Debby
Yes, ulcers can be dangerous. If one perforates the lining of your digestive system, it can spill the contents into your body cavity, and it can cause peritonitis, that is very easy to die from.. The pain is because the nerves are closely related to that area - and connect to the spinal cord going to the brain. Have you ever been put on a course of antibiotics? H. pylori is a bacteria known to cause many stomach ulcer problems. They need to do an endoscopy to verify it, which is an outpatient procedure( they put a camera-type tube down your throat to see what is what - with you under some medications). I have had it twice. Don't put it off - they can help. Good luck.