Recurrent gastric ulceration

Dear Ask The Doctor: My husband has a history of a stomach ulcer. A few hours ago he started getting sharp, stabbing like feelings in his stomach. He feels sick and threw up once quite a bit. He is feeling cold, but not clammy. He also feels pressure. He took tums, but that did not help at all. He drank half a glass of milk, but can not tell if that has helped either. Could my husband be having an ulcer attack? If so should he go the the emergency room?

Dear Adam: The symptoms you describe of sharp abdominal pain, nausea, and vomiting could be suggestive of acute gastritis (inflammation of the stomach) or gastric ulceration, especially if your husband has a history of previous ulceration. If the abdominal pain is not relieved by simple analgesia, such as paracetamol or if vomiting is persisting and associated with dark coffee-ground like material or black tarry stools, I advise attending the local emergency department. Avoid aspirin and NSAIDs such as ibuprofen, in patients with a history of peptic ulceration.