Helicobacter Forums

Ive been off PPIs for a month. Need to get tested again. But 2 weeks ago I had literally 1 cap full of pepto bismol. Would that alter test results? Do I need to wait another 2 weeks before getting a stool test? Thanks

yes. pepto bismol contain bismuth and can kill off H. pylori. So you will need to wait for another 2-4 weeks before the breath/stool test.

So its been 2 weeks already. Thats not enough time? I need to wait another 2 weeks?

I mean it was literally only 1 spoonful of pepto.

Hi Helicoexpert,
I have been on this forum before.

I was diagnosed with h pylori a year ago. I did a partial treatment of metronidazole, Tetracycline, pepto, and prilosec.

I wasn't able to tolerate metronidazole for longer than one day and continued Tetracycline for 9 days until my throat started to tighten.

I was misdiagnosed with oral thrush and given nystantin which lead to a complete inability to swallow. Biopsies and cultures showed negative for oral thrush and I was later diagnosed with acid reflux esophagitis.

I have been on a liquid diet for 7 months now and am slowly regaining the ability to swallow.

There is doubt by medical professionals that I have h pylori infection because the endoscopy I did within 9 days of taking the antibiotic and peptbo bismol showed that I was h pylori negative. I was also on a ppi of 40mg during the endoscopy. I believe the test results were a false negative.

Now, 7 months later I need to prove that I'm infected with h pylori but my swallow is still very weak from the acid reflux. I'm unable to stop taking a ppi without jeopardizing my ability to eat.

I would like to know if I can do a stool test despite taking 40mg a day of a ppi. Is there any possibility a positive result will show up despite being on a ppi?

My doctor is increasing my ppi medicine to 80mg to help my throat heal faster. Before increasing the dosage, I wondered if there is a chance of a positive result by stool test despite ppi use?

Thank you!!

So its been 2 weeks already. Thats not enough time? I need to wait another 2 weeks?
I mean it was literally only 1 spoonful of pepto.

Two weeks are actually fine. But the longer you wait, the higher the chance of getting accurate result.

I would like to know if I can do a stool test despite taking 40mg a day of a ppi. Is there any possibility a positive result will show up despite being on a ppi?

My doctor is increasing my ppi medicine to 80mg to help my throat heal faster. Before increasing the dosage, I wondered if there is a chance of a positive result by stool test despite ppi use?

Normally we would ask patients to switch to H2 blockers like famotidine. Fomotidine will not interfere with breath/stool test.
But you are a special case. I am not sure if H2 blockers will be useful as you are taking high dose PPI.
Perhaps you need to wait till you are better, then only go for the breath/stool test.
perhaps you can get a serology test now and monitor the anto-H. pylori antibody level. if the antibody level is gradually dropping every month, then you are free of H. pylori.

Thank you Helico expert.