3 months post surgery and H Pylori Positive!

[LAN2k 18]

Before the surgery I had blood tests and it was found that I was H-Pylori positive. I was put on a heavy antibiotic regimen. My surgeon did not retest me after I finished the prevpac (antibiotics) he seemed to think it was not necessary. I am now 3 months+ out from surgery. I recently asked my PCP who ordered full blood-work if she would also add an H-Pylori test to the lab work for my blood. She did. I just got a call from her office and I am H-Pylori positive. Her secretary called me and told me that I must contact my surgeon for treatment since this is post surgery and my PCP is not sure if the treatment will be different. Has anyone here encountered this before after having the sleeve? I am losing faith in my surgeon because pre surgery I'd asked him if I could be tested after finishing the treatment of antibiotics for the H-pylori and he said it wasn't necessary. Any advise. I am about to start an SSRI Zoloft today. I am already on Klonopin (generic version) for anxiety and now this. If there is anybody here who can advise me in any way I'd really appreciate it. Thanks.

[annak4 1]

Lan-

I am absolutely no help concerning your problem, but I did want you to know that you are in my prayers. I know you have been going through a lot since your surgery. I pray that you find some relief and answers and peace.

(((HUGS)))

[Tiffykins 673]

Ohhhhhhh Lisa, I am so very sorry to hear this. Unfortunately, I don't know anything about the specifics on H-Pylori. But, you are in my prayers.

[LAN2k 18]

Tiffy and Anna that you soooooooooooo much for keeping me in your prayers. Thank you so much for reading my post and caring enough to let me know. I wish you both a blessed and happy and healthy new year. I just wish I'd friends like you guys close by to give great big hugs to.

[youknowit 11]

I'm glad I found this thread, though I'm sorry this happened to you, Lan. I too have tested positive for H.Pylori. My doctor found it in the post-op biopsy of my stomach. They called to tell me, and am now getting things in order for the triple-threat treatment they give, two specific antibiotics, and the Prevacid. Has anyone else had this treatment, besides me and LAN? If so, what was your experience, how are you testing now, and how are you feeling? I'm starting to think I have had this for a VERY long time, and am a little upset that I was never tested for it. After much reading up on this over the last week (found out last Friday, I have it), the literature says many people have this, and there are no symptoms. I've never had an "ulcer" and no real tummy problems (minus my band) so I would have never even known had I not gotten the sleeve...

Here's some links and information on it, in case anyone is interested...

H. pylori infection: Symptoms - MayoClinic.com

Helicobacter Pylori - Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment of Helicobacter Pylori - NY Times Health Information

Here is the regimen they are going to have me take (Prevacid instead of Nexium):

> Nexium 20 mg daily for 2 months

> Amoxacilline 500mg every 6 hrs for 14 days

> Clarithromycine 500mg every 12hrs for 14 days

[LAN2k 18]

I'm glad I found this thread, though I'm sorry this happened to you, Lan. I too have tested positive for H.Pylori. My doctor found it in the post-op biopsy of my stomach. They called to tell me, and am now getting things in order for the triple-threat treatment they give, two specific antibiotics, and the Prevacid. Has anyone else had this treatment, besides me and LAN? If so, what was your experience, how are you testing now, and how are you feeling? I'm starting to think I have had this for a VERY long time, and am a little upset that I was never tested for it. After much reading up on this over the last week (found out last Friday, I have it), the literature says many people have this, and there are no symptoms. I've never had an "ulcer" and no real tummy problems (minus my band) so I would have never even known had I not gotten the sleeve...

Here's some links and information on it, in case anyone is interested...

H. pylori infection: Symptoms - MayoClinic.com

Helicobacter Pylori - Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment of Helicobacter Pylori - NY Times Health Information

Here is the regimen they are going to have me take (Prevacid instead of Nexium):

> Nexium 20 mg daily for 2 months

> Amoxacilline 500mg every 6 hrs for 14 days

> Clarithromycine 500mg every 12hrs for 14 days

Hi I am sorry you've got to take that rigorous treatment for H Pylori, I made sure to put back the healthy bacteria using pro biotics and yogurt. Don't worry too much because the medical consensus is that many people are carrying the H Pylori bacteria w/no symptoms. It is true however that if unchecked symptoms can manifest later on down the line, ulcers, even cancers. I had it pre surgery and was treated. Remember it will show up in future blood tests for it as positive for the rest of your life. I had to have a stool specimen tested (at my request), to be sure I wasn't carrying it post surgery and thankfully it came out negative. You'll be fine.

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

Once you test positive for H Pylori, your blood will always test positive for it. You need to do a stool sample to test for it from now on. I know that's strange, but I have had quite a bit of experience with H Pylori.

[youknowit 11]

Wow, I can't believe it stays in the blood forever... I'm surprised it doesn't say that in the mayo Clinic info I read... I did read about the BREATH test they can do to check it, I wonder if that's a possibility for a post test? Not that I could really care less about the stool sample. LOL. Been there, done that. I really just hope the regimen works, because after my research and reading, I think this might be why, even though I'm sleeved, I still feel pangs of "hunger" or whatever coming from my stomach as little as an hour after eating... the literature mentions that as one "symptom" people might not recognize... they just think they are hungry all the time. UGH! I don't feel AS hungry or as ravenous as before, but even having taken the Prevacid EVERY DAY, with Water, in the morning, I still go through physical pangs or twitches that I can certainly recognize as similar to before surgery. Fingers crossed that this regimen of stuff will kill the bacteria dead, and I will have the "I'm never hungry" feeling people have raved about with the sleeve! :tongue_smilie:

Best to all!

[youknowit 11]

Quick question for you, Oregon... What was your treatment for it, and is it gone now? Sounds like this might have been a big issue for you, and I'm very curious about how this might play-out for me? This H.Pylori is makin' me nervous. :tongue_smilie:

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I took the anti biotics and something like previcid, and I got rid of it but it came back after awhile. I was told it's a bacteria that you can get from food, such as eating an apple with skin that people have handled. I had to do the whole treatment again, and this time after I was finished I did the stool sample and it was gone again.

When I get it, I have a pain on my right side, so I know I have it.

[FireFly 0]

Sorry to hear this Lan. I'll keep you in my thoughts.

I also have anxiety so I know how something like this can through you off. :tongue_smilie:

[LAN2k 18]

I just want to clarify ...The H Pylori was detected via a blood test PRIOR to my surgery. I took the treatment consisting of 3 antibiotics and a PPI it's a standard protocol given called "prevpac" I had to take that for 4 weeks! I asked my surgeon if he was going to test me again to make sure it was gone but he said "no, that won't be necessary." I asked my PCP if she could run the usual blood work on me and to include the test for H Pylori (this was post op) the results came up as positive. I phoned my surgeon and he said ignore it your blood work will always have H pylori positive results but that doesn't mean you have the organisim.,,he explained why but I forgot what he said. I went to a GI specialist because I had been gagging and heaving every morning when I would go to brush my teeth, I also had this glob of mucus in my throat that I could not expel no matter how I tried. While consulting with him I had my blood work to show him and asked him why the H Pylori was positive and he told me it will always show up positive hereafter and again I forgot why but he explained. He is the one who told me that THE ONLY VALID WAY OF KNOWING DEFINITIVELY THAT YOU ARE NOT INFECTED WITH HPYLORI IS VIA A STOOL SAMPLE. NOT THE BREATH TEST OR ONCE INFECTED, BY BLOOD. So if you go through the prevpac treatment and you want a retest to find out if it's erradicated you must have a stool sample tested to get true results. The stool sample test is no biggy. You get a kit from the lab and put your sample/s in the containers, seal them and drop them off back to the lab. Hope that helps.

[youknowit 11]

Good info, all. I will certainly keep you posted on my treatment, as I'm starting the antibiotics this week (already taking the Prevacid post-surgery). I really think the H.Pylori might be why I feel "hungry" a lot... But no other symptoms. I'll ask Dr. Aceves before I head down there in a couple of months for my upperGI and bloodwork, if it would be ok to do the stool test to make sure the bacteria is gone.

Thanks again! :smile:

[Oregondaisy 2,021]

I wish I did know why we will always test positive for it from now on. I know when I did the stool test, I didn't have it anymore. That does not mean you can't pick it up again though.

I wash my fruit that I eat with skins on or anything else people have handled, but I've been told that rinsing with Water is not enough to get the bacteria off the food. I don't usually wash food with soap and Water though and I was even told to rinse it in water with a capful of bleach to get rid of bacteria!

The pain I get on my right side when I do have it caused me to not recognize the pain I got from a gall bladder attack. The pain was in the same spot, and I was thinking I had H Pylori again!

[youknowit 11]

Thank you for this info... I wonder if that "fruit and veggie" wash stuff might work? It worries me that I could get it again... I sure hope it goes away and I'm done with it soon!

I really appreciate your help on this, and I'll keep you posted. :scared0: