When people talk about a "stomach" ulcer, they may mean an ulcer that occurs in the stomach itself, or in the small intestine just below the stomach. The umbrella term covering both types is a
"peptic" ulcer.
An ulcer that develops in the lining of the stomach is called a gastric ulcer. An ulcer occurring in the first part of the small intestine is a duodenal ulcer. How long it
takes for an ulcer to heal depends largely on the cause.
Peptic ulcers are usually caused in one of two ways: from bacteria, or from nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (called NSAIDs). Examples of NSAIDs include aspirin, and ibuprofen.
Ulcers caused by NSAIDs start healing shortly after you stop taking the drug. Your doctor will suggest that you take anti-acid medicine for two to six weeks to relieve pain and promote healing.
Bacterial infections can start to heal when the bacteria are killed. Expect to take antibiotics along with acid-suppressing medicine for two weeks. After that, you should continue taking an
acid-suppressant for another four to eight weeks.
It's possible for a bacterial ulcer to temporarily heal itself without antibiotics. However, if the bacteria are not completely killed, the ulcer tends to recur, or another ulcer will form nearby.
