Lately, I’ve been dealing with waves of nausea, persistent acidity, and alarming bouts of vomiting. At first, the doctor told me I had ulcers and advised me to avoid certain foods. I tried. I cut out the spicy meals, the acidic drinks, and the late-night snacks. Still, the symptoms got worse.

Then came the day I vomited and noticed tiny blood clots, dark strange particles that sent my anxiety spiraling. Something didn’t feel right. The pain wasn’t just a discomfort anymore; it was fear in physical form.

That’s when I decided I needed clear answers. At my recent hospital visit, the doctor asked me to prepare for a test for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori). A name I had never heard before, but one I wouldn’t forget.

So, what’s the difference between ulcers and H. pylori?

To begin with, peptic ulcers are sores that develop on the lining of the stomach, small intestine, or esophagus. They form when stomach acid damages the protective lining of your digestive tract.

Common symptoms include burning stomach pain, bloating, nausea, and in severe cases vomiting blood or passing black stool. Many people believe that stress or spicy food alone causes ulcers, but the truth is more complex

H. pylori a spiral-shaped bacterium that lives in the digestive tract. It’s one of the most common causes of ulcers worldwide. Once it infects the stomach lining, it can weaken the protective mucous layer, making the area vulnerable to acid damage. H. pylori infection is the direct cause of more than half of all ulcers.

So while ulcers are the physical sores, H. pylori is often the hidden culprit behind them.

It’s possible to have H. pylori and not to know the infection can live in your system quietly for years. But when it flares up, it brings chaos: abdominal pain, nausea, loss of appetite, and even unintentional weight loss. If untreated, it can lead to chronic gastritis or more serious complications.

Diagnosing H. pylori involves a simple test, usually a stool antigen test, a urea breath test, or sometimes a blood test. Once confirmed, treatment includes a combination of antibiotics and acid-reducing medication to both kill the bacteria and allow the stomach to heal.

My journey to this point has been confusing and uncomfortable, but now I understand that treating ulcers without addressing the root cause possibly H. pylori, is like putting a bandage on a leaking pipe.

If you’re experiencing similar symptoms, don’t wait. Make sure to ask questions, undergo testing, and above all, pay attention to what your body is telling you.