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Erosion of the lower bowel with Anacin or NSAID use

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Crohn's Disease
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Posted 7/17/2016 6:29 PM (GMT 0)
Just had a colonoscopy and the doctor notated small erosion in the proximal ascending colon consistent with ASA/NSAID use. I am 67 years old and am guilty of overusing Anacin (take one 3-7 days a week). It has always been a bad habit. It started when I started getting migraines with my periods. In the last 3.5 years since my last parent died, due to stress, and cleaning out their house with heavy objects - I started taking an anacin just about every day. With muscle pulls from lifting things too heavy - I also started taking aleve (1-2) a day when my muscles were strained. I knew better, but was so stressed out some days I took both pain relievers on the same day. The doctor has called and made my first appointment since my colonoscopy and this report. He did tell me after the colonoscopy that he took a small biopsy of the small area that showed erosion in the last part of my colon. Does anyone have experience with erosion of the lower bowel with Anacin and NSAID use?
Posted 7/17/2016 8:57 PM (GMT 0)
Oh yes, Anacin is my Mom's favorite headache medication of choice. She still takes it multiple times a day. She doesn't have Crohn's though. However I do, and when I was working a really stressful job I was popping them like candy to get rid of the headaches I was having. Taking probably 4-6 a day. Lets just say it lead to almost bleeding to death. Of course this can happen even if you don't have Crohn's, some people seem more prone to having problems with NSAIDS then others. I'm guilty of taking a motrin every now and then now. Haven't touched the Anacins though since the bleed out in 2006. I try to stick to Tylenol, even though it doesn't do much.
Posted 7/18/2016 12:28 AM (GMT 0)
I took alot of Aspirin, but usually a buffered brand. Not sure if that made a difference. I don't like Tylenol due to it being so hard on the liver. Unfortunately, for anyone with IBD it's really the only option.
Posted 7/18/2016 12:37 PM (GMT 0)
Tylenol is almost entirely useless as a standalone painkiller. It can work for a headache if you catch it at the very beginning, but it is literally useless for Crohn's pain. It's best taken in conjunction with other painkillers, such as tramadol or codeine.

What makes me bitterly angry is the near impossibility of getting any painkillers prescribed that aren't OTC ones. The OTC ones are literally paracetamol or ibuprofen - take your pick. Both useless and unsuitable for Crohn's pain. I do take ibuprofen occasionally, but usually for headaches or period pain. I doubt I take it often enough to get NSAID-induced ulcers.

Do you have any GI symptoms, topic creator? e.g. diarrhoea, abdominal pain.
Posted 7/19/2016 9:49 PM (GMT 0)
I appreciate all replies. I will have a better idea - once I meet with my doctor next week. If I do have Chron's - not sure, I don't seem/think I have any symptoms. From what I am reading these medications for Chron's don't seem to great to take. Does anyone have any info or looked into any info on healing Chron's naturally?
Posted 7/20/2016 12:30 AM (GMT 0)

Leefaith said...
I appreciate all replies. I will have a better idea - once I meet with my doctor next week. If I do have Chron's - not sure, I don't seem/think I have any symptoms. From what I am reading these medications for Chron's don't seem to great to take. Does anyone have any info or looked into any info on healing Chron's naturally?

Well, your doctor should know from the biopsies if it's Crohn's or not. But your doctor seems to think the erosion is caused by NSAID meds rather than Crohn's. Hopefully it is, because that's actually much easier to deal with - you just stop taking NSAIDs.

As far as natural healing of Crohn's is concerned, there is no such thing. Anyone who tries to tell you otherwise is either trying to sell you something or well-meaning but wrong. Sorry to be blunt, but there's a lot of misinformation out there and I wouldn't like to see you falling prey to it.

PS: The Crohn's meds aren't marvellous, but they are better than what we had even 10 years ago and hopefully they'll keep on improving. Remicade really does like work a charm for some people and, unlike anything 'natural', has been scientifically proven to heal the intestines. The side-effects are scary but the most serious ones are also the rarest. Anyway, I'm jumping ahead of myself here >_<. Wait to see what your doc says first!

Post Edited (NiceCupOfTea) : 7/19/2016 6:36:36 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/20/2016 1:32 AM (GMT 0)
Thank you - I really appreciate your help. Once I find out - I will post on this site my outcome. I am praying to God that it is something better than worse. I stopped taking Anacin and NASID's last Saturday - and then wound up taking one due to my headache and backache on Saturday. I tried taking a Tylenol on Monday - but they sort of makes me feel nauseous. So yesterday I have recommitted to not taking. Of course, life being what it is, I woke up with a massive sinus headache today. I hung in there and did not take anything and it finally subsided about 3pm. I have heard about one of the side effects of Anacin and NSAID's rebound headaches. It is strange that my husband rarely has a headache and he never takes Anacin. I have been under a lot of stress after my parent's passing. If this turns out to be not Chron's - I think I finally realize that I have to do whatever I can consciously to let go of my stress and disappointments since my parent's passing. Thank you again for caring enough to send me your response.
Posted 7/20/2016 2:05 PM (GMT 0)
You should try to find an alternative to NSAIDs if you can - I know there aren't a lot :-/ Your headaches may go away if you stop taking NSAIDs/Anacin, but your backache probably won't. I'm not clued up on backaches, but maybe there are alternative treatments you could try for your bad back, such as exercise. From what I remember, exercise works very well for a particular type of back pain, but it does depend on what's causing it. If you need more info, I can try to find some, but talk to your doctor about it as well. Chronic pain is pretty miserable, and you shouldn't have to learn to endure it unless you have literally no options left.
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