Worried and confused!

Hi, this is my first time so please bare with me.

Symptoms started a year ago. Nausea, change on bowel habits, upper GI pain and discomfort, bloating, reduced appetite. Contacted GP who sent stool sample off which came back positive for H Pylori. Had the triple treatment, an endoscopy (was retested during endoscopy for HPylori and was negative)  and colonoscopy which both came back fine.

Symptoms improved but then returned few months later and sent another stool sample. Came back positive again for H Pylori so had to have same triple treatment again.

Symptoms subsided again but came back quite severely in last couple months, same as above, feeling really sick, bloated, feeling very full, upper GI pain and discomfort, reduced appetite, strange bowel habits (including incontinence of faeces whilst in bed asleep) :0(  lethargy and generally feeling unwell.

Got back in touch with GP 2 weeks ago, sent a 3rd stool sample which AGAIN came back positive for H Pylori, given 2nd line quad treatment this time which I'm currently on. GP now quite concerned due to 3 infections in 12 months. Had a lot of bloods sent off and a stool sample for IBD (results for this not back yet)

Bloods came back yesterday and GP rang me out the blue. I have very low iron levels (without anemia) and my CA125 is raised. GP was great and said she's worried given my symptoms are not much better and the blood results, not sure if she's thinking slow bleeding gastric ulcer, gastric CA or ovarian CA. Anyway urgent referrals have been sent to gastro and gynae and I have to have an urgent abdo scan, had a call from hospital today saying I got to go for endoscopy on Tuesday. 

To say I’m worried is an understatement. Has anyone else ever had H Pylori 3 times in 12 months? I just need some answers to what is going on inside my body.

Any similar stories or advice would be great fully received.

Thanks so much for taking the time to read this lengthy post.

xx

  • Hello EWD and welcome to our forum! 

    I completely understand why you are feeling so worried at the moment and you desperately want to find out what is going on inside your body. Having H Pylori three times in 12 months is certainly a lot and I hope that you will hear from others on the forum who have had that before too. It does sound though like your GP is taking things seriously and being very thorough so you seem to be in very capable hands and I am sure that they will be carrying out all the necessary investigations. It all seems to be happening really fast and it's great that you will be seen so quickly and that the endoscopy will take place on Tuesday. 

    All you can do now is wait and it certainly isn't the easiest thing to do. I know it is really hard but try not to worry too much or anticipate what it might be. The best thing to do to avoid thinking too much about this is to keep busy and distracted if you can and avoid looking things up online. I can imagine it is hard for you to do this at the moment but it will help you feel a little less anxious. There are some useful tips too on how to cope while waiting for news on this page. 

    I hope that you will hear from other members who have had similar symptoms and who have had similar tests. 

    Everything tightly crossed for you! Keep us updated if you get a chance on what you find out. 

    Best wishes, 

    Lucie, Cancer Chat Moderator

  • Thanks so much for replying. 
    Ive received some phone calls.

    Next week I've got a gastroscopy on Tues, abdo and pelvic scan Wed and seeing gynae people on Thur.

    I really would appreciate hearing from anyone if they have been through a similar thing.

    xxx