Friday, March 29, 2024

What Are The Signs Of A Duodenal Ulcer

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How Can I Prevent A Stomach Ulcer From Occurring Or Returning

Peptic Ulcer Disease Signs & Symptoms | Gastric vs. Duodenal Ulcers
  • Reduce NSAID use, if possible. Consider whether acetaminophen might substitute. If you take NSAIDs for medical reasons, talk to your doctor about reducing your dosage or switching your medication. Your doctor may also prescribe another medicine to take with NSAIDs to protect your stomach lining.
  • Reduce other irritants that may contribute to too much stomach acid or erode your stomach lining, including smoking and alcohol use.
  • Take an H. pylori breath test to find out if you have an overgrowth of the bacteria.

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.

How Do Tumors From Zes Cause Peptic Ulcers

Zollinger-Ellison syndrome is a rare disorder that happens when one or more tumors form in your pancreas and duodenum. The tumors release large amounts of gastrin, a hormone that causes your stomach to produce large amounts of acid. The extra acid causes peptic ulcers to form in your duodenum and in the upper intestine.

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What Ulcer Treatments Are Available

If your ulcer is bleeding, your doctor may treat it during an endoscopy procedure by injecting medications into it. Your doctor could also use a clamp or cauterization to seal it off and stop the bleeding.

For most people, doctors treat ulcers with medications, including:

  • Proton pump inhibitors : These drugs reduce acid, which allows the ulcer to heal. PPIs include Prilosec®, Prevacid®, Aciphex®, Protonix® and Nexium®.
  • Histamine receptor blockers : These drugs also reduce acid production and include Tagamet®, Pepcid®, Zantac® and Axid®.
  • Antibiotics: These medications kill bacteria. Doctors use them to treat H. pylori.
  • Protective medications: Like a liquid bandage, these medications cover the ulcer in a protective layer to prevent further damage from digestive acids and enzymes. Doctors commonly recommend Carafate® or Pepto-Bismol®.

What Is A Duodenal Ulcer

Duodenal Ulcer : Overview, Causes, Symptoms, Treatment

Duodenal ulcers are a common cause of abdominal pain. Once treated, they usually get better in a matter of weeks.

A duodenal ulcer is a sore that forms in the lining of the duodenum. Your duodenum is the first part of your small intestine. This is the part of your digestive system that food travels through, after it leaves your stomach.

You can get an ulcer in your stomach as well as in your duodenum. Stomach ulcers and duodenal ulcers are both types of peptic ulcers. If you have either of these, you have what’s called ‘peptic ulcer disease’.

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Gastric Bypass Ulcer Treatment & Prevention

Your doctor will monitor the ulcers by inserting a scope through the mouth into the pouch and performing an EsophagoGastroDuodenoscopy . Typically using medications will remedy the ulcer and make it go away. In case of bleeding and perforated ulcers, an operation is warranted to deal with the problem.

How Will Your Doctor Diagnose Ulcers

Your doctor will start by asking about your medical history and symptoms. Let your doctor know when and where you most often have symptoms.

Gastric and duodenal ulcers can cause pain in different parts of your abdomen. A variety of tests will usually be recommended since abdominal pain has many causes.

If your doctor thinks H. pylori may be the source of your symptoms, the following tests can confirm or rule out this possibility:

  • A blood test. The presence of certain infection-fighting cells could mean you have an H. pylori infection.
  • A stool antigen test. In this test, a stool sample is sent to a lab for testing. The test looks for certain proteins in the stool related to H. pylori.
  • A urea breath test. A urea breath test involves swallowing a pill that contains a special formulation of urea. You breathe into a collection bag before and after swallowing the pill, and then your carbon dioxide levels are measured. When H. pylori is present, the urea in the pill is broken down into a certain type of carbon dioxide that can be detected.

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What Triggers Stomach Ulcer Symptoms

Stomach ulcer symptoms are irritated by several triggers. They include:

  • Stomach acid â some people notice it after they eat while others notice it more on an empty stomach

Our site is the source of information about the gastroenterology related conditions and procedures. This information is intended for patients looking to learn about our gastroenterology practice in New York and make an appointment to see one of our physicians. This information is only intended to provide guidance, not definitive medical advice. Please consult a doctor or GI specialist about your specific condition. Only a trained physician can determine an accurate diagnosis and proper treatment. Terms and conditions are subject to change.

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How Do Symptoms Differ

Peptic Ulcer Disease (Gastric vs. Duodenal Ulcers) | Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment

One way of telling if you may have a gastric or duodenal ulcer is to figure out where and when your symptoms occur. For some, the time between meals aggravates an ulcer. For others, eating may be a trigger for the pain.

The exact location of the pain doesnt always match up with the location of the ulcer, though. Sometimes the pain is referred. This means that a person may have pain in a location away from the actual ulcer.

Other symptoms can include:

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Dull Pain In The Stomach

Dull and burning pain is the most common symptom of an ulcer. The pain is felt anywhere between the belly button and the breastbone. It can also travel out from the middle of the stomach up to the neck, down to the belly button, or through to the back.

Stomach acid helps break down and absorb the food consumed. Excess stomach acid makes the pain worse because it creates painful sores within the stomach.

This kind of pain is often more severewhenever the stomach is empty such as between meals or at night. Sometimes itcan also start a few hours after eating. This pain can last for several minutesto several hours. The burning pain is sometimes made better by eating or aggravatedbetween one and three hours after a meal. This occurs when food can no longerneutralize the acid produced by the stomach.

Taking antacids may help relieve some of the pain but it doesnt help cure the ulcer. The pain will just keep coming back. Eating certain foods can help buffer stomach acid.

Fast Facts On Stomach Ulcers

  • Stomach ulcers are common in the West and easy to treat but can become serious.
  • The most common causes are bacteria and use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs .
  • The classic symptom of a stomach ulcer is indigestion.
  • Treatment for stomach ulcers normally focuses on removing the cause.

The classic symptom of a stomach ulcer is indigestion, also called dyspepsia.

Indigestion causes pain or discomfort in the stomach area. This symptom can be mistaken for heartburn, which can occur at the same time.

Acid reflux or gastroesophageal reflux disease may cause heartburn. It occurs slightly higher up from the stomach, and people will feel it in the lower part of the chest.

Stomach ulcer symptoms tend to be more distinct than heartburn, but symptoms can still be vague.

An ulcer also tends to produce a burning or dull pain in the center of the abdomen. People sometimes describe the pain as a biting or gnawing pain. Some individuals may describe a hungry sensation.

Individuals may also be able to relieve pain by eating, drinking, or taking antacids.

Some stomach ulcers go unnoticed and show no typical indigestion-type pains. These ulcers are less common, and doctors tend them after they have started bleeding.

Some ulcers can cause a hole in the stomach wall. Health experts call this perforation, which is a severe condition.

Stomach ulcer symptoms often change over time and can be difficult to spot.

Dietary changes can help prevent stomach ulcers from developing.

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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.

Duodenal Ulcer Vs Menstrual Cramps

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Whileabdominal pain could signal serious medical condition, often it has to do witha regular thing such as menstrual cramps in women of childbearing age.

Painassociated with menstrual cramps is usually felt in the lower abdomen, not inthe upper abdomen. What you eat also wouldnt have an effect on the pain!Sometimes the pain may radiate to inner thighs, hips, or lower back.

Othersymptoms may include loose stools, upset stomach, and feeling of excessivepressure in the belly .

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Pearls And Other Issues

In younger patients who have duodenal ulcers that are distal to the duodenal bulb, always check a fasting gastrin level to evaluate for a hyper-gastrin state, such as gastrinoma. In older patients with the same finding, consider CT angiography, especially of the celiac trunk and superior mesenteric artery, to assess chronic ischemia.

Deterrence And Patient Education

Education for patients treated for ulcers should include the primary causes associated with ulcers, practices to avoid such as NSAID use, and the risk of interventions offered. Individuals should also be advised regarding long-term use of proton pump inhibitors if this is the therapy of choice for symptomatic management.

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How Common Are Stomach Ulcers

Stomach ulcers are very common in Western countries. In the United States, there are about 4 million cases per year. Some estimates say that 1 in 10 people will have one at some point in their lives. Thats because many of the causes that contribute to stomach ulcers are common in Western life. Fortunately, these causes are usually easy to trace and to reverse, giving ulcers a chance to heal and your stomach lining a chance to repair.

What Are The Complications Of Peptic Ulcers

Ulcer, Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment.

Ulcers can cause serious problems if you dont get treatment.

The most common problems include:

  • Bleeding. As an ulcer wears away the muscles of the stomach or duodenal wall, blood vessels may be hurt. This causes bleeding.
  • Hole . Sometimes an ulcer makes a hole in the wall of your stomach or duodenum. When this happens, bacteria and partly digested food can get in. This causes infection and redness or swelling .
  • Narrowing and blockage . Ulcers that are found where the duodenum joins the stomach can cause swelling and scarring. This can narrow or even block the opening to the duodenum. Food cant leave your stomach and go into your small intestine. This causes vomiting. You cant eat properly.

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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.

Signs Of Stomach Ulcer

A stomach ulcer which is also known as a gastric ulcer is a painful sore in the lining of the stomach. A stomach ulcer is a type of peptic ulcer disease . Abdominal pain, nausea & vomiting are the important signs of stomach ulcer.

A peptic ulcer is a disease is a group of diseases which include ulcer at the lower end of the esophagus, gastric ulcer, duodenal ulcer, Meckelâs diverticulitis. The following article will help you know the signs of stomach ulcers. The prevalence of peptic ulcers (0.1-0.2% is decreasing in many western communities as a result of widespread use of Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy but it remains high in developing countries. The male to female-duodenal ulcer varies from5:1 to 2:1, while for the gastric ulcer is 2:`1 or less.

The chronic gastric ulcer is usually single, 90% are situated in the lesser curvature within the antrum or at the junction between the body and antral mucosa. The chronic duodenal ulcer usually occurs in the first part of the duodenum and 50% are on the anterior wall. Gastric and duodenal ulcer ulcers coexist in 10% of patients and more than one peptic ulcer is found in 10-15% of patients.

Stomach ulcers can occur in gastrojejunostomy stoma or in a gastroduodenostomy stoma. GJ stomal ulcer per se can occur after only gastrojejunostomy or partial gastrectomy with Billroth referred to ulcer recurrence .

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When To Seek Medical Attention

Most peptic ulcers are not a medical emergency and can be treated on an outpatient basis. But if there has been a perforation, severe internal bleeding, or obstruction, you’ll need to seek immediate medical care.

If left untreated, intestinal perforation and internal bleeding can lead to shock, coma, multiple organ failure, and death.

What Are Possible Complications Of Stomach And Duodenal Ulcers In A Child

Pin on Abdominal Pain

Your child could have severe complications if his or her ulcer isnt treated well. The most common problems include:

  • Bleeding. An ulcer can harm blood vessels. This can cause bleeding.

  • Hole . An ulcer can wear a hole through the wall of the stomach or duodenum. Bacteria and partially digested food can spill through the opening into the abdominal cavity . This can cause peritonitis. This is inflammation of the abdominal cavity and wall.

  • Narrowing and blockage . Ulcers at the end of the stomach where the duodenum is attached can cause swelling and scarring. This can narrow or close the intestinal opening. This blockage can stop food from leaving the stomach and going into the small intestine. This can cause vomiting.

  • Stomach cancer. H. pylori infection increases the risk for stomach cancer later in life.

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When Should I Go To Er

Seek emergency care if you have:

  • Severe pain that doesnt go away.
  • Signs of blood in your poop or bloody vomit.
  • Signs of severe blood loss, such as paleness and faintness.

A note from Cleveland Clinic

Stomach ulcers are common and treatable, but they should be taken seriously. Even when they dont cause symptoms, they arent a good sign. A stomach ulcer means that your natural stomach acid is overwhelming your protective stomach lining. Thats a situation that can only get worse if it isnt managed. Lifestyle changes may help, but youll still need to treat the underlying cause. Its probably either NSAID use or a common bacterial infection. Your healthcare provider can help prescribe the right medicines for your condition.

What Are Stomach Ulcers

Stomach ulcers, also called peptic ulcers, are open sores that can develop in the inside lining of your stomach. They can also form on the upper section of your small intestine.

Peptic ulcers have different names depending on where theyre located in the body: gastric ulcersif they are in the stomach, and duodenal ulcers when they are in the small intestine.

Stomach ulcers happen when the acid in your digestive track eats at the inner surface of the organ, causing a sore to form. Just like a sore on the outside of the body, this can be painful and difficult to heal. Normally, the digestive tract of the body is coated with a thick mucus layer that prevents this from occurring. When the acid level increases or this mucus thins, you could develop an ulcer.

The acidity and weakening of the stomach lining that leads to ulcers can be caused by several things:

  • A bacterium called Helicobacter pylori
  • Factors like genetics, smoking, certain diets, or habitual stress. Certain seasons, such as the winter holidays, can also increase your chances due to heightened stress and richer food intake
  • Long-term use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil or Motrin, which can negatively impact your stomach lining
  • As a side-effect of other medications
  • A rare disease called Zollinger-Ellison syndrome that leads to hyperacidity

Today, H. pylori causes about 95% of all duodenal ulcers and about 70% of all gastric ulcers.

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