When most people think of the ER, they think of life-saving procedures for heart attacks, car accidents, and other serious health emergencies. However, the ER can also be a place to get treated for a stomach ulcer.
In this blog post, we’ll discuss What can the ER do for a Stomach Ulcer? As well as some common symptoms of this condition. We’ll also provide some tips on how to prevent stomach ulcers from developing in the first place.
What can the ER do for a Stomach Ulcer?
Without first consulting your doctor, you shouldn’t attempt to treat an ulcer on your own. The pain may be partially or completely relieved by over-the-counter antacids and acid blockers, but the alleviation is never long-lasting.
You can find a permanent cure for ulcers with the assistance of a doctor. Reducing stomach acid production and bolstering the protective lining that comes into direct touch with stomach acids are the main objectives of ulcer treatment. Your doctor will also treat any bacterial infection that may have contributed to your ulcer.
Medications
Mild to moderate ulcers are typically treated with medications.
1. Antibiotics
Antibiotics can treat ulcers brought on by the H. pylori bacteria. Triple or quadruple therapy, which combines numerous antibiotics plus heartburn medications, is frequently prescribed by doctors.
2. Triple Therapy
It combines two antibiotics with a proton pump inhibitor, such as amoxicillin and clarithromycin. If you have a penicillin allergy, the doctor can replace metronidazole (Flagyl) for amoxicillin.
The best treatment is quadruple therapy, which consists of two antibiotics (such as metronidazole and tetracycline), bismuth, and a proton-pump inhibitor.
This approach is recommended if you have previously used these antibiotics or if you reside in a region where there is metronidazole or clarithromycin resistance. Whatever the strategy, you must take all pills for 10 to 14 days.
3. Proton Pump Inhibitors
PPIs (proton pump inhibitors) are drugs that lower acid levels. These drugs include omeprazole and esomeprazole (Nexium) (Prilosec).
4. Blockers of H2
These drugs are also known as H2-receptor antagonists or histamine receptor blockers. They prevent the natural chemical histamine from telling your stomach to produce acid. Cimetidine (Tagamet), famotidine (Pepcid), and nizatidine are examples of H2 blockers (Axid).
5. Bisumth
The ulcer is covered by this drug, which also shields it from stomach acid. Infections with H. pylori may also be eliminated by it. It is typically prescribed by doctors together with antibiotics.
6. Acid Reducers
They don’t treat ulcers; they may temporarily lessen your discomfort. Antibiotics may also stop functioning if you take an antacid. Before taking an antacid for peptic ulcer disease, consult your doctor.
Surgery
Your doctor could advise surgery if you have a bad ulcer that keeps coming back and doesn’t get better with medicines. If you have a bleeding ulcer, you’ll require immediate surgery (also called a hemorrhaging ulcer). The surgeon will locate and treat the bleeding source, which is typically a tiny artery at the ulcer’s base.
To repair holes in the stomach or duodenal wall, a perforated ulcer, or both, you’ll require immediate surgery (the first part of your small intestine). To reduce the quantity of stomach acid their bodies produce, some patients choose surgery.
Talk in-depth about the potential drawbacks with your doctor before you do that. Your ulcer may recur, it may affect your liver, or you may experience “dumping syndrome,” which results in persistent abdominal pain, diarrhoea, vomiting, or sweating after eating.
Alternative Treatments
Although it has been demonstrated that alternative therapies can help with symptom relief, you should only use them in conjunction with traditional treatment.
Tips for Living With Ulcers
- Be cautious while selecting over-the-counter painkillers if you have an ulcer. A bleeding ulcer can get inflamed by aspirin and other nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen.
- Do not use headache medications in powder form. Typically, aspirin powder is present. Acetaminophen, which neither causes nor aggravates stomach ulcers, might be your best option.
- Avoid taking too many iron supplements. If you have bleeding ulcers, you might require them, but taking too much of them might irritate both your stomach lining and the ulcer. Consult your doctor about your need for iron.
- Acquire stress management skills. Deep breathing, guided meditation, and light movement are all relaxation strategies that can help reduce stress and advance recovery.
- Eat less of the foods that make you sick. Use common sense: Stay away from anything that makes you sick after eating it. While everyone is unique, frequent irritants include spicy meals, citrus fruits, and fatty foods.
- Give up smoking. Duodenal ulcers are more common in heavy smokers than in nonsmokers. Exercise restraint. Keep your alcohol consumption to a minimal as excessive alcohol use has been linked to ulcers.
Final Notes
While stomach ulcers can be a serious issue, the ER is equipped to handle most cases. If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of a stomach ulcer, it’s important to seek medical attention right away. The ER staff will work to diagnose and treat your condition as quickly as possible.
Book your appointment with the Best Gastroenterologists in Islamabad online via Marham today!
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FAQ’s
Should I go to the ER for a stomach ulcer?
If you experience severe stomach pain, excessive perspiration, confusion, or if your stomach feels hard to the touch, call your doctor straight once. These can be symptoms of a severe ulcer complication that requires prompt medical attention.
Can you be hospitalized for a stomach ulcer?
Peritonitis is a condition brought on by that. Anemia, bloody vomit, or bloody stools can all result from bleeding ulcers. Hospitalization is frequently required for a bleeding ulcer. Life-threatening internal hemorrhage is present.
When is an ulcer an emergency?
The majority of peptic ulcers can be treated without hospitalization and without any special equipment. However, you must seek emergency medical attention if there has been a perforation, serious internal bleeding, or obstruction. For any of the following warning indications, dial 911: throwing up blood.
How long is the hospital stay for a stomach ulcer?
The ideal length of stay for patients with ulcers that are evident during the initial endoscopy but are not bleeding is 4 days. After a 3-day monitoring period, the remaining patients with ulcers identified by additional bleeding stigmata may be released.