Hello All -

I was banded on January 27th, 2009. I went to a lapband support group put on by the dietician at my surgeon's office. We got on the subject of medications and I mentioned that the low-dose aspirin I take is very small in size and I don't see it being a problem.

The dietician said "Weren't you told not to take aspirin? It can erode your band".

I was astonished since this was the first I had heard of this. I stopped taking the aspirin immediately and it's on my list of questions to ask the surgeon when I see him on the 12th.

Has anyone else been informed of this?

NSAIDS can be hard on the stomach....that's a well-known fact. That's one reason some aspirin are coated, and we're told to take aspirin and ibuprofen with food, adequate Water, etc. Because of the nature of the pouch (slow empty into the lower stomach) NSAIDS (aleve is one too) can sit in the upper pouch too long and cause erosion. It won't erode THE BAND...that is plastic and durable. It will erode your stomach tissue.

Ask your surgeon. Take in a bottle of the aspirin you are using and show him. Mine has told me that if I am careful to time when I take the drug and to make sure I flush with water, it is ok. But I don't take it daily, either (take aleve occasionally for plantar fasciitis)

You certainly don't want to take it on an empty stomach or with just "broth" because even though things "flow on through" until you are restricted, you can get irritation of your "lower" stomach.

Unless you are taking it because a cardiologist or other doc prescribed, you can wait to see your surgeon and ask. If it is a priority, call him Monday and ask! :thumbdown:

Aspirin is related to the NSAIDS (ibuprofen, etc) and all of these drugs, aspirin included, can interfere with the stomach lining's protective mechanisms. They increase the likelihood of erosion or ulceration of the gastric lining. I don't know if there is evidence of an increased rate of erosion in band patients who use these medications or if these medications are avoided based only on the theoretical risk. The effects are dose related and have nothing to do with the size of the pill. The risks of a baby aspirin a day, for example, taken for cardio-protection, would be less than that of high dose ibuprofen taken 3 or 4 times a day.

I was told not to use these medications, and I haven't. I miss my motrin!!

Talking to your surgeon is the right thing to do.

We were told that we can take a baby aspirin each day if we have been advised to do that by our doc - otherwise, no aspirin or other anti-inflamms.

I was told that I could take the coated baby aspirin, but to wait until 5 days post surgery. It' s probably better to take with food.

This is something I'm really worried about... I have terrible plantar fasciitis that flares up now and then, and happens to be bothering me a lot NOW. I am not permitted to do ANY weight-bearing exercise during a flareup, for about four to six weeks, and during that time I'm supposed to take an anti-inflammatory four times a day. I have been putting off going back to the podiatrist for a couple of weeks until I see the lap-band doc and see what he says about NSAIDS. I'm not sure what I'm going to do if I can't take the meds!

Ok, I'm back--my doctor said "no problem" to NSAIDS (I usually use Aleve). That makes me very happy--I got a podiatrist appointment for Wednesday, so my feet will soon have some relief! AND I think I may have a tiny bit of restriction after my first fill! Good news all around! (Sorry to hijack the thread!)

L12 you're such a good case in point! This board is great but in the end, for many of the issues here we're safest if we just ask our surgeons! All the docs are SO different on the pre and post care, etc. Even the "band rules" vary from surgeon to surgeon. I'm so glad you got the go-ahead (as I did from my surgeon!)

I was initially never told, but there is a lady on here who had her band removed because of over use of asprin. When I read this I looked at Allergen (the manufacture of my band) and it states on there to use caution with NAISD because they have been associated with band erosion so I asked my surgeon and he told me to take it occasionally was fine, but not on a daily basis. Just my 2 cents.

My surgeon said no anti-inflamatory or ibprofen products for the first year.It's been tough.I had a big "advil-habit" espicially during TOM.But I'm managing.LOL :thumbdown: Just got my first post-band cold too & trying to figure out what I could take was kinda hard for that too.............