Cali,68,L-79

Been 2 weeks with stomach pains. Went for 5 mile run at P.B. First time in 15 years I did not or could not complete. Stomach pain starts at wake and continues till bed. No over the counter medication works and yes I've tried it all including tonight several Gin and tonics. Going to see doctor tommorow. Really has put a dent in my activities and have no drive to do anything in the garage much less my normal activities. Anyway prior ulcer victims give me you input.

David

Frank75

I have no experience but wanted to wish you luck. Does not sound like fun.

Jughead

Is it a muscl-type cramping or burning type of pain?

Corey_68

What about when you eat, say spicy or Tomato sauce foods? :confused:

Cali,68,L-79

More of a burning type of pain.

Found some good news

A peptic ulcer is a sore or hole in the lining of the stomach or duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). People of any age can get an ulcer and women are affected just as often as men. Over 25 million Americans will suffer from an ulcer at some point during their lifetime. The good news is that most ulcers are caused by an infection with the bacterium, Helicobacter pylori, and can be cured in about two weeks with antibiotics.

Ulcer Facts
Most ulcers are caused by an infection, not spicy food, acid or stress.
The most common ulcer symptom is burning pain in the stomach.
Your doctor can test you for H. pylori infection.
Antibiotics are the new cure for ulcers.
Eliminating H. pylori infections with antibiotics means that your ulcer can be cured for good.

Susan says I should go in today but that would be Balboa Medical Hospital where I'll sit for hours. If I tough it out till Monday I can go over to the branch Med. Clinic on NASNI and be seen by our own Squadron Flight Surgeon likity split. So far this morning it's better. Started off drinking Malox before I even got out of bed. I think that Puerto Rican expresso I have been having every morning sends my stomach into fits so no coffee for me today.
:nonod:

Paul L

I nearly bit the biscuit about 10 years ago with a non-perforated, duodenal ulcer. There was no pain just a progressive and acute feeling of overall weakness over several days. The ulcer was leaking blood into my digestive system. I dropped unconscious at work and half of my total blood volume exited from both "ends." Off to the hospital of course where I was given intravenous to replenish body fluids. My blood pressure was something like 80 over 40. The diagnosis was made by endoscopy; basically a fiber-optic tube with a miniature camera at the end. It is lowering into the stomach through the mouth and the physician has a look around. I was in hospital for a week taking in blood until my pressure went back to 120 over 80. I was given Lozak (strong antacid) for a month. The H. pylori theory had just been accepted by the US National Institutes of Health so I was given an antibiotic cocktail as well. After 30 days another endoscopy was given and the wound was completely healed.

Aside from H. pylori there are other reasons for ulcers. I am not a doctor so will not take this much further but stress does matter. I repeat that there was no pain but an early sign of internal bleeding is black stool. That occurs when blood is oxidized by stomach acids. Pain will occur when the ulcer perforates and those acids get into the body cavity.

What was the cause? I was taking an aspirin a day to thin my blood and prevent heart disease. I have not taken an aspirin since. No further problems. Good luck with that pain. It is probably something minor. Milk will sometimes relieve those symptoms.


[Modified by paul67, 1:06 PM 5/1/2004]

Cali,68,L-79

Thanks Paul. Looks like Monday I'll be heading over to the clinic.

Jughead

Try some Pepcid AC or Tagamet if it's OTC. If it's an ulcer, you'll get relief.

killervette666

I hope its nothing too serious, and get well soon :yesnod:

Desertdawg

:iagree:

Do go in and get checked out, :thumbs:

Pauld

Hope you are feeling better and good luck at the doctors tomorrow. :cheers:

Paul L

David,
Thumbs-up for tomorrow. Be well! Anyone tough enough to buy a 1968 has enough strength to make it through a minor stomach problem ;) .

JungleCat

Those symptoms would worry me into having a doctor check it out too. I wish you luck tomorrow. :thumbs:

Gator81

Mine was a duodenal ulcer. H.pylori was the culprit. Gut pain on and off. It snuck up on me because there was no sudden beginning. More like, every once in a while, the result of eating the greasy food at some place I'd never been before, where your gut aches and maybe you get the trots. But over a period of, say, 6 months or so, it became obvious that I was losing weight without trying, eating a roll of Tums every day, and having diarrhea more often than not. One simple blood test, H.pylori positive, and that got me a course of antibiotics and a Rx for Nexium. Two things to know about Nexium. 1) it works, it works completely, and it works right now; and 2) it is very expensive and not covered by some insurances (including mine). So I paid the absurd "list" price for it, something like $100 a bottle. I don't care.

Like Paul67 said, I was digesting my own blood. The pain and other symptoms quit within 24 hours. I finished the course of antibiotics and the Nexium, had another blood test about 4 weeks later. H.pylori negative. No more ulcer. :seeya

Double Aught

:eek: :eek: :eek: OMG!!!!!!!!! NAVY DOCTORS!! RUN FOREST, RUN! :D

Cali,68,L-79

doctor took blood tests today and will know shortly. I own stock in Pepto bismol right about now.

:rolleyes:

Grinchia

I caught this post a little late, sorry. I actually AM a doc, and it's possible you have an ulcer, but not definite...lotsa things could cause a similar pain.Gin and tonic is definitely NOT what you want to use...will definitely make things worse! Also stay away from aspirin, ibuprofen, or aleve (or generic equivalents) until this is sorted out.

As far as over-the-counter stuff to get you by, by far the most effective stuff in the long term would be Prilosec OTC, cheapest at Wal Mart and similar places. It takes a couple of days for maximum effect, during which you can use your other antacids of choice (Mylanta or whatever). If you do have H. Pylori, several regimens of goodies can fix it, most of the older ones are 8-12 days and cost a fortune if you don't get samples (although still a lot cheaper than perforating your ulcer and ending up in emergency surgery :D !).

There's a 1-day regimen that's recently been published that has shown 90%+ eradication rates for H.Pylori, much cheaper and more convenient than the older ones. I have it on my desk at work, I'll post it for you with a reference to where your doc can check the eveidence if he wants to.

Good luck!

GDaina

And the Forum comes through.....ONE MORE TIME....just amazing....anything anyone needs help with...it's here.... :thumbs:

6318

good news...
if you have an ulcer...get it proven by endoscopy, ask about a diagnosis of GERD (GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease)
get PPI (proton pump inhibitor) like Aciphex, Nexium, Prevacid
...and when you retire, the VA, if you've still got GERD and are on a PPI=lifetime dental care
shhhhhhhhh--don't tell!!