What are the different symptoms of peptic ulcer?
symptoms of peptic ulcers are often very noticeable and quite painful. Symptoms may suddenly occur, increase for days or weeks, or come and leave unexpectedly. The most common symptoms of peptic ulcer are stomach pain, fatigue and changes in appearance or stool consistency. Symptoms of peptic ulcers are often similar to the symptoms of other digestive diseases and disorders and should be evaluated by a gastroenterologist for diagnosis.
The stomach pain is the most common of all symptoms of peptic ulcers, but can manifest in many different ways. Some people feel burning, sour pain in the upper abdomen, while others report nausea and vomiting, bloating or dull pain in the lower intestine. In some cases, the pain will be radiating to the chest or back, causing some people to suspect flu or other common disease. The heartburn pain is also commonly associated with ulcers and the pain may temporarily retreat when the heartburn or antacidal drugs are used. In some casesPain may be worse at night or early in the morning and may even disturb sleep.
symptoms of peptic ulcers may also include several components caused by anemia related to ulcers. Exhaustion, body pain and inexplicable weight loss may be signs that the ulcer causes blood exhaustion and the occurrence of anemia. Some patients may experience extreme fatigue that results in significant changes in sleep patterns. Patients with peptic ulcers may always feel hungry, even shortly after a meal. The existence of anemia in the patient indicates that it loses considerable amount of blood through intestinal bleeding or inflammation and may be treated immediately.
The appearance and consistency of stools can also be symptoms of peptic ulcers. If the ulcer bleeds, the stool may seem black and has a sticky consistency similar to tar. Blood from the ulcer oxygenated as it passes through the intestines and usually appears rather blackor dark brown than bright red. While black stools may indicate bleeding, this may also be the result of antacid use, which often contain ingredients that cause dark stools. Doctors can perform a simple stool test to determine whether dark stools actually contain any blood or are simply darkened medicines.
A thorough medical diagnosis is essential to determine whether the symptoms indicate a peptic ulcer. Many other states, including gastritis, Crohn's disease and irritable bowel syndrome, are developed with similar symptoms and must be excluded by examination. If a person experiences symptoms of peptic ulcers, doctors can order several tests, including blood work, stool tests and minimally invasive procedures such as upper endoscopy or colonoscopy to ensure correct diagnosis.