[Tony Sousa]

Are you 45+ year old and have you done a complete endoscopy? I am pleased to report that I am on day 8 of the 14-day second-line treatment (cannot wait to finish the course). The 1st round was not effective – I stopped 3 days into the treatment because I felt lousy (flu-like symptoms). Dr. Hartley said that I should have continued – “one has to bite the bullet”.

I have been feeling well over the past 3 days. Yesterday I did a 8 km walk followed by brunch and then a 4 km run.

I am glad I did a complete endoscopy (gastro + colonoscopy) last year. If you are healthy, you should do a complete endoscopy from age 45 and should your Doctor be happy with the results than once every 10 years.

The problem is that H. Pylori is considered a more significant, direct, and common cause of gastric (stomach) cancer than cigarette smoking.

The 1st 4 days of the current second-line treatment (taking antibiotics) were not good because I again was feeling lousy and had tummy problems. My friend Connie asked if I was taking probiotics. I went to Dis-Chem and purchased ‘L.Reuteri’ probiotic. I am now taking 2 probiotic tabs a day 1^st thing in the morning with my coffee/ cocoa hot drink followed by a second tab at breakfast time (2 hours before I take the antibiotics).

TIP: Don’t take a probiotic at the same time as an antibiotic as the probiotic will render the antibiotic ineffective. Wait 2 hours between the antibiotic and the probiotic (or vice-versa).

The flu-like symptoms and the tummy issues disappeared. Was it the probiotic or is this the way the body reacts as the treatment progresses? I don’t know but I am going to continue with both the antibiotic treatment as well as the probiotics.

Are you 45+ and have never undergone a complete endoscopy? It is time for you to have your endoscopy done.

I have good experience of Dr. Hartley and if you live in Joburg and need a reference here’s his contact details:

Dr. Robert Joseph Hartley
Specialist General Surgeon
Drienie, P.A. 011 842 7751
rjhartley60@gmail.com

Keep healthy and keep fit!

 

 

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