Peptic Ulcers (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- Peptic Ulcers Overview
- Peptic Ulcers Causes
- Peptic Ulcers Symptoms
- When to Seek Medical Care
- Exams and Tests
- Peptic Ulcers Treatment
- Self-Care at Home
- Medical Treatment
- Medications
- Surgery
- Next Steps
- Follow-up
- Prevention
- Outlook
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
- Viewer Comments: Peptic Ulcers - Symptoms At Onset Of Disease
Peptic Ulcers Symptoms
Ulcers do not always cause symptoms. Sometimes, a serious complication such as bleeding is the first sign of an ulcer.
The most common symptom of peptic ulcers by far is abdominal pain.
- The pain is usually in the upper middle part of the abdomen, above the belly button (navel) and below the breastbone.
- The pain can feel like burning or gnawing, and it may go through to the back.
- Pain often comes several hours after a meal when the stomach is empty.
- The pain is often worse at night and early morning.
- It can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours.
- The pain may be relieved by food, antacids, or vomiting.
Other symptoms of peptic ulcers include the following:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Loss of weight
Very severe ulcers sometimes cause bleeding in the stomach or duodenum. Bleeding is sometimes the only symptom of an ulcer. This bleeding can be fast or slow. Fast bleeding reveals itself in one of the following ways:
- Vomiting of blood or dark material that looks something like coffee grounds: This is an emergency and warrants an immediate visit to an emergency department.
- Blood in the stool or black, tarry, sticky-looking stools
Slow bleeding is often more difficult to detect, because it has no dramatic symptoms.
- The usual result is low blood cell count (anemia).
- The symptoms of anemia are tiredness (fatigue), lack of energy (lethargy), weakness, and pallor.
Next: When to Seek Medical Care »
Viewer Comments & Reviews
Peptic Ulcers - Symptoms At Onset Of Disease
The symptoms of peptic ulcers can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?
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Peptic Ulcer Disease »
Peptic ulcer disease (PUD) is a common disorder that affects millions of individuals in the United States each year.
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