My Dr. didn't tell me to stop my Ibuprofen Before Colonscopy TOMORROW; READ ON, please!?

Question

Help me; now what should i do? my Doc's nurse told me to cut down my 325 mg. of aspirin DAILY - down to 81 mg. for one week before my Colonscopy, scheduled for tomorrow morning. But they did not tell me to stop taking Ibuprofen that i take for rheumatoid arthritis! I will explain THIS to my Doc or the hopital staff -In the Morning. I am concerned. I just read on Internet that we are supposed to quit taking aspirin OR ibuprofen - one week (i think it stated) before our Colonscopy. WHY DIDN'T they tell me to stop the Ibuprophen and Why did they say to take 81 mg's of apirin Daily. I am worried now. my Dr. told me that if he found Polyps that he will remove them, during the Colonscopy. Also i just read that with polypy removal OR bi-opsy (both i think it stated) - that we should not take any aspirin OR ibuprfen for One wk. or more ?
following that! Any comments! What would you do? post-pone the Colonscopy OR not allow removal of any polyps , etc. ?

Answer 1

Relax.

Aspirin and Ibuprofen are 'blood thinning' drugs that may put you at an increased risk of bleeding. The RN told you to keep taking these drugs because if you stopped taking them, your underlying disease may come back in the case of RA, and your risk of a heart attack will go up in the case of the aspirin.

Anyhow, if you stopped now, since your procedure is tomorrow, there would be no benefit, because the drugs you took last week are acting on your blood today. There would only be a risks in the case of both drugs. So I say don't worry about what you can't change.

With colonoscopies, they usually tell you not to eat anything after noon the day before the procedure, and since Ibuprofen is a little rough on the stomach and you are supposed to take it with food, I say hold off taking tonight's dose of Ibuprofen.

Be sure to tell the nurses in the morning that you are taking these drugs.

Hope this helps
George, hospital pharmacist

Answer 2

IAspirin is stopped because it makes the blood "slippery" and can lead to an increase of bleeding... Ibuprofen can lead to an increase in bleeding time for 1-2 days after stopping. Just make sure you tell your doctor. You should have nothing to worry about, and as long as they know, you shouldn't have a problem. Don't take any more, of course!

They probably didn't tell you to completely stop the aspirin, because obviously you are taking it for a good reason. They may not have known about the Ibuprofen? Many people are told to continue with their blood thinners as the risks outweigh the benefits of stopping completly.

Continue with your colonoscopy and explain the amounts of Ibuprofen you have been taking, and when you last stopped. He/she will decide if it is safe to continue with polyp removals... should be fine... people with heart valves have colonoscopy's and polyp removals while still on coumadin (strong blood thinner) and they are fine. It is all about letting your doctor know so they can anticipate the body's reaction.

Answer 3

I would tell them as soon as you get to the office. You will have a slightly longer clotting time. But I doubt if it is going to worry anybody too much. Your only problem is if the doctor is gun-shy of legal problems. But tell them when you get there and let them make the call. Don't spend all night worrying about it, It is going to be OK either way.

Answer 4

tell your doctor, if you doubt the doctor's judgment consult another doctor. ibuprofen and aspirin thin the blood and put you at a greater chance of losing too much blood, but as long as your doctor is well aware of the fact you have been taking the meds , he/she should be able to make a decision of what to do.

Answer 5

I've seen this somewhere before...more than ten years ago and racism is still alive but I'm always up for ending racism.

Answer 6

All

Answer 7

it is a blood thinner.you are not supposed to take them before any surgeries!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!