I had an ulcer just before our wedding. Disclosure: I've since changed doctors because I began to question his knowledge. But at the time he just asked me about my symptoms, and what I had done to curb the symptoms (bland diet, plenty of water etc) then he told me I had an ulcer and put me on Prevacid, which cleared up the symptoms pretty quickly.
Yep. On a PPI for 8 weeks then an H2 blocker for 8 weeks then just to Tums. Some people require Abx too. The above is normal protocol. I end up doing it each semester. To muh stress with pharm school full time and working 40+ hours a week.
Definitely go see your doctor. You should be put on an H2 blocker and/or a proton pump inhibitor. They should also do a blood or stool test for evidence of H. pylori infection and put you on an antibiotic if necessary. The bug is a big risk factor for gastric cancer so you want to eradicate it if you have it.
Post by centralperk on May 30, 2013 6:57:33 GMT -5
I had an ulcer when I was 20. It's common for people to have gastritis, and people often say they have ulcers when they actually have gastritis, but actual ulcers are pretty rare, especially in young people.
My symptoms started suddenly, one day my stomach started hurting SO BAD when it was empty. The pain was really bad, and it was impossible to sleep. I would wake up with pain, have to drink some milk or eat something, sleep another few hours, repeat. I took a PPI for a few weeks but it didn't really help much.
I was diagnosed with an upper endoscopy, where they saw the ulcer. They did a biopsy to confirm the presence of H. pylori, and then I was put on a PPI + antibiotics (flagyl and clarithromycin, I think, but I'm not 100% sure). Within a few days of treatment, I felt much, much better. It took me a long time to get diagnosed, I think mostly because I was a healthy 20-year-old and the doctors assumed I just had gastritis.
I'm sorry you're dealing with this, and I hope you get some relief soon. PM me if I can help.
I'm on Prilosec now, nexium before. My symptoms are getting worse. It sucks.
Switch meds. I had tests done and everything came back fine. H. pylori, ultrasound, upper GI, etc. It just so happened that for me, I turned out to be allergic to Prilosec which was making me sicker. I switched to prescription strength Pepcid AC and Tums and it went away combined with a continued healthy diet of no overeating and lots of exercise/yoga.
I assume you've seen a doctor since you were on Nexium. If not, and you haven't had the above tests done, get in to see a gastroenterologist.