Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion #1 AS Web Support Group Abdominal Pain

Was wondering if anyone suffered from abdominal cramps/pain mainly in the morning after waking up and loose bowel movements? My husband has had AS for 10 years, he is currently on Enbrel, methotrexate and Naprosyn.

The last month has been suffering painful abdomen mainly in the morning. He had tests and it was discovered he had blood in his stool on 3 consecutive days tests.

After about 11am the feeling seems to lesson and he is ok for the rest of the day.

Doctor has sent a referral to get colonoscopy and endoscopy but this could be quite a wait, so I was wondering if anyone had ever experienced this and is there anything you took to try to reduce the cramping feeling. The doctor suggested taking his NSAID every 2nd day instead of every day to see if it helps.

Thanks
Mel.

I had same, it was nsaid that did it...... Still a bit of a fiasco re early morning gut trouble and need for speed when the moment arises....basically, i don't like to leave untill I'm SURE I'm done, which may take a few goes or even a return home after I've set out on my journey. Once I'm done though, I'm good for the day.
its under better control now though , Nsaid I'm on now is arcoxia 90mg. Its supposed to be a little gentler on the guts....
But to be honest, does very little re stiffness and pain,

I can't see that just taking the NSAID every second day is really going to show if its that or not. I would have thought you would need to stop it for a couple of weeks to see if it made a difference.

If things get worse for your husband though, don't hesitate to go back to GP and get them to try and hurry up the colonoscopy and endoscopy - sometimes it just takes a squeaky wheel....

There are several possibilities. It could be Ulcerative Colitis. It causes blood and pain. It could be Crones, equally painful and bloody. Could be Diverticulitis, same scenario. Could be hemorrhoids to but that wouldn't cause stomach pain. Another possibility that would cause stomach pain is Celiac Disease. These are all possibilities. You can google each one to see what they are. Could very well be the NSAID. They are hard on the belly. I can't take them. I used to but had to stop. I hope he can get in somewhere sooner to have his tests done.

Thanks everyone for your replies. Buster, you sound exactly like my husband. It's funny you can be on NSAIDS for years and have no trouble, then all of a sudden things start to go wrong. Thats very promising though that change in drugs has helped. It's really good to hear someone who has experienced the same, I think it will put his mind at rest a bit that's hopefully it will be nothing too serious.
He is really stressing though as he starts a new job today as well.

I don't think changing to every 2 days will help much either.

I did some googling but as you said Pea there are so many different things it could be and they sound very similar yet are very different.
We go through the public hospital system here in Australia so he has gotten onto his Rheumy and hopefully they can hurry things along with the colonoscopy

Mel

I have inflammation in my stomach and ileum from my spondyloarthritis.

When it flares badly, I don't digest my food and get the loose bowels (and undigested food) in the morning.

When it flares just a moderate amount, I get constipated.

The bowels and the joints flare together for me.

A colonoscopy is definitely in order to see exactly what the problem is.

NSAIDs give me gastritis first, so I end up stopping them before they can affect my gut.

I have a similar problem, most likely caused by my NSAID since it mostly went back to normal after I stopped it three weeks ago.

Problem is I don't feel so hot now so I'm wondering if I could start another one and be extra-careful to take it with food.