Concerns with blood thinners

[Braydo]

I have a history of duodenal ulcer. Ihave recently commenced on clopidogrol with omeprazole. Ihavent started yet as i had experienced last year whilst taking low dose aspirin s3vere stomach pains. I only took it for 2 days. Scared to take clopidogrol in case i get it again. I know i need to take it but i don,t think i could stomach it if it causes problems like aspirin. Has anyone else had these problems how did you combat the discomfort

[MichaelJH Heart Star]

Often people on an array of medication take something like Omeprazole to protect the stomach. Are you on this or a similar drug? The best person to advise you is your GP. You may also tolerate the new drug better than aspirin.

[Braydo in reply to MichaelJH]

Yes in omeprazole

[bantam12]

My husband is currently recovering from life saving surgery after he had three perforations caused by duodenal ulcer, he'd had three previous bleeds over the last couple of years but Drs never put it down to the Aspirin, it obviously was as the bleeds stopped when he stopped the Aspirin !

He's now on Omeprazole and about to start Warfarin, he was on other thinners whilst in hospital and has had Clopidogrol in the past which was ok.

[Prada47]

Question is why are you on Clopidrogel is it to prevent a stent from blocking, or may be Low Blood pressure to stop a clot should your blood start pooling ?? If it's either I would speak to your GP. Did no one discuss before issuing these Medications ??

[Braydo in reply to Prada47]

Put on clopidogrel due to chd. I,ve not had a peoper talk to anyone as i spoke to my cardiologist on the phone on friday. I am goin* on holuday on monday. But he wanted to putme on aspirin but i cant tolerate it

[Dickyticker26]

In 1992 I started urinating black blood

At first I was told it was from eating beetroot but after providing a sample I was in Kingston Hospital

I was in a ward with mostly prostate cases

After internal examination in the operating theatre I was told that I had cancer of the bladder

The bleeding started up again and after another week in hospital on a catheter the consultant urologist sat on the bed and told me that I did not have cancer

I told the urologist that I put the bleeding down to my addiction to Beecham Powders a mix of caffeine and aspirin which I used to drink with Ribena

The Urologist said that was nonsense and it was probably due to my mother smoking when she was pregnant

In any event I stopped the Beechams and had no more problems with bleeding

I had to go for rather unpleasant cystoscopies for some time but eventually gave up

In any event I felt that the bleeding must have been from the stomach rather than the bladder

My medical records still refer to "carcinoma" and I am always adamant that I am "allergic" to aspirin-and Nurofen makes me feel that I am dying

My 5 heart tablets include Apixaban and Clopidogrel which I believe are blood-thinners and anti-coagulants

This has been since last July and so far no problems with blood Now it's just the diarrhoea which started up at Christmas! I go to Kingston Hospital for the colonoscopy kit and instructions tomorrow

I believe that other countries such as Spain have restrictions on the sale of Aspirin

[Nathan53]

Hi Braydo - I am presuming you no longer take asprin?. As far as I can see from looking at various research papers the incidence of gastro bleeding is less with clopidogrel than asprin. Having said that the risk is still naturally elevated if you have a history of peptic of duodenal ulcers. I am presuming your GP / Consultant knows of your history but still thinks anti platelet is necessary. You could look out for early warning signs like stomach pain, reflux, darker than normal stools or blood in the urine and if any of these happens get immediate medical advice. Have you told your Dr you are worried about a recurrence of the ulcer. It may be that the benefits of taking anti platelet outweigh the risk of developing an ulcer again.

[Braydo]

I am going to try and see my gp on mo day before i go away

[dickielex]

I've been taking Clopidogrol AND Omprazole after having had an alarming stomach bleed from an ulcer probably triggered by years of taking aspirin. Been taking that combination for 3 years now and, touch wood, no problems.