Thank you for confirming that I need to retake the stool test. My doctor finally agreed to that, so I am going off the Nexium for 7 days. Is that sufficient for preparation for the stool test? I have seen 14 days listed from sources here in the USA as the time to be off the PPIs, but I am not sure which number of days is correct. Please verify.
I may take the weaker H2 blocker, such as Zantac, during the week before the stool test retake. Thank you for the list. Even though it is for the breath test, I hope the numbers and medicinal information applies to the stool test, as well.
Also, I take ginger, fennel and anise most days for upset stomach and want to make sure that these will not affect the test. I am also taking probiotic kefir every day.
After the stool test, I am planning to take the anitibiotic treatement anyway, just to be on the safe side. I feel that I may be getting an ulcer, possibly due to the H Pylori, even though I have not been diagnosed as having one. I am having a lot of pain in my upper stomach, while the heartburn and acid has been less (probably as I was taking the Nexium).
Also, I have seen that the combination (conventional) treatment that I will be taking is 90 % effective in Australia, but have read from the American College of Gastroenterology website, I believe, that this same treatment is decreasing to be only 70-85% effective here in the USA. I may have contracted the H Pylori while in Australia, so maybe I have a different strain that in the USA and my chances may be better with the treatment. Is that possible?
Also, I read a paper on the National Institutes of Health website
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3925854/ that there are many things that help with preventing H Pylori enzyme and also inhibiting its adhesion to the mucosa and etc., and I am planning to take some of those at the same time as the antibiotic, as it was advised that it may help the effectiveness of the antibiotic when they work in tandem, as these alternative therapies help, but do not eradicate the H Pylori, while the antibiotics sometimes also do not eradicate it fully. The alternate therpaies that seem to help, generally, are: Reservatrol, Green Tea, Licorice Root, Manuka honey and (Hexane from from Golden Crest Honey, which is comparable to Amoxillan-I don't think I am taking this one), Propolis, Protiobitcs (Bifidobacterium, Lactobacillus Acidophilus, Lactobacillus Casei, Bacillus Subtilis, Weisella Confusa), pea protein (bioactive peptides), Polysaccharides (Fucoidan, Spirulina, Chlorella, Black Currant, Green Tea, Panax Ginseng). Also, 1,4 N Acetylglucosamine (inhibits the enzyme-was able to find this ingredient in a good probiotic from Integrative Therapies). Also, noted that H Pylori needs iron... so, trying to avoid excesses of that.
Do you also agree with my idea to take these along with the antibiotics? I think it might be a good idea...
I have a few days until I can retake the stool test, so have time to gather these things, as well.