Stomach ulcer

JoeyG

I've just been diagnosed with a stomach ulcer

Anyone else suffered this?... I've been taking tablets for a week now, but nothing seems to ease the pain, not even paracetamol.

I'm not after medical information as I've just been to the doctors... just wanna hear people's experiences of how they have coped... i'm not ill often

DrFluffy

Out of personal interest (ironically, this is something I'm currently looking in to), who diagnosed you - your GP or a gastroenterologist? Did you have a 'camera test (OGD)' and biopsies taken (for something called a 'CLO' test)?

What have they prescribed for you?

JoeyG

The GP diagnosed me... she put me on a 6-week course of Omeprazole (20 mg)

I enquired about seeing a gastroenterologist, but i was told this is not necessary unless the symptoms dont clear up within 6 weeks... I was also told a camera test isnt usually done in these curcumstances for people under 40/50 (i'm 27)

I do have to go in for a blood test to check for Helicobacter Pylori Infection

Sunny_Angel

I had an ulcer when i was 17, i was under huge stress at the time. Something that really helped me was eating little annd often. Never eating large meals. I always had a packet of cream crackers to hand, and at the first sense of burning just ate one which helped.
Have you tried gaviscon? It can be bought over the counter in liquid or tablet form.

Also while waiting to feel better, realise that it wont cure you overnight. The omeprazole (I believe) has to build up in your system, then stop your acid production, and only then can the raw parts of your digestive system start to heal.

HTH

Sunny_Angel

Also can you eliminate or reduce any stress in your life, it really made a difference to me. Even now if i am really stressed over a period of time i can just feel it all starting to "bubble" inside.

Certain foods also aggravte the condition. Avoid acidic and greasy/fatty foods. (especially tomatoes)

DrFluffy

Hmmm - Not offering medical advice, but I would push to see a gastroenterologist. All a blood test will show is if you have had H.pylori in the past, not that you currently have it (but of course you may). A breath test, a CLO test or a stool test are the only ways of assessing current infection.

For H.pylori associated ulcers, you should be on 2 antibiotics (usually clarithromycin and amoxicilin) and an 'anti-acid (a PPI - which is what Omeprazole is) - the three drugs are collectively known as 'Heli-clear' (you take them for 7-14 days). Not telling you this to offer 'advice' but just so you have some things to look up on google and go in to see your GP armed with info...

^^if anyone wants me to remove the above, I will.

Here are some good (accurate) patient centred info websites, linking top ulcer and H.pylori info:
(H.pylori) http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23068756/
(gastric ulcer) http://www.patient.co.uk/showdoc/23069185/
(peptic ulcer) http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/html/Peptic_ulcer.html

If you like a more 'scientificy/medicy' read, the US emedicine.com website is good, as is the UK GPNotebook...
(peptic ulcer) http://www.gpnotebook.co.uk/simplepage.cfm?ID=630849536&linkID=65260&cook=yes
(Gastric Ulcers) http://www.emedicine.com/med/topic849.htm

jayne.doe

joey hi, i have a hiatus hernia and was diagonsed after i had a camera down my throat. (not pleasant).. You could probably do with ranitadine but get advice from your gp before taking. I also find milk helps me. Avoid spices and alcohol i find it worse when i do both.

dwood90

when my docter diagnosed me with stomach ulcers he told me to have milky drinks eg slimfast, complan and yoghurts they do help. cut out fatty foods and spicy food. tomatoes and cucumber really play mine up.

if you no better in a couple of weeks definately go back docs for more tests.
hope this helps.

good luck

BarmyCow

I can sympathise with the stomach ulcer pains - I was diagnosed at @27 and all I could do was cry and say "but I'm not even 30 yet" ! I think I assumed that only people over 30 could get stomach ulcers !:rotfl:
I had quite a lengthy course of tablets (same as you if I remember rightly) and had to avoid anything exciting food wise, such as fried food, spicy curries, oranges, tomatoes and don't forget onions !!! Also tried to make me pack up the ciggies and the drink:eek:
The one thing I found that really helped was milk - and I really didn' like milk that much. I could feel a "rumble" when an attack of the ulcer was due and used to whack down a pint of milk and a tablet and felt better in no time.

I had a recurrence of the stomach ulcer feeling about 2 years ago (a good 5 years since first GP diagnosis) and my new GP tested me for H.pylori and put me on tablets but tests came back negative, they think it was just a build up of stress acid (lovely).:D

Fingers crossed, that's the end of it but good luck with your treatment.

JoeyG

Thanks for the replies everyone

DrFluffy wrote:

Hmmm - Not offering medical advice, but I would push to see a gastroenterologist. All a blood test will show is if you have had H.pylori in the past, not that you currently have it (but of course you may). A breath test, a CLO test or a stool test are the only ways of assessing current infection.

My mum (whos suffered with stomach ulcers) told me to push to see a gastroenterologist, but I was happy to to take the doctors advice... maybe not the best idea but i dont go to the doctors very often

Thanks for the links too, DrFluffy

The doctor basically told me to avoid spicy, fatty food... I cant drink hot drinks, fruit juice, or fizzy drinks... which leaves me with milk and water

Warm milk does seem to help... I've also been working 14-16 hour days recently, so i'm taking a break from it for a bit... the worst part is not being able to sleep or getting woken by the pain, its unbearable at times

DrFluffy

Given your age, I think there may be a few good reasons why you should be referred to gastroenterology... More to exclude other diagnoses and to get a CLO test. If your bloods come back positive for H.pylori, one would hope your GP would refer you as a matter of course.

[for clarification, so you can make your mind up on the amount of weight you want to give all this, my 'Dr' is a PhD, although I am currently a clinical medical student and currently on a gastroenterology firm.]