Digestive Disorders Health Center

Understanding Ulcer Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of an Ulcer?

The symptoms of an ulcer include:

• Burning upper abdominal pain, particularly between meals, early in the morning, or after drinking orange juice, coffee, or alcohol, or taking aspirin; discomfort is usually relieved after taking antacids.
• Tarry, black, or bloody stools.
• Bloating.
• Heartburn.
• Nausea or vomiting.

Call Your Doctor About an Ulcer If:

• You've been diagnosed with an ulcer and begin having symptoms of anemia, such as dizziness, weakness, fatigue, and a pale complexion; your ulcer may be bleeding.
• You have symptoms of an ulcer and develop severe back pain; your ulcer may be perforating the stomach wall.
• You have symptoms of an ulcer and vomit blood or material that looks like coffee grounds, or you pass dark red, bloody, or black stools, or stools that resemble currant jelly; you may be bleeding internally. Call 911 immediately.
• You have an ulcer and become cold and clammy, and feel faint or actually do faint; you could be in shock from massive blood loss. Call 911 immediately.