H. Pylori anyone???

Seems the only problem I have thus far with all my pre-op testing etc is being positive for H. Pylori. The NP called me today from Dr B's office and they're prescribing an antibiotic and Prevacid that I will take for 2 weeks. Anybody else have this prior to surgery?  She told me I might experience diarrhea with it...big deal huh? I tolerate pretty much all drugs very well so don't expect much, but you never know. Any thoughts??

Sorry, I'm no help on this one at all.  I've never heard of it but I'm sure somebody will chime in.  It sounds like an easy fix for you though!!!

remember back in the day that we all thought ulcers were caused by stress, alcohol and spicy foods? and then some Dr said, "I've found it's caused by bacteria."  And everyone went "ahhhhhhhh"   Well this is what H. Pylori is. The dreaded bacteria that people have in their stomachs that lend themselves to reflux, heartburn and general crappy esophagus stuff. They also don't know for sure how it's contracted but it's either through food and/or water. Extra wonderful!!! The office is not scheduling any upper GI or anything so apparently it is fixable with the 2 week antib's and so we'll just see. That's all I need is one more test to pay for!!!!! I'm just about maxed out on my cash for all this preop stuff. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE LET IT BE OVER!!!  BTW Debbie, I never responded to your question about riding together to the meetings on Thurs....sorry but it wouldn't work because I come from work at 23rd and Penn and then live in Jones. Unless you are down here too??? But then you'd already have a car, right? You must be retired and living in  Harrah, right?

Oh, I see.  I've never heard about that.  I had to laugh at your comment "you must be reitred living in Harrah!!!"  I WISH I were retired girlfriend.  I drive everyday from Harrah to 63rd and Portland to work....arrrrrgh.  I've done it for a long time and it's just habit...besides I have to work!!!  I usually go from work to the meetings too but sometimes go to Jones and meet up with hubby and then he goes back with me to Edmond. 

I tested positive for it, but had already been diagnosed with it a year or so before.  Once you have it, you'll always test positive for it.  It is a bacteria that causes ulcers...maybe that's why I have an ulcer???  Hadn't thought of that.  It caused me to have severe indigestion which is why I went to the doctor for it to begin with.  I'd never heard of it before then.  I took two weeks of two different antibiotics, and two weeks of prevacid twice a day.  Then when I went through the blood work for surgery I had to take two more weeks just to be sure.  It wasn't a big deal for me, I don't remember diarrhea being a problem for me.  Just another stepping stone to your surgery, shouldn't be a problem for you.

I had ther nasty little critter. Bad news first, sometimes the first round of treatment does not make you well. And it can cause you to have funny colored stolls for me I had a black tongue the whole time I was on the treatment. Good news is with treatment you wont be prone to ulcers etc....
For me I had to pay out around 400.00 for pre op testing. And I think it was worth every cent. I wanted to be in the best of health and not have any hidden medical problems that would come back to bite me.
As for the diarhea I would plan on it...plus having some tummy problems...no biggie just some aggrivation.
After you do the ten days of the nasty stuff they will retest ya....sorry

One of my co-workers just go the exact same call today from weight wise.  I had to do a double take at your post because I thought she had finally posted something on line.  Weird.

I had it too.  I did the two weeks of meds too.  My hubby had to do it also because it can be transmitted either oral to oral or fecal to oral.  Most people don't know that you can pass it by kissing but I looked it up on the CDC website and it did say orally. 

If you have to pay for the meds out of pocket, there is another med- panteprazole which is much cheaper than prevacid. 

I did have bad diarrhea with the antibiotics but a week after that, my tummy lined itself out and I felt much better.  I didn't realize that was causing my stomach cramps and loose stools.  The only problem was 2 weeks out it went the other way because the high doses of antibiotics killed the good bacteria in my digestive system.  A couple of pills of Probiotics and I was as good as new.  I didn't have to do an upper GI or even another test for H. Pylori before surgery.

By the way, Cathy at WW is awesome!!

 YEAH I HAD IT TOO! I TOOK THE ROUND OF ANTIBIOTICS AND I GUESS EVERYTHING WAS OK BECAUSE I HAD MY SURGERY RIGHT ON SCHEDULE. I HAD TO EAT YOGURT EVERY DAY WHILE TAKING THE MEDS BUT OTHER THAN THAT I HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH IT. LIKE YOU I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW I HAD IT. I KINDA FREAKED OUT WHEN THEY CALLED TO TELL ME THAT I HAD THIS VIRUS. BUT NOW EVERYTHING IS OK. AS FOR HOW MUCH IT IS GOING TO COST FOR THE MEDS I CAN'T HELP YOU THERE. I AM FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE CHOCTAW SO THEY PAID FOR MY MEDS. GOOD LUCK!