Ulcers

Posted by socobsvr @socobsvr, Dec 8, 2016

I was diagnosed with ulcers and I'm miserable for 8 months. My doctors here tell me that they have done everything but I'm still in pain and not sleeping or eating. They have me on Prilosec 40 but it doesn't seem to do anything. Does anyone have experience at Mayo with them "fixing" a similar problem? I'm in Newport Beach but will travel if it means relief. Thanks.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Digestive Health Support Group.

Kanaaz Pereira, Connect Moderator | @kanaazpereira | Dec 9, 2016

Hello @socobsvr,
Welcome to Connect. It must be so awful and tiring to been in constant pain!

Let's start with giving you some information about Mayo Clinic; If you would like to seek help from Mayo Clinic, please call one of our appointment offices. The contact information for Minnesota, Arizona and Florida can be found here: http://mayocl.in/1mtmR63.
Mayo Clinic in Minnesota has been recognized as the best Gastroenterology & GI Surgery Hospital in the nation for 2016-2017 by U.S. World & News Report.
Here is a link from Mayo Clinic, about stomach ulcers, that may also be beneficial: http://mayocl.in/2heAAwP

In the meantime, I would like to invite members @jimhd, @emerilee, @william2478, @cynthiaendrirss, @fatherof2, @dove, @gregoryd, @kathy1369, @lizbeth67, and one of our mentors, @dawn_giacabazi, who have all discussed stomach/peptic ulcers in the past, and I hope they will join the conversation with some helpful insight.

@socobsvr, has your doctor done any tests for other digestive issues such Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD - Crohn's and Ulcerative Colitis)? What changes have made to your diet?

socobsvr | @socobsvr | Dec 9, 2016

In reply to @kanaazpereira "Hello @socobsvr, Welcome to Connect. It must be so awful and tiring to been in constant..." + (show)

Prilosec 40. Doesn't do a thing. Tried zegred(sp?) this am. I've had every test known to man!

akaahm | @akaahm | Dec 18, 2016

@socobsvr 8 years ago I had a stomach ulcer in combination with lower abdomen pain due to flare from Crohn's disease. So the ulcer was treated separately from the lower abdomen pain. Traditional ulcer is believed to be caused by a bacteria Pylori..and the effective treatment is intensive antibiotic cocktail. I had the treatment multiple times. it was resistant at the beginning but eventually took care of it. There is actually a biopsy test that cane be taken with an upper GI endoscope. you may want to ask your GI doctor to do endoscopy. If confirmed for bacteria...then antibiotics should work.

Jim, Volunteer Mentor | @jimhd | Mar 1, 2017

Several years ago, I had a toxic mega colon, which meant that my colon/large intestine was completely compacted, like concrete. The surgeon removed 80%+ of my colon. Fortunately, enough was left that I didn't have to carry a colostomy bag. Before that, 42" of my small intestine quit working and had to be resected. Then, a year or two later, I had peptic ulcers, from taking 800mg four times a day for many years. The ulcers were surgically removed, and I haven't had any problems since then, maybe 4 years ago. I'm not supposed to take NSAIDS, but I do for arthritis, in my hands and neck. I don't know if I'll ever have more ulcers, but I know what to watch for. Dizziness is the first sign, then bloody urine and stool. So far, so good.

I did have to have a minor surgery a couple of years ago for adhesions from the prior surgeries. I don't understand why surgery hasn't been recommended for your peptic ulcers.

Jim