Treatment for peptic or duodenal ulcers

Treatment of peptic or duodenal ulcers includes medications such as proton pump inhibitors which decrease the stomach acid and allow healing.   

A bleeding ulcer can be a life-threatening situation.  A large blood loss could require hospitalization and blood transfusions.  Losing 2-3 units of blood in a short period of time definitely causes a person to feel exhausted, weak and dizzy. 

If the H. pylori bacteria is found, treatment to get rid of this bacteria which lives in a person’s stomach and causes ulcers includes two different types of antibiotics, and proton pump inhibitors.  Because the H. pylori germ can be difficult to get rid of, it’s important to take the antibiotics exactly as the doctor prescribes and for the entire recommended time.  More information can be found at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/h-pylori/DS00958/DSECTION=treatments-and-drugs

Diagnosis of a peptic or duodenal ulcer

A diagnosis of an ulcer will begin with a doctor visit and physical exam.  Testing may be needed to diagnose the presence of an ulcer and whether it’s actively bleeding or not.  If no active bleeding is occurring, a test to check for blood in stool can be done.  Simple tests to check for the H. pylori bacteria include blood, breath or stool tests.  Your doctor may recommend you have a gastroscopy.  This procedure enables a specialist doctor (a gastroenterologist) to identify the ulcer, and test for the H. pylori bacteria.  If an ulcer is found, the doctor will recommend the best treatment for you. 

Symptoms of a peptic or duodenal ulcer

This raw sore (ulcer) in the stomach and duodenum (small intestine) can cause symptoms which include burning, gnawing or aching pain between the breast bone and the belly button, (Some people experience back pain). vomiting or nausea, loss of appetite and weight loss, vomiting blood or what looks like coffee grounds, passing black tarry stools or dark red stools (the color change is caused by blood.  Old blood turns black as it sits and ages in the GI system. Black stools indicate bleeding higher in the gastrointestinal system.   The pain of an ulcer can vary; it can bother a person intermittently and for varying lengths of time.  Treatment with an antacid (or even food) may make it feel better temporarily. People experience these symptoms differently.  WebMD, Peptic Ulcer Disease—Topic Overview, http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/tc/peptic-ulcer-disease-topic-overview

According to Mayo Clinic.com, a person should seek medical attention for these symptoms:  “severe or persistent abdominal pain, difficulty swallowing, bloody or black tarry stools, bloody or black vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds”  This information can be found at Mayo Clinic.com, Symptoms of H. Pylori http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/h-pylori/DS00958/DSECTION=symptoms

What is an peptic or duodenal ulcer?

What is an ulcer?  An ulcer is a sore in the mucosal (inner) lining of the stomach (called a peptic ulcer) or the upper small intestine (duodenal ulcer).  Most ulcer sores develop because of

1. taking non-steroidal drugs (NSAIDS) or

2. the presence of a bacteria called H. Pylori (helicobacter pylori) 

Both the NSAID drugs and the bacteria can damage the mucosal lining of the stomach/duodenum and a sore (ulcer) develops. 

A bleeding ulcer--up close and personal

The weekend after Thanksgiving I suffered a bleeding duodenal (small intestine next to stomach) ulcer.  I knew my stomach had been causing discomfort intermittently for months.  However, I had no idea I was facing a bleeding ulcer.

My first clue that I was ill was feeling very dizzy and tired on the Monday after Thanksgiving weekend.  I kept wondering why I was dizzy and so tired.  “What is wrong with me?”  The next day I knew I was dealing with an upper GI bleed; the classic “black tarry stool.” 

What happened next made my head spin:  my doctor saw me Wednesday morning.  A blood test showed my Hemoglobin was 8.7 (normal for a female is 12 and above).  That day I had an emergency gastrostomy by a gastroenterologist (GI) doctor.  He found the bleeding ulcer which had stopped bleeding.   

The GI doctor told my family I had lost 2-3 units of blood in the last few days.  No wonder I was feeling tired and dizzy.  

What next?  He sent me home to recuperate by taking iron to build my red blood cells (and hemoglobin which carried oxygen throughout my body) and Prilosec (a proton pump inhibitor) to heal my ulcer.