H-Pylori diagnosis with many symptoms - Digestive Disorders Message Board

lonelyalso · 02-06-2007, 05:34 PM

This is my first posting so I am a little nervous. I will try to explain a rather involved medical situation and hope that somebody can offer advise.
A Chiropractor I was seeing for an ankle injury suspected that I may also have an H-Pylori infection which he believes is causing a lot of seemingly unrelated medical problems; GERD, Rosacea, pain in various parts of my body, IBS, many side effects to medications and supplements, insomnia, depression, anxiety. The list goes on. I have been feeling increasingly worse. I'm not sure I totally believe what he telling me however. I had to take the results of his test to my primary dr. in order to get the Antibiotic therapy prescription. She wanted to do a breath test for the H-pylori, which came back negative. The chiro dr. then tells me that test is not as accurate as his stool test and that I should go on the treatment, that he has treated many people with my symptoms who have improved.
I am at a loss as to what to do. I find it hard to believe that all of these symptoms could be realted to H-Pylori and I'm not even convinced that I have it. I am afraid of the Antibiotic tx causing more side effects and more problems. My primary dr. wants me to see a GI dr. I have been going to so many dr's for all of these problems and nobody is helping me.
I guess my question to anybody out there is has anybody heard of H-pylori causing these other symptoms? The Chiro dr. is charging me a lot of money for all of the tests he has done and phone consultations.
I apologize for the lengthy post but I am new and don't know quite how to do this yet. Please bear with me..I am feeling desperate for help and guidance

Thank you.

sadtummy · 02-06-2007, 07:20 PM

H Pylori is quite common and most people carrying H Pylori have no problems or symptoms at all. Sometimes, perhaps stress or diet, or some other thing causes some irritation in the lining of the stomach and the H Pylori takes advantage and starts to create an ulcer. I have read that H Pylori can cause gastritis as well. Personally, I doubt that H Pylori (if you actually have it) would cause all of the problems you have mentioned. If you want to settle this once and for all, go to a gastroenterologist and have him do an endoscopy on you. They will do a biopsy for H Pylori. That is probably the most accurate way to check. They will look for other problems while they poking around down there as well. Sure beats guessing! I had an endoscopy last month, they put me out, have no recollection of it at all. By the way, there is also a blood test for H Pylori antibodies. Ask your doc about that. The blood test is a good screening tool. I think your chiro is overstepping his boundaries a tad here. One more thing, anxiety and depression can cause a whole host of physical problems including many of those you are having now. So you should definitely go to a GI doc and get your gastro symptoms dealt with (IBS, GERD, etc), and perhaps talk to your primary care doc about dealing with your anxiety. Sorry, rambled a bit here.

lonelyalso · 02-06-2007, 08:19 PM

Thank you so much for your quick reply. What you are telling me is very helpful because it is very similar to the thoughts I am having especially that the Chiropractor is overstepping his field of expertise. He tells me the stool test is the most accurate even over an endoscopy which I find hard to believe. From other things I have read on the message boards, I think my symptoms fit more in the fibromyalgia area. I am working on the deprsession and anxiety areas with a psychiatrist but I am so sensitive to medications that I haven't been able to stay on one. I have a lot of of stomach/intestinal problems. I do have an appt with a GI dr. and now I feel more confident that that is the right step to take after reading your post. About 3 years ago I had a colonoscopy and endoscopy but nothing abormal was found so they categorized my problems as Acid Refux and IBS. It's difficult when you have so many symptoms and the primary dr.'s send you to all these different specialists. As I said before, this is the first time I have used a message board and I am finding it a great source of information.

Thanks again!

GILLY1 · 02-07-2007, 09:32 AM

I had hy pylori and had all your symptoms. I was treated twice with anti biotics before it got rid of it. I still have a few symptoms but my Dr said it could take a year for my symptoms to ease completely because hy pylori strips your stomach lining and probably given you ulcers.

Ladybiker · 02-07-2007, 09:47 AM

I had endoscope about 2 weeks ago, that came back with the H Pylori infection. Doctor put me on 2 different antibiotics. I'm allergic to almost every kind of antibiotic, so didn't want to go this route. My only problem is chest type pains on the left side. I don't have acid reflux or any of that. I also don't have all those symptoms you have. The doctor said endoscope is best way to determine H Pylori, and then after a month they re-test with the stool. But I also am not so sure H Pylori would cause all those problems you are having. Doctor did also put me on a type of anti-depressant that is supposed to relax the esphogagus type area for the pain I'm having. So far hasn't helped the pain.