Combating Helicobacter Pylori

Probably the hardest year so far..

It’s been a challenging year, there’s no doubt about that. But sometimes, it’s the challenges that help us grow the most. It all started with a severe case of food poisoning in Costa Rica, which left me feeling bloated, gaining weight, and lacking energy. I didn’t know what was causing these symptoms and it was frustrating to feel so defeated. But eventually, after seeing several doctors and undergoing various tests, I was diagnosed with a bacteria called Helicobacter Pylori. This bacteria can cause all sorts of health problems including gastritis, stomach ulcers, and even stomach cancer.
To make matters worse, I snapped my biceps tendon at the beginning of August and had to have surgery. As a competitive athlete, this was a major setback and I thought my career might be over. It’s not easy to mentally handle the sudden change from being an active athlete to not being able to train at all for months. But I refused to give up. I had faith in myself and knew that I would pull through.
The hardest part was probably trying to combat the H. Pylori bacteria. It was making me feel terrible all the time and I had to change my diet drastically, eating only a few foods like fish, chicken, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts. It was tough to stick to such a restricted diet and not see any results for weeks. But I knew that my health was the most important thing, so I persevered.
Now, I’m writing this post from my hotel bed in Cambodia, feeling much better. The bloating is gone, I’ve followed a strict diet and taken two rounds of strong antibiotics, and I’ve lost over 30lbs in weight. My biceps recovery is going well and I have my mobility and strength back, at about 50-60%. This experience has taught me just how important our health is and how quickly it can be taken away from us. Without good health, we are nothing.
But it’s also taught me that with determination and perseverance, we can overcome any challenge. I may have had a rough year, but I never gave up. I kept pushing through and now I’m feeling stronger than ever. So if you’re facing a challenge right now, remember to stay strong and never give up. You have the power within you to overcome anything that comes your way.