Has anyone ever had a stomach ulcer?

[sausagedog45]

How did you find out? What did it feel like?

I've had a burning, gnawing pain in my stomach for 3 days that comes in waves. No nausea or sickness but I have had diarrhoea but that seems to have passed now.

The pain is in the centre of my abdomen under my rib cage. I don't want to immediately rush off to the doctor if it could just be a bit of inflammation or a bug. But it's really bugging me now. I'm eating ok and managing to work and sleep so it's not severe but it is there and it is very uncomfortable.

I have and it was sodding painful. The day I went to the Drs I was bent double but then I had left it for a long time.

The pain is in quite a specific area, under or just below the very front of a bra strap. I was nauseous, only got relief when I ate or drank something, in pain and couldn't get comfortable. But like I said I'd left it a long time.

TBH I'd go to the Drs, if it is an ulcer you need medical attention. It could also be a hernia, in which case you need medical attention, could be other things too. 3 days is long enough to see if it will go away just for your peace of mind really.

I think I initially thought it was to do with the diarrhoea - as in a bug or food poisoning. It all started after I had a particularly fatty takeaway at the weekend. The diarrhoea has stopped but the stomach pain is ongoing. I've never had symptoms or an ulcer before so I don't know if I'm jumping the gun.

It could be the tail end of a bit of food poisoning but if it's not getting better might be worth checking it

I had an ulcer but I didn't have diarrhoea with it. It was a burning sensation, made worse by certain foods. I initially thought it was a stomach bug too but it didn't go away. I got it from taking ibuprofen. If I was you I would speak to the GP. They have me acid supressing tablets and it cleared up. Stay away from alcohol and from what I remember dairy, because although dairy makes it feel better in the short term the stomach requires extra acid to digest it so it makes the pain worse.

Your comment about the fatty takeaway makes me think gallbladder. Definitely get in to see the GP sooner rather than later, as they may need to send you for an ultrasound to check that out.

I actually took quite a bit of ibuprofen last week. Maybe like 4 a day for 4 days. Can that small amount really cause ulcers? I've heard of it but never thought it was a real thing!

Have you looked into gastritis?

The tight gnawing pain under the ribs reminded me of gastritis pain.

Yes sounds like gastritis. You can buy esomeprazole over the counter. Perhaps try it for a couple of weeks and if it gets better then it's gastritis. I'd it doesn't improve see your GP.

Also have a bland diet, nothing spicy or acidic, no alcohol.

Yes this was my initial thought and it's what led to me finding info on stomach ulcers.

It says to see a GP if symptoms don't improve after 1 week with gastritis so again, don't want to jump the gun but equally I can't be certain what it actually is.

I have. I’m prescribed a proton pump inhibitor medicine which does the job. In the unlikely event you are referred for a gastroscope, ask for it to be the thin camera that enters your throat via your nose rather than the bigger one that goes down from your mouth. Much more comfortable. A nurse referred to the thin kit as a spaghetti endoscope but I don’t know the correct name.

If that's the case definitely speak to the GP. I waited in discomfort longer than I should have because I thought it would sort itself out. Yes, I would say that amount of ibuprofen could cause an ulcer especially if you didn't have it with sufficient food.

I have pain exactly like that, been on and off for years but got really bad a few weeks ago. Went to GP and they think it might be gallstones/gallbladder problem, I have an ultra sound to check things out on Friday. It's definitely worth going to see your GP x

So I had an actimel last night and one this morning and I feel 90% better today. Not saying probiotics cure a stomach ulcer but maybe it was something else?

Didn’t know I had them. No abdominal pain, diarrhoea, sickness.
They’d burst or were bleeding in some way. Blue lighted to hospital, blood transfusions, iron infusion.
Was a couple of days later I had the black, tarry poo. Only symptom I saw.
Thank you blood donors.

Id say don’t leave it, see your GP asap. Could it be gallstones?

Gastritis was a slow creep in for me, the first ‘attack’ of pain being after a takeaway for 8-10 hours, and then nothing again for months until slowly but surely I was in pain every day.

Definitely keep a plain diet for the next couple of weeks with small portions more regularly (I know it’s an absolute pain but I wish I had been stricter in sticking to this) and go to your doc for a Pantup prescription or similar. It really is so much better to attack it now. It’s the worst pain in the world!

I will definitely keep an eye on it, I've had similar pain before after spicy meals and such like. But only for a couple of hours, never for 3 days like that. It was intermittent but when it came it was in very painful waves. Didn't stop me from functioning but very unpleasant nonetheless.

Fingers crossed I'm ok again now but the first sign of any more pain and I'll be straight other GP.

I did. I found out when I went in for a colonoscopy.
They gave me an endoscopy at the same time.
I had severe acid reflux - that was my main issue.
They treated it with antibiotics and it went away.
I don’t remember the name of the antibiotics or how long I had to take them - my apologies.

@sausagedog45

I have this EXACT thing! Also started after a fatty takeaway, been going on for three weeks now though and I’m getting worried. I have been to the drs and they’re running tests but did you ever get to the bottom of it? I could literally have written your OP.