Help I have a few questions

[Worried25]

Hi I just joined the forum as I feel really worried and confused. For the past few months I've had numerous symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, chest pain, gas, stomach pain, heart palpitations and anxiety. Also after I eat I still feel hungry. So after many trips to hospital and doctors I got sent away with gaviscon and the hospital said my GP would test my stool for Helicobacter Pylori.

I went to the doctor and as I was going away he couldn't test it so put me on omeprozole for 30 days and told me to come back if I still felt the same. It helped with the nausea and got my appetite back helped with stomach pain and burning chest pain but I still got some gas and chest pain. So I went to doctors yesterday and she said I need to come off the omeprozole for 2 weeks before they can test my stool now I'm worried. I really am scared incase it gets any worse or that I have an ulcer after reading about it online I've never had blood in my vomit or stool and my stomach pain subsides after ten minutes depends what I've eaten.

My questions are... How would they know it was an ulcer or gastritis? Can I keep taking omeprozole and ask for a blood test to prevent me getting worse? What can I do in the meantime of coming off the tablets for two weeks to help? and does anyone get these same symptoms?

Thanks
Ash

[Helico_expert]

you can only see ulcer during the endoscopy examination. However, the treatment for patients with or without ulcer is the same. So, many doctors dont bother checking the ulcer.

Your doctor should have tested your stool before the omeprazole. anyway, it's done. So, just follow the instruction. Wait 2 to 3 weeks before the stool test. if you feel that you need something to control your stomach acid during the wait, you can follow this guideline to get something less potent.
http://www.helico.com/PYtest_guide_2013.pdf

Blood test tells you your history of H. pylori infection. the antibody will stay in your blood for months or years. So, it doesnt tell you if you are still infected with H. pylori. Since you have not taken any antibiotics for the past few month (I assume), so yes, you can continue omeprazole and use blood test to tell if you are infected with H. pylori.

[Csruben1]

Crap. I just read this thread and looked at the attachment. Now I am pretty confident that my UBT was a false negative as I had started back on the Sucralfate a day or two before. I don't know why the doctors/lab weren't clear about this. They didn't tell me to fast long enough and they were pretty lackadaisical about the test itself, not watching the clock. So, I could have breathed too early, too late, whatever and I was on the Sucralfate. Does the time matter? I see my doctor on Tuesday. Do you recommend that I suggest that he have me do a stool sample? If so, do I also have to have fasted and/or not be on Sucralfate?

[Helico_expert]

Sucralfate will affect both the breath and stool tests. I mean, if you got a positive result, then you are positive. But if you got a negative result while taking Sucralfate or any other PPI, then it could be a false negative.

So I suggest you talk to your doctor about your concern about being false negative. See what other options he has for you. or perhaps, you want to see other doctor for second opinion.

[michaeljonson]

Hi Worried25! How are you now? Did you get the test done?

[Csruben1]

Helico-expert: I went back on Sucralfate after my UBT because I was still feeling nauseous. Although the UBT was negative, I think I retested too early, I was taking a lot of Sucralfate and I think the lab botched the test. So, I slowly decreased the Sucralfate until I was taking just one per day and then did the stool test about a month later. I was not taking any PPIs or any other meds. It came out negative and my doc thinks I'm totally cured of the h. pylori. However, I did not take a Sucralfate today and I'm feeling nauseous again! So...is it possible the stool test could be a false negative with just ONE Sucralfate in my system? My doc doesn't believe so and he thinks I'm having these symptoms due to the bile that's in my stomach (no gall bladder). I read that some people have to take 1-2 Sucralfate daily for a long time, but that there are no side effects, and I think this is what he will tell me to do. What do you think about my questions? Thanks!

[Helico_expert]

unfortunately Sucralfate should be avoided before the HP diagnostic test (either Urea breath test or Stool antigen test). Sucralfate can produce false negative results for both UBT and SAT.

have you done a blood test? have you got enough iron in your blood?

[Csruben1]

Most recent blood tests showed no issue with iron. I'm a generally healthy person anyway. This whole stomach issue threw me for a loop and surprised everyone. I have another post going, so you can answer there, but HOW does Sucralfate affect test results and would it affect a biopsy during an endoscopy? My doc wants to repeat this, but I'm still taking a Sucralfate. He didn't think it would be an issue for ANY of the tests, but now I'm wondering if I actually got two false negatives!!

[Helico_expert]

I have answered your post in the following link
viewtopic.php?f=37&t=205107