X-post - Ulcers - please help

Hey all,

So, my surgeon is pretty sure I have an ulcer. I've been in a lot of stomach pain and I kept thinking it was hunger. It got a lot worse last week and I finally called my Dr. He put me on carafate and quadrupled my pepcid dose. SO, I have seen mention of caffene doing this - is that right?? I don't smoke, which I know can do it, too. For those who have developed them, do they ever go away completely? How long did it take for you to stop being in pain? Is there any food or drink I should avoid?

Thanks for all the help, guys.

No help with advice here but I do pray you start feeling better soon.

Thank you so much.

Caffeine COULD do it but I think it'd take an awful lot of caffeine. in post-ops, ulcers are mostly caused by the intake of NSAIDS. Have you taken Advil, Asprins, Aleve, anything like that? I know of someone who took an Advil Migrane one time just for a migrane, and their entire pouch ulcerated.

Wikipedia says for treatment::

Younger patients with ulcer-like symptoms are often treated with antacids or H2 antagonists before EGD is undertaken. Bismuth compounds may actually reduce or even clear organisms, though it should be noted that the warning labels of some bismuth subsalicylate products indicate that the product should not be used by someone with an ulcer.

Patients who are taking nonsteroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) may also be prescribed a prostaglandin analogue (Misoprostol) in order to help prevent peptic ulcers, which may be a side-effect of the NSAIDs.

When H. pylori infection is present, the most effective treatments are combinations of 2 antibiotics (e.g. Clarithromycin, Amoxicillin, Tetracycline, Metronidazole) and 1 proton pump inhibitor (PPI), sometimes together with a bismuth compound. In complicated, treatment-resistant cases, 3 antibiotics (e.g. amoxicillin + clarithromycin + metronidazole) may be used together with a PPI and sometimes with bismuth compound. An effective first-line therapy for uncomplicated cases would be Amoxicillin + Metronidazole + Rabeprazole (a PPI). In the absence of H. pylori, long-term higher dose PPIs are often used.

Treatment of H. pylori usually leads to clearing of infection, relief of symptoms and eventual healing of ulcers. Recurrence of infection can occur and retreatment may be required, if necessary with other antibiotics. Since the widespread use of PPI's in the 1990s, surgical procedures (like "highly selective vagotomy") for uncomplicated peptic ulcers became obsolete.

Perforated peptic ulcer is a surgical emergency and requires surgical repair of the perforation. Most bleeding ulcers require endoscopy urgently to stop bleeding with cautery, injection, or clipping.


As for food... I would say avoid anything overly spicy or acidic, eat small portions, and aim for basic (as opposed to acidic) foods like milk, cheese and fish.

Hope that helps!

Thank you so much. This has so much great info!
I started having the pain a few weeks ago, but it got worse after I had a bad cold and was taking advil/motrin for the pain. I had no idea taking it for such a short period could make it so much worse!!
I am on carafate now, and it seems to be helping, but some things re still really painful going down. I am calling my surgeon tomorrow to update him on things, so we will see what the next step is.

Thanks again.