may vary from a vague and mild discomfort, which is ignored, to a very severe pain that makes the patient lie down
the pain occurs 15 to 30 minutes after eating
the pain is relieved by vomiting and made worse by eating - thus these patients often complain of weight loss rather than the weight gain associated with duodenal ulcers - the patient may complain of being 'afraid to eat'
pain often worst during the day; pain is often worst during the night in duodenal ulceration
pain lasts for a period of about 2 weeks and occurs in cycles of every 1-2 months
acidbrash, waterbrash and heartburn are symptoms common to both types of ulcer, but occur slightly more often in patients with duodenal ulcers.
haematemesis and melaena may complicate all forms of peptic ulceration
examination is likely to be normal. There is usually no more than mild to moderate epigastric tenderness.
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