I'd like to add to this discussion....

There was a newer study that found up to 70% of people were having brain bleeds from the cardiac doses of aspirin.

http://articles.cnn.com/2009-11-04/h...e?_s=PM:HEALTH

small bleeds:
http://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&q=...J8tODMj1m26nRA

So one should be careful, consult your doctor and consider this new risk.

Boy, tough crowd Well I'll take everyone's advice partially. I'll take it every other night from now on. You's are right - baby steps. I just can't lose anymore feeling cause I don't have much more to lose. I still haven't rented to try before I buy a oxygen concentrator.

Looked at coated aspirin today. Forget that for the $ and chewables were right next to them which I was thinking about anyway - crush it and swallow it down with a couple glasses of water if the pill laying in stomach is what does the damage. Also saw 500mg's. The way you all scared me, the bottle should have skull & cross bones lol.

The bottle may say not to exceed 12 in a 24 hour period, but its not meant to be taken in that dose day after day, it can and frequently does cause bleeding. This is why most MDs want folks on the coated baby asprin of 81mg. Asprin has been a wonderful drug thru the years, and has definatly earned its place in the top ten wonders of the world, but it must be used with caution. You dont need a stroke, bleed, ulcer, or issues to become worse than they are. I personally dont think the 325 per day is an issue as long as you get the coated kind, and tell your MD you are taking it.

I hope it works for you.

Last night I didn't take the aspirin. I swear more of my head & face is numb. Tonight I'll be taking it. I'll get the coated 80mg next chance I get. If I crush the regular one, think it's easier on stomach?

If you're going to insist on taking the aspirin anyways, then take it with something like yogurt. Having food in your stomach might help protect your stomach lining.

if you take the coated kind, it wont break down till its in your intestine which has a much tougher lining and moves things along, instead of sitting in that acid bath that is your tummy. Having food in your tummy will help keep things moving tho.

How are you feeling on the lower dose?

So night before last I didnt take any and yesterday I swear I felt more numb. So I decided to go in pool and get closer to lap 500 and I got chilled. By evening I had 99.9 fever (haven't been sick in years) so I was in bed by 7 with the a/c off. Fever broke 2am and had to get up and put a/c back on cause I couldn't stop twisting in bed. I took aspirin last night to use it for fever and today I just have the normal slightly aches and head fog/hurt if I do much work. If platelet count is a way to tell blood thickness (is it?) i'd love to know everyones count. Like I said mines always above 300, close to 400 sometimes. Thats thousands I believe. Smoke 1 pack/day for 25yrs. I know I know but it's 1 of the few things I enjoy. I always joke with nurse saying yes I smoke so I won't bleed but for a few seconds after bloodtest. They smile, me too, but it's looking like thick blood isn't great for MS. My guess.

And also like I asked - if I crush the aspirin and wash it down, is that easier on lining?

No, I dont think crushing the aspirin would be easier on the lining in your stomach. Chewable aspirins are the only formulation that you're allowed to crush.

If it's extended release, dont crush it.

My aunt (a nurse practitioner) was telling me about aspirin the other night. She's got a great memory for medications. She said you actually have to be careful with large doses of aspirin, because it's metabolized in your liver. (it's excreted thru the kidneys tho) If you take too much, or if you're sensitive to aspirin you can get liver damage.

She also said that you have to be careful, and stop taking it, if you notice you're having breathing problems, or a weird pain in one of your arms. (cant remember which arm)

She was taking aspirin over the weekend, cant remember why she was, but she said she was taking the baby aspirin dose (81mg) and after the third dose (3 days) she was having breathing problems and her arm hurt really bad. Then she remembered she had an allergic reaction to a medication that has aspirin in it a few years ago. Apparently aspirin allergies are fairly common. (my mom has the allergy too)

I stopped the aspirin because i'm dizzy/short of breath since I got sick Tuesday and don't need to increase those effects. 1st time getting ill on Ty. Ty, C, Reb, whatever I always lose more feeling when sick. White cells? Anyway, case closed on aspirin till i'm better. At least I learned correct spelling of aspirin.

As for taking continuous doses of aspirin; you also need to watch for tolerance. You can build a tolerance to aspirin just like any drug. Then you will have to take even more should you have any headache or other pain for which you take aspirin. (You also do not want to mix the aspirin with ibuprofen, don't know why, I just know there are warnings on the bottle.

As for aspirin improving numbness, as you know, we all feel it is less than a desirable choice with serious negatives. But, if its working for you great. I'd still discuss with my docs.

Numb fingers are the pits!!