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Gastroenterology (Expert Forum)
75-year-old grandmother with h. pylori feels as if she's 8-months pregnant!
Answered by
Kevin Pho, MD - Internal Medicine
KevinMD.com
This forum is for questions regarding Gastroenterology issues such as Acid Reflux (GERD), Barretts Esophagus, Colitis, Colon/Bowel Disorders, Crohn's Disease, Diverticulitis/Diverticulosis, Digestive Disorders, IBS, Stomach Pain.
75-year-old grandmother with h. pylori feels as if she's 8-months pregnant!
by dteubner@cox.net, Aug 23, 2006 12:00AM
My grandmother initially tested positive for h. pylori in April 2003. For reasons unknown, she was not treated at that time. In Feb 2004, she had MRI of stomach and pelvis and she reports that no ulcers were indicated. Starting in early 2005, she started complaining of severe stomach pain. Her complaints were basically ignored (she feels); she was extensively tested for back and intestinal issues--no one ever even looked at her stomach
In April 2006, a new doctor finally seemed to listen to her complaints of stomach pain, and observed the severe stomach bloating (grandma says she felt 7-8 months pregnant at the time). Once again, she tested postive for H. pylori, as well as some other "fungus" (grandma can't remember the name) supposedly caused by all the steroids she was taking for her emphysema (because she didn't rinse her mouth after taking them?). She was started on a course of something for the "fungus" as well as prev-pac for the h. pylori, which she successfully completed. She reported some intial relief except that for about a week after the treatement, she experienced heavy, black, tarry stools. The discomfort and swelling quickly returned, however.
In June 2006, she visited the doctor again, this time feeling 11 months pregnant, and with very swollen feet and face. Grandma reports that the doctor was so concerned she wanted to process grandma into a hospice because she was "just in the end stage of her disease." This REALLY scared my grandmother, and she refused to be admitted (she'd rather die at home with grandpa.) Did she understand the doctor correctly? Is the diagnosis so grim? It's very hard for any of us to believe we should be preparing for her death as a result of this infection? (My grandmother also suffers from emphesema, so maybe the doctor was speaking of THAT disease? But that wasn't the issue being discussed at the time). I'm reading that there are other therapy options, so why the hospice scare?
I don't think the doctor gave her any treatment at that last visit, but Grandma has been uncomfortably living at home since then (now August 2006), feeling as if her new doctor had given up on her. Her stomach is still always bloated (6-7 months pregnant), and her feet and face are now very swollen again, and she still has a dull pain just under her breast bone. Just last week she tested h. pylori postive again (via breath test). At that time, she was told that she's bloated "simply" because she's constipated (diagnosed simply by "feeling" of her stomach area), and she should take a fleet enema and drink milk of magnesia. She says she's eating better now (although my grandpa says not so much), and she drinks at least one can of Ensure a day (grandpa says more if she doesn't eat.) She has an appointment with her doc again next Monday, but she's scared. Does any thing I've said here raise a red flag? What can I tell her to ease her fears?
Thank you in advance for your response to this lengthy message!
In April 2006, a new doctor finally seemed to listen to her complaints of stomach pain, and observed the severe stomach bloating (grandma says she felt 7-8 months pregnant at the time). Once again, she tested postive for H. pylori, as well as some other "fungus" (grandma can't remember the name) supposedly caused by all the steroids she was taking for her emphysema (because she didn't rinse her mouth after taking them?). She was started on a course of something for the "fungus" as well as prev-pac for the h. pylori, which she successfully completed. She reported some intial relief except that for about a week after the treatement, she experienced heavy, black, tarry stools. The discomfort and swelling quickly returned, however.
In June 2006, she visited the doctor again, this time feeling 11 months pregnant, and with very swollen feet and face. Grandma reports that the doctor was so concerned she wanted to process grandma into a hospice because she was "just in the end stage of her disease." This REALLY scared my grandmother, and she refused to be admitted (she'd rather die at home with grandpa.) Did she understand the doctor correctly? Is the diagnosis so grim? It's very hard for any of us to believe we should be preparing for her death as a result of this infection? (My grandmother also suffers from emphesema, so maybe the doctor was speaking of THAT disease? But that wasn't the issue being discussed at the time). I'm reading that there are other therapy options, so why the hospice scare?
I don't think the doctor gave her any treatment at that last visit, but Grandma has been uncomfortably living at home since then (now August 2006), feeling as if her new doctor had given up on her. Her stomach is still always bloated (6-7 months pregnant), and her feet and face are now very swollen again, and she still has a dull pain just under her breast bone. Just last week she tested h. pylori postive again (via breath test). At that time, she was told that she's bloated "simply" because she's constipated (diagnosed simply by "feeling" of her stomach area), and she should take a fleet enema and drink milk of magnesia. She says she's eating better now (although my grandpa says not so much), and she drinks at least one can of Ensure a day (grandpa says more if she doesn't eat.) She has an appointment with her doc again next Monday, but she's scared. Does any thing I've said here raise a red flag? What can I tell her to ease her fears?
Thank you in advance for your response to this lengthy message!
Doctor's Answer
by Kevin Pho, MD, Aug 24, 2006 12:00AM
, Aug 24, 2006 12:00AM
H Pylori is not normally a terminal disease.
If her physician is talking about hospice care, there must be a more terminal, serious disease present. End-stage emphysema is possible. If the fungus has travelled to the blood and infected other organs, this can also be another terminal conditions.
I would ask your physician to clarify the diagnosis leading to hospice consideration. Another physician opinion can be obtained if the questions remain unanswered.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_
If her physician is talking about hospice care, there must be a more terminal, serious disease present. End-stage emphysema is possible. If the fungus has travelled to the blood and infected other organs, this can also be another terminal conditions.
I would ask your physician to clarify the diagnosis leading to hospice consideration. Another physician opinion can be obtained if the questions remain unanswered.
Followup with your personal physician is essential.
This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.
Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_
If you eat a yeast diet which makes the yeast grow some more like beer,bread,sugar,starch ,mushroom etc,it is like adding fuel to the fire.
You need to add some good bacteria back to your system,they are either in yogurt or in pill form.
get the good ones from health food store.