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Signs & Symptoms of Having a Stomach Ulcer

Affecting nearly 10 percent of Americans at some point in their life, according to the Mayo Clinic, peptic ulcers can be painful and interrupt sleep. Peptic ulcers, which occur in the stomach, are also known as gastric ulcers. Gastric ulcers, characterized by open sores on the inside lining of your stomach, produce specific signs and symptoms that can be assessed and verified by physical examination and testing.

  1. Physical Indicators

    • Among the most common symptoms is burning pain. This pain is due to stomach acid upsetting the ulcerated area, and it can typically be felt anywhere from the navel to the breastbone. The burning sensation can last anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours and can be worse when the stomach is empty. Flare-ups frequently occur at night and can also come and go throughout the day or every few days. More serious indicators of a stomach ulcer include vomiting blood, stools that are black or tarry and contain dark blood, nausea and weight loss. Any indicator or symptom of a stomach ulcer should be discussed with and evaluated by a doctor.

    Diagnostic Signs

    • Doctors believe the culprit of stomach ulcers to be H. pylori bacteria. This bacteria inflames the lining of the stomach and results in the production of gastric ulcers. Blood tests and stool tests may be used to determine if the bacteria is present. The presence of H. pylori would indicate an ulcer may be the cause of a patients symptoms, though further testing may be needed to determine the severity. During an upper gastrointestinal X-ray, patients will swallow a white barium mixture that makes ulcers visible to physicians. If an ulcer is present or suspected, your physician may request an endoscopy for further evaluation.

    Treatment

    • Lifestyle choices such as the regular use of pain relievers, smoking and excessive alcohol intake can all contribute to and aggravate the symptoms of gastric ulcers. Over-the-counter antacids can help relieve the burning pain associated with stomach ulcers, but relief may be temporary. Your physician will try a combination of antibiotics, acid blockers and antacids to help kill the bacteria and prolong the relief of burning pain commonly associated with stomach ulcers. Only severe cases that don't respond well to aggressive drug treatment require surgery.

    Signs of Complication

    • When ulcers are left untreated, complications may arise that may produce additional signs and symptoms. These signs can include difficulty swallowing food, vomiting and weight loss due to scar tissue blocking the passageway to the stomach. Additional complications include internal bleeding and stomach infection, stemming from the gastric ulcer eating a hole in the stomach lining and infecting the stomach cavity.

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