Pronounced – doo-AW-duh-nul UL-sur

A peptic ulcer is a sore on the lining of the stomach or duodenum.

A gastric ulcer is in the stomach. A duodenal ulcer is in the lining of the first part of the small intestine. The first part of the small intestine is called the duodenum. The duodenum is right after your stomach.

People can have both gastric and duodenal ulcers at the same time. People can develop peptic ulcers more than once in their lifetime.

Abdominal discomfort is the most common symptom of both duodenal and gastric ulcers.

Discomfort of a duodenal ulcer is usually felt anywhere between the navel (belly button) and the breastbone.

A duodenal ulcer may be briefly relieved by eating food, or by taking antacids.

Emergency Symptoms

A person should call their doctor right away if they have any of these symptoms:

• Sharp, sudden, persistent, and severe stomach pain.
• Bloody or black stools.
• Bloody vomit or vomit that looks like coffee grounds.

Alarm Symptoms

Alarm symptoms could be signs of a serious problem, such as:

• Bleeding – when acid or the peptic ulcer breaks a blood vessel
• Perforation – when the peptic ulcer burrows completely through the stomach or duodenal wall.