Ulcer symptoms?

[kdibattista]

Anyone here have any experience with ulcers?

I have been under a lot of stress the last couple of weeks and recently started having really bad stomach pain. I never get "sick" or anything but the pain is really bad. I also have had no appetite for the past few days. I have been drinking a ton of water though. I called the doctor on Friday because I was up all Thursday night and they wanted me to have a bland diet this weekend and try Prilosec. I took my first one today and it doesn't seem to be doing much good. They wanted me to call back on Monday.

They never said what they thought it was (they left me a message) but I'm thinking maybe an ulcer. I guess I'm just trying to see what other people have experienced.

 

[NCRedding]

I had an ulcer about 20 years ago. It was a gnawing pain that was like being really hungry, but then it hurt worse if I ate. The food that first started bothering me were eggs. I woke up at night with pain. I had to cut out the caffeine and spicy foods and took prescription tagamet.

 

[Christine]

They've pretty much ruled out "stess" as the cause for most ulcers. They now know that, I think, 90% of ulcers are caused by a bacteria called H. Pylori. The other percentage are caused by use of aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.

Having said all that--an ulcer usually causes sharp pain in the upper abdomen (right below the sternum) and it occurs about 30 minutes after eating. Lasts a few hours and then disappers until the next meal (or event that causes stomach acid to release).

Prilosec takes several days to start working. It reduces the acid in your stomach so that any irritation can heal. The Prilosec itself doesn't make you feel better, the reduction in acid does. You might not feel any relief for a week.

 

[kdibattista]

Thanks guys!!!

It's not a sharp pain... it's more a dull aching pain and it's constant. Although I must say... I'm really digging the non appetite