Stomach Ulcer Surgery Recovery Time

Nowadays stomach ulcer surgery is not commonly suggested since we already have many alternative non-surgical treatments to choose from. However it may be also suggested due to certain reasons (in a few cases). And if your doctor recommends surgery, it should outweigh the risks! The next question, how long does it take to recover after the operation?

Brief summary of stomach ulcer treatments

As the name suggests, it is a sore in the lining of the stomach. A burning pain arising from the stomach is the main symptom.

1. The pain can start between meals or sometimes during the night.
2. It usually will briefly stop with antacids or if you eat.
3. How long it last can range from several minutes or even a few hours.
4. It can be chronic (come and go) for days to weeks.

The underlying cause of the disease plays a key role on determining the treatment plan. The goals of the treatment:

1. To make the infection clear up. For example, antibiotic is prescribed to kill the ‘H. pylori bacterium’ (if present).
2. To eliminate any medication that worsens the problem such as aspirin, NSAIDs, or similar medications (if possible).
3. And to help heal the ulcer with medication.

Sometimes stomach ulcer can be caused by more than one cause. For instance, it may be caused by a combination of NSAIDs and bacterial infection. In such case, a course of PPI (proton pump inhibitor) and antibiotic is recommended – and at the same time, your regular use of certain pain relievers (including NSAIDs) will also be reviewed.

PPI is a medication to help promote healing by blocking the acid production in the stomach. Although some types of PPI are available for over-the-counter medications, it’s much better to take the medication with prescription. Long-term regular use of PPI (at high doses) may become counterproductive, causing increased risk of spine and wrist fracture.

H2-receptor antagonist is alternative option. It can also help reduce the amount of acid released into your stomach and digestive system, relieving pain and promoting healing. It is occasionally prescribed instead of PPI [1].

In some cases, the following additional medications may be given:

1. Antacids to help improve and relieve pain in the short term. They can neutralize acid in the stomach, relieving the symptoms quickly. But they will not heal the ulcer!
2. Certain medications to help give extra protection to the lining of your stomach. For example, cytoprotective agents may be prescribed to protect soft-tissues that cover your stomach and small intestine.

Does stomach ulcer require surgery?

Again, nowadays stomach ulcer surgery is not common treatment option. However in rare cases, it may be required.

In the rare event, there are several reasons of when stomach ulcer may require surgery. These include [2]:

1. If the disease doesn’t heal with other treatments. Sometimes it can be intractable disease or continue to grow. In such case, more aggressive treatment such as surgery is worth a try to prevent the disease from causing dangerous complication.
2. One of the main goals is to control the stomach acid. This is important to prevent the ulcer from getting worse and promote healing. If other treatments fail to reduce the stomach acid, surgery is suggested to remove certain part of your stomach so the stomach acid level is controlable.
3. Uncontrolled bleeding ulcer during an endoscopy (a procedure that penetrates endoscope, a flexible small tubes with tiny instruments (including a light and camera), through the mouth into the stomach). Endoscopy is one of common procedures to help diagnose the stomach ulcer. During this procedure, doctors may find bleeding ulcer. They usually use a laser to stop the bleeding. But if this doesn’t work, a surgical procedure called ‘partial gastrectomy’ is alternative option to stop the bleeding by removing certain part of the stomach.
4. If the disease has caused serious, life-threatening complications.

How long does stomach ulcer surgery take?

There are a number of types of surgery. Each type has pros and cons. Which one you need to take is dependent on the exact problem the disease has created.

How long the surgery lasts can vary, each case is different. It can range from several minutes to a few hours.

The severity of the problem often plays a key role. The type of the surgery and the unexpected factors can have an effect, too.

For example, the procedure can be shorter than usual if the bleeding is mild or if all the necessary instruments (equipment, human activity, and supplies) are perfectly synchronized. But sometimes it can go into overtime if there is unexpected finding that may change the procedure and require extra time.

How long does it take to recover?

The same goes for the recovery time after surgery. It varies from patient to patient, which can range from several weeks to a few months. It may also take longer or shorter than expected.

How long the recovery takes is dependent on several factors. These include:

1. The specific of surgical procedure you have.
2. Whether or not the surgery works successfully.
3. Your overall health.
4. Certain medical condition that you may have.
5. Even something as simple as your age may also have an effect.

Surgical wound site, where surgeon made the cut into your skin, usually will heal fairly quickly. But the same doesn’t go for the deeper tissues that make up your abdominal wall. They usually will take a little bit longer to recover.

With all of these factors, the length of time you need to get a complete recovery is not easy to predict. For more information about your recovery time, talk with someone (your doctor or surgeon) who has the best idea of how long it will take!

As the name suggests, it’s designed to help you full health more quickly and go home sooner than conventionally expected.

It’s usually suggested before you take the operation, since it requires comprehensive steps and efforts before and after surgery. For examples, patients may need to follow the following steps before the operation so they’re likely to recover more quickly: