Helicobacter Forums

<t>Hi!<br/>
Sorry to pester all you fellow suffering people.<br/>
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I have a long story to tell.For the past six months my life has been hell.please read on.<br/>
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Meds/quetiapene 125mg/simvastatin/rimpiril 7.5mg/diazepam,8mg/duloxetine 30mg/propranolol 40mg/all once a day<br/>
however...prior to being on duloxetine I had been on clomipramine 250mg b I d for around 10yrs as with other meds listed above.<br/>
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I stopped taking the clomipramine as NICE (governs NHS) in UK pulled the plug on its funding and I could no longer get it.<br/>
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Anyway...as I came off that rapidly (within three weeks) I developed acute withdrawl symptoms.I was also feeling really really unwell.GP/DOC did a FBC and I was anemic IDA. hgb was 9.5 my last hgb level in 2015 was 18.3.I am a healthy male 48.dont drink alcohol or smoke!.GP sent me for an urgent endoscopy and gastroscopy.Please excuse my poor spelling and English.I feel so unwell.Got diagnosed with mild gastritis,two small duodenal ulcers (less that 1mm Diameter) and duodentitis.<br/>
Doctor advised that I start Iron therapy and PPI.too which I could not tolerate (dioreahh).I was then sent for ferinject infusions and my blood levels have returned within normality.<br/>
in the meantime...I gets a call from my GP..Dean..you have tested + for helico.<br/>
So I was given the standard first line treatment in the UK amoxicillin 1g /metrodazilone/omeprazole 20 mg (bd).<br/>
Struggling with nausea and illness from clomipramine withdrawl I could not tolerate.<br/>
My GP did not know what to do.So I did some reaseach and advised that I would like to try amoxicillin 1g bd for 14 days.Too which I tolerated quite well.GP advised stool test after AMOX to see if it was clear...it was but I know that I need to be off PPI and wait at least a month to do an accurate antigen test.<br/>
This has all been going on for six months.I have been left with floating stools/gas/diareahh/stomach pain/nausea/cramps and so on.I feel generally unwell,both mentally and physically.<br/>
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So...after doing a bit of digging...my GP persisted that I kept taking PPI 20mg bd.My symptoms are so bad,my diet is poor.I have gone from weighing 88kg to 75kg in 4 months.Due to the fact that I have no appetite and symptoms listed above.<br/>
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I have done some reseach on PPI and found out that I should have only been taking it during eradication therapy or for a short term after.<br/>
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I have decided at my GP's disgust that I ween myself off PPI and do a home antigen test in three weeks when it will be five weeks from eradication attempt...hopefully I will then get a correct test result.<br/>
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However....<br/>
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My questions are....<br/>
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I started PPI way back in april on the above dose.I am still not eating and the frustrating thing is re the helico I was totally a/symptomatic.I had no dypesia/acid reflux nothing....but its obviously the helico that has damaged my stomach and caused the anemia.<br/>
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IS THE PPI I AM STILL TAKING CAUSING ALL MY LOWER GASTRIC PROBLEMS???...I never passed any blood or vomited etc.My GP called it 'mycrotic' bleeding.<br/>
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Am I doing the right thing stopping the PPI to see if my GI system goes back to norm?.I want to eat and get well again!!!.<br/>
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Any advice on long term PPI etc and the treatment I have received been adequate? where do I go from here??....Will the helico be gone??<br/>
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Please help I would really appreciate it.<br/>
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Many thanks Dean/UK</t>

not everything you read from internet is true and may not be up to date. So your doctor would have the latest and most accurate information.

From your story, your doctor is doing the right thing. First you tried the triple therapy. Then you wait a month or two without any PPI or antibiotics, and repeat the breath or stool test to find out if you still have H. pylori.

If during that waiting period, you have symptoms, you can continue on PPI or ranitidine. PPI has a long lasting effect, so you cannot do breath test before stopping PPI for a month. Ranitidine on another hand does not last long in the body. So you can continue ranitidine until the night before breath test.

the above are standard guideline. If you are experiencing side effect from PPI, try switching. There are many PPI choices. eg. rabeprazole, pantoprazole, esomeprazole, etc

Having a lot of gas, gurgling and nausea in between meals.

Thanks for the prompt reply.
Do you think I am suffering side effects from the omeprazole?.
As said I was totally asymptomatic before I was given this treatment and the ppi is the only med that I am now taking that is additional to what I have been taking for the past 10yrs.

Its been almost three weeks since the amoxicillin 1g bd.do you think it is just my gi system recovering from the damage done by the helico infection?

Many thanks all
Dean

Yes I am having gas...gurgling..nausea and not eating.my stools are strange and have the constant urge to open my bowels.I also have general abdominal pain.man I feel so unwell.

your GI bacteria may have been disturbed by the antibiotics during the treatment. You may be experiencing side effect from omeprazole. But like I said, you can always try another type of PPI and see if you still have the side effects.

Getting rid of H. pylori always seems less benefit for people without symptoms. However, since H. pylori can cause stomach cancer and usually it is those without symptoms that has the highest risk. Hence, I think it is still beneficial for asymptomatic patients.

Thank you so much for replying to my problem.

I persisted with the amoxicillin as I am totally aware of the cancer risks.Amoxicillin stopped almost three weeks ago now.

I have come to the same conclusion as yourself,hence getting myself off PPI.I am hoping that when I have finally weened myself of it,my sypmtoms will go away and settle.It is now the only medication I take except form meds that I have been on for years.

As I was non symptomatic...could I just stop taking the omeprazole? or keep dropping it slowly by dropping down to 20mg daily for 7 days then down to 10mg for 7 days then just stop. should I carry on doing what I am doing or as asked,just stop?.

Is there any time span after stopping taking the PPI that my GI problems will settle?.I appreciate everyone is different.

How long will 20mg twice daily for the past 5 months take to come out of my system?

I so so much appreciate your time helping me and giving me piece of mind.

Thank you so much.

Dean

Since you have been taking PPI for a while, it is not good to stop immediately. It will be a better idea to stop gradually. you can start taking half dose or alternate days. or you can even gradually switch to ranitidine, which is a weaker acid blocker.

Thank you so much for your advice.

I intend to come off the omeprazole as said and have started reducing by 20mg and do that for a week,then go down to 10mg for a week and stop as my Doctor advised.

Do you think this is ok?

Do you think that the GI upset I am getting is down to the Amoxicillin 14 day course?? even after almost three weeks?.

I suppose coming off the omeprazole will confirm it is either one or the other?.

I have noticed since dropping the dose of PPI that I am not feeling the urge to go to the toilet so much.I still feel generally unwell though.

IF this persist's as I have been off work for nearly six months,I am going to go private and see a GI specialist.Do you think this is worthwhile?.

I want to get well so much.

I also read on the forum that single antibiotic treatment is only 50/50 effective in eradication? even after 1g x 2 daily for 14 days?

so sorry to pester you with all my questions.

hopefully you can answer all of the above and I will leave you alone.

Thanks again and I await your advice.

Regards,Dean

Stevenkgiles wrote: ↑

Sun Aug 19, 2018 4:36 am

Having a lot of gas, gurgling and nausea in between meals.

having the gas and gurgling and NOT eating!.

are you getting the same symptoms? are you on a PPI? if so how long? what is it and whats the dosage??

I would be interested in your reply.

Cheers,Dean