Gastritis, reflux and gastric and intestinal ulcers are common reasons for our patients to visit us and are of interest to the general surgery outpatient clinic of our hospital.

What Is Gastritis?

It is a disease caused by inflammation and infection of the stomach lining. Stomach ulcer bacteria cause infection and gastritis occurs. In gastritis, the inner layer of the stomach wall is damaged. Excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, some inflammatory drugs, stress, some bacteria, food poisoning and radiation therapy are the factors that cause gastritis. There are two types, acute gastritis and chronic gastritis. If gastritis occurs suddenly, the type that develops acute, slow and over a long period of time is chronic gastritis.


What Are The Symptoms of Gastritis?

Symptoms of acute gastritis can manifest as pain in the upper abdomen, burning, scratching, nausea after eating, vomiting, heartburn, loss of appetite, pain in the back, frequent burping, bloating, and abnormal stools.
Although chronic gastritis does not show many and always symptoms, the symptoms that occur when it does are bloating, indigestion and pain in the upper abdomen.

Gastritis Diagnosis and Treatment

First, the patient undergoes a physical examination, then ultrasonography is performed. If there is a suspicion of perforation in the stomach, x-rays are taken. Endoscopy method is used for definitive diagnosis.

For the treatment of gastritis, food and drinks that are harmful to the stomach lining should be left in the first place. Alcohol and caffeine are among them. Smoking should also be stopped. It is important to consume easily digested foods, so gastritis treatment requires a good diet. Drugs that inhibit or neutralize gastric acid production, proton pump inhibitors and histamine blockers are used as medication.

What Is Reflux?

Acid is bile and mucous gastric fluids reaching the mouth. As a result of this situation, which is caused by the frequent loosening of the gastric valve formed by the muscle, the gastric acid coming to the esophagus causes damage to the esophagus. It can be confused with heart conditions because of the chest pain it causes.

It can also cause coughing, tooth decay and difficulty swallowing. Early treatment is important because it may cause gastric hernia in the future.

What Are The Symptoms of Reflux?

The biggest symptom is often bitter gastric juice coming into the mouth. This happens more often after meals. Hoarseness, cough, tooth decay, sore throat and difficulty swallowing are among the symptoms of reflux. Less common symptoms include belching, hiccups, nausea, and vomiting.

Diagnosis and Treatment of Reflux

Some reflux tests are required when diagnosing reflux. After the examination, a manometer, endoscopy, radiograph or pH measurement is performed to determine the diagnosis and severity of the disease. Thus, the stomach and esophagus are examined and the patient is diagnosed after the findings.
As in other stomach diseases, diet has an important place as an ulcer treatment. Alcohol, cigarettes, chocolate, coffee, onions, garlic and fries that increase reflux and its severity should be avoided. Weight should be kept in balance and excess weight should be reduced. Stomach acid regulator, stomach protector and proton pump inhibitors can be applied as drug treatment. In more advanced cases, reflux surgery is required. Reflux surgery is performed by applying radio frequency under the esophagus or entering the stomach with endoscopy.

What Is Ulcer?

It occurs as a result of irritation of the stomach or duodenum with stomach acid. After the loss of tissue, ulcers, that is, wounds, occur. There are two types of stomach ulcers and intestinal ulcers. Intestinal ulcers are more common than stomach ulcers and are more common in men. Although the microbe called "Helicobacter pylori" is the biggest cause of ulcers, smoking, alcohol, coffee consumption, stress and some drugs cause ulcers. If left untreated, chronic ulcers can also cause internal bleeding, anemia, and blood loss.

What Are The Symptoms of Ulcers?

Symptoms of stomach ulcers include burning and pain in the stomach, frequent hunger, weight loss, loss of appetite, heartburn, nausea, indigestion and bloating. In some cases, it can also cause back pain.
Symptoms of bowel ulcers may appear similar to gastric ulcers as abnormal colored stools, feeling of bloating, belching, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. From time to time, pain in the center of the abdomen or on the right side may occur.


Diagnosis and Treatment of Ulcers

When diagnosing ulcers, stomach and intestine images are taken with the help of endoscopy after the examination. If necessary, biopsy is performed.

As in other stomach and gastroenterological diseases, diet and nutrition are very important in terms of the treatment of these diseases and the permanence of treatment: Foods that strain the stomach and intestines should be avoided. Probiotic foods and foods containing vitamins A and C should be consumed for intestinal ulcers. As drug treatment, besides diet, stomach acid regulating and stomach protective drugs, antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors can be started.

Our general surgeon will help you by contacting the specialists of other departments and dieticians if he deems necessary after diagnosing your disease with examination and diagnostic methods.