Ulcer healing with PPI alone? - Digestive Disorders Message Board

vs1988 · 03-05-2005, 09:31 PM

Hey all

I do not know if I have an ulcer or not as no tests were done. My doctor prescribed me Prevacid 30 mg to take twice daily. My pain usually feels like either burning or hunger/growling. At times there are also sharp stabbing pains in my side. Tonight at my friend's house, I tried to eat a tiny piece of cream pie and basically ended up on the bathroom floor having dry heaves, though I didn't vomit. As I type this up, I have a sharp, constant pain in my gut that feels like I've been stabbed. I'm worried this is some sort of ulcer bleed/penetration. Unfortunately, I can't go back to the doctor because he upped my prescription for a longer time, so my parents want me to keep taking the Prevacid. I've just never had abdominal pain like this before.

My question is, if it is an ulcer, can it be healed with a PPI alone? I don't mean cured, since I know most ulcers are caused by the h. pylori bacteria, and if you don't take antibiotics, the ulcer is bound to come back. I mean, would a PPI alone allow the ulcer to heal and close up? Or would it be useless in healing up the ulcer?

Thank you

Vince

diamond79 · 03-06-2005, 12:06 AM

My Grandmother had an ulcer caused by H. Pylori bacteria and she had to take an antibiotic, an acid suppressor/blocker and pepto bismol for 2 weeks. I don't think taking a PPI alone would heal an ulcer. It may prevent it from getting worse as acid can irritate an ulcer.
I would go back to your dr. and mention that you are in pain and think you may have an ulcer. There are different tests for an ulcer ex. barium swallow, endoscopy, breath test(that is how my Grandmother found out), and blood test.
You mention that you have sharp stabbing pains in your side. Are these on the right side under your rib cage? That is where your Gallbladder is and can cause the symptoms you described. Not to scare you but just a thought

Hope you get well soon!
Donna

Harry · 03-08-2005, 07:48 AM

The way all ulcers use to treated was with a Acid reducer like Tagamet or Zantac and a bland diet. H.pylori bacteria treatment is only about 8 years old in the USA. The bacteria was discovered by Dr.Barry Marshall,MD in Perth, Australia in 1982 by accident but was not accepted in the States until the late 90ties.

I was treated in 1975 for an ulcer with Maalox and milk!