Golda: About two years ago I had a gastroscopy.

Harry: That means they put a pipe down into your stomach and had a look inside.

Golda: They found that I had an ulcer.

Harry: Did they find the ulcer in the stomach or the duodenum?

Golda: I don't remember but I have pain under my left rib.

Harry: Well that could be coming from an ulcer in the stomach, for example. Did they treat you at that time for the ulcer?

Golda: Yes, they gave me Losec for six weeks.

Harry: Well they probably gave you three medicines.

Golda: No, they only gave me Losec.

Harry: Well let me then just tell about the general principles involved. If you find an ulcer, whether it's in the stomach or the duodenum, the standard treatment is to give what we call a triple regimen.

Golda: Oh yes, sorry, I did have that.

Harry: So they gave you three medicines?

Golda: Yes, it comes in one container.

Harry: That's right and they usually give it to you for up to four weeks. In the great majority of cases that is sufficient not only to heal the ulcer but to prevent the ulcer from coming back. In the old days before we had medicines like Losec it was quite easy to heal the ulcer but the big problem was that they commonly recurred. Now that you use Losec together with two other medicines, you can not only heal it but you can prevent if from recurring. How long ago did you have this done?

Golda: About two years ago, but it has recurred again.

Harry: Sure, this is not a hundred percent cure and it is possible that it can come back.

Golda: Well last night I didn't sleep at all.

Harry: Then you must go and see your doctor again because it seems likely that there has been a recurrence. You must go and see him as soon as possible and let him have another look. He may well find that the ulcer has recurred, in which case you can have a repeat of the triple regimen.

Golda: Thank you.