Previously positive, now negative?
Posted: Thu Jun 20, 2019 11:52 pm
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.
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.