Duodenal ulcer
goodtoknow says: Duodenal ulcers are caused by a bacterial infection and are usually cured by a one week course of antibiotics. Duodenal ulcers are small, inflamed craters that develop in your intestine and typically cause a burning pain just below your breastbone. The pain can spread to your back and is worse at night but eased with antacids. Stress doesn't cause duodenal ulcers, but it can make the pain feel worse. If you're diagnosed with a duodenal ulcer you'll be given two different types of antibiotics plus acid-suppressing capsules. This is called 'triple therapy' and works very quickly.
For a full medical explanation of the causes, symptoms and treatments of duodenal ulcer from patient.co.uk, read on.
A duodenal ulcer is usually caused by an infection with a bacterium (germ) called H. pylori. A 4-8 week course of acid-suppressing medication will allow the ulcer to heal. In addition, a one week course of two antibiotics plus an acid-suppressing drug will usually clear the H. pylori infection. This usually prevents the ulcer recurring again. Anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat conditions such as arthritis sometimes cause duodenal ulcers. If you need to continue with the anti-inflammatory drug, then you may need to take long term acid-suppressing medication.
Understanding your guts and digestion
Food passes down the oesophagus (gullet) into the stomach. The stomach makes acid which is not essential, but helps to digest food. After being mixed in the stomach, food passes into the duodenum (the first part of the small intestine). In the duodenum and the rest of the small intestine, food mixes with enzymes (chemicals). The enzymes come from the pancreas and from cells lining the intestine. The enzymes break down (digest) the food which is absorbed into the body..
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LOUIS NAPIER, about 1 year
I am getting stomache pain in the night, I went to the DR who said I was doing the right thing by eating before I went to bed and taking a heartburn medicine. But it still remains. Any advice. thankyou
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