DISCLAIMER: I understand that the SDMB is but a humble message board, and that it is no substitute for a medical consultation by a trained MD. Unfortunately, my appointment isn’t until November 4.
Now: I’ve been suffering from intermittent stomach pain for awhile, and was recently diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrome. However, I changed my diet, and only some of the symptoms have gone. Blood tests indicate I also have a high h. pylori (pilori?) count in my bloodstream.
I will hopefully receive antibiotics for it, but in the meanwhile: Does anyone have any experience with this condition, or any treatments therein? My aunt, an RN, recommends Mastic Gum to inhibit the bacterias’ growth, at least until I can get an antibio. Are there any reputable scientific tests to lend this treatment any credence?
H. Pylori is relatively recently described organism, and unfortunately, they are notoriously difficult to eradicate. Look at it this way: they’re already living in your stomach where the pH ranges from 1 to 5 over the day and the environment changes every time you eat/drink/etc. Treatment usually consists of several months of antacids (since the little buggers thrive in acid but don’t like higher pH) and a combination of two or more antibiotics. I’m not sure what the product you were recommended above is, but I’ve never heard of it and suspect it’s probably not very useful, despite what folklore may exits on its merits.
Also, H. pylori can cause ulcers, which may present as upper abdominal pain and heartburn or gastric reflux. The process is unrelated to irritable bowel, though the latter may also cause abdominal pain and diarrhea or constipation. Probably best to wait until you see your doc before trying home remedies.
Not medical advice, just information. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Not to be taken parenterally. Do not taunt happy fun ball.
Not quite the same, but close, I had gastritis. They game me a prescription of Pepcid, it worked wonders, the gastritis went away and never came back (over 10 years ago). YMMV.
My favorite regimen for treating H. Pylori is 1 gram of Amoxil twice a day for 14 days, along with 500 mg of clarithromycin twice a day for 14 days along with 20 mg of omeprazole twice a day for 14 days. If one is penicillin allergic I generally substitute doxycycline 100 twice a day for 14 days in place of the Amoxil.
The eradication rate on this regimen is very high, and it is generally well tolerated.
After eradication, usually I recommend ranitidine 150 to 300 mg twice a day as needed for any persistent heartburn.
If this regimen does NOT take care of the majority of the symptoms, upper endoscopy may be desirable to actually see what’s going on and take biopsies and cultures of the gastric lining.
Remember, after a successful treatment for H. Pylori, titres will probably remain elevated for the rest of ones life. So generally repeat blood testing for the organism is not helpful.
While awaiting definitive treatment for a positive H. Pylori titre, I often recommend use of ranitidine as noted above. But beware that while ranitidine alone may completely control H. Pylori symptoms, it will not fix the underlying problem.
I am unaware of any studies of the gum you mentioned.
Yes! Mastic gum works! I had gastritis and the early stages of an ulcer a couple of years ago, and I tried mastic gum. I am not normallyone for “alternative health” but I worked on a chemistry magazine and edited an article about this stuff and it sounded convincing. I bought some online, a brand called “Mastica” and it worked great for me. I still take it from time to time if my stomach complains due to stress and long working hours. The capsules are big (500mg each) and you have to take four at a time, but it’s great stuff.
I don’t have the studies to hand but the gum has certainly been demonstrated to kill H pylori in vitro.
To the best of my knowledge, there is no research on the effects of live cultures of Lactobacillus or Acidophilus or other lactose-digesters on Helicobacter pylori infections in the stomach. However, it will soothe the GI system for most kinds of problems. Since citrus x paradisi has a month to wait to see the doctor, and also has an IBS diagnosis, I think it’s worth trying. It should help with the gut part fershure.
I also do recommend taking lysine. AFAIK, there is no known effect on any gut microbes, but if there is damage to the wall of the intestines (and there very often is, with IBS), it speeds healing. I have only anecdotal evidence, but it was a prof of nutrition who recommended lysine to me. I know that it speeds healing at both ends of the gut (cold sores, canker sores, hemorrhoids). It is reasonable, even though unproven, to believe that it also works in the middle.
TMI: I started taking lysine in 1997. I’ve had IBS since I can remember, probably since infancy (it does happen!). When I was hospitalized in 2001 with a gut infection gone systemic, the doctors - both the supervising physician (I was in a different hospital than the one where my family doctor is on staff) and the … gastroenterologist(?) expected to see all kinds of stuff (crevices, polyps, probably even open sores) in my colon. It was “unremarkable”. The doctor operating the colonoscope (I guess that’s the right name for the machine??) was astounded. I also take vitamin A daily, have for >25 years. I don’t know that it speeds healing on internal lesions, wounds, etc., but it sure does on the outside.
My wife had IBS for months. She had multiple exams and tests, was put on antibiotics etc. She finally started taking pepto-bismol and she was cured in 24 hours. Take one or two tablets as directed AND after each bout of diarrhea. The bismuth is known to inhibit H. Pylori and anectodally, it worked like charm on my wife.
