[JudyKayTee]

Aspirin wreck my stomach - is there a connection between your 14-16 (4,500 mg per day) aspirin and your GERD?

[thisisit]

The only connection is that the aspirin caused me to get an ulcer. I had GERD long before I took any aspirin, or steroids, or pain relievers of any type. My mother tells me I had the indigestion problems since birth.

[J_9]

I was taking 14 -16 325mg aspirins a day, prescribed by my Rheumatologist, until I got an ulcer last August.

:eek::eek::eek:

You're lucky that the ulcer is the only side effect from taking this much aspirin! :eek:

You could have been SERIOUSLY injured by taking this much. Not a good idea... never.

Methotrexate is now being used for RA. If you haven't tried it, you should.

[thisisit]

Thanks, I've been on methotrexate in the past... there really is no magic pill for me. I'm lucky I was able to take the aspirin and didn't have anything bad happen other than a really bad ulcer! The GI doc said if the ulcer would have started bleeding it would have been fatal, a fast hemorrhage, like a garden hose. I know I am, it worked great as an anti inflamatory, and with the pain for a couple years. Now my doctors tell me I can never take it again. But I've gone through all the other NSAIDS also, and believe me, none of them are safe to take at levels I need for theraputic effect and pain relief. I hate opiates side effects too, so I won't take any of those either unless I am a patient in the hospital.

[rosemcs]

The more I read about your suffering, it makes me want to especially mention (from my first post) how many people have healed from Manuka Honey. Get that honey into your system to start undoing all the damage that has been done. There are so many positive testimonies on this miracle food.

Here is one site that helps explain it, but there are many more. I myself could not barely eat or move during a stressful time, and over time, I am completely cured.

Remember, it has to be UMF 16+ or higher (ex. Not UMF 10)

Acid Reflux Disease and Manuka Honey

[JudyKayTee]

Thanks, I've been on methotrexate in the past... there really is no magic pill for me. I'm lucky I was able to take the aspirin and didn't have anything bad happen other than a really bad ulcer! The GI doc said if the ulcer would have started bleeding it would have been fatal, a fast hemmorhage, like a garden hose. I know I am, it worked great as an anti inflamatory, and with the pain for a couple years. Now my doctors tell me I can never take it again. But I've gone through all the other NSAIDS also, and believe me, none of them are safe to take at levels I need for theraputic effect and pain relief. I hate opiates side effects too, so I won't take any of those either unless I am a patient in the hospital.

I understand that the injections don't have the same side effects as the tablets.

As a purely side note - I am concerned that someone is going to read that the high dosage of aspirin has been prescribed by a Physician, think it's logical or not harmful and follow the same course.

Should that post be edited?

[thisisit]

All my doctors agreed with the high dose of aspirin GP, GI, and RA. Is that a dose anyone can safely take? No, it is not safe. It isn't safe at all. No one should ever take that much aspirin unless their doctor tells them to, and even then they would have to make up their own mind and weigh the pros and cons and decide for themselves if it is worth the risks. I was in so much pain from RA and did not want to take more steroids, methotrexate, and nabumetone, all which also wrecked my stomach.

Same goes for any drug.

The ulcer I had wasn't "just" an ulcer. According to the GI doctor, it was the biggest ulcer he ever saw. I never would have guessed in a million years (even though I'm a nurse) how sick and how bad a stomach ulcer makes you. I was in pain out of this world and was in the hospital for over a week. Vomiting so bad... wretching so hard... I was so sick the doctors considered whether to send me to a nursing home or discharge me to my own home. Eventually I was well enough to go home, but I got the ulcer from taking huge doses of aspirin, under the guidance of my doctors.

[twinkiedooter]

This is it - I just had another thought about your problem. Try drinking bottled water only. If you are the least bit sensitive to any kind of bacteria in the water this will definitely give you bad indigestive problems. I can only drink and brush my teeth in bottled water or I get indigestion. It will take a few days to get your body flushed out of the bacteria. I have RA and I think my symptoms get worse if I don't drink strictly bottled water. I even wake up at night with bad heartburn if I'm drinking anything other than bottled water.

[JudyKayTee]

And I trust you sued for medical malpractice?

[thisisit]

No, I have not sued any of my doctors. I have switched doctors, and fired a doctor. There are a limited number of specialists in the area I live and I have pretty serious medical problems that have no cure. I get so sick I end up being admitted into a hospital a couple times a year. If I got a reputation of suing my doctors, it would not take long before most doctors didn't want anything to do with me. Besides, the aspirin therapy did what it was supposed to do, prevent RA flare up. I knew the risks but I decided I'd rather have the risks involved with high dose aspirin therapy than the risks involved with chemotherapy and long term steroids. I made that choice after suffering the side effects and damages from long term steroids and chemo.

[JudyKayTee]

I realize you don't want to sue. I am not sue happy. In fact, I am just the opposite. However, with side effects this bad ("According to the GI doctor, it was the biggest ulcer he ever saw. I never would have guessed in a million years (even though I'm a nurse) how sick and how bad a stomach ulcer makes you. I was in pain out of this world and was in the hospital for over a week. Vomiting so bad.... wretching so hard... I was so sick the doctors considered whether or not to send me to a nursing home or discharge me to my own home") SOMEBODY should be warned that the dosage recommended is dangerous. Often the only way to get that point across is legally.