Can h pylori cause acid reflux and heartburn?

[Jenny Wren]

I was recently diagnosis through blood work with h pylori. My symptoms were gnawing, hunger type pains, constantly growling stomach, and loss of appetite. I was sick for Two weeks before diagnosed . One evening I got horrible heartburn and now again last night after eating a few crackers. I am on my 6 th day of the prev Pac. I have gained most of my appetite back and the growling and gnawing is gone. I noticed a few months back that I was having pain in the center of my back and radiating to my upper shoulders mainly on the right side. To my surprise I was having this pain last evening before the heartburn started. I took a dose of mylanta and the pain went away. So my question is....can h pylori cause heartburn and can this pain in my back be possibly related to my stomach. I had a gallbladder ultrasound, abdominal ct scan, extensive blood work and also an ekg. I'm afraid that I may have stomach cancer. Please help if you can. I'm desperately trying for get better. Thank you

[ThePhoenix75]

Good!  Hopefully every day you feel better and better!!

[Jenny Wren]

Well I still have 8 more days so we will see. I could see an improvement after the fourth day so hopefully it's working. Thank you.

[ThePhoenix75]

Yep, sometimes heartburn presents As back pain.  The amoxicillin should work but is not first line treatment for h pylori.  If it doesn't feel better in a few weeks, it is probably a good idea to see a gastro.  Good luck!

[Jenny Wren]

Thank you to you also. Did you have any back pain at all? I don't understand why she said that either. It kinda scares a person who has been sick and trying like heck to get better. I cringe having to take all those pills everyday. I never was good at swallowing pills. I had them give me the liquid amoxicillin instead. So much easier. Thank you. If no better a few weeks after treatment then I guess I will see the Gi Dr.

[Jenny Wren]

Thank you. I was just a little confused when she said that. If h pylori causes gastritis, doesn't gastritis heartburn? I still think the nerve pain and discomfort is connected somehow. Why would pain meds not take it away but mylanta does? The heartburn last night was not responding to mylanta at all. I had to resort to what my pap always took, baking soda and water
That did the trick.

[ThePhoenix75]

I am surprised that the dr. Would say that h pylori wouldn't cause heartburn and pain .  When I had it, that aw my main symptom!  Quoted from webmd

"When H. pylori does cause symptoms, they are usually either symptoms of gastritis or peptic ulcer disease. The most common symptom of peptic ulcer disease is gnawing or burning abdominal pain, usually in the area just beneath the ribs. This pain typically gets worse when your stomach is empty and improves when you eat food, drink milk, or take an antacid."

The antibiotics in the Prevpak can cause heartburn as well. I would still suggest giving it a bit more time...

[Caryopteris]

You had a CT scan, so the only other tests that seem to be missing would be upper and lower endoscopy.  Once those are clear, you should feel pretty good about it all.  I would give the antibiotic treatment time to work before having those tests.  Let it all settle down first.  I don't think you have cancer, just irritation.  

[Jenny Wren]

I'm trying so hard to relax. I called my Gi drs office today and they said heartburn has nothing to do with h pylori. She told me I have to have something else going on in there. It's funny I never had heartburn until I got sick Christmas day. I have been watching what I eat so carefully. What else if it's not h pylori would cause this? I'm taking two 20 mg Prilosec everyday along with my two antibiotics. I thought while taking prilosec I shouldn't get heartburn. Thank you.

[ThePhoenix75]

Relax.  H pylori can definitely cause those symptoms.  Just give some time for the tissue to heal and you should notice a huge improvement.  You had an abdominal CTscan, do that should rule out ant chance of stomach cancer.  I know when we are sick, our minds can get the best of us!!  Keep doing what your doing and let time and the Prevpak heal !  Feel better !