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Previously positive, now negative?

Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 11:52 pm
by wsmith5813
Good morning,

About 3 years ago I began having problems with bloating, shooting pain in my abdomen, and mild muscle spasms in my sides and sternum. A blood test was conducted, which was positive for H pylori, and I went through first and second line treatments. My symptoms gradually resolved and a follow up stool test came back negative.

Almost 2 years after my symptoms resolved, I started having similar abdominal problems again. Belching, mild abdominal spasms, bloating, chest pain when swallowing, and loose stools. Symptoms have been present for almost 5 weeks now. I was originally prescribed Omeprazole and Sucralfate, which I took for 1 week. Because of my symptoms and history, my Dr decided to test for H pylori and schedule an EGD. I discontinued medications. 2 weeks after discontinuing the Sucralfate and omeprazole, I had a UBT taken, which came back negative. Several days after the ubt, I had an EGD.

Results of the EGD showed no ulcers, but mild chronic gastritis in my stomach. Biopsies were taken to test for h pylori (warthin-starry stain) and celiac, which both came back negative. A culture was done as well, which was negative. Current course of action is to continue the omeprazole and sucralfate and follow up in 3 weeks. The medications do help my symptoms.

My concern is that the tests are producing false negatives and the symptoms will return once I finish the medication. After having a ubt, biopsy, and culture, am I just being paranoid? Or is there a reasonable chance that all these tests are not detecting an h pylori infection? If there is a chance I have an infection, what would you recommend as my next course of action?

Your advice would be very much appreciated. Thank you for your time.

Re: Previously positive, now negative?

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 2:33 am
by Presh23
Hi there,

Maybe relax for now and just take your medications and when you go back for a checkup ask the doctor to perform a stool test.

Like you i also have chronic gastritis. I have it in the antrum which apparently is the most common place for hpylori to cause gastritis.

Also watch your diet. I cant have dairy as my symptoms get really bad.

Best Regards
Presh23

Re: Previously positive, now negative?

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 7:18 am
by Helico_expert
i think you have done all the right test and a false negative is very unlikely.

From the endoscopy and pathology test, at least there is no abnormality.

So I agree that you should just continue PPI if you want to and relax. Sometimes the gastric symptoms can flare up when you are too stressful thinking about it.

Re: Previously positive, now negative?

Posted: Fri Jun 21, 2019 9:08 pm
by wsmith5813
Thank you both for your insight.

I guess it just seems odd to me that I'd have an onset of symptoms after being symptom-free for so long, although my symptoms aren't as severe as they were back then. I figured I might have been reinfected from a cruise to Mexico a couple months back.

I'll stay the course and see what happens in a few weeks.

Thanks again!

Re: Previously positive, now negative?

Posted: Tue Jul 09, 2019 9:24 pm
by wsmith5813
Helico_expert wrote:
Fri Jun 21, 2019 7:18 am
i think you have done all the right test and a false negative is very unlikely.

From the endoscopy and pathology test, at least there is no abnormality.

So I agree that you should just continue PPI if you want to and relax. Sometimes the gastric symptoms can flare up when you are too stressful thinking about it.
I figured I'd follow up after 3 weeks on the ppi and carafate. The belching, regurgitation, and painful swallowing has subsided, which is a big relief. But about a week ago, I started having shooting pains and cramping in my left side/abdomen. Very similar to the pain I was having several years ago. It came on gradually and has been getting more intense since then.

I've heard of H pylori symptoms coming back after finishing ppi, but do they come back while still taking ppi? I'm diligent about not missing any doses and my diet is fairly clean. I guess I'm wondering if it would be worthwhile to come off the ppi at some point and test for h pylori again. Perhaps waiting longer than 2 weeks before doing another breath test? Currently awaiting a call from the Dr, but in the meantime, what are your thoughts?

Thanks in advance!

Re: Previously positive, now negative?

Posted: Wed Jul 10, 2019 8:19 am
by Helico_expert
you don’t catch H pylori easily from eating. H pylori cannot survive outside human body.

Nevertheless, it’s a good idea to get a follow up test, if that can give you a peace of mind.