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Total lack of appetite for HP infection

Posted: Wed Mar 11, 2020 11:54 pm
by jose92
I will tell you what happened to me. More than six months ago I started having symptoms of fullness, loss of appetite, very intense reflux and could not eat because I was vomiting. I went to the hospital several times and what they gave me was famotidine, then they gave me a gastroscopy where they saw a lot of reflux, mild erosion of the esophagus and gastritis, the gastroenterologist gave me esomeprazole which helped me a little, continue with the symptoms and decided to do me another gastroscopy with rapid urease test for Helicobacter, which was positive. I started with triple therapy and I felt better for a few days, after finishing the triple therapy I took esomeprazole for 1 month and I did the gastroscopy to see if I no longer had the bacteria, it came out negative but I continued with the symptoms and even worsened, the loss Appetite never left and the reflux intensified. I went to another gastroenterologist who decided to take biopsies and grow a culture in which he came out positive for Helicobacter pilory infection, I am currently on day 10 of the quadruple therapy with metronidazole I feel better, the reflux has decreased a lot but the fullness and loss of appetite continue. It is normal that my loss of appetite is prolonged so much, will I ever be hungry again?

Re: Total lack of appetite for HP infection

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 9:54 am
by Helico_expert
I think it's important to find out if you are truly free of H. pylori.
To get accurate rapid urease test (via endoscopy) or breath test, one must stop taking PPI or antibiotics for at least 2 weeks. Because those tests rely on the amount of HP in the stomach. taking PPI and/or antibiotics will lower the bacterial load and give you a false negative result.

So which quadruple therapy are you taking now? remember to get a follow up breath test 2 weeks after you completed your treatment.

Re: Total lack of appetite for HP infection

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 10:56 pm
by jose92
I am on omeprazole 20mg / 12h, bismuth 250mg / 12h, doxycycline 100mg / 12h and metronidazole 500mg / 8h for 14 days.
I feel better under therapy, there are good days when I get hungry for a few minutes but most of the time I am not hungry. Is this symptom normal in Helicobacter infection?

Re: Total lack of appetite for HP infection

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 11:30 pm
by Helico_expert
When H. pylori is eradicated, the stomach gets healthier. We do observed that patients get better appetite after HP eradication.

Re: Total lack of appetite for HP infection

Posted: Thu Mar 12, 2020 11:39 pm
by jose92
Thank you very much, that gives me peace of mind since it is very stressful not to have the feeling of hunger for so long.

Re: Total lack of appetite for HP infection

Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2020 8:44 am
by Helico_expert
All the best to your recovery. do keep us posted with your updates.

Re: Total lack of appetite for HP infection

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2020 2:21 am
by jose92
Hello, after 4 days of finishing the antibiotic treatment, I am still not hungry and have reflux symptoms. My gastroenterologist told me to have stool tests in 2 weeks but I am still taking ppi. Could I give a false negative if I keep taking ppi? How long do I have to wait to be tested once I stop taking ppi?

Re: Total lack of appetite for HP infection

Posted: Fri Mar 20, 2020 10:47 am
by Helico_expert
PPI can reduce HP quantity and hence affect the stool test.
it is best to switch your PPI to H2 blocker for two weeks before conducting the stool test or breath test.