Stomach ulcer triggers

usignuolo

I have an incipient stomach ulcer which flares up periodically. Lately it has been giving me some problems and while I wait 2 weeks for a GP appointment for some medication, , I have been carefully watching for which foods seem to set it off, so as to avoid them. (I avoid eating anything with skins at present)

To date the main culprits are cheese and chocolate.

Anyone know what these foods have in common, so that I can identify and avoid other foods with the same properties?

Izadora

I'm not sure if they have anything else in common but they're both high-fat and dairy.

summerspring

I think it's been proven that it's a certain bacteria that causes stomach ulcers, not food or lifestyle.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4304290.stm

In 1982, when H. pylori was discovered by Dr Marshall and Dr Warren, stress and lifestyle were considered the major causes of stomach and intestinal ulcers.

It is now firmly established that the bacterium causes more than 90% of duodenal (intestinal) ulcers and up to 80% of gastric (stomach) ulcers.

They can now be cured with a short-term course of drugs and antibiotics.

usignuolo

Yes, I know that but it is a fortnight wait to see my GP, and, while I wait, it is clear that certain foods, like cheese and chocolate, exacerbate it. Just wondered if there were any other foods with a similar chemical composition I should avoid meanwhile.

jenniewb

Flumina wrote: »

I think it's been proven that it's a certain bacteria that causes stomach ulcers, not food or lifestyle.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4304290.stm

In 1982, when H. pylori was discovered by Dr Marshall and Dr Warren, stress and lifestyle were considered the major causes of stomach and intestinal ulcers.

It is now firmly established that the bacterium causes more than 90% of duodenal (intestinal) ulcers and up to 80% of gastric (stomach) ulcers.

They can now be cured with a short-term course of drugs and antibiotics.

I was told this too by a doctor. Apparently tried and tested out and I was quite suprized at this because my experience of for example, chewing too much chewing gum for hours and hours on end as a child, I got such an evil stomach ache I thought I'd destroyed my stomach with acid! It took days of eating very mild foods before I could eat normally, I had thought that I'd caused a problem if not nearly an ulcer. I now know that was not the case but it still confuses me as to what on Earth I did to myself back then.

Toothsmith

The story of how it was found out is actually really interesting, and earnt it's discoverers the Nobel Prize.

One of the Drs actually infected himself with the bacteria to help prove it!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/4304290.stm

Amica_2

See a nutritionist, have a stool test done (via nutritionist, not GP - they look for different things). Ideally, combine with seeing a gastroenterologist, as this will give you an even better picture. DO NOT search for health advice on forums because it can be dangerous. You can also try and keep food diary listing everything you eat and drink and the symptoms when they appear. Consider good quality fish oils - they help with a variety of GI problems including ulcers, but apart from that DO NOT take any other supplements, meds or herbals before seeing a nutritionist and gastroenterologist. Also avoid stress and junk/sugar/alcohol as they can make things worse.

usignuolo

Wasn't looking for health advice per se, and I said nothing about taking supplements meds or herbals. Nor did I not ask for advice on treating an ulcer, I know it is caused by h.pylori and needs antibiotics hence I have made GP appointment but it is nearly two weeks to wait (could not get one sooner).

However I definitely have over active acid production in my stomach (runs in family) and it does make me more predisposed to ulcers. I have discussed this with GP in the past and been prescribed Opremazole which is available over the counter.

However I do not want to take drugs of any sort long term and if eating carefully avoids flareups that I prefer to take that route. This time round I noticed cheese and chocolate definitely make it worse, so I am avoiding them and wondered if they had any chemical compounds in common so that I could try avoiding similarly constructed foods while I wait to see my GP. I really see nothing wrong in trying to help myself by sensible eating which includes avoiding things which make it worse.

OCS_Fan

Milk perhaps?

theoretica

They both have relatively high tyramine and histamine levels.

usignuolo

I am a big fan of Dolly Parton and I remembered she had an operation earlier this year for GERD (which causes acid reflux and heartburn) in the renowned Mayo Clinic, in the USA, which specialises in this type of illness, earlier this year.


The Mayo Clinic has an online information page on treatment for this and related conditions and says to avoid triggering it you should avoid fat, chocolate or alcohol. This fits with my finding cheese and chocolate make it worse. So I am going to try a low fat diet for the time being and leave out chocolate and wine as well. Will discuss with my GP when I can get to see her. Will see how I go.