Belly Fat is Not Just Uncomfortable, It Could be H. Pylori
Good
morning! I’ve decided to use my blog not
only to writing, music, and other facets of entertainment, but, also to share
my journey. I’ve had significant health problems for almost three years.
Initially, a rheumatologist diagnosed me with systemic lupus (SLE) on June 19,
2013. However, the medication wasn’t working and I kept getting worse and
developing new symptoms. So, after second, third, and fourth opinions, my
neurologist believes instead I have fibromyalgia.
In April
2014 I visited yet another rheumatologist who I hoped would be familiar with
autoimmune disorders. Following an extensive intake during my initial
appointment, I found a place where the doctor also listened to me. Based upon
my blood work, the doctor believes I have Sjogren’s Syndrome. She also made the
diagnosis of Fibromyalgia and pre-lupus. I’ve never heard of pre-lupus, but,
hopefully it stays in the “pre” category.
Thank you
for listening, each week I will have a new installment chronicling my journey-
Which is now more frustrating than ever. I test positive for ANAs in my blood,
but, the lupus tests are negative. There are several varieties of autoimmune
disorders, with different caveats and health variations. Learning to live with
the unknown has become my routine. With worsening symptoms, I consulted an amazing
oncologist, Dr. Gerardo Trillo at Texas Oncology.
HELICOBACTER
PYLORI INVASION
Out of the
multitude of lab work the doctor ordered, one that came back positive was the H.
Pylori bacteria. This disgusting, creepy
bacterium resembles some type of parasite. It’s all I can do to try to forget
about it without wanting to take a paint scraper to my insides. Dr. Trillo
described it as having tentacles with little pliers on the end of each one. It
burrows into your stomach lining and clenches in with those pliers. Uber. Ick.
According to
the Mayo Clinic - Mayo Clinic H. Pylori
“H. pylori
infection occurs when a type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)
infects your stomach. This usually happens during childhood. A common cause of
peptic ulcers, H. pylori infection may be present in more than half the people
in the world.
Most people
don't realize they have H. pylori infection, because they never get sick from
it. If you develop signs and symptoms of a peptic ulcer, your doctor will
probably test you for H. pylori infection, because it can be treated with
antibiotics.”
In all the
vials of blood I’ve given, never once was I tested for H. Pylori, along with
some other tests I now believe should have been ordered. I will get into that
in a different blog post. However, I’m so thankful Dr. Trillo thinks outside
the box. Anyone diagnosed with an autoimmune disease is likely NOT TEXTBOOK. I found two doctors who
admit I’m a puzzle and want to help me figure it out.
Dr. Trillo
called me a “tough cookie”. Love it.
Back to
topic- In the daily fight waged within my immune system, the H. Pylori bacteria
creates an infection that may cause ulcers, gastritis, and even cancer. Not everyone
infected will actually develop cancer, but, it’s a very real possibility.
Again from
the Mayo Clinic –
“Most people
with H. pylori infection will never have any signs or symptoms. It's not clear
why this is, but some people may be born with more resistance to the harmful
effects of H. pylori.
When signs
or symptoms do occur with H. pylori infection, they may include:
•An ache or burning pain in your abdomen
•Abdominal
pain that's worse when your stomach is empty
•Nausea
•Loss of
appetite
•Frequent
burping
•Bloating
•Unintentional
weight loss
When to see
a doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if you
notice any persistent signs and symptoms that worry you. Seek immediate medical
help if you experience:
•Severe or persistent abdominal pain
•Difficulty
swallowing
•Bloody or
black tarry stools
•Bloody or
black vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds
In my case, I
was already consulting doctor after doctor in a quest to get to the root of my
seriously declining health problems. I’m to the point that keeping up in simple
yoga is sometimes too much for me to handle. I was doing triathlons 3 years ago
and my condition really really sucks now- it’s depressing and frustrating. I’ve
gained 30 pounds in 3 years. Yes, 30, that’s like 3 or 4 babies or 6 bags of
sugar.
Imagine me
with 6 bags of sugar duct taped to my mid-section. Can someone say “Cortisol”?
Having this infection may lead to an increase in cortisol, resulting in
stubborn belly fat making my midsection horribly distended, fat, and bloated. It’s
not just the aesthetics of it all, it increases the risk of heart disease and
high blood pressure when fat accumulates in the mid-section.
I’m smack
dab in the middle of the prescription therapy for H. Pylori. My doc prescribed
2000 mg daily of antibiotics and 60 mg of an acid blocker. It’s part of a ready
packaged regimen that I hope does the trick.
I will have
follow up testing to check for any remainder of the H. Pylori. I will also have
an endoscopy and colonoscopy next month. I bet you can’t wait for that blog
post.
Take charge
of your health. My rheumy patted me on the back and told me that my symptoms
were just part of the fibromyalgia. I looked over my lab results and said NO. I
kept researching, not to diagnose myself, but, to find a doctor to listen to me
and help me. I believe I’m finally on my way.
Hugs to you
all and infinite love.
Comments
However, what most people don't realize is that excess abdominal fat in particular, is not only ugly, but is also a dangerous risk factor to your health. Scientific research has clearly demonstrated that although it is unhealthy in general to have excess body fat throughout your body, it is also particularly dangerous to have excess abdominal fat.
There are two types of fat that you have in your abdominal area. The first type that covers up your abs from being visible is called subcutaneous fat and lies directly beneath the skin and on top of the abdominal muscles.
The second type of fat that you have in your abdominal area is called visceral fat, and that lies deeper in the abdomen beneath your muscle and surrounding your organs. Visceral fat also plays a role in giving certain men that "beer belly" appearance where their abdomen protrudes excessively but at the same time, also feels sort of hard if you push on it.
Both subcutaneous fat and visceral fat in the abdominal area are serious health risk factors, but science has shown that having excessive visceral fat is even more dangerous than subcutaneous fat. Both of them greatly increase the risk your risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, stroke, sleep apnea, various forms of cancer, and other degenerative diseases.
Part of the reason visceral fat is particularly dangerous is that it apparently releases more inflammatory molecules into your body on a consistent basis.
The first thing you must understand is that there is absolutely NO quick fix solution. There are no pills or supplements of any sort that will help you lose your abdominal fat faster. Also, none of the gimmicky ab rockers, rollers, or ab belts will help get rid of abdominal fat either.
The ONLY solution to consistently lose your abdominal fat and keep it off for good is to combine a sound nutritious diet full of unprocessed natural foods with a properly designed strategic exercise program that stimulates the necessary hormonal and metabolic response within your body. Both your food intake as well as your training program are important if you are to get this right.
Now the important thing to realize is that just any old exercise program will not necessarily do the trick. The majority of people that attempt getting into a good exercise routine are NOT working out effectively enough to really stimulate the loss of stubborn abdominal fat. I see this everyday at the gym.
Most people will do your typical boring ineffective cardio routines, throw in a little outdated body-part style weight training, and pump away with some crunches and side bends, and think that they are doing something useful for reducing their abdominal fat. Then they become frustrated after weeks or months of no results and wonder where they went wrong.
Well, the good news is that I've spent over a decade researching this topic, analyzing the science, and applying it "in the trenches" with myself as well as thousands of my clients from all over the world to see what works to really stimulate abdominal fat loss.
If you follow the guidelines, you WILL lose your belly fat that has been plaguing you for years. It is a proven system that works time and time again for all of my clients on every corner of the globe that actually apply the information I teach. If you apply it, the results will come. It's really that simple.
Don't waste another day allowing that nasty abdominal fat to kill your confidence as well as contribute to your risk for MAJOR diseases.
====> Get the solution to rid yourself for life of this problem at.
Train hard, eat right, and enjoy life!
Mike Geary