Peptic Ulcer Disease: When To Call A Doctor

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When To Call a Doctor

If you have been diagnosed with a peptic ulcer, call 911 or other emergency services immediately if you have:

• Symptoms that could indicate a heart attack or shock.
• Sudden severe, continuous abdominal pain or vomiting.
• Frequent feelings of dizziness or lightheadedness, especially when moving from lying down to a seated or standing position.
• Blood in your vomit or something that looks like coffee grounds (partially digested blood) in your vomit.
• Stools that are black or that look like tar, or stools that contain dark red or maroon blood.

Call your doctor if you have been diagnosed with a peptic ulcer and:

• Your symptoms continue or become worse after 10 to 14 days of treatment.
• You begin to lose weight without trying.
• You are vomiting.
• You have new belly pain or belly pain that does not go away.
• You have pain or difficulty when swallowing.

Watchful Waiting

If you have been diagnosed with a peptic ulcer and medical treatment is not helping, call your doctor. Waiting until your symptoms get worse can be serious.

If you do not know if you have a peptic ulcer and you do not have any of the emergency symptoms listed above, you may try taking an antacid or nonprescription acid reducer and other home treatment, such as making changes to your diet.

• If your symptoms don't get better after 10 to 14 days, call your doctor.
• If your symptoms go away after taking antacids or acid reducers and trying home treatment but then symptoms come back, call your doctor.

Who To See

To evaluate your symptoms, see your:

• Family medicine doctor.
• Internist.
• General practitioner.
• Nurse practitioner.
• Physician assistant.
• Pediatrician (for children and teens).

If further testing or specialized treatment is needed, you may need to see someone who specializes in the treatment of diseases of the digestive tract (gastroenterologist).

If surgery is needed, your doctor may refer you to a general surgeon. But surgery is rarely needed to treat ulcers.

To prepare for your appointment, see the topic Making the Most of Your Appointment.

Last updated:	January 07, 2008
Author:	Monica Rhodes
Reviewed By:	Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine, Andrew H. Soll, MD - Gastroenterology
Editors:	Kathleen M. Ariss, MS, Pat Truman, MATC