What is meant by non-ulcer indigestion? And how is it treated?

Sometimes people go to the doctor because they think they have an ulcer, but they don’t actually have an ulcer. Despite the severe pain in the upper abdomen, where no diagnostic tests show the presence of an ulcer or other organic problem, the results of all tests are normal, and the fact that many of these suffer from non-ulcer indigestion.

This situation occurs for no apparent reason. One of the most prominent symptoms is pain or discomfort in the upper abdomen. Similar to ulcers, the pain often goes away after eating food or antacids. Other symptoms of the condition include gas, bloating, nausea, or a feeling of fullness after eating a moderate amount of food.

There are several theories for the causes of nonulcer indigestion, including:

@ Irritation of the stomach lining.

@ Presence of H. pylori bacteria. Symptoms may represent an early case of infection with this bacteria despite the presence of an ulcer.

@ Some pain relievers such as aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are known to cause stomach ulcers and inflammation. They may also irritate the digestive system without harming the stomach or intestines. The same goes for other drugs and supplements, including antibiotics, steroids, minerals and herbs.

@ Excessive gastric acid secretion.

@ Upset stomach. An abnormality in the normal functioning of the stomach or its emptying may occur for unknown reasons. It is a condition that often follows viral infections.

@ Acid sensitivity. Digestive tissues in the stomach and duodenum may be hypersensitive to normal acid levels and become easily irritated.

@ Food allergy. In some cases, the stomach and intestines are hypersensitive to certain foods or their components, and these foods often but not always include some spices, citrus fruits, and vegetables with a moderate to high level of acid. Some also note that coffee makes the symptoms worse.

@ Stress. Pain is sometimes the body’s way of responding to stress.

@ Psychological disorders. Depression, anxiety, or other factors that affect mental health can play a role in nonulcer indigestion.

Symptoms of non-ulcer indigestion are usually mild, and the condition is often treated by checking and changing daily habits. This entails avoiding or limiting foods that appear to aggravate symptoms, managing stress, and changing or limiting medications and daily supplements. Some believe that eating small but more frequent meals and reducing fat consumption contributes to the improvement of the condition.

In the event that these measures are not successful, the doctor may prescribe a treatment with medicines, and he prescribes here many medicines used to treat ulcers, and sometimes even antibiotics. Notably, about half of people with nonulcer dyspepsia carry H. pylori. They do not have ulcers, although sometimes the bacteria that cause them are present, but eliminating the bacteria may not remove the symptoms.

Other treatments include:

pain killers. Medications that stop the pain or the feeling, including antidepressants, can help desensitize the digestive nerves. Antidepressants often work well with irritable bowel disease, a condition researchers think may be associated with nonulcer indigestion. However, studies are still needed to prove the effectiveness of antidepressant treatment.

Psychotherapy. If the doctor thinks that the condition is caused by stress or a psychological disorder, he may recommend the patient to see a psychiatrist to help him find ways to control stress or deal with other life issues that may have a role in causing the symptoms.

Liver transplant

What is the success rate of liver transplantation for cases of cirrhosis?

Liver transplantation is considered when the disease has progressed to the point where the liver is completely disabled. As for the success rate of transplantation, it is constantly increasing, and today, more than 90 percent of people who undergo liver transplantation live for a year after surgery. The problem is that the number of patients who need transplantation exceeds the number of donors. In addition, when cirrhosis is caused by a viral infection, there is a possibility In the disease re-emergence in the new liver.

Researchers are studying alternatives to traditional liver transplantation that could one day allow more people to receive effective treatment that saves their lives. One of the operations is to cut out part of a healthy liver (about 60 percent) from a living donor, who is a relative or friend in general, then removes the cirrhotic liver and replaces the part Healthy, and since liver tissue regenerates automatically, the liver should regain its normal size within several weeks for both the donor and the recipient.