Peptic or gastric ulcers

[momo3bur]

Hey all!

I have peptic ulcers which have decided to make a return appearance in the last month or so. This has been an issue for me for a few years, although I remember as a teen having a few similar symptoms that I didn't quite understand at the time and just bore through.

Anyway, I am wondering if anyone has any magic advice for these damn things. They are excruciatingly painful and ruin my entire day when I have an episode, and for the last month or so it's been almost every night/early morning. Today I had a little blood involved, so I'll be going to the doc...but I've been going to the doc for YEARS and they've yet to clear up completely.

Advice beyond (or to tweak my own methods) is greatly welcome.

This is what I follow, especially during flared up times.

Avoid caffeine (I do drink coffee, but lately only decaf)
No smoking
Avoid acidic foods
Avoid fatty foods
Avoid sugary foods, especially sodas

I do eat some bland breads and chicken broth when they are very bad because it soothes them pretty well.

I DON'T DO DAIRY when they're acting up, although some people say milk helps. It feels disgusting in my stomach when they're flared, not to mention dairy does not come back up very...pleasantly.

I avoid fruits and veggies when they're acting up, only learning from experience that they don't settle well.

Strenuous exercise seems to have exacerbated them lately...and probably the copious amount of stress I'm under currently.

Hmmmm, what else...oh, h.pylori is negative and I do take Protonix for this everyday. If I don't take that, I am sure to spend much more time sick.

No nsaids or even Tylenol.

So any advice? Seriously? I'll eat ladybug dung if it might help.

[James81]

By painful, do you mean like you have severe heartburn?

I don't have ulcers, but I do have heartburn (acid reflux) and I take Prilosec OTC everyday and that pretty much takes care of it. Since yours is ulcer related, you might need the more potent prescription stuff, but prilosec and prevacaid have both done wonders for the heartburn side of things for me.

[momo3bur]

Originally Posted by James81

By painful, do you mean like you have severe heartburn?

I don't have ulcers, but I do have heartburn (acid reflux) and I take Prilosec OTC everyday and that pretty much takes care of it. Since yours is ulcer related, you might need the more potent prescription stuff, but prilosec and prevacaid have both done wonders for the heartburn side of things for me.

Well, no, I don't really have heartburn. The pain from ulcers is a burning, but it tends to be right above the naval and moves all the way into the back at times.

It kinda feels like someone filled my stomach up with air and needles, then grabbed it with both hands and decided to wring it out like a wet rag. Seriously...not exaggerating. I'd rather give birth to ten pound triplets. LOL. And it's accompanied by other gross digestive symptoms when it hits. Very unpleasant and it's getting to the point where it makes me ANGRY when it starts.

I've tried a few different OTC medications, but none really seem to do any good and actually some make them worse. The Protonix I take helped a lot before, but lately it seems like it's just not quite doing the job.

I'm sorry about the heartburn, James. I know that sucks really bad.

[IvyW]

you can always try that 30day water fast lol.. it sucks though.. im on day 16.

[momo3bur]

Originally Posted by IvyW

you can always try that 30day water fast lol.. it sucks though.. im on day 16.

Well, I was gonna go a week just to start off with. By day TWO my stomach was burning like it was nobody's business. I don't think the fast will be good for someone with ulcers because the stomach acids on and empty stomach are just...gosh...I guess really erosive??

Of course, it may improve after a couple of days, I don't know, but I couldn't handle the pain so I gave up.

Awwwww, sweetie, I'm so sorry! But I'm proud that you've made it so far!

How are you feeling? Ready to bite a kittens head off?

[IvyW]

Originally Posted by momo3bur

Well, I was gonna go a week just to start off with. By day TWO my stomach was burning like it was nobody's business. I don't think the fast will be good for someone with ulcers because the stomach acids on and empty stomach are just...gosh...I guess really erosive??

Of course, it may improve after a couple of days, I don't know, but I couldn't handle the pain so I gave up.

Awwwww, sweetie, I'm so sorry! But I'm proud that you've made it so far!

How are you feeling? Ready to bite a kittens head off?

oh, man its like every other day. Today im in a good mood and feeling fine. But last night.. haha my poor husband=)

[momo3bur]

Originally Posted by IvyW

oh, man its like every other day. Today im in a good mood and feeling fine. But last night.. haha my poor husband=)

Oh yeah! I could imagine. I can barely go a day without food before it's time to massacre...I couldn't imagine what it'd be like going 16 days! GEEZ! Girl, you are something else. Hopefully he'll get over the moods and appreciate your determination. It takes a lot of willpower to do what you're doing, so I can only imagine how strong you are.

[MightySunTzu]

Originally Posted by momo3bur

Well, I was gonna go a week just to start off with. By day TWO my stomach was burning like it was nobody's business. I don't think the fast will be good for someone with ulcers because the stomach acids on and empty stomach are just...gosh...I guess really erosive??

Of course, it may improve after a couple of days, I don't know, but I couldn't handle the pain so I gave up.

Hey there momo3bur,

I'm not sure about fasting for ulcers, it seems actually to be mildly contraindicated for this particular ailment and probably for the very reason you cited.

The following site includes personal testimonies from people utilizing various natural treatments/cures and maybe you'd like to take a look. It's kind of counter intuitive, but people have had success with apple cider vinegar and/or cayanne and other more intuitive remedies include baking soda, cabbage juice (or the glutamine derivative) or omega 3 oil including flax seeds.

Natural Remedies to Cure Stomach Ulcers

All the best.

[momo3bur]

Originally Posted by MightySunTzu

Hey there momo3bur,

I'm not sure about fasting for ulcers, it seems actually to be mildly contraindicated for this particular ailment and probably for the very reason you cited.

The following site includes personal testimonies from people utilizing various natural treatments/cures and maybe you'd like to take a look. It's kind of counter intuitive, but people have had success with apple cider vinegar and/or cayanne and other more intuitive remedies include baking soda, cabbage juice (or the glutamine derivative) or omega 3 oil including flax seeds.

Natural Remedies to Cure Stomach Ulcers

All the best.

Thank you so much! I really appreciate this. I didn't realize anyone had posted in this thread again since Ivy. LOL.

I will definitely check that out and let you know how it goes! One thing I've noticed the last day or two is that eating fatty fruits like avacado, olives is actually helpful. So I bet the omega 3 oil and flax seed would be helpful. I'll try that out too.

Thanks MSunT!

[momo3bur]

MST, I think this last bout or flare (whatever it's called) it pretty much over with, so I'm going to really get down to business with this information you gave me. I'll report back as often as possible. I really appreciate you here.

AND...not that it's necessarily a GOOD thing...lol...I weighed myself this morning and have lost 15 pounds from all of this. LOL. I'm hoping I can keep it off because it's pretty close to where I want to be in weight now, but it usually comes back. I think they most I've ever lost during one of these episodes is 7, so it kind of worries me a bit that it was so much in just a few weeks (even though I don't mind the weight loss itself...just the reason for it), but maybe this link will help out!

Thanks!