Colitis and blood thinners don't mix

[BSA20]

I had a heart attack in September and was put on ticagrelor and after a month started to have problems with my bowel and went into a colitis flair which thankfully going up the steroid ladder brought me back to normal. Sadly I started to have problems again and when I saw my Cardiologist for the first time at the end of February he changed me to Clopidogrel but the problems continued and now in another flair. It seems I have a choice to make. I can stop taking blood thinners for my colitis to go back into remission but put myself at risk of another heart attack or a horrible stroke. Or I can continue with the Clopidogrel and Lansoprazole and continuing bowel problems and be stuck at home near the toilet for the next six months, Any advice would be appreciated please as I never ever thought I would have to choose between my heart and my bowel. My Gastro doctor has already told me he would only operate on my bowel to save my life, but if I survived surgery I would be left with severe problems for the rest of my days. Thank you for reading.

[jeanjeannie50]

Hmm, that's a right pickle you're in! How about adding a lot more fibre to your diet so that your bowel movements are a little more solid?

Jean

[BSA20 in reply to jeanjeannie50]

Unfortunately when colitis is flaring, fibre makes it worse.

[Hidden]

Hello

I am sorry to hear about your dilemma you are going through

I have IBS nothing like you but meds play with it and make me worse but I can relate to be needing a toilet in sight

Only you of course can decide what to do and for what it is worth even though I know for 6 months it will be a challenge with your bowel flaring up I would stick with it because for me those blood thinners are needed for the heart which we need to protect

People are always here to listen to you when you need to talk and that can help you get through some not so pleasant things we sometimes have to try and cope with x

[BSA20 in reply to Hidden]

Thank you for replying. It is a difficult decision to make. When the colitis started 8 years ago I worried every time I left the house. I had a long talk to my Cardiac Rehab lady yesterday and she contacted my IBD nurse and they both feel I should try to stick it out. I have had three appointments cancelled with my Gastroentolgist since October and the nearest appointment I can get now is at the end of May.

[Hidden in reply to BSA20]

Hello

As I said I know not the same but IBS gets you where you need to be near a toilet and it is not the best but I would listen to your Rehab Nurse they seem to think it is important to see this through and they know what they are doing

I am sorry that you will have to go 6 months in this mess but worth it to protect that heart even if it does not feel like it now it will be x

[tavel in reply to BSA20]

I too suffer from colitis and I also take clopidogrel along with a high dose of statins. I have been taking these for 4 years and during this time I have not had any flare ups. I did read that statins can help with IBD. Neither my cardiologist or my IBD nurse mentioned that there could be a side effect with clopidogrel but maybe I’m just lucky. I hope you manage to get this sorted, colitis is very unpleasant and so is the need to take steroids.

[BlessedAssurance]

Hi, I had bowel problems with Lansoprazole and switched to Famotidine and it has solved my problem. I also take Ticagrelor. Hope you find a solution.

[BSA20]

That is interesting about the Lansoprazole. Thank you for replying, x

[BlessedAssurance in reply to BSA20]

If you search the group for Lansoprazole you should find some posts about people who’ve had similar issues with it.

[Fynndog]

I don’t have colitis but have had Severe IBS issues in my younger days. After Heart Event the meds made me very poorly. 18 months if constant diarrhoea. We tried changing the tablets but Lansoprazole was the main offender.

[Mentdent]

in my experience cardiologists don’t think about the whole body. I have severe psoriatic arthritis and have to take NSAIDs (anti inflammatories) as well as many other drugs which cardiology hate. Without these I’m in a wheelchair with a progressive condition. It seems to be virtually impossible to get specialists to talk to each other. In my case cardiology don’t discuss my condition with rheumatology. So the decision on which drug to take or not to take is left to me. I have chosen quality of life. I take the NSAIDs and watch my blood pressure carefully. Fortunately my GP understands my situation.

[wischo]

Two things to consider, one is if the colitis bleeds while taking blood antiplatelets it can be very serious indeed. The other is to ask your cardiologist what the % of risk if you stopped the Ticagrelor by how much it would raise your chances of more heart problems or stroke. I have tried to find this answer but nobody will tell me and no answers on the internet. I suffer from what I assume is another bout of Diverticulitis and am currently on a weeks dose of Augmentin as I am only 3 weeks post stent. I can not wait until the cardiologist says I can stop the clopidogrel already but wish I had some info as to what happens if I stop taking it. I know everyone will say you can not stop it but thats because everybody is told that.

[BSA20 in reply to wischo]

Hello Wischo. I know how you feel and thanks for replying. All I have been told is that if I stop the blood thinners then my blood will become sticky again. How quickly nobody knows. At the end of the day, it comes down to quality of life but I don't want to go around thinking I might have another heart attack or a terrible stroke. I have managed to get my Cardiac Rehab lady talking to my IBD nurse but really I need to get the two specialists to talk to each other as they both in the same hospital but that I fear will be like waiting for a pig to fly in the sky. I have had three gastro appointments cancelled since October and the next one (if it takes place) isn't until the end of May. I have upped my steroids to control things for the time being and I fear I may just have to self medicate as I think fit until the end of September when I can stop the blood thinners.

[wischo in reply to BSA20]

The end of September is not that long when you think its edging the end of March already. I wouls not go off the anticoagulants either in case of your worries but would really like to know by how much they help in stopping these events. Hold on a bit longer and you are home and dry.