H. Pylori results need help please

[help pls]

In June '06 I had Diarreah/loose stools 4 times a day. In July I had a CBC, 2 stool test, and a sigmoidoscopy in August, which all came back normal.
Since then, I have 1-2 loose BM a day.
I finally had a upper endoscopy and a colonoscopy with biopsies on 12-12-06. Pain on right side started recently. The results were:
Esophagitis Grade A- 530.11
Hiatal Hernia-553.3
Multiple Erosive Gastritis-535.40
Mild Gastritis-535.40
Acute Gastritis,without mention of hemorrhage-535.00
R/O Barrett's Esophagus-530.2
R/O Celiac disease
Unspecified intestinal malabsorptiom-579.90

The nurse called me today and told me that the Pathology Report shows I have the H. pylori bacteria in my small intestines.
NO BARRETT'S OR CELIAC. GI Doctor has me on:

Amox-Clav 500mg- 2 tablets 2X a day for 7 days
Metronidazole 500mg -1 tablets 2X a day for  7 days
Clarithromycin 500mg -1 tablet 2X a day for 7 days
Zegerid 40mg -1 tab 2X a day

I am worried that I've had this since June and 6-7 months later I'm now diagnosed.IS IT TO LATE?

1. IS THIS CONTAGIOUS? I HAVE A 14 MONTH OLD AND I'M WORRIED  
   THAT I MIGHT OF GAVE IT TO HER FROM KISSING HER. I'VE READ  
   THAT IT CAN BE PASSED ON FROM SALIVA? WHAT TEST CAN HER  
   DOCTOR DO TO RULE IT OUT?

2. Can you please explain my results, Does this mean I have
   Gastric cancer? I Understand that the Gastritis is caused from
   the H. Pylori? What about the Hiatal Hernia?

3. These Meds, can they cause bleeding internally? erosion to my
   Liver? Heart failure?

4. Can this be cured? What are the chances of it coming back?

5. I have to stay off the Xegerid 2 weeks prior to a breath  
   test, should I wait longer before they test me for a more  
   accurate result? if so, how long?

6. Should I have another CBC test to check my liver?

I also have Polycystic Ovary Syndrome and I sometimes feel my heart beating really fast, but was never diagnosed with heart disease. Don't know if that information relates to my condition?

Thank you for your time.

[retiredesol]

I have had h-pylori on the average of once every 2 years for more years than I'd like to remember. My gastro. dr. even checked my husband to see whether we were passing it between us. results negative. he suggested I try to get filtered water rather than drink sink water. I haven't had a case of h-pylori since I started using filtered water, and that's over 3 years now.

[yoshi]

Doc will not revisit the thread he has already answered.
6-7 months of infection is not long,like the previous postings said ,half of the population have it and many dont know they have it.
They used to do blood test ,but now there is a better way-a breath test which can be done in doctor's office.
If you want to check your daughter,she can undergo a breath test.
H Pylori bacteria is usually found in contaminated water and food.

[Jaybay]

Many people suffered their entire lives before h. pylori was discovered to be the primary cause of ulcers and gastritis.  As far as medical history goes, it wasn't that many years ago.  So I think you have nothing to worry about.  Just take the meds and you should be fine.  Length of time of having the infection should not make a difference on how well the meds work on you.

Your daughter is probably fine, but why not put in a call to the pediatrician?  Seems to me I remember h. pylori can also be detected via blood test.  I don't think you'd want to put your daughter through the trauma of endoscopy for something she probably doesn't have.

[kathryn7969]

I am 37 and I two months ago I was diagnosed with H. Pylori when I went in complaining of pain under my rib cage on the right and stomach pain.  I had been feeling these symptoms for at least 1.5 years before I was diagnosed. I have had one round of dual antibiotics which really seemed to make the pain go away and I regained lots of strength that I had lost. But around Christmas I got the same ole same ole symptoms so tomorrow I am going back in to see if my dr. will give me another round of antibiotics.  I wonder if me living so long with HP and not knowing it would mean that only one round of treatment wouldnt work, it makes since to me.

Kat

[TJV]

Most of the time h pylori is just an incidental finding . ,  it doesn't cause symptoms and it's no big deal .   Most people have it for years before it is detected, and it is found only when the person goes to the doctor for other digestive issues totally unrelated , like GERD etc.  

Tests used to detect it are blood test , stool test, breath test and endoscopy  

If you want to know if the treatment worked , a breath test is the appropriate test .

[help pls]

THANK-YOU  JAYBAY, YOSHI,AND LIZZIECEE FOR YOUR ADVICE.

[lizziecee]

Looking at the thread it looks as if the Doc did answer your question no. 4. He said there is an eradication level of some 95%. Hope this helps.

[help pls]

You didn't answer my question, I've had H.Pylori for 6-7 months. what are the chances of me being cured since I was recently diagnosed?

What test can I have my 14 month old Daughter take to check to see if I passed it on to her?

[Kevin Pho, MD]

To answer your questions:
1) H Pylori is a common infection, with the bacteria present in 1/2 of the population.  It is spread through oral contact or fecal-oral contact.

2) There is no evidence of cancer on the results you posted.  H Pylori is associated gastritis, but not the hiatal hernia.

3) It is unlikely the medications you were given would lead to those symptoms.

4) The regimen you are on has an eradication rate of about 95%.

5) 2 weeks would be an appropriate time to be off the medication.

6) CBC won't check the liver.  If there is concern, liver function tests can be obtained.

These questions can be discussed with your personal physician.

Followup with your personal physician is essential.

This answer is not intended as and does not substitute for medical advice - the information presented is for patient education only. Please see your personal physician for further evaluation of your individual case.

Kevin, M.D.
kevinmd_