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