Diagnosed With Undifferentiated Spondyloarthropathy. On Methotrexate. Painful. Taking Steroid Treatment And Enbrel Therapy. Guide?
Thank you for the query.
Peptic ulcers can be the reason of your symptoms indeed. This is very possible especially with all this medicines you have been taking. Due to NSAID and steroids therapy, the stomach mucosa is deprived of its natural protection from stomach acid. Due to this process, stomach acid burns it and causes wounds called ulcers. Ulcer, when not treated property, can lead to stomach perforation. Stomach ulcer can also (due to chronic inflammation) make you prone to stomach cancer.
That is why, it is extremely important to have gastroscopy done. This test will rule all this conditions out. It will also tell if there is Helicobacter Pylori infection, which can trigger your symptoms. In case of this bacteria presence, antibiotics should be prescribed.
Prilosec should be taken in a dosage 40 mg once a day and if not working even 40 mg twice a day. Sometimes it is necessary to use other medicine as Omeprasol can be ineffective. But first of all, gastroscopy should be done.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
It would be more reasonable to get gastroscopy done sooner than rheumatologist visit. Waiting for this visit will only delay this test. So if you are able to do it sooner, it would be safer for you.
Symptoms of perforation are: sudden strong upper abdominal pain, hard abdomen, nausea, vomiting. In case of this symptoms, you should visit ER right away.
Hope this will help.
Regards.