Help - I need medicine

I woke up with a sore throat, really stuffy/runny nose and lots of sneezing. I am at work right now and my nose hurts from blowing so much. The only thing I have available here is Alka-Seltzer Plus Cherry Flavor cold medicine. Can I take these? Are they safe? If I stir it until the fizzyness is gone, is that ok? They should absorb ok since they dissolve in water. Does anyone know? I really don't want to wait three and a half more hours to take something. By the way, my choice of cold medicine pre-op was Dayquil liqui-gels, which I don't have right now, but wonder if those are safe for future use... Thanks, Anne

Hi Anne I printed out which I got from post op person who said it is safe for our pouch Benedryl Tylenol Dimetap Robitussin Safetussin Sudafed Triaminics (all) Tylenol (cold Products) plus use deaccaffied tea Hope you will feel better Kathy K

Anne, call your doc. I wouldn't take any chances. You don't wanna get sick ontop of being sick. JA

Anne, Alka-Selzer has Asprin in it, I believe..I wouldn't take it... Sudafed works great..I have taken it. Joanie

Thanks everyone. My surgeon's office said I could take whatever I want as long as no sugar. They said occasional aspirin or ibuprofen is ok, but not regularly. I usually take Dayquil, which according to their website has the same ingredients (less one ) than Sudafed. I think I'll go with the Sudafed. Bye, Anne

DRUGS THAT CAN DAMAGE THE POUCH Advil............. Aleve............ Amigesic............ Anacin............ Anaprox................. Ansald................ Anthra-G.............. Arthropan............. Ascriptin.............. Aspirin................ Asproject............... Azolid............... Bextra ................ Bufferin............ Butazolidin........... Celebrex........... Clinorial................ Darvon compounds................. Disalcid................. Dolobid............... Erythromycin............ Equagesic................ Feldene.............. Fiorinal.............. Ibuprofin.............. Indocin............... Ketoprofen.............. Lodine................ Meclomen............... Midol.............. Motrin................. Nalfon............... Naprosyn............. Nayer............... Orudis................ Oruval.............. Pamprin-IB............... Percodan.............. Ponstel................... Rexolate.............. Tandearil............. Tetracycline.......... Tolecin............. Uracel............ Vioxx........ Voltaren............ ALL "NSAIDS" (*see below for the Cox 2 Inhibitors) DRUGS THAT ARE CONSIDERED SAFE.......... Bendaryl................... Tylenol .............. Dimetap.............. Robitussin.......... Safetussin............ Sudafed.......... Triaminics (All)......... Tylenol (cold products)....... Tylenol Ex Strength.......... Gas-X .......... Phazyme........... Imodium Ad.......... Colace....... Dulcolax-Suppositories......... Fleet Enema.......... Glycerin-Suppositories.......... Milk of Magnesia......... Peri-Colace........... * copied with permission: Bextra is the newest, next generation of NSAIDS. It is simply an anti-inflammatory with no compound to aid in the protection of our GI systems. I want to help everyone understand the reason NSAIDS are dangerous for us. Contrary to popular belief, it is not just that they are "pouch burners" as the industry wants us to believe. It goes much deeper than that. According to an article published in the June 1999 New England Journal of Medicine, NSAIDS, once absorbed into the blood stream cause a chain of chemical reactions that affect the prostaglandins and this in turn reduces the production of mucus in the GI system. The mucus is what lines our GI system and protects our pouch and intestines from damage. If the mucus production is reduced, this would allow ANYTHING, including eating something with too sharp of an edge or foods that are extremely spicy, to inadvertently begin a marginal ulcer. The best answer is to avoid NSAIDS at all cost. Taking an H2 receptor drug such as Prilosec, Prevacid or Nexium is only a band-aid and no guarantee that it will protect you. If you are desperate to try an NSAID, my recommendation would be Arthrotec. It is an NSAID with a prostaglandin compound in it that tries to prevent the chemical chain of events I was speaking of in the above paragraph. There are still no guarantees. You are at risk for marginal ulcers any time you take an anti-inflammatory medication. Ultram is a mild narcotic and can be habit forming, so I would not recommend more than a six week course of it at any one time.

Thanks Peter, this is very helpful Linda

PETER!!!!!! That was very helpful!!!!! I am going to print this many times to save it in my folder I am lucky to have you as my friend. Lookign forward to see you again this monday night. Tell your wife that I said hi and hope her recovery is getting better. Kathy K

Hi, Peter! Wow!!! I think I read in a different post that you have an ice cream shop. Were you a pharmacist in a previous life? Where did you get this info.? I'm definitely keeping a copy for the future. Thank you, Debby