Has anyone had or has a peptic ulcer?

I have been dealing with persistant nausea for about 7 months now and I have been going to the doctor to see whats wrong. The doctor thinks I might have an ulcer. The blood tests show nothing wrong and wants to send me to a specialist. Besides the nausea I have been dealing with a burning sensation in my stomache that worsens when I lay down to go to sleep. I get hungry about 2-3 hrs after I eat. Is there anyone who has been diagnosed with an ulcer and has similar symptoms? If so, what are the tests you had to do? Any information that you think I should know whould really help because I have no one that can help me or talk to me about this. Thank you.

Is there any OTC medication that can help heal the ulcer? Is there any long term effects of having an ulcer?

I have been dealing with ulcer issues since I was a teenager. The most effective way of dealing with it has been to change my diet. Low fat, no caffeine, low dairy, low acid, no alcohol. I know, that doesn't leave a lot to eat (lots of protein & lots of carbs). My diet varies a little more than others because I only use diet and other alternative medicine to treat my ulcer and I have been battling it for over 15 years.
There is another type of ulcer that is cause by bacteria in your stomach. Please make sure your doctor has given you the test to detect it. I'm pretty sure they have if you've had blood tests.
Another major cause of ulcers is stress and anxiety. How to combat that? Let me know if you find out.
A lot of medications on the market today only look at the acid reflux or the esophageal issues. I do not have acid reflux but I have found that if I'm really having a problem, epically with nausea, a peppermint will help calm it down. I am not a fan of peppermint but I do like spearmint. While it's not as effective, it does help ( I wanted to the smell not the candy, I have spearmint chapstick and it truly does help).
I strongly recommend seeing a specialist before changing anything. I am able to manage my own issues but still have to go in once in a while for them to stick a tube down my throat and take a look. If left untreated, you can have a bleeding ulcer and that is a major problem and can lead to hospitalization.
The morning's are hard for me as there really isn't a lot to eat to help calm my stomach down. I drink lukewarm water, not hot and not cold, with a piece of whole wheat toast and a little butter or some natural peanut butter (sometimes the little butter is enough to make me feel sick but mostly it's not that bad).
Also, you might want to look at your diet closely. Gluten intolerance has become a major problem with a lot of people lately. Gluten is in a lot of items and can cause problems with digestion. Dairy can also give you problems, for example, I have never been able to drink regular milk. Butter and yogurt are okay, but only in moderation. Same with caffeine and alcohol I am from Wisconsin and we do love beer here.
I have tried many prescriptions including, pills, drinks, shots, syrup, and a strict diet regimen.
Ultimately, if my stomach starts acting up, I try to stick to my diet as close as possible. When the flare calms down, I can relax my restrictions. This is quite hard for my family because I can't eat what they eat or drink what they drink. My boys are meat and potato guys, I'm a grilled chicken breast and water girl.
I've sent a website with this answer, while I do not recommend or support this site, I do recommend a natural method. Most medicines didn't help me, and some made the problem worse. Please find a good doctor when looking. Ask around, go online, and ask a lot of questions. Good luck!

The symptoms that you have been experiencing are part of the signs and symptoms of peptic ulcer disease, dyspepsia or even reflux but no one, not even your doctor can tell you that you definitely have an ulcer unless you go have an endoscopy. If they see an ulcer during endoscopy then you have an ulcer. Othewise you nmay just be experiencing dyspepsia or "hyperacidity". Other less invasive tests would be an upper G.I series by x-ray wherein you will be asked to swallow some barium them have you undergo several x-rays to look for signs of filling defects which may point to the possibility of ulcers but endoscopy is more accurate. Regarding medications, you can use some over the counter antacids like TUMS, Maalox, etc. or zantac and tagamet which may help but I would advise you to ask you doctor before taking any medication. Some other things you can do are to have small frequent feedings instead of 3 big meals, do not wear tight fitting clothing especially pants and tight belts, do not lie down immediately after a meal, do not lie totally flat on you back when you sleep (sleep with one or two pillows), avoid smoking, coffee, tea, tomatoes, spicy food, peppermints or other type of food that will cause hyperacidity. Hope this helps.