Ok, I'm definitley in this sorority now

CheeseQueen57

Incredible Heartburn

Anybody else have problems with really bad heartburn with the chemo?  I've gone back to taking my prilosec 2X/day and been chomping on Tums, but this is painful.  In fact, when I had the reaction, the most pain was similar to this.  Nasty stuff!

Lou Ann M

CheeseQueen57 said:

Incredible Heartburn

Anybody else have problems with really bad heartburn with the chemo?  I've gone back to taking my prilosec 2X/day and been chomping on Tums, but this is painful.  In fact, when I had the reaction, the most pain was similar to this.  Nasty stuff!

I had heartburn after almost

I had heartburn after almost every chemo some minor and some severe.  I used Omemprezole. If I started and took it before I had a flare up it was a lot better so I ended up taking it for about 5 days right after chemo.  A few months back I had an attack of gastritis that was so bad it sent me to the ER.  They first thought it was a heart attack, but ruled that out and decided on the gastriti.  I now take 1 Omemprezole in the morning and another one or two before meals ( Dr.s suggestion)  I have to watch what I eat really careful no caffeine, spicy or acidic food.  I hope this doesn't happen offn for you, because it can be miserabl.  Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

Editgrl

CheeseQueen57 said:

Incredible Heartburn

Anybody else have problems with really bad heartburn with the chemo?  I've gone back to taking my prilosec 2X/day and been chomping on Tums, but this is painful.  In fact, when I had the reaction, the most pain was similar to this.  Nasty stuff!

Yep.

And I can count on one hand the number of times I had heartburn before chemo.  I was so used to eating just about anything, but man, after one falafel on chemo I thought I was going to die!  I used a generic form of Pepcid and that helped me.

Chris

TeddyandBears_Mom

Yep, me also...

I ended up getting a prescription level of Pepcid. AND, they reduced my Decadron.

I hope you find the right fix for the burn. No one size fits all for sure!

Love and Hugs,

cindi

EZLiving66

CheeseQueen57 said:

Incredible Heartburn

Anybody else have problems with really bad heartburn with the chemo?  I've gone back to taking my prilosec 2X/day and been chomping on Tums, but this is painful.  In fact, when I had the reaction, the most pain was similar to this.  Nasty stuff!

I also ended up in the

I also ended up in the hospital thinking I was having a heart attack but was diagnosed with esophaheal erosion.  The heartburn was horrible and every once in awhile I still get it.  I can't remember what they prescribed for me but said not to take it if I didn't need it because it has some bad side effects.

Love,

Eldri

Sandy3185

CheeseQueen57 said:

Incredible Heartburn

Anybody else have problems with really bad heartburn with the chemo?  I've gone back to taking my prilosec 2X/day and been chomping on Tums, but this is painful.  In fact, when I had the reaction, the most pain was similar to this.  Nasty stuff!

Yep!

I never had heartburn/acid reflux before chemo but I went thru a big bottle of Tums as well as Omeprixole during chemo. Now, two years later, I can eat almost anything and no stomach promblems. This too shall pass!

brissance

Nancy and Eldri, I already

Nancy and Eldri, I already appreciate you both... thanks for the welcome.  Nancy you rang the bell.  I am so happy for you..  you are sweet to share the info.  Eldri, as my mom would say you have a touch of piss and vinegar...  love it and your Chemo Farts.... hoping the Taxotere works for me sans the neuropathy.  I am sure it will work out without any hitches.  

Thanks to all you for supporting me and each other.  Makes life worth living.  

CheeseQueen57

Lou Ann M said:

I had heartburn after almost

I had heartburn after almost every chemo some minor and some severe.  I used Omemprezole. If I started and took it before I had a flare up it was a lot better so I ended up taking it for about 5 days right after chemo.  A few months back I had an attack of gastritis that was so bad it sent me to the ER.  They first thought it was a heart attack, but ruled that out and decided on the gastriti.  I now take 1 Omemprezole in the morning and another one or two before meals ( Dr.s suggestion)  I have to watch what I eat really careful no caffeine, spicy or acidic food.  I hope this doesn't happen offn for you, because it can be miserabl.  Hugs and prayers, Lou Ann

Heartburn. Thanks for replies

Thanks all for heartburn replies. This group is such a comfort And support to know that the path I'm walking is well worn. I'll continue with the Prilosec twice a day with add on tums and maybe the acupuncture will help heartburn too. I too feared it was heart because of strong family history, but they EKG me at the slightest hint of chest pain and that seems fine. 

Unknown

CheeseQueen57 said:

Incredible Heartburn

Anybody else have problems with really bad heartburn with the chemo?  I've gone back to taking my prilosec 2X/day and been chomping on Tums, but this is painful.  In fact, when I had the reaction, the most pain was similar to this.  Nasty stuff!

Me too

I had it after the first time, told the chemo nurse and she suggested tums and pepsid.  Worked for me most of the time.  I also noticed if I could get rid of the constipation, it helped the heartburn.  Hugs Nancy

Sandy3185

brissance said:

Nancy and Eldri, I already

Nancy and Eldri, I already appreciate you both... thanks for the welcome.  Nancy you rang the bell.  I am so happy for you..  you are sweet to share the info.  Eldri, as my mom would say you have a touch of piss and vinegar...  love it and your Chemo Farts.... hoping the Taxotere works for me sans the neuropathy.  I am sure it will work out without any hitches.  

Thanks to all you for supporting me and each other.  Makes life worth living.  

Taxotere worked for me

I had such bad neuropathy with Taxol that my dr switched me to Taxotere. It did take quite a while for the neuropathy to abate but it did not get any worse. Just be aware that taxotere may come with a different price. It sometimes causes your hair to come back much thinner or even not at all. This doesn't happen to everyone, but several of us have been affected. Not that I regret changing- my neuropathy was getting so much worse with each treatment and I have been NED for two years now! My neuropathy is almost entirely gone and I feel great!

CheeseQueen57

Sandy3185 said:

Taxotere worked for me

I had such bad neuropathy with Taxol that my dr switched me to Taxotere. It did take quite a while for the neuropathy to abate but it did not get any worse. Just be aware that taxotere may come with a different price. It sometimes causes your hair to come back much thinner or even not at all. This doesn't happen to everyone, but several of us have been affected. Not that I regret changing- my neuropathy was getting so much worse with each treatment and I have been NED for two years now! My neuropathy is almost entirely gone and I feel great!

Thanks

Thanks Sandy. I'll keep that in mind. I had no trouble with infusion yesterday. I'm on alert for neuropathy. Getting acupuncture in hopes that it may help. 

txtrisha55

CheeseQueen57 said:

Thanks Kim

Thanks for the insight, Kim.  Agree, I've been collecting all my reports for my own files and plan to get 2nd and maybe 3rd opinions on any follow up care necessary because from what I see, that seems to be where there is potentially differences of opinion and not clear guidelines.

Surgeon is gyn/oncol at Fox Chase.  My gyn wanted to do the surgery with a gyn/oncol standing by to stage....I said no, no, no wait a minute here....since I am in the Philly area with great medical institutions,  no way was I going for that.  I'm very comfortable with surgeon who has >30  years experience and pioneered minimally invasive surgery. But from what I understand, I think surgery will be the easy part of this.

I may be putting the cart before the horse here, but I'm thinking of getting the shingles shot (even though I'm not quite 60 yet).  Has anyone had a problem with shingles when going through their therapy?  I'm hopeful that I won't need chemo, but of course, I just don't know yet.

Thanks, in advance, I may post the shingles thing separate.

 

I do not know if the shingles

I do not know if the shingles vaccination works as I have not had it.  I have had a case of shingles though.  Worse pain ever.  Worse than my hysterectomy, chemo treatments and hernia, gallbladder surgery.

 I would prefer to go through chemo again than get the shingles again.  I still have side effect from the shingles.  trish

 

Sandy3185

txtrisha55 said:

I do not know if the shingles

I do not know if the shingles vaccination works as I have not had it.  I have had a case of shingles though.  Worse pain ever.  Worse than my hysterectomy, chemo treatments and hernia, gallbladder surgery.

 I would prefer to go through chemo again than get the shingles again.  I still have side effect from the shingles.  trish

 

Ouch!

Sounds awful! Good to see you back though, it's been a while.  Love and hugs, Sandy

Soup52

I haven't had heartburn, but

I haven't had heartburn, but I continue to have stomach issues, mainly constipation, but also occasional diarea. It seems like it gets worse with each treatment. My next chemo is Monday.

Editgrl

Soup52 said:

I haven't had heartburn, but

I haven't had heartburn, but I continue to have stomach issues, mainly constipation, but also occasional diarea. It seems like it gets worse with each treatment. My next chemo is Monday.

Stomach issues

I never had diarrhea, but constipation was my major side effect.  I started taking Miralax the day before chemo and continuing for 3-4 days or until I had my first post-chemo BM. I also ate a lot of fruits and vegetables and drank a lot of water.  It usually took about a week to "normalize" though once I had a bout of constipation in the second post-chemo week.  In addition to heartburn, I had these transient stomach pains.  I never found anything that prevented those, but massage and stretching seemed to help.

Chris

Soup52

Thanks Chris. I really make

Thanks Chris. I really make an effort to drink water and eat fruit and veggies when I can. I'm using miralax much more now and it is helping.

CheeseQueen57

Bad Hair Day-Cheesequeen Update

Well, the inevitable day is here. Day 22 after first chemo hair began to come out in clumps. Although I've been preparing for this for weeks, you all know the shock and upset involved with this. Onward and upward. Had my hairdresser clip me down to a #2 while I wait for full baldness. Otherwise I'm doing well. Had 4th chemo out of 18 on Wednesday.  A little nausea and fatigue but manageable. Looking forward to my son and his girlfriend coming up from Orlando for Memorial Day weekend at the beach. I'm hanging in there. 

Kvdyson

Still surprised

CQ, I'm still surprised when I walk past a mirror and see my bald head or my scarf - eventhough this is my second time around to lose it. The good news is that it came back pretty quick last time. Hopefully yours will, too.

If the short hairs are still coming out in clumps you may want to try rolling a lint-roller over your head to help it along. Tape works, too, but may be a little harder on a sensitive scalp.

So glad to hear that your chemo treatments are going well and without too many side effects. Just think, you are just shy of a quarter way through already! Soon you will look back at this chapter in your life and marvel at your courage and determination. Keep on keepin' on! Kim

CheeseQueen57

Kvdyson said:

Still surprised

CQ, I'm still surprised when I walk past a mirror and see my bald head or my scarf - eventhough this is my second time around to lose it. The good news is that it came back pretty quick last time. Hopefully yours will, too.

If the short hairs are still coming out in clumps you may want to try rolling a lint-roller over your head to help it along. Tape works, too, but may be a little harder on a sensitive scalp.

So glad to hear that your chemo treatments are going well and without too many side effects. Just think, you are just shy of a quarter way through already! Soon you will look back at this chapter in your life and marvel at your courage and determination. Keep on keepin' on! Kim

Scalp Hurts

Thanks Kim for the advice.  Even though I used the "special" shampoo that was supposed to minimize the pain, I'm finding that my head aches. I'm sure this too will pass. Lint roller!  Ha!  This forum has such great ideas. Don't know what I would have done without you gals.  

Unknown

CheeseQueen57 said:

Scalp Hurts

Thanks Kim for the advice.  Even though I used the "special" shampoo that was supposed to minimize the pain, I'm finding that my head aches. I'm sure this too will pass. Lint roller!  Ha!  This forum has such great ideas. Don't know what I would have done without you gals.  

Bad hair day indeed!

I've only seen myself (fleeting) in the mirror, but was shocked when I saw a picture someone took of me recently.  What a complete utter ugly person I had become with no hair.  Fortunately my friends quickly talked me out of that notion and said my hair didn't make me the person, and I own my "baldness".  I did try wearing a wig out with them (in fact it looked identical to one of my friends real hair do and color) and they laughed at our twin look, but said it didn't matter, they had gotten use to me without hair and not to wear it on their behalf.  So I go out in the wind, which it's windy here a lot, and don't worry about what I look like.  Afterall, it's not my fault.  I took a good look at my head this morning, and notice a lot of red bumps again, they don't itch but it just adds another ugliness to my head today.  Don't know what that is, I'll use my Cetaphil gentle skin cleanser and hope that it helps.  CQ, my doctor recommended it when I had a bad cause of folliculitis caused from my hair failing out or shaving it.  Glad to hear you are handling the chemo OK.  Hugs Nancy