Ulcer - peptic; Ulcer - duodenal; Ulcer - gastric; Duodenal ulcer; Gastric ulcer; Dyspepsia - ulcers

Small ulcers may not cause any symptoms. Some ulcers can cause serious bleeding.

Abdominal pain is a common symptom but it doesn't always occur. The pain can differ a lot from person to person.

• Feeling of fullness -- unable to drink as much fluid
• Hunger and an empty feeling in the stomach, often 1 - 3 hours after a meal
• Mild nausea (vomiting may relieve symptom)
• Pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen
• Upper abdominal pain that wakes you up at night

Other possible symptoms include:

• Bloody or dark tarry stools
• Chest pain
• Fatigue
• Vomiting, possibly bloody
• Weight loss

To diagnose an ulcer, your doctor will order one of the following tests:

• Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is a special test performed by a gastroenterologist in which a thin tube with a camera on the end is inserted through your mouth into the GI tract to see your stomach and small intestine. During an EGD, the doctor may take a biopsy from the wall of your stomach to test for H. pylori.
• Upper GI is a series of x-rays taken after you drink a thick substance called barium.

Your doctor may also order these tests:

• Hemoglobin blood test to check for anemia
• Stool guaiac to test for blood in your stool

Images

Gastroscopy procedure

Location of peptic ulcers

Stomach ulcer

Stomach disease or trauma

Cause of peptic ulcers

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Peptic ulcer Overview

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Peptic ulcer Treatment

Review Date: 08/01/2009
Reviewed By: George F. Longstreth, MD, Department of Gastroenterology, Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program, San Diego, California. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.

A.D.A.M., Inc. is accredited by URAC, also known as the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission (www.urac.org)