Helicobacter Forums

I was trying to read from your previous post about how you were diagnosed with H. pylori. I assume your doctor knows what he is doing and is following the guideline that you only give treatment when there is a positive diagnosis.

anyway, it depends what sort of antigen they used in serology too. some has longer life (> a year) and some has shorter (<3 months). But, we know that blood test gives false positives and less likely to give false negative. So, your blood test is suggesting that you are currently free of H. pylori.

If your GERD is too frequent, you may want to control it with PPI to protect your esophagus and teeth.

Hi Helico_expert.

So recently i had sudden onset abdomen bloating for 4 days... The diet I have always been on...did not change much.
The bloating went on a few days....so, i decided to visit my chinese meds doctor.
The bloating subsided within the following day....

All this happening in conjunction with my earlier blood test, using serlogy IgG EIA Immulite 2000 machine, which gave me a 0.46 negative ( as to >0.9 would be positive).
I also did a 4-point UBT 6 months back...with negative result.


In short, i did a gastroscopy today to check why was i bloated extremely that few days.
My gastro specialist mentioned that I have H.pylori.
I am not sure if he tested using RUT/CLO, but I will be getting another biopsy reading in a few days.
Hopefully nothing serious....my worse fear would be some cancerous cell


ok, then my gastro specialist provided me his h.pylori treatment regime.

Amox, Nexium, levofloxacin- triple therapy.
- I have done this SAME regime last 2 years ago....and even TWICE. The second time back then was HIGHER PPI dosage.
On BOTH cases... my UBT returned positive, and got worse when higher PPI dosage 2nd time round.

My question is.... WILL this same regime be effective for my so-call relapse here?.
Anyway, denied my gastro-specialist regime, and said....it is pointless.

I have not tried KLACID Hp7, and I know that H.pylori has a higher Clarith-resistance strains these days.....but do you think it more worthwhile to go for this (Klacid HP7) rather than using the TWICE repeated regime ( Amox,NExium, Levofloxacin) I did 2 years back?.


Just a refresh, the therapy i did so far...

2013
a) Amox, Levo, Pariet(PPI dosage 20mg ). ------UBT- positive
b) Amox, Levo (higher dosage), Pariet(PPI dosage to 40mg)--------UBT positive, reading higher than before
c) Quad regime ; Tetra, Metro, Nexium, DeNol --------- did not test UBT

March 2015- UBT test- Negative
Sept 2015- Blood test - Negative

today, gastroscopy with mild gastritis /reflux....
d) Klacid Hp7 <---- I told the gastro specialist that I took the a) and b) TWICE, and it did not work....

Please advise/comment. Thanks. I need to know if i should start this Klacid-hp7 or get another alternative regime?.





Update: I started klacid hp7 today. Guess I need to complete it now. Hopefully less side effects or none.

you did a breath and blood test 6 months ago and it was negative. you are getting another biopsy reading in a few days. maybe your doctor did a CLO test and show positive. it's curious to me why did you get a negative test 6 months ago?

anyway, Klacid is a good choice as you have not taken it before. it's worrying that your doctor is not familiar with your medical history. Also, you should try to finish this treatment according to the instruction. then in exactly one month time, do a follow up RUT or Breath test to confirm the eradication.

Thanks Helico_expert sir,

I guess I won't know why my 4-point UBT with 98% sensitivity + 98% specificity...turned negative?..or relapse now..
I can only say...what is in front of me...is gastritis and a HPE biopsy...stating the obvious.
I am just scared if there are abnormal cells. My country is one of the high risk stomach cancer point.

I have always been wondering if the sequence of the therapy made eradication % success changed?...but since my last regime was 1.5-2 years ago...
I hope Klacid is able to resolve my issue finally.



On another note, I would like to share this documented material related to the hydrogen bonding capability of the H.Pylori, that allows them to adhese to the stomach lining.
The article was published August , 2015.
I am not sure if this discovery makes any sense, since I am not a scientist nor a microbiologist in any way....

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 145657.htm

From what I understand the method is to "flush" away the bacterium using a "disruption" to the bacterium adhesion ability.
Whether such research applies to all strains?..or etc...

Was wondering what is your take on this?.
Probably if you could explain this in a layman terms to understand, would appreciate it...
I know there isn't alot of information...being Astra Zaneca involved...as all pharma and profits...

best regards.

Hello,

at the moment, antibiotics are the only method proven able to eradicate H. pylori completely. There are many other unproven scientific hypothetical methods, such as using cow that produce H. pylori specific antibodies, vaccine, probiotics that kills H. pylori, and others. I think all these needs a bit more time to optimise the methodology.

in addition, i want to remind you that host genetic plays the most important role in gastric cancer. If you carry the cancer gene, it doesnt matter if you have H. pylori, you should constantly monitor yourself. Then diet is the second most important factor. Scientist have identify that salt is an important link to stomach cancer. They dont know why, but regions that consume a lot of salt has high cancer rate. Then only is the H. pylori factor. I believe H. pylori accelerate the cancer formation.

Anyway, we shall wait till you finish your Klacid treatment. Then we'll wait for your follow up diagnosis.

Thank you again.
My Klacid regime is completed. Now easing off the PPI.
The evening is bearable now for me. But thus is just 3 days off the anti.


I also received my biopsy result. Which made me Google.
The result mentions features resembling chronic gastritis with intestinal metaplasia.
No active gastritis ,no malignant, no dyplasia ,no h.pylori detected.
Puzzling report...but what had me on a worry note was the metaplasia...which reading made concern its relation
To the development of cancer 6-10 folds.

Articles of non-reversible > reversible posted on meds forum.

Hoping that it would stay benign the rest of my life.

Does it warrant me to do regular screening now ie. Every year..that I have IM?

we believe IM is reversible. As that's what we observed among our patients. Nevertheless, there is no harm keeping a close monitor, eg. getting endoscopy once a year, to be sure. I think, if you do it for the next 3 to 5 years, you'll probably get an idea of the IM development. If IM does indeed decreased, then maybe you can reduce your endoscopy check.

Did my UBT today.
I am not sure if there is any technique in blowing into the bag or I just could not accept it yet.

I am finally cleared of H.pylori.
C13 enrichment showing a 0.7 scale over a baseline of 2.4.
Not borderline. So, I hope it stays that way.


Summary if people don't want to read my 3 years journey...you can skip right to the big TODAY

I had dyspepsia symptom evening after dinner. I would get just bloated . That was the only symptom that started my long journey from Dec 2012, and my many facts findings of H.pylori eradication and treatment. Call me paranoia, but that is how extreme it went.

I took a very high eradicating rate antibiotics for my 1st treatment. Levoquin (levofloxacin).
It came back POSITIVE. Symptoms did not go.
I felt ....WORSE.
The gastro doctor gave me the same for 2nd treatment, but at a higher dosage.
I started having other tummy issues.
Doctors could not answer my side effects and swung away my issues like; constipation, thin stools, bloating on evening meals only...etc.
2nd treatment came back with a higher POSITIVE value.

So, my 3rd treatment was the gold Quadruple. Tetra, Metro, Bismuth.
It seems to clear something, but my symptoms still linger.

By now, I was annoyed. I was angry and bitter. I became reclusive about what I ate, how I ate and etc.
My weight dropped about 8 kilos.
I started thinking, I might get something inside my tummy....
I started doing Probiotics, Zinc Carnosine, Mastics.
I even started going for Chinese Meds after my 3rd treatment completed 2 weeks onwards.

All that...happening from late 2012 til 2013-2014.

I decide to get another opinion from a Professor. Dr. Barry probably knows him.
I took a 4 points UBT in March 2015, and I was so happy, the test came back NEGATIVE.

But still, I had symptoms of dyspepsia late evening.
The Professor said...probably i need to live with it....

In August-Sept 2015, my upper abdomen took a strike. It was "burning" at one part of it.
I got myself into another scope, and i had polyps with features of chronic gastritis and intestinal metaplasia.

This time, I asked my gastro to get me on Klacid.

It sounds weird...to go back into an old school antibiotics, when I do take Azithromycin when i had flu back in 2012....so, I thought it might not work. To take Clarithomycin here as my treatment.
My stomach somehow started mellowed down, with some small metallic taste every morning...and slight tiny headache between.

It was not an easy journey...it still is in the stage of repairing today.


TODAY====================

So, today, I got my result ...NEGATIVE.
I am asked to get another check 3 months down.


People used to write up things like..Mastic Gums, Zinc L-carnosine, and whatever drugs they can get on from the internet.

I don't advocate them as a primary solution. you might get a negative taking them, but the bacteria might return a few months down. So...it makes no difference.

Diet?.
YES for me. I started taking less sugar, salt and even anything that might be processed flour.
People can deny me about diet , saying..."Nah , it makes no difference".

For me...it DOES. I even stopped eating meat altogether, which worries me on B12 deficiency.
HAving this H.P greatly affected my work performance, my social life . It was terrible. I became a terrible person, and I gave terror to almost everyone around me .

So, I started doing more exercises...light ones. Brisk walking and cycling. I realize that my body might be too weak in the immune system to allow this bacteria to attack me.

I decided to get myself off the PPIs meds, because I somehow believe I had too low acid to digest anything.

I took alot of fruits to help my digestion; papaya, strawberries, kiwi fruits, banana. I took juiced fruits whenever I could and alot of water.
I became a fish and veggie diet person.
I do take Graham biscuits...whenever i feel some hunger pan.
Water was my friend... I take sufficient of it...NOT overdose.
I make time to see and soak under the sun.
I sat less and try standing more...

I can say... I missed my old culinary food...spicy, sweet and fried stuff. But, I am in no hurry to go back to such days.
I like bread and anything that is baked...but I have complete remove them from my diet.

It has been a complete RESET in my life.

I just want to tell people facing this.... that after 4 treatments...with almost feeling zero hopes...I can tell you, live your life and take charge of it....
I am going to say...I am not completely off the hook.
The amount of damage done on my stomach....I need to rebuild them....
I started looking more towards living each day meaningful....

Honestly...NOBODY would understand your frustration....but as a person who gone through this, I know some of your thoughts.

So, as a start...TAKE charge of your diet, your exercise, your lifestyle....take the doctors advise as a supplement.
Everyone's body is different.

I wish everyone speedy recovery, and as a person that has run through this for 3 years+.... I can say, keep fighting.
I wish everyone the best of health.

Hooray! happy that you finally get rid of this nasty bacteria. I do believe changing diet helps, especially to the good bacteria in your intestine. So I hope you all the best and do pop in often to help other members.

Hi helico_expert/Dr.Barry
I am back to report my state.

So, I did a breath test

Nov 2015 -- 0.7 / 2.4 baseline. - hospital lab NEGATIVE
Jan 2016 -- 1.6 / 2.5 baseline -lab A NEGATIVE
Mar 2016--- 10.10 / 2.5 baseline -lab B POSITIVE


What were the differences?.

a) I did the first 2 from hospital and the other from a Lab ( that does commercial blood/serology test for consumers ).
b) The 3rd one I did last week was from another different lab. But all 3 have similar baselines.
c) For the 3rd lab, the only difference was...
- I drank the C13 solution, but was ask to wash it down with another glass of water.
- I was ask to blow after 15 minutes instead of the 20 minutes. ( I checked, and find no differences...the accuracy/sensitivity is still above 95%)

d) I relatively have less/NO dypepsia feeling compare to other 2 years I was on medication...less "symptomic" than before.
e) I have strict diets.. I eat at the same place before i was tested negative, and never ate anywhere else.
I still share some limited food sharing with the household (Asian household) . I usually take my portion using another utensil...and try to stay away from sharing.


If Helico_expert/Dr.Barry, could help answer this mystery.

a) Am I having a re-infection from food sharing?. If so...why do I get such a sudden spike?. almost 10 times within < 3 months.
I have not ate out, cooked most of my food, not a alcohol , nor smoker...only resort to fruits, bread, rice, vegetables and blend fish cooking.
My food has no salt, sugar not any additional stuff....plain.

b) Can I redo the 1st line Klacid?... since I do not know if this is reinfection?.
I have done almost all the regime....

I did antibiotics using Cipro/Levo +Amox+ PPI, -----> failed
Bismuth, Tetra, Metro + PPI ------> failed
Klacid -------------> this manage to negative my UBT in Nov 2015.
Any suggestion ?.

My last biopsy (Sept 2015) mentions features of chronic gastritis + Metaplasia on my lining.. which tells me I might either get very bad from where I am.


Thank you again.