gastritis

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npcsurvivor
npcsurvivor Member Posts: 27
edited March 2014 in Head and Neck Cancer #1
Hi all,

I am a 43 yr old 1.5 year Stage-2 NPC survivor. Had IMRT radiation + chemo. I started having acid reflux symptoms right around when my treatment started 1.5 yrs ago. I was put on Nexium and then Prilosec and they worked fine for a year or so. About 5 months back I started having acid reflux, heartburn, gas, bloating type of symptoms that won't go away. I have tried Zegrid OTC (which gave me terrible side effects), Zantac OTC and some herbal therapies (apple cider vinegar) but nothing seems to work completely. I recently had upper GI endoscopy done which showed moderate gastritis and nothing else. The doc told me to keep taking Zantac OTC twice daily and dismissed my concerns for something nefarious lurking perhaps in my colon or somewhere else. My radiaton doc refuses to give me pet scan at this time. I am concerned that cancer may be rearing its ugly head again somewhere else in my body. I am wondering if anybody else had chronic heartburn and (foul smelling) gas symptoms following treatment and what they did about it.

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  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    #2
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    Gastritis
    At the begining of my treatment the Dr. that put my tube in told me in recovery that he found a Gastric ulcer. He prescribed Periat along with a list of food that I should not eat.
    Not much fun when it is difficult to eat as it is.It could be your diet, taking medication on an empty stomach etc. I am one year post treatment & where I live Pet/Cat scans are not
    available. My Dr . suggested I get one at my cost which I will do as they take me right away
    However it is in another province. I am going next week as I have only had one cat scan & he mentioned the combined scan is the best.I love my Dr. however, this is beyond his control. I also know eating smaller meals more frequently help's. I understand as I had an
    attack this week & it was so painfull. Bad enough to get the cancer & yet have to deal with
    more crap. I will keep you posted & wish you well!
    Roz
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #3
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    Hi NPC Survivor

    As you know I too am NPC and I had some problems with re-flux but not so much anymore, I am right at 5 years passed my last treatment. All I take is a stuff call Coconut kefir, it is very good for your body but does not taste too good. I am not sure what it is about the kefir but when I take it I don’t have any reflux at night.
  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    #4
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    Hondo said:

    Hi NPC Survivor

    As you know I too am NPC and I had some problems with re-flux but not so much anymore, I am right at 5 years passed my last treatment. All I take is a stuff call Coconut kefir, it is very good for your body but does not taste too good. I am not sure what it is about the kefir but when I take it I don’t have any reflux at night.

    Hondo
    Is Coconut Kefir available at health food stores? Thank you for the tip.
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #5
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    rozaroo said:

    Hondo
    Is Coconut Kefir available at health food stores? Thank you for the tip.

    Hi rozaroo

    I get it here at our local store but the lady makes it especially for her customers, they also have a farm and you can get all kinds of healthy food with no chemical added. I believe we pay like $10.00 for a mayo jaw size full of the stuff. I take about 2oz of the stuff before going to bed so a jaw will last a little more then a week.

    Hope it helps
    Hondo
  • npcsurvivor
    npcsurvivor Member Posts: 27
    #6
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    Hondo said:

    Hi NPC Survivor

    As you know I too am NPC and I had some problems with re-flux but not so much anymore, I am right at 5 years passed my last treatment. All I take is a stuff call Coconut kefir, it is very good for your body but does not taste too good. I am not sure what it is about the kefir but when I take it I don’t have any reflux at night.

    kefir
    A friend of mine takes this stuff. He calls it kefir (i don't know about coconut). He makes his own using the mother kefir and milk. The stuff has probiotic bacteria as in active yogurt but more of them. I don't know if it has any acid reducing properties. I tried it twice mixed in with milk but couldn't make myself drink it. The stuff tastes very nasty. It's good that you can handle it and it works for you.
  • npcsurvivor
    npcsurvivor Member Posts: 27
    #7
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    Hondo said:

    Hi NPC Survivor

    As you know I too am NPC and I had some problems with re-flux but not so much anymore, I am right at 5 years passed my last treatment. All I take is a stuff call Coconut kefir, it is very good for your body but does not taste too good. I am not sure what it is about the kefir but when I take it I don’t have any reflux at night.

    A friend of mine takes this
    A friend of mine takes this stuff. He calls it kefir (i don't know about coconut). He makes his own using the mother kefir and milk. The stuff has probiotic bacteria as in active yogurt but more of them. I don't know if it has any acid reducing properties. I tried it twice mixed in with milk but couldn't make myself drink it. The stuff tastes very nasty. It's good that you can handle it and it works for you.
  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    #8
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    npcsurvivor said:

    kefir
    A friend of mine takes this stuff. He calls it kefir (i don't know about coconut). He makes his own using the mother kefir and milk. The stuff has probiotic bacteria as in active yogurt but more of them. I don't know if it has any acid reducing properties. I tried it twice mixed in with milk but couldn't make myself drink it. The stuff tastes very nasty. It's good that you can handle it and it works for you.

    Thank you!
    I have been checking out the coconut Kefir drink! I will call my health food store tomorrow
    & enquire about it. We have a very good one here & the owner is very accomodating. The pain
    is so bad at times that I would take anything regardless of flavour to be rid of it.
    Thank you again
    Roz
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #9
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    npcsurvivor said:

    kefir
    A friend of mine takes this stuff. He calls it kefir (i don't know about coconut). He makes his own using the mother kefir and milk. The stuff has probiotic bacteria as in active yogurt but more of them. I don't know if it has any acid reducing properties. I tried it twice mixed in with milk but couldn't make myself drink it. The stuff tastes very nasty. It's good that you can handle it and it works for you.

    Mother kefir

    I never tried that one, and yes the coconut kefir does take a little getting use too, but it sure works well for me as I don’t get any problems with reflux anymore.

    Take care and keep posting my friend
    Hondo
  • Hondo
    Hondo Member Posts: 6,636 Member
    #10
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    rozaroo said:

    Thank you!
    I have been checking out the coconut Kefir drink! I will call my health food store tomorrow
    & enquire about it. We have a very good one here & the owner is very accomodating. The pain
    is so bad at times that I would take anything regardless of flavour to be rid of it.
    Thank you again
    Roz

    Razaroo

    I am not sure if the coconut kefir is for acid reflux all I know is that I had a very bad problems with reflux that I don’t have anymore, but I also do watch what I eat at night as well.

    Hope this might work for you too my friend
    Hondo
  • rozaroo
    rozaroo Member Posts: 665
    #11
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    Hondo said:

    Mother kefir

    I never tried that one, and yes the coconut kefir does take a little getting use too, but it sure works well for me as I don’t get any problems with reflux anymore.

    Take care and keep posting my friend
    Hondo

    Hondo
    My health food store is calling me back. I appreciate any advice & will give it a go. It's
    worth a try as my food list is very limited & I hate the upset tummy! Can't hurt.
    Thank you again
    Roz
  • Pam M
    Pam M Member Posts: 2,196
    #12
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    rozaroo said:

    Hondo
    My health food store is calling me back. I appreciate any advice & will give it a go. It's
    worth a try as my food list is very limited & I hate the upset tummy! Can't hurt.
    Thank you again
    Roz

    Kefir at My Store
    Some of the groceries around here stock kefir near the yogurt shots. Dunno if it's as good for you as what's made locally.
  • npcsurvivor
    npcsurvivor Member Posts: 27
    #13
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    Pam M said:

    Kefir at My Store
    Some of the groceries around here stock kefir near the yogurt shots. Dunno if it's as good for you as what's made locally.

    kefir grains
    you can buy kefir grains online (check amazon.com and other stores) or get them donated from a firend. there is plenty of info online on how to make your own kefir drink from milk, coconut milk, fruit juices, etc. basically you buy the grains only once and reycle them after making the drink which is done overnight.

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