Aspirin or not Aspirin that is the question

[Superwoman]

Morning folks,

Had a a call this morning from my local CCG long conversation short !!! There is no proven benifits from taking Gastro resistant Aspirin or dispersalble, so can anyone tell me WHY we have to take it. The one thing she said was that it was a Goverment directive made years ago, and that as as long as I take omeprazole I should be alright with the non Coated Aspirin even though in the past I had a bleed on it, hence the reason I now take the EC one.

When I first went on the Hydroxycarbamide they told me that Aspirin would be prescribed as part of the treatment, told them I was already on Enteric Coated Aspirin and they were happy that I was as that I would alway need to continue with it.

Have not got hospital until September, so maybe someone out there knows the Answer to take or not to take, for as they are concerned they do not work ???

Maybe Maz you could find the answer out, now getting really confused which is not like me. 🤪

Jean

[Helpatlast]

I believe the benefit of aspirin for us with MPNs is it aids the extra "stickiness" consistency that our blood tends to have when we have a MPN so whilst our treatment, hydrea, peg whatever works on lowering the high counts, the aspirin backs it up with making the blood less sticky hence the need for both. All the consultants I have dealt with over the years have advocated it for that reason. All the best

[Superwoman in reply to Helpatlast]

Thanks for that, just getting really frustrated with my GP’s as they did not inform me of the change, which for us with an MPN is very important to be notified of any changes so we can consult with our Haematologist. The lady I spoke with at the CCG said the changes occurred years ago, so my question to my doctors was why I was not told, and why the change now?

Jean

[Ovingite in reply to Superwoman]

Hello Jean,

I'm afraid i cannot help with the clinical assessment, but my hemo consultant put me on enteric coated aspirin 80mg a year ago and confirmed it's continued use in mid July - just before the TIA upset the apple cart!!

I didn't bother with prescriptions and just bought them at the supermarket (about 90p for a monthly supply), so if your CCG is playing silly B's you can always bypass them and buy your own.

As if we didn't have enough to contend with without bureaucratic meddling! As they used to say when I was growing up in the Midlands "nil illegitimum carborundum" (don't let the b******* wear you down!) 😉😂

ATB

John

[Superwoman in reply to Ovingite]

Haha 🤣 that’s great but so true.

[kp27kathleen in reply to Helpatlast]

Do you take full aspirin or baby aspirin 81mg?

[Helpatlast in reply to kp27kathleen]

Its the small around 75mg Aspirin that is taken for MPNs but only on advice of your consiltant - ask your consultant if its appropriate for your particular case

[Superwoman in reply to kp27kathleen]

Baby Aspirin 75mg Enteric coated

[stillkicking]

Hello Jean,

I can understand why you are concerned about the non EC aspirin as you have had a previous bleed whilst on it. I get the EC aspirin here in New Zealand on prescription, and it is amazing that you are not able to get this any more on prescription where you are. I do hope you are able to find a solution to this problem (wish I could send you some!).

Best Wishes,

Peter

[Ebot]

I’m a bit confused. I’m assuming your conversation was not about whether or not you should take aspirin in any form but about regular aspirin vs gastro resistant aspirin.

I wonder whether the issue is not that enteric coated aspirin doesn’t have benefits - especially for people like us - but that in most cases taking regular aspirin has no greater adverse effect (or more precisely not a great enough adverse effect in sufficient patients) to warrant the financial burden of the wholescale prescription of enteric coated aspirin. I wouldn’t be expected to be told of changes for something like aspirin - my expectations for communications about that sort of thing are pretty low these days!

You probably have two options. First to get the ec aspirin prescribed and dispensed by your hospital team or to buy it OTC. Hope you manage to resolve your dilemma.

[jane13]

I just buy the enteric coated ones - cost nothing and can only b a benefit. My haem keen that I take aspirin, so I do, however I am not entirely convinced that it's necessary.

[rjw1]

I am very interested what Max finds out about this

[rjw1]

Not Max...I meant Max!!

[rjw1]

So sorry I mean Maz .fat finger syndrome

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice in reply to rjw1]

no probs, I will answer to anything!

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice]

Hi Jean, can you clarify please for me: was the conversation regarding the difference, or not, between eneteric coated and dispersible aspirin?

Or did the lady from the CCG actually say that there is no proven benefit in taking aspirin?

This is causing confusion for a lot of people.

Maz

[Superwoman in reply to Mazcd]

Hi Maz,

It was the CCG that said there is no proven benifits with taking Aspirin, Enteric Coated or dispersible had a very long conversation with them, and as Enteric Coated is more expensive to the NHS, they are changing people over to dispersible. She also told me that there have been no proven studies to say Aspirin works for anyone so hence the reason I am now getting confused, I have asked at my local Chemists if they do Enteric Coated Aspirin to buy over the counter and both in my area have said I need a prescription, I would be willing to pay for it.

It has been really hard going with the CCG, and the Surgery is only putting into practice what they are telling them to do, and not telling me, but now for the moment my GP has change it back to Eneteric Coated, they also have said that there are no benifits from taking either EC or dispersible, that’s great coming from a surgery who does not know the first thing about MPNs. I know the NHS needs to cut costs but at What price to the patient.

My theory is if it works don’t mess with it. Always thought Aspirin had many benifits

So basically it was a directive from the CCG,

Jean

[Mazcd Partner MPNVoice]

I have checked with Prof Harrison regarding aspirin, and the answer is, if you have been advised by your haematologist that you should take aspirin, then you should take it unless your haematologist tells you to stop.

It may be that the lady from the CCG was saying that there is no proven benefit to the general population, with no known medical conditions affecting them, taking a daily aspirin as a preventative measure/precaution against a possible heart attack or stroke. There have been newspaper articles over the years advising peole that taking an aspirin every day may prevent heart attacks, strokes and even some forms of cancer, but these are just newspaper articles.

The advice from your haematologist regarding any medication for your MPN is the advice you need to take.

With regards to which type of aspirin to take, you can take whichever type suits you, dispersible, enteric coated or ordinary, and you can buy them over the counter, not just in pharmacies, but in supermarkets and shops, like Wilkos, Sainsbury's, Superdrug, they are very cheap to buy and if you buy them you can choose which type you prefer.

Maz

[piggie50 in reply to Mazcd]

Thanks Maz. Xx

[Superwoman in reply to Mazcd]

Thanks for that Maz, I am going to mention to my Haematologist when I go next month.

Jean