Last month I spent three days on the couch, doubled up with spasms of mysterious stomach pain. It got so bad I couldn't walk, couldn't sleep, and the only thing that dulled the pain (the half-bottle of ibuprofen I took didn't help) was eating. Finally, on the fourth day, I went to the doctor and . . . found out I had an ulcer.
I'm twenty-something. I thought ulcers only came with a mortgage, a minivan, and 2.3 kids. I was wrong. Apparently ulcers are common in people of all ages, for a variety of reasons (see the left sidebar for an explanation of causes). Basically, ulcers (also called gastric or peptic ulcers) are eroding holes in the lining of the stomach or intestinal tracts caused by inflammation. Getting rid of ulcers is a long (my doctor gave me about two months), careful process--and if you're not careful an ulcer can turn into something worse that could kill you, like a bleeding ulcer. Below are the steps I've taken, as prescribed by my doctor, to get rid of my ulcer (I'm about halfway there).
Treating Ulcers
If you have symptoms similar to those I described above, or any unexplainable stomach pain, see a doctor immediately to diagnose ulcers. The first step to getting rid of an ulcer is identifying it, otherwise you run the risk of doing more damage to your already fragile stomach. A few years ago my mom had all the symptoms of an ulcer, but no ulcer (turned out all her pain was from stress, without the actual ulcer); unfortunately, in the weeks it took the doctor to realize this she was given medication that only made her more miserable. If a doctor can't positively identify an ulcer, or the treatments are ineffective, s/he will probably test you with an upper endoscopy, a blood test for hereditary or bacterial predisposition to ulcers, and/or a CAT scan.
To get rid of ulcers, take medication to reduce the acid in your digestive system, relieve pain and encourage healing. Acid blockers, antacids, and proton pump inhibitors are most frequently used to do this. Acid blockers reduce the amount of hydrochloric acid in your system by stopping histamine from reacting with histamine receptors and signaling the release of acid. Antacids, like Rolaids or Tums, simply neutralize acids already in your system and can be taken alone or with an acid blocker. A proton pump inhibitor, like Prilosec OTC, block the "pumps" within acid-secreting cells. Proton pump inhibitors are most often prescribed to heal ulcers. My doctor has me taking taking two Prilosec a day, and I have to say it's doing the trick.
Stop taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) immediately. NSAIDs are used to treat pain and inflammation and are popular because of their low addiction rate; the two most recognized NSAIDs are ibuprofen and apirin. NSAIDs can contribute to and even cause ulcers because they work against three things necessary to getting rid of ulcers: the production of the mucus that coats the stomach lining, the chemical bicarbonate that neutralizes stomach acid, and blood circulation to the stomach that helps repair and renew damaged cells. For this reason, it's never a good idea to take NSAIDs too frequently or in large doses, and it's a really bad idea to take them if you have diagnosed ulcers.
Cutting acid out of your diet will help you get rid of ulcers. A significant change in diet is an important (and difficult) part of treating an ulcer. This change doesn't have to be permanent, but it is essential for true healing. Because ulcers are caused by damage from acid, acid can't be a part of your diet. This means no tomatoes or foods containing tomato products (red pasta sauce, ketchup, pizza, salsa), no citrus fruit or foods containing citric acid (who knew ginger ale had citric acid in it?), and definitely no alcohol. You have no idea how hard this is until you try it.
Cutting caffeine out of your diet will help get rid of ulcers, too. Caffeine can stimulate the secretion of stomach acid, which will keep your uclers from healing and worsen your pain. When my doctor starting writing the list of foods I couldn't eat for two months I saw all the acidic foods (above) first and thought, Oh, I can do this -- then I saw the rest of the list: coffee, tea (uncaffeineted herbal is okay), chocolate, mint, and soda, and I knew I was done for. Even though it's a challenge, it's extremely important to hold to these dietary restrictions; I had a few slips and was back on the couch for a day, and I was lucky -- ulcers can easily progress into something more complicated and dangerous (see below) if you're not careful.Ulcer Complications
If an ulcer is left untreated, or not treated properly, it can worsen rapidly and become a bleeding ulcer -- in effect, eating a hole completely through the wall of your stomach or small intestine, causing internal bleeding and putting you at serious risk of infection in your abdominal captivity. Signs of a bleeding ulcer include dizziness, nausea, heartburn, indigestion, abdominal cramps and pain, black and tarry loose stools, and vomiting blood, which can look bright red or black and grainy (like coffee grounds). My doctor infnormed me that this can mean rapid death for some people
If you have a diagnosed ulcer, be sure to follow your doctor's prescribed treatment regimine, and if you still have flare-ups of pain go back to the doctor right away -- this can be a sign of improper treatment or a worsening ulcer. A few weeks ago I accidently had a sandwich with a slice of tomato on it and (unaccidently) a chai. I was back on the couch for a day, whimpering and swearing never to eat tomatoes again. Trust me, you don't want to go there.
