Has anyone ever had positive test for helicobacter pylori, had it treated drugs, then only to have it return?

this has just happened to me, i've got quite severe gastric symptoms and weight loss, and just been referred for endoscopy. i'm terrified as have family history of perforated ulcers and stomach cancer. i have also raised liver enzymes in my blood. been under huge amount of stress recently too

Did it go away? Or were you in fact an eradication failure, 15% of triple therapy fails even if it is taken properly, which it often isn't. Either way an alternate regime can be tried, however to be fair erradication rates for second attempts are down to 60%.

If you were proven negative by breath test, and then proven +ve again by breath test, there are a number of issues. (Blood antibody tests cannot be used to reassess patients who have had erradication carried out, as the antibody remains positive for years afterwards!)

The mechanism of infection is not understood, however in the handful of patients I have seen who went through the sequence :

+ve test
erradication
re-test negative
new symptoms
re-test +ve

all had partners who turned out to be CLO +ve. If this is the sequence you did go through it is worth checking to see if your partner is CLO positive and then attempting erradication in you both at the same time, to reduce the risk of re-infection.

no sorry but it sounds pretty serious. good luck

h. pylori is the leading cause of peptic ulcers. Get the scope done and see what that shows.

Many people without digestive problems have the same bacteria. Stress can trigger many things we are predisposed to. Try dealing with that part of your life and see what happens to the reflux, burning and digestive difficulties...

Join the Club of people who didn't get cured the first time round. It does happen that you think the antibiotics have zapped the h. pylori, then some must have been hiding somewhere because symptoms come back and you need another dose.
The gastric symptoms connected with an ulcer are very unpleasant and painful, too. Try not to worry (silly thing to say) but you aren't alone in what's happened and the big ca hasn't got me yet. My granny died of a GI bleed due to a perforated ulcer - she was 52 and I am 70 - things have come on a long way since then.
Not sure about the endoscopy now - I haven't had one for several years and then I was knocked out completely (had 3 altogether). Now they have a much smaller endoscope and people are able to have the process without anaesthetic if they wish.

Hi
My sister had the same problem as yourself. She was hospitalised and in a great deal of pain both times she had it. She has changed her lifestyle now. She too had a gastroscope done. The gastroscope can be done in the day surgery unit, with or without sedation. The procedure is usually fairly short, about 10-15 Min's

I would avoid stress, eat a good diet trying to cut out spicy and acidity food, stop smoking (if you do smoke) and drink only a little alcohol if any at all and follow any other advice from your consultant.

Good Luck