Bacteria Tied to Fibromyalgia?

I’ve worked with hundreds of H pylori patients over the last four years. H pylori can cause and contribute to a vast array of seemingly unrelated symptoms around the body. It causes inflammation in the gut, which leads to systemic inflammation a strong hormonal response and an inability to digest food, resulting in vitamin and mineral deficiency (e.g. iron, B12). Women with Fibromyalgia and CFS can respond beautifully when digestive infections are removed…and it’s not just H pylori. There’s also Candida, other bacteria like Salmonella, C Difficile, E coli and parasites, ranging from microscopic bugs to worms. They can all contribute to the FMS symptomatology. Hope this helps and please feel free to browse at http://www.h-pylori-symptoms.com
Warm regards, Dave Hompes.

I have been taking supplements since before I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. Including Vitamin C, & Echinachia. I was diagnosed in 1998 after a car accident in 1997. Mine has only gotten worse. I am on a antiflamitory, 2 pain killers, 1 FM specific med. and more because of migraines.

I believe that there should be no linkage. We try to find any connection to give us reason. A medical specialist is the right person who can corroborate, they are those who care for the health and know more than us.

I contracted H pylori during a trip to the USSR in ‘89.
I had stomach discomfort for 2.5 years until it was finally diagnosed. Since then my health has been compromised with various stomach pains throughout the ’90s & in 2005 I was finally diagnosed with Fibromyalgia.

If there is a link, then I’m the poster boy

I contracted H pylori in ‘89 after trip the the USSR.
I was sick for 2.5 years until it was diagnosed & had a long list of stomach problems well into the late ’90’s. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia in 2005. If there is a link then I’m the poster boy for it

I’ve recently been diagnosed with FMS and I have twice tested positive for h.pylori (the second time was AFTER a course of a zillion of antibiotics a day!!).

Interesting article….

I’ve been diagnosed repeatedly with fibromyalgia — and I have chronic ulcer disease. But I do NOT have H pylori, confirmed by endoscopy. Too bad, would have made for a relatively simple treatment course.

My Fibromyalgia started after a course of antibiotics for a sinus infection caused me to have Clostridium Difficile. So who know’s what triggers these diseases. I take a great deal of meds to keep the condition under control and pray that someday a cure will be found.

I think it’s could be at the very least a significant component. I’ve had fibro for 13 years. My body feels like it’s constantly on the verge of coming down with a bug of some sort. If I am late eating a meal or don’t eat enough on a given day I start to get a sore throat and sometimes I also get a sinus headache.

It seems as if my immune system is in a constant state of fighting off something and the slightest act (like not eating in time or enough) that may tax the immune system a little more pushes it over the edge.

Interesting. I have been treated for H.Pylori bacteria and 2 years later I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I never thought about the H.Pylori diagnosis (and the ton of antibiotics I had to take) since I was done with the treatment course. So I have no idea if I still would test positive for it (no insurance so no doc appt) and if the antibiotic treatment would help with fibro.

I know that i’ll definitely try to keep track of any more research about this.

Hmmm…. I thought people with FMS/CFS were more prone to infection? So wouldn’t it make sense that many FMS”ers had it? Kinda like the phrase ……”which came first-the chicken or the egg?”……. I tested positive for H-Pilori over 10 yrs ago. I was treated with 3 different antibiotics. for three weeks? (if memory only worked). I do remember one of them giving me a awful metal taste in my mouth. I have had trouble with my stomach for yrs, heartburn,bloating, pain., etc……actually I have suspected that i have it again, (H-pilori). I have concerns about the antibiotic treatment., killing off all the bacteria,good and bad. Any one else have the same concerns? Take care

I started having problems with my stomach at a very early age, before high school. I was diagnosed with irritable bowel syndrom I was in my early 20s, about 15 years later with fibromyalgia, then about 6 years after H-pylori.
I did the anti-biotic treatment for H-pylori, but ended up really ill with all kinds of yeast infections.
I think the H-pylori is back and along with it came severe flare ups with FMs. I’m not comfortable knowing I would have to deal with the anti-biotics again and looking for another means of dealing with it.
Not sure if it’s all related, but my guess is maybe….

I have had stomach problems in the past and have had tests for h-pylori. Both times I came back positive and was treated with antibiotics that made me practically live in my bathroom. However, I STILL had fibromyalgia symptoms. I do NOT believe a word of it that fibro is caused by this bacteria because if so I would be fibro free. I recently had ANOTHER test for h-pylori and this time it came back negative but I still have fibro. I think that they need to go back to square one and figure it out all over again. Additionally I have a large bowl of Greek style yogurt EVERY day which provides billions of friendly bacteria and I believe that is why I no longer have h-pylori.

It IS interesting, but I’m not sure that it’s meaningful. Also interesting, I heard recently that some doctors believe we are all supposed to have H. Pylori as part of our good bacteria. They believe those with trouble either have a bad or more aggressive strain, or a poor immune system which causes overgrowth.

One thing I am convinced of is that I have low stomach acid. I also believe that is the cause of all the heartburn you see people treating all over the place. Having low stomach acid prevents the lower esophageal sphincter from closing up–it requires strong acid to trigger it to close. But even though the stomach contents aren’t acidic enough to keep it closed off, they are acidic enough to cause problems and damage farther up the esophagus, sinus etc. Taking antacids only makes it worse! Ever hear of “rebound?”. It’s the drug companies way of keeping you back for more for the rest of your life. Check out the book, “Why stomach acid is good for you.”

Low stomach acid also means you aren’t digesting properly. Like many others, I had many vitamin and mineral deficiencies. Protein digestion was particularly compromised–my ventures into supplementing various amino acids quickly showed me that I needed protein badly.

Now I take supplemental betaine HCL with each meal as well as digestive enzymes for better protein digestion. It is one of the few things that made a huge difference in my symptoms. It also completely resolved my heartburn problems and the chronic mucous in my throat and my voice became smooth again after years of being raspy and breathy.

I also eat very little wheat because I have a problem with fructose malabsorption, which is probably related to the acid problem and the inflammation in my gut that it caused.

I believe, but can’t remember for sure, that H. pylori can be associated with low stomach acid, so that brings me full circle. At any rate, I’m sure the betaine HCL is helping to keep that under control now. My digestion is greatly improved and I need fewer amino acids in the form of 5-HTP, glutamine, GABA, taurine, etc to keep my mood even. I also feel better, don’t have bizarre symptoms of disautonomia anymore and have plenty of energy.

I’m telling you cfs/fibro are caused by digestive issues. There are probably many different types of these digestion problems and they are additive and affect each other.

I still believe with all of my conviction that my fibro was caused by hazardous chemical exposure while I was in the military. I was healthy before I went in and have been in constant pain when and since I got out.

I was in the military too, agent orange used near Fort Maclellan in 1965, is this the cause of my fibromyalgia???

Hi folks fm for 15 years…liver is sick from all meds…stomach has gastritis…looked in this check it out…www.activemanukahoneyusa.com/gastritis.htm
the honey suppose to get rid of the h.pylori…read up on it maybe it might help…I’m not cured but the processe of ulimination has helped me…of all toxic …chemicals in every way even water,toothpaste,I eat very careful,organics …and calcium/magn/vit d helps me alot…I pass my self,,,nap,,,stay positive..a must…hope this helps …my heart goes out to you..a wish you healing health…Julie

WOW!!! This is fantastic! THank you for the article and for your comments you have been a great help to me in my research to find causes for all my medical problems. I have FIBRO/CFS, stomach intgestine problems, 4 stents in my heart, asthma, etc. I believe totally that stomach problems are related to FIBRO/CFS. I have had FIBRO/CFS for many, many years possibly since I was a kid. I have also had stomach, intestine, kidney, gall bladder, etc since I was a kid. Had my gall bladder out when I was 17-18 and there was a huge gall stone. Now the list goes from acid reflux, hyatial hyernia, bad bacteria in my disgestive tract where it should be good bacteria, to GRED, deviticulitis, plus kidney infections on and off and had to have a pulup removed from large intestine 2yrs ago. Know I’m forgetting some things but, that’s the most of the stomach/intestine problems. The antibiotics I was given for diviticulitis and later the pain pill I was given for the pain of all helped make my FIBRO less painfull. the stuff for Acid reflux, GRED didn’t help my FIBRO. I intend to stay on tract of this and see what else comes up. May all of you find help for your pain and feel better.

Anyone with H. Pylori or suspected stomach infection please check out the supplement Betaine. It helps raise the hydrochloric acid in the stomach thereby not allowing things like h. pylori to live.

Linda, it also helps with certain gall stones.

I find this very interesting. I am working with a doctor who did extensive bloodwork on me and found that I was exposed to toxic black mold (an old exposure and one that I belieive came from my childhood believe it or not) and mycoplasma pneumonia (walking pneumonia). My blood levels were very high for both of these, as well as the Epstein Barr Virus, so I definitely think there is a link between infections (past perhaps) and fibromyalgia/chronic fatigue.

I recently had an EGD done with biopsy for H. Pylori and it came back negative, despite gastritis with erosions and horrible symptoms that lasted for months. I’m finally doing better now with a proton pump inhibitor, but I don’t think H. Pylori has much to do with Fibromyalgia, unless having FMS simply weakens one to the point where other infections may more easily take hold in the body.

Yes I believe I contracted Fibromyalgia as a result of a virus. Over 30 years ago I had the Type B Asian flu and I didn’t know anyone or anything for 3 days. I think the virus entered my body then and laid dormant for several years.

I’ve been tested for h-pylori due to stomach issues, and don’t have the bacteria. However, I do have fibromyalgia. So in my case, there doesn’t appear to be a link between the 2. Stomach/digestion issues such as IBS are often part of fibro folks’ lives.

I have Fibromyalgia, and later was treated for H-pylori. H-pylori is a miserable condition. Every so often, I have severe troubles with my stomach and digestive system, and run to be tested for H-pylori, so far, I have never had it again.

I had the Fibromyalgia long before the H-pylori, and although it may be linked to some fibro cases, I don’t think it had anything to do with my being diagnosed with Fibro.

I do feel that infection is related. I had a staph infection back in 2005 that I was hospitalized with and I have not been the same since. I have also had other staph infections through the years that I have to be hospitalized. My body gets worse and worse everytime I am sick.

I have limited systemic scleroderma and Fibro. I think the two reasons that I got them are I got the chicken pox when I was 37 and I worked I in-ventilated hair salons for over 20 years.

I have done some research on all the Fibro stuff, trying to find something that will help with the pain. From my research, it seems that Fibro is hereditary and that some trama to the body, either physical or emotional, will cause it to be brought forth. I look back over my life and see where when I was sick, I had mild symptoms that would go away when I was back to normal. It was after 16 surgeries in one year (15 for a kidney damaged by a birth defect and 1 for diverticulitis caused by the massive amount of pain pills and antibotics from the kidney problems) that was my trigger for the Fibro to stay. I have also since developed Hashimoto, diabetes and high blood pressure. Stress triggers outbreaks of more pain for me. I honestly think that Fibro is not caused by health issues but is something that is inherited and could be brought to the surface because of trama to the system, whether is it a botched surgery (like my brother’s) or possibly a certain strain of disease, or even an emotional trama such as loosing a loved one. It stands to reason that once the Fibro has been diagnosed that other health issues will cause syptoms to flair. Well, that is my belief from the research I have done.

After reading so many peoples stories of stomach problems
and Fibromylgia I just had to comment.
I has H Pilori in 1995, took all the antibotics got better, although
I must say I really took about 1 year before my stomach was back to normal. One year later was diagnosed with widespread pain, took several years to get a diagnosis of Fibro.
I can remember just sitting there crying, knowing that I hurt all over and stayed exhaused. Ten years later I was diagnosed with Sjogren’s Syndrome which Is an infammatory autoimmune disease, and have had it ever since. So far I feel blessed not to be diagnosed with RA. although my inflammation factor is high. Still hoping the medical community will see that it is no coincidence many of us share the same problems.
Just to let you know I care, and feel your pain.

Had H. Pylori for 2 years now and couple days ago I got fibromyalgia symptoms and burning sensations on the skin.

I am a 42 year old woman, diagnosed with fibromyalgia when I was 39.
I have had bacterial infections in my throat (tonsils) at least 10 times between age 19 and 38, including strep throat.
When I had strep throat, I felt like I was dying until the antibiotics started to take effect.
My feeling is that fibromyalgia IS caused by a microorganism (virus, bacterium, or ?).

I was diagnosed with FM in July 2011. A month later got blood results that I had Ross River Virus. Has anyone else had this connection?

I was diagnosed with Fibro 17yrs ago after the CMV virus. I’m going to have an Endoscopy because of my age to check for h. pylori and have a biopsy to make sure the ulcer I have hasn’t morphed into something worse. 3 yrs ago I had Meningitis. Dr’s think i was run down and a virus living in me broke thru the blood/brain barrier (I had been under tremendous stress). I have recently been under worse stress…it doesn’t surprise me that my body is reacting like this again.

I’m not sure if it’s related, however ironically I was dx’ed with H pylori when I was 7 years old in 1972. I have had years of Fibromyalgia symptoms and finally a diagnosis in 2008. Interesting theory.