Ugh Ulcers

Did they test you for H. pylori? That's the most common cause of ulcers, followed by taking NSAID pain relievers (aspirin, naproxen, ibuprofen, etc.). Presumably the blood work that came back normal looked for that, but make sure they did test for it. If you have it, you need an antibiotic.

Are you taking a probiotic? A probiotic can help strengthen and heal the lining of your stomach and the right one can actually fight the bacteria that causes ulcers and makes symptoms flare up. Probiotics are a wonderful addition to anyone's health regimen and really help with keeping your digestive tract running optimally.

The foods and beverages that you've listed don't cause ulcers, they just make them flare up. So once your ulcers are healed and you address whatever caused them, you should be able to eat normally. Technically, Prilosec isn't antacid, it's a PPI, which is a class of drug that reduces the amount of acid you produce. True antacids (Maalox, Tums) don't do anything to treat ulcers. So to answer your final question...ulcer sufferers shouldn't take antacids anyway because they don't help, and once your stomach heals, you shouldn't need to continue with the PPI. Prilosec has a lot of side effects when used long term, so it's best to get your gut healthy instead of relying on these. Our gut has more neurotransmitters than our brains and is the center of our immune system, so taking medication for a long time that affects this system messes with nutrient absorbtion and other key functions of the GI system.

I hope that you get to the root cause of your ulcers (if that's what they are), solve that problem, heal and enjoy a normal, healthy tummy again soon.

Oh J.B....you took all my fun away!!

Prilosec is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) not an antacid. H. pylori is excellent to be tested for. Today the serum (blood version) of the test isn't used. You either need to use the breath test (so easy) or the stool antigen test ( my not so favorite). Bad thing on either versions! You can't be on the PPIs for 14 days prior to testing. Your doc can help you find something to get you through?

With regard to the referral doctors you can't get in with, keep calling and see if they have a cancellation list you can be placed on. They want to fill the space if the physician is there.

Good luck! After 100 too many NSAIDs I blew my gut out and needed to be scoped (oh, so that's why it hurts?) and a couple blood transfusions. I was on Prilosec for a few months, never to return and it's been over five years.

I think all those pills aren't helping one bit. Those are SO hard on your stomach. What about a really good digestive aid and some immune system builders to help heal? I have a ton of business colleagues who've had great results calming down everything from reflux to ulcerative colitis to ulcers using something much easier to digest that doesn't sit in your stomach and irritate the heck out of it. Let me know if you want to try something different and be able to eat what you want.

Got my first ulcer in 2002. Had major GI issues after the birth of my first son. Went to so many doctors over the years that it's absurd. I have diagnoses of GERD, Gastroparesis and even Crohn's disease among other things. First concrete diagnoses I got was ulcer though. I'm on a large amount of Prilosec, Rantidine and of course I take an anti nausea med and the Reglan equivalent for the rest of the world. I still have frequent ulcers sadly. :(

They hurt terrible. Luckily my third GI in 10 years is great and he has me on pry too much medicine sure but it keeps things more at bay. Although what I was going to say was at first before I got all the scopes done they said ulcer and treated me for months and months as if that was the problem... and I was a baby.... I went from being obese to skinny as hell in 6 months because the treatment was aggressive enough and wasn't proper. So look around online and make sure you are following the norm for doing better. Don't let it go if not. They have diagnosed you with very little actual medicine and mainly just guesses by process of elimination. If you don't start feeling better and improving go to that GI doctor and stick with it till you feel better.

I wish I wouldn't have let things go for so long. Maybe my quality of life would be better now had I not. Good luck and I hope it is just an ulcer. Biggest hugs in the world.

Sounds like your gall bladder is another possibility. My sister had hers surgically removed due to the terrible attacks she was having.