H. pylori breath test

[ABC852031]

Does anyone know anywhere in the UK where I could get an h. pylori breath test done? The only place I've found insists I see a consultant first (kerching) and there's no guarantee I'll get tested, then there's a good chance he'll up the ante with a gastroscopy and finally the follow up. Suddenly it's looking very expensive, when all I'm really looking to do is rule out h. pylori before I start probiotics.

[KimberinUS]

So glad you going to rule this out.

google.com/url?sa=t&source=...

nuffieldhealth.com/tests-sc...

privatehealth.co.uk/conditi...

biolab.co.uk/print.php/cmsi...

This last one is a blood test from a pharmacy. Not sure how accurate it would be.

lloydspharmacy.com/en/selfc...

Best of luck and health.

[ABC852031 in reply to KimberinUS]

Thank-you will check them out, although nuffield insist I'd need to see a consultant.

[Foggyme Administrator]

If you are in the UK, your GP can do a urea breath test (fasting test). Note that this test will be skewed if you are taking PPI's or any form of antacids - need to stop treatment two weeks prior to test for it to be accurate.

👍

[ABC852031 in reply to Foggyme]

Thank-you, I'd been trying not to bother go because you have to pick your battles, but I may have no choice.

[Foggyme Administrator in reply to ABC852031]

Best to go ABC852031. Untreated helibactor pylori can cause B12 deficiency, multiple gastric issues including gastric ulcers...and other potential things that you don't want 😉.

Those with PA are more susceptible to infection with helibactor - I've had it three times in the last four years - and had ulcers etc. to show for it.

GP breath test very quick - freee, and no needles 😉😀.

So definitely worth ruling out (or in, so it can be treated).

[ABC852031 in reply to Foggyme]

Thank-you hadn't realised it might be causative. That would justify asking the question.

[Scimitar in reply to Foggyme]

I was referred back to gp for urea breath test as I had symptoms of h.pylori by gastroenterologist. When I tried to book test in was told they no longer did them and to send a stool sample in instead. A week later I was told that it came back positive and was prescribed tripletherapy to clear it. I had it last year and it cleared it for a while but it came back.

[Foggyme Administrator in reply to Scimitar]

Yes, I had the same. Had HP several times over the last three years.

It appears that those with PA are more susceptible to HP infection, probably because of the low stomach acid experienced by those with PA (and perhaps other reasons too).

My gastric stuff is always a bit dodge but if it gets really bad, I pop along for and HP test, just to check.

It's worth noting that a second HP test is usually repeated two weeks after treatment to ensure that the infection has been eradicated (on one occasion, I needed to consecutive lots of treatment before I was clear of the beast).

Also worth noting that tests can be skewed if still,taking PPI's or other forms of antacids...so these should be stopped two weeks prior to testing to get an accurate results.

Good luck. hope it clears up soon.

👍

[Hay2016]

You can send a stool sample for helicobacter. It’s better than blood test as looking for bacteria whereas blood test looks for antibody, so can only tell you you’ve had it at some stage not if you’re infected now.

Your local path lab should do them, call and ask what assay they use for helicobacter. Micro or serology departments do them.

[ABC852031 in reply to Hay2016]

Thank-you will keep it in mind. Have had quite enough needles stuck in me lately anyway!

[Scimitar]

In uk you can test it via a stool sample with gp. It took me 3 years to get diagnosis. Had triple therapy treatment

[ABC852031]

Did it take three years because the testing is unreliable or because nobody thought of testing you earlier? I've had reflux since 2014 and it's been treated with omeprazole. Can't eat acidy or fatty food but apart from that, not much in the way of symptoms (unless h pylori is causing my B12 problems).

[Furface]

I had stool testing by functional dr which revealed 4 different parasites, H. Pylori and Candida. Have almost completed natural protocols for clearing it and digestive system great now. The NHS don't know much about these things but for H pylori, use the triple anti biotics which my system would never have coped with.

[ABC852031]

Trouble with antibiotics is they always make as many problems as they fix. Thank-you for advice and glad you're doing well now.

[drvicclarke]

My understanding is the NHS breath test will only tell you if you've had an infection in the past, it won't distinguish between a past and a current/active infection, so my GP didn't see any point in sending me for the test as I know I've had a H pylori infection in the past, but he couldn't offer me any other kind of test (he checked and the NHS don't offer anything else). So I've gone to see a nutrionist and she's arranged for a private test - it's a stool test and can distinguish between a current active infection and a past infection. I think you can order these tests directly from the companies that make them, or through Amazon, and there's quite a few companies that offer them. The test is around £120.

[Hay2016 in reply to drvicclarke]

The NHS definitely do this. Our trust and others moved to antigen stool testing because the serology test only tells you you’ve had infection, not if it’s current.

Your GP is telling porkies if he says not available on nhs. Wouldn’t pay £120 for one either!!! If your trust don’t test stool antigen they can send it to a trust that does.

[ABC852031 in reply to Hay2016]

Thinking I might do better with breath test. I'm igA deficient, which I believe could mean I'm not producing antibodies properly. Frustrating because I haven't been able to get a medical opinion as to implications of this deficiency. Asked a consultant "it's probably nothing" and two doctors "don't know". Wiki says it's responsible for production of antibodies protecting mucus membranes in respiratory system and gut.