H. Pylori ?

I tested + for H.Pylori, did 2 weeks on the anti-botics, tested again came back +.  Did a EGD so much fun, everything came back normal!!  Did 2 more weeks of anti-botics, however, my doctor does not want to re-test to see if the H.Pylori is still +, is that ok?  What happens when they cut my stomach? Is the H.Pylori going to get in my bloodstream?  A little worried?

I"m not surprised you were still testing positive and that they don't want to do any more testing.  The H. Pylori is already in your bloodstream...that's how they are testing for it, by blood work, no?  If not...they can do it that way.  It's more of a virus than a bacteria so antibiotics don't always "kill it" completely.  It pre disposes you to and/or is a leading cause of ulcers.  So, you may be at a higher risk for ulcers/gerd like symptoms and may need meds to help prevent the spread of that, such as pepcid, prilosec, or the others.

Don't worry to much about it, very common.

Pam

Pam:

DUH, yes, bloodwork, that was a very silly thing to say, I know better!! Thanks you so much, I have been worrying!!! 

Anita

When you are worrying....silly things come out of ANYONE'S mouth!

Funny thing, though...when people are being treated for chronic ulcers the FIRST thing I ask is "have you been tested for H. Pylori" just to see if they have been, and if that might be an area where treatment can begin.  And here I am telling you if treatment doesn't work, it's not a huge surprise, LOL  But I am all for trying a treatment at least once, LOL

Now try to cross that off of your list of things to worry about, LOL  Goodness knows there's enough stuff to do that with during the pre op phases of all this!

Helicobacter Pylori is a bacteria, and the antibiotics do kill it completely.  However, it can often take several courses of different antibiotics to completely eradicate it from your system.

It can cause ulcers and, if left untreated for too long, can even cause gastric cancers.  The antibiotic therapy is usually also paired with acid reduction therapy (with Prevacid or Prilosec or other proton pump inhibitors) to help the lining of the GI tract recover from the damage that the h. Pylori did. 

Assuming that the EGD (another term for upper endoscopy) involved biopsies (beyond just the doctor's visualization of the tissues of the GI tract), then the biopsy results are the gold standard for h. Pylori testing.

The bloodwork that your doctor did for  h. Pylori  tested for the antibody, and a positive result only means that your body has fought off h. Pylori at some time in the past.  A breath test is also often performed, but it is not always widely available. 

A stool antigen test would reveal whether substances that trigger your immune system to fight h. Pylori are currently in the GI tract.  The stool antigen test is often used to determine whether treatment for h. Pylori has been successful.

I had to have 2 H Pylori antibody tests, then a stool antigen test prior to surgery.

The first test came back positive so I did the Prev Pac antibiotics.

Later, my dr. reordered the test because so much time had passed throgh the 6 month diet and insurance dragging along...and this was also positive.

Insurance then wanted a GI consult prior to approval. (Honestly? I think they would have loved it if I gave up!)

The gastroenterologist I saw said that blood tests can come back positive forever - it's like chicken pox, and stays in your system. Once you're positive, you're positive. However, in about 80% of cases, the antibiotics eliminate active cases. He ordered the stool antigen test, which was fine, and I had exactly the info needed to move ahead.

I believe the risk of H Pylori is related to later complications with ulcers.

WOW, Ladies you are all so very helpful.  I feel 100% better, and will not worry since my EGD was all negative, they have not done a stool antigen test, but maybe that is still come.  That's the info I needed thanks so much for all the great input!!! ~Anita~