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Oral Nsaids - Are They Safe For Celiacs?

cristiana

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cristiana Veteran
cristiana
Posted

Hi everyone

 

I have been suffering from gastro pain these last few days - accidental glutening I thought.  But then I wondered, I have been taking NSAIDs (a brand called Nurofen here in the UK) because I have inflammation of the sacroiliac joint and wondered could the real cause of this gastro pain be the anti-inflammatory medication?

 

I have just remembered that days before I came down with the obvious gastro symptoms of Celiac disease some eighteen months ago I was taking this medication and had just finished a course of antibiotics.  

 

Is it common for Celiacs to have problems taking this type of medication - I know it can even upset the stomach in people without Celiac disease, but specifically, can it irritate the villi of us Celiacs?

 

Thanks

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nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

I think taking NSAIDS regularly can affect the intestines.  I found this:

 

1. Stage 1 can also be the result of other disease processes such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), Sjögren syndrome, helicobacter pylori gastritis, and possibly other food intolerances.

 

That was taken from this article, just below Table 1, about things that can cause possible Stage 1/ Marsh 1 damage to the intestines. Open Original Shared Link    That's not enough damage to be bclassifies as a celiac, but I'm guessing that it wouldn't be helpful to us.

 

This one discusses how regular use could even be a trigger for celiac disease: Open Original Shared Link.

 

If you think it is the nsaids, it would probably be smart to cut back. Try Tylenol (acetaminophen) instead. Open Original Shared Link

SMRI Collaborator
SMRI
Posted

I agree--they are hard on your stomach naturally, without Gluten.  Take with food and that helps.

chocominties Rookie
chocominties
Posted

If you have any inflammation in your gut, whether from celiac or IBD or anything else, no, NSAIDs aren't the best thing to take.  Once or twice a month for the odd headache is probably fine, but if you have to take it regularly I would try to get on something else for pain. 

 

Though, a doctor gave me an alternative medication, saying it wasn't a narcotic ... and it's totally derived from opium and makes me so dizzy I can barely walk straight.  So I'm in a bind of "bleeding guts" vs. "walking straight."  That's the sort of choice you might have to make!  Now I just take an Aleve here or there, since I know the worst it'll do is upset my stomach.  If I had to take something long-term ... that would be bad. 

Georgia-guy Enthusiast
Georgia-guy
Posted

This one discusses how regular use could even be a trigger for celiac disease: Open Original Shared Link.

If you think it is the nsaids, it would probably be smart to cut back. Try Tylenol (acetaminophen) instead. Open Original Shared Link

So if NSAIDs are bad for us, and a weirdo like me can't take Tylenol, what other options are there?

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

So if NSAIDs are bad for us, and a weirdo like me can't take Tylenol, what other options are there?

Tough it out. Tylenol does nothing for me and NSAIDS could kill me (I am highly allergic to them). But I do not want to leave you in a lurch, so maybe acupuncture or acupressure? Biofeedback? Just think about floating on a raft on Lake Lanier, water lapping on the shore........

Georgia-guy Enthusiast
Georgia-guy
Posted

Tough it out. Tylenol does nothing for me and NSAIDS could kill me (I am highly allergic to them). But I do not want to leave you in a lurch, so maybe acupuncture or acupressure? Biofeedback? Just think about floating on a raft on Lake Lanier, water lapping on the shore........

NSAIDs in prescription doses help, Tylenol I will just say I end up in the ER rather quickly.

Lake Lanier, or any lake for that matter, sounds nice right now...

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cristiana Veteran
cristiana
Posted
  • Author

Thanks so much everyone. V. interesting links nvsom.   I have decided that my journey with NSAIDs ends here!   I wonder if anyone else has had the experience of it setting off their gut problems in the first place, like me.  I foolishy thought that as a recovering celiac, many months on from giving up gluten, I would be able to cope with taking them again.  But of course the problem is, I am not sure if my stomach is actually hurting or my gut.  I am still getting twinges a week on.  I am having one or two gulps of Gaviscon later on the day when the twinges hit, hoping that it won't go on too much longer.  Spoke to a pharmacist today who recommended I try topical ibruprofen or volterol on the inflammation so I will try that. I guess so long as one doesn't swallow the stuff it will be OK!      

cyclinglady Grand Master
cyclinglady
Posted

This is a bit off topic, but I thought I was getting glutened even after 6 months of being gluten free. It was impossible because my husband was not reacting (he is my canary). Determined it was Xanthan gum added to many processed gluten-free breads/flour mixtures. Just an intolerance -- not related to Celiac Disease. My husband does not react to it at all. Switched to guar gum and stomach twinges went away.

Also, my NSAID allergies (anaphylactic) are not related to celiac disease. My husband uses them occasionally without any side effects.

cristiana Veteran
cristiana
Posted
  • Author

Hi cyclinglady - well done for finding the reason for the twinges.  I am not 100% sure yet that it was the NSAIDs in my own case or accidental glutening, perhaps the two went hand in hand to cause the problem.  Just hope it goes away soon, there's always something, I would love a day when I wasn't trying to figure out why I felt 'off'!

nvsmom Community Regular
nvsmom
Posted

Cyclinglady makes a good point, it could be other foods doing it (dairy will do that for 50% of celiacs before healing occurs). If you still have problems (a few weeks) after cutting out nsaids, I would look at other foods.

 

I hope your "off" days will soon be a thing of the past.  :)

icelandgirl Proficient
icelandgirl
Posted

Hi cyclinglady - well done for finding the reason for the twinges.  I am not 100% sure yet that it was the NSAIDs in my own case or accidental glutening, perhaps the two went hand in hand to cause the problem.  Just hope it goes away soon, there's always something, I would love a day when I wasn't trying to figure out why I felt 'off'!

I so completely hear you. I feel like there is always something. I'm always trying to figure out why I'm off too. It's really hard and I just want to feel good. I cut out dairy and soy 9 days ago to see if it would help with my constant bloating and D. So far the only difference I see is that even hungrier and have lost more weight. Good luck to you...If you figure out anything please share it because it may help someone.
cristiana Veteran
cristiana
Posted
  • Author

icelandgirl - wouldn't it be great if in a few months time we were feeling better!  I think one of the things that has got to me is the fact that the consultant treating me, a lovely fellow, said to me that when I adopted the gluten-free diet  I would feel so much better.   I had such high hopes!  I was so glad -  I thought without gluten it would all come right and I would soon become the female version of Charles Atlas! Well.... not quite.   But certainly strong and healthy :) .  I am sure what is not helping is the fact that I have become such a hypchondriac with three health scares since.  Anyway, the great thing about this forum as we can see that we are not alone.  Also, it does show that a lot of people seem to get better, just at different speeds.   

 

Regarding your bloating, I am now taking a very strong oral probiotic and when I remember to take  it really helps with the left side discomfort/bloating I have.   It contains billions of the good bacteria and I really think it is helping.  Might be worth a try?  Here's the link.

 

https://www.celiac.com/forums/topic/108434-probiotics-how-to-use-should-i-use/

 

Also, to encourage you, I don't know if this is any help but my state nutritionalist told me that villous healing can take up to two years.  My chiropractor independently said to wait two years for everything to settle and I imagine there she might have been talking about the inflammation I have in my body (lots of joint pain) in addtion to the gut.  I guess it is good to bear that in mind, I am only 15 months down the gluten-free diet track and have made quite  a few mistakes which has probably put that back a bit.  But I will keep you posted if I find anything that really helps.  I have just bought some Manuka honey today, that's my latest attempt at soothing my tum!

icelandgirl Proficient
icelandgirl
Posted

Oh Cristiana...it would be so great. I hugged my doctor as I left his office with him saying just eat gluten free. I guess I assumed that if I did that it would all get better. Some things are better...but this bloated...trapped wind feeling and constant burping is making me crazy. I've been taking a probiotic since January. I don't have D all day every day anymore...but 7-10 days each month. So I cut out the dairy and soy 9 days ago hoping...nothing. cut out coffee 2 days ago and I'm not happy about it...but I do feel slightly less bloated. At the same time I also have a massive headache cause my body wants coffee.

I so appreciate you sharing. You've been gluten free 9 months longer than I have so maybe I just need to be patient. It's so hard though...I want to feel great so I can be the mom my kids deserve.

cristiana Veteran
cristiana
Posted
  • Author

I so understand what you mean about children.   My husband cheered me up this evening though.  As I was sitting on the sofa feeling sorry for myself, complaining that our children will remember their mother as 'always feeling ill',  he replied, 'Well at least they won't remember you for nagging them to tidy up all the time' which is true because for simply years I haven't had the energy to do so!  When I did try nagging one of the children to tidy up the other day it was so out of character I was asked, "What's the matter Mummy? What's happened to you? Are you all right?" I gave up!

icelandgirl Proficient
icelandgirl
Posted

So crazy...just last week I told my husband that I'm scared that when they grow up and someone asks what their mom was like they will say, "she was always sick."

Makes me sad...All I ever wanted was to be a good mom.

cristiana Veteran
cristiana
Posted
  • Author

Sounds like we've been thinking along the same lines, icelandgirl.  But I bet you are a great mom (or mum as we would say in the UK) anyway.

icelandgirl Proficient
icelandgirl
Posted

Sounds like we've been thinking along the same lines, icelandgirl.  But I bet you are a great mom (or mum as we would say in the UK) anyway.

Thanks! And I bet you are a fantastic mum!

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