By: Arthur Cooper
Submitted: 2010-09-26 00:10:35 | Word Count: 664
While the instances of a gastric ulcer causing diarrhea are few and far between, they do occur in a few individuals, most notably those suffering from Zollinger-Ellison syndrome or ZES. ZES is in fact one of the least common causes of ulcers, although one of the key symptoms is diarrhea. If diarrhea symptoms do appear, there may be a tumor in the pancreas and the duodenum. These tumors are known as gastrinomas, and they cause the production of excessive gastric levels. It is important to note that such tumors are often cancerous, so patients who notice that their gastric ulcer is causing diarrhea should seek diagnosis and treatment immediately. As part of the treatment, your doctor may prescribe anti acid medications in order to prevent the ulcers from recurring.
It is estimated that only 1 person in a million gets ZES each year. The figure is even lower in the category of ulcer sufferers, with only 0.1% to 1% ulcer patients being diagnosed with the condition. ZES generally occurs in people 45 to 50 years old, with men being more prone to the condition than women.
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The diagnosis and treatment of ZES begins with the examination of patients suffering from gastric ulcer causing diarrhea. Once H. pylori and a history of NSAID use (both common causes of gastric ulcer related diarrhea) have been ruled out, the doctor will then look into the possibility that it is indeed ZES that the patient is suffering from. In almost all cases, the diarrhea occurs long before the characteristic ulcer symptoms appear. The ulcers related to the condition typically occur in the second, third, or fourth section of the duodenum or the jejunum.
Patients suffering from ZES are also a lot more likely to develop Gastro-esophageal reflux disease or GERD, and the effects of this condition may be more severe than in patients that do not have ZES. GERD itself may cause a number of complications aside from ulcers, including a narrowing of the esophagus.
Since the ulcers that result from the condition can be stubborn and hard to treat, treatment options for ZES tend to be quite involved. In most cases, the patient will have to undergo surgery so the tumors can be successfully removed. At the same time, the patient may also be injected with an intravenous proton pump inhibitor that will help reduce the production of gastric acids. This is a far better treatment option than what was available in the past, when the removal of the stomach was the only alternative.
Another option you may want to consider is the one presented by Refluxremedy.Com. The site offers a safe and effective alternative treatment to gastric ulcer causing diarrhea that will ease your symptoms quickly. And since the method relies on all natural means, you will be able to avoid the side effects and medication interactions that may occur even with over-the-counter medications. For this reason alone, Refluxremedy.Com is worth considering over traditional ulcer treatment methods.
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