Ulcer Sufferers

[khall64au]

CANBERRA (Reuters) - An Australian scientist who jointly won the 2005 Nobel prize for medicine said he became a human guinea pig and drank a cocktail of bacteria to prove his theories that ulcers were not caused by stress.

Australian professor Barry Marshall and Robin Warren were awarded the 2005 Nobel prize for their 1982 discovery that the Helicobacter pylori bacterium, rather than stress, caused stomach ulcers and inflammation.

Marshall, who spent Tuesday fielding calls of congratulations from around the world, said he became a human laboratory rat to convince skeptics that ulcers and stomach inflammation were caused by bacterium.

"I didn't think about it very much and probably I wouldn't have done it if I had really thought it through," Marshall told reporters in the Western Australian capital of Perth.

The discovery by Marshall, now 54, and Warren, 68, led to the development of an antibiotics and drug treatment for most ulcers, overturning the conventional medical thinking of the time and easing the suffering for millions of people each year.

After drinking the bacteria, Marshall suffered nausea, vomiting and stomach pain, but overcame the condition with treatment similar to the regimen of antibiotics and acid secretion inhibitors now commonly prescribed to sufferers.

He said he had no choice but to give himself the condition to convince medical skeptics that the bacterium was the cause and not the symptom of stomach ulcers, which can pre-dispose people to gastric cancer.

SWALLOW YOUR BACTERIA!

"Somebody had to do it, somebody had to swallow those bacteria and develop the disease," Marshall told the Australian Broadcasting Corp.

"It was the only way you could convince the skeptics.

Warren said the pair were initially reluctant to publish their findings because of the way Marshall had given himself the condition and because their findings were so radical.

"At the time everyone thought we were a bit crazy because the whole thing was so way out in terms of normal medical teaching in those days," Warren told reporters.

"For me, it (the Nobel prize) means that they are putting the official stamp of approval on all the work that I did and all the trouble that I had and all the disbelief."

Australian Prime Minister John Howard congratulated the pair on Tuesday, and said their work had bought relief to millions of people around the world.

"The research destroyed a myth, very widely held," Howard told reporters. "The prize is richly deserved."

Marshall and Warren, who were working at the royal Perth hospital at the time of their breakthrough, are the first all-Australian team to win the Nobel prize for medicine.

Warren is now retired, but Marshall continues to study the effects of the bacterium on humans and animals.

"I've got no imagination. I'm still in the Helicobacter business," Marshall said. "But these days we're doing molecular studies, cloning, vaccines and all that kind of stuff.

"You can't study ulcers in Australia any more, because everyone with an ulcer has been cured, as far as I can tell."

[katyb]

"You can't study ulcers in Australia any more, because everyone with an ulcer has been cured, as far as I can tell."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wish I'd been cured. I've been following this H pylori story fro 8 months now as I developed a duodenal ulcer in March. I was convinced it must h pylori causing the problem, particulary as it is picked up in less developed countries and is waterborne. I have read that approx 90% of ulcers are caused by it. NOT MINE! No pylori anywhere. Had the blood test, had the breath test, had the endoscopy - nothing!

Still suffering and since we've arrived in Phuket for the winter, I'm really struggling with food. Any other sufferers that can give me advice on what they eat out here would be gratefully received.

One thing I would dearly love to know is about coconuts. I love coconuts and have several a day normally, but i am wondering if the coconut water might not be good for the ulcer. Is it oily like the flesh?

Many thanks.

Kate

[Sheryl]

"You can't study ulcers in Australia any more, because everyone with an ulcer has been cured, as far as I can tell."

Wish I'd been cured. I've been following this H pylori story fro 8 months now as I developed a duodenal ulcer in March. I was convinced it must h pylori causing the problem, particulary as it is picked up in less developed countries and is waterborne. I have read that approx 90% of ulcers are caused by it. NOT MINE! No pylori anywhere. Had the blood test, had the breath test, had the endoscopy - nothing!

Still suffering and since we've arrived in Phuket for the winter, I'm really struggling with food. Any other sufferers that can give me advice on what they eat out here would be gratefully received.

One thing I would dearly love to know is about coconuts. I love coconuts and have several a day normally, but i am wondering if the coconut water might not be good for the ulcer. Is it oily like the flesh?

Many thanks.

Kate

No the water has no oil. In any case oil per se is not a problem for ulcer, it is things that increase gastruc acidity that are the problem. Caffeine being one main culprit. However all in all, what you eat is nowehere near as important as used to be thought. just avoid going too long between meals and keep the caffeine down as much as you can.

The newest drugs (proton pump inhibitors such as omeprazole) are very effective, are you one them?

Another drug which is very helpful is sucralfate (brand name in Thailand = Ulsanic). Unlike thePPIs, it is not systemically absorbed. It just forms a coating over the stomack and duodenal mucosa and helps promote healing. Also gives pretty pompt pain relief. There is no problem in taking both as mode of action differs. They complement each other and it would be a rare ulcer that didn't respond. (However, the response will time -- maybe about 2 months for full healing). Good luck.

[chuchok]

I would add to what Sheryl has said and stay away from ANY fatty &/or spicy foods...thats what the specialist told me anyway.

Omeprazole or Losec (Trade name) is just the bees knees too

[sbk]

Ulcers can also be caused by taking certain medications -- ibuprofen (or any NSAID) on an empty stomach over a long period of time is a sure fire way to develop ulcers.

[OZONE]

I would add to what Sheryl has said and stay away from ANY fatty &/or spicy foods...thats what the specialist told me anyway.

Omeprazole or Losec (Trade name) is just the bees knees too

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Stay away from Spicy food? no way no way.

Nothing more satisfying than eatting a super spicy "som tom" or "Goi-tiew" while downing a nice cold brew on a hot summer day

Can't imagine life without spicy food

[cathyy]

I would add to what Sheryl has said and stay away from ANY fatty &/or spicy foods...thats what the specialist told me anyway.

I have heard the opposite about spicy food, that capsaicin, the chemical that makes hot peppers hot, is very good for ulcers and helps heal them...if the patient can tolerate eating spicy food. Many cannot.

Stay away from milk, which is soothing at first and coats the stomach, but when it begins to digest it forms lactic acid, and increases the pain.

And yes, you do need to be on omeprazole and sucralfate. Brand names in the US are Prilosec and Carafate.

[katyb]

Thanks for all of your replies. Especially about the coconut - I do love one for breakfast!

Good one about the caffeine - I normally drink green tea but have noticed that even decaf causes me problems. I had switched to naturally caffeine free camomile at home. Not sure whether I will get that here.

I've been on Nexium (PPI) for 3 months now, but recently my UK consultant put my dose up to 120mg a day which I believe is a lot. I think it is helping now.

Since arriving in Thailand I have started to feel better - I am now starting to unwind and feel less anxious and stressed. This in itself I think is a great help.

As for spicy food - not a chance! I actually love spicy food but ust can’t tolerate it at the moment. I had a 'not vely spicy - only 1 chilli, promise ' tom yam soup last week and I didn't sleep a wink all night. It is always worse in the early hours. I am really sleep deprived after months of this.

I'm afraid I did everything wrong that I could do and this bloomin' ulcer is the result - smoking, alcohol, prolonged use of anti-inflammatories, skipping breakfast, lunch and then not eating all day until 10pm after 20 fags and bottle of red wine - obviously all of these bad habits are now in the past! No BOOZE! AAARRGGH! The only good things to come out of this is my wine guzzling friends have considerably cut down their intake and I will never smoke again (I have been trying to quit for 10 years.)

Sorry to moan and thanks again for your advice. I'm off for a coconut!

Kate

[katyb]

I would add to what Sheryl has said and stay away from ANY fatty &/or spicy foods...thats what the specialist told me anyway.

Omeprazole or Losec (Trade name) is just the bees knees too

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Chuchok,

Can you tell me what foods you ate in Thailand when you were suffering? i'm finding it difficult to find anything on a Thai menu that doesn't begin with 'fried' or 'spicy' which is normally great, but I have a problem with both of these. Steamed fish with plum sauce is fine, bbq fish / chicken with rice, nice, but getting a bit fed up of it now, all day every day. Any suggestions?

Thanks

Kate

[juggler]

I always go for khaao dtom (rice soup) when the stomach is bad. It's a great dish IMO. You can have it with chicken, pork or seafood. I didn't go so mad for the seafood version I once tried and like it best with minced pork. Sure there will be some fat from the mince, but overall, would say it's one of the easiest foods to digest i've ever eaten.

Hope it helps

[Sheryl]

Thanks for all of your replies.  Especially about the coconut - I do love one for breakfast!

Good one about the caffeine - I normally drink green tea but have noticed that even decaf causes me problems.  I had switched to naturally caffeine free camomile at home.  Not sure whether I will get that here.

I've been on Nexium (PPI) for 3 months now, but recently my UK consultant put my dose up to 120mg a day which I believe is a lot.  I think it is helping now.

Since arriving in Thailand I have started to feel better - I am now starting to unwind and feel less anxious and stressed.  This in itself I think is a great help. 

As for spicy food - not a chance! I actually love spicy food but ust can’t tolerate it at the moment.  I had a 'not vely spicy - only 1 chilli, promise ' tom yam soup last week and I didn't sleep a wink all night.  It is always worse in the early hours.  I am really sleep deprived after months of this.

I'm afraid I did everything wrong that I could do and this bloomin' ulcer is the result - smoking, alcohol, prolonged use of anti-inflammatories, skipping breakfast, lunch and then not eating all day until 10pm after 20 fags and bottle of red wine - obviously all of these bad habits are now in the past! No BOOZE! AAARRGGH!  The only good things to come out of this is my wine guzzling friends have considerably cut down their intake and I will never smoke again (I have been trying to quit for 10 years.)

Sorry to moan and thanks again for your advice. I'm off for a coconut!

Kate

Kate -- didn't even occur to me to mention tobacco, that's a BIG cause of hyperacidity.

Stay on the PPI high dose your doc advised & don't worry, these drugs have a high margin of safety. Main side effects are headache, insomnia and only happens to some people. Suggest you add sucralfate 1 GM 3 times a day plus 1 additional whenever you have pain (but take it at different times -- i.e. at least 1 hour apart -- from the PPI as it might impair absorption). As sucralfate acts locally on the intestinal mucosa and is not absorbed, it is very safe and you can easily get it over the counter here.

Regarding all the food advice -- trust your body. Much of the traditional advice has no firm research behind it. Some docs actually prescribe milk or cream, some say to avoid milk & fats..etc etc. Other than caffeine-containing foods (which besides tea coffee include colas and chocol,ate), the rest is unproven and seems to vary with the individual. Obviously anything that makes it hurt more is making it worse & should be avoided. Your body will tell you what it needs....which may be what it was doing by getting this ulcer in the first place!

[katyb]

Kate -- didn't even occur to me to mention tobacco, that's a BIG cause of hyperacidity.

Stay on the PPI high dose your doc advised & don't worry, these drugs have a high margin of safety. Main side effects are headache, insomnia and only happens to some people. Suggest you add sucralfate 1 GM 3 times a day plus 1 additional whenever you have pain (but take it at different times  -- i.e. at least 1 hour apart -- from the PPI as it might impair absorption). As sucralfate acts locally on the intestinal mucosa and is not absorbed, it is very safe and you can easily get it over the counter here.

Regarding all the food advice -- trust your body. Much of the traditional advice has no firm research behind it.  Some docs actually prescribe milk or cream, some say to avoid milk & fats..etc etc. Other than caffeine-containing foods (which besides tea coffee include colas and chocol,ate), the rest is unproven and seems to vary with the individual. Obviously anything that makes it hurt more is making it worse & should be avoided. Your body will tell you what it needs....which may be what it was doing by getting this ulcer in the first place!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Thanks so much for this, Sheryl. You sound like a clever lady! This is a great help. I have ordered the sucralfate and I'm collecting it tomorrow.

Many many thanks.

Incidently, don't know whether its relevant but I have had two foot massages in the last three days and for the first time in over 6 months have slept right through the night without feeding. I nearly shot through the roof when she pressed on one particular part of my left foot. She pointed to my stomach area and said 'mai sabai'. Coincidence?

Regards

Kate

[Sheryl]

Thanks so much for this, Sheryl. You sound like a clever lady! This is a great help. I have ordered the sucralfate and I'm collecting it tomorrow.

Many many thanks.

Incidently, don't know whether its relevant but I have had two foot massages in the last three days and for the first time in over 6 months have slept right through the night without feeding. I nearly shot through the roof when she pressed on one particular part of my left foot. She pointed to my stomach area and said 'mai sabai'. Coincidence?

Regards

Kate

Nope. Massage of al types releases endorphins which are the body's natural pain killer (actually chemically related to morphine, but natural & safe). Also relaxes muscles throughout. Foot reflexology when done well seems to be the best of all. Various parts of the foot are ascribed to various organs of the body, I've never been sure if there's anything to that but based on your reaction sounds like there may be. This all dates back to Chinese traditional medicine and works on the same premise as acupuncture, but has not been as well studied.

By the way -- where did you get this foot massage? Sounds like she knew her stuff. (Keep on the meds, though. Ulcers take time to heal).

[cwilliam]

"You can't study ulcers in Australia any more, because everyone with an ulcer has been cured, as far as I can tell."

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Wish I'd been cured. I've been following this H pylori story fro 8 months now as I developed a duodenal ulcer in March. I was convinced it must h pylori causing the problem, particulary as it is picked up in less developed countries and is waterborne. I have read that approx 90% of ulcers are caused by it. NOT MINE! No pylori anywhere. Had the blood test, had the breath test, had the endoscopy - nothing!

Still suffering and since we've arrived in Phuket for the winter, I'm really struggling with food. Any other sufferers that can give me advice on what they eat out here would be gratefully received.

One thing I would dearly love to know is about coconuts. I love coconuts and have several a day normally, but i am wondering if the coconut water might not be good for the ulcer. Is it oily like the flesh?

Many thanks.

Kate

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I had one took pills and gone.Try Miracid or Desec for a couple of months.