Question:
What are the symptoms of an ulcer? That includes any kind of ulcer.

I'm just wondering because I've heard it is common to have an ulcer in your small intestine because the food isn't completely digested and it can cause an ulcer. How do you know if you have one? Thanks!    — Shel E. (posted on January 31, 2005)

January 31, 2005
I had an ulcer in my pouch at about 18 mo postop. It hurt-painful whenever I ate. The pain got worse until I was put on nexium and within 4 or 5 days, no more pain. Others report pain upon drinking water and a metallic taste in their mouths but usually the first sign is pain.
   — Cindy R.

January 31, 2005
I've had both kinds, but they didn't feel the same to me. Well, wait. I had them in my original stomach, pre-op, many times. Felt better when I ate food, hurt on touching, lots of burping, hurt without touching. That was the 30 yrs before surgery. After, it showed as nausea after eating, metallic taste to water, pain on touching the area. Some people feel pain in gut and/or back, but that was not my particular symptom. The food that enters the intestine at the pouch is not digested AT ALL. It's raw food, having only been mixed with saliva and chewed. Sometimes that hunk of intestine objects to this kind of abuse by ulcerating. But it isn't automatic.
   — vitalady

January 31, 2005
I've had an ulcer since my 1st month and I'm know 9 months out and just finished my last script. for Nexium 40mg x2 day. Guess what! Still sick as a dog and in pain. Go for my second scope on Monday. This has been my only problem since surgery but at the same time I'm rather sick of it.
   — lharrup

February 1, 2005
I was diagnosed with an ulcer in my pouch right at the stoma 8 months post-op. My symptoms were pain and vomiting after eating. They put me on Nexium, syptoms persisted. Next they tried Aciphex. Things got better for awhile, but after 6 months on that, I was sick again. They did another scope and the ulcer was actually getting larger. The doctor recommended surgery and so they removed part of my stomach, the end that causes acid production, and the part of the pouch that was ulcerated. That was less than 2 months ago - hopefully the problem is resolved now!
   — robynl