Stomach bleed following heart medication

[grandehorizontale]

Hello all, me again - my mother had the very painful arm following the stent procedure. That has (somewhat)settled down after four weeks. On Saturday she started passing black stools and was taken to hospital with a stomach bleed. She had a blood transfusion yesterday. Waiting for an endoscopy today. She hospital say that it is likely to be connected to the heart medication. She has been on aspirin and whatever the one is Trel..... anti-coagulant (sorry - she's in hospital with the drugs). The GP was surprised that she hadn't been given drugs to protect the stomach. So, provided that there isn't some sinister cause (unlikely they say) they are going to have to balance the needs of the stomach with the needs of the heart. Does anyone else have a similar experience? GH

[NorthantsSteve]

Hi GH. It is surprising that your mother wasn’t put on a proton pump inhibitor (slows down acid production) as the Aspirin and Ticagrelor (super aspirin) can cause stomach upset and if she starts bleeding will prevent it from clotting. This is because they’re anti platelet medicines. PPIs (like Lansoprazole) are very frequently used and shouldn’t cause any issues if she has to take them. I was put on them until I dropped Ticagrelor after 12 months.

[grandehorizontale in reply to NorthantsSteve]

Thanks again Steve. The endoscopy disclosed that she had an ulcer (which would have predated the stent) which was exacerbated by the aspirin and Ticagrelor and she is now going to be prescribed the stomach-protecting medication you refer to above. It was rather frightening - black stools and passing out. She would not have called 111 if I hadn't been around. Ahhh...... GH

[NorthantsSteve in reply to grandehorizontale]

Ouch. Good job you were there. Parents - who’d have ‘em??? 😄