(f) Dietary management. The bland, smooth diets prescribed for ulcer
patients in the past are not considered today to promote ulcer healing. Instead, these
guidelines should be followed:
1 Eat nutritious, regular meals.
2 Restrict or avoid, drinking coffee, tea, and cola.
3 Each patient should avoid food he finds intensify his ulcer
symptoms. These foods will probably be different for each patient.
(g) Take antacids frequently. In the acute ulcer stage, take in the
dosage 15 to 30 cc every hour during the day and, if necessary, antacids at night.
Later, change to a full antacid dosage as prescribed one to three hours after each meal
and at bedtime. This dosage should stop pain. If it does not, the stomach may be
emptying too rapidly, or more acid is being secreted than the antacid can neutralize.
NOTE:
Milk of magnesia may cause diarrhea; therefore, do not use it but use
Amphojel.
(h) Tagamet (cimetidine) may be taken one hour before meals and at
bedtime. This medication blocks gastric acid stimulated by food and other substances.
It also acts to cut down on gastric acid secreted at night and other times when there is
no stimulus.
(i) Nasogastric intubation may be necessary if the patient is secreting
too much gastric acid, there is bleeding, or vomiting. Intubation allows the ulcer to heal.
that the patient should be hospitalized.
MD0581
3-13