It doesn't sound like an ulcer to me either.. Have you seen a doctor? I would go to a gastroenterologist seeing that it's been going on for awhile. This is obviously more than lactose intolerance if spicy foods are giving him such a problem. I would worry more that it just started. For instance i've always been this way.. I can't eat spicy foods or very much dairy.. But I haven't most of my life so I have learned to live with it. Something has come on though for this to be occuring recently. It may be that he has developed some sort of bacteria in his digestive system that won't clear itself up.. But I would defenitely go to a professional.