Hello,

I have had stomach pains, bloating, excess gas, and loose stools for the past few years. More recently I have been getting a lot of gas in my stomach (Always have loud gurgling sounds).

A couple of months ago I got a GI Effects stool test done by Metametrix labs. The results stated that I was infected with H Pylori (6.4E+5 cfu/g), enterohemorrhagic e. coli (1.9E+6 cfu/g) as well as being positive for blastocystis hominis and a parasite with taxonomy unavailable.

I took nitazoxanide for the blasto after which I has a brief return to fully formed stools (only lasted a week or two). I also got a stool antigen test for h-pylori via my GP which came back negative and I also had a gastroscopy which revealed my stomach and upper intestines were normal. A biopsy taken during the gastroscopy also came back negative for H Pylori.

I don't know what to make of the enterohemorrhagic e. coli (EHE coli). I believe it would be unlikely that I would have an O157 strain of this bacteria as my symptoms are not that severe (no blood in stool etc) and typically infection clears after a number of days. However it may be another strain of EHE coli that could be causing chronic diarrhea. Has anyone else tested positive for this bacteria? What were your symptoms? How can it be treated?

I am now quite unsure as to the accuracy and quality of the Metametrix labs. Has anyone else used Metametrix for GI stool tests?

Any other comments or bits of information would be appreciated.