Please help me.

[Sam0518]

I started having symptos after a stomach virus about a year ago. I tested positive via breath test in June of 2025. Took the treatment in July. And retested via breath test about 5 weeks after treatment and it was negative. I had some upper discomfort for a couple months but nothing like it was. At the beginning of December I started having new symptoms like stomach gurgling, loose stools, morning urgency and stomach aches, if I’m super bloated I get reflux. My doctor retested me for Hpylori via stool antigen test last week and it was negative. I had taken Pepto 2 weeks and 3 days prior to collecting my stool sample but now I am worried sick that it was a false negative. I’ve seen to stop it 2 weeks before and 4 weeks before.

[Sam0518]

Does no one reply in these forums?

[Helico_expert]

Firstly, congratulations on the successful eradication of your H. pylori infection. It is important to understand that persistent symptoms are often not caused by the presence of the bacteria itself, but rather by the inflammation they have triggered. While this inflammation typically subsides following treatment, the damage sustained by the stomach lining means that it does not always resolve immediately.

Some patients find that their stomach becomes particularly sensitive to certain foods following treatment as the digestive system adjusts to its new environment. Regarding your stool antigen test, the two week interval following your use of Pepto Bismol is an adequate duration to ensure the results are reliable. If your reflux remains severe, you may wish to consult your GP regarding a prescription for a Proton Pump Inhibitor, such as rabeprazole, to help manage stomach acid.

[Sam0518]

Thank you for replying!
I don’t have reflux much anymore. Just a lot of low bubble guts and I’ve lost weight from hardly eating. I did test for SIBO and I’m still waiting on the results.

[notionfrequent]

Firstly, congratulations on the successful eradication of your H. pylori infection. It is important to understand that persistent symptoms are often not caused by the presence of the bacteria itself, but rather by the inflammation they have triggered. While this inflammation typically subsides following treatment, the damage sustained by the stomach lining means that it does not always resolve immediately.

Some patients find that their stomach becomes particularly sensitive to certain foods following treatment as the digestive system adjusts to its new environment. Regarding your stool antigen test, the two week interval following your use of Pepto Bismol is an adequate duration to ensure the results are reliable. If your reflux remains severe, you may wish to consult your GP regarding a prescription for a Proton Pump Inhibitor, such as rabeprazole, to help manage stomach acid.

Your knowledge is truly insightful and detailed. It's entirely possible to learn and research new developmental values.

[wrightphle]

I’m not a doctor, but it’s reassuring that you’ve had both a negative breath test and a negative stool antigen test — that usually makes active H. pylori much less likely. Pepto (bismuth) can sometimes affect results, but most guidelines focus more on stopping PPIs,Space Waves antibiotics, and bismuth for ~2 weeks before testing, so being over 2 weeks out may still be okay.