Helicobacter Forums

I recently have been having issues with my throat so I seen an ENT who said I have laryngopharyngeal reflux. Also suspected H Pylori. So he asked me if my primary doctor ordered any labs for me and asked me to have her also test me for H pylori and at the same time he prescribed me clarithromycin 500 MG 2 times daily also Prilosec 20 MG 2 times daily. Told me to finish antibiotics and continue to take Prilosec and will see me in 6 weeks. Also gave me 1 refill of clarithromycin if I wasn't feeling better after first round. I started taking the meds right away (no one told me to wait until testing) so I had the blood test done about 3 days after taking antibiotics blood test came back Equivocal. Went in a couple days later and took the blood test again. This time is came back positive. I know the blood test doesn't tell us if there is an active infection going on. So at this point since I'm already on some meds I figured might as well treat it like I have an active infection and that's what my doctor told me to do(continue taking meds) but my question is don't I need another antibiotic and what do I do if I have already been taking clarithromycin for a week now. Ugh I just feel lost. Other question I have is can h pylori infection give you gas and acid reflux that is not burning acid? The acid reflux I'm experiencing doesn't really burn. When I was really stressed before I knew what might be going on there were a few times where my stomach burned and gave me acid reflux. But that was only a day or 2. My only symptoms really now are bloating and some sort of acid reflux in the back of my throat that isn't causing burning, it's more of an irritating feeling and is making my lingual tonsil inflamed or swollen. I just feel lost and want to know what's going on or what I should do next and what I should do about my meds. Hope someone can help me.

Indeed, all this is very confusing.
I have heard patients having similar symptoms.
First you need to be properly tested for Hp using stool test or breath test. For the breath test you will need to stop antibiotics and prilosec for at least 3 weeks before testing.
Since you are already taking treatment, you should probably finish it and do one of these tests 3 weeks later. If you are positive, ask your doctor to give you a treatment without chlaritromycin as you may be resistant. You could take Metronidazole and amoxicillin for example.
If you are Hp negative, then seek further explanation to your symptoms with your doctor.

Do I need to be off Prilosec for 3 weeks or just 1. Reading somewhere on here I thought it was only 1 week for Prilosec and 4 weeks for antibiotic. I also seen on here that the treatment I am on also works but is only 70% effective but I should be taking biaxian 3 times a day. Should I have my doctor increase it to 3 times a day instead of 2? Thank you for responding I really appreciate it. And if I do retake the test and it comes back positive exactly what should my next treatment be. How much does of each meds ect?

For the test, you will need to be off all drugs for 3 weeks, including Prilosec. Since, you have already started your treatment, it is better to not change it half way through and hope for the best. The next treatment will depends on where you live and which treatment is usually given by your doctors. A gastroenterologist should be able to help you with this matter. The most important is to have at least 2 different antibiotics (I would avoid Chlaritromycin now) and an acid reductor.

So I think what my doctor is going to do is not have me wait to retake the test. I think that he will just start me over with 2 antibiotics and a acid reducer. I'm still getting the acid in the back of my throat and my throat and lingual tonsils is irritated for the acid but I think it's non acid type of reflux because it doesn't burn burn more is just feels like its irratating my lingual tonsil and throat. And it's more on the left side of my throat. Anyways is it okay for them to start me on a whole new treatment instead of waiting and taking the test. I mean my blood work did come back positive for traces of h pilori and I've never been treated for it before this. So my doc is assuming its an active infection. Seems like when I stress and worry about it it burns a little more. Ugh I just hope it's nothing serious and can't wait for this to be better.

My advice is: always follow what your doctor says. It is probably an active infection if you have never been treated before. So go on the next treatment but don't forget to do a test 3 weeks after the end of this treatment to make sure your bacteria has been eradicated.

Okay my next question is... Lets say he gives me

Amoxicillin + metronidazole + prilosec

How many MG should each med be? and how much should I be taking of each med a day? I just want to make sure he gives me the right dose. And other question I've been taking prilosec 20MG 2 times a day for 2 1/2'weeks and still getting the acid reflux. Should I ask for something stronger? If so what would you suggest? I hope and pray I get the right stuff and it works.'im so ready to feel "normal" again. And again I appreciate your response.

Also wanted to know if there is a difference between prilosec and Lansoprazole or are they the same? And I see people posting about prevpac? Or something like that.

Okay so this is what the doc gave me upon my request because if not she was going to keep me on clithromyocin and just add another antibiotic with it. I told her I'd rather try 2 different antibiotics since it is easily resistient to clithromyocin(don't know if I'm spelling that correctly) so she gave me amoxicillin+metronidazole+Prilosec. I don't know what the MG for the antibiotics are yet since I haven't picked them up. I'm going to finish off my clithromyocin and then I will start new antibiotics. I want to make sure I have the right doses. How many MG should the antibiotics be? Ill take the Prilosec 2 times daily and same with each antibiotic. Does that all sound right so far? Thank you again for your time,help,and guidance! So just curious, how do you know so much about this stuff? Did you have a problem with h pylori before and just come here to help people like me? Or do you actually work for the foundation and your job is to respond to people like me? Either way it doesn't matter I'm just curious. I appreciate this foundation so much! I will be donating when I get paid. This foundation and doctors are a blessing to many and I've learned a lot!

Hi, Sorry for the late reply. For the treatment to work you need to take Prilosec daily with antibiotics. Prilosec will reduce the acidity of your stomach and help the antibiotics to do their work.The dose can differ from one prescription to another but you shouldn't be to concerned about that as long as you are taking both antibiotics. Sometimes, both antibiotics are taken at the same time, sometimes they are taken one after the other (called sequential therapies). But the eradication rate is about the same. Once you have picked up the treatment, let me know the MG and I'll tell you if it sounds all right (which I'm sure it will).
Luckily, I do not have H pylori. I am a research scientist and I have been working with H.pylori for 2 years now with Dr Marshall. I am specialised in the treatment of very resistant patients.