Last year, doctors diagnosed me with H. pylori infections. These bacteria affect the stomach lining and can cause wounds inside the stomach. Sometimes they lead to chronic ulcers or cancer. That was the first time I had ever heard the term H. pylori in my life.

The pain from these bacteria was overwhelming. So, I was ready to follow every piece of advice the doctors offered. I was shocked to realise how much medication I had to take to try to treat the bacteria. The pharmacist gave me something called the Gastrosafe kit, and it had more than forty pills.

It didn’t stop there. I had another twenty-six pills for pain relief. Then, there were thirty pills to prevent acid in my stomach. I also had a list of foods to eat or avoid to speed up my recovery. The doctor said that was the first dose. I need to come back in six weeks for a test and a second dose.

After six weeks, my situation did not improve at all; I had to go back for the second dose. They gave me similar drugs and conditions to follow. The doctor said it was normal for H. pylori patients to need two doses to recover fully. I trusted him. Two months later, I did not see the impact.

Went back to the doctor, who recommended another dose. He said some bacteria evolve and stop responding to some of the drugs; that might be the case with me. He recommended another dose containing double the pills I was supposed to take. He also recommended a different kind of pain relief.

I used that third dose for three months, and I never had any progress. That night, the pain got worse. I hurried to a nearby dispensary and asked for a different painkiller. The nurse wanted a background of my case and I shared, she was shocked but composed. Then she said something that changed my life.

“With ulcers and stomach pain like yours, you are going to pay a way higher price than what is on the label,” she started. I was surprised to meet a real nurse for the first time. She told me I was paying more than the label showed. I thought she was talking about money, and she wanted to help me save some after spending so much on drugs.

“I had ulcers too, and mine were as chronic as it gets,” she continued. “When my ulcers come, my pain is the worst thing in my life; most of the time, I end up fainting,” she continued. Yes, I had extreme pains and felt my condition was worse, but I have never fainted. Hearing her say that fainting was a normal occurrence for her when her ulcers came, I had to focus on her words.

She shared her experience with the ulcers. She tried all the doses the doctors recommended but still did not improve. She began to notice all the side effects from the doses. These included breathing difficulties, skin rashes, insomnia, and more. That is when she realised she was paying a much higher price for taking the drugs than usual.

One day after she fainted and her family took her to the hospital, an old woman approached her. She offered advice: “Change your diet. Try to eat more fruits, vegetables, and seeds. They’re good for your gut health.” “It will take longer but is the right approach to heal your ulcers,” the old lady spoke with conviction and a smile.

She followed that advice and her life changed for the better. From that day, she decided to stop taking the hospital drugs for her ulcers. She realised the cost went beyond the money she spent on them. That day, she advised me that taking drugs for my situation cost much more than what I paid to the dispensaries.

When I took those drugs, I had all the side effects. I let my body get used to them, which made painkillers less effective. My pain tolerance dropped, and it affected my mind and psychology. The drugs offered short-term relief while creating lifelong damage. I stopped.

I began following her advice and changed my diet. I focused on long-term solutions instead of seeking immediate relief from the drugs. I revisited the concept and saw it applies everywhere. Almost everything costs more than what is shown on the label.

Relationships are wonderful, but they need effort to thrive. This effort often brings mental and emotional challenges. Many individuals sacrifice their individuality and personal space to make a relationship work. When building a relationship, the price is more than you imagine.

When you are building a business or a career, the price is deeper and bigger than what we imagine. You not only have to put in overtime and a lot of work, then hope everything will be great. It takes more than that. Business and career can affect your personal relationships, family, mental health, and well-being.

Fame is incredible and brings many opportunities. But the cost for famous people is hard to understand. The love and hate from strangers, the constant need for your time, attention, and money. The paranoia that everyone wants to use or has bad intentions with you. 

The major lesson here is always to try to uncover the hidden prices on everything you do. Don’t just check the price on the label. Look at the other costs that come after you pay and get the receipt.

#iThinkSo

May you be happy.

May you be healthy.

May you be free from suffering.

May you find peace and joy.

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Rogers Katuma

Financial Artist, Senior Adventurer, Occasional Storyteller, and Amateur Golfer