Q: My husband has been on treatment for stomach ulcers for the past 10 years. He has been taking his medication on and off (usually when his symptoms flare up). He has also changed his eating habits and removed all foods that give him heartburn from his diet. Recently, he was admitted with severe abdominal pain and after investigation, he was found to have a perforated stomach ulcer. He then went on to have emergency surgery. I feel that his regular physician did not treat the ulcers appropriately. Had he done so, my husband would not have had this complication. The surgeon told us that my husband’s smoking and constant use of painkillers for his back problems contributed to his predicament. Is this true? What are the complications of stomach ulcers and how can we prevent him from getting another perforation?
