Symptoms of peptic ulcer

Many people with a peptic ulcer have mild symptoms, and some have none until a complication appears.

Common symptoms

• Burning or gnawing pain in the upper middle abdomen
• Pain that comes between meals or at night, and may ease briefly after eating or taking an antacid (duodenal ulcer)
• Pain that may worsen soon after eating (stomach ulcer)
• Bloating, belching and feeling full quickly
• Nausea, sometimes vomiting
• Loss of appetite and unplanned weight loss

Signs of bleeding or serious trouble: get emergency care (112 or 102)

• Vomiting blood or material that looks like coffee grounds
• Black, tarry, foul-smelling stools
• Sudden, severe, constant stomach pain that spreads and makes the belly hard (possible perforation)
• Dizziness, fainting, cold sweaty skin or a fast heartbeat
• Repeated vomiting with inability to keep fluids down

Symptoms that need checking soon

• Pain lasting more than 2 weeks
• Difficulty or pain when swallowing
• Weight loss or poor appetite, especially after age 45 to 50
• Persistent tiredness or paleness, which can mean slow blood loss (anaemia)

Heart pain can look similar

Upper abdominal pain with sweating, breathlessness or pain spreading to the arm or jaw can be a heart problem. Seek emergency help.

Ayurvedic view (interpretive)

Burning pain, sour belching and thirst are described as Pitta-type features. This is a traditional description and does not replace medical tests.

When to get help

See a doctor if upper abdominal burning or pain keeps coming back for more than 2 weeks, or if you take pain tablets regularly and notice stomach discomfort. Early testing prevents complications and finds the cause.

Remember

Black stools, vomiting blood or sudden severe pain are emergencies. Do not wait or self-treat.