Ulcers in the lining of the intestinal tract are often called peptic ulcers, because pepsin is found there. (Pepsin is an enzyme that helps digest proteins.) If a peptic ulcer is in the stomach, it is referred to as a gastric ulcer. In the duodenum it is called a duodenal ulcer. If left untreated, they can both become bleeding ulcers. It is important to recognize the symptoms so you can seek medical attention if necessary.
Gastric Ulcer Symptoms
The most common symptoms of gastric ulcers are stomach pain, often within an hour after eating, chronic pain in the area below the breastbone, acid reflux, indigestion, nausea, weight loss and pain that awakens you during sleep. Other possible symptoms listed by the National Institutes of Health include fatigue and chest pain.
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Duodenal Ulcer Symptoms
There are some basic differences in the symptoms of duodenal ulcers when compared with the symptoms of a gastric ulcer. For example, with a gastric ulcer, eating a meal can cause increased pain, but with a duodenal ulcer, eating will reduce the pain. According to the Penn State University Medical Center, the pain may return 3 to 4 hours after the meal, or after drinking coffee or orange or grapefruit juice. As opposed to weight loss with a gastric ulcer, weight gain may occur with a duodenal ulcer. This is because food makes the pain go away. Symptoms shared with gastric ulcers are heartburn and pain that awakens you during sleep.
Bleeding Ulcer Symptoms
A gastric or duodenal ulcer that is not treated can turn into a bleeding ulcer, which can be dangerous. One of the symptoms of a bleeding ulcer is the fact that the pain has gone away or subsided. The Mayo Clinic explains that this happens because as the ulcer begins to bleed, the blood can neutralize the stomach acid, taking away the burning symptoms. Other symptoms of bleeding ulcers are stools that are dark or black, or speckled with a dark matter resembling coffee grounds or pepper. You may also experience nausea, which is accompanied by vomiting with fresh or dark blood in the vomit. Dizziness and fatigue can occur as a result of internal blood loss, and as the ulcer progresses, pain can return and be even more intense, spreading from the abdomen to the back.
