Helicobacter Forums

olive oil is fine.

3-4 weeks without PPI or antibiotics would be sufficient for breath/stool test.

Helico_expert wrote: ↑

Tue Dec 01, 2020 9:01 am

olive oil is fine.

3-4 weeks without PPI or antibiotics would be sufficient for breath/stool test.

What about famotidine? Should I stop it 2 weeks or 1 day before stool test?

And I took azithromycin while was covid 19 positive, one month has passed since the end of treatment, but some sources say that azithromycin stays for around 15 days in human body after the last dose, so I'm confused know about proper time to get stool test.

famotidine will not affect breath/stool test. you can continue famotidine until the night before breath/stool test.

azithromycin is not good. So you need to stop for at least 3-4 weeks before breath/stool test.

@Helico_expert. But I have never been treated for H.Pylori before as far as I know. Thats why I'm waiting on my blood results. Is that not a good idea?
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Oh.. if you had not been treated for H. pylori before, then blood test is ok.
if it is negative, then it's all good. your symptoms are because of something else.

if it is positive, i would still recommend you to do another more specific test, eg breath or stool test to double confirm.
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Update: my blood results came back negative for H.Pylori antibodies and my heartburn have gone down a lot. I have stopped taking Rabeprezole.

I have heartburn when I eat something spicy or hot but Gaviscon and constant sipping of water helps a lot. I changed my diet and it helps to keep my heartburn under check.

Seems like my acid reflux is not because of a H.Pylori infection i think.

I went to see a GI and did the endoscopy and pathology test. H Pylori came back positive, so the GI subscribed me Talicia, which is a combo pills of Omeprazole, Amoxicllin, and Rifabutin. I was surprised I didn't get the standard Triple Therapy. This seems like a new product that may be the GI gets some bonus for promoting it. What do you think of this product?

https://www.talicia.com/


I also came across this website as I was looking for way to reduce the symptoms when taking the antibiotics. This practice is located in the same city I live in. What do you think about the protocl? Would it have any posistve or negative affect with the Triple Therapy Treatment?

https://www.texascenterforlifestylemedi ... tocol.html

I appreciate your help!

It's good treatment, but I agree that your doctor should have started the standard triple therapy first.

The only problem with Talicia is the use of rifabutin.
Usually H. pylori is sensitive to it. But there are cases where H. pylori can become resistant to it.

Rifabutin is usually reserved for more severe disease such as tuberculosis. It can be a worry if Rifabutin is abused.

You got me worry about taking it now. It seems like a strong antibiotic that could cause more side effects than the standard antibiotics? Or what you mean is that it's better to save this antibiotic when there is a real need?

If you have resistant H. pylori, then you should try this Talicia.

You need to check the side effect with your doctor. Rifabutin has a small risk of causing low white blood cells and platelet.

You should be fine taking Talicia. But it'll be better to add bismuth into your treatment. That will not only boost the cure rate, and also prevent C. difficile complication.

I went to the pharmacy and they want to charge me $550 for the medicine. That's way too much for something that has an alternative with similar effect. The pharmacy tech also told me that this GI often prescribe drugs that insurance doesn't cover. He then told me he will fax the doctor office for alternative, but ask me to call the doctor office too.
I went pick up the new prescription today, but found it strange of the amount prescribed. This is the prescription:
Clarithromycin - 500 mg - 20 pills - Twice a day - 10 days
Amoxicillin - 500 mg - 20 pills - Four times a day - 5 days
Omeprazole - 40 mg - 90 pills - Once a day - 90 days - This wasn't in the new prescription. He prescribed this to me right after the endoscopy, but I haven't start taking it. Later he told me to only start it after the therapy. I know this is part of the triple therapy based on my research.


I went from a 14 day therapy with Talicia to supposedly a 10 day therapy, but the amount of Amoxicillin only last 5 days. That just does not add up to me. I will call their office Monday to see if there is some kind of mistake.
I have a couple questions and I really appreciate your help. Thanks.
1) Is 14 days that much more effective than 10 days with Clarithromycin, Amoxicillin, and PPI?
2) You mentioned Bismuth, which I think you are referring to Bismuth subcitrate. Is this something I can get over the counter or do I have to get the GI to prescribe it? I am not sure if he is willing to prescribe it. Can I use Pepto Bismol, which has Bismuth subsalicylate, in place of it? I also find some supplement that has Bismuth Citrate.

The trick to save money is to ask the doctor the prescribe the tablets separately. All the drugs are cheap, but when they pack together in one packet, eg. Talicia or Pylera, it becomes super expensive.

10 days and 14 days have similar cure rate. But it is better you listen to your doctor's direction.

pepto bismol is perfect. Depending where you are, some countries do not require prescription for this.