written by Pharm Unique (a brilliant Pharmacist on X)
Peptic ulcers, which are lesions in the stomach’s lining, lower esophagus, or small intestine resulting from stomach acid erosion and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) inflammation,
The first step in achieving a cure for peptic ulcer is identifying the type
Is it Stomach Ulcer or Duodenal Ulcer ?
In this thread, you will learn the difference and some habit that have been making your symptoms worse
TYPES OR PEPTIC ULCER
Peptic ulcer is classified based on the location of the sore in the gastrointestinal tract.
The two major locations where peptic ulcer occurs the most are the stomach and duodenum.
Hence, giving us the two major types of Peptic ulcer ;
1. Gastric or Stomach ulcer
2. Duodenal ulcer
Other types include; Esophageal ulcer and jejunal ulcer
Our focus in this thread is the two major types.
WHAT MAKES THEM DIFFERENT?
While some people may have either stomach or duodenal ulcer, there are people who may experience both at the same time, and it’s called Gastrofuodenal Ulcer.
People Also Read: Peptic Ulcer Disease The Actual Causes And Remedies
STOMACH ULCER
In stomach ulcers, once you eat, you feel the pain because food makes contact with the sores.
Also, remember that gastric acid is more produced when food comes into the stomach
In stomach ulcers, people may lose weight due to the fear of eating and vomiting is common
Specific symptoms include:
– Abdominal pain that comes soon as you finish eating
– Abdominal pain that worsens once you start eating
– Nausea and vomiting
– Weight loss due to fear of eating
– Pain that easily radiates to the back
– Vomiting blood (Hematemesis may occur)
DUODENAL ULCER
While people with stomach ulcer may feel pain while eating or just immediately after eating, it’s different for people with duodenal ulcer.
Remember, it’s the content of the stomach that enters the duodenum.
When you start eating, the valve between the stomach and duodenum closes and food from the stomach won’t enter the duodenum for the time being.
At this point the duodenum ulcer is happy and taking some breaks.
Once digestive starts and food starts emptying into the duodenum again, the sores become irritated and you begin to feel the pain.
In duodenum ulcers, the pain comes much later after eating.
Most people believe it’s happening because they need to eat again.
So, people tend to eat more with the aim to relieve the pain.
In duodenal ulcer there are chances of weight gain
Many people feel the duodenal ulcer kind of pain and it’s generally more common than stomach ulcers.
Most of its occurrence is due to the bacteria H. Pylori, while Pain medications cause stomach ulcer more.
Other times, both factors can cause either
ulcer
Specific symptoms of duodenal ulcer ;
– Abdominal pain when your stomach is empty
– Abdominal pain a few hours after eating
– Abdominal pain at nighttime
– Pain that is relieved when you eat
– Weight gain due to frequent eating
– Pain that relieves when the food you ate do not digest properly
– Dark tarry stool may be observed
These revealed signs and symptoms do not rule out carrying out the required tests in diagnosing PUD.
They are simply tips to help you modify your lifestyle while adhering to your medications.
And they are aimed at helping you seek medical help on time.
Let’s look at some habits that might be making thing worse
SOME REAONS WHY PEPTIC ULCER MAY REFUSE TO HEAL
– The medications given to you might not be the complete meds needed to treat the ulcer
– The type of ulcer you have is probably unknown because you diagnosed yourself
– You might be taking the wrong medications
– You are probably eating and drinking just anything you desire
– You are taking some medications that are worsening your symptoms
– Your ulcer is probably caused by H.pylori bacteria, and you are taking only PPIs and antacids.
– You are probably not complying with the medications’ instructions for use
– Maybe you are not aware of the kind of food and drinks to avoid until you heal
– You are probably not patient; You are looking for quick results and once you don’t get what you want immediately, you dump the medications and look for another one.
– You probably eat heavy meals a lot
– You might be taking the medications wrongly; they said 30 minutes before food but you take them immediately after food.
– You probably rush your food a lot and you hardly don’t chew.
– Maybe you eat late at night close to bedtime.
– Maybe you are always dehydrated.
– You are probably too stressed.
Modifying your lifestyle is essential and it plays a big role in achieving a cure.
