ulcer, anyone?

[leighcat]

I have one where my esophagus meets the stomach. So, anyone else ever have one? What did they do to treat it and what did you eat/not eat? I am hoping to get this thing healed so I can eat spicy food and tomatoes again. I am not looking forward to having another endoscopy done. I had one in 2001 but I only had reflux then, now I have the ulcer along with the reflux. Guess I should have gone to the doctor 2 years ago when I first felt the ulcer coming on.

[Pemberleyan]

I'm sorry you're having to deal with that. I've read that doctors now believe that ulcers are caused by a bacteria and are prescribing antibiotics. Hopefully your doctor will be able to help you!

[porembam]

If it was diagnosed as an ulcer, it will take time to heal. What hurt the most was no chocolate. Stay bland in your diet and it will heal faster. Keep the stress level low - not so easy in this day and age.
Bacteria is a seperate diagnosis but what's nice about that one is they can give you medicine to cure it. Being you had reflux before I doubt it will be the bacteria but ask your doctor to check.
Endoscopies are not nice but you get a clear picture of what is happening.
If you want to eat spicy again you will have to be a good patient!

[fairydana]

Yes!! I do know your pain!! I have had a lot of stomach problems for years but treated them with rolaids, tums, alka seltzer, you name it. In October the pain got horrible right under my rib cage and at times I thought I was going to have a heart attack. I was throwing up at the least 3 times a week mostly more. I was miserable. In December I ended up going to the emergency room because I started throwing up blood. It was an ulcer and I also had the h pylori bacteria. So I was given 2 strong antibiotics that I had to take twice a day for two weeks, omeprazole for reflux and phenegrin to keep me from throwing up so much. I stuck to mostly bland foods, I ate a lot of crackers and toast. Now I am feeling great. If I forget to take the omeprazole I can tell by lunch time. It works for me, hope you get it all figured out. Good luck!!

[Palooka]

I feel for you and remember the pain. I've had two. One on my stomach and I had a whole in my esophugus when I found out I had acid reflux disease. The meds that will heal is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). Acifex, Prilosec, and Nexium, etc.

I had to give up coffee and that was the hardest. I still can't even take a sip without total stomach pain. Watch out for foods like peppermint, tomato sauce, and chocolate.

I was tested for h pylori and stomach cancer when scoped but I was fine there. Hope you feel better.

[leighcat]

Thank you for the replies. I guess I didn't post back to this thread for awhile because I was kind of in denial. I didn't take it all that seriously until my doctor really let into me about it. I am on Aciphex. The omeprazole didn't work. I am trying to stick to a certain diet but I slip up sometimes. I am going to see a gastroenterologist June 3rd. I don't have as much pain and the reflux is gone. I do feel nauseus sometimes.

[porembam]

Good Luck !

[Palooka]

Good luck and Aciphex works great to heal and keep the reflux under control.

[Michelle]

I'm sorry you're having to deal with that. I've read that doctors now believe that ulcers are caused by a bacteria and are prescribing antibiotics. Hopefully your doctor will be able to help you!

Some but not all are caused by bacteria. I was not so "lucky" and was on Pepcid for about a year or so before I was well enough to stop.

[Saule]

My husband's ulcer responded best to Nexxium, but the most important factor was staying off alcohol, even beer, for a few months. Alcohol really aggravates ulcers. Bonus was that he lost 20 lbs!