What type of doctor for ulcers

He or she then sends your breath sample to a lab for testing. If your breath sample has higher levels of carbon dioxide than normal, you have H. Stool test. Doctors use a stool test to study a sample of your stool. A doctor will give you a container for catching and storing your stool at home. You return the sample to the doctor or a commercial facility, who then sends it to a lab for analysis.

Stool tests can show the presence of H. In an upper GI endoscopy, a gastroenterologist , surgeon, or other trained health care professional uses an endoscope to see inside your upper GI tract. This procedure takes place at a hospital or an outpatient center. An intravenous IV needle will be placed in your arm to provide a sedative. Sedatives help you stay relaxed and comfortable during the procedure.

In some cases, the procedure can be performed without sedation. You will be given a liquid anesthetic to gargle or spray anesthetic on the back of your throat. The doctor will carefully feed the endoscope down your esophagus and into your stomach and duodenum.

A small camera mounted on the endoscope sends a video image to a monitor, allowing close examination of the lining of your upper GI tract. The endoscope pumps air into your stomach and duodenum, making them easier to see. Some people with an ulcer have belly pain. This pain is often in the upper abdomen. Sometimes food makes the pain better, and sometimes it makes it worse. Other symptoms include nausea, vomiting, or feeling bloated or full.

Bleeding from an ulcer can be slow and go unnoticed or can cause life-threatening hemorrhage. Ulcers that bleed slowly might not produce the symptoms until the person becomes anemic. Symptoms of anemia include fatigue, shortness of breath with exercise and pale skin color. People with bleeding ulcers may also vomit. Symptoms of rapid bleeding represent a medical emergency. If this occurs, immediate medical attention is needed. People with these symptoms should dial or go to the nearest emergency room.

The two most important causes of ulcers are infection with Helicobacter pylori and a group of medications known as NSAIDs.

Helicobacter pylori also called H. The understanding that H. In fact, Dr. Barry Marshall and Dr. Robin Warren were awarded the Nobel Prize in Medicine for this discovery. People infected with H. When a person is diagnosed with an ulcer, testing for H. There are a number of tests to diagnose H.

People with ulcers. Treatment usually consists of taking either three or four drugs. The drug therapy will use acid suppression therapy with a proton pump inhibitor PPI along with antibiotic therapy and perhaps a bismuth containing agent such as Pepto-Bismol. There are many drugs in this group.

NSAID use is very common because many are available over the counter without a prescriptionand therefore they are a very common cause of peptic ulcers. NSAIDs cause ulcers by interrupting the natural ability of the stomach and the duodenum to protect themselves from stomach acid. NSAIDs also can interfere with blood clotting, which has obvious importance when ulcers bleed.

These people should discuss the various options for preventing ulcers with their physician. Some people are given an acid suppressing PPI. There are many myths about peptic ulcers. They are not caused by spicy foods or a rich diet. Certain foods might irritate an ulcer that is already there, however, the food is not the cause of the ulcer.

People diagnosed with ulcers do not need to follow a specific diet. The days of ulcer patients surviving on a bland diet are a thing of the past.

The most typical way for ulcers to be diagnosed is by a procedure called an EGD. This flexible camera carefully inspects the most likely areas for ulcers to be located.

Read More. Food Poisoning. Acute Bronchitis. Eustachian Tube Dysfunction. Bursitis of the Hip. Abnormal Uterine Bleeding. High Blood Pressure. Home Diseases and Conditions Ulcers. Table of Contents. What is an ulcer? Symptoms of an ulcer Common ulcer symptoms include: Discomfort between meals or during the night duodenal ulcer Discomfort when you eat or drink gastric ulcer Stomach pain that wakes you up at night Feel full fast Bloating, burning or dull pain in your stomach Comes and goes days or weeks at a time The discomfort lasts for minutes or hours If your ulcer becomes perforated torn , it becomes a bleeding ulcer.

This can cause the following symptoms: Nausea Vomiting blood Unexpected weight loss Blood in your stool or dark stools Pain in your back. What causes an ulcer? How is an ulcer diagnosed? Can an ulcer be prevented or avoided? Ulcer treatment Your doctor will give you an antibiotic medicine to treat an H. Living with an ulcer If you have an ulcer, avoid the things that make your ulcer pain worse.

Questions to ask your doctor How can I tell the difference between an ulcer and the stomach flu? Where is my ulcer located? Am I at risk of getting multiple ulcers? What are the side effects of ulcer medicines? Are ulcers a sign of another health condition? Last Updated: February 18, This article was contributed by: familydoctor. Tags: duodenal ulcers , gastric ulcers , Peptic Ulcer Disease , peptic ulcers.

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