Helicobacter bacteria
April 9, 2011 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Dr. med. Ralf Berg
On January 26, 2011, stomach bacteria (Helicobacter pylori) were diagnosed in me - (endoscopy/tissue samples - without further results)
Previous medications: (after January 26, 2011)
- Clarithromycin
- Amoxicillin (antibiotics)
- Pantoprazole (HEXAL)
Application: 7 days followed by daily Pantoprazole
Additional doctor's appointment on March 3, 2011 - additional medication/MCP-beta drops - 100ml - 3 times daily max. 20 drops
- New test: on March 13, 2011 for bacteria!/Result: POSITIVE on March 17, 2011
Further treatment:
- March 12, 2011 - CT - suspicion of problems in the abdominal area - without findings
- March 30, 2011 - MRI - (MR Angio abdominal at Vamesenteriale) possibly blocked blood vessels in the stomach area - WITHOUT findings
- From April 5, 2011 to April 12, 2011 - medication intake again in the morning and evening) 1 tablet each
- Metronidazole AL 400 - 14 tabs
- Clarithromycin Hexal 500 - 14 tabs
- Pariet 20mg - 28 tabs and another 7 days
No improvement so far! Still in pain.
What else can be done, possibly also natural medicine?
Dear Patient,
you have been treated according to the current guidelines. After the failure of the first-line triple therapy, a switch to the second series is recommended, with a new scheme and a different antibiotic. What else can be done?
If there are still complaints on the 12th, the following options are available:
1. Extended use for a full 14 days with the current scheme
2. Four-drug therapy commonly used in America with the addition of bismuth
(but studies show it is only slightly more successful than previous eradication attempts)
3. Switching to Levofloxacin as the antibiotic.
According to recent study data, this has the greatest chance of eradicating the bacteria after the failure of first-line and second-line therapies.
In my opinion, natural medicine is not an option in this case.
The failure of the above-mentioned therapy is usually due to the fact that you have a Helicobacter strain that is resistant to the antibiotics used so far (Amoxicillin and Clarithromycin). Levofloxacin is a newer substance with few reported resistances. Your chances of success with this are good.
Natural medicine deserves credit in this context. Long before the bacteria and pathomechanism were known, and conventional medicine had a treatment plan, bismuth therapy was recommended for chronic stomach problems. Indeed, bismuth inhibits the growth of this Helicobacter. However, in larger studies, bismuth could not convince, at least when it comes to these resistant strains. Therefore, I would recommend trying option 1 first and then option 3 (of course, in cooperation with your general practitioner or internist). I believe that your doctor is also familiar with these recommendations.
The possibility of something else (a tumor) being behind the symptoms has been largely ruled out by the current examinations (CT/MRI). Therefore, we can calmly proceed with further treatment attempts. Keep in mind that Helicobacter is the only bacteria able to survive in the acidic stomach environment. Therefore, it can be quite difficult to eradicate some particularly virulent strains completely.
But all is not lost yet. Sometimes, unfortunately, three attempts are needed.
Best regards,
Dr. R. Berg
