The dynamic (if painful) duodenal ulcer
The patient with a duodenal ulcer may describe the pain as sharp, gnawing, burning, boring, aching or hard to define. They may liken it to hunger, abdominal pressure or fullness. Typically, pain oceurs 90 minutes to 3 hours a food. However, eating usually reduces the pain, so the patient may report a recnt weight gain. The patient may also have pale skin from anaemia caused by blood loss. (See Treating peptic ulcer.)