Comment from: Eric, 35-44 Male (Patient)Published: April 08
I was told I had a peptic ulcer. When I worked lifting, the pain made my work extremely difficult. The pain started in the back above my kidneys and radiated to the front on the sides of my ribcage. You would swear it was a heart attack coming on. Sometimes I felt it in my chest around my heart. When I ate, the pain would subside and then come back about 30 minutes later. I bought Zantac 75. Then it would be gone for three or four hours, but come back sooner. I then switched to Zantac 150. That worked a lot better. I found out after trial and error that taking it first thing in morning was better than taking it at lunch. Now, my work performance is back to normal.
Comment from: 35-44 Female (Patient)Published: April 06
3 days ago I began to have stomach pain that radiated into my spine. I had this last fall and went to urgent care. They did an ultrasound and results were that my pancreas was fine and so was my gallbladder, they did find I had a hemangioma on my liver non-symptomatic, not related to the pain. I had a CT scan to confirm that it was benign. Here I am again with this pain, I am guessing it is an ulcer, so I've been taking Prevacid (my 3rd day). The pain has gotten better but my stomach is sore to touch or when I push on the lower right area. I'm thinking it's because that area is still sensitive, should it already be better? Today I'm feeling a little tired, it's not like me to be tired in the morning, is this Prevacid? Yesterday I also took Maalox to help with the pain, but now I have diarrhea? Should I go to urgent care or wait to see my doctor next week? Is this consistent with ulcers?
Comment from: 25-34 Female (Patient)Published: March 31
My first symptoms were nausea and sharp pain under my breast bone, particularly at night. The worst pain would wake me up and usually lasted for 30 minutes or less. I was diagnosed with three gastric ulcers through an upper endoscopy. I was prescribed Nexium for 90 days, and that did a great job of controlling my symptoms. I tried to stop the medication after that time period, but the nausea returned. I am back on Nexium for the time being, but I will probably try some OTC options soon because of the expense.
Comment from: Mary, 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: March 05
My symptoms started with black tarry stools, weakness and light headedness, but no pain. I went to my doctor, who said that I needed to be admitted to a hospital as I had internal bleeding from an ulcer. I was admitted on the same day and stayed there for seven days of treatment. I needed a blood transfusion - 6 units - as by this time I was quite anemic with hemoglobin of 6.5, when the normal reading is 12.
I was given omeprazole for the ulcer. The endoscopy showed I had a duodenal ulcer. The ulcer was negative for h. pylori, and was induced by NSAIDs namely Naproxen. This medication was stopped to prevent further damage, and I was advised not to take anti-inflammatory drugs at all.
The onset of this illness was very sudden, and required fast medical help, otherwise I could have literally died from it. This was a very scary experience for me.
Comment from: tomdabom007, 35-44 Male (Patient)Published: September 12
I have been dealing with these ulcer problems for several weeks now, and was just diagnosed by a doctor. Before that I didn't know what the problem was, just that something was very wrong. My symptoms: Any time I ate a meal, I would soon develop an aching feeling in the upper right quadrant of my abdomen, and/or a burning, gnawing pain right below my breastbone, frequently followed by vomiting. The pain would last for from 5 to 8 hours. I have experienced kidney stones in the past, and if I rate that pain as a 10 (on a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being no pain) then this pain could get as bad as a 7 or an 8.
Comment from: casper, 25-34 Male (Patient)Published: June 29
Two years ago I too had some sort of burning sensation in my stomach; I consulted a physician who prescribed antacid for almost two weeks. After that I didn't have any sort of burning but the skin on both of my cheeks started drying up and turned itself into a sunburn like appearance. Immediately I consulted a dermatologist who prescribed some ointment. This never worked. At the same time my friends say that it's a symptom of the ulcer. I am in a dilemma these days, so can any body help me out.
Patient Discussions are not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Never delay or disregard seeking professional medical advice from your physician or other qualified health provider because of something you have read on MedicineNet. The opinions expressed in the comments section are of the author and the author alone. MedicineNet does not endorse any specific product, service or treatment.
If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
Report Problems to the Food and Drug Administration
You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit the FDA MedWatch website or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Abdominal pain is pain in the belly and can be acute or chronic. Causes include inflammation, distention of an organ, and loss of the blood supply to an organ. Abdominal pain can reflect a major problem with one of the organs in the abdomen such as the appendix, gallbladder, large and small intestine, pancreas, liver, colon, duodenum, and spleen.
Low blood pressure, also referred to as hypotension, is blood pressure that is so low that it causes symptoms or signs due to the low flow of blood through the arteries and veins. Some of the symptoms of low blood pressure include light-headedness, dizziness, or even fainting if not enough blood is getting to the brain. Diseases and medications can also cause low blood pressure. When the flow of blood is too low to deliver enough oxygen and nutrients to vital organs such as the brain, heart, and kidneys; the organs do not function normally and may be permanently damaged.
GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease) is a condition in which the acidified liquid
contents of the stomach backs up into the esophagus. The symptoms of uncomplicated GERD are heartburn,
regurgitation, and nausea. Effective treatment is available for most patients with GERD.
Blood clots can occur in the venous and arterial vascular system. Blood clots can form in the heart, legs, arteries, veins, bladder, urinary tract and uterus. Risk factors for blood clots include high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and family history. Symptoms of a blood clot depend on the location of the clot. Some blood clots are a medical emergency. Blood clots are treated depending upon the cause of the clot. Blood clots can be prevented by lowering the risk factors for developing blood clots.
Though the cause of stomach cancer is unknown, risk factors for stomach cancer include diet, H. pylori infection, smoking age, gastritis, stomach surgery, family history, and pernicious anemia. Symptoms include stomach discomfort, feeling full after a small meal, nausea and vomiting, and weight loss. Treatment depends upon staging and may involve surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is a bacterium that causes chronic inflammation (gastritis) of the inner lining of the stomach in humans. This bacteria also is the most common cause of ulcers worldwide.
Dyspepsia (indigestion) is a functional disease in which the gastrointestinal organs, primarily the stomach and first part of the small intestine, function abnormally. It is a chronic disease in which the symptoms fluctuate infrequency and intensity. Symptoms of dyspepsia include upper abdominal pain, belching, nausea, vomiting, abdominal bloating, early satiety, and abdominal distention (swelling). These symptoms are most often provoked by eating.
Gastritis is an inflammation of the stomach lining. Causes of gastritis include drinking too much alcohol, medications such as NSAIDs, ibuprofen, aspirin, H. pylori infection, severe infections, burns, anemia, and autoimmune disorders. Gastritis is diagnosed with endoscopy, blood tests, or stool tests. Treatment depends upon the cause of gastritis.
Nausea and vomiting are symptoms that may be caused by many conditions. Antiemetics are drugs that treat nausea and vomiting. Though some antiemetics for motion sickness and mild nausea are available over the counter (OTC), most require a medical evaluation and prescription.
Prolactinoma is an adenoma (benign tumor) of the pituitary gland. Causes of many prolactinomas are unknown. Symptoms in women include changes in menstruation and infertility, decreased libido, or painful intercourse due to vaginal dryness. The most common symptom in men is impotence (erectile dysfunction). Treatment of prolactinomas are medication or surgery.
Hypercalcemia is a condition in which calcium levels in the blood are elevated. Hypercalcemia is associated with other conditions such as hyperparathyroidism, lung cancer, breast cancer, kidney failure, and elevated levels of vitamin D. Symptoms of hypercalcemia include constipation, nausea, abdominal pain, kidney stones, to name a few. Treatment depends on the cause of hypercalcemia.
Iron is a mineral our bodies need. Iron deficiency is a condition resulting from not enough iron in the body. It is the most common nutritional deficiency and the leading cause in the US. Iron deficiency is caused due to increased iron deficiency from diseases, nutritional deficiency, or blood loss and the body's inability to intake or absorb iron. Children, teen girls, pregnant women, and babies are at most risk for developing iron deficiency. Symptoms of iron deficiency include feeling weak and tired, decreased work or school performance, slow social development, difficulty maintaining body temperature, decreased immune function, and an inflamed tongue. Blood tests can confirm an iron deficiency in an individual. Treatment depends on the cause of the deficiency. Proper diet that includes recommended daily allowances of iron may prevent some cases of iron deficiency.
Digestion is the complex process of turning food you eat into the energy you need to survive. The digestive process also involves creating waste to be eliminated, and is made of a series of muscles that coordinate the movement of food.
Nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are prescribed medications for the treatment of inflammatory conditions. Examples of NSAIDs include aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen, and more. One common side effect of NSAIDs is peptic ulcer (ulcers of the esophagus, stomach, or duodenum). Side effects, drug interactions, warnings and precautions, and patient safety information should be reviewed prior to taking NSAIDs.
Biologic rhythms, or biorhythms, are how our bodies respond to the regular phases of the sun, moon, and seasons. A medical chronobiologist studies how the "body clock" or biorhythms affect diseases and how the body clock responds to treatment of diseases and conditions at different times of the day.
Bernard-Soulier disease is a rare inherited bleeding disorder caused by a defect in the platelet glycoprotein complex 1b-IX-V. Symptoms and signs include bruising, nosebleeds, gum bleeding, and problems with anything that induces bleeding, such as surgery, ulcers, trauma, and menstruation. Treatment involves avoiding medications that interfere with clot formation, such as naproxen, ibuprofen, and aspirin. People with Bernard-Soulier syndrome should avoid contact sports.
Hemoglobin is the protein molecule in red blood cells that carries oxygen from the lungs
to the body's tissues and returns carbon dioxide from the tissues to the lungs.
Hemoglobin is made up of four protein molecules (globulin
chains) that are connected together. The normal adult hemoglobin (Hbg) molecule
contains 2 alpha-globulin chains and 2 beta-globulin chains. In fetuses and
infants, there are only a few beta chains and the hemoglobin molecule is made up
of 2 alpha chains and 2 gamma chains. As the infant grows, the gamma chains are gradually replaced by beta chains.
Each globulin chain contains an important central
structure called the heme molecule. Embedded within the heme molecule is iron
that transports the oxygen and carbon dioxide in our blood. The iron contained in hemoglobin is also responsible for the red color of blood.
Hemoglobin also plays an important role in maintaining
the shape of the red...
If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
Digestion RSS
Healthy Living Tips
This site complies with the
I was told I had a peptic ulcer. When I worked lifting, the pain made my work extremely difficult. The pain started in the back above my kidneys and radiated to the front on the sides of my ribcage. You would swear it was a heart attack coming on. Sometimes I felt it in my chest around my heart. When I ate, the pain would subside and then come back about 30 minutes later. I bought Zantac 75. Then it would be gone for three or four hours, but come back sooner. I then switched to Zantac 150. That worked a lot better. I found out after trial and error that taking it first thing in morning was better than taking it at lunch. Now, my work performance is back to normal.
Related Reading: peptic ulcer | heart attack