Question:
Reoccurring ulcers not going away
Anyone had any problems with ulcers that don't go away? I developed an ulcer a month out of surgery (RNY gastric bypass, and not the open surgery). I am now going on 7 months out of surgery. I was told to take prilosec twice a day by my doctor for what she thought was an ulcer. The syptoms were consistent with ulcer pain. So I did and the ulcer pain went away. Then a month out from that, the doc told me to stop the prilosec to see what the status of the ulcer was. The pain started within a few days. Doc said to start taking prilosec again. So two weeks ago, the doctor tells me to stop taking the prilosec, just to see if the ulcer has healed on its own. I developed a bad stomach and back pain and had to take 2 days off of work. Three days ago I began retaking the prilosec. Back to almost normal, pain has decreased. The doctor isn't helping me at all. Has anyone gone through this and can advise as to what to do at this point. I'm taking prilosec twice a day - I had cut down to once a day but the pain started up right away. HELP!!!?? — C P. (posted on October 2, 2008)
October 2, 2008
We were told to take Pepcid AC for the rest of our lives after gastric by
pass surgery. I ran out and went a couple of days withou it and was
uncomfortable and could feel symptoms of heartburn starting. I'm fine - no
problems what so ever taking it on a daily basis.
Blessings, Anita
WLS 3/24/08 - 85 lbs
— ap2008324
October 2, 2008
If you have an ulcer you need to address the problem of healing, not living
on stop gap meds. Prilosec is an ant-acid, not something you want to live
on rest of your life. Adjust your diet so you can heal the ulcer. Take a
good "liquid" vitamin / mineral supplement like VEMMA that will
help with the healing of ulcer. Look on-line for diet info to cure ulcer.
Go to www.TrySomeVemma.com
— [Deactivated Member]
October 2, 2008
Prilosec is a PPI (proton pump inhibitor) not just a antacid like Tums. I
have to take a PPI forever.
DO you smoke, drink alcohol, maybe another medication your on is
contributing. Do you use meds like Advil?.
— urbrat2
October 2, 2008
Insist that a blood test be done, to check for the H-pylori bacteria. It is
know to reside in the stomach and can cause ulcers and even stomach cancer.
If you test positive for that, you should be on a triple medication for 2
weeks and then re-tested. Good luck, in getting this resolved.
Blessings,
Mary
— marylaw
October 2, 2008
I am almost 3 years out from RNY. I started having the same pain in
January of this year. Took the OTC remedies for months until I couldn't
stop the pain and had dropped 40 lbs. Went to my surgeon and he did an
endoscopy and found my ulcer. Was put on Nexium twice a day a sucralfate
(it coats the ULCER SO YOU CAN EATR) three times per day.
Like you, about a week ater he cut me back to one Nexxium per day, the pain
was back, as was the severe heaving all day and more weight loss. He
checked my gastrin harmone level and what should have been around 90 or 100
on the high end was 969! He did a quick gastrectomy (removed my stomach)
and I feel healthy, albeit terribly skinny.
I have been battling this all year. He said that in a small percentage of
RNY patientour pouch starts producing acid on it's on. In even fewer
patients, the remaining stomach starts producinng way too much acid and
keeps their insides completely ulcerated.
Sorry thiss is so long, just want you to know I FEEL (or FELT) your pain.
Please ask about a gastrin harmone level being done. Feel free to email me
with any questions.
I hope you feel better soon!
Kim
[email protected]
— kcox1960
October 3, 2008
I will take prilosec for the rest of my life I'm sure. I have taken it for
5 years already and before that I took pepcid. Anytime I stop taking it I
get pain and heartburn etc.... I had ulcerated esophogas and stomach
ulcers. It does help you to HEAL so you may be able to get down to one per
day -- but for people like me I will never be able to go totally off of it.
Best of luck to you!!
— Fluffee
October 3, 2008
Get blood work and an upper GI. that will tell you exactly what is going on
and how to treat it. naybe even an MRI or CT scan will be more percise.
— Barb McGraw
October 3, 2008
I would suggest asking for a referral to a GI doctor. You need to have
some testing done to see if this is an ulcer or GERD or both. Then you
need to be tested to see what the cause is and how to fix it (antacid, PPI,
antibiotics, etc.).
Get checked out and let us know what you find... hope you feel better.
Best wishes.
— mrsidknee
October 3, 2008
Your doctor should be treating the cause and not just medicating the
symptoms in my opinion. I believe blood work and an upper endoscopy are in
order. Perhaps a referral to a GI doc.
Good luck,
Dawn
— DawnVic
October 5, 2008
C...I developed an ulcer approximately one year after my GB. My GB doctor
found it after doing an endoscopy. If one has not been performed on you,
you should discuss with your doctor...my symptoms were very similar to gall
bladder symptoms (pain in abdomen and through to the back)...but I had an
ulcer. He started treating me using prilosec twice per day then lowered it
after a month or two to once per day. I could tell it was better but was
still having issues with it. I spoke to him about putting me on something
different, because I felt the prilosec had went as far as it could in the
healing. He switched me to Nexium (my insurance chose a generic form for
me)...and it has much improved. My doctor told me that I would have to be
on something for the ulcer for about one year (Nov. thru Nov.). I don't
know if you still have your gall bladder or not, but they can check for
stones doing an ultrasound...so again, discuss having one of these tests
with your doctor if they haven't "officially" checked for either
problem. Also, I would recommend that you start tracking what you eat when
you have the pains. I found certain spices irritated mine...mainly black
pepper and garlic...
Take care...good luck...and feel free to contact me if you have any other
questions!
— BrendaMS
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