Ulcer in the Upper Intestine (Duodenal Ulcer): Brief Version

What is an ulcer in the upper intestine?

An ulcer is a raw place or sore in the lining of the stomach or bowel. When it happens in the upper part of the bowel, it is called a duodenal ulcer. It may also be called a peptic ulcer.

How does it happen?

An ulcer happens when part of the lining of the bowel is eaten away by stomach acid. Normally the lining is protected from stomach acid. But sometimes this protection fails and you get an ulcer. This may happen because:

• You have an infection by bacteria called H. pylori. These bacteria cause most ulcers.
• You are taking aspirin, ibuprofen, or naproxen. These medicines can irritate the stomach and intestine.
• Your stomach makes too much acid.

Cigarettes and alcohol may make an ulcer worse. They may keep the ulcer from healing.

What are the symptoms?

You may have:

• Pain in your upper belly that gnaws or burns.
• Pain that gets worse when your stomach is empty.
• Pain that gets better when you eat or take antacids.
• Pain that wakes you up during the night.

If the ulcer bleeds:

• You may vomit and see blood in your vomit. You may see bright red blood or blood that looks like brown coffee grounds.
• Your bowel movements may be black and tarry.

How is it treated?

It is important to get treatment for an ulcer. Your healthcare provider may prescribe:

• Antibiotics to treat H. pylori bacteria.
• Medicine to lower the acid in your stomach.
• Medicine to coat and protect the area around the ulcer.

You may need to take medicine for quite a while. You may need to make changes in how you eat and how you take care of yourself.

Ulcers get better with treatment, but they can happen again. Be sure to take all of your medicine. This will help keep you from getting more ulcers. It will also help prevent more serious problems, like bleeding.

How can I take care of myself?

• Take all of the medicine prescribed by your healthcare provider.
• Keep all follow-up appointments.
• Eat the diet recommended by your provider.
• Avoid alcohol, cigarettes, and chewing tobacco because they make it harder for ulcers to heal. Talk to your provider if you need help stopping alcohol or tobacco.
• Ask your provider if you need to stop taking some medicines, like aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. These medicines can irritate the stomach.
• If you keep having symptoms, or you get worse, tell your provider right away.