Do Stomach Ulcers Cause Constipation

Stomach Ulcers And Constipation

hii am 70 and just became chronically constipated and my doctor is sure i also have an ulceri am scheduled for an endoscopy and a colonoscopy soondoes constipation and stomach ulcer often go together??

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Hello @william2478 Welcome to connect. I am not a doctor but all to familiar with your situation. I have 5 ulcers. My gastroenterologist says the constipation comes from the change in your diet or activity levels but other symptoms give more clues to the cause. My diet changed completely & my activity level decreased due to an injury to my knee. Once we adjusted the diet to what I could tolerate everything went back to normal & my activity level followed. Good luck on your upcoming appt. Here is a great link for help with constipation

Hi @william2478. I echo Dawns welcome !

I did a bit of research for you and found the most helpful info here: . Also, ive heard the aluminum in antacids can cause constipation. Are you taking antacids?

Hi @william2478. I echo Dawns welcome !

Hi @william2478. I echo Dawns welcome !

If Your Ulcer Was Caused By Helicobacter Pylori

Most stomach ulcers are caused by infection with H. pylori. Therefore, a main part of the treatment is to clear this infection. If this infection is not cleared, the ulcer is likely to return once you stop taking acid-suppressing medication. For more information, see the separate leaflet called Helicobacter Pylori.

What Causes Stomach Ulcers

Stomach ulcers occur when the layer protecting the stomach lining from stomach acid breaks down. This allows the stomach lining to become damaged.

This is usually caused by:

• an infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria
• taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as ibuprofen or aspirin particularly if theyre taken for a long time or at high doses

Theres little evidence that stress or certain foods causes stomach ulcers.

More about the causes of stomach ulcers

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Risk Factors For Peptic Ulcers

Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, are a risk factor. Acidic foods and alcohol use change the stomach lining and can make it more susceptible to Helicobacter pylori infection, a known cause of stomach ulcers. Overuse of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , medical conditions such as Crohn’s disease, and a genetic predisposition also may lead to peptic ulcers.

Other common symptoms of a peptic ulcer include:

• Discomfort, bloating

These symptoms are rare, but are more severe and could point to a complication:

• Blood in the stool black and tarry stool
• Fatigue or weakness, which can result from malnutrition or anemia due to small amounts of bleeding from the ulcer
• Unexplained weight loss

Symptoms of peptic ulcers can occur as a result of other conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease , chronic dyspepsia, gallbladder disease, liver disease, or a gastrointestinal infection. It’s important to see your healthcare provider to determine what’s at the root of your pain.

Ruling Out Other Disorders

Many other conditions, including gastroesophageal reflux disease and irritable bowel syndrome, cause dyspepsia.

Peptic ulcer symptoms, particularly abdominal pain and chest pain, may resemble the symptoms of other conditions, including:

Dyspepsia may also occur with gastritis, stomach cancer, or as a side effect of certain drugs, including NSAIDs, antibiotics, iron, corticosteroids, theophylline, and calcium blockers.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Any Complications

Stomach ulcers can cause various complications but these are much less common now because of more effective treatments. However, complications can be very serious and include:

Bleeding from the ulcer

• This can range from a âtrickleâ to a life-threatening bleed.
• If there is sudden heavy bleeding then this will cause you to vomit blood and make you feel very faint.
• Less sudden bleeding may cause you to vomit and the vomit looks coffee-coloured because the stomach acid has partly broken down the blood.
• A more gradual trickle of blood will pass through your gut and cause your stools to look very dark in colour or even black .

PerforationThis is the term used to describe the ulcer having gone all the way through the wall of the stomach. Food and acid in the stomach then leak out of the stomach. This usually causes severe pain and makes you very unwell. Stomach perforation is a medical emergency and needs hospital treatment as soon as possible.

Stomach blockageThis is now rare. An ulcer at the end of the stomach can cause the outlet of the stomach to narrow and cause an obstruction. This can cause frequent severe vomiting.

How Is A Peptic Ulcer Diagnosed

• Blood tests may be done to test for H. pylori.
• A sample of your bowel movement may be sent to a lab for tests. The test can show if you have H. pylori or if there is blood in your bowel movements.
• A urea breath test checks for H. pylori. You will drink a liquid that has a radioactive carbon. Thirty minutes after you drink the liquid, you will blow into a bag. The radioactive carbon will show if H. pylori is present.
• An endoscopy uses a scope to see the inside of your digestive system. A scope is a long, flexible tube with a light on the end. A camera may be used with the scope to take pictures. During an endoscopy, your healthcare provider may find problems with how your digestive system is working. Samples may be taken from your digestive system and sent to a lab for tests.
• An upper GI x-ray is a picture of your stomach and intestines. You may be given a chalky liquid to drink before the pictures are taken. This liquid helps your stomach and intestines show up better on the x-rays. An upper GI x-ray can show if you have an ulcer.

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What Are The Symptoms Of Diverticulosis

Most people who have diverticulosis are unaware that they have the condition because it usually does not cause symptoms. It is possible that some people with diverticulosis experience bloating, abdominal cramps or constipation due to difficulty in stool passage through the affected region of the colon.

What Tests Diagnose A Peptic Ulcer

To confirm a person has an ulcer a diagnostic imaging test will usually be ordered. The two most widely used tests are:

• Upper GI series : This is a type of X-ray. The patient is given a chalky liquid to drink that increases the contrast on the X-ray, making certain features easier to see. Because this liquid contains barium, this test is sometimes called a barium swallow.
• Endoscopy : An endoscope is a thin, flexible tube with a tiny camera at the end. The patient is given a mild sedative, and then the tube is passed through the mouth into the stomach. The doctor can see the lining of the stomach to diagnose a peptic ulcer. Tiny samples of the tissue will be taken , which are examined under a microscope.

If a diagnostic imaging test reveals an ulcer, the patient will most likely have a test to see if H pylori bacteria are present.

• It is important to be certain about this, because treatment of the H pylori is likely to heal the ulcer.
• Ulcers caused by H pylori are treated differently than ulcers caused by medications.

Three types of tests are available to detect H pylori.

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Can H Pylori Change The Look Of Your Poop

H. pylori is an infection of the stomach ) .

H. pylori is a prevalent disease. Approximately two-thirds of the world population is infected with h. pylori .

The prevalence is higher in developing countries than in developed ones.

For example, H. pylori affect about 38% of the population in the USA and more than 90% of the Nigerian people

In most cases, H. pylori infection doesnt change the look of your poop. However, when h. pylori cause a bleeding stomach ulcer your poop may turn black or coffee-ground in color.

Less commonly, H. pylori may result in changes in bowel movements . The link between h. pylori and constipation or diarrhea are discussed in detail later in this article.

When you have an H. pylori infection, you cannot rely on the look of your poop to diagnose it. Stool changes with H. pylori seldom occur. Moreover, the research is not well established because of the link between H. pylori and bowel habit changes .

The most significant H. pylori-related disease is chronic gastritis and Peptic ulcer disease. These diseases often present with upper-middle pain in your stomach and indigestion . Poop changes are not typical with gastritis, but they can happen.

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What Are The Complications Of Duodenal Ulcers

If left untreated, your duodenal ulcers may get worse. This can cause other complications, such as:

• broken blood vessels
• obstructing food from leaving your stomach
• perforation in the duodenal wall

These complications require emergency treatment, and can cause sharp pain, bloody vomit, or bloody faeces .

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Antacids And H2 Blockers For Peptic Ulcers

Antacids

Antacids neutralize existing acid in the stomach. Antacids such as Maalox, Mylanta, and Amphojel are safe and effective treatments. However, the neutralizing action of these agents is short-lived, and frequent dosing is required. Magnesium containing antacids, such as Maalox and Mylanta, can cause diarrhea, while aluminum containing agents like Amphojel can cause constipation. Ulcers frequently return when antacids are discontinued.

H2 blockers

Studies have shown that a protein released in the stomach called histamine stimulates gastric acid secretion. Histamine antagonists are drugs designed to block the action of histamine on gastric cells and reduce the production of acid. Examples of H2 blockers are cimetidine , nizatidine , and famotidine . While H2 blockers are effective in ulcer healing, they have a limited role in eradicating H. pylori without antibiotics. Therefore, ulcers frequently return when H2 blockers are stopped.

How Do H Pylori Cause A Peptic Ulcer And Peptic Ulcer Disease

H. pylori are spiral-shaped bacteria that can cause peptic ulcer disease by damaging the mucous coating that protects the lining of the stomach and duodenum. Once H. pylori have damaged the mucous coating, powerful stomach acid can get through to the sensitive lining. Together, the stomach acid and H. pylori irritate the lining of the stomach or duodenum and cause a peptic ulcer.

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What To Do If You Have Stomach Cancer Or Ulcer Symptoms

• If you have burning pain in your upper stomach that is relieved by eating or taking antacids, call a health-care professional for an appointment. Dont assume you have an ulcer. Certain other conditions can cause similar symptoms.
• If you vomit blood or have other signs of gastrointestinal bleeding, go to an emergency department right away. Peptic ulcers can cause massive bleeding, which requires blood transfusion or surgery.
• Severe abdominal pain suggests perforation or tearing of an ulcer. This is an emergency that may require surgery to fix a hole in your stomach.
• Vomiting and abdominal pain also can be a sign of an obstruction, another complication of peptic ulcers. This also may require emergency surgery.

Will Surgery Cure A Peptic Ulcer

Medical therapy works in most people with peptic ulcers. Sometimes, medical therapy does not work, or a person can’t take the therapy for some reason. Surgery is an alternative to medical therapy for these people.

Surgical operations often used in peptic ulcers include the following:

• Vagotomy: Cutting the vagus nerve, which transmits messages from the brain to the stomach, can reduce acid secretion. However, this can also interfere with other functions of the stomach. A newer operation cuts only the part of the nerve that affects acid secretion.
• Antrectomy: This is often done in conjunction with a vagotomy. It involves removing the lower part of the stomach . This part of the stomach produces a hormone that increases production of stomach acid. Adjacent parts of the stomach may also be removed.
• Pyloroplasty: This procedure also is sometimes done with vagotomy. It enlarges the opening between the stomach and duodenum to encourage passage of partially digested food. Once the food has passed, acid production normally stops.
• Tying off an artery: If bleeding is a problem, cutting off the blood supply to the ulcer can stop the bleeding.

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Causes Of Stomach Ulcers

Stomach ulcers happen when theres damage to the layer that protects the stomach lining from the acids in your stomach.

This is usually a result of:

• an infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria
• taking anti-inflammatory medicines , such as ibuprofen or aspirin particularly if they’re taken for a long time or at high doses

It used to be thought that stress or certain foods might cause stomach ulcers, but there’s little evidence to suggest this is the case.

Stomach ulcers can affect anyone but are more common in people aged 60 or over. Men are more affected than women.

What Should I Do If I Think I Have A Stomach Ulcer

Always seek medical care for a stomach ulcer. While you may be able to manage symptoms temporarily with over-the-counter medications, these wont heal the ulcer. You need to identify and treat the underlying cause. An untreated ulcer can lead to serious complications, even if your symptoms are mild. The major cause of stomach ulcers, H. pylori infection, can also lead to other complications.

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Modified Rome Iii Criteria For Defining Ulcerative Colitis

• Reduced frequency of defecation compared with patients own frequency

• Passage of hard or dry stool

• Straining at stool

• Sensation of incomplete defecation

Moreover, Rome IV criteria has superseded the previous version and other more useful tools are available for the assessment of constipation. The patient assessment of constipation symptoms questionnaire is regularly used in research and may provide a better framework for a definition. It has 12 symptom components each having a score weighting from 1 to 4 that a patient has experienced within the last 2 weeks. This allows for a more detailed assessment of symptoms, particularly severity, as well as using patient-reported outcomes. Modification of this questionnaire with thresholds for symptom severity may be a more effective tool in identifying UCAC in clinical practice, research and assessing treatment response.

How Stomach Ulcers Are Treated

With treatment, most stomach ulcers will heal within a month or two. The treatment recommended for you will depend on what caused the ulcer.

Most people will be prescribed a medication called a proton pump inhibitor to reduce the amount of acid their stomach produces and allow the ulcer to heal naturally.

If an H. pylori infection is responsible for the ulcers, antibiotics will also be used to kill the bacteria, which should prevent the ulcer coming back.

If the ulcers are caused by the use of NSAIDs, PPIs are usually prescribed and your doctor will discuss whether you should keep using NSAIDs.

Alternative medication to NSAIDs, such as paracetamol, may be recommended.

Stomach ulcers can come back after treatment, although this is less likely to happen if the underlying cause is addressed.

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What Should I Do If I Have Non

If youre experiencing chest pain and dont know the cause, its important to see a medical provider right away. If youre having chest pain accompanied by shortness of breath, tightness in your chest, pain in your arm, cold sweats, or nausea, call 911.

For non-cardiac chest pain, scheduling a consultation with Dr. Rivas helps you discover the cause of your discomfort and gets you on track for finding an effective treatment. Dr. Rivas uses your medical and family histories, an evaluation of your symptoms, a physical exam, and different tests and imaging studies.

Based on his findings, Dr. Rivas creates a customized treatment plan that may include lifestyle changes, medications, and surgery when required. Rest assured that Dr. Rivas always begins with the least invasive, most conservative treatment possible.

Worried that your chest pain may be related to a digestive condition? Get help by contacting the Rivas Digestive Center in Hollywood, Florida. You can call our friendly staff at 954-228-5882 to schedule an appointment, or book a consultation online now.

Tests To Detect H Pylori

Simple blood, breath, and stool tests can detect H pylori with a fairly high degree of accuracy.

Experts recommend testing for H pylori in all patients with peptic ulcer, because it is such a common cause of this condition.

Smokers and those who experience regular and persistent pain on an empty stomach may also be good candidates for screening tests.

Some doctors argue that testing for H pylori may be beneficial for patients with dyspepsia who are regular NSAID users.

Given the possible risk for stomach cancer in H pylori-infected people with dyspepsia, some experts now recommend that any patient with dyspepsia lasting longer than 4 weeks should have a blood test for H pylori. However, this is a subject of considerable debate.

Tests for Diagnosing H pylori

The following tests are used to diagnose H pylori infection. Testing may also be done after treatment to ensure that the bacteria have been completely eliminated.

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Signs You May Have A Stomach Ulcer

We have absolutely warned our patients about the dangers of untreated ulcers in the past. However, we consider this to be an extremely important matter and therefore, we will continue to try to educate the people of Los Angeles, as well as those elsewhere on the most common symptoms of stomach ulcers. If you know the signs, you can see your doctor sooner rather than later when things have gotten especially bad. Continue reading below to get familiar with what these symptoms are.