10 replies to this topic

[kev15]

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I have been told that I should have a hydrogen breath test. What doctor gives this test (gi, pcp, etc)? Or can you order a kit to do it yourself? What does it check? I take a lot of probiotics to help replace good bacteria, along with a lot of other supplements. I am not sure if this is connected or not. Anyways thanks for you help, - Kevin

[csm101]

The hydrogen breath test is a test that uses the measurement of hydrogen in the breath to diagnose several conditions. Hydrogen breath testing is used in the diagnosis of three conditions. The first is a condition in which dietary sugars are not digested normally. The most common sugar that is poorly digested is lactose, the sugar in milk. The second condition for which hydrogen breath testing is used is for diagnosing bacterial overgrowth of the small bowel, a condition in which larger-than-normal numbers of colonic bacteria are present in the small intestine. The third condition for which hydrogen breath testing is used is for diagnosing rapid passage of food through the small intestine. All three of these conditions may cause abdominal pain, abdominal bloating and distention, flatulence, and diarrhea.Prior to hydrogen breath testing, the patient fasts for at least 12 hours. At the start of the test, the patient blows into and fills a balloon with a breath of air. The concentration of hydrogen is measured in a sample of breath removed from the balloon. The patient then ingests a small amount of the test sugar (lactose, sucrose, sorbitol, fructose, lactulose, etc. depending on the purpose of the test). Additional samples of breath are collected and analyzed for hydrogen every 15 minutes for three and up to five hours.

I have been told that I should have a hydrogen breath test. What doctor gives this test (gi, pcp, etc)? Or can you order a kit to do it yourself? What does it check? I take a lot of probiotics to help replace good bacteria, along with a lot of other supplements. I am not sure if this is connected or not. Anyways thanks for you help, - Kevin

[Kathleen M.]

Usually you will find the test at larger hospitals, often ones associated with a medical school or research.I've seen some at home kits to send off, but I don't know that they are accurate or if they give the right information about how to properly prep for the test, etc.

[jmc09]

Are you in the US or the UK?Maybe other members will be able to recommend somewhere if you state your location.

[csm101]

Are you in the US or the UK?Maybe other members will be able to recommend somewhere if you state your location.

I live in Canada, Toronto, Toronto General and St Michael s do the test.

[MaryAnn51]

I have been told that I should have a hydrogen breath test. What doctor gives this test (gi, pcp, etc)? Or can you order a kit to do it yourself? What does it check? I take a lot of probiotics to help replace good bacteria, along with a lot of other supplements. I am not sure if this is connected or not. Anyways thanks for you help, - Kevin

My GI doctor does it right in his office ....

[kev15]

I live in tennessee of the US.

[Kathleen M.]

http://www.medicinen...h_test/city.htm has information.I would call the GI department of whatever medical school hospital is closest to you as a start.

[kev15]

http://www.medicinenet.com/hydrogen_breath_test/city.htm has information.I would call the GI department of whatever medical school hospital is closest to you as a start.

Thanks for your help. I looked on the list and my gi doc in chattanooga tn is on there. I don't remember him giving me this test ( every other test but not this one). I am not sure why, but I will have to ask him my next appt with him. Thanks - Kevin

[Kathleen M.]

It isn't really part of routine testing.

[natebrooce]

Might ask my gp about this, I'm afraid he might think im a nutjob or something