At the beginning, peptic ulcer does not cause any symptoms. Once the ulcer or its complication develops such as bleeding then varies peptic ulcer symptoms occurs.
Sign and symptoms of Peptic ulcer
Beginning stages of peptic ulcer does not produce any symptoms, once it develops the most common peptic ulcer symptoms are:
- Felt pain in the upper-middle part of the belly (between the breastbone and belly button).
- There is a burning or gnawing in the upper-middle part of the belly extending over the back.
- Pain development is in relation with the mealtime; esophageal ulcer pain during meal, gastric ulcer produce pain immediately after meals, and a meal aggravates the pain. On the other hand, duodenal ulcer causes pain two to three hours after a meal, and another meal relieves the pain. Normally, the pain can last anywhere from a few minutes to several hours. You may relieve from pain after vomiting or by using antacids.
- There is a bloating and feeling of fullness
- Mild nausea and copious vomiting
- Regurgitation (feeling of stomach acid rushing up into the throat)
- Loss of appetite, thus in due course weight loss.
Symptoms of bleeding peptic ulcers
- Vomiting of bright color blood or dark color material similar to coffee ground,
- Bright blood or black color stool, tarry and sticky looking stools,
- Experiencing anemic symptoms such as tiredness, fatigue, lack of energy, weakness, rapid heartbeat, and skin turns pale.
A typical peptic ulcer tends to heal by itself and recur; that is why the pain symptom of peptic ulcer may occur for few days to weeks and then wanes (disappear) and may reappear. Generally, children and elderly people do not have any symptoms until a complication develops.
Vomiting and abdominal pain are an emergency and needs immediate proper treatment.