Thrush, steroids, and acid

MMDowns

Hi all,

   So this weekend we were blessed with another new symtpom.  My husband had another dose of Dexamethasone on Friday via IV along with fluids to make sure we get through the weekend. He also took the pills on Sat. and Sun.  During the infusion he was fine and even after he seemed OK.  A couple of hours later he began experiencing acid indigestion but it was almost like a weird form of nausea.  He would take a drink of water and then it was almost like it would come up but with an acid feeling.  Anytime he took a drink of water or Ensure he would have to sit for a few minutes to make sure he wa OK, which then resulted in him not having enough water in the evening and we had to use the PEG for the Ensure.  My aunt, who's a nurse, gave him some TUMS to try and help alleviate the acid feeling.  After he had the TUMS he felt better but he had to have more before bed because it came back.  I know not to really look at everything online but what I found was that dexamethasone can cause acid indigestion but I have also heard that the chemo can cause that as well?  He was also on Flucanazole for the thursh he already had from late last week but on Saturday we noticed that his tongue was all white and had large white spots along the edges of his tongue. By last night he told me it felt so gross, like a thick film was covering his tongue, that getting an Ensure down was tough and even swallowing water was grossing him out.  We had to use the PEG for more liquids last night.  He also experienced the acid indigestion randomly as he was getting into bed, so much so, that he was concerned that he would possibly throw up.  So my question is... what the heck?  I know it was chemo week and I am thinking the acid was a form of nausea that is new? Or was it the steroid and the fact that he took it 3 days longer than last time?  I realize that every week can and will bring lovely new side effects from the treatments.  Just looking for similar stories or advice...

   We are also starting the 6th week!!!!! Wooo hooo!! We are so close to the finish line!  

 

 

swopoe

My husband got heartburn and

My husband got heartburn and thrush during treatment too. He had the thrush multiple times. So your hubby is not alone. Just make sure the docs know so they can give you the correct meds to help. What is funny is that my husband never got heartburn before treatment. Now he gets it on a semi regular basis. 

MMDowns

swopoe said:

My husband got heartburn and

My husband got heartburn and thrush during treatment too. He had the thrush multiple times. So your hubby is not alone. Just make sure the docs know so they can give you the correct meds to help. What is funny is that my husband never got heartburn before treatment. Now he gets it on a semi regular basis. 

  This wasn't the first time

  This wasn't the first time he had thrush but this time was bad.  His tongue looked like it was covered in cotton.  The rotten thing is it exploded over the weekend so we couldn't really do anything about it.  He's currently at the clinic getting fluids so he is in the best place to be and I am sure they will help resovle this.  He was so uncomfortable that he didn't really sleep last night or the night before.  We have been so lucky that his sleep hasn't been too interrupted and we are hoping to keep it this way.  I'll be curious to see ( and not thrilled) if the heartburn is here to stay or just during chemo week.  We have one more chemo to go in a couple of weeks.  But, I am sure they will give him something to take for it or tell us to buy something.   Thanks for the support  

Joy123

I'm having that problem now

I'm having that problem now with the thrush. My tongue wasn't white until about a week ago. It turned white while on the diflucan. I've been on the dexamethasone mouth rinse for the sores in my mouth from the radiation. It is helping. I have a peg tube because I can't eat because the treatments tore up my mouth. It is getting better finally. Hoping to be able to eat soon and get the tube removed.  The head and neck treatments are the worst to go through is what they tell me.  It is a rough treatment. 

SuzJ

The acid reflux

can go away with anti nausea meds, OR OTC zantaz ($4 in WM) my Drs are ok  with whatever works.

MMDowns

Joy123 said:

I'm having that problem now

I'm having that problem now with the thrush. My tongue wasn't white until about a week ago. It turned white while on the diflucan. I've been on the dexamethasone mouth rinse for the sores in my mouth from the radiation. It is helping. I have a peg tube because I can't eat because the treatments tore up my mouth. It is getting better finally. Hoping to be able to eat soon and get the tube removed.  The head and neck treatments are the worst to go through is what they tell me.  It is a rough treatment. 

It is A tough treatment or

It is A tough treatment or sure. We have 4 treatments left!! So far his throat pain is ok. It's more dry than sore. The mucus has set it and that's the annoying part for him. He's able to cough it up but swallowing even water is tough.  Thank god he has the PEG. He's ready to be done And start healing. Ready for his taste buds to come back. Just ready.  

AnotherSurvivor

I'm finally making headway on

I'm finally making headway on Thrush.  I'm using Nystatin, 4x a day.  I bought 144 disposable toothbrushes, and got 12 10ml syringes (no cost from the pharmacist).  I face the mirror so I can see, and scrub my tongue (lightly) with a toothbrush, targetting obvious areas.  Then I use a syringe loaded with 5ml Nystatin and directly apply it to the target areas.  Nice thing about the syringe is you can control application and apply it waaay back on your tongue.  Then I trash the toothbrush and put the syringe in the dishwasher.  Everything is as anticeptic as I can get it. 

Prior to this approach, Nystatin did nothing.   

Honestly tho, there is no way I could have stood doing this when I was under treatment, or for about 8 weeks after.

rsp

You made my day

I am so happy you are making some progress with your thrush.  I was having a "not so good" day, and when I read that you bought 144 disposable toothbrushes, it made me smile.  You were the first one to respond to me when I joined as a caregiver for my husband. I believe you and my husband ended treatment around the same time (Dec. 23 for my husband). 

It sounds like you are doing much better than my husband.  He is still drinking liquids, and he can't seem to get food down.  If he gets it down, it seems to upset his stomach... 

Anyway, I am so happy for you, and if it takes 144 toothbrushes to get rid of that thrush, then so be it!

Have a good night!

AnotherSurvivor

I'm glad to hear I may have

I'm glad to hear I may have helped someone here.  I've been on the receiving end so often. 

As to recovery... it comes and goes.  This is my third shot at my Thrush, and I am determined to do whatever it takes to get it gone.  I can see it receeding on my tongue during the day, and then wake up next morning and it's spread back.  I thought I had dealt with my Lymphodemia on my neck, had it down to nothing, and then woke up the next morning starting all over again.  Dry mouth... it comes and goes by the day, always there, sometimes worse.  I sat down with a sampler plate from a salad bar today, and tried a whole bunch of different foods.  Every one of the items had its own taste, but only for the first bite, after that, nothing.  I wake up to patches of skin that have gotten bone dry over night. 

I am making progress, things are getting better, but it is not a straight line up.  My chemo oncol is pretty good, and he says I should just figure on a year of this. 

rsp

Lymphodema

My husand has a "turkey neck" and we just thought it was "fat" from him losing so much weight.  Then, when we felt it, it seems like there is a "lump" under his neck.  Is this lymphodema?  I just sent an email to his oncologist asking if there is a lymphodema massage specialist at the hospital that can help.  Is there anything you are doing that my husband might be able to do at home to help with this?  The term LYMPHODEMA is new to us.  The doctors have never mentioned it...go figure!

**Still chuckling over your 144 tooth brushes!

AnotherSurvivor

Solving the Lymphodemia

Solving the Lymphodemia problem is tougher than it looks.  The massage technique instruction is a VERY  good idea, and I would avoid massaging the area until you see it.  Unfortunately, I had a 3 week wait for the only PT qualified on it.  My PT recommended a head compression strap arrangement from compressionguru that sort of looks like something Lucile Ball wore at night as part of her comedy routine in the 60s.  It works, but others writing here have found it restrictive.  It is, but it works, although by mid-day a lot of the swelling comes back.  

Part of what is feeding mine is my radiation damage isn't done healing.  I thought I was done, but my chemo oncol's PA did an exam for Thrush and said I have at least another month given what she sees. My chemo oncol morphed into my hemotologist for my clots (I'm the insurance plan that keeps on giving), but since we're already doing the only treatment they have for my clots, we talk cancer stuff as well.   I did notice an odd change to taste when I started wearing the strap at night, things became slightly salty again.  I can't say whether they were related, but I eased off on the strap, and the salt taste dropped.  This week and next I'm concentrating on Thrush and itchy dry skin.  I figure the neck stuff will still be there.  

rsp

Thanks for the info.

Can I ask where you are being treated?  My husband is going to Johns Hopkins in Baltimore.  He sees his oncologist next Thursday, and we are going to address the Lymphodema when we see him.  I would certainly think Hopkins would have a PT that is qualified in it.  But like you said, there may be a long waiting list.

Hope your thrush is getting better every day.  My husband still battles with it a little bit, too.  One day at a time... one day at a time... 

Have a great rest of the week!