H-pylori peptic ulcer

just started PPI for this pending results and blood tests this week. I-previously posted that I have not really used NSAIDs much to treat my RA relying more on codeine . However in October 2020 I severely ruptured 3 muscles in my lower left leg and have been prescribed the strong volterol gel which I’ve used extensively, in fact I started using it on sore stiff joints too as I preferred it to ingesting tablets . Anyway my question : is volterol a NSAID and could it be absorbed enough to start this stomach issue off?

UPDATE: H-Pylori results negative. Bloods due back next week. I’m not surprised at this as how nurse could say it was H-Pylori when she only spoke to me on the phone is beyond me. It occurred to me suddenly that my very long term sore throats could affect my stomachs so asked for GP call which was pointless as he didn’t listen and just said keep taking the PPI and just wait for the blood results, so I am. So far they have asked no questions about whether I drink smoke or am stressed..... interesting approach. Symptoms remain as, throat red sore yellow inside, earache, headache, sore eyes, fatigue, nausea, dizziness, bloating, loose stools, stomach cramp occasionally, heartburn, pain in neck and sometime high in back or between shoulder blades, loss of appetite and loss of weight, feeling of acidic heat in chest, throat nose and behind eyes, slight rash on chest and extra muscle and joint pain from Stills Disease too. I am wondering if it could be gallbladder related possibly associated with HRT use (9 years transdermal). In the meantime I’m walking round the house like a cold chameleon, slowly , carefully and with effort!

[Seacat30]

It is a NSAID and Dr Google warns people that, if they have for instance something like ulcerative colitis, it could permeate into their system and do digestive damage.

[Hidden in reply to Seacat30]

thank you

[PMRpro Ambassador]

It is and in theory - possibly.

peoplespharmacy.com/article...

ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articl...

says "A recent review by Haroutiunian et al reported that the incidence of severe gastrointestinal adverse events is three times lower with topical diclofenac compared with oral diclofenac, and that its systemic effects across the board were generally infrequent and did not differ from placebo in the great majority of trials"

lower/fewer doesn't mean none.

Note - having H pylori increases the risks

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

ah! So if I have H-pylori and have been using volterol GEL over the last two years it could be a contributing factor. I’ve read that having am AI Disease increases the likely hood of h-pylori/ peptic ulcer ........ autoimmune illnesses have a lot to answer for don’t they as the Lichen Sclerosis, Interstitial Cystitis and Dupuytrens contracture I am also diagnosed with also cite AI as increasing the likelihood of these things! What else shall I watch out for 😉Thank you for your informative reply 😀

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

"autoimmune illnesses have a lot to answer for don’t they" - you can say THAT again!!!

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

it’s a good job we’re made of stern stuff!

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

It is indeed!

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

I’m reading that kefir is good for gastric issues but warns it can affect ones immune system, as I have AI such as Stills, LS IC, can I eat kefir?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Dunno - I do!!! But introduce it slowly, let your gut acclimatise slowly.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

tbh I’m scared to eat much at the moment, brown toast, apples, grapes, cranberry juice, bread sticks, cashew nuts almonds...... that’s it at the moment.

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

Bit limited!

[HeronNS]

Yes. I used it once for my injured knee and it immediately caused some bleeding somewhere in my stomach or gut. I don't suppose everyone would be so sensitive but in my lifetime I've had two stomach bleeds and probably both of them were triggered by use of NSAID aspirin or naproxen. I subsequently learned about the non-medicated gel called Flexiseq and have been using this successfully without any issues ever since.

My doctor at the time prescribed it, although it is available otc, and said it would be safe because I wasn't ingesting it. She was wrong. It works because it's absorbed through the skin, and from there, where does it go?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to HeronNS]

I have a friend who was in the ED with a coffee grounds gastric bleed after 3 doses of ibuprofen,

[HeronNS in reply to PMRpro]

Yikes. I've never taken ibuprofen because I read it's somewhat more likely to cause bleeding than some other medications and there is my family history. I use aspirin because tylenol is basically useless, but v e r y carefully, just as careful as with pred, maybe more so.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

did she make a full recovery?

[PMRpro Ambassador in reply to Hidden]

At the time yes - though it looks as if she is now suffering the payback of inadequately managed vasculitis.

[Hidden in reply to PMRpro]

sorry to hear that.

[MiniSpec in reply to PMRpro]

I took one ibuproven tablet, just one, and it caused stomach cramps almost immediately. I had to throw the rest away, and I've never taken them since. From what you say I think I did the right thing.

[Hidden in reply to HeronNS]

I think the prescription only volterol is 2.5% whereas the otc version is less than 2%, however I’ve not tried flexiseq.

[HeronNS in reply to Hidden]

Here in Nova Scotia the sample the pharmacist gave me (the prescription was terribly expensive) looked to me to be identical to what I later saw on the shelf but I don't remember the percentage of medication. I didn't know initially that it was available otc.

My son took the samples away to use, but later when it occurred to us both that we share the same family history of unfortunate bleeds he started using a variety of Flexiseq himself. He's a runner, so (not yet) for OA as in my case, but my original use was for an injury and it worked very quickly and effectively.

[Karenjaninaz]

In my case, the antibiotics used to treat Hpylori did a job on my gut after the course completed. Hp is actually a large cause of stomach cancer so it’s good you are clearing it up. That said I found nsaids bothered me but I could take them judiciously with either a ppi or H2 blocker. I never used a topical nsaid at that. Time; they were not available then.

Carafate (sucralfate) did help the stomach pain after the antibiotics were completed. Check with you pharmacist/chemist about taking any meds at the same time. It can block absorption.

[Hidden in reply to Karenjaninaz]

yes Dr google has given me all the scary information on stomach cancer! Do you mean the antibiotics made it worse for you?

[Karenjaninaz in reply to Hidden]

This was sometime ago; antibiotics have stomach upset as a side effect. Eventually I-was cured of H pylori.

[Hidden in reply to Karenjaninaz]

yes I know antibiotics can upset the stomach but with the h-pylori infection it’s upset anyway. Reading the contraindications of the PPI I see nausea and bloating are likely! So no matter what it looks like an upset tummy to endure. I don’t mind the weight loss though, 6lbs gone already so soon but under 9 stone which I haven’t been for years but I’ll need to watch that as I’m not buying new clothes!