Anyone have an ulcer? If so, could you please share your symptoms

[AzDar]

and treatment options with a poor nauseous girl?

[tibbir]

1. I have a recurring problem with an ulcer.

I take 40mg Protonix every day for maintenance. I still have to supplement wtth Tums from time to time, esp. if I eat spaghetti with the tomato sauce.

[Systematic Chaos]

2. I doubt you'll believe this (thus the link)...

but your first choice should be cayenne pepper.

http://www.wellfx.com/InfoBase/herb_Cayenne_.html

Secondly, buy some pure aloe vera gel and drink a couple ounces a day. If you don't have blood sugar problems, licorice herb is good too.

[bettyellen]

3. pepsid and zantac are life savers...

but they take a couple of days to work. in the mean time tums and lots of small snacks keep it a bay. it feels like metal snakes thrashing slowly, right? letting your stomach empty is the worst. good luck!

[AzDar]

6. Does Pepcid Complete take a couple of days to work?? My Hubby

asked the Pharmacist what would be best and that's what he recommended. I've been taking it since yesterday, but haven't seen much improvement..I wasn't aware it took some time!

[bettyellen]

12. oh yeah, the real stuff in there that works well takes two days on

average for me to really help. i take just pepcid twice a week as maintainance, and that seems to keep it at bay.
if i recall correctly Pepcid complete is the same as taking Pepcid and Tums at the same time. I just buy generic Pepcid and Mylanta works better (faster) than Tums, so I have an emergency bottle of that for when i forget or abuse my stomach. The problem with Pepcid Complete is that you may need more antacid (Tums) than is in there, and it's expensive.

[AzDar]

4. Thank you! I have had an ulcer since my freshman year at ASU...It

will usually flare up on me after too much partying, or in times of stress;never lasting more than 2 days..but as of last Sat., it has been a misery: pain under my ribcage(right side);constant nausea; occasional harking. My Dr. won't be in until next week, which means waiting 2 hours to see his incompetent P.A...or the E.R.(HMOs..ain't they GREAT??)So I am hoping it will just settle back down like it usually does, but this is the longest it's ever gone off on me.
Wow, this sucks.

[Mojambo]

5. I don't have an ulcer but I have rampant IBS

It's a real problem sometimes.

[AzDar]

7. That must be awful.. I've read about some of the symptoms of IBS...

makes an ulcer look like a walk in the park, eh?

[Canadian Socialist]

8. Are you talking about a stomach ulcer?

Because if you are, there is medication that heals that. Can't remember the name. An ulcer is an open sore in an internal organ. Can also be an open sore on the outside, e.g. an ulcerated leg sore.

If it's stomach, again, there is a medication that will heal that. Damn if I can remember the name.

[Mojambo]

9. Never had an ulcer but IBS does indeed suck

It can be a very disabling condition.

I'm sometimes afraid to go places because it might hit me. You want to be close to your bathroom when an attack happens.

A healthy diet is key and I'm very bad about eating the right stuff. I pay for my dietary indiscretions greatly!

[Canadian Socialist]

10. It's interesting that you have IBS

I've been doing some very amateur research on IBS and Crohn's disease. It is most prevelant in colder/northern climates. For instance, the highest incidence of IBS/Crohon's in the world is in a very narrow band from Manitoba to Alberta. This band is also the highest incidence of MS. I've heard/read that these diseases are caused by a virus that may be prevelant in the water. Any medical professionals heard about this?

[Mojambo]

11. That's interesting

I never heard that. I do know that it is supposedly much more prevelent in women.

[Canadian Socialist]

13. Which disease?

IBS and MS seem to be more prevelant in the female population. Whereas Crohns is more prevelant in male. I'm just curious about the virus connection. That is, if the people with these diseases were treated with very strong anti-viral drugs, could their diseases be cured? I can't seem to find any research of this particular treatment. Mostly, I find treating the symptoms, not the disease.

[Maestro]

15. I had it for years

and I am male. IBS is freakin' horrible. For me at least it is connected to nerves and my emotions. I'll spare the details but from about 17 to 35 I suffered with it. The pain was so bad at times that I have come close to fainting and have been sent to the hospital twice with it. In my case what helped me immensely was a getting on anti-anxiety drugs. Since my IBS was tied to emotions this has pretty much done away with it for me. I haven't suffered with it for 2 years now. Good luck.

[roguevalley]

14. research has pointed to ulcers being principly caused by

bacteria. A treatment of anti-biotics usually clears them up in about two weeks if they aren't caused by swallowing nails or something. Ask
your doctor and huggies.

[sundog]

16. zantac

it hits me every few weeks -- kinda like someone grinding a knife in the belly... i pop a 150 & it usually calms down in a few hours

stress sux x(

[Maestro]

17. I have had reocurring duodenal ulcers

It is a dull, but painful sensation in my stomach. Usually eating some crackers will dull the pain a bit but that of course causes the stomach to create more acid which in turn will irritate the sores. I was tested for H-Pylori bacteria and found to be negative so my ulcers could not be treated with anti-biotics. I have used Prevacid for years now and the problem seems to have been fixed. Good luck!

Oh and ask to have an upper GI series done and perhaps a lower GI. The lower is no fun, but it is not painful just uncomfortable. I had an endoscopy done to check for the H-Pylori bacteria. That was a blast because of all the drugs you get. ;)

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

18. No, but I am working on them

I had Korean food tonight