Safe to say treatment worked?

[new_guy]

I have posted here several times before but here's my update. Brief summary...been having nausea loss of appetite, belching since mid november. Endoscopy showed mild gastritis and duodenitis in mid January but H Pylori negative biopsy but positive blood test. I take Aciphex 20mg 2x daily and Zanctac 300mg bedtime for years for my severe laryngopharyngeal reflux so it can show false negatives in biopsies. So I took clarith+amox+Aciphex for 14 days and finished treatment 6 weeks. As of today I'm much better. No more nausea and if I feel it, it's very faint as if it's almost not there, appetite returned but belching still here but somewhat better. Overall I'm like 80% better. I would take the breath test but this would require me to get off acid blockers for at least 2 weeks which is very hard.

Since I gotten much better I can assume it was almost certain I was infected with H Pylori despite docs refused to believe a reinfection because I was treated and cured for H Pylori 11 years ago with Prevpac.

Question is...since I seen much improvement is it safe to assume I cured my H Pylori? I believe if treatment didn't work or if I didn't have H Pylori I'd still be sick as before right?

[Helico_expert]

It's not right to make such assumption. Your treatment might have reduce the bacteria population to very small and so you feel better. So given time, they will build up their numbers and you'll become sick again. If you are truly better, you should be able to slowly reduce your acid blocker.

[new_guy]

I don't take the Aciphex and Zantac for my gastritis. I been taking it for over 5 years for my laryngopharyngeal reflux...it's the reflux that affects your throat. If the bacteria hasn't been killed off completely won't they quickly multiply in a matter of a few weeks!? I'm now 6 weeks post treatment

[Helico_expert]

6 weeks are more than enough for the bacteria to grow up in number.

Here I share you some guideline on acid blockers. You may switch to some mild one and then you can plan your next breath test.
http://www.imvs.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/conne ... OD=AJPERES

[new_guy]

6 weeks are more than enough for the bacteria to grow up in number.

Here I share you some guideline on acid blockers. You may switch to some mild one and then you can plan your next breath test.
http://www.imvs.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/conne ... OD=AJPERES

That's exactly what I'm saying...if the bacteria regrew I be back to feeling the way I did but I only feel better and better although it's slow I gotta admit but at least the dreadful chronic nausea I had daily for almost 4 months has been gone for 3 weeks knock on wood. As for the acid blockers...I been reading you have to be off PPIs and H2 Blockers for a minimum of 14 days. To abruptly stop my meds may mess my throat really up which is what I'm scared off. Why do the guidlines you provided me say otherwise? It says 1 week is fine to be without PPIs and H2 Blockers are fine...if that's the case I can definitely do it.

[Helico_expert]

well.. that's the guideline.


wish you all the best and keep us posted on your result.

[new_guy]

So I spoke to my GI and he said to have the best accurate breath test I gotta be off all acid blockers PPIs H2 blockers etc. for 2 weeks If I stay on the meds he said there's a 10% chance of a false negative. So we decided we will do a breath test on the meds (I'll stop them for about 3 days or so dunno if it will make a difference) and if it's positive it's positive but if it's negative we will take it to the further step and see how I feel the next month.

[Helico_expert]

good idea.

[new_guy]

So I took the breath test a few weeks ago and it was negative. Since I stated earlier I take Aciphex 20mg 2x daily and Zantac 300mg at bedtime for my severe reflux laryingitis. I was off the meds for only 3 days prior to the breath test I dunno if that makes a difference but my GI said that false negatives on the meds are 10-15%. So I'm hoping I'm on the majority side. I'm now 3 months post prevpac treatment. I have mild to very mild symptoms if I eat more than 80% of my capacity. So to stay fine I gotta eat smaller meals. I dunno how long that will last. I guess I'll wait and see another few months.

My question is if I did eradicate H.Pylori should I be completely symptom free after 3 months? Or is it normal to have some very mild discomfort? I no longer have the moderate chronic daily nausea and burping I used to have. If I feel the nausea after eating a bit too much it's quiet faint as if it's almost not there or just a bit feeling of fullness.

[Helico_expert]

That is a very subjective question. I think it depends on how much damage has H. pylori done in your stomach. Some members says they recovered immediately after treatment and some says months or years. Nevertheless, I think your breath test result is good. Eat more fruits (Vit C kill H. pylori) and stay healthy.