I have a K-pouch and my surgeon says it is better that I don't take aspirin because it could irritate my pouch and could cause bleeding.

It is one of those "it depends" sorts of things. It depends on how you tolerate aspirin and it depends on what your cardiovascular risks are. I would not recommend taking it on general principal, like many in the general population do. But, you can ask your doctor if this is something that is right for you.

Obviously, if you are prone to GI bleeding or NSAID induced pouchitis flares, then the benefits of the aspirin have to outweigh those GI risks. On the flip side, not everyone who has a j-pouch has IBD and can tolerate NSAIDs fine.

Jan

My GI recommended aspirin as an alternative to Celebrex, which had been found to cause heart problems if used for an extended period of time. I have FAP, and aspirin was found to reduce polyp formation. There still is no consensus in the medical community regarding effective dose (range stated is a baby aspirin to 2 per day). I took half to one aspirin per day for a number of years and had no problems with my J pouch. Your doctor should be able to provide you with guidance for this issue.

Thank you for your responses. I will talk to my gastroenterologist as well as the colo-rectal surgeon.

Sincerely,

Barry