by Ivydragon » Aug 11, 2004 12:19 pm
From what I have found, yes, there seems to be a corollation between Helicobactor Pylori and HG, but the overwhelming evidence is all foreign, and mostly in 2nd and 3rd world countries. There have been some studies showing HGers in the hospital test positive for H. Pylori, and treated with Eyrethromicin (sp?) (an antibiotic) and then having their HG symptoms relieved with the successful treatment of their H.Pylori infection. The articles are very interesting to read.
I have heard it recommended that all HGers be tested for H. Pylori, and I've known a great number who have been tested. The large majority of them test negative for H. Pylori! The few who have tested positive have not actually then had another child, and after their pg when they found out they had tested positive; too late to treat it successfully to see if it made a difference in their HG.
According to Motherisk, there are some things about H. Pylori that is not
clearly understood, being a relatively new disease that is being studied.
It is unclear if H. Pylori is a bug that is caught, treatable, and thus
eradicated, or if H. Pylori is something that is found in many people and is
actually either latent, or active, and never really truly gone at all.
There is some thought that even if a woman w/ a history of HG is tested for H. Pylori prior to conceiving, and test negative that she be tested AGAIN after conceiving because the changes throughout the body when a woman becomes pg could awaken a latent H. Pylori infection.
Blood tests for H. Pylori indicate if someone has had an active infection in
the previous 5 years (even if they do not now have an active infeciton), and treatment for H. Pylori is usually a round of several strong antibiotics.
After which the patient must be retested by some other means than a blood draw because the blood will still test active. There is a breath test that is available and the test can also be performed on fecal material both of which tell if there is a CURRENT H. Pylori infection.
H. Pylori is actually what got me interested in HG after having two HG pgs
of my own, activated me to be involved in helping other HGers, and so I've done some research on it. I really wish I had more concrete information, but I'm not even sure that the Gastroenterologists have it all figured out yet. I don't really have time any more just to research.
I was archiving old messages from the old HER forums
recently, and someone mentioned a natural way to fight H. Pylori. I have no idea where the info originated, but it is probably worth researching to find out. Here's the exact post:
Blessings all,
Just FYI-- in western medicine the standard protocol for treatment of h.
pylori is heavy duty antibiotics. But there is a MUCH better and safer way
to treat it--- Mastic Gum. H. Pylori is a spirochete--- spiral shaped bacteria. It can withstand the very hostile environment of the stomach and burrows itself into the mucosal lining of the stomach where it then thrives. Most antibiotics are formulated to withstand the stomach,t oo and are assimilated into the bodysystem once in the small intestine. Therefore, lots of antibiotics are tried and very few actually work against h. pylori. Mastic Gum is a tree resin from a medeteranian shrub. The best way to buy it is from a greek foods/med foods store in it whole and natural form. You just chew about 1gram a day-- it chews like gum and has a great flavor. (piney!) then swallow it down. Do a six week long course and then do a breath test for h.pylori. I did a 6 week course of mastic gum before my last pregnancy and I didn't experience a miracle. But I don't really think I had h.pylori anyway.
Blessings,
April
I wouldn't bother trying to treat for H. Pylori if you don't know if you
have it. Not all HGers by any means have an H. Pylori infection. I've read that if you do have an infection and cannot tolerate the treatment, fighting the HG seems to be the best way to keep H. Pylori from flourishing.
I really want to look into this mastic gum thing, so I think I'll post it in research and see if someone might be willing to look some info up on it.
Andy
Last edited by
Ivydragon on Aug 12, 2004 9:35 am, edited 1 time in total.
Mom to Aaron 14 (HG), Anna 11 (HG), Adam 8 (adopted), Andrew 8 (adopted), fostering a newborn . . .