Ulcers are sores or lesions in your stomach or
the upper part of your small intestines. Ulcers develop when the acids that
digest foods damage the stomach or intestinal walls. Connected to a variety of
causes like stress, diet, and lifestyle, scientists now know that many ulcers
are caused by a type of bacteria called Helicobacter pylori, or H. pylori. Left
untreated, most ulcers will continue to get worse, so it's important to receive
a proper diagnosis and make the dietary and lifestyle changes that will allow
you to heal fully. See steps but you have been getting them wrong...
RECEIVING MEDICAL TREATMENT
1
Identify the symptoms
of ulcers. Abdominal
problems are often difficult to diagnose, since the symptoms of any one problem
are reminiscent of lots of different kinds of issues, including gastritis,
pancreatitis, Crohn's disease, and a variety of other problems. It's important to see your doctor and arrive
at a proper diagnosis if you think you may have an ulcer, so you can receive
the proper care. Ulcer symptoms include:
Persistent or reoccurring stomach or abdominal
pain. Often with pain there is discomfort or bloating sensation in the abdomen.
Nausea and vomiting
Loss of appetite
Traces of blood in vomit. Dark black or
tarry-looking stool indicative of bleeding from the upper part of the small
intestine.
Weight loss, pallor, light-headed, weakness.
This is due to persistent blood loss
2
Consult your doctor to
eliminate other possibilities. If you're having stomach
problems, it's not necessarily an ulcer. Based on the history of your symptoms,
your diet, and a physical exam your doctor will be able to rule out the
possibility or might advise further investigations to confirm it.
The doctor may start you on medication to
reduce the pain and acidity if the symptoms are mild
Inform the doctor if there is persistence of
blood in your vomit or if the stools continue to appear black or if your symptoms
worsen. There may be an underlying serious condition that needs to be taken
care of. In such a case you will be asked to undergo investigations
3
Get a diagnosis. Your general practitioner may
recommend that you visit a GI (gastrointestinal) specialist, during which time
you may go through the following tests which can be used to properly diagnose
any kind of digestive ulcer:
Non-invasive tests include:
Ultrasound whole abdomen
MRI
Upper gastrointestinal (GI) x-ray series. After
drinking a chalky substance called barium, you will have x-rays taken to look
for signs of ulcers in your stomach.
Once the ulcer is detected, the doctor may
advise endoscopy to know the exact location and extent of the ulcer. While you
are under mild sedation, the doctor will insert a thin tube with a small camera
at the end down your throat and into your stomach. The camera allows the doctor
to see inside of your digestive track and tack a tissue sample. This is a
simple and almost painless procedure.
Blood tests. These will be performed to check
for growths or antibodies to H. pylori, a bacteria commonly associated with
gastritis and ulcers.
Stool tests with culture is done to confirm
bleeding and also the presence of H.pylori
4
Tackle the root of the
issue. Ulcers need to
be healed by addressing the underlying condition of the ulcer specific to you.
That's why it is important to get a proper diagnosis and follow through with
your doctor's recommended treatment. Most treatments involve medication,
eliminating the cause of the ulcer and dietary changes.
Often, H. pylori infection is to blame, in
which case the doctor will prescribe an antibiotic to help eradicate it. In
some cases, you may be prescribed proton-pump inhibitor like omeprazole
(Prilosec) or an H2 agonist (Pepcid), which blocks the production of acid in
your stomach and allows your stomach to heal.
In extreme cases, surgery may be necessary or
if complications develop as a result of ulcers that go too long without
treatment.
5
Avoid taking NSAIDs
and aspirin. Aspirin and
nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) can cause ulcers, and can
exacerbate the symptoms. Avoid taking NSAIDS while you have an active ulcer and
for extended periods of times thereafter.
If you need to take medication to deal with
pain symptoms, ask a doctor about your options. In some cases, you might be
able to take a NSAID along with an acid reducer, or pursue alternative pain
treatments.
6
Try over-the-counter
antacids to help to reduce your symptoms. Often you will feel indigestion and heartburn,
with burning and nausea in the upper abdomen under the ribs. Antacids can be
used to provide temporary relief of symptoms, but will not ultimately cure
ulcers. In fact, some antacids may interfere with the effectiveness of prescription
medications, so talk to your doctor before taking them. Over the counter
antacids choices include:
Calcium carbonate, found it products like Tums
and Rolaids, is probably the most common OTC antacid. Sodium bicarbonate
products such as Alka-Seltzer and Pepto Bismol (Bismuth Subsalicylate) can also
be used to soothe the lining of the stomach, and are widely available.
Magnesium hydroxide is also common recommended,
marketed as Phillips' Milk of Magnesia. A mix of aluminum hydroxide and
magnesium hydroxide is sold as Maalox, Mylanta and other brands.
Less common antacids include aluminum
hydroxide, sold under the brand names AlternaGEL and Amphojel, among others.
CHANGING YOUR DIET
1
Avoid any foods that
aggravate your symptoms. Ulcers vary from
person to person, so it's hard to say what foods are good for ulcers and what
foods are bad. For some people, spicy food may cause no problems, but olives or
pastries may drive them crazy with pain. Try to eat a relatively bland diet
while your ulcer heals and identify the things that make it worse.
Often, high-sugar foods, processed foods, fried
foods, salted meats, alcohol, and coffee make ulcers worse.
Increase your fluid intake.
Try keeping a food journal and write down
everything that you eat in a day, so that you can have a record of what makes
it bad, if you start getting a flare up of pain.
Be judicious about what you cut out in the
short term to heal up in the long term. A little discipline now will help your
stomach heal quickly and let you get back to a less restricted diet and
lifestyle.
2
Eat more fiber. Some estimates show that the average
consumer gets about 14 grams of fiber a day. Try to get upward of 28-35 grams
of fiber a day to treat your digestive tract right. A high-fiber diet that contains a lot of
fresh fruits and vegetables helps to reduce your chances of getting an ulcer,
and helps existing ulcers heal. Try
getting fiber from the following sources:
Apples
Lentils, peas, and beans
Brussels sprouts, broccoli, and other brassica
Berries
Avocados
Bran flakes
Flaxseeds
Whole wheat pasta
Barley and other whole grains
Oatmeal
3
Eat lots of foods that
contain flavonoids. Some research
suggests that foods containing naturally occurring flavonoids can help to heal
ulcers more quickly. Flavonoids occur
naturally in many fruits and vegetables, making them good for you to consume on
two levels. Good sources include:
Apples
Celery
Cranberries
Blueberries
Plums
Spinach
4
Try licorice root. Teas and supplements containing
licorice root can help to heal ulcers and keep them from coming back. It's
important to distinguish between sugary licorice candy, which can make stomach
troubles worse, and natural licorice root, which is used in supplements and
teas. Only use the latter as an additional treatment for ulcers.
5
Avoid spicy foods like
hot peppers or spicy seasonings. Cut back or eliminate those foods from your
diet.
·
Although doctors now believe that spicy foods
do not cause ulcers, some people with ulcers do report that their symptoms worsen
after eating them
6
Avoid citrus if it
bothers you. Acidic fruit
drinks, including orange juice, grapefruit, and other citrus juices can make
the symptoms of ulcers much worse. For some people, it may not be a problem,
but it can be extremely painful for others. Limit your citrus-intake, if it
seems to bother your ulcer.
7
Cut back on coffee and
carbonated drinks. Coffee is highly acidic, which can
exacerbate the symptoms of ulcers. Carbonated soft drinks and colas likewise
can irritate your stomach lining and make your symptoms worse. Try to cut out
your morning cup of coffee in the short-term, if you're suffering from an
ulcer, to Try to heal up.
·
Caffeine in and of itself doesn't make ulcers
worse, but acidic soft drinks, some strong teas, and coffee do. Try switching
to more gentle herbal teas, if you have an ulcer. If you need a little caffeine
kick, try adding some guarana to your tea
MAKING LIFESTYLE CHANGES
Stop Smoking: Smoking increases the chances of ulcers
developing and makes it more difficult for existing ulcers to heal. Smokers are
twice as likely to develop ulcers as non-smokers, making it critical that you
quit smoking if you want to allow your ulcer to heal properly.
Smokeless tobacco and other forms of tobacco
come with the same, and even increased, risk of stomach problems. Try your best
to quit tobacco altogether if you have an ulcer.
Talk to your doctor about tapering methods,
including using prescription medication to help you ease off of a nicotine
dependence. Over the counter patches and nicotine supplements are also available,
which can help.
2
Avoid all alcohol
until Ulcer is completely healed: Alcohol irritates the stomach
lining, and it takes a while for the stomach to heal completely. If you're
recovering from an ulcer, or any kind of stomach trouble, it's important to
avoid alcohol while you're recovering. Even a beer or two can aggravate your
ulcer.
Alcohol in moderation may be alright after all
treatment has ended, but you should discuss it with your doctor before resuming
drinking in any capacity.
3
Sleep with your head
slightly elevated. For some people, ulcers can get a lot
worse at night. Laying flat on your back can cause certain ulcers to become
more painful, and nighttime is the worst time to be in pain. Try sitting with
your head and shoulders elevated slightly off the mattress, to keep yourself at
an inclined position. Some people have success sleeping more soundly like this,
when ulcers are bothering them.
4
Eat smaller meals at
regular times. Eating a big
meal in the middle of the day can make an ulcer worse. Instead, try to time
your meals at regular times throughout the day, and have more small meals, as
opposed to a few really big ones. This will help your stomach to process
smaller amounts of food more easily.
Avoid eating food too close to bedtime, which
can cause nighttime pain that will keep you from sleeping more soundly.
Some people find that the symptoms of ulcers
are made worse after eating, while others find that eating can soothe the ulcer
pain.[14] Experiment some with your diet
to see what works for you.
5
Be careful about what
medication you take. Any time you go
to the doctor from here on out, you need to let them know that you've dealt
with ulcers in the past, and you'd like them to consider your history of
stomach troubles when prescribing medication. Even if you've been ulcer free
for many years, certain medications can irritate your stomach and make it much
worse. Always consult your doctor before switching medications or taking
something new.
6
Give it time. The stomach can take quite a while to
heal completely, and most doctors recommend that you take a fairly rigorous
approach to your recovery, and allow a period of at least 2-3 months before you
consider yourself "healed." Even then, a return to a diet or
lifestyle that resulted in your ulcers flaring up in the first place can cause
your ulcers to come back, perhaps stronger this time. It's important to commit
to your health and give your stomach the time it needs to heal.
Some people may heal faster than others, but
it's important to continue your dieting and lifestyle changes well beyond when
your symptoms subside. Don't celebrate having no stomach pain with a couple
drinks, or the pain could return.
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