Do I have H.Pylori? Help!

[dennis_fd]

Thank you Helico_expert, I will update this thread once I have the biopsy results.

[dennis_fd]

Just an update here - requested the raw data from my breath test, and I will quote the reply -

"Thank you for your email. We report this type of test using Qualitative data and only list the results as Positive/Negative. It is not possible to provide raw results for this." Ain't no harm in asking I suppose...

Retook the stool antigen test, still shows negative. I'm due the endoscopy this Tuesday. Checked with the clinic and this may be a UK National Health Service thing, but unless they notice anything untoward they do not take a biopsy. That is, if it's all clear of any ulcers, gastritis, inflammation or anything else, then it's deemed all clear.

As far as my symptoms go, any slow progress seems to have gotten slower. Been taking the Biocidin Botanicals and mastic gum for almost a month now, and as previously mentioned whilst there has been improvement I'm still suffering from this dull but very persistent pain in my upper GI / stomach. No gas now, nor constipation or diarrhoea and both my movements and stool colour / consistency are fine. This may not even be h.pylori - or if it is, then the treatments I've been taking are working hence the improvements and negative test results so far.

I'll update this thread once I have the endoscopy results.

[Helico_expert]

good to know that your symptoms are improving. looking forward to seeing your endoscopy result.

[dennis_fd]

I had the endoscopy with biopsy yesterday. Asked the clinician who was performing the procedure to check for h.pylori, which they were more than happy to do. Results were as follows, and I quote verbatim:

"Report
Prepyloric region - Gastritis: mild flat erosive with no bleeding. Small superficial antral erosion.

Advice/comments
A small superficial antral erosion. CLO negative. GP may wish to review lifestyle factors, check compliance with full dose PPI and Gaviscon for a minimum 4 weeks, consider adding H2RA if symptoms persist."

So no h.pylori. Obviously not too thrilled about the gastritis, in some respects the pylori may have been easier to treat, in others not so.

Many thanks for all your advice and help here. I know this isn't a gastritis forum, but any further insights here would be much appreciated. Whilst the standard prognosis involves PPI's and Gaviscon to reduce stomach acid and therefore calm the inflammation, there does appear to be a significant body of work on the internet that indicates lowering the level of stomach acid is only a temporary fix - that low stomach acid may have been the root cause, as the body isn't producing enough mucosa for the stomach lining because there's not really a great deal of stomach acid to deal with. So much conflicting information.

Once again, many thanks for all your help.

[Helico_expert]

Glad to hear that you are free of HP and only have some gastritis.

agree with the doctors recommended treatment.

[dennis_fd]

Thank you helico_expert. Just finally, is there any chance that these diagnoses are all false negatives? I know this chance would be extremely low - 3 tests, all negative (4 if you include the second stool antigen) - is it worth getting retested at any point?

[Helico_expert]

no test is 100%.

I think you can focus on treating your symptoms now. Can repeat the test again in 12 months time.

[dennis_fd]

Many thanks!