This is a candid shot my mother took of me in the midst of my suffering with H-Pylori. They say a picture says a thousand words, but for me this only says one–pain.
Summer of 2016, I went to South Carolina for a funeral. I became ill for 24 hours- constant vomiting and fever. I couldn’t keep fluid down. It felt like I threw up every ounce of liquid in my body. I have no idea if this incident had to do with my h pylori infection, but it certainly became the start to my stomach problems that year.
Over the next few months, I had a few strange incidents with my stomach. I was out at Panda Express, eating what I always have, and I was overcome with nausea/bloating for a good two hour span. The next week, I was at Chipotle and it happened again. I was noticing my stomach reacting to foods that it never had before. I went to the doctors, and they suggested testing for H-Pylori.
I remember, in ignorance, hoping that H-Pylori was the cause. Because at least then I wouldn’t have to go for extensive testing or have something serious, right? I could take an antibiotic and it would be over!
Two weeks later, I came in and heard that I was positive. I sighed with relief. The doctor handed me a script for triple therapy–omeprazole, metronidazole, clarithroymicin.
The pills were huge. The pharmacist said we could chop them and take it that way. So I cut the sucker in half and swallowed it, after I had a full stomach. I was in agony for the next few hours. I paced my home with a cold washcloth on my face. Fighting nausea, fighting pain. Hot flashes. It was horrible.
There was no way I was going to do this twice a day for fourteen days.
My mother drove me to the doctor’s office first thing the next morning. We waited for an appointment. At this point, my stomach was still giving me fits. I chewed on saltine crackers, nausea keeping my mind occupied.
The female doctor, after hearing what happened, refused to give me a script for an alternative antibiotic (there are a few different combinations). I have never seen more corruption or lack of empathy in my life. I almost begged. She refused. “Go see a G.I. specialist.”
Those words were so hard to hear. It would take weeks for me to get in, as appointments were booked. And would they also try to make me take triple therapy? That’s what caused me to search out natural methods. I was not willing to kill myself in order to kill H-Pylori.
I spent hours and hours on forums, searching youtube, reading reviews. There’s a lot of information out there and it was hard to tell what would help me. There were costly teas and herbal products, supplements I could find at the store, ingredients I had never heard of. I looked up side effects, costs, and effectiveness. Here’s a detailed post I wrote that shows what helped me: Natural Cure.
Within two months, I went to a new doctor and was retested. I was negative.
I cried when I got the phone call. I couldn’t believe it. So many naysayers that said I was crazy. All the doctors that gave me weird looks when I said I was trying to cure myself naturally. And it actually happened! And it happened with no side effects.
After eradicating the bacteria, I still had to work on rebuilding my stomach. H-Pylori is vicious and really leaves an aftermath to clean up. How I helped my Gastritis is Here.
Now, I’m doing awesome! I have made several youtube videos detailing my journey through this illness and beyond. I love helping and reaching out to those who are now struggling with H-Pylori. IT SUCKS. I hope this website helps anyone who is struggling, has struggled, wants to help stomach health, or health in general.
Here’s me now. I’m happy and healthy. And I hope you can be too!
Much love,
Ellie
H Pylori SUCKS 