Anyone have stomach pain & diarrhea with peptic ulcer?
For over 2 months I’ve had stomach pain and diarrhea almost constantly. At first I thought I’d eaten contaminated produce, but after 3 weeks it was becoming unrelenting and I went to the ER. The diagnosis was infectious colitis and I was given IV’s and antibiotics. I thought I was recovering but, a few days later, I was back to the constant pain and diarrhea. I went back to the ER, thinking I needed more antibiotics, but after additional tests, including blood work and stool test, which were all normal except for a high wbc because I have CLL, the dr didn’t know what was going on and sent me home with the advice to get some probiotics. No antibiotic this time; he said I could continue taking ibuprofen. I later learned NSAIDs aren’t recommended for digestive issues. Incidentally(?) I have a moderate-sized “sliding and rolling” fluid-filled hiatal hernia which hasn’t bothered me and is apparently unremarkable.
I was able to get an appointment with my pc provider a few days later. She diagnosed a peptic ulcer (I had been taking 2 regular aspirin at bedtime for awhile since it seemed to help with morning pain and stiffness from my psoriatic arthritis, so I thought that could have caused the ulcer.) She prescribed 7 days of another antibiotic, sucralfate and famotidine. I thought I was finally on the road to recovery. After being on and off the brat diet, I began doing the ulcer diet. But once again, I’ve had 2-day long bouts of the stomach pain and worse diarrhea. I thought maybe the first one was from eating buttered boiled potatoes and salads of lettuce, peas, cucumber and bell peppers, and one meal of batter dipped fish fillets. This latest bout was after meals of plain hamburger with bread or plain rice.
I can’t find any information about diarrhea being a symptom of ulcers. Much of the time when the pain drives me to the bathroom for relief, there’s only a small amount of mucus. I can’t figure out what’s going on, and doubt my pcp has the answer. She’s currently unavailable anyway. Can anyone relate? I’d really appreciate any advice. I’m miserable.
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How did she diagnose peptic ulcers? Mine were diagnosed with an upper endoscopy. I was on a low acid diet and given a PPI which cured the ulcers. Go to a GI doctor.
After reviewing my chart ( I’m in the system of our county medical center) her diagnosis was based on my symptoms, especially that eating or drinking caused instant stomach pain. She said endoscopies weren’t done if blood tests are normal. I would gladly see a GI if there was one on staff at the medical center, but there isn’t, and I’m not up to traveling to see one out of town.
I appreciate your input and thanks for the advice.