What is the Treatment for Peptic Ulcer Disease?
Treatment for peptic ulcer disease involves taking medications that reduce the amount of acid produced by the stomach. If an H. pylori infection is present, antibiotics to eliminate the infection can be taken with these medications. Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, limiting caffeine and alcohol intake, and reducing stress, can help speed the healing of your ulcer and prevent it from recurring. Will I Need Surgery? You will only need surgery if an ulcer fails to heal, you have complications, or a perforation or obstruction in the stomach develops. If you have surgery, the surgeon may remove the ulcer altogether, or “oversew” it with tissue taken from another part of the intestine. Other options include tying off the bleeding artery or cutting off the nerve supply to the base of the stomach.
