Year of abdominal pain -- Hydrogen Breath Testing
Nov 29, 2011
Tomorrow is marked with the most exciting of several tests in an attempt to narrow down my year of abdominal pain. This test could show the presence of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth -- which is somewhat common in those who've got lower gut issues and also in those who have had gastric bypass or who have had abdominal surgeries.
Bascially -- I breathe into a bag every so many minutes for a few hours. The samples are collected and tested for the presence of excess gases. 'urp. Reading about these tests, and watching test videos and the excessive use of the word METHANE only brings to mind ... cows.
If I get a positive result on this test -- I am starting a post bariatric energy company. There are far too many of us with broken guts who could probably power up our own houses with malabsorptive misfirings.
Hydrogen Breath Testing
The hydrogen breath test is used to identify lactose or fructose intolerance, or an abnormal growth of bacteria in the intestine. It is used to diagnose a lactose or fructose intolerance, which is the inability of the body to digest and or absorb lactose, the sugar found in dairy or fructose, the sugar found in a number of foods (fruit, vegetables, soda, etc.). Hydrogen breath testing can also be used to diagnose intestinal bacterial overgrowth. A breath sample will be collected and tested for the presence of hydrogen. To obtain the sample, you will be asked to blow up a balloon-type bag. Normally, very little hydrogen is detected in the breath. You will then be given a lactose, fructose, or lactulose solution to drink. Breath samples are collected every 15 minutes for 2 hours to detect any increase in hydrogen in the breath as the solution is digested. Increased hydrogen breath levels indicate improper digestion. The testing procedure lasts about 3 hours.
Super-fun, but likely the easiest of the tests because nothing goes inside me. See?
Next, is the capsule endoscopy. Then, the colonscopy for the holiday.
Dear Santa, I thought I'd been good...
PS. I'm currently sitting in various Like-A-Pretzel-Hold-The-Broken poses. Today is a bad day.