HealingWell
Search Close Search
☰

NSAIDs and IBD after surgery...

Support Forums
>
Ostomies
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply
❬ ❬ Previous Thread |Next Thread ❭ ❭
Posted 8/21/2014 12:22 AM (GMT 0)
Those of you who have IBD know that we are always told to avoid all NSAIDs because they can aggravate our disease and do more harm than good. I am wondering if anyone has ever been told a solid YES or NO when it comes to taking NSAIDs after our surgeries, once the most irritated parts of our bodies are gone. My gut (no pun intended) tells me that it is still a no-no, since we still have IBD and can have flare ups in other areas of the body.

I ask because my doctor thinks I have pleuritis. I am still waiting for my appointment, but have exchanged some emails with her. And don't you know, pleuritis is listed as one of the possible extraintestinal manifestations of IBD and even more so, Ulcerative Colitis. One would usually take an NSAID to help with the pain and inflammation caused by pleuritis, but since I have IBD and since it could be causing the possible pleuritis in the first place, would it be worse to take the NSAID?
Posted 8/21/2014 1:16 AM (GMT 0)
     Do you mean NSaids or Ibuprofen?  My GI doctor always told me to stay away from Ibuprofen, but didn't say anything about NSaids.  Are they one and the same?  My surgeon never warned me against taking NSaids or Ibuprofen post op.  I have osteoporosis (thanks to all the prednisone I took over the years) and three back fractures.  When I spend long periods of time on my feet, my back kills me.  I take half a hydrocodone OR 500 mgm of tylenol for the pain, depending on what I have on hand.  Neither medication has any effect on my digestive tract.

     I was under the impression that once we have our rectum and colons removed (I had ulcerative proctitis) that would be the end of IBD.  Maybe I am living in a fool's paradise?  I have to google pleuritis...I never heard of it.

     Hope you are feeling better.  Aren't you the lady who still has her anus intact, like me?

Posted 8/21/2014 1:29 AM (GMT 0)
Ibuprofen is an NSAID, and I was always told to avoid all NSAIDs. Those are anti-inflammatory drugs like Advil, Aleve, Ibuprofen, etc.. Hydrocodone and Tylenol are totally legal for us, colons or not!

And yes, the majority of people ARE IBD free once they have a procotocolecomy. But, there are a list of conditions that are thought to be 'extraintestinal manifestations' of IBD...or problems in other parts of the body because you have IBD. Some folks, but not many, still deal with these after surgery. I sill get A LOT of canker sores, for example.

Also yes, I still have part of my anus intact. My surgeon referred to it as a small anal stump. She thought I was too sick to handle being all sewn up and what not. I do have a good bit of trouble with mucous though....amount, urgency and inability to control...don't know if it's worth more surgery though!
Posted 8/21/2014 8:20 AM (GMT 0)
http://ibdcrohns.about.com/od/prescriptiondrugs/i/nsaid.htm

Once you get your colon out the disease is considered "cured" (UC that is) which means you can have NSAIDS. But according to this and my doctor, NSAIDS have always said to be avoided during flares because of exacerbation possibilities but it's not an exact thing. I take them to fight off headaches sometimes and have never had adverse effects.
Posted 8/21/2014 3:14 PM (GMT 0)
NSAIDs are contraindicated for IBD because they can cause GI bleeds that usually occur in the stomach and small bowel but CAN occur in the large bowel. So I personally would never take NSAIDs again, even though my large bowel is gone. That said, I think that episodic use, like one or two a few times per year, is unlikely to cause a problem. It's when you get into routine use that problems arise.
Posted 8/21/2014 9:11 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks, everyone! I think I'm with Pluot on this....NSAIDs are bad for UC and can be bad for the stomach/intestines in general. I'm already missing enough of my digestive system, so I should do what I can to leave the rest happy and healthy. If I REALLY needed and NSAID, I'd take one here or there, but won't make a habit out of it.

Either way, doesn't matter for me right now. I was able to snag a cancellation at the Dr. today, ends up I have pneumonia! Never saw that coming!
Posted 8/22/2014 6:43 PM (GMT 0)
     Oh so sorry UCWhat!  Hope you are feeling better soon.  My family physician talked me into the pneumonia shot about a month ago.  I avoided it back in January, but she snuck up on me and I couldn't get out of it this time.  Well, I'll tell you what.....that shot was one hell of a shot shocked !  The next day, I couldn't even lift my arm!!!!  I was so scared, I called the office.  It happened to be on a Saturday and they only had hours till noon, but the secretary told me to come right in.  Seems like I had an adverse reaction to the shot which does happen in some people. You know us former UC sufferers are in that five percentile who get bad reactions from different meds.  The physician on duty that day gave me a script for 800 mgm of Tylenol.  I only took one.  He said if the pain and stiffness didn't go away within that week, I had to come back in.  On the third day I was much better.  This is one reason I don't get a flu shot, because I always have horrible reactions.
✚ New Topic ✚ Reply