Some people do not have symptoms. In others, symptoms may come and go. Problems may be:

  • Burning stomach pain that:
    • May wake a person up from sleeping
    • May last a few minutes or many hours
    • Is worse on an empty stomach but better after eating or drinking
    • Feels better after taking antacids
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Lack of hunger
  • Burping
  • Bloating
  • Feeling of fullness
  • Heartburn

Ulcers can cause bleeding. It is rare but heavier bleeding can cause:

  • Bloody or black, tarry stools
  • Vomiting that looks like coffee grounds or blood
REFERENCES:

National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE). Dyspepsia and gastro-esophageal reflux disease: Investigation and management of dyspepsia, symptoms suggestive of gastro-esophageal reflux disease, or both. NICE 2014 Sep:CG184.

Peptic ulcer disease. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at:https://www.dynamed.com/condition/peptic-ulcer-disease. Updated April 2, 2018. Accessed February 3, 2020.

Peptic ulcer disease. Merck Manual Professional Version website. Available at: http://www.merckmanuals.com/professional/gastrointestinal-disorders/gastritis-and-peptic-ulcer-disease/peptic-ulcer-disease. Updated January 2020. Accessed February 3, 2020.

Peptic ulcers (stomach ulcers). National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases website. Available at: https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/digestive-diseases/peptic-ulcers-stomach-ulcers/all-content. Updated November 2014. Accessed February 3, 2020.

Last reviewed November 2019 by EBSCO Medical Review Board Daniel A. Ostrovsky, MD