Helicobacter Forums

First let me thank all the good doctors and others involved in this setting up this website. It is a great service. I am posting my details here for everyone's benefit + some questions to experts.

In my case a (self diagnosed) panic attack which resulted in me rushing to ER resulted in discovery of two things - H. Pylori infection and a mild heart block. (M/53 non smoker, drink sometimes heavy, mostly not). I say panic attack because the symptoms were exactly like heart attack, chest pain, left arm pain, high HR etc. and general feeling of doom. It happened twice again in milder forms, triggered by specific stress factors though I managed them pretty well given the experience.

Anyway ER found nothing in heart after Troponin, X-ray and multiple ECGs, and asked me to get checked by cardiologist. Did that. Blood test (ordered by doc who suspected it) resulted in high levels of HP antibodies. (4, whatever that means). A CT scan also showed mild stenosis.

Prescribed Amoxicilin, Clarithromycin (10 d) + Ranitidine (30d) since the Omeprozole given earlier by ER docs seemed to have side effects or at least that is what I felt. Finished the course recently. Re test not done yet. Was also given 10mg statin since my LDL was moderately high. That is still on.

For those interested, here are the side effects I faced, not sure which caused which:

1. Mild breathing troubles as if air intake not enough.
2. Stomach ache (which I never had earlier despite the HP).
3. Sense of fear /panic off and on, which may be the original problem.

But I should say now I am feeling lot better, stomach wise at least. The bloating, distention, etc is not there. Bowel is normal.. Mild and sporadic stomach knotty feel is there perhaps due to statin.

Can the experts pls help answer

1. Are panic attacks some way linked to HP? I had no stomach pain, but had diarrhea now and then.
2. Another issue is the reflux (once or so per week) now creates sore throat and a lumpy feel. Goes away with salt water gargle etc., but returns in few days. I am avoiding all spicy or oily food. Is that linked to HP or its cure? I was not free of reflux earlier, used to have acidic burps, but it does seem it affects throat much more now.

Thanks for patience in reading this long post!

I also discover that i was infected with H pylori after panic attacks, the GI told me that is not related, but lot of people experienced the same. My first treatment failed and i finished the second one at the end of january, and i am suffering with reflux as well, i'll retest next month after finish the PPI.

Thanks for the info & sorry to hear the 1st round did not work out. Hope it goes away..

you said you have recently completed Ranitidine + Amox + Clar, and not done follow up test yet. And then you said your first treatment failed. So I assumed this Ranitidine + Amox + Clar is your 2nd treatment?

Helico_expert wrote: Tue Feb 19, 2019 10:34 pm you said you have recently completed Ranitidine + Amox + Clar, and not done follow up test yet. And then you said your first treatment failed. So I assumed this Ranitidine + Amox + Clar is your 2nd treatment?

I guess that you mixed our comments xD. He didnt retest yet.

opps.. my bad. Nevertheless, newpylori should follow the guideline, which is to follow up by doing breath test after the 30 days ranitidine treatment.

Yes I am supposed to see doctor about a month from now although he didn't say what test he has in mind... If he doesn't do this test I'll ask. Thanks!

Just an update..I met up with the doctor, he did not prescribe any test to check eradication. I did not insist.

I had throat burn reflux for about a month after stopping the treatment. So he put me on Omeprazole for a couple of months (20 mg x 2) to fix that. I have started that.

Can I still test for stool test for HP eradication or wait for this course to be over?

unfortunately you cannot do breath test when you are on PPI.

I think it's important to find out if your H. pylori had been eradicated. Otherwise you are just wasting time waiting a recovery that will never come.

So, you can go back to your doctor or pharmacist, ask for ranitidine or any other H2 blocker. Unlike PPI, they ranitidine doesnt stay in the body for a long time. Because ranitidine doesnt stop acid secretion as complete as PPI, you will have to time yourself carefully. usually take some ranitidine 30 min before meal.

you can continue taking ranitidine until the night before breath test.

Thanks for the reply..

How long I have to be on Ranitidine before the test? Is that switch needed even for stool based test for eradication?