Before gastroscopy...

[Tweenie]

I have my gastroscopy on May 13 but there is no instruction to stop PPI's before the test. Should I be stopping them?

[Helico_expert]

Please refer to the following guideline how to use urea breath test. It'll apply to stool test too.

http://www.imvs.sa.gov.au/wps/wcm/conne ... OD=AJPERES

[Tweenie]

Expert, I am have an endoscopy not a breath or stool test. I assume she will take samples so I wondered if continuing with PPIs will make a difference in my results?

[Helico_expert]

PPI will reduce the bacteria load but will not decrease the inflammation.

PPI may give false negative CLOtest result too. CLOtest is an instant test to tell if you are infected with H. pylori from your biopsy.

You may request for antibiotic sensitivity test from endoscopy too.

[Tweenie]

I have already been through triple therapy and it did not work. I hope they are doing a sensitivity test.

Since I finished the triple therapy in February, my symptoms seem to be worse than before! Is this possible? I am terribly bloated all of the time.

[Helico_expert]

some people does develop bloating issues after antibiotic treatments. It's due the the bad flora dominating the guts faster than the good flora. Nevertheless, I would still suggest you to get a confirmation test to find out if you are still infected with H. pylori.

[Tweenie]

I had a breath test one month after the triple therapy and it showed that I still had H. Pylori. I am very frustrated and concerned by this. I am extremely bloated and uncomfortable and have also gained quite a bit of weight. I read that H. Pylori can cause this as well but I'm not sure if that is true. I have had the bug since the 1990's.

[Helico_expert]

H. pylori is associated with a wide range of gastro problems. Let's concentrate in getting rid of it and hope that its eradication will cure your bloating issues.

Since you have already tried the triple therapy and failed, have you booked yourself another appointment for a second treatment?

Most importantly, do not repeat the same treatment again. H. pylori almost never get resistance to Amoxicillin, so you can always include Amoxicillin in your treatment. Also, you may combine pepto bismol with your next triple therapy to boost the cure rate.

[Tweenie]

No, Helico, I have not booked another treatment yet because my GP referred me to a specialist to do the Gastroscopy. My GP said that because the triple therapy failed, she did not want to guess at what might work to eradicate the bug and hence, referred me to the gastroenterologist. Does this make sense? I hope the specialist will do the sensitivity test you have spoken about. I want this bug gone for good!!!

[Helico_expert]

Yup. a specialist is definitely better. You may discuss the following article with the specialist and pick one of the treatment from there.

http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1 ... 300.f03t04