Helicobacter has destroyed my life

[beefjoe]

Good day lovely people,

I've been having various stomach issues for well over 6 months now, from heartburn to burping from constipation to watery loose stools..I think I've had it all..

Two months ago I had endoscopy and was diagnosed with this ugly bacteria and took one week of treatment:

40 mg Pantoprazol, 1.000 mg Amoxicillin, 500 mg Clarithromycin

Right now, almost 5 weeks later I still have all the symptoms including fatigue and since a week I have some swollen lymph nodes around my armpits.. maybe because of too much acid ? I haven't been taking PPI lately because I've had enough..

I should call my doctor tomorrow to do a breath test and see if that bacteria is still there, but I was wondering if all of this is really because of the bacteria ? or maybe the doctors are missing something ?

[Helico_expert]

H. pylori can cause a lot of damage to your stomach. The damage varies from people to people. But it's important to find out if you still have H. pylori. You can only recover when H. pylori is completely out of you.

[beefjoe]

Is the swollen lymph nodes related to the bacteria ? tomorrow I have a breath test and I've been taking pantoprazole for a couple of days, but the doctor said it doesn't matter much.. I hope it comes back positive, otherwise there's no explanation to all of these symptoms..

Also, are IBS-like symptoms common with Helico ?

[Helico_expert]

If you have been taking pantoprazole, i wouldnt recommend you to do breath test.

Please have a look at the guideline. You need to stop pantoprazole for at least 7 days.
https://www.helico.com/PYtest_guide_2013.pdf

You can use ranitidine to replace pantoprazole while waiting for breath test. Ranitidine is fast acting, but doesnt stay in your body long. Pantoprazole on the hand is slow acting, but stay in your body longer.

Helicobacter causes many stomach problems. Can the toxin or inflammatory get pass down to the intestine and cause IBS? I think that's a very good question. Nobody knows yet.

[beefjoe]

The breath test came back negative. the doctor says it's accurate and told me to take Emoprazole (which is stronger) for a month to get rid of the inflammation the bacteria left.

My stool is loose, but overall I don't burp as much and the bad breath is totally gone..

[Helico_expert]

hmm.. i am not sure if your doctor is trust worthy. You probably need a second opinion. I wouldnt trust the breath test result if you are taking pantoprazole.

Emoprazole? or esomeprazole? or omeprazole? anyway, they all work the same.

Finish whatever your current doctor suggest, then wait for a month, and do another breath test to confirm the treatment.

[beefjoe]

Two other doctors said I don't have to do the test again, and that I don't have to do the stool test either because this one's better..

So I changed from Pantoprazole to Esmoprazole, so far so good..will keep you posted

[Helico_expert]

please keep us updated.