The common reasons that our hospital's general surgery outpatient clinic deals with and why our patients visit us are gastritis, reflux and stomach and intestinal ulcers. What is Gastritis? It is a disease caused by inflammation and infection of the stomach lining. Stomach ulcer bacteria cause infection and gastritis occurs. In gastritis, the inner layer of the stomach wall is damaged. Excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, some inflammatory drugs, stress, some bacteria, food poisoning and radiation therapy are among the factors that cause gastritis. There are two types: acute gastritis and chronic gastritis. If gastritis occurs suddenly, it is acute, and the type that develops slowly and over a long period of time is chronic gastritis.

What are the symptoms of gastritis?

Symptoms of acute gastritis may include pain in the upper abdomen, burning, scratching, nausea after eating, vomiting, heartburn, loss of appetite, pain in the back, frequent burping, bloating, and abnormal stools. Although chronic gastritis does not always show symptoms, the symptoms that appear when it does appear are bloating, indigestion and pain in the upper abdomen. Gastritis Diagnosis and Treatment: First of all, the patient undergoes a physical examination and then ultrasonography is performed. If there is a suspicion of perforation in the stomach, an x-ray is taken. Endoscopy method is used for definitive diagnosis. For the treatment of gastritis, first of all, foods and drinks that harm the stomach lining should be stopped. Chief among these are alcohol and caffeine. Smoking should also be stopped.

It is important to consume easily digested foods, so gastritis treatment requires a good diet. Drugs that inhibit or neutralize stomach acid production, proton pump inhibitors and histamine blockers are used as drug treatment. 

What is Reflux?

It is the accumulation of acid, bile and mucous gastric fluids into the mouth. As a result of this condition, which is caused by the frequent loosening of the muscular stomach valve, stomach acid entering the esophagus causes damage to the esophagus. It can be confused with heart diseases due to the chest pain it causes. It can also cause cough, tooth decay and difficulty swallowing. Early treatment is important because it may cause hiatal hernia in the future. What are the symptoms of reflux? The biggest symptom is often bitter gastric juice coming to the mouth. This condition occurs more frequently after meals. Hoarseness, cough, tooth decay, sore throat and difficulty swallowing are symptoms of reflux. Rarer symptoms include burping, hiccups, nausea and vomiting. Reflux Diagnosis and Treatment: Some reflux tests are necessary when diagnosing reflux. After the examination, manometer, endoscopy, radiography or pH measurement is performed to diagnose and determine the severity of the disease. Thus, the stomach and esophagus are examined and the patient is diagnosed after the findings. Diet has an important place in the treatment of ulcers, as in other stomach diseases. Alcohol, cigarettes, chocolate, coffee, onions, garlic and fried foods, which increase reflux and its severity, should be avoided. Weight should be kept balanced and excess weight should be reduced. Stomach acid regulators, stomach protectors and proton pump inhibitors can be used as drug treatment. In more advanced cases, reflux surgery is required. Reflux surgery is performed by applying radiofrequency under the esophagus or entering the stomach with endoscopy. What is an ulcer? It occurs as a result of irritation of the stomach or duodenum with stomach acid. After tissue loss, ulcers, or wounds, occur. There are two types: stomach ulcer and intestinal ulcer.

Intestinal ulcers are more common than stomach ulcers and are more common in men. Although the microbe called "Helicobacter pylori" is the biggest cause of ulcers, smoking, alcohol, coffee consumption, stress and some medications cause ulcers. If left untreated, the ulcer can become chronic and can also cause internal bleeding, anemia and blood loss. What are the symptoms of ulcer? Symptoms of stomach ulcers include burning and pain in the stomach, frequent hunger, weight loss, loss of appetite, heartburn, nausea, indigestion and bloating. In some cases, it can also cause back pain. Symptoms of intestinal ulcers may appear similar to stomach ulcers, such as abnormally colored stools, feeling bloated, belching, loss of appetite, nausea and vomiting. From time to time, pain may occur in the center of the abdomen or on the right side, radiating to the waist. Ulcer Diagnosis and Treatment: When diagnosing an ulcer, after the examination, images of the stomach and intestines are taken with the help of endoscopy. If necessary, a biopsy is performed. As with other stomach and gastroenterological diseases, diet and nutrition are very important for the treatment of these diseases and the permanence of the treatment: Foods that strain the stomach and intestines should be avoided. For intestinal ulcers, probiotic foods and foods containing vitamins A and C should be consumed. As drug treatment, in addition to diet, stomach acid regulating and stomach protecting drugs, antibiotics and proton pump inhibitors can be started.

After our general surgeon diagnoses your disease through examination and diagnostic methods, he will help you by contacting specialists from other departments and a dietitian if he deems it necessary.