Helicobacter Forums

I underwent the clarith-Amox and Aciphex treatment and finished it in mid February after being diagnosed with mild gastritis and duodenitis despite my H Pylori biopsy was negative but I was given a treatment anyway and felt much better. I also take for years high doses of acid blockers which include Aciphex 20mg twice daily and Zantac 300mg at bedtime which could of course have given a false negative on my biopsy if I had H Pylori. I decided to quit my acid blockers several weeks ago because of remaining mild symptoms for a breath and stool test. So after 17 days off the acid blockers I did the breath test and after 18 days off them I submitted my stool sample. I know 2 weeks is all you need to be off acid blockers to get a accurate test result...

But my question is since I been taking acid blockers for about 7 years at high doses...was my time frame sufficient? As of now I feel great especially being off the acid blockers...since getting off them the mild symptoms that remained with me disappeared. I just received my results today and both of them NEGATIVE.

Yup, I think that results are accurate enough. You gastric problem may not be helicobacter related. You might want to reconsider another visit for endoscopy check. To find out if everything is ok and if the inflammation had subsided.

Yeah...the mild symptoms that remained such as burping and very mild nausea during and after eating seems to be PPI related because since getting off the PPI I feel great. I wonder if PPI and H2 blockers in long term use can cause gastritis and duodenitis but couldn't find any info anywhere and gastro docs said it can not. Although in mice PPIs can cause gastritis but those are mice not humans.

Only problem is since getting off my acid blockers my throat hasn't been in the best shape so I'm considering to get back on them although I really do not want too

PPI has been on market for a long time and many people took it for very long term. So I would think it's very safe.

However, PPI may indirectly cause other gastric problems. I would imagine having the stomach no longer acidic, many other organism can grow in the stomach. This topic has not been well studied, but I believe it is possible that pathogen may colonise the stomach and leads to gastritis.

I hear something like that too but everybody believes only H Pylori is the only bacteria strong enough to cause inflammation.

True, but a lot is still unknown in the guts. I think for your case, you can get a follow up endoscopy checkup to see the healing progress of your stomach.

Yeah I know but I really hate endoscopies and going under anesthesia...I guess if I get sick again hopefully not I'll do an endoscopy.

Agree. I think that's what most people will do anyway. Unless you are in the high risk group. eg. family history of gastric cancer, high salt diet, smoking and drinking, etc.