What does an ulcer feel like? A comprehensive guide to symptoms

September 28, 2025 •

4 min read

Affecting millions of people annually, peptic ulcers are open sores that develop on the inside lining of your stomach and the upper part of your small intestine. While a minority of ulcers are silent, a significant number cause noticeable discomfort, making it crucial to understand what does an ulcer feel like. Here’s a detailed look at the symptoms.

Quick Summary

An ulcer typically feels like a burning, gnawing, or dull ache in the upper mid-abdomen, often occurring when the stomach is empty, between meals, or at night. Other common sensations include bloating, nausea, and feeling full quickly, but the pain can vary significantly from person to person. Knowing these signs is crucial for early detection and treatment.

Key Points

Characteristic Pain: Ulcers typically feel like a gnawing, burning, or aching pain in the upper abdomen, often intensifying when the stomach is empty.
Timing is a Clue: Duodenal ulcer pain often flares up between meals or at night, while gastric ulcer pain may be triggered or worsened by eating.
Relief Mechanisms: Food or antacids can provide temporary relief from duodenal ulcer pain by buffering stomach acid.
Associated Symptoms: Other signs include bloating, nausea, vomiting (potentially bloody), early satiety, and unintentional weight loss.
When to Seek Help: Immediate medical attention is needed for severe, sudden abdominal pain, bloody or tarry stools, bloody vomit, or signs of significant blood loss like dizziness.

The Primary Sensation: Burning or Gnawing Pain

At its core, the most common symptom of a peptic ulcer is a distinctive pain in the upper abdomen. It's often described as a burning or gnawing sensation, similar to a hunger pain, which can be persistent or come and go in waves. This pain occurs when the stomach's protective mucus layer is worn away, allowing gastric acids to irritate the open sore. The intensity can range from a mild, annoying ache to severe, sharp pain, and its character can be very different from person to person.

Timing and Relief of Pain

One of the most telling aspects of ulcer pain is its timing. The sensation is typically most prominent when your stomach is empty. For many, this means the pain is worse between meals or in the middle of the night, sometimes waking them up.

Interestingly, eating food or taking antacids can provide temporary relief. Food helps to buffer the stomach acid, soothing the irritated ulcer for a short period. This pattern of pain and temporary relief is a classic indicator of a duodenal ulcer, which forms in the first part of the small intestine. In contrast, gastric ulcers, which form in the stomach, sometimes have pain that is aggravated by eating.

Associated Symptoms Beyond the Ache

While pain is the primary symptom, ulcers can cause a variety of other issues related to digestion and stomach irritation. These can include:

Bloating: A feeling of fullness or pressure in the abdomen, even after consuming a small amount of food.
Nausea and Vomiting: The irritation of the stomach lining can lead to feelings of sickness. In severe cases, vomiting may occur, which can be bloody and appear like coffee grounds, signaling internal bleeding.
Early Satiety: Feeling uncomfortably full very quickly after starting a meal.
Loss of Appetite and Weight Loss: The persistent discomfort and nausea can reduce a person's desire to eat, leading to unintentional weight loss.
Heartburn and Indigestion: An ulcer can cause symptoms that mimic acid reflux, with a burning sensation in the chest, particularly after meals.

Complications and Red Flags

Some ulcers can become life-threatening if they lead to severe complications. It is crucial to be aware of these red flags and seek immediate medical help if they occur:

Dark, tarry stools or bloody stools: This indicates bleeding in the upper digestive tract.
Vomiting blood: This is a clear sign of significant internal bleeding.
Sudden, sharp abdominal pain: This can signal a perforation, where the ulcer has eroded a hole through the stomach or intestinal wall.
Feeling dizzy, lightheaded, or fainting: These are signs of significant blood loss.
Anemia: Long-term, slow bleeding from an ulcer can lead to anemia, causing fatigue and paleness.

Comparison of Gastric vs. Duodenal Ulcer Pain

Understanding the differences in pain patterns can help distinguish between the two most common types of peptic ulcers. While both involve a similar burning or gnawing ache, the timing relative to eating is a key differentiator.


Characteristic	Gastric Ulcer	Duodenal Ulcer
Timing of Pain	Often occurs or worsens shortly after eating.	Typically occurs when the stomach is empty, often 1–3 hours after a meal.
Night Pain	Less common.	More common, often waking a person up.
Relief from Food	May not provide relief; can sometimes worsen symptoms.	Pain is often temporarily relieved by eating food.
Affected Area	Tends to be higher up in the epigastric region.	Can be slightly lower in the abdomen, often localized.

Diagnosing and Managing Ulcer Symptoms

If you suspect you have an ulcer, a healthcare provider will perform a diagnosis, which might involve:

Endoscopy: A procedure where a long, thin tube with a camera is inserted down the throat to view the stomach lining.
Upper GI Series: A series of X-rays of the upper digestive system after drinking a liquid that coats the lining, highlighting any abnormalities.
H. pylori Tests: Tests to check for the presence of Helicobacter pylori bacteria, a common cause of ulcers. These can include a blood, stool, or breath test.

Treatment often involves a combination of medications to reduce stomach acid and antibiotics to eradicate H. pylori if present. Lifestyle modifications, such as avoiding irritants like alcohol, spicy food, and stress, are also crucial for healing.

For more detailed information on stomach ulcers, you can visit the Cleveland Clinic's article on the topic.

Conclusion: Listen to Your Body

An ulcer's pain can be a persistent and disruptive presence in your life, characterized by a specific type of burning or gnawing abdominal ache. Paying close attention to the timing of this pain—whether it occurs on an empty or full stomach—can offer important clues. While over-the-counter medications might offer temporary relief, ignoring the underlying cause can lead to serious complications. It is always best to consult a healthcare professional for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan if you experience these symptoms, as ulcers are highly treatable when caught early. Prompt action ensures proper care and a quicker return to comfort.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common and primary sign is a burning or gnawing pain in the upper abdomen, typically located between the breastbone and the navel.

Yes, an ulcer can feel like a severe or persistent stomach ache, but it's often more specific, with a burning, gnawing, or aching quality. The timing of the pain relative to meals or at night can also distinguish it from a regular stomach ache.

Yes, ulcer pain is often intermittent. It can flare up for a few days or weeks and then subside temporarily, only to return later. It's not a constant, unchanging pain.

Yes, while burning is a common description, the sensation can also be described as a dull ache, a gnawing feeling, or a sharp pain. In some cases, there may be no pain at all, especially with 'silent ulcers'.

No, some people with peptic ulcers, particularly small ones, may have no symptoms at all. They might not be diagnosed until a complication, such as bleeding, occurs.

Severe ulcer pain is often sudden and intense. If the pain is accompanied by black, tarry stools, bloody vomit, fainting, or a rigid abdomen, it could indicate a serious complication like a perforation or internal bleeding and requires immediate medical attention.

It depends on the type of ulcer. With a duodenal ulcer, eating often provides temporary relief. With a gastric ulcer, eating may worsen the pain.