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Stopping ASACOL for surgery

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/20/2008 7:58 PM (GMT 0)
Hello,

My fiance has mild / moderate UC and has been on ASACOL for nearly 8 years and hasn't had very many flare ups. However, she is going in for surgery in two weeks and the surgeon requires her to go off the ASACOL for the next two weeks because of its possible affects on thinning the blood.

Has anyone had any experience with this? Whats peoples experience for going off the drug for a short period of time such as two weeks, did you have any problems?

Further to that, I assume it will be important to follow a strict diet for the next to weeks to minimize the chances.

Thanks in advance.

Posted 8/20/2008 8:18 PM (GMT 0)
Discontinuing the medicaton will eventually lead to a flare, but it's quite possible she'll be fine for the two-week period. Sometimes people go for months or years before flaring. As for diet, there is no standard diet recommendation. She may want to avoid very high fiber and fatty foods, but otherwise it's different for each person.

I hope she has a very successful surgery and a quick recovery!
Posted 8/21/2008 1:39 AM (GMT 0)
I didn't know asacol had any blood thinning effects. I had surgery last year and this was not ever suggested. Maybe the doctor would let her use the enemas in the meantime?? Hope all goes well.
Posted 8/21/2008 7:31 AM (GMT 0)
I've had two surgeries and had never gone off asacol or the enemas beforehand.

5ASA meds...being that they're salicylates, can have a thinning of the blood effect.

What surgery is she having (unless you're uncomfortable to answer)?

Her surgeon is asking a LOT from her to go off the meds...she can request the doc do a blood clotting test. They did that for me in the hospital the night before the surgery...mine was perfect.

Have your girlfriend call her GI and get it straightened out before accepting the word of the surgeon if it's not necessary she go off the Asacol. The GI might be able to call and discuss it with the surgeon as well.

OH...how many is she taking daily? Is she on other meds as well as supplemets such as omega 3 oils, flax, vitamin E, etc? Those are other considerations before the 5ASA meds.

Since diet doesn't cause flaring, she should eat wisely and well balanced so that she's not in discomfort.

Welcome to the forum....
quincy
Posted 8/21/2008 4:39 PM (GMT 0)

I had a c-section a little over 6 months ago and did have to stop my Asacol.  I was supposed to stop it beforehand, but my son unexpectedly arrived several weeks early, so I wasn't able to.  I did discontinue it for one week after the birth.  Everything was fine.

My GI knew that I was stopping the Asacol.  I consulted with him after my OB made the suggestion.  I echo Quincy's advice - a discussion with your fiance's GI is necessary.

Posted 8/21/2008 4:40 PM (GMT 0)
I went off Asacol cold turkey for a different reason on 09/07/07 (began pred the same day, did not help me, GI thought I would be fine) and started flaring up 9/21/07, mutliple bathroom trips w/diarreah, about a week after that it became the flare from HELL!!! I was going 25+ times a day/night, did not sleep, horrible cramping, blood and mucous, urgency. I basically could only go to work for the next month, I had to miss major family/friend events. I finally got it under control w/cipro and hydrocortisone e's. I believe doing that turned my proctosigmoiditis - meaning my UC only affected the first 11cm of my colon to giving me Pan-Colitis which now affects my whole colon.

not saying this will happen to her but this is EXACTLY what happened to me.

In retrospect.........I would try to taper off the Asacol first and see if symptoms start to return. Also, not sure where her UC is located but if it is only in the rectum area, what if she just does Rowasa, I don't think that would enter the blood stream as much???? Worth it to ask, I think.....

HTH, let us know how it goes!
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