Reaction to helidac therapy

I was recently diagnosed with H.pylori through a blood test. I have no symptoms of ulcers. My doctor prescribed Helidac Therapy where I took four pills four times daily They included: bismuth subsalicylate/metronidazole/tetracycline HCI.

I immediately began experiencing nausea and diarrhea with dark green stools. This led to rectal bleeding so my doctor suggested I cut back to three times daily,which I did for about three days and then went back to four days.

By the seventh day, I started experiencing flu-like symptoms, i.e. body aches, fever, chills, weakness. I went back to the doctor after I started vomiting on the ninth day of the pills. She determined that the cause was the Helidac Therapy and that I was dehydrated. I was given an IV injection to hydrate me. I just got off the medication and am feeling better.

My question is what other therapy can I take that is not so strenuous on my body? Is it possible that eight days of medication may have been sufficient to eradicate the H.pylori? If so, is the breath test more effective than a blood test?

Thank you for your advice.

Helidac Therapy and side effects

I started this treatment Mar.5th,2007 and I think I successfully completed the 14 days course. Before I started this treatment i went to my Dr. and described him the persistant problem of heartburn and acdity problem. He gave me a prescription drug named Omeprazole sub for Perilosce and asked me to take two times a day and also asked me take blood test. My blood test show 2.99% something in the blood and I was told this was too high and I was prescribed Helidac Therapy very nex day. After successfuly completing this treatment following sympots took place during my 14 days treatment

1. Diereha, dry mouth night time

2. severe hearburn, and many burping session.

3. churning of stomach acid.

4. Night time was miserable could not get good night sleep. I got up just about every middle of the night to sit up straight to relive heartburns. I was up over one hr. before I went back to sleep.

5. during eveing taking a dog walk heratburn.

6. I was born in India so my regular food is semi spicey and anything I ate was turn into heartburn and acidity and my 14 day therapy time overall apitite was not good. I wa seating raw apple,pear,cucumber,carrots, turky sandwiche,yogurt mixed in plaine rice with salt for taste,one time I ate small bag of potato chips & peanuts etc.

So what I would like to know why I have these problem during the treatment and my heartburn brolem was not this serious before I took this treatment? I finished my treatment yesterday (Mr. 19th,2007) after the lunch. Last night I had several burpping session and heartburns, got up middle of the night because of uneasy stomach acidity. Today upto 1:30pm my symptos are fair not too mant heartburn but I have taken very light food intake.

Please respond to this situation.

Vijay