makers of Matula Tea are the only ones that offer a guarantee that their product will provide a cure. It’s expensive, but I’m definitely gonna give it a try soon. I’m gonna get a stool sample first, to see if I’m still infected and I’ll try to post my progress. Hope this information helps:)
Hi Alex, Even though through this great blog it seems there are a few ways to tackle the bug I have been following daivd hompes ebook and I haven’t looked back. Like amy’s regime diet is so important to give your gut a chance to heal from all the inflammmation and also to eventually see if you have developed food intolereances over time. I plan to slowly introduce all the foods I cut out in about a months time. It’s crucial to be disciplined in your change to a healthier lifestyle.
Steve.
Dear Amy,
Its been two years since I came upon your site, I had all the classic symptoms, at one point I thought I was having a heart attack! I have done Monolaurin -Vigin Coconut Oil, 15ml three times a day. It was life changing! Thank you very much. Now I have come back to your site and found numerous people having a renewed life. My advice is to follow it astutely. The first 2 to 3 days, I had severe diarrhea, like my gut was being cleansed, blood in my stool, after a week, my stool got firm and I felt relieved, body aches, stomach swelling, anxiety were gone, I could finally sleep a full nights rest. I continued it for 2 weeks until it cleared up. I have been following a diet, but lately I had sinned and have become a glutton again. The other things that helped me where colloidal silver and mangosteen capsules, as these were available in our country, I could not find mastic gum or manuka honey here. Ginger tea was good too and I found a very good massage therapist. I found exercise and physical work to be very therapeutic as it balances mental stability. To all comrades in the fight, be brave! We can be overcome! Thank you for this wonderful site.
Jose Miguel
Philippines
This made me so happy to read this morning, Jose! Very glad for you – Best wishes for continued health, Amy
Hi, Amy
Thanks for posting useful information regarding h pylori. I have been suffering from almost exactly the same symptoms that you had, night sweats, syncope/nearly passing out at night (thought it was a heart attack – even went to ER they found nothing wrong with heart), lack of sleep, feeling lethargic, no energy, heart palpitations, brain fog, stomach bloating, stomach pain/ burning etc etc. I have been suffering from these symptoms for almost 5 years. The doctors I went to over the years, tried to diagnose me with depression, anxiety, Irritable bowel syndrome, ulcers etc. but did not check for HP.
A Dr..recently found that I have HP and has put me on a heavy dose of antibiotics for two weeks
You said that you were cured by taking ” Monolaurin, Manuka Honey and Mastic Gum,” I want to know how long did it take these products to eradicate the HP?
Also were do you buy them from i.e., Amazon etc. can you recommend a good source to buy, and Since you got rid of HP how long have you been free of it?
Thank your information on this blog is very helpful and encouraging….
Regards,
Art
Hi Amy IAm a South African woman age 58 and have been suffering with H Pylori propably since 1982 when I was diagnosed with leukemia treated and suffering many years later and with all symptoms mentioned by you and all other people on your site went for every test available at the time but after passing out a few times a MD in Brits tested me positively in Sept 2009 for H p was treated and was Ok for a while but symptoms returned twice and was treated accordingly Iam going for a Gastroscope tomorrow to determine if the Buggers are dead or not meanwhile I am suffering with heavy gasses after eating or drinking certain items More info later
RE: Mastic Gum… I recently read a study in which they ran tests on various herbs and spices to kill H. Pylori. Ginger came up tops killing H. Pylori within 15 minutes. This is nothing strange because ginger has been used for hundreds and hundreds of years as a cure for many stomach related problems. I had researched Mastic Gum, but felt there must be other alternatives to mastic gum that would kill H. Pylori. The study is here:
http://www.nsf.ac.lk/down/Short%20Communication.pdf
The bonus with ginger is, it also cures and treats many other stomach problems as well as dealing to H. Pylori and kills other unfriendly bacteria in the stomach and has now been found to kill cancer cells, so your kind of getting other benefits from ginger that you may not get from mastic gum. Studies into the cancer benefits are here:
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/ginger-000246.htm
Just thought that I would post that here for anyone who finds it difficult to get a hold of mastic gum and who want to give it a shot. I’ve contemplated that my symptoms are H.Pylori only as yet and have had no tests. I started to take ginger anyway because my issues are gut related and there are so many positive studies into ginger – any ginger can be used, just the powdered ginger at the super market or you can take it in tablet form. I recommend tablet form if you have GERD as it isn’t nice when you get belching episodes and I had an osophageal ulcer that just never seems to have healed from taking Omazeprole. If I have no success then I may try the mastic gum but I would certainly stick with the ginger after reading the benefits. I too take L Glutamine as I have assumed that I have leaky gut due to all my symptoms correlating with that and having also Fibromyalgia like symptoms. My symptoms cropped up after taking anti biotics and prednisone which wreaked havoc with my guts and caused the GERD. After being treated for GERD I developed all the other symptoms and gradually over time various nutrient deficiencies have cropped up. Iron showed up initially and GP treated me for this with iron and vitamin c but subsequent tests show me as not absorbing it very well and still being anaemic.
I have shocking bloat within 10 minutes of eating and tie this in with gas being created in the upper small intestine almost immediately after the food leaves me stomach somehow. Pro biotics cause even worse bloat when i take those…it’s almost like whatever bacteria is in my gut feeds off the pro biotics and uses them to create the gas and acid seems to be worse when I’m not drinking water between meals. I noted that when i drink water 30 mins before a meal I do not have any acid reflux whatsoever. This week I had a week where I totally lapsed after eating refined carbs (cake) and drinking coffee (mochacino at McDonalds). It has set me back and I have been bloated for days even though I went right back to eating clean and taking my supplements.
Celiacs tests proved negative as did many other tests for bacteria. Thydroid tests came back fine and kidney tests. I have changed GP’s THREE times in the past two years and am still not getting the adequate attention where my symptoms are concerned. My fatigue got worse and I eventually developed frozen shoulder in both shoulders and couldnt move my arms above shoulder level without pain. I had done NOTHING to even cause muscle problems i.e. workout with weights or do anything strenuous. Serious migraines, vertigo that left me in bed for days and wishing i could just sleep until it went away – close eyes and still vertigo sensation. I had balance issues and would be out on a shoot and looking through the view finder of my camera and suddenly just veer off to my lieft and fall over. Constant tinitus that is just never going away and which is my worst symptoms as it is with me every single day all day. I have developed depression because of all these symptoms and all all GP’s insist that this is IBS and just stress related. The final straw was being scripted up to three drugs for IBS and not getting any relief and then not seeing my fatigue dissipate after the iron supplements. That and the GP not listening to me and stating that I needed an anti depressant to “help me relax.”
Honestly… I am so pi$$ed because it seems to me doctors are all to great with scripting drugs that cause all these health related issues and completely upetting what is 70% of your immune system, and then come the day the proverbial $#!+ hits the fan, they abandon you because they are unqualified to deal. Worst still, they throw insult after injury by suggesting it is all in your head and you need to relax. Absolute nightmare. I have never been this ill for this long and have rarely visited my GP in the past and when I finally do, I am treated like a lunatic hypochondriac or it’s my age (48 yrs). I’m just not really sure how I should deal now as I asked to be referred to a Gastroenterologist and was told that my symptoms are not serious enough for that. Apparently you need to be bleeding from the back passage or in agony and vomiting everywhere 24/7 etc. When I find posts like yours it makes me realise how bloody stupid it all is that there are stacks of people out there suffering with similar complaints who are having exactly the same problem with GP’s.
I’ve spent thousands on natural alternaitve medications trying to improve my symptoms and treat myself holistically because right about noe after having all the crap with the anti biotics causing this and recking my immune system, the last thing i want to go on are anti biotics. Especially since they dont even work! Before this I could eat anything and drink anything and was so bloody healthy…and the whole experience has left me with cynical view on GP’s and how they work. Mainly because every drug I have been scripted the past two years has had ten side effect symptoms that were far worse than what I initially presented with. One anti biotic I read later could cause spontaneous rupture of tendons for Petes sakes. Talk about phamageddon, worst still most of the drugs are not tested beyond three months! So your talking guinea pig here anyway…so like hell am I gonna feel bad about researching my sympotms and trying alternative remedies.
Good to hear that you got on top of your H. Pylori and solved the problem. I totally agree that when you have had this bug it takes months to heal the GI tract. I am still suffering with osophageal ulcer problems from time to time even after taking ant acids for 2-3 weeks and allowing it some time to heal. I dont believe ulcers are healed right away and when people use these remedies they certainly need to use natural remedies for at;east two months and more to keep the count of H.Pylori down whilst they heal. Whilst something like ginger kills H.Pylori within 15 minutes, it is very easy to be re populated with H.Pylori as I thoroughly believe that it is a normal bug found in everyone GI tract and has been for some time. If you research this you will find that H.Pylori is a bad bacteria but it is pretty much normally present in the gut of many people, but for some reason in some peoples gut’s it wreaks havoc.
I suspect that for people who develop ulcers through some other mechanism, have difficulties with H.Pylori because they somehow have SIBO (small intestine bacteria overgrowth) and that that imbalance somehow exacerbates the H.Pylori colony and creates problems. When gut friendly bacteria are plentiful though, just like candida, H.Pylori probably behave themselves when their levels are under control. If that theory is true then the medical establishment working to decimate H.Pylori colonies in the gut are essentially creating another bacterial imbalance I guess. Little is known about H.Pylori and to be honest after rwading that certain bacteria produce certain enzymes or help to produce vitamins, nothing would surprise me if there is a real purpose for small quantities of candida or H.Pylori to be in the gut e.g. to stop over production of enzymes or certain vitamins etc. Just as some bacteria produce alcohol or in your body and cause a lot of awful symptoms if the specific bacteria is in abundance. I mean think about it… there are got to be some occasions where they’re needed or where they serve a useful purpose when they are in the right numbers e.g. they produce the enzyme urease, which generates substances that neutralize the stomach’s acids. There may be times when this situation needs to take place??? Food for thought!
I never leave comments on forums, but this time I feel the obligation to do that since due to this very specific forum now I am H Pylori free. I started the H Pylori diet – David Hompes book (1 month before taking Monolaurin, Gastromend HP and Mannuka Honey plus probiotics). After one month of diet I have taken Monolaurin, Gastromend HP and Mannuka Honey just like Amy mentioned. However, I also kep the diet. Today, after 3 months of Monolaurin, Gastromend HP and Mannuka Honey and 4 months of H Pylori diet I was confirmed that I am H Pylori free. I have also had other issues as Candida (strong strain) that has also gone with another natural treatment in 6 weeks. It is possible, you can do it, it is not as hard, but I suspect diet has a lot in this war! Follow what Amy mentioned and you can get rid of it! – Stefan
Congrats on the eradication, Stefan! I’m sure you must be feeling better! Thanks for letting us know too, Amy
Have u ever been tested for celiac? 99% of our symptoms are the same right down to racing heart and syncope. My hear rate would go from 6-250 in less than a min. Once gluten was removed it clears about 70% of my symptoms. I was just diagnosed with h pylori today! Hopefully this gets rid of the rest of the stomach problems.
Wishing u and all the others who are unwell out there a speedy recovery.
~ Carri
I saw an allergist, who tested for everything. I don’t have Celiac disease – and I’ve been free from H Pylori for years now. The symptoms cleared once I tested negative for H Pylori. I eat much of what I used to eat, except I don’t have coffee everyday now. Only once in a while…
Hello All and Amy, I stumbled on this blog after I started on a another protocol about 4 months ago. I have gained so much from all your courage and comments, thank you. My protocol didn’t work with the symptoms coming back. I feel like I have been in the ring for ten rounds and my opponent is about to belt the hell out of me, but again I will use the valuable sources on this blog on my way to optimal health. ( not ready to throw the towel in yet, you all inspire me. )
Illness can be our harshest yet wisest teacher and it gives us humility and compassion.
There is one thing we can always access in whatever situation we are in and that’s the present moment. It’s a bit like H/pylori it’s elusive, all we need to do is to choose to find it. ( “The gate to life is narrow and the way is hard and there are few who find it ” ). Stay present dear friends, it’s all you need.
( A poem for you. )
Life
Life can be as short as your next breath
With confusion and the dominance of fear
Life can be as long as a rainbow
With beauty and with no end
Take a deep breath and follow the rainbow.
Hey Amy,
How long did it take after starting the supplements for the rapid heart rate to go back to normal?
Hi Steven,
I can’t recall, except I actually thought I had gotten rid of the infection by the end of the first month of taking the supplements, but the test came back positive. So definitely less than a month. After the second month, I tested negative for H Pylori.
I had to wear the monitor for two separate months and they caught the heart stuff then. I ended up seeing two difference electrophysiologists; the first one wanted to implant a pacemaker / defibrillator! That’s why I went to the second one. Whew.
Amy,
Is it OK if I stop the manuka honey because every time I eat it, I feel like it is burning my stomach? And it makes me feel very nausea afterwards.
Steven, I’m no doctor – all decisions are up to you! I hope you are seeing a doctor too!
Right Amy. :)
Yes I’m seeing a doctor and suppose to get an endoscopy soon. The thing about all of this is that the damn heart racing wakes me up so many times during the night!!! HELL!!!
So sorry, Steven. I don’t know if it will help you, but I had to sleep very propped up, which was a little helpful, though not a lot. Have you tried the Monolaurin and the Mastic Gum? Drink lots of water all of the time?
I have not tried the mastic gum yet, I’m currently trying the monolaurin but at 300mg 2x/day because I’m not sure how my body will react to it. I have been using it for three days so far. I will add mastic gum soon. I’m trying to drink as much water as my acid reflux would allow..
No need to be sorry Amy! Love your blog.
Also about the sleeping thing.. I also notice when I sleep propped up, it does not get that bad.
Why is this???
Is it because of the acid reflux or possibly sleep apnea that is caused by all of this (h. pylori + acid reflux)….?
That would be my guess – I don’t know why it makes the heart race though…. seems one would simply have regurg instead.
Thx for the tips.. Yea I think anxiety plays a role with the heart racing that’s why I am trying to stay as calm as possibly when it’s very bad.
Don’t mean to keep bothering you Amy, but I got another question.
Did you notice the heart racing was worse after you ate something?
It was worse when I was digesting later. Like two hours or so. But also, I would wake up with it as well. Major racing, sometimes vomited, which would stop it.
Amy,
can you tell me which h. pylori test did you get? Was it the breathe test or stomach biopsy?
First my doctor detected the antibodies in my blood. Then stool sample confirmed an active infection. Follow up with an endoscopy (stomach biopsy). But they re-checked twice to confirm infection was gone with stool tests. First stool test after one month confirmed that I was still positive. The second stool test at the end of two months confirmed I was negative. I never took a breath test.
Amy,
I know you’re not a doctor but which test do you think is the most accurate?
I’ve read the endoscopy is the most accurate, but no one can get one for each test. So the stool sample seems to be the next best thing in determining success of treatment.
Amy,
I’m a bit frustrated right now..
I have almost every symptom you have except for the vomiting. Doctors can’t find anything wrong with my heart.. AND my stomach biopsy was negative for h. pylori..
Doctors think I’m insane and just gave me some anti-depressants.
You think a breathe test for H. Pylori would be the next step? I’m not sure if my GI would even do that for me…
The stomach biopsy is the best test – you had an endoscopy, correct?
Yep, endoscopy.
I read from some other experts that the breath test may be more accurate. But I don’t think my doctor would even give that to me because of the negative stomach biopsy. The only thing I can really do now is to start the herbs again and hope it goes away soon.
It is hell living with these symptoms, I feel like a zombie…
Hi Steven, I was on a slightly different protocol from Amy and when I stopped the protocol the symptoms came back. When I took Gastromend ( mastic gum plus other beneficial ingredients ) again 90% of the symptoms cleared in a day. Without the stronger symptoms the anxiety goes. Emotions play a big part in this with our lives and lifestyles changing, maybe this could be a factor with the racing heart symptom.
Gastromend and another great product, GI Revive can be ordered from Moss Nutrition. I live in Oz and it only took 4 days to get here. They also have the Monolaurin.
Stay Cool, Blessings Steve.
hi your blog reads so inspiring and when i am just about to give up all hope and go back to the doctor for more antibiotics i just sit and read your journey with h.pylori, i am currently trying manuka honey 20+ mastic gum (nearly finished first bottle) a good probiotic, golden seal, fenugreek i am eating 80% alkaline food drinking loads of water but still have it, have you heard of matula tea ? as i have read that 30 teabags are all that is needed for eradication the down side is that it costs a fortune, but will it work, i would spend anything if i knew that it would get rid of the h.pylori bacteria.
best wishes
karen
I tried it once, got diarrhea from it, sent it back and received a refund. Some internet testimonies claim it works – I can’t confirm that. Good luck, Amy p.s. It took me two months to eradicate the bacteria on Manuka Honey, Monolaurin & Mastic Gum.
First I would like to say how sorry I am you have had to go through all of this. It really is a terrible experience!
It is quite inspiring to hear your story. I have been sick my whole life. I know that sounds a bit dramatic, but I went undiagnosed with celiac for 28 yrs along with h pylori. It was awful. I was at the dr constantly complaining of stomach issues. All the damage was suspected to be from the celiac. But 3 years after being gluten free I suddenly couldn’t get food down. My esophagus had completely closed from acid reflux scarring and I had developed the ulcer. While expanding my esophagus they tested for the h pylori. My husband has also tested positive, but had no symptoms. My sons test results will be back in about a week.
I am almost all the way through my antibiotics treatment now. U have truly inspired me with this post and was so glad I found it. I had been doing Gse for years and it would make me feel better here and there, but it always returned with a vengeance. My herxheimer reaction has been pretty nasty, but Ihave had this for a long long time. I have an ulcer at 31 and most of my stomach lining is gone. I figured this was just how it was going to be… then I was diagnosed and scared out of my mind when they said it would have been cancerous soon. That’s when I started researching and found your article. I decided to do the antibiotics just to clear it fast due to health risks. It has been almost 2 weeks and I too am happy I have h pylori. Finally an answer AND A CURE. Thanks so much for the inspiration and hope that maybe I can finally be normal, well my digestive system anyways haha.
Thank you!
I’m so glad to hear that you’re doing better, C.J., especially after suffering for so long, unnecessarily. It’s a shame they don’t test for this bacteria with more regularlity – so many of us wouldn’t have suffered as long as we did. Your case is exceptional, and the damage simply unforgivable. I hope you can recover completely, or as best as possible, and live a happy life full of as much tasty food as possible! Amy
Hi Steven, This great blog and the David Hompes Diet ebook ($20) are my main resourses now. In his ebook he makes an inportant point and that concerns diet and lifestyles, they both are contributing factors in causing Inflammation in our gut. If this inflammation isn’t dealt with tiny pockets form where the bug can hide and our protocols and treatments may not be as affecttive or as in my case didn’t work at all. Diet plus the products I mentioned help significantly in reducing inflammation.
Blessings Steve.
OMG… This stuff feels like I have a live alien inside of me from outerspace and each time I try to treat it it comes back worse then before ever since I started antibiotics ( will be starting my third treatment if I go back) I have been sick I cant take it any more I have sunk into deep depression and taken off many days of work form that and the illness. Im at my end this thing in me feels very much alive and almost like it is trying intenionally to destroy me and when I fight back it gets angry. Sorry for sounding crazy but I believe this issue I have has made me so.
thanks for listening
Very desperate
Hi Stacy. Even though this is Amy’s blog I feel compelled sometimes to write replies to people’s comments but I resist, in your case I wont. Firstly you have the ability to see this through and you will come out of this healthier and stronger. You have got this far in your life and you have pushed your threshold many times before and you are still here and still connecting and sharing your story, a beautiful story.
Try to calmly read Amy’s blog it has all the answers, you just need to be disciplined and focused and make getting well your main priority. Everything you need to get well is out there. Your inner natural healing ability is there for you, just add the belief in yourself and faith in what you do.
You can do this. When the times is right let the tears flow and then stay strong.
We are with you
Blessings Steve.
Steve, please feel free to reply anytime!
thank you so much I have had this all my life since second grade I no only not until recently did I know that was what it was. I appreciate your advise but each time I do treat it it comes back so much stronger its the most bizarre thing I ever seen its like it now is effecting me in every way. No worries tho I am a fighter and I want to be well I will not do antibiotics any more although I do beleieve in pro biotics. We as a people need to know b/c I work in the health profession in the back office that doctors get kick backs at times to get people to try new treatments but you know what sometimes the cure is worse then the illness. Thank you so much for youe response and I am trying these treatments that are all natural I am taking control :) :) :)
depserate but impowered lol
Hi Stacy, I hope I wasn’t to patronizing but I really felt for you, this crisis pulls you down. My symptoms have come back stronger too each time I stop a protocol. It just means I need to give it more time and get the inflammation in my system down to make the herbs more affective. Diet is crucial, since cutting out certain foods, especially ones with gluten, I’ve gained more energy.
Nice to see the smiles. Smiling back at you Stacy, Blessings Steve.
Thank you Steve your words mean alot to me and it is nice but at the same time sad to no I am not the only one with this issue. I’m ready to go to battel again so to speak I can do this and will.
thank you u have helped and impowered me to do this
thanks
Stacy
Your sadness, Stacy, shows us that you are compassionate and caring. Like all emotions feeling sad is beautiful. When you add your Value the world is a better place.
VALUE
There is an immense need for you to be here
Your ever changing story is to be told
To change it is madness
If perfection is the acceptance of imperfection
The only real choice is acceptance
For unfulfilled choices are disappointments
Our universal heritage is to prove one’s worth
But your value is missed
The purest need of all is your existence
————–
Amy plz contact me via email @ tonya_pantoja@yahoo.com I have been diagnosed with hpylori 3 times and 3 times been prescribed triple antibiotics therapy and still test positive I feel so bad and I am so scared I feel as if I am dying a slow death plz help me
I can’t afford the cocktail, is there just 1-2 supplements I could take to get rid of h.pylori?
Well buggar! I’m pretty sure my HP is back again after almost a year! I havent been tested yet but the same ole symptoms from last year are all back! I SOOO don’t want to take those antibiotics again, I mean, I’ve taken antibiotics in the past but the ones I got to clear this thing up last year were just revolting! Nothing worse than a metallic taste in your mouth.
I’m going to try and go gluten, dairy, soy and sugar free and I’m taking just tumeric and coconut oil for now. I’ve got manuka honey here but I’m worried if I have candida also and God knows I probably do, then taking that will probably make the candida worse.
The importance of correct testing is important in whatever protocol you choose in not only fighting HPylori but in getting your system to optimal health. As David Hompes says in his ebook you will save yourself time and money with the right testing, something I did not adhere to. After nearly 12 months of poor health and trying to eradicate this bacteria I have just found out HPylori is NOT detected in my gut. I have an unknown parasite and a very high sensitivity to gluten. Maybe I did not have HPylori all this time , I will never know this but I want to stress the importance of testing. I have had 2 breath test over the last 6 months both coming back positive and the last one was definitely a False Positive. I am now on a heavy herbal course to eradicate the parasite and then as Amy has said I will give myself “care and time”. After only a few days I am starting to feel my energies coming back and it’s a wonderful feeling in many ways. We can all learn from our time in crisis and we can then give that back to those around us, just like David and Amy.
Blessings Dear Friends, Stay Present , Steve.
The importance of correct testing is important in whatever protocol you choose in not only fighting HPylori but in getting your system to optimal health. As David Hompes says in his ebook you will save yourself time and money with the right testing, something I did not adhere to. After 10 months of poor health and trying to eradicate this bacteria I have just found out by the Metametrix Stool Test that HPylori is NOT detected in my gut and fungal growth is insignificant. I have an unknown parasite and a very high sensitivity to gluten. Maybe I did not have HPylori all this time , I will never know this but I want to stress the importance of testing. I have had 2 breath test over the last 6 months both coming back positive and the last one was definitely a False Positive. I am now on a heavy herbal course ( Paracea Forte ) to eradicate the parasite and then as Amy has said I will give myself “care and time”. After only a few days I am starting to feel my energies coming back and it’s a wonderful feeling in many ways. We can all learn from our time in a crisis and we can then give that back to those around us, just like David and Amy.
Blessings Dear Friends, Stay Present , Steve.
That’s interesting, Steve. My husband and I had the same Metametrix stool test, which revealed that we both have an unknown parasite and I also have H. Pylori (husband does not).
I work with a naturopath that had him focus on his yeast rather than the parasite. I’m also taking some herbals for the parasite, but it’s tricky since we don’t know what it is and parasites are so common.
Did your Dr. recommend the paracea forte? Has it worked for his other patients with this finding?
Hi Renee, My Naturopath had a parasite infection and got rid of it with the Paracea Forte. It has 4 of the main combatants against parasites. I am on triple dose for 10 days, off for ten then back on again. If this does not work Metametrix works with contemporary doctors that use other means, your naturopath should know this. There is another great company Designs for health that make GI Microb X that David Hompes uses and it has 3 extra known combatants in it. David’s $20 H Pylori Diet ebook is well worth the money and time.
I have been working with possible fungal problems now for over a year and the test came back insignificant. It been a week since taking the Paracea and I am starting to get my energies back and my mind is becoming clear again. ( boy have I missed that ).
I could write more on what I have learned not only with HPylori but with all the systems we have in place in our societies but I will just say that I always look at the big picture and I choose to become the creator of that picture. Choice is very powerful.
After I send this I am going to look at a email from Amy ” Occupy Wall Street ” and this what I mean. We can obtain optimal health, it’s what we do with this energy that really counts.
I hope this all helps Renee, Blessings Steve
I’d love to do that stool test that david Hompes mentions but it costs around $500? It apparently also checks if you have candida, parasites, yeast etc but then again I hear that there is no official test that actually confirms if you do indeed have candida. I just don’t have the $500. I don’t have any major symptoms other than losing my voice when I wake up in the morning and as long as my diet is okay I have no pain and have never had any nausea.
Does anyone here know what would happen if someone with HPylori had surgery? I had surgery earlier this year to remove my ovaries and ended up with a very bad ecoli and uti infection. None of the drs could explain why this happened. I also ended up with a blood clot in my pelvis and almost died.
Hi Amy,
Can using DGL licorice right before a stool antigen test give a false negative? I’m pretty sure I have some kind of bacteria (and I was positive for H. Pylori in the past) but my stool came up negative though I’m still have bad symptoms.
Did you replenish the good flora in your guy with a prescription grade probiotic like VSL#3?
Hi!! Amy,
I am suffering the same ailment but my symptoms are little different. I did went on two rounds of antibiotic and of no use. I am going to try your waynow and i am confident that i will be cured because i found another post who did the same thing you did in 2005-6 and i am posting it here below which is in a PDF file. Note she had the same symptoms of yours and the heart related problems are related to H. Pylori. Good luck and thanks for your post.
http://www.afibbers.org/resources/journeys/Glass.pdf
Thank you for that resource! It’s amazing how similar our stories are! I was also experiencing episodes of afib; they caught it on the heart monitor I had to wear for two months. Now, no afib ever since I was diagnosed negative for h pylori! Good luck eradicating yours!
Amy, I was just reading through your blog and ran across “my” story posted by Shabbir from the afibbers site. I am happy to report that I am still H.pylori free, and this year I have had only 3 afib episodes, and I believe I can account for each one of them as stress related or being in a cramped position too long. I have found that I cannot eat any gluten products and if I eat too much sugar I have stomach issues and my heart will race also. I have not taken any medication for afib since two months after I was diagnosed with AFIB in 2005. I take certain supplements daily for AFIB and it keeps me in check.
My Electrophysiologist (EP) specialist in AFIB sees me once a year and says he won’t mess with anything I am doing, he just makes me promise that if I go with AFIB close to 24 hours I will go to ER as I am not on blood thinners. I told him no problem and haven’t been to the ER yet. I believe the stomach and the heart are in tune and when the stomach is not right it can affect the beat of the heart.
Love your blog, keep up the good work, there are somany people out there sick with H.pylori and stomach issues.
Sharon Glass
Glad you are doing so well, Sharon! It’s not easy being careful, watching one’s intake and keeping track of symptoms, but it certainly seems better than the alternative: relying solely on western medicine that so often isolates and only treats symptoms, rather than working to locate the primary cause. Thank you for sharing your story and best to you and your health!
Dear Amy,
Thank you for this post! I’ve been going through this for 10 months now and finally had an endoscopy today. I too had/have vasovagal syncope and also chest spasms and was told I had a deadly heart condition (which wasn’t true). Sometimes the pain is unbearable. I get test results in a week but suspect it’s been H. Pylori the entire time. They found many small benign bumps (polyps) in my stomach and the LES is lax and doesn’t close properly. I’ve read on the net that the benign polyps are often from H. Pylori.
Your symptoms were exactly the same as what I’m going through now and grateful to find this post as it definitely gives me hope. Just curious if you became extra sensitive to the supplements or if all of them were OK (no adverse reactions).
Many, many thanks for sharing your story.
I was fine with the supplements. But some people are definitely more sensitive than others. Good luck getting better!
Dear Amy, I just want to thank you so much for this site / blog. I had been diagnosed with H Pylori a few weeks ago and only made it one day on the PrevPac. It was a terrible and scary experience – the side effects of the triple therapy. I had (still kinda have) many of the same symptoms you did and am treating the illness naturally now. I feel a little bit better and stronger each week and will post again when I am CURED to share my ecperience! I cannot wait for that day… and reading everything you wrote just gives me hope and reinforces that I am on the right path. Thank you again for all your insight and for sharing your crazy story. Who knew a bacteria in your gut could wreak such havoc? Thank you again! Edyta
PS – Diet is KEY! I know you say this a thousand times but I will reiterate it again just in case anyone is thinking otherwise. The natural meds will work but not without a major change in diet to support!
Thanks for this site. I have just been diagnosed hp. I have just started the triple therapy I hope it works. My symptoms were fatigue/nausea a sore abdomen and nightsweats. Like almost everyone here it tools ages to get a diagnose I went to ER twice and had every test ct scan xrays blood tests urine all fine. My local gp discovered it with a breath test. I was relieved in a way I thought I was going mad everyone was telling me I was fine. It is a relief to realize I’m not alone. Thanks again Amy.
Dear Amy, I want to thank you very much for sharing your story. All the information was very helpful and made me feel better when I was having these horrible symptoms.
I was tested h pylori positive 3 weeks ago. Stared taking 2 different antibiotics- Tetracycline and Flagyl. Side effects were nightmare. Went to my GI and he prescribe Levofloxacin and Amoxicylline + Prilosec+Pepto. I was also vitamin D deficient. My symptoms disappeared but taking powerful antibiotic like Levofloxacin sure enough- I got yeast infection in my mouth and throat. Today I was prescribed Fluconazole. After the first pill I already feel better and surprisingly hungry. Probiotics and Manuca honey are really great.
Thank you one more time :)
Nadia
hi there Nadia ,i also have yeast infection which i got after dealing with antibiotics :/ and its been like that for a loong time .I am curious to find out how would your treatment with fluc. end up .I forgot to say im also h+ for years now :/ ….keep it posting please and i wish best of luck to everyone !
Wow this sounds identical to me. I woke up with a racing heart and feeling like I was going to pass out about 3 month ago with a horrible stomach ache and diarrhea. I ended up in the ER two days in a row before they just said I had “exhaustion”. My primary doctor then called it a “virus”. I then went to a GI doctor and just got my biopsy results back from my colonoscopy and upper endoscopy. He says it’s “nonulcer dyspepsia”. Makes no sense. I’ve been on Prilosec since last week with no improvement, I have nearly every symptom you listed such as: foul smelling gas, back pain between the shoulder blades, feeling like I am going to pass out in the middle of the night, I get woken up after about an hour of sleep in the middle of the night, stomach noises, bloating, cramps, belching, anxiety, red eyes sometimes, nose running, chest pain, headaches, etc.
I am going to call my GI doctor tomorrow. Hopefully he doesn’t think I’m some quack for asking him if this could be a possibility. If he does, I’ll find a new primary and new GI doctor!
This webpage has been up for a sometime now. Thanks for the info. H. Pylori sufferer here.
Hello all,
Where can I buy monolaurin in Canada? I tried in some health food stores but they did not have it. Do you know online where I can order it? Thanks.
Andrea
Amazon.com – I use Ecological Formula. Good stuff.
Amy
how did you know you needed the vsl #3 and how long after you took it did you know it was working? How long did you take it to populate your intestines and do you still have to take it?
Do you still take any of the other supplements to keep pylori at bay? thanks!
I have been suffering from this nasty bug for 7 years. i am also diabetic? Does anyone out there know of another alternative to the Manuka Honey?
Hi Amy – I have GERD (heartburn & acid reflux) and possibly ulcer – still waiting for the results of my endoscopy. At times my heartburn get so bad I am so bloated that I have difficulty breathing. I came across an article drinking aloe vera juice can help minimize heartburn so I tried and it helped me. It decreases my GERD symptoms. In Dr. Weil’s website, he recommends taking aloe vera juice for ulcer. http://www.drweil.com/drw/u/ART03201/Ulcers-Peptic-Ulcer-Disease-PUD.html If you google “benefits of aloe vera juice,” you will find many benefits by aloe, including digestive health.
Dear Amy,
They diagnosed you with a heart arrhythmia and it was really a parasite? I am 21 and they just diagnosed me with Atria Fibrillation for no apparent reason. Although my stomach was swollen and I had diarrhea for two months and the Palpitations occoured 2 weeks after I had the stomache pains. I still have the stomach pains and my doctor shrugs the stomach pains off and goes directly to diagnose my heart. I truely believe he is ignoring the stomach pains and I got a different doctor to order a stool sample and the test came back that their may be a parasitic infection but it was not diagnostic. From your experience did the heart palpitations go away 100% after the H Pylori was gone? And did you have to specifically ask the doctors to test for H Pylori?
I was not diagnosed with parasites. I had to ask to be tested for H Pylori.
Hey Amy,
did you notice your symptoms would get worse even after drinking water?
BTW, I’m finally going to see another GI for a second opinion…
No, I don’t remember water having a negative effect. Good luck with the new GI!
Just found this website and it is an excellent read. I found out several months ago i had h.pylori and chronic gastritis. Since then i have been going through the wars suffering with
-depression
-panic attacks
-nausea
-heart palpitations
-chronic burping
-headache
-diarrhea
-indigestion
-almost fainting
and the list goes on. I have been to so many Emergency Rooms, G.P.s psychologists and psychiatrists. And have had almost every medical exam known to man. Slowly but surely i am making a recovery but still have some of these symptoms not sure if the bacteria is still there have to go back in January to do a test. I have been really trying to think positive that i can beat this surely man kind is stronger than bacteria. And must admit I am feeling a lot better than i was. I will try out this diet, Manuka honey and mastic gum thing soon. Right now i still feel a little bit uncertain if i will ever recover as the symptoms still continue daily even though i have stopped treatment 2 months ago. I know it is a process to heal but will i be able to get my life back??? i am 25 years old and i dont know if i will ever be able to drink again with friends. I am a dj also and last time i played in a nightclub I had a panic attack and have not been djing since then. it has affected my whole life style and want to get my health back.
If anyone has further advice let me know
Thanks in advance
Barry
Barry, I’m not really sure how long I have had this bacteria H.Pylori, I did take the usual antibiotics, and did improve, but still have some of the symptoms. The burping especially. I did a liver/gallbladder cleanse and that made a big difference in my energy level….It’s not a fun thing, but it’s really healthy. If you are interested, e-mail me and I will go into detail as to what you need to do.
Barry,
How are you feeling? I’ve had all the same symptoms you’ve had and I’ve been taking lots of vitamins but I still have headaches and anxiety. I wanted to find out if you are feeling better??
Liz
I am stll suffering from this horrible afliction for 3 months now. Somedays I feel pretty good then I will be out and feel nauseous,panicky and my stomach will start to ache. I have had great health until now this illness to be honest has ruined my life. I had the prevpac but I don’t believed it has worked I’m waiting on the results of my breath test. I have been trying all the natural cures mastic gum,manuka honey etc but as yet not much luck. It’s amazing how quick this has happened basically my symptoms started one day which led me to the ER. It took a month to get a diagnosis of HP. I haven’t given up but it’s extremely depressing as I’m stuck at home and all I want to do is enjoy my life. Sorry about the rant but it does feel good to write it down. I hope everyone gets better soon and Merry Xmas.
Hi,
Just came across this website. Seems there was a flurry of activity for 2 years and then it became very quiet on here. Has everyone been cured or simply stopped posyting? I’ve just found out from an endoscopy that I have H.Pylori and have ben given antibiotics. If that doesn’t work I’ll give the recommendations on here a try!
Rob
Hi Amy,
You are truly helping each and everyone of us who is suffering from this horrible bug. I have read your blog and it says to cut down all the sugar from the diet. What are good options for breakfast?I normally eat toasted wheat bread for breakfast alongwith greek yogurt with active cultures. I want to cut down on bread though. Is oatmeal a good option?
I have a couple of weeks before I start triple therapy. I am going to give it one try before starting alternative treatment. I bought virgin coconut oil yesterday, so should I try eating virgin coconut oil and manuka honey in these two weeks or should I wait to finish triple therapy first and then start other treatments? What do you think? Any help is deeply appreciated.
Hi Amy
2 years and 3 triple therapy courses of antibiotics later I still have H.Pylori infection. Thank you for this blog and for giving me the motivation to do this the alternative way. I’m surprised I didn’t go down this route a long time ago as alternative methods have always worked for me in the past. I’m in London and our NHS system doesn’t involve paying a doctor by the hour but unfortunately does involve long appointment waits and not being able to choose which doctor you see! I totally get the frustrations of certain docs just ushering you out the door and any mention of natural supplements just throws them into panic! Most don’t know or want to know the power of alternative methods as it throws their 7 years of medical school training into insignificance! That’s why I’m going to stop this battle with them and start to help myself.
I’m 36 and most of my adult life I recall having stomach problems from mild bloating with food intolerances, candida albicans and now H.Pylori. Reading your experiences and the supplements you’ve taken has made my experience all fit together like a jigsaw puzzle. Through years of my own research, supplement taking, elimination or gut support diets, its clear for me that there is an obvious link for what makes a happy gut and what makes an unhappy one. 16 months ago I successfully completed a 6 month candida free diet with support supplements and I felt amazing. All of the weird and debilitating symptoms I’d had for years completely disappeared i.e. diarrhoea, constipation, headaches, insomnia, muscular cramps, urticaria, anxiety, palpitations… the list goes on! So it totally makes sense for me to hear that your symptoms were linked. Its amazing when you come through the other side how you learn to listen to your body and so I understand when I read other peoples comments and they feel a little uncertain or skeptical but that’s ok, it’ll take for each individual to either leave the advice or take it and experience good gut health for themselves.
Anyway I have read all of the above and have my list of supplements at the ready! I decided with Christmas feasting and over indulgence that it was not a good time to start a strict diet and spend £££’s on supplements so it’ll start with a New Year resolution…
Heres to a healthy happy New Year and a happy gut!
Thanks again
Lucy
Hi Amy,
I just found your blog learning so much about what you have gone through becasue of H.pylori. I started having a upset stomach, indigestion and nausea since early Nov 2011. A GP finally asked me this month to do a blood test on H.pylori which came out positive. I just finished a week of antibobitcs and I would say it was not pleasant. The symptoms seemed to go away a while but now after 3 days of completing the course, I just feel symptoms are back. I have developed anxiety and thought throught a lot what I should be eating to avoid the discomfort. Heard so much about the natural theraphy, don’t know which are the best. Please advise
Hi Amy,
Is Gluten be avoided in the first place if H.pylori is positive?
Thanks
Baldric
I don’t think I avoided gluten entirely, but some people on this site (in the comments) recommend doing so. Good luck!
Hi Amy,
Im 21 years old and the past 3 weeks of my life have been hell. it started with a UTI and i told my doctor that i have burning pain in my stomach and he said it could be from the infection. so after i was prescribed to cipro , my infection was gone but the stomach pain remained. i had few visits to the ER and they treated me like i was crazy and want pain medicine. anyway after few days i started having sudden heartburn and it got severe to the point i thought i was having a heartattack. i never had any heartburn problem before. im losing alot of weight, pain all over my body, swollen node in my neck, sore throat , pain in my left side of abdominal and just weird pains all over my body. my GI doctor ordered the blood test and came back positive for HP. im currently on my 5 day of my triple therapy and feel little bit better but im pretty sure its not goin to eradicated it.
i bought a book online, The hylobacter pylori diet by david hompes and am trying to follow his diet. he also recommends the matula tea instead of the mastic gum saying it made his symptomps worst but ive also heard people complain about the Matula. its all very frustrating and also when i pee my urine is very foamy and bubbly which i believe is some sort of deficiency. im too young but feel like a 90 year old. anyway, he also said that sugar should be completely avoided and the manuka honey after all has sugar. its frustrating that i cant find one thing that has just positive feedback. can you help me out? i dont want to go on another session of antibiotic therapy but am hopeful i can eradicate this evil bacteria the natural way. i started a good diet yesterday organic eggs, bacon, tumeric, garlic, avocado. cabbage, and alot of vegetables. hope i can hear from you soon!!
The beneficial properties of active Manuka Honey (at least +16) far outweigh the fact that it contains sugar.
I don’t know about it eating bacon. You need to consider that your stomach is something of an “open wound” – it has bacteria teeming in and out of the lining regularly to feed. Imagine an open sore that is infected on your hand or arm – it would appear red, inflamed and very sensitive. Since you’re asking your stomach to continue doing the work of digestion, you want to make sure you give it the least work possible – foods that are cooked, mild and pass easily into the intestines. Bacon / pork is not one of those foods. I’d recommend organic, soft cooked chicken in small quantities. Even vegetables should be steamed or made into soups – pre-cooked veggies, including salads, are harder on the stomach and contain bacteria your body has to fight. Eat only alkaline foods. Look those up.
Keep in mind too that you need rest, etc. as you are giving the immune system the tools it needs to fight the bacteria. If you can boost your immune system through rest, proper diet and food-based medicines like those mentioned, you can fight this infection.
As for Mastic Gum vs. Matula Tea – I used the Mastic Gum from Allergy Research with no problem (another brand was too harsh) – http://www.amazon.com/Allergy-Research-Nutricology-Mastica-capsules/dp/B00014DMVY/ref=sr_1_4?s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1325531682&sr=1-4
I only took the tea once and had immediate diarrhea. But I think everyone’s system handles these things differently, so I suppose you go by trial and error.
Good luck!
Thanks for sharing this valuable info, managed to order most of the products easily from amazon (UK)
Lady, may God bless you because of the wonderfull help to other sufferers like me, and the time and effort . If theres a story to tell thats exactly like yours, its mine! (sorry for the bad English) enjoy your health. God bless
Amy, you are an inspiration in my case also. I want to thank you for allowing everyone a voice here. I’m not the best at grammar and often get rediculed on forums. Your blogging is wonderful and I plan to follow this subject for as long as your sharing information.
I was diagnosed in 2000 while in my early 30′s. At that time I read in an article the doctor gave that stated, most of the population over the age of 60, in the united states have H.Pylori.
I’ve gone through 2 rounds of antibiotics and the second one made my head feel as if it would explode. I stopped half way through. I then used Pau’darco (sp) but eventually felt sick.
Just recently I had an episode of explosive vomiting that just left me with stomach upset. Eventually, I had issues with palpatations and rapid heart beat. It kept me from sleeping flat at night and I ended up in the E.R. on Christmas day with tachycardia. Dr. sent me home with nothing but prilosic and aspirin. When I got home from the E.R. (not being able to even swallow water), I had a headache. I take 200mcg. of selenium normally for a headache and it always helps me. So at midnight, I took one and within 15 minutes the belching and reflux had almost completely stopped. Within 20 minutes the rapid heart rate slowed to just above normal but the burning was still there just not as bad. I was able to sleep leaning just a bit on my right side finally. At 6 a.m. I took another selenium because the reflux started back up again. Caution is always adviced against taking more then this in a 24 hour period. At 7 a.m. I took 250mg each of potassium and magnesium. Again at 8 a.m. and then again at 9 a.m. I felt wonderful for the rest of the day minus the fact that I could not eat.
Since, I’ve only eaten pureed vegetables. Mostly uncooked which feels best and some cooked just to warm me when I have chills. I have also managed to keep down knox gelatin with puree’d pumpkin seeds, hemp seeds and chai. I’ve lost 17 pounds since and I am still researching but have been led to believe that the h.pylori is running rapid. I’ve done tons of cleanses and used iodine which I know helps.
After having shingles I believe my stomach changed dramatically. Definately, believe it fueled an increase in the bacteria. I took 1 tsp. manuka & 1 tsp. turmeric 3x p/day during shingles outbreak and got alot of relief but my teeth suffered damage. The reflux involved caused erosion of my bottom teeth at gumline. Dentist accused me of sucking on candy but I never do such things. Dislike candy.
Initially, it was believed that I was having gullbladder attacks. I’ve done 10 liver flushes so figured this was not possible. Then pancreas was suspected but came out okay. Thyroid is fine also. I have read that H.Pylori can also cause Adrenal stress which in turns effects hormone levels. At this time I am on a heart monitor. Tonight while reading your blog I took manuka again, aloe juice and licorice extract. Then massaged the area under my breast bone and this brought a huge amount of relief and feels very satisfying. I’ve ordered the 3 M’s, as you refered to them, and plan to start on this immediately.
I do believe that I have passed this on to my teen and husband. I’m still researching on safety for teens and what to do but plan to search until I find the answers. Thank you so much for the time you have put into this blog and that your still at it. You are always patient in repeating your info too. Your a great citizen. Many thanks and I wish you the very best that life has to offer.
For those who dislike tasting turmeric-It can be blended into milk or a milk substitute with honey, mixed with mayo substitute on cracker or mixed in a good cultured yogurt.
Just stick with it – it CAN be beaten! For some people, it takes a little longer. To be fair, I did NOT do the antibiotics before starting the 3 M’s. Someone I know recently did begin, after two rounds of antibiotics, and she thought she’d never feel better. It took her longer, but (knock on wood), she seems to have turned the corner recently. She’s also older than me + the antibiotics. Don’t be discouraged! Keep at it! Good luck!
Hi Amy and fellow followers,
Like I posted earlier, I have been diagnosed with H Pylori recently and I am planning to start 3M’s soon instead of antibiotic therapy. I was wondering whether you consulted your physician before you started the 3M’s. I want to keep him in the loop but I feel that he might just dismiss my suggestions. I am confused. Also Amy or anyone else, do you know of a good naturopathic medicine practitioner who can be contacted either online or in person? I live in NY. Thanks for all the info that you all are sharing on this blog!
My general practioner approved, but I didn’t keep the GI I had at the time. My doc found me a new one, who took detailed notes after I became his patient (i was already cured by then). Both docs said they’ve had patients go through three rounds of antibiotics and were still infected. I don’t know if they’re ever recommended my ‘meds’ to anyone.
Most docs will likely laugh off my ‘meds’ as they believe in the tough approach with antibiotics, plus h pylori is the precursor to stomach cancer, so they prefer you go the traditional route. You can ask for a supervised trial run of a month initially. That’s what my doc agreed to. Since I was feeling much better, though still positive for infection, she agreed to another month. My test came back negative at tee end of that.
Dr. Marcus Ettinger is linked above. You could contact him. He was very helpful to me. Good luck!
Hi Shannon,
You said you were diagnosed in 2000, so all these years did you ever have any of these symptoms or they started recently? Wonder if H Pylori can remain dormant. I recently had gastritis and that’s when I was diagnosed with H Pylori. I am not sure when I got it and how long it’s been sitting there. Please keep us posted with your developments. Take care and Good luck! Hope you will feel better soon.
I had h pylori and had bad heart palpitations and high blood pressure constant nausea. The dr said it was just anxiety then just acid reflux turns out i had h pylori. Took them about 2 months to figure it out while I was thinking i was dying. Finally took the meds but didn’t feel better. Had every test under the sun done. Well the h pylori seems to be gone and i feel better but still stuggling with anxiety and insomia any suggestions its been 8 months now!! I need relief.
Hi Amy, I had been on Monolaurin, Gatstromend HP (this is mostly mastic gum plus other good things for the intestines) and Broccomax for many, many weeks (10+ weeks on each – Also I started with TWO months on the Matula Tea). I am also taking a variety of other supplements: Bio HPF, Minerals, Vitamins, GSE, Oil of Oregano, etc. Anyway, I stopped taking the Monolaurin a few days ago as it ran out and my symptoms are slowly creeping back in: chest pain, burping, shortness of breath, anxiety. I know that I have adrenal fatigue too and am aware that I can’t address that illness without first eradicating the H Pylori. I intend on starting the Monolaurin, Mastic combo again this week as soon as I get all my supplements delivered. Not sure if you know the answer to this but (1) should I be concerned that I was on the protocol for so many weeks and it seemed to be working but the minute I went off all symptoms returned and (2) is it ok to restart taking all of these supplements again (is monolaurin harmful if taken for several months)? I am seeing a naturalpath and plan on asking him these questions too… but I was just wondering is it normal for some people to take a VERY long time to recover… much longer than you or Dr. Marcus Ettinger for example. Also, I am going to be retested via stool antigen test later this week or next just to make sure that I haven’t already eradicated it and have some other illness altogether. Thanks for any feedback on this. I am so stressed that the symptoms are coming back. UGH!
Don’t know how you’re doing now, but I encourage you to explore the biofilm issue. Do a search for “Elena” to find her protocol. Essentially, she did what Dr. Ettinger recommends. You won’t get rid of the HP until you destroy their homes.
Amy, this is such a useful thread. I treated my HP first time with mastic alone, for 2 months (I had tested positive but was asymptomatic at the time). Now, 2 months after ceasing treatment I have major symptoms – body pain, headaches, the works. This time I’m going to do your triple therapy for 2 month, no messing about. I thought this might be interesting for some sufferers.
Also, the diet you followed sounds remarkably like the GAPS diet, the purpose of which is to reduce available food for pathogenic bacteria, which may be useful for those entering treatment now.
Glad it helps. I recently found this Alkaline Food Chart – Official List Of Alkaline Foods & Acidic Foods | Alkaline Foods & Alkaline Diet, which is also helpful! Here’s the link – http://www.acidalkalinediet.com/Alkaline-Foods-Chart.htm
Hi Amy,
Thank you for writing this blog. I only wish I had found it back in 2008 when you starting it. Maybe then I would have seen a Doctor much sooner. I am now 50 years old. At age 47 I became very fatigued and really had no energy to speak of. After giving birth to 6 children and running a full time business I put it off as age and possibly the start of the “change of life”. At age 48 my youngest child (15 years) told me she was really angry that I didnt work out anymore and that she was tired of seeing me just sit around instead of up “doing things”. Little did she know that I too was upset that I wasnt up “doing things”. I had no energy. When I attempted to get on the tread mill or go for a bike ride not only would my heart race like crazy right then and there, but at night when I would attempt to go to sleep I could feel my heart beat out of my chest and I my breathing was very heavy and fast. Her comment to me however is what made me call a Doctor for an appointment to check out what was going on inside my body. The Doctor scheduled numerous test. Within 3 days of the blood work he called me to come into his office to discuss what he had found. I was told I was very anemic and that my B-12 was extremly low. I was sent to a gastrointestinal Doctor to determine if I had a bleeding ulcer since my red blood count was so low. I had an upper and lower GI performed and it was determined that I had gastritis. The specialist (Gastrointestinal) then ordered a stool sample, which determined I had H-Pylori.
I have not heard any mention in any of these blogs or replys that mention anemia. One reply talked about B-12 and the lack of it. I am wondering it you have anemia. I have been told that H-Pylori and anemia go hand in hand, along with B-12 deficiency. I was put on the “cocktail” of drugs and my H-Pylori was gone. A year later I have gone back to be rechecked (stool sample) and am told that the H-Pylori is still gone. However, I still have anemia and my body does not absorb B-12. I have to take 3 prescription strength iron pills everyday and monthly B-12 shots. I still cannot exercise because I have no energy and I gain weight (which was never a problem before 2 years ago). Does anyone else have these symptoms. And do the food supplements you take help with these syptoms. I also battle constipation and gastritis in which they have my on Omeprazole daily.
Thanks again
I am going to elaborate a bit on my situation with H-Pylori, I sent my first reply last night, here is the rest.
During the early stages of my first diagnoses (H-Pylori) my step-mother (400 miles away) was going thru some important family papers. She was not aware of my situation. She came across a biography my Great Aunt had written about her mother (my Paternal Great Grandmother. Having lost my father to an accident when he was 51 years old, my step mother decided it was important for me to have these papers which described some of my family history. It appears my great-grandmother died of Pernicious Anemia at the young age of 38. She was a successful business women. Single with 2 young children she traveled by train from Salt Lake to Washington DC after receiving an invitation to attend one of the Presidents receptions (President Roosevelt). She was givin a job there in the Department of Agriculture. During this time she began feeling the strain of work which began to take a toll on her health. She had acquired an anemic condition although it had not yet become diagnosed. She went to stay with family and began devouring large steaks in hopes to regain her energy. This did not help. As she became weaker a prominent Doctor of the time advised she go to the hospital. Three Doctors had finally given her the diagnosis that she had pernicious anemia, lack of red corpusles in the blood, which was at the time a rare disease, usually fatal. They had no cure and no way to treat it at that time. The medication they gave her did not help and she became weaker and weaker. What she needed was blood transfusions and vitamins, they did not know about the transfusions then and they did not have supplements at that time. She became a victim to the disease.
I received this profile of my great-grandmother at the most important time in my life. Having living for years with no energy and just thinking to myself that it was age or hormones. I was waiting for results to come back on the blood work that was taken 3 days earlier as I was laying in bed reading this biography. Just as a reached the last few pages and read the words “pernicious anemia”, my Doctor called me to come in to his office. I took this profile with me. (I guess having it in hand maybe the Doctor would believe that something was wrong with me). My blood work showed both anemia and lack of B-12 (both extremely low as I previously mentioned). Further testing was performed because of my newly found family history. It showed that I have pernicious anemia. Then further test showed the H-Pylori. I am sure this was all started because of the H-Pylori. I am sure my great grandmother must have had it as well, although it was not even known back then.
This form of anemia is chronic. Your body does not absorb any B-12 from food or supplements. This is due to the H-Pylori which damages the mucous lining, not allowing these important nutrients to be absorbed and utilized by the body. That is why I have to get the B-12 shots every 3 weeks. Iron can be absorbed by food but apparantly it is a very slow process because I still have very little energy. Exercise is still out. Just working, cooking and cleaning wears me out. I feel guilty not participating with my family the many things we used to enjoy doing together as a family.
I would like to know if there is anyone else that has any of these other symptoms. After reading this blog by Amy and the responses I havent heard mention of anemia. Everything I have been told about says that it is a typical response to H-Pylori. I have changed my diet to iron-rich foods. And cut out the foods that hurt my stomach (gastritis). Or atleast try to. It seems the ones that hurt my stomach seem to change. I have alot of bloating. I look like I have a baseball just under my rib cage in the middle of my abdomen. I had an ultra sound because I though I had develped a hernia. It is tender to the touch as well. Dr. says it is just the gastritis. I countinue to gain weight, tho I dont eat that much. Please if any one has any advise please let me know. As I mentioned I no longer have H-Pylori, but will continue to be tested yearly. But I am left with all these other medical challenges that the H-Pylori has caused.
I am grateful to atlease have the iron supplements (prescription 3xdaily) to take and the B-12 shots. I cannot imagine how I would be without them. But maybe someone out there knows something better. Or knows a great Dr. that is better at helping patients with this condition.
I am a young 50 year old woman that has never had anything wrong with her till 3 years ago. I have alot to live for (7 kids – birthed 6 and a wonderful step-daughter, 7 grandkids). Alot of family functions. I push myself to entertain everyone and then for the next week I pay for it- in that I can barely get out of bed. My husband has really stepped it up in helping with all our family functions, I cant just let life pass me by and not participate, but it takes a huge toll on my energy. I just run out of steam. People look at me like I should be fine because I look fine. This disease is very deceiving in that you have no obvious symptoms that people can see. If you look good you should feel good, right? Wrong!
Hope to hear of some help. Thank you all for reading!
Hi Tracy,
I am sorry for all that you are going through. Beating back H Pylori is a big victory even though it does not feel like it due to your other symptoms. It’s my opinion that your concerns are beyond the experiences of people here. In my suffering through many a symptoms only to find out 1 1/2 years later I have H Pylori, I came across a website I think you should consider reading through. It is as follows: http://www.easy-immune-health.com. This is an experienced medical professional – an RN – who gives a great deal of information about Vit B12 (among other important topics) including the issues surrounding taking B12 injections. While you can ask her a question, be forewarned, she really needs you to read through what she has already posted beforehand. She has personal clients, etc. also needing her time and attention and, like most of us, doesn’t enjoy repeating herself when she has posted thousands of threads on multiple topics. I hope this helps and that you find a good doctor soon….
i have tried mastic gum without the desired result. i want to try matula tea. i just want to know if anybody here has tried it with success. Amy please give us the brand and the link of mastic gum and other natural antibiotics you used and also their website links. thank you. anxiously expecting your reply
Hi Emma,
I have been battling this bug for 5 months on my own – matula, mastic, monolaurin and LOTS of other supplements. If you read Amy’s original blog post above, you will find most of the answers to your questions as well as links to some of the supplements. Matula did not work for me and I actually used it for 60 days. I do not recommend this product. I have now turned to Dr. Ettinger in Southern California for guidance on finally finishing this process. I learned about him on Amy’s blog. Reading this blog entry on his site is key: http://www.advancedhealing.com/blog/2009/09/13/heartburn-gastritis-gerd-achlorhydria-or-h-pylori/. Basically, I wish I had contacted him from the very beginning. I have spent thousands of dollars essentially suppressing my h pylori symptoms these past few months but not ever totally eradicating the bug. (It can live in our sinuses and other locations… not just in the gut.) I am working with Dr. Ettinger now and will update this blog on my success (hopefully) in the next few weeks. Since other people have been capable of eradicating this naturally, I have hope and you should too. I would advise you in finding a doctor like Dr. Ettinger who has success in eradicating the bug naturally to guide you through the process. That is the only thing I would have done differently 5 months ago… rather than having waited and trying on my own without success. I am on the east coast and was still able to connect with him remotely for guidance. Good luck and hang in there! :) Edyta
After reading this page, it is amazing we ALL haven’t taken out a Class Action suit on the people calling themselves, MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS. The whole thing is a big joke (PHYSICIANS and DOCTORS) and I’m not laughing. Just about 3 months ago I went to my primary doctor to ask for help with this gassy feeling I had in my chest. He then wrote out a prescription for “Rantidine” and gave it to me. I took the pills for a week with no change to my bad feelings in the chest. I went back to my Doctor again a couple of weeks later while things had gotten worse. He then referrred me to a cardiologist for test. Did that and passed with flying colors but still I had the discomfort that kept worsening. He then directed me to a “GI Specialist” who immediately put me on “Dexilant”.Once again, I went back a week or so later, feeling the same discomfort. He then changed the medication to “Prisolic”. I “did not” respond to that medication neither. In the meanwhile, I had made three (3x) ER visits because of my “chest pressure” something the GI Specialist was treating as ACID REFLUX. I have never had this problem before and I thought it to be odd but I just wanted to feel better so I did what was recommended. One of my visits one night to the ER, the attending Physician asked if my GI Specialist ever tested me for “H. Pylori”. I told that he had not been ever asked to take a Blood, Urine or Stool test. I then aksed the Attending ER Doctor if the H. Pylori test could be done at present, in the ER. The attending Physician said to me that My Primary Doctor or GI Specialist would have to be the one(s) to handle the test. So. A few days later I went back to see the GI Specialist and told him what had happened, he ignored me completely and prescribed yet another medication for Acid Reflux, “Nexium” and he advised me to have an EDOSCOPY and COLONOSCOPY both at the same time, just before Christmas Holidays. I responded by telling the GI person that I would NOT want to do both Exams at the same time. He disagreed telling me that it’s common procedure and it wold make perfect sense to proceed with both. So I spent my Holidays in torment waiting for some relief but that never happened. .
NOTE: The “GI Specialist” as he’s referred to, never, till this day, do a BLOOD TEST, URINE/STOOL TEST or BREATH TEST on me yet I was being PRESCRIBED ALL these medicines for ACID REFLUX. Finally in January of 2012 the GI Doctor decided, since I had mentioned H. Pylori to him several times because of my ER visits, he would do the ENDOSCOPY for me without doing the COLONOSCOPY. Of course I was grateful. After I went back for the results of the ENDOSCOPY ..of course the GI Specialist told me that I have, H. PYLORI. On January 24, 2012 after almost three (3) months I was started on ANTIBIOTICS plus PREVACID (the only stomach medication that helps ME feel some comfort). So now that 12 day Antibiotics treatment is complete I am having to continue taking the PREVACID for an undetermined amount of time (30 mg 2X a day). My insurance will not pay for it and I am having to pay out of pocket for the medication. It is possible, perhaps I might not be suffering so much if my GI Specialist had begun the optional Test on me beginning the first day I saw him considering I was sent to him by way of my Primary Doctor. WHAT IS GOING ON OUT HERE IN THIS WORLD?. Yeah..Yeah…let’s hear it for the Doctors who get to have “your life” in their hands. I wish everyone better luck than I’ve had…Thanks Amy.
Dear Amy or anyone,
My husband was diagnosed with H. pylori and has been doing the 3 M’s plus probiotic. He has trouble keeping the “meds” down in the morning. He has been on the 3 M’s about a week. There is still a lot of projectile vomiting. Does anyone have a suggestion as to how to relieve the nausea and vomiting? He feels like he’s losing all the “meds” he’s taking in the morning. Thanks for any help.
Amy – on line in many places it says to wait one month to retest; however, you suggested a breath test can be done right after treatment – do you know if there is any benefit to waiting? Also I am continuing to support my system with manuka honey, lauricidin/monolaurin, mastica gum, slippery elm and probiotics…. do you know if any of these can interfere with the breath test results.
Thanks for your time.
Hi, I never suggested anything about a breath test as I’ve never had one, nor do I think they are reliable. Amy
Many thanks to the posts above n very helpful tips…..i really suffered for months bt finally recovered coz of right diagnosis in time, it takes time n very careful selection of food to get cured in time.
Dear Amy,
I’m glad treatment went well and hope you are all better now. I have very similar symptoms right now and a blood test showed that I had the antibodies. But the endoscopy sample didn’t. For the time being I am on 2 anti acids pills a day but still suffer from reflux, heartburn and severe nausea, upset stomach, weakness, heart palpitations, light headedness, vertigo.. I also have joint pain, occasional night sweats and constant back pain. All the doctors that I’ve been to previously have determined it’s just stress but I’m not convinced, even if at one point I started to doubt myself. What advice can you give? Should I ask for a stool test to confirm? My doctor told me that the blood test isn’t as conclusive as the sample, and that it was positive due to the fact that I also had an episode of rushing to the bathroom, fainting, upset stomach..which he ruled it out as stomach flu. I also had many heart exams, all deemed that my heart was good thankfully. Another ugly test was the tilt test to check if you faint.. mine was positive but at the time I was still extremely dehydrated from the episode and so I couldn’t stand on my feet.. but my doctor suggested drinking “perrier” and I couldn’t but laugh in his face. I also did a food allergy test to check which foods I’m allergic to. Cut the consumption yet still have the symptoms. Also checked if it’s an inner ear problem, thankfully it wasn’t. I’m 23, was pretty active, love to do sports but at the moment going to the gym is really tiring. I don’t smoke, drink alcohol or coffee (the things that my doctors quickly point out that I need to stop) It’s becoming really frustrating and I’m now looking online for an answer.
Anyways, thank you for reading my story and sorry if I bore you. I think I’ll do another blood test and check for any vitamin deficiency as well as the stool test and hope for the best!
Hello Amy
I used to have H.Pylori when I was 9years old and i’m now 24years old. I have been getting acid in the stomach every morning and also pain in the bladder area, also need to pee a lot can H.Pylori cause bladder pain at all ?
I was treated for it when I was 9 years old.
What is the chances of getting it again?
Thanks
Hello Amy, thank you for the information you provide for everyone in the world to see. I have been taking mastic gum (jarrows) for about a week now and ive started feeling pretty tired halfway through the day and I was wondering if youve had this same feeling when you began with it. My bowel movements have also been loose since i started the medication. Its only been a week but im still going with it..
Hey Amy. Thanks so much for posting this. Your symptoms are absolutely identical to mine so tomorrow I’m seeing a Gastroenterologist and I will ensure he does a test for H Pylori!!!
My blood test from a few days back came up with nothing and my stool sample say “no parasites found”, much like you and your first doctor.
My dad also had this and he described similar symptoms. So god help me if it’s not H Pylori. It started off really bad for me one night, then it got better and better over 3 weeks. Then I had an average portion dinner and I was back in the bathroom in cold sweat trying not to vomit and since that happened 5 days ago, I can’t friggin’ wait to see my specialist and I pray its H Pylori so I can finally get rid of this horrible suffering!
Dear Amy,
I came across your site while researching h. pylori and was most interested to read your case. Almost a year ago now I developed some odd symptoms and despite visiting numerous doctors and undergoing various exams have yet to come up with an answer or treatment.
I also underwent a gastroscopy where a small ulcer was found and a biopsy was taken. It was tested for h. pylori but the result was negative. However, despite trying 2 different proton pump inhibiting tablets my gastric reflux has gotten worse, not better.
I won’t bore you with the details, but I would like to ask you a question.
In your original post you mentioned that you had consulted with a gynaecologist and you were tested for perimenopause. I have done the same and again the results were negative. Did you also experience irregular menstruation and did you find out if this was related to the h. pylori infection? Or did that normalise once you started treatment?
Also, is it possible that the biopsy would have missed the h. pylori infection?
I look forward to your reply and thank you for your trouble.
Kind regards,
Olivia – South Africa
I don’t know if a biopsy can miss the bacteria, sorry. Also, I don’t recall if my periods were irregular during that time; I was just too sick to notice.
I think you should consider consulting with someone who knows about these issues and can help you. See my link to Dr. Marcus Ettinger above – he gives good advice and is very knowledgeable. He’d be able to help you better than me.
Good luck!
Amy i love your web site. its given me a reason to live. H.Pylori is a very crippling to your life. I know this because i have been suffering since 1998. WBC 19.2. told me heartburn in E.R. Sent me home with Tagerment. Dont trust Mds. they dont care unless you got money. I ordered everthing from your web site. thanks a million cant wait for products. O by the way after 6 years. they finally tested h.pylori i was 3.1 postive…Thank-you Ronnie
Good luck, Ronnie! You’ve been ready to for this battle for a long time!
Amy
Hi Amy,
Your blog provides tremendous source of information. Thanks a lot.
I am suffering from gastrities and other associated problems for long. I was diagnosed H. Pylori positive in last December. My doctor gave me medicine for 6 weeks (double antibiotic for 1 week and omeprazole through out). then he advised me to do the breathe test. I was advised to wait for 4 weeks without any medicine before the test. But I was having regular pain in my stomach. So I started to search internet, and that was the time when I came across your blog.
I started to take Active Manuka Honey and changed my diet to include brown rice, green tea, aloe vera juice etc. When I went for the test I was on my 10th day of Manuka Honey treatment. The test results came out to be negative, but my symptoms (pain before and after food, gas formation, bloatedness, frequent bowl movement etc.) are still there. Doctor didn’t give me any antibiotic but told me to continue taking omeprazole. I am continuing that along with my Honey treatment – but can’t see any further treatment.
Any advices ? I would have expected the problems to go away as I am now tested negative.
Thanks
koushik
Your good flora may be depleted. Mine was, so my doc had me take VSL #3, which is a great probiotic. It really helped me bounce back!
Hi Amy,
Thanks. I am inclined to take VSL #3. During my last visit to doctor I asked him about probiotics – but he didn’t encourage me. Can I just buy and start taking ? Is it ok to take this without doctors advice ?
Koushk
My story: I started feeling sick at work, just nausea and bad weakness. Then in the evening my heart started racing like crazy and muscles cramping and shaking really, I was rushed to the hospital, where they tested my blood for heart problems and everything came back normal. Cost about $3500. Then they told me to see my reg doctor to see what was wrong with me. Doctor said that I just have a seasonal virus and told me to drink lots of fluid. I Came back after 1 week with same symptoms. Then they tested my blood for h pylori which came back positive. They prescribed me the triple therapy (antibiotics) . When i started taking them i felt worse and thought I was going to die on my second week of taking them. So then I went to see a natural medicine doctor. Which was amazing: told me everything about it, what to eat and what not to eat: no alcohol, no sweets, no spicy foods, no breads. But eat: well cooked veggies(no tomatoes) non spicy soups, boiling bones for 12 hrs and making boulion. No coffee no tea( except chamomile). Basically a light diet for a month at least. Then prescribed me natural medicine. All these cost me only $145 , compare that to the reg clinic which cost like $4500 and made me feel worse.
Just wanted to say thanks Amy. My mother is going through this, although not as severe and I have been scouring the internet looking for more answers. I hope other people suffering the same thing find your website.
Thank you so much for all this great info Amy!
Now that it’s been a few years for you, are you now able to eat gluten, sugar, dairy, etc? Or have you had to permanently eliminate these from your diet?
My H. Pylori symptoms were a bit different, and it took me a few years to figure out what was causing them. Every time I would eat gluten or a high carb meal (or sometimes sugar or dairy – it wasn’t always consistent), about an hour later I would notice a strange smell in my sinuses. It was like I was smelling a black sharpie marker! It was SO annoying!
At first I thought it was candida, so I worked with a naturopath, did the candida diet, supplements etc, but it just wasn’t going away. Finally, I just did a stool test and sure enough it was H. Pylori.
We also discovered that I wasn’t making enough stomach acid, and I began taking Hydrochloric Acid capsules with meals to digest my food better, which has helped with the H. pylori.
The smell in my sinuses isn’t as bad now. It’s more like kind of a menthol sensation in my sinuses. It’s hard to explain, but it’s still really annoying.
I also had a lot of problems with heartbeats, but as long as I take a good amount of Magnesium I’m okay. I also get insomnia and almost every night I wake up between 2:30 and 3:30 a.m. I haven’t been able to fix that yet.
The naturopath that I’m working with for the H. Pylori has me on mastic gum, colloidal silver, Zinlori and Colixen. But, I still get that menthol smell if I eat wheat or too much carbs or other various things, so I’m going to incorporate your suggested supplements into my protocol.
I was just wondering if you can eat any gluten/wheat now or do you still notice your symptoms. I’m so tired of being gluten free!!
Thanks
I’m so grateful to have found your blog entry. I was just diagnosed with h. pylori via endoscopy, after 2 months of miserable symptoms almost exactly like yours (the worst being the racing heart). I’ve ordered and have been taking mastic gum & monolaurin, but after reading through the comments, I’m very confused and hope you’ll take a couple of minutes to clarify something.
I’ve been taking 1200mg of monolaurin, TWICE a day, which is what your protocol summary says at the end of your post. It’s day 3 and I feel horrible, 100x worse than before.
So I read down about 3/4 of the way into the comments here, and you then say you only took 900mg, TWICE a day. Then, you say no, you actually only took 1200mg per day TOTAL, or apparently only 600mg twice a day.
I’m so confused, and am scared now that I’m overdosing. What is the amount you took, for sure? I’m desperate to take the proper amount and hopefully rid myself of this horrible bug, but I also don’t want to take too much, and it seems I’m taking twice as much as you actually did, even though that’s not what it says at the end of the blog post.
Please clarify. Please. I hope you see this and can post asap. I’m desperate for the info.
Thanks again for this post and for sharing.
Hi folks,
Have not read all the posts through so if this has been posted b4 I apologize.
Using slippery elm and drinking good amount of water during the day specially after waking up has cured my gastritis and heartburn – so if i were you I would throw away all those antacids tablets and do as I did and in less than 4 weeks you will be rid of your heartburns.
The following site brought this to my attention –
http://www.slipperyelm.biz/
Good luck and thanks to Amy for her great blog.
Thanks for all the useful information. I was just diaghnosed with H.Pylori this week and have another Dr. Appt tonight. I had a random physical and told her I have a consistent case of heart burn. Luckily we now know it’s H.Pylori and I can start an antibiotic.
Thank you!!!!! This was amazingly informative
Wow. I thought I was crazy!!!! I have also been suffering a racing heart, diarrhea, nightmares and vomiting. After seeing a fewGPs I was told it was all down tO depression and to take lexapro. I hated the way it made me feel and there was no change! Went to see a lovely Russian dr (I’m in Australia) and she ordered the blood test right away which came back with good old helicobactor plyori! Now I’m on a week of hardcore antibiotics (8 a day!) and it’s leaving me with horrible metallic tast in my
Mouth and stomach pains. I just hope it works and I can go back to normal. Going to get manuka honey and fennel tea right away! Thanks so much for this article. It’s made me feel like there’s light at the end of the tunnel. All the best on your recovery journey!
Hello,
Has anyone here tried the H. Pylori treatment that Amy King used… Manuka honey, monolaurin and mastic gum? I have used this treatment for the past 3 months and now have diarrhea every morning (about 2-3) bowel movements for the past 4 days. I finished the 3 month treatment a week ago. Has anyone had similar issues? Has anyone taken a specific probiotic after a 3 month natural treatment? Please email me at Vesta314@gmail.com
Thank you for any help or advice!
Hi Amy, i just found your site here and am confused as the dates are a little old. Are you still around. I haven’t read all the articles, i need to clarify a few things. do you still have Hp or have you cured? has any one followed David hompes treatment, it seems so expensive and he expects us to takes so many tests for every conceivable bug. I am following the diet, which , like everything else works some days and not others. Thank you love Maryxx
I’ve been cured for years now. I never did the Hompes diet, though some have said my food suggestions are similar. Good luck eradicating it! It can be done.
MY GI did a EGD/Colonoscopy a couple of weeks ago and sent biposies to the lab. I just received the news today that I have H. pylori. I can’t help but be hopeful. My symptoms have been so many and changing every week. First I had the horrible heartburn with back pain that lasted for 8 hours each time and wouldn’t let me sleep. I though I was dying, literally. Then, I started to feel bloated and my stool turn all shades of green. Those first 2 weeks I was still eating normally, but I stopped coffee and dark cola. Then, the next week I had this overall indigestion feeling but no heartburn. I started to get constipated. Then, I couldn’t eat at night and had stomach pain. Now,the heartburn is back,mild, but I can’t eat anything without feeling worse. I was forcing myself to eat and then using laxatives to avoid the constipation, but I had just decided to go on a liquid diet as suggested in other sites. I am taking aloe juice, DGL, VCO, and ACV hoping I can cure myself naturally. Anyway, the nurse informed me she will be sending the antibiotics to my local pharmacy and I cannot wait to start treatment. I also had the anxiety and heart palpitations with shortness of breath, but that has subseded now. I am crossing my fingers that this antibiotic treatment will work.I’ve had this for about 4 months now. I am taking probiotics too.
I tried the matula herbal tea for 8 weeks and it didn’t work. I think it is a scam. I wasted so much money for the tea.
This method works for me:
2g of Monolaurin (1g taken in the morning and 1g taken at bedtime) + 900mg-1200mg of DGL licorice (300-400mg before breakfast, lunch, and dinner) + 3 glasses of raw cabbage juice taken daily for 1 month cured me and I was H. Pylori negative. This method is much cheaper and it works. I didn’t take mastic gum, manuka honey, or any other supplements.
I finally kicked the bugger after a second course of quadruple therapy antibiotics. I did combine the treatment with a radically changed diet of steamed vegetables (broccoli included) and generally healthier food. In terms of supplements I used Siberian Pine oil and 9 strain probiotics. In the course of the five month period that I had the problem I was also training for an ultra-marathon. the nett effect was a ten kilogram drop in weight. However, I do feel much better now and have permanently changed my diet for the better. I completed the 89 km marathon just two weeks after completing the second course of antibiotics. I did suffer from terrible bouts of nausea with 20km to go, probably from the battering that my stomach mucosa had taken in the past months.
I hope that this posting serves to give other suffers out there a sense of hope that you can and will beat this nasty disease. God knows, there were many times when I doubted that I would feel any better. Stay positive, continue to watch what you eat. Keep an active diary of what you are eating and how it is making you feel.
I continue to supplement with probiotics and Siberian Pine oil.
Amy,
I recently purchased the mastic gum but it was in 500 mg capsules. Should I be taking 4 of these in the morning and 4 at night or 2 capsules in the morning and at bed time? I started taking it and saw some results, but I want to make sure that I am taking the correct dosage.
Thanks,
CJ
I think I took two in the morning and two at night, but stopped when I tested negative. The only thing I maintained after that was the honey. And the probiotic, which I actually started after I tested negative to help me digest properly again.
Good luck!
Hi Amy ~
I was so grateful to find your blog when i was told i have Hpylori and didn’t want to go the antibiotic route. I purchased all the items you used in your summary including the monolaurin. Yesterday I called a manufactor that produces monolaurin and a knowledgable ladies informed me that since hpylori is a bacteria and monolaurin works on virusis it does not work on hpylori…..I am sooo confused. ALso i read that manuka honey will actually feed the hpylor since it is a sugar. Before I embark on your protocal…….i would love to hear your opinion of these two conflicting items..
blessings & health to all that read this.
lisa
From what I understand, Monolaurin affects both viruses and bacteria. And if you research and read the Manuka Honey sites, the antibacterial benefits of the honey far outweigh the sugar.
These both worked for me, and I remain H Pylori free and never took antibiotics. As they say, ‘Nuff said.
Amy. You are a life saver…… God will bless you forever. I have been through lots of stress because of this nasty bug. I was diagonised with H.pylori around March 2011 using my blood sample. Before then I have some symptoms like tightness in my chest, acid reflux and poor energy. So the Dr placed me on Antibiotics, i started taking the antibiotics after 4 days I developed severe Anxiety, low energy, low B12 and Anemia. I have been on 6 Emergencies and they gave me one chalky stuff to drink NON work, i did an xray, upper GI, ultrasound on my stomach everything came out good. I started praying to God to save my life. I quit taking the antibiotics because of the terrible side effects. I went back to Dr, he prescribed me the same antibiotics I took it for 3 days my body immume system started getting weaker I quit immediately and started looking for alternative. I search on the internet and I stumbled on Amy’s blog, and I was happy to hear that someone has been healed. I ordered monolaurin, mastic gum, manuka honey and GL licorice. I also take b12 and magnesium supplements and powdered slippery elm, I change my food compleately. I eat lots of vegetable cooked, okra, spinach, brown rice, cramberry juice but i miss it with aloevera juice. After taking this I started bouncing back. NOTE natural remedies takes more longer time to work, so you need to hang in there at least two most to heal you completely. I am feeling better now, but still on the supplements. Amy thank you and continue doing your research…. The best Dr is you, your Dr sometimes dont undestand how you feel. God created Herbs for healing and cure… H.pylori is 100% curable
I have one more comment , H pylori was causing my kidney inflammati/ infection … I felt every single symptoms was happening to me was caused by one thing.H Pylori, but the dr may not see it that way. H . pylori lives on fat, … bacteria turns the fat into ketones, which are hard on the kidney. Here is a very long lecture by Dr. Amy Yasko on the properties of H. pylori and how to get rid of it.
http://www.dramyyasko.com/resources/webisodes/h-pylo...
I read the whole story. Thank you, darling. I have been sick for ten months. I am a single mom and I will be 50 in a few weeks. My boy is 9. I just got diagnosed with Pylori. It’s been the rockiest ride ever and I hope to God it goes away with all these horrible antibiotics. I’m afraid of them and always have been. I am going in the kitchen to make up some ginger and something else tea. I am the weakest I’ve ever been in my entire life and I don’t have any short term memory. That is how sick I am. If the drugs don’t work, I will try your remedy.
Sincerely.
JoJo
I hope you get better fast, Johanna!
Best,
Amy
Wow, it sounds like me!
I have been suffering for two years! And my blood was tested positive for HP at the start, but my stupid GP Nr. 1 dismissed it, since the titers were so low…go figure. I just finished my first round, got better for a week, and now everything is back again. GI wants me to wait 5 more weeks for the breathtest and the stool test. Partner has symptoms, too.
I am on scd, and I heard that pau’darko tea and mastic gum helps, too, but both are illegal on SCd diet. Will switch to ginger tea and manuka asap.
My symptoms are nausea, vomiting, hot pain in my small intestine, heartburn, fatigue, bloating and weight loss.
You should be able to tolerate the Manuka, and if you can, keep up with the ginger!
When I was reading your blog it was as if you were describing my problem. The racing heart and the pains in the chest and shoulder made me rush to the ER several times and every time the great mechanical robotic doctors take my ECG, take a blood sample and tell me that everything is Ok with my heart and you don’t have to worry about it!! Yeah..but why the hell is it hurting everyday??? I finally started writing down what I was eating on a daily basis and was trying to find out what was causing it. I believe everything in your body happens because of what ever you eat/drink. Finally I figured out it was lactose intolerance that was causing the bloating which resulted in shortness of breath and pain in the chest (under the left rib) and sometimes pain radiating to the left hand and palm. Stopped taking milk and all the symptoms were gone! All the x rays, blood work, stress test and other crappy medication was for nothing. I It really bothers me when these doctors act like pharmaceutical company representatives. For normal well being, I turned to alternative medicines instead of the traditional western medicine. I take a mixture of freshly grated ginger with a teaspoon of honey in half a cup of water in the morning on an empty stomach. Its worked wonders for me thus far.
Isn’t it sad how we end up diagnosing ourselves? Glad you figured out the problem, Rohar.
Hi Amy,I start the treatment a month a go with monolaurin,mastic gum and manuka honey 19+.Prior that I took for a month Lansoprazole.I keep my diet as you said,I am ok,but I feel so weak.I took the VSL3 probiotic for a few days and I think to start taking digestive enzymes(psyllium husk)and L -Glutamine.
It is curios,that the food I could not eat before,I can eat now,for example onion and ,garlic,but 2 days a go I had aubergine salad and my stomach was out of order,I had terrible pain.At this moment I have no energy,I try to have plenty of vegetables,but how you said I think is because of calcium,and I will catch up later.Thank you for opening this blog,and I will let you know about my progress.
XXXVera
Good luck getting better! Keep us posted!
Waiting for h pylori blood test results but figure since I have the same symptoms,I will start tonight with the manuka honey. I cut out carbs and sugar several months ago and am now on the t scd diet. My symptomss of bloat, heart burn, wierd shoulder,chest and arm pain,shortness of breath,stomach pain and ibs have been plaguing me for YEARS. Just knowing there are others who have gone through the same and have paved the road to. successful healing is a true blessing. Thank you Amy and all whi have contributed
It sounds like you’re on your way, Susan! Feel better!
Results came in today and it IS h pylori. I’m so happy to have a way to eradicate the cause of 8 years of symptoms. Thank you Amy!!!!!!
I know that it’s been a while since anyone commented on this blog, but I just came across this after being diagnosed with H. Pylori a few weeks ago. The Dr. prescribed me Prevpac, and I am sensitive to antibiotics. After only 2 days on the Prevpac, I decided that I just couldn’t do it anymore and wanted a different way! I am waiting for payday before I order the supplements, but I plan on doing Monolaurin and I was looking into Interfase as well as Pyloricil. I was wondering, is it OK to take Pyloricil with Monolaurin and Interfase? Or would that bring on too much shock to the stomach? Interfase is a natural medicine that attaches to biofilms. Hope someone knows this because I really miss living a normal life! :) Thanks in advance!
I was thinking of taking Mastic gum,and i was going through the reviews–Ijust read negative review about the Gum,just put me off a bit–What will be your advice on this?
http://www.amazon.com/review/RK42EEBQ5WOQY/ref=cm_cd_pg_pg3?ie=UTF8&asin=B0013OVVAK&cdForum=Fx1UGNXQLP5FDMH&cdPage=3&cdThread=Tx3CHSGHFKOGSER&store=hpc#wasThisHelpful
I think it depends on the individual – some handle it better than others.
If you have time could you please contact me? I have couple of questions I like to ask. I also been test positive for h pylori bacteria.
I feel like you are my answer to my prayer and giving me the gift of life.
Mia Yorkey
Feel free to pose your question here!
I too have h pylori. My second bout with this dastardly bug. The first time it was eradicated with antibiotics. This time three cycles of antibiotics have left me testing positive for the dreaded h. I take 80 mg of protonix and antacids. ordered matula tea over internet as desperate attempt to rid myself of this nasty bug. I am certain that taking a substance called creatine triggered both outbreaks although i didn’t put two and two together the first time I got the illness does anyone have insight with creatine or the matula tea formula?
I tried the tea one time and returned it. The Manuka Honey, Mastic Gum and Monolaurin are what worked for me. Still bug-free years later now.
Good luck!
I’d like to contact CTM (March 2012) but there is no reply link and no followup posts. His/her symptoms are most similar to mine and especially wanted to know how he/she tolerated the PREVAC 14-day antibiotics which was prescribed for me. I was diagnosed today and am overwhelmed with information. I wanted to know, Amy, if you took the antibiotic course before your natural remedy? I’m terrified by all the comments on how the antibiotics were so harsh and the gastro pain and suffering during and after treatment. I’m going to wait until I know more before taking the pills. My main symptoms are diarrhea (several months of) and intermittent stomach pain and gas. My accupuncturist gave me “coptis” a chinese herb for these symptoms which helped me feel better but when my symptoms persisted I finally got tested (stool) and was positive for hp.
So glad to find this blog. I don’t feel so alone now.
I did not do any antibiotics – only the ingredients I list, primarily Manuka Honey, Monolaurin and Mastic Gum.
Good luck!
For most of my adult life I have dealt with some sort of digestive problem, to no avail every doctor I went to could not find a root problem for any symptom I might be having at that time. About a year ago I started having problems from one extreme to another, constipation, diarrhea, vomiting, pain in my stomach and not being able to eat which finally lead to losing 20 pounds plus. The last 4 months have been hell for me, after my symptoms worsen to the point that I could hardly function, I finally insisited that my family doctor refer me to a Gastrologist. I have finally been diagnosed with H.Pylori and severe Gastritis in my lower stomach. I just started treatment two weeks ago and am trying to be optimistic that I will be on the road to recovery soon. Although I feel like I have finally found a doctor that can help me, I would appreciate any feed back from all that has dealt with this and has any suggestions on how to continue to deal with it.
What is your treatment course? Antibiotics or the natural methods in this blog? Am I correct in inferring that you must have had HP for a year or more before being correctly diagnosed? I’ve pretty much decided to exhaust natural methods before subjecting myself to the prevpak antibiotic course. It looks devastating. Seeing another doc this week for second opinion regarding meds.
Everything I did is outlined in the post as well as ad nauseum in the comments. I did not do traditional antibiotics, and I had HP for more than a year undiagnosed before I began treatment.
Hi Amy, I was actually responding to Kim LeBlancs post of Sept 23, 2012. Am I not using the forum correctly?
Apologies, Janet – thought you were addressing me directly: my bad!
DENTAL HEALTH AND REINFECTION FROM H.PYLORI – I remembered that bacteria from periodontal disease can affect your heart health and we know our mouths are full of bacteria. Check this out …Recent scientific evidence indicates that the H. pylori bacterium plays an influential role in ulcer formation. However, we must remember that pathological organisms only flourish when conditions are favorable. For example, dental plaque can harbor a supply of H. pylori, which may allow continual re-infection (Dosai, et. al 1991). In cases of gastric ulcers, we must first address diet, stress, food allergies, liver health and digestive power. It is sometimes possible to obtain symptomatic relief with cooked okra, cabbage juice or bananas. A few weeks or months of DGL licorice therapy can also serve to strengthen the stomach and intestinal membranes. This is very effective, even in some cases of H. pylori infection. In stubborn cases that do not respond to simple therapy, research indicates that mastic gum (Pistacia lentiscus) is emerging as a beneficial anti-ulcer therapy (Huwez, et. al 1998).
I would like to say thank you so much for the article yes it is very hopeful but i have a few more questions…. Started and feeling so much after i had a total of 6 doctors just giving me pills….. But now i’m very concern about all the foods that i can eat please help because i have been eating breast chicken but grill and i noticed that i ate almonds and i woke with pains again ….. Am i not supposed to be eating those thing.?
I sure appreciate every one on this blog. Gotta say, I’m confused. Diagnosed a month ago after a screening DNA stool test. No obvious symptoms. Been on SF734 for one month, one more to go. Daily intense itching of eyes and serial sneezing attacks seem to be gone since the SF734. My decades old back pain, which I always associated with fatigue is also gone. I can get quite tired, but the back pain does not kick in. This is so awesome.
But what to do about the suggestion that total erradication could mean inviting other serious problems. Here’s a podcast suggesting that HP may be “good for the young, but bad for the old.” Link at end of second paragraph.
http://advancedhealing.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=44&Itemid=5
Amazing insights into H pylori and how to deal with it. Thanks !!!
Fascinating! I will follow most of your suggestions. I’ve been in agony for 9 months and the MD tell me to take acid reducing meds, which seem to make it worse. Can you please tell me where to get Bacillus subtilis?
I just found out my 7 yr old has H Pylori. Thank you for all of this information.
Amy, thanks a lot for detailed post. I have just finished my Triple Therapy three days ago, but don’t see BIG difference in how I feel even though doc said that I will feel much better after finishing up antibiotics. When did you start feeling better? I also just started taking Mastic gum, probiotics, and flavonoids to make sure I get rid of it. But getting kind of desperate – I’ve been sick for over a year now, and the last few months were most miserable.
I didn’t do triple therapy, so I don’t know. I felt better by the end of the first month – like it was gone! – but I did another month bc I still tested positive. I actually started feeling much better, if memory serves, a good week or two into my alternative treatment. Good luck!
Thanks, Amy.
I finally read all of the comments here! Wow, it is amazing to see how many people suffer from the same thing and yet doctors are still at loss and pretty much useless when it comes to diagnosing. My symptoms were almost exactly same as yours, minus vomiting (thanks, God!), but they wore me out just as much – I went to ER too many times to no avail, got my heart checked, my blood sugar, my thyroid and adrenal glands – after a visit to endocrinologist, who suspected I might have an adrenal gland tumor (imagine hell I went through just thinking about it!), I lost 8 pounds in 2 months, my hair started to fal out too, then one day I woke up with pain in my stomach and decided to visit GI doc. They sent me to do a CT scan, because they suspected galbladder problems, kidney problems and even appendix. Finally he did the parasite and bacteria testing and found H.Pylori. Needless to say, that I was just like yourself – thanks God, it is pylori and not a cancer! My insurance refused to cover EGD, so I might even have an ulcers for all I know, but my doc decided to do Triple Therapy regardless – to eradicate the bacteria. I did very extensive reading on the Internet about it (incl. Russian websites, since I am bilingual), and found lots of info, but was glad to come across your blog – just to see a confirmation that you can eradicate H.Pylori (before that I came across a forum, where people were sharing their experiences with Triple therapy and other treatments, but left it because it was a little bit too depressing to read). I am happy to see that people can actually get rid of this nasty bug after all! Thank you for sharing your treatment. I’ve been taking Mastic Gum, probiotics and flavonoids for a week now after finishing my Triple therapy. I just placed an order for Monolaurin and L-Glutamine, as well as stronger probiotics, and hope that it will help. I had to quit my job due to this illness because I wasn’t even able to leave the house for a few weeks, I had to stopped my dance classes, I showered about 2-3 times a week, because water was literally hurting my body and making me feel like I was about to pass out. I’m slowly venturing out now, but after finishing 11 days of antibiotics (I couldn’t tolerate them for full 2 weeks, they made me very ill), I felt like some of the symptoms came back 2 or 3 days later. I am having heart palps almost every time I go up the stairs and just before I have to use bathroom (not as bad as they were before the meds, but nonetheless). I am SO ready to go back to my normal life and eating more or less normal food – I’m quite tired of chicken soup and porridges, but more fiber seems to aggravate my intestines. So this is more or less my story. I hope that your alternative treatment will due the trick and I will be back to normal life soon. Thanks again and good luck to everyone!
After Hurr. Katrina the water in NOLA was not fit for consumption. We had to drink bottled water (which I did anyway before the flood). Only trouble was when the New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board treatment plant lost electricity (often) you weren’t notified until hours later to boil your water. Bottom line: I got Hpylori, I got treated with the antibiotic regimen, it went away.
Now I am in CA and my daughter and her partner do have Hpylori and live with it. I think I’ve gotten it again from eating at their house. Going to get tested this week. Feel the same symptoms as before.
Re: DOCTORS: WE KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH US. INSIST YOUR DOCTOR DO WHATEVER TEST YOU THINK YOU NEED FOR WHAT YOU ALREADY KNOW IS WRONG WITH YOU. IF THEY DON’T WANT TO, YOU SHOULD SAY: “ARE YOU REFUSING ME MEDICAL TREATMENT”? THEN THEY START JUMPING HOOPS FOR YOU.
GOOD LUCK TO YA’LL.
Nolasusan
I also took the Matula tea with no results. I drank it 30 days religiously as per directions, wait two weeks and make my laboratory test with results “strongly positive”. I think Matula is a fraud!
Hi Amy,
Interesting and detailed blog. I’ve been suffering from H. Pylori for a couple of years now and the inability of any doctors to fix my GI problems has rendered me hopeless. I have lost faith with conventional medicine curing me of this bug !
I’m ready to experiment and try anything. I’ve been researching on the internet and that’s how I found your blog.
I have placed an order for the Matula Herb formula. If Matula doesn’t work at the end of the 30 day treatment plan, then I ll have to look at other options. After reading about other people’s experience with the Matula Formula on the web, I’m skeptic about it’s effectiveness. I ll try it anyway.
I’m considering your method as my next course of action. Do you continue to take any of the supplements today ? And did the symptoms reoccur at any point after you recovery. Does alcohol consumption have any effect on your digestive system now ?
Your feedback would be appreciated,
ANJAY.
Hi Amy! I just want to say thank you so much for posting this and also for sticking around although you are completely healed! Most people leave these forums after feeling better, I guess cause they are out living a happy life symptom free but you are awesome for still posting your success 4yrs later. I have already done the triple therapy antibiotic which made me feel so much worse and I still have it. I am so hopeful that this will work and plan on starting your remedies in the next few days! One question do you still have to do a strict diet I know you were starting to eat more of the “good” foods but are you still able to eat more of the “good” foods now not such a strict diet?
Thank you thank you thank you!!