What did they find in LuLu’s GI scope on Friday?H pylori is a bacterial infection of the stomach lining. These nasty little bugs can neutralize the stomach acid enough to make their way to the lining and burrow their way into the lining. H pylori is believed to be responsible for most peptic ulcers, and it’s estimated that 20-50% of Americans carry it in their GI system.

We’re grateful to have an “answer” to LuLu’s chronic stomach pain. While the doctor doesn’t believe that h pylori is responsible for the bloody stools she’s been experiencing, it most certainly needs to be treated. We are currently treating it with something called “triple therapy”, which is large doses of two antibiotics, plus an acid blocker to neutralize the stomach acid and allow the antibiotics to reach the infection.

All the documentation out there points out how troublesome the treatment side effects can be. Any female who takes antibiotics knows that they are at higher risk for yeast infections. But the medications can also upset your stomach in other ways, produce a metallic taste in your mouth, and cause headaches, diarrhea and other fun things.

Interestingly enough, last night LuLu began complaining of a sinus headache and exhibiting cold-like symptoms. She was dismayed at how bad she felt. Her stomach still ached from the h pylori, and now it looked as if she was coming down with a cold. I had a friend send me a link to a site by a practictioner of natural medicine who details how treating h pyroli with antibiotics can cause the infection to start attacking other area – and sinus/cold-like symptoms were part of that list.

Today, LuLu has been sleeping a lot. But her stomach pain is lessening. I see all the sleeping as a sign her immune system needs all the power her body can give her for the big fight. She’s also got the metallic taste, but this mom knows the importance of probiotics timed away from the antibiotic doses to cut the chances of that yeast infection.

So once again, the mystery diagnosis kid has another diagnosis for mom to explore, and to figure out which of her many symptoms might be related. And we have hope that treating this latest finding will help LuLu improve overall.

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