Question:
HOW BIG A TRAUMA IS AN ULCER????

Don't know if my problem is an ulcer or gallbladder (I have two drs who are on different sides of the fence, based on my symptoms, though I haven't been in for a formal diagnosis yet), but if I had my druthers I think I would prefer an ulcer...can anyone who has suffered one or both of these issues give me some insight? Ulcers are treatable without surgery, right?    — rebeccamayhew (posted on July 15, 2003)

July 15, 2003
i have had both & in my opinion, the diseased gallbladder is MUCH easier to deal with! the gallbladder is easily located & now, as opposed to 29 years ago, MUCH easier to remove, therefore, less traumatic. when i had mine removed, i was cut from breast bone to an inch below my navel. recovery was worse than open rny is today. i was in icu for a week & in a regular room for 2 more, i was not allowed to lift anything over 5 lbs for 6 weeks,which meant i could not care for my newborn until he was 8 weeks old...& i didnt have any complications! today, gallbladders r generally removed lap, you r in the hosp usually only 1 or 2 nites & back to normal activities in 3 weeks, & once the gallbladder is out, its gone forever. an ulcer, on the other hand, is drastically different. first of all, it depends on whether the ulcer is duodenal or peptic, peptic being the worst of the 2. mine was peptic. i was admitted to the hospital thru the e.r. my pain was so acute that my abdomen could not be touched for 3 days. i was allowed NOTHING by mouth, not even water, while i was medicated intravenously to lessen the pain & inflammation. on the 4th day testing was finally able to be started & it took 3 more days to find the ulcer. the next 6 months were horrible while i lived in pain, took ulcer healing meds & could do nothing else but wait for the ulcer to heal. it doesnt matter what the size of the ulcer is either. big or small, it is extrememly painful. i spent the next 15 years suffering on & off because i was left with an internal scar & if i ate something i shouldnt have, it aggravated the scar, which started the pain process up & the whole test & medicate cycle would start all over again. many times my pcp had to give me an injection of morphine to relieve my misery. so, if you do have your druthers, be careful what you wish for. you just may get it. good luck hun & i hope you start feeling better very soon.
   — sheryl titone

July 16, 2003
Both. The gallbladder hit me fast & hard and then was gone. Long ago. Pesky darned organ. Have had regular ulcers since a young age. But I'm guessing you mean marginal ulcer? Of course, with my acid mfg system, I had many of those. The only symptom I remember having in common was the "pain upon touch" in the sternum area. Otherwise, the marginal ucler caused nausea after eting, metallic tasting water, hungry feelings when I wasn't and the need to feel "full" all the time to negate the acid sensation. Some get back pain (with either) and I didn't. The front hurt plenty enough, thank you. I'd rather have a TREATED ulcer than have GB surgery as it was done back in the dark ages (1973), in a cave, by lantern light, incision 9 miles long. But either way, a treated one is the better one.
   — vitalady