I had my gastro appt yesterday & I will say it went great!!! He asked lots of questions about my symptoms & all that. He ended up doing a Hydrogen test on me. I had to blow into this tube thing & it measured how my hydrogen is in me. Well, the "normal" person is to have UP TO 5. Well, mine was at 14!!! Almost triple the amount. He stated that this is a very strong indication that I have a bad bacterial infection in my small intestines and this is most likely causing my symptoms. He said that with this type of infection the symptoms come on all the sudden & can last until an antibiotic is prescribed. So I am going to be on Xiofaxan for about 10 days. I am keeping my fingers crossed that this will cure my diarrhea and stomach cramping. He said that in a week I should feel 60-80% better! He also gave me a probiotic called Flora Q and a med to help with the stomach cramping & diarrhea (only if I need it during the course of the meds). I just wanted to let you know. I don't think I have heard anyone mention having this test done. hopefully it can maybe help one of you all out. He said that if the med's don't help me then he will do the colonoscopy on me & check for microscopic colitis. But he seemed pretty confident that the med's should work. I would be one happy girl if they work! I can't wait to be able to eat a nice big salad again!
Great news!!!! I am so happy for you that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Please keep us posted. I'll be keeping my fingers crossed for you. Co-Moderator for the IBS Forum
Funny you mention that, I had that test done 2 weeks ago. I forgot the actual result, but it was far higher than acceptable, so I'm on the Xifaxan as well, have another week or so to go.
Hey crazygut, how long have u thought u had IBS for?? has it been a short term thing iwht teh pain and cramping and D etc? cos ive had it for about 2.5yrs now and id love to have a hydrogen test and then have antibiotics and hopefully it would all go away haha...sounds to good to be true but worth checking out
Is this a fairly common test? I haven't heard of it but it sounds like it could possibly be what's wrong with me. 4 months without 1 normal bowel movement is enough for me to try anything!
I have heard of it before; it's a realitvely new test, so a lot of doctors don't seem to be prescribing it (I don't know if it's available overseas or even in a lot of locations in the US). But that's great that you were able to get an answer! Hopefully you'll get cured up and stay cured!
I am not sure how long the test has been available? My GI doctor mentioned it to me. I have been taking the antibiotic for about 3 days now...it hasn't been fun, but it worth it if is going to cure this up. It has mostly just made me nauseous & having the feeling that I have to keep using the bathroom (although I don't). I had already assumed that it was going to make me feel worse for a bit before it makes me feel better.
ItalianBella, I had all the symptoms that are discussed on this board (diarrhea mostly) and my GI told me that IBS is mistakingly diagnosed for it since most doctors don't think to do the hydrogen test. You should have the test done, very simple. I have had IBS symptoms the past year constantly. He stated that usually the symptoms will start with no warning...one day you are fine & the next you are in pain with diarrhea, etc.
Joeblow, have you had the side effects from it? How long are you on the med's for? I am on them for about 10 days I think.
I am praying that this is my answer to the agony of the last year. My GI is pretty confident...but, I will let you all know how I am in about a month (if I am "cured" or not )
Shelly, I had it done right in my GI's office. There was nothing to it. All I had to do was breath into this tube thing. I am a smoker & the hardest part of it was having to blow all my air out. He stated it is similar to a DUI breath test (take a deep breath & blow it all out). Tell your GI doc you'd like to have it done. If he has the test I am sure he will be more then happy to help you out.
I believe the test you're talking about tests for Helicobacter pylori, which is a bacteria that can lead to stomach ulcers, abdominal pain, etc. It's widely prevalent in the population.
I don't believe it tests for the H. pylori bacterium. In fact, my doctor said that the community still doesn't know specfically which bacteria produce the hydrogen that is detected by this particular test. He did say the test is quite new, and many doctors still don't know about it.
As far as side effects from the Xifaxan, I've had none, whether I take it with or w/o food. Today is my last day after taking it for 2 weeks. I notice that I'm not nearly as bloated as I was prior to taking it. Used to be bloated all day every day, and that's gone. Question is, will it return?
It isn't the same test as the H. Pylori. I had that test done also awhile back, but this one checks for for another type of bacteria that is in the gut-mainly in the small intestines.
There are several ways to test for H. pylori; a breath test is one (we used to use the breath test to check for carriers of H. pylori in the villages here), and EGD is another; I haven't heard of a blood test for it (but that doesn't mean one doesn't exist )
crazygut pleaseeee let us all know if those antibiotics have worked for u. im sooo desperate to find something that will fix me up..had a crappp week this week, literally...and im not sure why so thats even more frustrating for me..gets so depressing
YES. i had three courses of xiafaxan, i had the hydrogen test as well and mine was litteraly off the chart! xiafaxan worked AMAZINGLY well for me, even though i had to do a few rounds of it. now i simply take acidopholis every day, along with peppermint oil (good for bacterial overgrowth and the small intestine--but you must take the enteric coated kind) and i maintain a gluten free diet. it is not the same as H. Pylori. i am still healthy, and used to crap my pants and had to resign from a job because i could not leave the toilet--i also had a polyp and pooping blood thing going on... but the antibiotic did work for me and i wish the best of luck to you. i suggest everyone get the hydrogen breath test, it is easy, and a big study here in MD is being done; some doctors think that many diagnosed with IBS are actually misdiagnosed and really have a bacterial overgrowth. the study is with xiafaxan and determining if IBS patients can benefit with the antibiotic.
all the best! -bunnybabewhat would you attempt to do if you knew you could not fail?
I've just picked the brain of a pharmacy lecturer at the local university. He tells me that the generic name for Xifaxan is Rifaximin in case you were wondering. Also Rifaximin is a antibiotic that stops in the gut and doesn't get absorbed into the bloodstream but he has his doubts about that.
Also my local GP and I were talking about a hydrogen test. I've made an appointment with my local path lab to have this done, he was quite surprised that this wasn't done at the GI i went to.
Anyhow, that's all i've got to share from my brain pickings today. Hopefully when I do the test i'll get a positive result too! gluck to all of you!DX'd with IBS May 2006
Current Medications : None, but occasionally carry Seirogan for fast relief from D.
Well...I had to stop taking the Xifaxan. For some reason it is not doing me well. I am extremely nauseated and have had worse diarrhea the last few days then I have had in a few months. My GI told me this is not normal side affects and to stop taking it if they persist. Well, they persisted & I stopped taking it Saturday night. I am still feeling like crap from them! I am having a hard time getting some plain toast down this morning for breakfast! I am so dissappointed, depressed, pisse* that this med did not work for me. I must have had a mild allergic reaction to it. I am hoping he will be able to persribe me something else that may help. Knowing that my test was so high I NEED something that will get rid of the bacterial growth. So, back to square one for me... I would still recommend this for everyone. Just because I had a bad experience doesn't mean it will be the same for you all. I have read alot of success stories with this med. Good luck to you all!
I am glad I found this info because I am going to insist on having this done because mine came on so sudden that I think this is what it might be. I started taking acidophilus today so am hoping that will help also. BarbMy laundry list of diseases include IBS, UC, GERD, Asthma, Alergies, CAD, Fibromyalgia, TMJ and a deteriorating disk in lower back.
As did mine, so i've booked myself in for the 22nd of this month (Hydrogen Test for Bacterial Overgrowth). Hopefully the results should come in shortly after that. All the best guys!DX'd with IBS May 2006
Current Medications : None, but occasionally carry Seirogan for fast relief from D.
I have suffered from IBS for over 25 years. Right now, I am having a flareup and am most uncomfortable.
For the first time, I am reading about this Hydrogen Test. Did I comprehend correctly, you don't have to have a note from the Dr.? You can go to the lab and request it??? Is this true? I have over an hours drive to my Gastro, this would be so much simpler for me, to be able to go to directly to the lab.
I am suffering from trapped gas right now, it is lodged under my right rib cage, I have tried all yoga positions I know of, taking Fennel caps, drinking peppermint tea....I don't know what else to do, and I am miserable. The heating pad only makes this worse. I had my gallbladder taken out several years ago. This is very uncomfortable.
He also gave me a probiotic called Flora Q and a med to help with the stomach cramping & diarrhea (only if I need it during the course of the meds). I just wanted to let you know. I don't think I have heard anyone mention having this test done. hopefully it can maybe help one of you all out. 
He said that if the med's don't help me then he will do the colonoscopy on me & check for microscopic colitis. But he seemed pretty confident that the med's should work. I would be one happy girl if they work! I can't wait to be able to eat a nice big salad again!
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I would still recommend this for everyone. Just because I had a bad experience doesn't mean it will be the same for you all. I have read alot of success stories with this med. Good luck to you all!