What are the symptoms of an ulcer?

I'm trying to wrap my head around how stomach ulcers or duodenal ulcers actually feel.
Does it show up as pain or more of a burning sensation? I'm curious if that ache or burn stays moderate or if it hits you really hard—just trying to be proactive about my health here. Also, is it even realistic for a 22-year-old college student to deal with an ulcer, especially since I’m basically living a stress-free life compared to most people my age?

I'm asking because I'm hoping I haven't actually caught something. About an hour ago, I got this weird pain in my upper stomach area. It wasn't anything excruciating, just unusual; it kept coming in waves, like it would hurt for a few minutes and then let up, for maybe half an hour total before finally stopping.
To give some context, about an hour or two before the cramping started, I'd grabbed a sandwich loaded with sausage, cheese, and some gorgonzola.

Best,
and thanks in advance—fingers crossed everything is fine.

Anyone can get a boil. It’s a sharp, stabbing pain—like getting hit with a knife right in one spot. It hurts like hell.
People obsessed with these things should probably stay away from booze and super spicy food, like those loaded breakfast pancakes.

Usually, it isn't just a stomach ache—you get this radiating pain through to your back too. It’s accompanied by nausea and vomiting, typically following a bout of gastritis... and the pain doesn't just vanish instantly. Does anyone in your family have a history of cirrhosis?

It doesn't matter if you're still in college; I went through this when I was 18. 😲
Honestly, the pain was so intense I couldn't sleep or even move properly for a couple of days. It even started radiating into my back and kidneys. Basically, it was unbearable.
Your best bet is to go get a gastroscopy done. It’s definitely the most uncomfortable part, but it’s the only way to be sure. 😉
And based on what you're describing, it's probably just gastritis from eating too much spicy food. Seriously though, just go get that gastroscopy. 😉

I’m getting those same vibes of gastritis, though honestly, that stuff can spiral into an ulcer before you even realize what hit you... A gastroscopy is definitely the gold standard if you want real answers, but let's be honest, it’s a total nightmare to go through. Maybe you could just start with one of those H. pylori breath tests instead? You basically just blow into a little tube and call it a day...

Thanks for all the input, guys.
Honestly, I got lucky because I haven't dealt with any of those issues you're mentioning, nor have I felt pain nearly as intense as what you described.
Does gastritis always end up turning into an ulcer, or is that just a scary thing people say? And what can I actually do right now to play it safe and make sure an ulcer doesn't become my reality? It’s worth noting that nobody in my family has ever dealt with ulcers.
I'll probably head to the doctor just to be on the safe side.

nimblehound11 said:Does gastritis always turn into an ulcer, or not?

Well, if you aren't being careful, it definitely can progress into an ulcer, but it doesn't have to. By that, I mean watching out for a bad diet—you know, all that spicy food, highly acidic stuff, alcohol, and things like that.

Lucky for me, I can’t really handle anything spicy or sour to begin with, and I don't touch alcohol either