I have a question

[markolas]

Has anyone here ever had an ulcer? What does it feel like?

[mylittledemon]

No but two of my friends have had one. They both had sharp pains over a period of a month or two. They were put on medication, and couldnt eat/drink certain things until the erosion had healed.

[Brad]

Most of the time you won't even know you have one unless it starts bleeding. Signs of bleeding will be vomiting blood or stuff that looks like coffee grounds, or dark black, tarry stools that usually smell exceptionally bad. If you have pain, it's usually similar to heartburn that starts in your chest and can go up to your throat. If the ulcer is in your stomach, eating will usually make the pain worse, and anatacids won't help. If it's in the duodenum (part of the small intestine) food and antacids will usually make it feel better, and the pain might wake you up in the middle of the night.

If you go see your doctor, it's a pretty straightforward diagnosis except that they might need to put a camera down your throat to check for bleeding and stop it if it is. If it's an infection, you'll get antibiotics and something like Nexium or Prilosec. If it's not an infection, it's probably due to taking too much aspirin, ibuprofen, or aleve, so they'll tell you to switch to Tylenol instead.

Hope that helps,

Brad

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by markolas

Has anyone here ever had an ulcer? What does it feel like?

Yes. It burns. Sometimes they bleed. Tagamet helps. If you think you have one, you should really see a doctor.

[markolas]

Originally Posted by Brad

Most of the time you won't even know you have one unless it starts bleeding. Signs of bleeding will be vomiting blood or stuff that looks like coffee grounds, or dark black, tarry stools that usually smell exceptionally bad. If you have pain, it's usually similar to heartburn that starts in your chest and can go up to your throat. If the ulcer is in your stomach, eating will usually make the pain worse, and anatacids won't help. If it's in the duodenum (part of the small intestine) food and antacids will usually make it feel better, and the pain might wake you up in the middle of the night.

That doesn't sound like what I have at all. Maybe it's not an ulcer.

[Brad]

Originally Posted by markolas

That doesn't sound like what I have at all. Maybe it's not an ulcer.

If you describe the pain more, maybe I can help you out, if you're interested. Or you can PM me if you'd rather discuss it in private.

How long ago did the pain start?
Where exactly in your chest or stomach is it? Right, left, middle, high, low, at the sternum, throat?
Does the pain start in one place then spread to other areas (and if so where to) or is it only in one place?
Is it a stabbing, throbbing, aching, burning, or dull pain?
Is it always there or is it more episodic? If episodic, how long are the episodes?
Is there anything you can do to make the pain feel better like food, antacids, leaning forward, lying down, vomiting, defecation?
What makes the pain worse? Food, and if so any specific kind? Position? Alcohol?
Anything in particular that brings it on?
Do you have nausea/vomiting/diarrhea with it?
Any regurgitation into your mouth?

Brad

[jadegypsy]

If it's an Ulcer get yourself somewhere soon, my Dad had a stomache ulcer and almost died b/c the doctors couldn't diagnose it (they had him running on a treadmill!?).

[Villavic]

Originally Posted by Brad

Most of the time you won't even know you have one unless it starts bleeding. Signs of bleeding will be vomiting blood or stuff that looks like coffee grounds, or dark black, tarry stools that usually smell exceptionally bad.
If you go see your doctor, it's a pretty straightforward diagnosis except that they might need to put a camera down your throat to check for bleeding and stop it if it is.
Hope that helps,

Brad

That's what exactly happened to my father. Then he got a endoscopia down his throat and the doctor kind of "close" the ulcer. Since then he takes care about liquor and spicy food. Sometimes a bit of wine, no more. And no chili.

[Villavic]

OH! And avoid those pain relief pills. A MUST!!
If you have thos back aches or something like that, ask your doctor what pill is good for you

[markolas]

Originally Posted by Brad

If you describe the pain more, maybe I can help you out, if you're interested. Or you can PM me if you'd rather discuss it in private.

How long ago did the pain start?
Where exactly in your chest or stomach is it? Right, left, middle, high, low, at the sternum, throat?
Does the pain start in one place then spread to other areas (and if so where to) or is it only in one place?
Is it a stabbing, throbbing, aching, burning, or dull pain?
Is it always there or is it more episodic? If episodic, how long are the episodes?
Is there anything you can do to make the pain feel better like food, antacids, leaning forward, lying down, vomiting, defecation?
What makes the pain worse? Food, and if so any specific kind? Position? Alcohol?
Anything in particular that brings it on?
Do you have nausea/vomiting/diarrhea with it?
Any regurgitation into your mouth?

Brad

Last weekend (Saturday night, specifically), I had a vomiting spell. I thought it was food poisoning, because I'd eaten a sandwich made out of canned tuna and mayonnaise. The next day, I developed a headache and low-grade fever, and was kind of nauseous for a couple of days. It's better now, but I have kind of an "acidy" feeling in my stomach. Kind of a burning, but it's not excruciating, just kind of annoying. It's not in my chest, like heartburn, just my stomach.