Active helicobacter pylori bacterial infection or not? Spoiler alert: 13C urea breath test was negative.

[Meleber]

Hi, had a consult with a gastroenterologist again. This time to discuss if there is an active helicobacter pylori bacterial infection in my body or not. I have done a commercial serum test some years ago and that showed that there has been a h. pylori bacterial infection in my body. To be sure that there isn't an active infection at the moment the consultant ordered an urease breath test. If the urea breath test is negative the gastroenterologist wants me to try a combination of Simalviane (simeticone and alverine citrate) and the alflorex+ probiotic (bifidobacterium longum 35624) for my IBS symptoms. I will have my next consult on the 30th of August at the university hospital of Leuven, Belgium. I have tried alflorex+ in the past, some three years ago and don't remember it to be effective in my situation but because he asked me to try the combination of Simalviane and alflorex+ for 30 days, till the next consult, I will start with it when the urea breath test is negative for an active helicobater pylori bacterial infection. To be continued 👋🏻

[Meleber]

Result of the 13C urea breath test is negative so no active helicobacter pylori infection in my stomach wall.

[Meleber]

Simalviane (simeticone and alverine citrate) does seem to help a little for alleviating the functional bloating. As for Alflorex+, I don't know yet, been taking it only for 8 days now and don't notice any difference. Will see in a couple of weeks how it feels in my gut and how it possibly affects my gut health and health in general.

[Meleber in reply to Meleber]

Alflorex+ doesn't seem to do much for me, almost finished my 30 days trial. Will see the gastroenterologist by the end of next week. Intend to start with the elimination diet / FODMAP diet to see if I can find a possible trigger(s) that worsen my IBS symptoms. Will ask my GP for a referral to a specialised dietician to help me with this diet. My GP, I did speak to him this week, also thinks that trying the FODMAP diet is a good idea to do next.

[Meleber]

Spoke with the gastroenterologist about my trial (ended) with Simalviane and Alflorex+. Simalviane (simeticone and alvarine citrate) does seem to alleviate the functional bloating somewhat but Alflorex+ didn't do much for my IBS C symptoms. I will continu using Simalviane for now. Also discussed the use of prucalopride for my symptoms. He agreed that I could try this medication for a short while to see if my body/intestines may benefit. I'll start with 1mg in first instance and can increase the dosage to 2mg daily. Also may have beneficial synergistic effect for my MDD and GAD, for which I take venlafaxine 187.5mg. Could be that in the end I 'just' have a neurotransmitter dysfunction 🤔 leading to major depressive disorder, generalised anxiety disorder, pannic attacks and IBS C, amongst others. Will see, notice, what the effect will be in the near future, 🤞🏻. Think I will create a new subject because of this new trial.