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NSAIDs and IBD after surgery...

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Ulcerative Colitis
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Posted 8/21/2014 12:23 AM (GMT 0)
I posted this in the ostomy forum too, but thought you fine folks here might be able to help also. We all 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 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
Well if you have UC, then the affected digestive area is limited to the colon...so I don't see why anyone with UC would need to worry about causing a flare up in the digestive system because the area flaring up is gone. It's only in Crohn's that the entire digestive system is affected so surgery doesn't cure anything.

Surgery apparently doesn't get rid of the extraintenstinal symptoms, but as far as flaring up your digestive system, I don't think you'd need to worry about that.
Posted 8/21/2014 12:39 AM (GMT 0)
That's a good question and one I never thought to ask about. I have taken the occasional NSAID after my surgery but nothing on a regular basis. I usually stick to Tylenol. I'm not familiar with pleuritis....I hope it's nothing serious.
Posted 8/21/2014 12:50 AM (GMT 0)
@Tunnel...Yes, I thought about that too. I just don't know if NSAIDs are bad for IBD just in the intestines, or bad for any IBD inflammation anywhere in the body. I do have a few extraintestinal manifestations, and don't want to aggravate things more than they already are!

@ByBye...Thanks! I hope it doesn't get to serious either. In the most simple terms, pleuritis is an inflammation of the pleura, or the lining of the lungs. It can have many different causes and can be bad news or no big deal.
Posted 8/21/2014 12:52 AM (GMT 0)
As far as I know there is absolutely no proof whatsoever that inflammation causing UC effects any other part of the body. Speculation and theories yes, but no proof that I know of. Of course it is somewhat common for those with an autoimmune condition (such as IBD) to have inflammation problems in other parts of the body as well. Personally I wouldn't worry about it unless you have proof to worry.
Posted 8/21/2014 1:07 AM (GMT 0)
I could be mistaken, but I have read a lot of info that makes it sound like extraintestinal manifestations are more than theory. This is one of a long list of articles/studies I have read.

www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3127025/

Post Edited (UCwhat?) : 8/21/2014 8:24:44 AM (GMT-6)

Posted 8/21/2014 1:38 AM (GMT 0)
Extraintenstinal symptoms definitely happen, but again...if NSAIDs are a problem, I would think they are only a problem for irritating the colon lining. I don't think they aggravate the immune system itself, but I don't have extensive knowledge of the drug other than that it can irritate mucus linings.

I personally don't think you would have a problem taking them, but it is best to ask your doctor about whether NSAIDS aggravate the immune system in anyway. My thoughts are no, but they would have more knowledge.
Posted 8/21/2014 1:52 AM (GMT 0)
My GI visited me a few times in the hospital when I was recovering from my take-down/reversal surgery and while he was visiting me I asked him if I could take NSAIDs and he said that I could now take them if I needed to. He knows my medical records so I don't know what he'd say if I had 2nd disease that caused inflammation.

Tylenol is usually good enough for me.
Posted 8/21/2014 3:38 AM (GMT 0)
NSAID have 2 problems. they irritate colon lining and can lead to bleeding, 2) the have bad reaction with melamine.

if you have no colon, and are not taking any 5-asa, I am not sure there would be a problem.

but ask a doctor or two
Posted 8/21/2014 12:10 PM (GMT 0)
UCwhat?: I couldn't get your link to work.
Posted 8/21/2014 1:04 PM (GMT 0)
I've been taking ibuprofen since surgery 13 years ago. I only take it as needed and not that often. I have never had a problem with using it.

Sue
Posted 8/21/2014 2:26 PM (GMT 0)
@Gary~ Oops, sorry....I need to look before I finish the copy and past function! :P The link is fixed now!

Thanks to everyone for your responses! I was able to get squeezed in to see a PA today, thanks to a cancellation, so we'll see how it and goes.
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