Helicobacter pylori

[Bollieforme]

Good morning just wondered if you have come across H Pylori I seem to have tested positive for this test. Waiting to hear from GP later today, what questions should I ask? I was assuming not enough stomach acid but now not sure what’s going on with my guts! Look forward to hearing your views

[greygoose]

The odds are that you have low stomach acid, yes. If it were high, the acid would kill the bacteria.

[Bollieforme in reply to greygoose]

I said that to my Gp last week so she did the stool test and gave me high stomach acid meds (which I haven’t taken) thanks for your comments.

[greygoose in reply to Bollieforme]

You said you thought you had low stomach acid, and she gave you meds for high stomach acid??? Incredible!

[Bollieforme in reply to greygoose]

I think without the feed back from you and other people on here we would be rocking in a corner! Everything is a battle just to be heard by gps!

[greygoose in reply to Bollieforme]

Yes, certainly is. And what information you do get from them is invariably wrong. I think if I hadn't struck out on my own, but listened to what they told me, I'd be a dribbling vegetable by now.

[Bollieforme in reply to greygoose]

Gp wants me to take amoxicillin, clarithromycin and pantoprazole for two weeks.

[greygoose in reply to Bollieforme]

Well, the first two are antibiotics which are necessary to kill the bacteria. But Pantoprazole is a PPI, for lowering stomach acid. Probably no problem taking it for just two weeks, but don't let him persuade you to take it longer than that. But whether or not it's necessary, nor if it will be helpful, I have no idea. Sounds like your GP is just like all the others, refusing to believe that low stomach acid is 'a thing'.

[Bollieforme in reply to greygoose]

I will stick with the two anti biotics for the two weeks. Completely agree with re the PPI. Thanks for your messages today, much appreciated

[greygoose in reply to Bollieforme]

You're very welcome.

[Dorset22 in reply to Bollieforme]

I’ve just seen your post whilst scrolling through. I did have a post on the gastric forum. I had acid reflux problems about 18 months ago and after taking several PPIs my GP finally agreed to endoscopy. Endoscopy found H Pylori causing gastritis and I took the antibiotics. No follow up by GP and I had to insist on a stool test to confirm I was negative for H Pylori. Gradually tapered off PPI and seem OK now. I don’t eat or drink much after 6 pm and if I do I will take Gaviscon Advance to stop acidic reflux. H Pylori doesn’t seem to be well known. My lacklustre GP didn’t consider it and most people have never heard of it. I wonder why it has become more prevalent. As I understand it, it is a bacteria associated with poor hygiene and usually found in developing countries. You can have it and not have any symptoms until you get older. I was born in 1950s so wonder how I got it. Hope you are feeling better now.

[Bollieforme in reply to Dorset22]

I spoke to my Gp to tell her we mostly have low stomach acid. She said let’s do hplyori test. We have poor gut health nothing to do with third world country. I’ve got a gastro appt in March, only taken 6 months! Ppis are no good to us I have come to the conclusion as they are for people with high stomach acid. Weirdly low & high present the same symptoms

[Dorset22 in reply to Bollieforme]

I was glad I went straight to the hospital for endoscopy. I was dreading it but had the sedative and got excellent care. My GP just doles out tablets with no proper examinations. Had to argue with receptionist to get the stool test. She had no clue. Nothing on my notes and said they hadn’t had a diagnosis letter from the hospital so I took my copy to them. Covid has made GPs lose sight of their purpose. PPIs didn’t work for me and made me feel worse. Gaviscon Advance helped more. I wish there was more investigation into this. Good luck.

[Regenallotment Ambassador]

betaine with pepsin is a winner for raising stomach acid, take with each meal.

Highly recommend reading Izabella Wentz books, she does a protocol with all sorts of supplements, I didn’t go down the antibiotic route instead S. Boulardii helped me along with NAC, L Glutamine, black seed oil, dr Sarah Myhill uses but C to bowel tolerance to flush out.

Read up and consider your options and what would work best for you.

Not addressing isn’t an option though 🤗 it’s a nasty blighter causing long term issues. 🌱

[Bollieforme]

I have got some L glutamine recently and some betaine as well. All from reading helpful tips in the forum. Thanks for your feedback as well

[J972 in reply to Bollieforme]

Just out of interest, how was it diagnosed? Stool sample or gut biopsy?

[Bollieforme in reply to J972]

Stool sample

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bollieforme]

If taking antibiotics you are going to need the PPI too

gutscharity.org.uk/advice-a...

Treatment is much more successful if the whole course of tablets is taken exactly as prescribed and your doctor will encourage you to continue to take the tablets unless the side effects become unpleasant.

bnf.nice.org.uk/treatment-s...

my.clevelandclinic.org/heal...

[Bollieforme in reply to SlowDragon]

Are you sure about the PPI given I have low stomach acid? I’ve read through the attachments. It assumes it’s high acid for treatment?

[Imaaan in reply to Bollieforme]

If you're going to do the antibiotics I'd highly encourage you to take the ppi for the duration of the treatment. There is a reason why its called triple therapy. Plus you dont want it it to become resistant and you require multiple rounds.

I did one round and it took a toll on my gut but it was necessary. Also I might have fared better if I didn't have untreated sleep apnea

[SlowDragon Administrator in reply to Bollieforme]

I would agree with Imaaan

[SlowDragon Administrator]

H pylori and hypothyroid often linked…..likely because of low stomach acid

drhedberg.com/hashimotos-th....

[humanbean]

This is a full description of triple therapy from the British National Formulary (BNF) that the NHS uses - and yes, for the two weeks you are on it you need to take the PPI.

bnf.nice.org.uk/treatment-s...

You might - but hopefully won't - have problems coming off the PPI. It can increase the production of stomach acid (or one component of stomach acid). If you have problems, let your doctor know, and read this link :

howtotreatheartburn.com/how...

[Batty1]

You probably will be given some type of antibiotics (I was offered this) if I tested positive. If your positive for H pylori don’t mess with this by not taking PPI my sister did this very thing and Im here to tell you she has been living a nightmare with stomach issues…. You should read up on it.

[Bollieforme in reply to Batty1]

Hi can you fill me in on what issues she has had. Sorry to hear this for her

[Batty1 in reply to Bollieforme]

Besides horrible gerd with everything she eats and hiatal hernia that is almost baseball size because of uncontrolled gerd and a stomach that is filled with ridges (not sure what its called) but when you look at her scope pictures it looks like bright red waves and according to her your stomach should be smooth not wavy and definitely not bright red looks burnt…. She suffers daily with gerd that maybe she wouldn’t have had this problem as bad if they actually treated the H pylori when it was first diagnosed she actually reported the doctor at the time she was diagnosed and not treated essentially this doctor doomed her with what I call stomach rot … its sad actually. I know a lot of people here think PPI are evil for hypos but you have to make your own choices just don’t take them with thyroid meds (3 hours after is best) obviously no PPI would be great but for many of us this isn’t possible.

[Bollieforme in reply to Batty1]

Thanks for the info all useful to know. I hope your sister gets better.

[Hettywainthrop]

Hia,well i was the very first person ever in my city that was diaganosed with this brand new gut rot H.Pylori, and was asked if id be part of a trial and take the meds he said would get rid of it..4 doses of anti bios for 3 weeks to bombard the germs, and it worked!!..not sure if im in the medical journals tho,..but nearly 40 yrs down the line and now 67,i have been on omeprazole 20mg every morning for over 30 or more years..I did get two more h.pylori flare ups over the years and the pain in my stomache was agonising, so both times ended up in hospital for a week at a time.I lost 4 stone thru not eating and ive now got a hiatius hernia that plays up now and then, and i had my gall bladder removed at 23yrs of age..old days op thats left me with a massive long scar on me tummy and ive still got the jar of 65 big green cholestrol pebbles they left on my bedside table for when i woke up after the butchery..oops surgery..suffice to say..i drink at least half a pint of cold water with a teaspoon of bi carb mixed in it every night.the minute i feel a twinge of utter heartburn, i drink that and it works a treat..i am very careful with what i eat..no fried stuff.bacon eggs etc but weirdly i can eat a vindaloo without any trouble at all...Now my sister who's 66 today..has also had h.pylori and like me she suffers with a hiatius hernia and stomache problems too, and shes also been on omeprazole for 28yrs..We keep reading that taking this med is dangerous and causes numerous problems for you,so its not advised to take it for more than a few months..So how come both our docs have never told us any of this? If i was to stop taking omeprazole i honestly wouldnt be able to eat food at all..Anyway thats my tale of tummy woes and i cant see it getting any better at my age,not now..to be honest i reckon after 59yr of age doctors dont generally give a flying fig about you in the uk and are just waiting for you to drop dead..hope this has shone a glimmer of light on what happens to someone who has had h.pylori...My sis and me call it thd helicopter disease..bye.luv hetty in cold UK.