If you have had an ulcer, please share some information

[OceanAnnie]

If you had an ulcer:

What were your symptoms?

What were you allowed to eat?

How long did it take to heal?

I have read about it, just wondering about people's experiences. I have been to the doctor. Had tests. Nothing definitive. Treating "as if", until I can see a specialist (a month from now). I am able to keep food down now. That's been wonderful. The pain is gone. Bland diet. The bland diet isn't fun, but I have learned if I don't stick to it --- I pay for it later.

What was your experience?

 

[dejr_8]

If you had an ulcer:

What were your symptoms?

What were you allowed to eat?

How long did it take to heal?

I have read about it, just wondering about people's experiences. I have been to the doctor. Had tests. Nothing definitive. Treating "as if", until I can see a specialist (a month from now). I am able to keep food down now. That's been wonderful. The pain is gone. Bland diet. The bland diet isn't fun, but I have learned if I don't stick to it --- I pay for it later.

What was your experience?

Have you been tested for H. Pylori? It is the cause of many ulcers.

For interesting read into how science works, and how an unpopular scientific theory that initially receives much criticism turns out to be correct look into H. Pylori.

 

[OceanAnnie]

Have you been tested for H. Pylori? It is the cause of many ulcers.

For interesting read into how science works, and how an unpopular scientific theory that initially receives much criticism turns out to be correct look into H. Pylori.

Yes, but it was after I had the course of antibiotics. So much for that. I think if it is in fact an ulcer, it came from using motrin too often.

 

[lovemygoofy]

Yes, but it was after I had the course of antibiotics. So much for that. I think if it is in fact an ulcer, it came from using motrin too often.

Almost two years ago, I was put on strong anti-inflammatories for an ankle injury. After two weeks of constant use, my stomach was bad. I felt like it was on fire all the time and sick half of the time. A month into it, I was done with the meds after talking to the doctor. He failed to mention that it's pretty common reaction for some that take constant anti-inflammatories.

When I was a teenager, I had my first ulcer. I had a burning pain in my stomach, physically sick all the time, and a pain where the general spot was.

I was drinking malox out of the bottle by this point. When I finally went to a doctor, I was put on a medicine for about 3 months. I could see some change within two weeks and by month 3 the burning was gone.

I remember eating alot of mashed potatoes and baked chicken. Nothing with acid especially soda or coffee.

 

[C.Ann]

The treatment of ulcers have come a long, long way since I had mine back in 1966.. Back then it was the "yucky, bland diet" forever..

Now they have found that most can be cured with medication - in a very short time.. However, you will always have to be careful of meds that can cause ulcers.. I can't take aspirin or ibuprofen or several other meds..

Until you see the specialist: No motrin; no other meds that list ulcers as side effects; nothing that contains aspirin as an ingredient..

For diet - I don't think you have to go totally bland - to the point of jello, milk, water, and bread - - I would just avoid spicy and acidic..

Hope you feel better soon!

 

[OceanAnnie]

Thanks guys.

I have been eating of grilled chicken, baked potatoes (I have to have a smidge of butter), bread, vanilla pudding on occasion, luckily vegetable based burgers doesn't bother my stomach.

I miss my coffee! That was one of the biggest adjustments. No tea, no chocolate. But I can have ginger ale and that is a bonus. Something with taste! Yea!

I am just so grateful not to be feeling pain,nausea and experiencing the unpleasant vomiting. I was doubling over in pain. Having to go to bed kind of thing. So it's wonderful not to have those things going on. I only hope it continues until I'm healed.

I have been getting enough sleep, but I'm just not very zippy. Soon I'm going to start exercising, just walking. I'm hoping it will help me feel zippy again!

Sure do miss that coffee!

 

[jamimb]

I feel your pain! Literally!! Two weeks ago I was diagnosed with an ulcer and it is no fun! I had dealt with the pain for about 2 months before going to see a DR. I have a history of gastritis caused by too much Ibuprofen. I have been on Carafate and Prevacid for two weeks but still haven't seen much improvement. The one food I cannot stomach at all is dairy. Apparently it increases acid production in your stomach. Also no coffee, alcohol, soda or tomato products for me. I miss my coffee so much!!!!!

For me the nausea/ and no appetite thing is only there when it gets really bad. For the most part it just feels like my stomach is on fire. I have even been known to sleep with an ice pack on my skin just to get a little relief.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I feel your pain! Literally!! Two weeks ago I was diagnosed with an ulcer and it is no fun! I had dealt with the pain for about 2 months before going to see a DR. I have a history of gastritis caused by too much Ibuprofen. I have been on Carafate and Prevacid for two weeks but still haven't seen much improvement. The one food I cannot stomach at all is dairy. Apparently it increases acid production in your stomach. Also no coffee, alcohol, soda or tomato products for me. I miss my coffee so much!!!!!

I can't have dairy either (unless it's a smidge of butter). I found a nondairy pudding. I don't want to know what's in it. I love the vanilla goodness. I miss my coffee the most, then chocolate.

ETA- I know how you feel about your stomach feeling so bad. There were times it hurt so much I couldn't sleep. Somehow I read. I had to re-read a few sentences now and then, but it helped to keep my mind off the pain. I was afraid to take anything so I waited until it passed.

I hope you feel better soon!

 

[jamimb]

I can't have dairy either (unless it's a smidge of butter). I found a nondairy pudding. I don't want to know what's in it. I love the vanilla goodness. I miss my coffee the most, then chocolate.

ETA- I know how you feel about your stomach feeling so bad. There were times it hurt so much I couldn't sleep. Somehow I read. I had to re-read a few sentences now and then, but it helped to keep my mind off the pain. I was afraid to take anything so I waited until it passed.

I hope you feel better soon!

OMG what brand is the non-dairy pudding? Maybe I could find it around here! I want a bowl of cereal so bad I can hardly stand it! I wonder if I could use soymilk and it not hurt? I have eaten so many baked potatoes and bananas I dont want to see either ever again.

Just curious did your Dr. advise you what to eat or not eat. My Dr. just wrote a prescription and didnt say one word to me about my diet. It pissed me off when I thought about it later. It's been more of a trial and error thing for me and some reading online. At 1st I was thinking that milk was a fairly benign thing so I was drinking protein shakes every morning and couldnt figure out why it was hurting so bad when I was eating practically nothing. I did some research online and sure enough it advised against dairy products for people with ulcers.

 

[donac]

I have had some stomache problems in the past. When I was going on anti inflammitories last year for foot surgery my family doctor started me nexium to protect the stomach.

Since the beginning of the year I have been watching my diet and the stomache seems to be a lot better. ONe thing that seems to help me is celery and almonds.

Good luck

 

[Christine]

I've never had an ulcer but I've had/have GERD that can make it feel that way. I also ended up with gastritis from too much Motrin use and that felt pretty bad. I also used the Carafate and Prilosec treatment after that was discovered.

My stomach is still pretty weird and it will probably plague me for the rest of my life.

I don't seem to have issues with dairy. I can no longer drink coffee. I'm off and on with chocolate. I ate some Tsatiki sauce last week that KILLED me but other times I eat it and I'm fine.

 

[OceanAnnie]

OMG what brand is the non-dairy pudding? Maybe I could find it around here! I want a bowl of cereal so bad I can hardly stand it! I wonder if I could use soymilk and it not hurt? I have eaten so many baked potatoes and bananas I dont want to see either ever again.

Just curious did your Dr. advise you what to eat or not eat. My Dr. just wrote a prescription and didnt say one word to me about my diet. It pissed me off when I thought about it later. It's been more of a trial and error thing for me and some reading online. At 1st I was thinking that milk was a fairly benign thing so I was drinking protein shakes every morning and couldnt figure out why it was hurting so bad when I was eating practically nothing. I did some research online and sure enough it advised against dairy products for people with ulcers.

I get the grocery brand, but Jell-O might put it out too. I can't eat cereal either. I ate 1/3 a bowl of plain cornflakes with skim milk and a sliced banana. It came right up. Awful.

The doctor and nurses did not advise me what I should eat. Well, I should rephrase that. They did mention the BRAT diet. But I needed more! I asked and was told crackers and clear liquids. Then I frantically asked, what about a meal? And I was told a plain baked potato. And I was then advised that I should eat things that would be very easy to digest. So it's been trial and error for me too.

I will say I can eat these new things Pringles has out. Have you seen their baked wheat cheese flavored sticks? They are really good! Flavor! They come in 100 cal. packs, 8 to a package. You should try them!

ETA- I found if I eat too much of anything, it's as bad as eating the wrong foods!
I do like oatmeal and that is easy on my stomach.

 

[OceanAnnie]

I have had some stomache problems in the past. When I was going on anti inflammitories last year for foot surgery my family doctor started me nexium to protect the stomach.

Since the beginning of the year I have been watching my diet and the stomache seems to be a lot better. ONe thing that seems to help me is celery and almonds.

Good luck

Watching what I eat is the single most important thing I can do to keep from having an episode. It does help a lot! I'm hoping 6 weeks will be the magic time frame. But it's anyone's guess.

I hope you heal quickly!

I've never had an ulcer but I've had/have GERD that can make it feel that way. I also ended up with gastritis from too much Motrin use and that felt pretty bad. I also used the Carafate and Prilosec treatment after that was discovered.

My stomach is still pretty weird and it will probably plague me for the rest of my life.

I don't seem to have issues with dairy. I can no longer drink coffee. I'm off and on with chocolate. I ate some Tsatiki sauce last week that KILLED me but other times I eat it and I'm fine.

Hi Christine,

I'm sorry you've been having problems like that. It's not pleasant. I know what it's like to eat the wrong thing. Great for the moment and painful for hours after.

I hope it gets better for you.

 

[jamimb]

I get the grocery brand, but Jell-O might put it out too. I can't eat cereal either. I ate 1/3 a bowl of plain cornflakes with skim milk and a sliced banana. It came right up. Awful.

The doctor and nurses did not advise me what I should eat. I asked and was told crackers and clear liquids. Then I frantically asked, what about a meal? And I was told a plain baked potato. And I was then advised that I should eat things that would be very easy to digest. So it's been trial and error for me too.

I will say I can eat these new things Pringles has out. Have you seen their baked wheat cheese flavored sticks? They are really good! Flavor! They come in 100 cal. packs, 8 to a package. You should try them!

My doc said it could take a month or two for it to heal. Does your doc want you to eat clear liquids and crackers for that long? I find that an empty stomach is far worse!

 

[OceanAnnie]

My doc said it could take a month or two for it to heal. Does your doc want you to eat clear liquids and crackers for that long? I find that an empty stomach is far worse!

Well, I was told that on one of my ER visits. That was about 2 weeks ago. I do tend to stick to that because it's easy on my stomach. I eat other stuff, but it's pretty much bland all the way.

We went to Outback the other night. I wanted a steak so bad! I got a kid's meal, grilled chicken with a sweet potato. It was good, but it wasn't a steak let me tell you! I did sneak a few bites of steak from my DH and I was okay. So it wasn't a total wash.

 

[jamimb]

Well, I was told that on one of my ER visits. That was about 2 weeks ago. I do tend to stick to that because it's easy on my stomach. I eat other stuff, but it's pretty much bland all the way.

We went to Outback the other night. I wanted a steak so bad! I got a kid's meal, grilled chicken with a sweet potato. It was good, but it wasn't a steak let me tell you! I did sneak a few bites of steak from my DH and I was okay. So it wasn't a total wash.

So sorry to be bothering you with so many questions but what meds are you on and are they working? Also, how did you convince Outback to let you order a kid's meal? I am having such a hard time sticking to a bland diet!!!! If I want to go bland I have to make myself something different than my family and sometimes that's too time-consuming so I just est what they eat and end up paying the consequences later. It mostly doesnt matter though. It hurts even if I do stick to the bland diet.

 

[OceanAnnie]

So sorry to be bothering you with so many questions but what meds are you on and are they working? Also, how did you convince Outback to let you order a kid's meal? I am having such a hard time sticking to a bland diet!!!! If I want to go bland I have to make myself something different than my family and sometimes that's too time-consuming so I just est what they eat and end up paying the consequences later. It mostly doesnt matter though. It hurts even if I do stick to the bland diet.

Well, the ER doc put me on an acid reducer. He said it was $15 a pill. I immediately asked him if there was a generic and he wrote me a prescription for that. I was on it for a week. I was experiencing dry mouth and headaches from that. So I took myself off and I did something else. It's working for me. I'm not a doctor, and I wouldn't recommend what I'm doing based on that alone.

I did some research and I came across Extra Virgin Pine Nut Oil. I take a tsp, 30 min. before I eat and it has helped me as much as the acid reducer was, only without the side effects. I don't think it tastes that good. But it's only a few seconds so what the heck.

I don't know what the specialist will say. But I'm doing fine. The symptoms were what was being treated and there has been no change since switching to the oil.

So there you have it.

I have company. I'll get back on later.

 

[Tweevil]

I have 3... they are finicky buggers - had my first when when I was 19... some stress related, some related to a previous surgery I had.

Carafate and Nexium daily - 1 Nex and 4 carafate. I was told carafate creates a coating over them. If I forget to take it within a couple of days I know it.

Bland foods, nothing with a rough texture is what I have to do. Salads kills me as well as all of the yummy vinagrettes that I love.

I am also on meds that contain ibruprofen and acetaphamine (sp?) and that doesn't help me either. I am a mess sometimes I tell ya! lol

Smoking also kills ulcers so if you partake that aggravates them.

I hope you find relief, they are not fun. Hopefully with my next surgery they will be repaired/removed/dealt with.

 

[Christine]

I immediately asked him if there was a generic and he wrote me a prescription for that. I was on it for a week. I was experiencing dry mouth and headaches from that. So I took myself off and I did something else.

Did that happen to be generic Prilosec (omeperazole)? Whenever I take the generic I get dry mouth--bad. The name brand does not do that to me.

 

[Chelley00]

I'm a lifelong ulcer sufferer, along with GERD.

I've noticed that mine run in "flares". Sometimes I can wean myself on a little chocolate and some coffee, but if I feel a little icky, so I go back on the bland diet. It's a total trial and error. Somethings hurt, somethings don't. Most of the time I need to avoid salads, tomato based sauces and ketchup and greasy foods. Alcohol too.

All the good stuff is bad

I've also found that some meds work better than others, and sometimes it's almost like I develop a "resistance?" and have to try something new. I'm on Protonix right now, which has been a total lifesaver.