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Symptoms of Peptic ulcer
Some people do not experience any symptoms and may not realise they have a peptic ulcer. Mild symptoms may also be mistaken for indigestion or heartburn.
If you do have symptoms, they may include the following:
- Pain, or a burning sensation (similar to indigestion) in the upper abdomen and sometimes the lower chest. The pain from a duodenal ulcer can be worse when the stomach is empty and is relieved by eating, but then recurs a few hours afterwards.
- Pain caused by a gastric ulcer is often made worse by eating.
- Difficulty in swallowing or regurgitation (bringing up swallowed food into the mouth).
- Bloating, retching and feeling sick, particularly after eating.
- Vomiting and nausea
- Loss of appetite and weight loss
Severe ulcers may be very painful and bleed. If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should consult your GP immediately:
- Vomiting blood: if an ulcer bleeds or if the blood is partially digested, the vomit may look like ground coffee.
- Black or tar-like stools, which contain blood from a bleeding ulcer.
- Sudden and severe abdominal pains.
These symptoms can indicate a serious problem. The ulcer may have burrowed through the stomach or duodenal wall, or it may be blocking the path of food trying to leave the stomach. Sometimes the stomach acid or the ulcer itself breaks a blood vessel in the lining of the stomach or duodenum.
