Stomach ulcer?

[Gmc54]

Has anyone else here developed a stomach ulcer after taking warfarin or any other anticoagulant long term? I have a suspected ulcer, and I'm wondering how it can heal while still taking warfarin, which it seems can be a cause of ulcers.

[BobD Volunteer]

No and been on it for 16 years. Ulcers I thought were more about diet than anything else.

[secondtry]

One of the possible health reasons behind my postponement of ACs on CHADS score 1. I have suspected I have a peptic ulcer for some time, it causes a minor issue with some foods and I keep it quiet with milky deserts. Taking warfarin or DOACs could mean it requires treatment.

[Mrsvemb]

I was diagnosed with drug related erosive gastritis and a gastric ulcer in March this year following an endoscopy. I was told that this was caused by Rivaroxaban. As I had already failed on Apixaban, Dabigatran and Edoxaban it left me with not much choice. Stay on Rivaroxaban or try the dreaded warfarin.

I was referred to a haematologist who told me that warfarin is not so harsh on the stomach as Rivaroxaban. He persuaded me to try it.

So far I am tolerating it ok, but I am finding it hard to stabilise my INR. My intention is to try and maintain on the lowest possible dose and I have reduced the amount of leafy green veg that I love.

I will find out in two weeks time the status of my ulcer and gastritis.

Two things that I have proved recently. One is that Rivaroxaban was causing the continuous nausea and the other is that I believe that it was also causing AF, because in the 8 weeks since stopping Rivaroxaban and starting warfarin I have not had any AF episodes. Before it was every week.

Has your doctor suggested PPI’s to aid the healing of you stomach? I can’t tolerate those either!

[Gmc54 in reply to Mrsvemb]

Thanks Mrsvemb, I have been on ppi's for some time, (omeprazole) they worked at first, but now I'm having a major flare up. If it doesn't settle down I will most probably be in line for an endoscopy. I eat very little fat, but do eat loads of salad, maybe my stomach finds eating salads a bit too much to deal with.

I just wondered if the ppi's don't work what the next line of treatment will be. Gill.

[irene75359 in reply to Mrsvemb]

I find I don't have to reduce the leafy green veg, as long as I am consistent in eating it every day although your dose of warfarin may have to be slightly increased. Best of luck!

[Mrsvemb in reply to irene75359]

Yes I was told to eat normally and not change anything, just to be consistent. My problem is that I have a huge history of intolerances and Warfarin is a last resort for anticoagulation. I just thought the smaller the dose the better the chance of tolerating it.

[Mrsvemb]

I cannot tolerate fat at all. I thought it was the stomach ulcer, but it seems that it could be gall bladder. I am waiting for an ultrasound for that.I am very limited on what I can eat. I mainly eat white fish for my main meal. No tomato, cucumber, onions or spicy food. Oh how I would love to have a steak or roast lamb or a curry. I could go on and on here.

There is another tablet Ranitidine for stomach. I am not sure if you can still get it though. I believe that it may have been withdrawn. I took that for about 12 weeks and it seemed to be helping but as soon as I stopped it my symptoms were back. The reason that I stopped it was because I seemed to get a buildup and it was causing AF.

I don’t know what the answer is to be honest. There are loads of different PPI’s it may be worth asking your doctor to change you to another one. I failed on 3 different ones so they gave up on me.

[Ppiman]

I have a lot of gastric discomfort caused either by a weak pyloric sphincter or a hiatus hernia. PPI drugs are the only ones that work.

For a month I’ve had nausea and discomfort under my left rib. My doctor tends to call it gastritis and it does eventually go away but you’ve made me think now.

Steve

[Gmc54 in reply to Ppiman]

That's exactly where mine is.