Is A Stomach Ulcer Painful

What Natural Home Remedies Help Peptic Ulcer Pain

Home care for peptic ulcers often centers on neutralizing the stomach acid.

• Dont smoke, and avoid coffee and alcohol. These habits increase gastric acid production and weaken the mucosal barrier of the GI tract promoting ulcer formation and slowing ulcer healing.
• Dont take aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications. Acetaminophen is a good substitute for some conditions. If acetaminophen doesnt help, talk to your health-care professional about alternatives.
• If your symptoms are mild, try an over-the-counter antacid or nonprescription histamine blocker to neutralize stomach acid. Usually stronger prescription medications are needed.

Peptic Ulcer Disease Treatment

Your doctor may begin by prescribing medicine. Your doctor may suggest other treatments for other causes.

If you have H. pylori, your doctor will treat the infection with triple therapy. This is a combination of 2 antibiotics and bismuth subsalicylate . H. pylori can be stubborn. Take all your medicine as prescribed.

Your doctor may recommend medicines to neutralize your stomach acid. This will protect the lining in your stomach, too. These include:

• Protein pump inhibitors. This includes esomeprazole or lansoprazole .
• Histamine receptor blockers. This includes famotidine .
• Cytoprotective agents. This includes sucralfate .

If NSAIDs cause your ulcer, you may need to stop or reduce the amount you take. You may need to switch to another type of medicine for pain.

Key Points About Peptic Ulcers

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When To See A Doctor For Abdominal Pain

Abdominal pain can be a sign of serious illness. It can be caused by appendicitis, abdominal aortic aneurysm, ectopic pregnancy, or even a perforated colon, for example. These are emergency situations that require immediate medical care. Go to your local emergency department as soon as possible if you:

• Have blood in your stool or urine

• Cant touch your abdomen because its too tender

• Had a trauma or injury to the abdomen within the previous few days

• Are unable to stand up straight because of severe pain

Call 911 if you are having difficulty breathing or if you also have chest pain.

You should also see your doctor as soon as possible if the pain has lasted more than a few days, you havent had a bowel movement for more than a few days, or you have pain when you urinate.

Living With Peptic Ulcer Disease

Most ulcers heal within about 8 weeks. Peptic ulcers come and go. You have to do what you can to reduce your risk. If you smoke or chew tobacco, ask your doctor about how to quit. Eat a well-balanced diet. Avoid foods that cause discomfort. These include alcohol, coffee, caffeinated soda, fatty foods, chocolate, and spicy foods. Avoid eating late at night. Talk to your doctor about alternatives to NSAIDs. Take all medicines with plenty of water.

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How Are Peptic Ulcers Diagnosed

Your healthcare provider will look at your past health and give you a physical exam. You may also have some tests.

Imaging tests used to diagnose ulcers include:

• Upper GI series or barium swallow. This test looks at the organs of the top part of your digestive system. It checks your food pipe , stomach, and the first part of the small intestine . You will swallow a metallic fluid called barium. Barium coats the organs so that they can be seen on an X-ray.
• Upper endoscopy or EGD . This test looks at the lining of your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. It uses a thin lighted tube called an endoscope. The tube has a camera at one end. The tube is put into your mouth and throat. Then it goes into your esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Your health care provider can see the inside of these organs. A small tissue sample can be taken. This can be checked for H. pylori.

You may also have the following lab tests to see if you have an H. pylori infection:

Are There Foods I Should Avoid If I Have A Stomach Ulcer

Interestingly, there is no specific diet that a person with ulcers needs to follow. The current recommendations are less about the foods you should avoid and more about foods that will help you lessen the risk of developing an ulcer in the first place.

If youve developed a stomach ulcer or are at risk of developing one, you should include more of these foods in your diet:

• Fruits and vegetables that are full of antioxidants that are anti-inflammatory
• Nuts, halibut, and yellowfin tuna, which all have selenium to enhance your ability to heal
• Probiotics that have active bacterial properties, such as yogurt, to improve digestion
• Spinach, oysters, and beef, which contain zinc to help you maintain a healthy immune system

Plenty of water, leafy greens, and fermented probiotic foods have all clinically been shown to help lessen your risk of developing ulcers. During the holiday season, you will want to take additional care of yourself and pay attention to your stress levels. Talk with your doctor about whether adding a probiotic supplement could also help you.

On the other hand, if you have acid reflux in addition to a stomach ulcer, there are foods that may trigger your acid reflux. In these instances, its a good idea to avoid alcohol and coffee, as well as spicy and acidic foods, which could cause your discomfort to increase.

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What Does A Peptic Ulcer Feel Like

Most people with gastric ulcers feel pain in the middle of their stomachs. They also report other uncomfortable digestive issues such as:

These symptoms tend to get worse over time. Some people with inflammation say the sharp, burning pain wakes them up out of a deep sleep.

The pain typically occurs when the stomach is empty, between meals and in the early morning hours, but it can also occur at other times. Your pain may last for minutes or hours.

The biggest problem with an undiagnosed peptic ulcer disease is trying to find effective pain relief. One of the common side effects of having an ulcer is losing weight because you dont feel hungry or you intentionally stop eating in hopes of easing your stomach pain.

Many people living with ulcers initially think not eating will help because they wont be pained by digesting food. That actually doesnt work because your stomach acid is still churning in an empty stomach and it could make pain worse because theres no food to digest.

Prior to getting a diagnosis, people living with ulcers try to self medicate with OTC antacids that reduces the amount of acid production in your stomach. While that might give you short-term pain relief, its not a long term solution. It doesnt heal the damage thats occurring in your stomach lining and small intestine.

What Is Peptic Ulcer Disease

Peptic ulcer disease is a condition in which painful sores or ulcers develop in the lining of the stomach or the first part of the small intestine . Normally, a thick layer of mucus protects the stomach lining from the effect of its digestive juices. But many things can reduce this protective layer, allowing stomach acid to damage the tissue.

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Dietary Management For Mouth Ulcers

Eating a normal diet might be painful with mouth ulcers, as spicy food is not well tolerated. Certain types of food will irritate tender mouth, which makes chewing and swallowing difficult. By choosing the right kind of foods and taking good care of your mouth, teeth and gums, you can make eating easier and heal ulcer rapidly.

Milk-based food preparations are easy to take, as they do not irritate the mouth lining. Incorporate in your diet bland food such as moong dal, idli, upma, kichadi, bread, paneer, soft vegetables and fruits and boiled eggs that are soothing to eat. Ensure that the temperature of the food is not be very hot or cold, as both may irritate and worsen the pain. Use a straw to drink liquids, which can assist bypass canker sores and have small bites and chew each bite carefully and thoroughly, when eating.

Try to include some of these foods that are easy to chew and swallow which include:

• Dairy and dairy products like curd, yoghurt and cheese
• Bananas, applesauce, and papaya. Also have water-rich fruits like peaches, peach, watermelon, cantaloupe and nectarines, but avoid fruit that contains tiny seeds such as berries
• Mashed potatoes, sweet potato and other boiled and pureed vegetables
• Custard, puddings , smoothies and shakes
• Boiled and scrambled eggs

What Is A Stomach Ulcer

A stomach ulcer, also called a gastric ulcer, is an open sore that develops in your stomach lining. You can also get one in your duodenum, the first part of the small intestine that your stomach feeds into. Duodenal ulcers and stomach ulcers are both types of peptic ulcers. Theyre named for pepsin, one of the digestive juices that are found in the stomach and that sometimes leak into the duodenum. These juices are a contributing factor in peptic ulcer disease.

Peptic ulcers occur when the protective mucous lining in your stomach and duodenum has been eroded, allowing gastric acids and digestive enzymes to eat away at your stomach and duodenal walls. This eventually results in open sores that are continually irritated by the acid. If left untreated, they can begin to cause serious complications, such as internal bleeding. Over time, they can even wear a hole all the way through. This is a medical emergency.

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How Is A Peptic Ulcer Diagnosed

Your doctor will ask about your symptoms, whether you take NSAIDs and other drugs, and medical history. Theyâll also check you for bloating in the belly and pain. That may be enough to make a diagnosis.

The only way your doctor can tell for sure if you have an ulcer is to look. They may use a series of X-rays or a test called an endoscopy. This test allows them to pass a thin, bendy tube down your throat and into your stomach and small intestine. The tube has a camera at the end so they can check the lining for ulcers. They may also take a small piece of the lining to test for H. pylori. Blood, breath, and stool sample tests also can screen for the bacteria.

How Do You Stop A Stomach Ulcer From Hurting

Home remedies and a healthy lifestyle

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Are Peptic Ulcers Painful

The pain of ulcer disease correlates poorly with the presence or severity of active ulceration. Some individuals have persistent pain even after an ulcer is almost completely healed by medication. Others experience no pain at all. Ulcers often come and go spontaneously without the individual ever knowing that they are present unless a serious complication occurs.

Symptoms and signs of peptic ulcers disease vary. Some people with stomach ulcers do not have any symptoms or signs while others may have a few or several.

The most common symptom of a peptic ulcer is a dull or burning pain in the stomach. The pain may be felt anywhere between your belly button and breastbone. Pain from a peptic or stomach ulcer

Peptic ulcer other symptoms and signs that are less common include

Cigarette smoking not only causes ulcers, but it also increases the risk of complications from ulcers such as bleeding, obstruction, and perforation. Cigarette smoking also is a leading cause of failure of treatment for ulcers.

Contrary to popular belief, alcohol, coffee, colas, spicy foods, and caffeine have no proven role in ulcer formation. Similarly, there is no conclusive evidence to suggest that life stresses or personality types contribute to ulcer disease.

What Are Peptic Ulcers And How Are They Caused

Duodenal ulcers are common in the middle-aged and in men, whereas stomach ulcers are common in the elderly and in women.1

Peptic ulcers are open sores that develop in the lining of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum when the protective mucus overlaying this lining is eroded.

The acid-resistant gut mucosa can be compromised because of:

• An H. Pylori bacterial infection2: This infection disrupts the integrity of the muscosal lining.
• Long-term use of NSAIDs3: NSAIDS include common OTC drugs like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen.
• Zollinger-Ellison syndrome4: In this condition,abnormal gastrin secretion by tumors in the duodenum or pancreas cause stomach acids to be produced in excess of the normal. High concentrations of acid become too overbearing for the mucosal layer to counteract.

Whatever the reason for erosion of mucus, it leaves the stomach and duodenal lining exposed, vulnerable, and at the mercy of strong stomach acids.

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Symptoms Of Peptic Ulcer Disease

The most common symptom is a burning pain in your stomach. It usually lasts for a few minutes to a few hours. It comes and goes for days or weeks at a time. The burning typically occurs between meals and at night. Small ulcers may cause no symptoms.

Other symptoms can include:

• Difficulty drinking as much liquid as usual
• Hunger or an empty feeling in your stomach after you eat
• Stomach pain that wakes you up at night

Less common symptoms include:

How Is Peptic Ulcer Disease Diagnosed

Your doctor will do a physical exam. They will ask you questions about your medical history. Tell your doctor if you take aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen frequently. Your doctor will look for stomach bloating. They will listen to sounds in your stomach with a stethoscope. Your doctor will tap your stomach to check for pain.

Your doctor may schedule a special procedure to look at your stomach. This is called an endoscopy. For this procedure, youll be given medicine to relax. The medicine may make you fall asleep. The doctor will insert a thin, flexible tube down your throat. A tiny camera on the end of the tube displays the lining of your stomach and duodenum. The doctor may take a sample of your stomach lining . This is done to test for H. pylori. Blood, breath, and stool sample testing can also be used to check for H. pylori.

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What Is The Best Medication For An Ulcer

Ulcers are primarily treated with medications that reduce stomach acid, but other medications such as antacids or pain relievers might be used, as well. However, if theres an underlying infection, that infection will need to be treated with antimicrobial medications as well. There is, then, no best medication for ulcers, only the best combination of medications for a particular situation.

The standard dosages above are from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration , the National Institute of Health , or off-label studies for the treatment of peptic ulcers. Dosage is determined by your doctor based on your medical condition, response to treatment, age, and weight. Other possible side effects exist. This is not a complete list.

Can Peptic Ulcer Disease Be Prevented Or Avoided

Stress and spicy foods dont cause ulcers. However, they can make them worse. Smoking and alcohol can cause a peptic ulcer. Men should limit alcohol to no more than 2 drinks per day. Women should have no more than 1 drink per day. Talk to your doctor if you take aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen regularly.

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When To Call A Healthcare Provider

While stomach ulcers can be painful and uncomfortable, theyre rarely life-threatening. But if you notice changes in appetite, unexplained weight loss, vomiting blood, dark black or bloody stools, or trouble breathing, call a healthcare provider or seek immediate medical attention. These serious symptoms could be signs of perforation , internal bleeding, or a blockage, which all require emergency care.

How Soon After Treatment Will I Feel Better

If you take all medicines as prescribed and avoid irritating the ulcer with NSAIDs, alcohol or smoking, your ulcer should heal well within a few weeks. Surgical cases may take a few weeks more. Your healthcare provider will follow up with you at the end of your course of medication to make sure the ulcer has healed and any infection has cleared. They will probably take follow-up tests, including an upper endoscopy to look at the site of the ulcer and tests for H. pylori, if you had it, to make sure the infection is gone.

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