Is this an Ulcer?
Rebecca Mancini & Erin Stewart: Block 4
The Symptoms
Stacey is a 52 year old lawyer. She is very stressed with her job and often takes Asprin daily. She has been feeling abdominal pain for about two weeks during the afternoon and mostly in the middle of night. The first week, Stacey lost her appetite, was bloated, and vommitted twice. This week her stool is very dark and she is loosing weight.
The Prognosis
Ulcers can be easily cured but if not treated they can become severe. Stacey decides her symptoms are unbearable and goes to the doctor. Her doctor listens to her symptoms and asks to take blood work and a stool sample. Both tests came back with a probability of an ulcer. With Stacey's consent, the doctor asks to perform an Endoscopic Biopsy. Stacey will be sedated, and a thin tube will run from her mouth down to her stomach. Then the tube will grab a small piece of the stomach tissue. The tissue will be analyzed.
Treatment
Stacey' s doctor caught the ulcer early enough where surgery is not needed. Her doctor prescribed two antibiotics for her to take daily. Stacey must take H2 blockers, which prevents the stomach from making too much acid and she has to take cytoprotective agents, which protect the lining of the stomach or the small intestine.
What is an Ulcer?
A sore that develops on the lining of the esophagus, stomach, or small intestine. Ulcers occur when acid eats away at the inner surface of the digestive tract. Causes include certain bacteria, anti-inflammatory pain relievers, and stress.
Work Cited
"Diseases and Conditions." Ulcers. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2015.
"What Is an Ulcer?" EverydayHealth.com. N.p., n.d. Web. 16 Feb. 2015.
"Stomach Ulcer." Healthline. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Feb. 2015
"Peptic Ulcer Disease (Stomach Ulcers) Cause, Symptoms, Treatments." WebMD. WebMD, n.d. Web. 11 Feb. 2015.