How can you tell if a stomach ulcer is caused by H.pylori bacteria or NSAIDs??

Question

Contrary to popular belief, stomach ulcers are caused by H.pylori bacteria or NSAIDs, not by stress, alcohol or spicy foods.

back in october i went to the doc coz my wrist was swollen, it hurt like hell and I couldnt move it. He prescribed me NSAIDs (Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs). I took them for about a week, two/three times a day.

At the end of november my stomach started to hurt everytime I ate. I would have two bites and felt full. I wasn't eating anything that I wasn't use to.

How can I tell (without blood test or any kind of test) if the ulcer was caused by the H.pylori bacteria or by the NSAIDs i was prescribed for my wrist?

Answer 1

To my understanding, you can't. I tested positive for H.pylori last summer after the same symptoms you describe. I also have and was taking a lot of NSAIDs for a long period of time for other problems. If you only took NSAIDs for a short period of time for your wrist, and that was it, it's most likely the H.pylori.

Have you been treated or tested for H.pylori? (I was but am not 100% convinced the antibiotics worked.)

Answer 2

Well, I don't know your source, but I had ulcers at 19.
I have never taken NSAIDS, and tested negative for H. Pylori.

I was, however, working fairly long hours while also going to school full time and simultaneously coming out of a nasty bout with depression.

So it's not true that those are the only two causes.
It would seem that mine indeed were caused by stress.

I had almost exactly the symptoms you describe, also.
So, although it's possible that your ulcer was caused by either the bacteria or the drugs, you shouldn't rule out stress as a possible factor.

Answer 3

Have you been diagnosed with an ulcer, you don't say? I think you may have had a tender stomach prior to the NSAIDS. You are also supposed to eat food or milk with NSAIDS to prevent stomach upset. I do not believe you could develop an ulcer in a weeks time taking NSAIDS. I have had two ulcers in my lifetime. I have taken NSAIDS for years, switching to a narcotic pain killer for the past 18months, and I do not have any ulcers now. I think it is the individuals body that causes ulcers,the meds irritate an already inflammed organ.

Answer 4

Without a test, you can't. A doctor can perform an endoscopy and biopsy the ulcer to determine the presence of H. pylori bacteria.

While stress, alcohol, and spicy foods won't cause peptic ulcers, they will aggravate them and should be avoided by people prone to peptic ulcers.