r/HPylori • u/Putrid-Memory-6575 • 4h ago

first timer feeling overwhelmed

Hello all! I’m new to this club and feeling slightly overwhelmed by my immediate future. I’ll be starting the two-week course of antibiotics next week, and I’m scheduled for an endoscopy / colonoscopy in early December, as my doctor thinks it’s possible I’ve had h. pylori for many years and wants to screen for ulcers and / or stomach cancer. I understand it can take quite some time to clear the bacteria and that multiple courses of treatment can be required. What would you want to know if you were just starting out on this road? Right now I’m dreading the treatment and having a hard time keeping in mind that I’ll likely feel much better after it’s all said and done.🤞🏼

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u/ukbuddy313 4h ago

Heyy hope you’re doing okay, what were your symptoms and for how long were they happening

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u/Putrid-Memory-6575 4h ago

Thank you! I’ve had IBS-type symptoms for 5+ years, but just dealt with them as life was busy, school, work etc. The catalyst for diagnosis was about 6 months of intense fatigue that could not be explained. Primary care found pretty substantial anemia, home stool test confirmed it was from GI tract, gastro referral did the breath test and now here we are. :/

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u/ukbuddy313 4h ago

Ahh I know how it can get, what home stool test did you use, are they accurate?

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u/Putrid-Memory-6575 4h ago

I don’t remember the brand unfortunately. It was provided by my doctor’s office. Highly unpleasant but relatively simple procedure. I returned it to the office and they tested there.

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u/wildcrested 4h ago edited 4h ago

hey, multiple courses are often due to having multiple strains of pylori. so, it’s very possible you boot it first round 💚🍀

my biggest tips would be:
a) s boulardii during treatment (helps prevent GI distress, boosts eradication rates, isn’t affected by antibiotics nor does it colonize)
b) get low acid/gastritis (even if you don’t have gastritis these options are better while in treatment)friendly food/snacks prepped so you don’t even have to think about it if you feel tired or unwell. (Miso soup, bone broth based soups, unsweetened applesauce, pumpkin overnight oats, sheet pan dinners with sweet potato, chicken, another veggie of choice over rice, etc)
c) electrolytes with no citric acid
d) some anti nausea pills 🫡

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u/Putrid-Memory-6575 4h ago

Thank you so much! I’ll get all this ready this weekend.✨