Moving on to the next step

Well I got all my approvals back in September with one little but... I tested positive for hPylori so I had to go through the antibiotics wait and do the breath test etc etc etc. Well after 2 months and 8 days of waiting I finally got a negative results and the clinic called me and scheduled me for Surgery Education class later this month! I am so happy to finally be moving forward again.

Awesome news Kris, that's great. I'm glad you got the news you were hoping for. Which centre are you going through?

Because I went through the H Pylori pre-op - I would like to pass this little tidbit of info to you. Once you have H Pylori and treated -- your blood tests results will for the rest of your life show the H Pylori virus. It is very much like how measles stay in your blood for the rest of your life. So my advice to you....get a copy of the breath test that shows negative and keep it with you. When you do meet with your surgeon, let him know that you did have H Pylori - that you were treated for it and show him the negative results tests. I tell you this because two days before surgery the nurse at hospital called me. Her responsibility is to look over my blood tests -- that maybe my surgery will be cancelled because test show I have the H Pylori virus. I called my surgeon, who knew that I was in the clear and he called and reported to the nurse and all my charts that H Pylori is now negative. You want everybody that will be involved with your charts and team in surgery to have this info correct so you have a safe and uninterrupted surgery.

Remember, 1 oz of prevention is worth a pound of cure. In our case many pounds of cure. Best of luck with your journey.

Hello

I did 4 sets of antibiotics I started in Jan 2015 and the last set was in October of last month and I still tested positive.

I not sure what else to do.  

Are you taking the breath test as opposed to the blood test? The breath test will cost you a fee that is not covered by OHIP but is by far the best way to test for H Pylori. Mine started 4 years ago and had two sets of antibiotics but in November of 2013, I again breath tested positive for H Pylori. Again two more sets of antibiotics. Then in November of 2014 I insisted on a gastric scope and swatch because blood test stated I had it. That test proved I no longer had the H Pylori even though for the rest of my life my blood will show positive.

No the Doctor always made me take a blood test and it always positive, I don't mind paying a fee, if that would the best way to test for H Pylori.

and in the mean time just to make sure, I think I should get a gastric scope done just because I'm really scared that the H Pylori would cause complications when it comes to surgery.

Thanks, Laura

You are absolutely bang on correct. Ask for a scope. I did and I was so happy I spoke up and asked for it. Then everybody has a good picture of what they are dealing with before surgery. I am with you on the scope. Discuss after the gastroscopy if a breath test is necessary. I did both but maybe if I had the gatroscopy first, I would not have needed the breath test. I can tell you the breath test is by far superior to the blood test in proving negative H Pylori.

Thanks for the great advice!!!! I just what to make sure to do everything in my part to avoid any complications.

According to my doctor if you had hpylori at anytime in your entire life even if you currently don't have an infection a blood test will always come up positive for hpylori. The only way to rule out an active infection is via urea breath test which ohip doesn't cover unless done in a nuclear medicine lab in a hospital. Lifelabs in ontario does it and it costs $95.00