Stomach Ulcer and Painkillers

[Eve]

I was prescribed Omeprazole earlier (40mg per day) for a suspected stomach ulcer (had them before).

Wondering if the painkillers I've been taking hasn't helped and maybe caused/aggravated it. I've have cocodamol on prescription for arthritis pain but try to limit them to one a day, usually to help me get to sleep with the pain and have slipped into taking taking ibuprofen during the day as it isn't as strong.

I'm guessing ibuprofen is not a good idea (Sqad if you're about with it being your specialist subject ;)) with a suspected ulcer but am I ok to keep taking the cocodomol without them irritating my stomach further? Is there a good alternative I can use to help the pain and inflammation in the meantime until I see my rhumatologist next month and am likely to go back on sulfasalazine or similar?

ruffled around the boa big time as I've not long shifted the bloody groin abcesses and the last thing I want is any time of work for anything.

[Eve]

Ruffled around the boa????? I'm guessing that's an Ed thing!

[bednobs]

cocodamol = ok
ibuprofen = dodgy

However, it's always worth a cost/benefit analysis. Is the pain relief it gives you worth the risk you are taking regarding making ulcer worse?
only you will know the answer to that.
Omeprazole will help

[bednobs]

PS Jenna, i had a bleeding ulcer which was put down to indomethacin use (anti inflammatory)
We are very similar!

[Eve]

Thanks bednobs :) I will keep off the ibuprofen and try and stay off the codine but at least I've got it if I need it.

Got rhumo next month as GP got them to bring it forward as my ESR shot up and arthritis has been evil, my feet particularly bad, all swollen and bruised round my ankles - had a really bad flare which is thankfully settling now although it's set my tummy problems off and the abcesses and now this, driving me mad! They trialled me off the sulfasalazine to see how I did but

I'm resolved to going back on and to be honest, would welcome it now as I'm fed up of the pain and it helps my tummy to - think I've realised it's not just going to disappear.

Still, life is a bit easier in a way, hit badly jobwise in the recession and been a struggle but ended up in a lovely place and lovely people less than half what I was being paid so hard going financially but they it's so much different to the cold hard commercial world, much easier hours and flexi time and they are good - had me OT assessed as under the Equality Act and did a report for adjustments like regular movement breaks and got me a wrist rest and such for typing, never known anything like it! It's a bit like rehab :)

How are you doing?

[boxtops]

When I was on ibuprofen a couple of weeks back, I was told always to take them with food to avoid the risk of stomach ulcers.

[Sqad]

Well........I half agree with bednobs and totally agree with boxy.

If without Ibuprofen you cannot control your pain, then take Ibuprofen with food as it causes gastric irritation in only a small percentage of takers.......give it a go.

Your "ulcer" is only "suspected" anyway.

[ummmm]

My OH has a stomach ulcer. His doctor told him to never take ibuprofen.

[Ankou]

i can't take ibuprofen at all.

[Eve]

Thanks all, sure I replied earlier in the week but can't see it!

Have kept off the ibuprofen and just taken minimal codine to sleep, was a bit worried it was the painkillers which had set it off in the first place. It's been a painful week! I was told the first time I had one not to take ibuprofen etc... but have been as I prefer not to be on harder stuff all the time and had been ok on it up to now.

"Ulcer" (Sqad, I was told an ulcer can only officially be diagnosed by a camera down etc...) still niggling and painful to prod, no worse on meds though not much better but ok in work all week :) I initially thought I might have strained something when it started after an attempt to mow the lawn (street entertainment in itself!) the day before until the gnawing empty pain and horrible sickness started like before. Spoke to GP and she prescribed the omeprazole.

[Sir Alec]

I had an ulcer several years ago. I am on omeprazole, and metaclopramide for nausea. I can't take Ibuprofen as it makes me vomit, but take co-codamol, two at a time at least twice a day with no ill effects apart from constipation from the codeine. The co-codamol is for hip and leg pain in my case and it doesn't work half the time! Ask your GP if you can try dihydracodeine. They are stronger, so you need less. (They are also known as DF118's).

[Eve]

I've just had a check (dihydracodeine rang a bell) and it's actually co-dydramol 500/10mg I've been given - sorry it's me being rubbish! I found amitripylene ok for chronic pain relief but found it made be a lot tireder in the mornings and harder for me to get up and get going and slept through my alarm a few times. Tempted to give it another try, maybe on a lower dose. Got to ring my GP next week as got a letter yesterday (had to be after hours on a Bank Holiday weekend!) saying she wants to discuss something with me my gastro consultant wrote to her about (hopefully not ominous following a bowel MRI scan) so may have a chat about pain control generally.