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intravenous option?

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 4:07 am
by cathsmith21
Just wanting to know if there is an option (although not common i presume) to have the eradication therapy administered intravenously. I've had  two treatments already with negative reading in 2009 which was great and I felt great but symptoms have recently returned and I'm getting retested tomorrow.Previously I had major issues swallowing the big capsules, especially with combination of side effects and barely made it through treatment.Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Re: intravenous option?

Posted: Thu Feb 13, 2014 9:37 am
by Helico_expert
short answer is yes, certainly you can treat H. pylori by intravenous antibiotics. However, that will involve hospital staying. Cost may be high.

then again, it doesnt mean you wont have the side effects.

if you are certain that your previous treatment is successful, perhaps you want to investigate how you are reinfected. is it from your partner? from your children? from your domestic animal?

anyway, let's wait for your retested results.

Re: intravenous option?

Posted: Mon Feb 17, 2014 5:13 pm
by cathsmith21
Hi, thankyou so much for responding.

So results are back and they are positive unfortunately.

Its is good to hear that intravenous is an option.
I wouldn't mind paying more and wouldn't expect no side effects.

I'm getting a referral tomorrow for a gastroenterologist

My partner wasn't tested last time but will be tested in the next few days.
I didn't realise you can get it from animals........ any specific species? (I have a dog, 2 cats and chickens- the dog was the only one I had last time)

Just curious, Does the breath test identify the strand/variety of pylori so as to compare with the previous infection, therefore knowing how to treat it?
I remember last time the triple therapy didn't work, so I had to do the quad treatment (without amoxicilian because I'm allergic.)

Thanks again

Re: intravenous option?

Posted: Tue Feb 18, 2014 9:10 am
by Helico_expert
Breath test cannot tell you the strain or species of Helicobacter in the host. but the treatment is the same for different strain or species.

It's hard to prevent animal carrying their Helicobacter species (H. felis, H. canis, H. heilmannii, etc). It is not common that the animal's Helicobacter jump species and infect human. But it can happen. Especially if you have close contact with them, eg. sharing food and drink with them, they licked your food or drinks, cleaning their waste (including fur ball), and anything that may potentially contaminate your hands or food.

Re: intravenous option?

Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 2:03 pm
by cathsmith21
Righto, thanks for that. I don't engage quite that closely with my pets.

I saw the gastroenterologist today and he seems to think it never went away the first time.

I've been booked in for a gastroscopy in a few weeks to take samples of the pylori and check it all out.

He slammed the idea of an intavenous or a topical treatment option. He said if this method was tested those options would be available at least on the helicobactor foundation website, they would be more widely used and that he couldn't go outside the bounds of regular procedure.

So my next question,
Does anyone know where, (if this treatment is truely an option) I can get it done.
Is it only a western australian thing?
Is it a treatment that is still under trial?
I'm in sydney/wollongong area but would be willing to travel.

Re: intravenous option?

Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 2:30 pm
by Helico_expert
Intravenous treatment is definitely available. I think it depends if the doctors want to do it. Here are two publications about intravenous treatment

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10521999
http://scialert.net/fulltext/?doi=pjbs.2009.809.812

I think if you will suffer from side effects even if you are given the antibiotics intravenously.
Perhaps you should book an endoscopy session, get some biopsy and order an antibiotic sensitivity test. That will tell you exactly what antibiotics you should be taking to effectively eradicate your H. pylori.

Re: intravenous option?

Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 3:53 pm
by cathsmith21
Thankyou.

I guess until I have the biopsy done in a few weeks i'll just keep hunting for a specialist who does treat pylori in this way.

Re: intravenous option?

Posted: Fri Feb 21, 2014 5:20 pm
by Helico_expert
keep us posted with your biopsy result.
:)

Re: intravenous option?

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 8:50 am
by cathsmith21
Just an update:
Gastroscopy done. No ulcer, just inflammed.
Now waiting 6 weeks to culture pylori then we'll know which antibiotics are best, then figure out how to take them :?
Still got Neutropenia issue and am very fatigued.

Wait and see I guess.

Re: intravenous option?

Posted: Tue Mar 18, 2014 9:17 am
by Helico_expert
No ulcer and no abnormal cells growing. I think that's great news.

It's also excellent news that your specialist is able to provide the antibiotic sensitivity testing. This is something many people has no access to.

anyway, keep us posted with your treatment.
:)