RECURRENCE INFO PLEASE

Ohiogirl
Ohiogirl Member Posts: 26
edited March 2014 in Ovarian Cancer #1
I AM JUST NOW STARTING CHEMO FOR THE 2ND TIME .. THIS TIME I AM GETTING TAXOTERE AND CARBOPLATIN AND HAVING ALOT OF GASTRIC DISTRESS..IS THIS NORMAL FOR THESE DRUGS? ANY SUGGESTIONS FOR RELIEF FROM THE HEARTBURN..ITS REALLY BAD
OHIOGIRL

Comments

  • mopar
    mopar Member Posts: 1,972 Member
    #2
    Ohiogirl:
    So sorry you're going through this. I had a second recurrance last year - started with Carbo/Taxol again, then had an allergic reaction to Taxol, so I was switched to Taxotere. I also had some nasty heartburn. I remember once night I tried chewing a Pepto-Bismal and WOW! that made it worse. I told my doctor about that and he thought I was joking.

    Eventually he gave me Pepcid, which helped just a little. I was supposed to take it at night, if I remember. So, ask for something like Pepcid, or Tagamet. Try to avoid spicy foods, caffiene, carbonated beverages. Sometimes just letting some vanilla ice cream slide down your throat and trying to relax a little also helps. I wouldn't use milk, try the ice cream instead. After 2 or 3 treatments of Taxotere I didn't notice it anymore. If you get the Pepcid or other meds, you might want to take it before your treatment, like an hour or two before. But ask your doctor for sure.

    Hanging in there, Ohiogirl. Prayers and hugs.
    Monika

    P.S. I'm originally from Columbus - live in Michigan now. What city are you in?
  • BonnieR
    BonnieR Member Posts: 1,526 Member
    #3
    Hi Ohio, sorry to hear your gastric problems. I have dealt with this for a long time and no fun. Over the counter prilosec helped for a long time and now I take Protonix 40mg up to 2 a day. The chemo can give you lots of acid reflux. The other one that Randy takes is Zantac, he takes it only occasionally.

    They gave me tagamet during my infusion this last time along with aloxi and emend, one to help with all the nausea and second to get ahead of the acid reflux and esophugus spasms I get.

    Hope this knocks the heck out of the cancer again and you go right back into remission. Saying lots of prayers for just that.

    Hugs N Prayers Bonnie
  • aussie59
    aussie59 Member Posts: 48
    #4
    Ohiogirl, Sorry to hear of your problems with Taxotere. I have suffered from acid reflux since 2002 when I was first dx and on various types of chemo and take a drug which was perscribed to me by my dr. called Nexium Made by AstraZeneca.http://www.purplepill.com/.At one stage I was so bad I was hospitalised. I have found this to be an excellent drug for me.NEXIUM is for the treatment of frequent, persistent heartburn symptoms due to acid reflux disease. For many people, NEXIUM can also heal damage to the esophagus caused by acid reflux.Side effects with NEXIUM include headache, diarrhea, and abdominal pain. I have not experienced any side effects.Good Luck and I hope the Taxotere gives you a long remission or "cure". Irene
  • floridajo
    floridajo Member Posts: 480
    #5
    Hi Ohiogirl,
    I'm on my second recurrence.but I'm on Gezmar..it also gives me heartburn if I don't watch what I drink at night. My Onc said to get some OTC Pepcid,Tagament or Prilosec. Hope that helps you..I hate heartburn!!!..Joanne
  • JanQ
    JanQ Member Posts: 236
    #6
    Ohiogirl I am so sorry to hear you are going through this again. For my 2nd recurrence I did taxotere also, I use NEXIUM now and it seems to help. I am now on Doxil, getting ready for my 4th tx. on the 22nd.
    I pray the taxotere gets it Ohiogirl.

    Hugs Jan
  • curlee8661
    curlee8661 Member Posts: 56
    #7
    Hi OHIOGIRL,
    I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. I'm on my first go-around with chemo, and like Bonnie, I'm taking 40MG of Protonix daily. I had a lot of indigestion, heartburn and acid reflux prior to surgery, but since they put me on this stuff NO HEARTBURN at all. My onchologist keeps asking to make sure I take it every day (said it's very important) so I do as I'm told. I also tend to have serious bouts with gas, and constipation. The gas, I just take Gas-X for which doesn't always work. I'm starting to figure out that I just need to stay away from certain things like onion. I had some yesterday morning, and I suffered the rest of the day for it. The constipation I manage for the most part with BeneFiber. You can put it in any liquid without effecting taste or texture. I make up a batch of juice every day with my daily dose of BeneFiber in it, and I drink it throughout the day every time I eat something. As someone who has IBS problems normally, I want to point out that not all fiber is created equal. Soluble fiber (these powder types and things like rice and potatoes, as opposed to things like bran and raw veggies) is much easier on your digestive system. For more information regarding fiber and IBS, look on helpforibs.com!

    Hope you feel better soon!
    ~Marianna~
  • kathie687
    kathie687 Member Posts: 41
    #8
    i am so sorry about your recurrence. i will be starting chemo for the second time after my surgery in a few days.
    i hope you do well on your treatments and go back into remission soon.
    i will be thinking about you
    kathie
  • curly88
    curly88 Member Posts: 6
    #9
    I had the same chemo with the same problems...my stomach has always paid the price from chemo. Ask you doc for a scrip for proton pump inhibitor antiacid, such as Prevacid or Nexium. I take Prevacid; the Nexium hurt my stomach and is very expensive. Over the counter antiacids weren't strong enough, although I sometimes would use Maalox liquid too when it was really bad. Drink alot of water. Sometimes when I ate it felt better, so i'd graze. Stay away from spices, acid foods, etc. Good luck...I know how miserable it can make you

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