One month re-test: POSITIVE

[Tweenie]

Well, I just got my results from my breath test, one month after treatment. It is still positive. I'm so disappointed to hear this!! My doc is now referring me to a Gastroenterologist to see if: a) the breath test is reliable....could it be a false positive and b) do I need a gastroscopy to confirms positive result.

I did the triple therapy with Amox, Prevacid and Clarith. My question is, could it be a false positive? I waited just over one month for the re-test. Do you think the gastro will recommend gastroscopy or just a different treatment? I was so sure I was rid of it!!

[Helico_expert]

Dont be too disappointed. At least you found out that you are still positive. Lots of patients did not do the follow up breath test and only found out many years later. Also, you are not allergic to amoxicillin, and since H. pylori almost never gain resistance to amoxicillin, you can keep using amoxicillin with another antibiotic.

what's your breath test result? if it's border line, then there is a chance of false positive/negative. If it is very high, then chance of false positive is low. You can, but dont need an endoscopy to reconfirm the result.

If you want to save money, you can talk to your GP and ask for Amox + Met + pepto-bismol + PPI. If you want a thorough checkup, you can book an appointment with a specialist, who can then do an endoscopy for you.

Here is an article that shows adding pepto-bismol (or bismuth) in standard triple therapy boost success rate.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/729407

[Tweenie]

Thank you, Expert. My doc did not provide the test result specifics but I will see if I can get that from her. Do you think I went for the test too soon? I had it about 32 days after finishing treatment.

I'm not sure what to do. I live in Canada so my healthcare costs are minimal. I suppose I should go to someone who can find out exactly what is going on ( the gastro) as I don't think my GP has much experience with HP'treatment.

Expert, can you share what would be considered high and what is considered low for the breath test? Thank you so much. Thank you also for the article.

[Helico_expert]

There are two types of breath test, C13 and C14. Both has different cut off. In addition, different pathology laboratories or test kits may implement their own cut off.

After treatment, normally we are more worried about false negative breath test. If you are positive, it's more likely true.

if endoscopy cost is not an issue, of course, a specialist is always better. But more importantly, try to stay optimistic. we'll wait for your updates.

[Tweenie]

Thank you, Expert. I am very disappointed, I have to say! I want this nasty bug to be gone! I'm not sure how long I will have to wait to see the specialist but I'm sure it will be a little while. I hope she will be able to help me quickly and eradicate the troublesome bacteria. Thank you for your advice and positive thoughts. I will update once I get more information.

[power1]

Hi Tweenie,
I had 3 treatments since Dec 2012. 2 different antibiotic variant, and I have not gone back to test the last quadruple treatment, as I know the symptoms were still there.
I have since gone with my own research and started doing supplements to elevate my symptoms.

I do NOT advise you to do likewise, but just making a note here that, some people do go through lots of courses. And it can be very very emotionally disturbing.
The forum has a submission paper on some high eradication rate therapy, which you can search and download and probably talk to your doctor/specialist about.

Alternatively, if you have not done a endoscopy, you could suggest serology; to test your h.pylori sensitivity to which antibiotics would cure it.
You need to check with your health insurance if you are covered for this. It gives a higher chance of eradication compare to pumping in loads of PPIs and Antibiotics into the body, which to me....damaging.

I had h.pylori negative during my endoscopy but a positive on breath test. So, it is simply puzzling to know which is the truth.

All the best, and get well soon, from a h.pylori +ve patient.

[Helico_expert]

Alternatively, if you have not done a endoscopy, you could suggest serology; to test your h.pylori sensitivity to which antibiotics would cure it.

Just a quick correction.

1. You cannot use serology to check if H. pylori is eradicated. Your serology will stay positive for months to years.

2. In order to test antibiotic sensitivity test of H. pylori, you will have to be able to culture the bacteria from stomach, which is through endoscopy.

Note: H. pylori does not flow in the blood stream. Serology is only testing the antibody against H. pylori.

[Jimbo40]

I'm so glad I found this forum! I found out I had this by a routine colonoscopy and endoscopy (I have silent reflux)...I did the six weeks of amoxicillin and the two other drugs and was just told on Friday that my breath test was positive. The doctor said he wanted to see me in two weeks to continue next step. I didn't want to wait two weeks so I'm going next Friday. What is the 2nd step, another round of antibiotics? He's not going to want to do another endoscopy? I'm concerned because I have a pain in my lower right stomach which sometimes is bad when I'm running (I work out daily) and feel like I have an infection in my body. I eat very healthy, recently lost about 25 pounds and not sure what to make of this. I'm still taking the prevacid <sp>? before going to bed. Any feedback would be helpful as when I first was told I had this it kind of scared the heck out of me! I'm sorry I'm not sure which breath test I took other than breathing into a bag, then drinking something, waiting 15 minutes, and breathing into another bag.

[Helico_expert]

I think you will be alright since your endoscopy did not show you anything serious, or else your doctor would have told you. The worst nightmare would be cancer and it wont develop overnight or weeks. It'll take months and years or probably decades for the cancer to develop. So you have plenty of time to get rid of this bug.

The next step would be trying a different combination of antibiotics. you can tell your doctor that it is very difficult for H. pylori to get resistance to amoxicillin and so your next combination can still inclube amox. Also, to boost the treatment, you can ask your doctor to include bismuth.

you may show our publication with your doctor to discuss what's the best next antibiotic cocktail for you.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... BF7.f02t04

[Jimbo40]

Thank you very much for your reply Helico_expert and I have printed out the report to bring when I go back on Friday.

One thing I have noticed is that I'm not going to the bathroom on a regular basis. I've tried using Metamucil and last night tried Dulcolax. I woke up in the middle of the night with such tremendous pain it was bad, but still with no results until today. I plan on calling the doctor tomorrow and letting him know about this. I have no idea if it's related or not (I had my gall bladder out over 20 years ago and my digestive system has not been the same since).

Is eating too much yogurt not a good thing for this?