Helicobacter Forums

Hello

First post on the forum.

Having recently tested positive for helicobacter, I was prescribed Amoxicillin, Metronidazole & Lansoprazole on a 7 day course of first line therapy which I just finished yesterday. My heartburn/symptoms were the worst they've been for some time over the course of the treatment and have stayed that way since I finished yesterday.

This website http://www.mims.co.uk/combination-regim ... cle/882106 states that the above combination is no longer recommended - does anyone know why?

I am trying to study for an exam at the moment on top of my day job and the level of discomfort I'm experiencing at the moment is making it difficult to concentrate.

My doctor has advised to until 2 weeks after my course has finished before making an appointment for another test and if still positive, another a different cours of antibiotics will be the next step.

Can anyone offer any thoughts? What would be a suitable combination of antibiotics to try next taking in to account my first course?

Many thanks in advance.

the triple therapy that you took is still good, depending which country you are from. In most European country, they claim that the successful rate has dropped below 70% and that's why it's no longer the recommended first line treatment. In China, the success rate is even worse. However, in Australia and US for example, the cure rate for triple therapy is still as high as 80%. So it's still a good treatment regimen.

I would follow your doctor's instruction. wait 2 or 3 weeks, then get another test to make sure the H. pylori is eradicated. If unfortunately your treatment failed, you can try Clarithromycin, Amoxicillin, and Lansoprazole combination.

Many thanks for the reply. I am from the UK (Scotland). I will have the retest and take it from there. I have a provisional appointment with a gastroenterologist booked in for 10th Dec which was arranged through my employer healthcare plan.

If the test comes back negative, is it wise to have an endoscopy done to check for any other damage if the option is there? I first start getting the symptoms around March/April this year but I was only diagnosed a few weeks ago so I'd like to rule out that it has not caused any other problems.

Also, given that I do not feel any better after my first course, am I correct in saying it is fine for me to take ranitadine between now and my retest, just not a PPI?

Many thanks.

in terms of endoscopy, it depends how severe is your pain. The doctor would decide if it is needed. Of course, there is no harm to have check if you are over 50 years old or constantly taking NSAIDs.

Yes, you are allow to take any H2 blockers during the waiting time for the endoscopy or breath test. you only need to stop 24 hrs before those tests. you can refer to this guideline.

http://www.helico.com/PYtest_guide_2013.pdf

Hi,

Just to share my experience as someone who battled this bacterial for 4 years.
Post my last result, which is negative with the same course of regime you took, I am still having some "gastritis".
I have always thought when i am cured..i should get healthy immediately, but in the case when the damage that was done is great, the healing time would be longer.

But reading the some forums here from other folks...it seems subjective. Some people , just gets immediately well....while some..still continue to battle the post-treatment.

I can advise that you want to to get a confident negative, by reducing any other medications intake during the UBT.

I use to take certain supplements before I took the UBT, and it came back negative, but down the path...it seems like i had re-infection.

So, to get yourself fairly confident that the treatment worked... try to remove other medication that might impact the UBT result.

I am still going back for a retest after 3 months, to make sure I stay clean.

My stomach have literally become sensitive over certain food with spice, dairy or just taste a tad bit different from bland.
I still want to stay positive and keep my stomach in healed.

Speedy recovery for everyone and stay positive.

Thought I'd give a quick update.

I received my results back today and they were negative which I am obviously pleased about. My symptoms are still not any better however. My GP has advised it may take some time to heal as a lot of people on here have already said. They recommended going back on Omeprazole for a month or so to aid the healing process. In terms of side effects or any other long term effects, is there any view on whether it is better to take Omeprazole or Ranitidine as an anti-acid tablet?

I also have an appointment with a gastroenterologist this afternoon through my employer so it will be interesting to hear their thoughts which I will feed back on here if it could be useful to others.

Many thanks for the input.