Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Catch 22

I think it's just that different people have different tollerances for things - or they're taking the drugs away from food. I know that I'm going to have to make a change soon, only because my tummy's getting burny far too easily these days. I always take my vioxx with about a cup of water and try to have food with it too, but my tummy feels like there's a laser beam going through it at times.

You are so lucky to be able to persist without the GI problems.

Hugs,

Kat

Hi Dave

It seems to be rather individual, as it is with much other things.

Between 1995-2003, I took sulfasalazin EN, 4x500 mg and Naproxen (is it called that in English also? It's a NSAID) between 2-4x250 mg, depending on how I felt, every day. I never suffered any problems with my stomac. Not even the tiniest hint of a problem (that I know of at least).

I don't know how the the drugs and dosages I was taking compares to those described in this thread, though.

Now I'm on Methotrexate and Remicade and, touch wood, I haven't seen any side effects yet.

/Mattias

Hi There,
Whenever I take NSAIDS I take Pantoloc to protect my stomach. This has done wonders for me. I am very worried they are still giving you NSAIDS when bleeding! A GI bleed landed me in hospital for three weeks. Be careful as a GI bleed can be fatal (sorry) but true. It may be best to let your stomach heal with ulcer type medication like Losec or Pantoloc and then try NSAIDS again with stomach medication.
good luck! and take care!

Rene a.k.a Julie

Thanks, all of you for your responses.

I'm rapidly going off the idea of NSAIDS altogether... As I see it, if Voltarin (A COX1, older type) damages me and Bextra (COX2 - not sure what I mean here, but a newer type of NSAID) hurts me also, then maybe I'll give Vioxx and the others a miss aswell - I mean, I had Vioxx before but had assumed any stomach troubles were unrelated. Also, the benefits were minimal anyway.

I tried the Gluten Free diet for a month, but that didn't work either.

Hmmm. I'll have a think.

Thanks again guys.

Shane

Dave, pleased to hear that the new med is making some difference already. Hope the GI irration doesn't get worse. It's really good to feel a slight improvement.. Keeps ya going!

Hi Shane,
Have you tried any of the disease modifying drugs?. They are supposed to take longer to work but they slow the progression of disease and help to stop any further damage Dave has just started on Sulfasalazine, and seems to be having results. I take Sulfasalazine Tabs. I have been on them for about 6 years with very good results. I take them with Vioxx - I try to give the Vioxx a miss on some days because I dont like taking them, although they certainly help me with stiffness and pain. I had no success at all with any of the old NSAIDs - they made me vomit. I am so much better now than I was 8 years ago before my diagnosis and meds. Hope this helps. Take Care,
Debra.

Hiya,

another good day..........amazing........the rest of the GI is fine, it's just down the very bottom....another form of ASA did that too so not too worried.

Just upping to 3 x 500mg pills a day.

Walked the dog tonight as well,

David

No i haven't tried them. I just take tynol for now. My dr says that I will have to take something stronger at some point. But if I can get along without anything then that is all the better

Take care
Valerie

Hello David,

In reading through this thread, I noticed your remark about your funny rash. I wonder if it is the same thing I experienced. Is it symmetrical, appearing on both calves. Does it have a distinct border around an irritated area of skin? Is it sensitive to sunlight or heat?
Does it itch, or is it painful?

10 years before I was diagnosed with AS, I had a rash that was symmetrical appearing on forearms, shoulders, and calves. It started as flaky skin and over a few days became red and inflamed with a distinct border. On each extremity a large patch formed, not splotchy or spotted, and within the borders it was very sensitive to sunlight and heat. It hurt sort of like a burn hurts (maybe sunburn), but didn't itch.

My GP thought it was psoriasis, and gave me a course of steroids, which didn't seem to help, but over about 6 months it just sort of disappeared.

I wonder if my AS is indeed Psoriatic Arthritis (PA), or if those two diseases are not really distinct but slightly different manifestations of the same chronic problem. I have read about both and the treatments recommended are the same.

My symptoms at present are classic AS with fusing of vertebrae, spinal stiffness and shoulder and neck mobility problems. I also have HLA-B27 positive and Rhuematoid factor negative.

Rowr




"Rumors of my death are greatly exaggerated."Mark Twain

Rowr,

Hi, PsA sometimes has distinct xray signs esp on the hands fingers. Apart from that and worser forms can ankylose. My step father had rashes similar to the one you describe!

Funny his Ps always gets worse if I'm in the house if accidently uses the same towel.

This rash looks like something to do with the SALAPYRINE, gets worse at night, but it's minor would n't stop me taking the pills.

Dave