Symptoms returned. Quadruple therapy without test?????

[Knackersyard]

I’m in UK & last September, I was treated with Triple therapy after testing positive. 2 months later, I had a stool test & was Negative.

Now, 9 months later, I have been getting abdominal pains & my bowel movements have returned to the way they were very loose. I went to see my GP & requested a test, as I felt the Pylori may have returned. He suggested I just do the Quadruple therapy.

Is this safe? Is it advisable to take this treatment without proof the Pylori is back?

This is what he prescribed.



METRONIDAZOLE tabs 400mg
42 tablets
One, Three times daily

OMEPRAZOLE gastro-res cap 20mg
28 capsules
One daily

TETRACYCLINE tabs 250mg
112 tablets
Two, Four times daily

TRIPOTASSIUM DICITRATOBISMUTHATE tabs 120mg
112 tablets
One, Four times daily

[Helico_expert]

Hi, I think it's reasonable to test if you have the bacteria before you take any medication. blindly taking antibiotics will only upset your gut's normal flora.

[barjammar]

I agree that you should test then treat ONLY IF TEST IS POSITIVE. If you just treat you really do not have a firm baseline status and you will never know if you had the Bug still, or not.
I don't agree with GP's who treat without a test although I know that many do. Breath tests are easy to obtain these days.

[Knackersyard]

Thank you very much for the replies. Unfortunately, for some reason, I didn't get notification, so I didn't know there were there. I'm now on day 4 of the therapy.

I must say, I'm very happy with this GP (compared with the idiot I had for 20 years), he's very open minded, but I will mention this mistake to him for the sake of others.

FWIW, I do think the H Pylori is back. I only discovered H Pylori by sheer luck, after finding I had very low stomach acid. I did a Pylori test & it was Positive. For 20 years I'd had a touch of abdominal pain, just below the solar plexus, but it was so mild, I thought it couldn't be anything. My bowel movement was regular & over in a second. I thought this was healthy! I'd just sit down & "BANG". One movement, like splatter. After the Triple Therapy, I was passing smooth stools, like squeezing touthpaste. Very different.

After about 3 months, the stools started to disintegrate until they were back to the "flock of sparrows" & the abdominal pain returned, but worse than before.


Obviously, it's too late for me to test now I've started the Quad therapy. I'll just have to keep an eye on my symptoms & hope this is the last of the Pylori. If I ever suspect it's back, I'll insist on a Test!


Thanks

[Helico_expert]

It's ok. when you finish your current therapy, wait for a month, then get your breath test check again.

perhaps, you can list down what antibiotic you have taken in your first therapy,
and what are you taking currently.

so, if your next breath test comes back positive, then these antibiotic information will be useful.

[Knackersyard]

It's ok. when you finish your current therapy, wait for a month, then get your breath test check again.

perhaps, you can list down what antibiotic you have taken in your first therapy,
and what are you taking currently.

so, if your next breath test comes back positive, then these antibiotic information will be useful.

Thanks H_E

The medication I took is as follows :

Triple therapy (7 days)
AMOXICILLIN caps 500mg. 28 caps, twice a day
CLARITHROMYCIN tabs 500mg. 14 tabs, every 12 hours (isn't that the same as twice a day??)
LANSOPRAZOLE caps, 30mg. 28 caps, once a day

Now doing Quadruple therapy (14 days)

METRONIDAZOLE tabs 400mg, 42 tablets, One, Three times daily
OMEPRAZOLE gastro-res cap 20mg, 28 capsules, One daily
TETRACYCLINE tabs 250mg, 112 tablets, Two, Four times daily
TRIPOTASSIUM DICITRATOBISMUTHATE tabs 120mg,112 tablets, One, Four times daily



So would you advise I request Breath Test rather than Stool test?

After I finished Triple therapy I did 2 Stool tests (one from NHS GP & one private), they both came back Negative. Now 9 months later I'm back to square one.


I had my wife & kids tested (Stool tests) & they were all Negative. Can these tests give False Negatives? Is it possible that my wife is infected & I became re-infected from her?



Thanks

[Helico_expert]

finish your quadruple therapy now, wait for a month, then do another breath test. i am not sure the accuracy of stool test, but breath test is sensitive up to 95%.

glad to hear that your other family members are well. we'll see how it goes with your second breath test a month later.

[barjammar]

The stool test is almost as accurate as the breath test. If you are now negative for H.p. the antibody blood test will gradually decline over 2-3 years but probably will stay slightly positive even after the bug disappears. Your remaining symptom sounds like irritable bowel which just means it is incurable and of unknown cause. See a gastroenterologist and perhaps get upper and lower scoping done once in your life at least for reassurance that nothing serious or treatable is being missed. Good luck.