Taking 81 mcg aspirin for TIA

[Gangley]

I have been prescribed aspirin as the doctors think I may have had a TIA (due to partial vision loss which returned after 2 minutes.) Scans were good. As I don't like taking any pill I would appreciate any thoughts on this.

Thank you.

[Lowerfield_no_more]

Nobody likes taking pills unnecessarily. However sometimes they are essential to treat a condition or lower the medical risk. As far as low dose aspirin is concerned it seems to be widely accepted that it is a good idea for people who have suffered a heart 'event' since it is a preventative measure in reducing the likelihood of blood clots forming which could cause a stroke or a cardiac arrest through artery blockage or severe restriction. There is a possibility that users might get an upset stomach if dispersible aspirin is used (since it irritates the stomach lining) but the alternative is coated aspirin which dissolves further down the digestive system. You won't find out about the effect regular dispersible aspirin will have on you until you try it, but you will certainly get a likelihood of more bruising which is a well known although normally harmless side effect, which applies to both dispersible and coated. In the end its down to you to decide whether you want to take low dose aspirin to reduce your heart health risk, or whether you want to be pill free with no potential side effects and accept any consequences. Personally I take low dose coated aspirin and don't get any noticeable side effects and will continue to do so for life, as do many others.

[Gangley in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

Thank you for this. I have been on it since Aug. 19 and so far I don't have any side effects.

[aardvark68 in reply to Gangley]

I have been on it since my STEMI and cardiac arrest in 2015 - with no side effects. To me taking a daily tablet seems preferable to suffering another cardiac event or stroke.

[Gangley in reply to aardvark68]

Thank you.

[Cruise1]

I just buy the coated aspirin from Home Bargains or Morrisons rather than take dispersible aspirin and Lanzoprazole prescribed by my doctor.

[Gangley in reply to Cruise1]

Thank you.

[richard_jw]

I had exactly the same thing as you, partial vision loss which completely resolved within 2 minutes. Pretty scary. I was assessed for a TIA. ECG, CT scan, and blood tests, all of which did not reveal anything. It was put down to low heart rate at the time of the event. I was also put on low dosage aspirin plus a PPI (lansoprazole) to protect the stomach.

Better that than a stroke.

[Gangley in reply to richard_jw]

Hi Richard. I also had the same tests and as I have GCA saw 2 ophthalmologists. I've since had a PetScan which confirmed that the GCA was active again - so some think that may have been the problem "amaurosis fugax" so back on meds for that. Guess I just have to add aspirin to the regime. Thanks

[Qualipop]

I've had a couple of stomach ulcers so after my heart attack I was very reluctant to take aspirin. However I knew it was essential. The soluble type really upset my stomach so I changed to the enteric coated ones. I do take famotidine anyway because of other tablets. I've had no problems since I changed it apart from bruising easily. Better safe than sorry.

[Gangley in reply to Qualipop]

Thank you.

[aardvark68]

Here’s another reason to take aspirin from a major study released today -

Researchers at University Hospital Southampton and Southampton University studied almost 10,000 people from the UK Biobank – a cohort of 500,000 people aged between 37 and 73 years old recruited between 2006 and 2010.

They found the risk of developing pancreatic cancer reduced by 20 per cent among the general population, and by 40 per cent in people with diabetes mellitus, when aspirin was taken regularly.

The team points out that this concurs with previous research into its preventative effects against the development of other cancers.

This large study demonstrates that commonly used aspirin, which is traditionally associated with reducing the risk of heart attacks or heart complications, can prevent the development of pancreatic cancer.

“We found there is a 20 per cent reduced risk among the general population, which has been demonstrated in the past with other cancers, particularly colon, but can now be replicated in pancreatic cancer.

“However, what is more striking is that the preventative effect is stronger in people with diabetes, with 40 per cent less risk in this patient group.

“Given the association of diabetes with pancreatic cancer risk and the associated poor outcomes for everyone affected, this is a very significant finding.”

Here’s the link to the whole article/

apple.news/AwrKx61zDRRm-En7...

[Gangley in reply to aardvark68]

Thank you for this.