H Pylori in families

[cobbiemommy]

Ds,tested positive for H. Pylori. He is taking Mastica twice a day to combat this little monster. If this does not work, I am going to ask her to go after it with conventional antibiotic treatments. Anyway, while doing a little research, I came across a site that says that H. Pylori tends to be found in multiple members of a family. It also could be found in people who have drank from possible unsanitary water or lived in overcrowded conditions. Also, H. Pylori can cause not only diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and vomiting, but also anxiety. The inability to lose weight or losing too much weight can be attributed to this bacteria. Later consequences of H. Pylori are stomach ulcers and possible stomach cancer.

 

Some of the methods of transmission are hand to mouth, fluid to fluid (say a kiss with your spouse), changing a diaper of a child with H. Pylori and then inadvertently touching your face. One time, DS, was sick and I laid down on his bed by him (because as you know we moms never get sick) and he vomited into my mouth. Sorry to be so graphic, but it really happened!

 

I have horrible stomach problems and my stomach can become so distended that I have to put on sweats. The test is a blood test. Guess what test I am asking for next time I go in for my checkup?

 

I would ask for this test from your child's doctor when doing a workup for Lyme. It is treatable and could help shorten the duration of treatment for Lyme.

 

 

Cobbie

[philamom]

Sorry to hear about the positive H.Pylori. We tested my dtr for it last year, she was negative...but positive for Giardia. I don't know how she contracted it...she never swam in a lake or river. Maybe a swimming pool somewhere?? Anyway, is one stool sample sufficient for testing purposes? I know with c-difficile, it sometimes takes more than one sample for it to be seen. BTW- for anyone testing for c-difficile be sure to take the stool directly to the lab. They say you can freeze it, but I think it diminishes the testing. I was told by a few doctors to take it directly to the lab as soon as you can (def. not overnight).

[JuliaFaith]

DS tested negative for this a while ago but is now being treated with Mastica from another doctor. How long do you have to take Abx. to get rid of it? DS has done at least a month on Biaxin in the past.

[philamom]

Cobbiemommy-

I forgot to mention...3 years ago I had horrible stomach issues and a distended stomach. By the end of every evening I looked 9+ months pregnant...I had to change outfits throughout the day. I went to all kinds of specialists, had ultrasounds, colonoscopy, endnoscopy, changed my dietary habits...in the end (5 months later) I found it to be the Starbucks non-fat Chai I began drinking in the afternoons. I'm a morning cappachino gal! After I eliminated it, all symptoms went away. I'm certainly not saying a food item is the case for you, but it just jogged my memory!

[philamom]

Ooops...just noticed you mentioned it was a blood test. Thanks for sharing -- I think I'll add it to my daughter's list for next time.

Edited January 27, 2011 by philamom