| | Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 31 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | OP  Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 31 | Hi, everybody! There are so many topics on here, and this may have already been addressed; but I'm hoping some of you will still entertain the question. Has anyone had issues with heartburn after completing treatments? I was on Protonics during treatments, and tried to stay off it after finishing the last round of radiation on 4/28/11. However, heartburn was occurring too frequently, even after eating regular, non-spicy food. My ENT told me I needed to keep it under control, so I've been on Protonics for awhile and things are much better. If anyone had this same issue, how long did it persist? Thanks in advance, everyone!
Tim D., 43, married (Maurine), San Antonio, TX. Two-time OC survivor, first diagnosis May 2010 - partial glossectomy + neck dissection (17 nodes), recurrence Jan. 2011 - chemo + 2nd neck dissection (18 nodes) + radiation, completed treatments 4/28/11, PET/CT 12/23/11 - clear, scans 6/29/12 - clear
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Senior Patient Advocate Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Sep 2006 Posts: 8,311 | I'm 6 years out and appx 1 1/2 years ago I went to Moffitt and complained about acid reflux and they said quite common post oral rad and put me on some purple pill but it upset my stomach so they switched me to another one and it works. Not at home so I can't tell you it's name but I only take one a day. Of course they HAD to give me a pamplit that tells me I shouldn't eat ANYTHING but I ignored that and with the pill I don't have any problems. I did try and take myself off of the pill about 3 months ago and quickly found I really do need it.
David
Age 58 at Dx, HPV16+ SCC, Stage IV BOT+2 nodes, non smoker, casual drinker, exercise nut, Cisplatin x 3 & concurrent IMRT x 35,(70 Gy), no surgery, no Peg, Tx at Moffitt over Aug 06. Jun 07, back to riding my bike 100 miles a wk. Now doing 12 Spin classes and 60 outdoor miles per wk. Nov 13 completed Hilly Century ride for Cancer, 104 miles, 1st Place in my age group. Apr 2014 & 15, Spun for 9 straight hrs to raise $$ for YMCA's Livestrong Program. Certified Spin Instructor Jun 2014.
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts) | | "Above & Beyond" Member (500+ posts)
Joined: Sep 2009 Posts: 618 | I have the same problem. I�ve been on 20 mg. Omeprazole for about two years now. This is an over the counter 24 hour antacid that is not so cheap. I finally got a prescription from my doctor and my insurance accepted it even though they sell a generic at Walgreens for about $12 for a weeks� worth. Now my insurance copay is only $ 10 for a months� worth.
I take one of those before I go to sleep every night and have no heartburn at all. When I was in the thick of it with the rad treatments they had me taking two of these a day but now back to one.
Kelly
Male
48, SCC (Soft Palet) Rt.,
Stage 1, T3n0m0,
Dx, 8-09, Start IMRT 35 9-2-09 end 10-21-09
04-20-10 NED
8-11 recurrence, node rt. neck N2b
10-11 33 IMRT w/chemo wkly
3-12-12 PET - residual cancer
4-12 5 treatments with Cyberknife & Erbitux
6-19-12 Pet scan CLEAR
12-3-12 PET - CLEAR
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | "OCF Canuck" Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Dec 2010 Posts: 5,260 Likes: 3 | Hi I had very minor heart burn that lasted for about 8 mos. I didn't take anything for it - and it's gone. 
Cheryl : Irritation - 2004 BX: 6/2008 : Inflam. BX: 12/10, DX: 12/10 : SCC - LS tongue well dif. T2N1M0. 2/11 hemigloss + recon. : PND - 40 nodes - 39 clear. 3/11 - 5/11 IMRT 33 + cis x2, PEG 3/28/11 - 5/19/11 3 head, 2 chest scans - clear(fingers crossed) HPV-, No smoke, drink, or drugs, Vegan
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Administrator, Director of Patient Support Services Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 10,507 Likes: 7 | I also suffer from alot of stomach problems. I take zofran and a generic over the counter liquid ant-acid. The stomach problems are so bad that I spend many days on the couch sick to my stomach even with taking medication for it. Since I have a J/G tube, when my stomach is really giving me alot of discomfort I can drain all the acid gunk out of my stomach. I have a extra accessory that comes with the J/G tube that is a kinda like a colostomy bag but its for stomach fluids. When I have to hook the bag up Im very ill and in alot of pain but then I instantly feel better when my stomach is emptied. Gross, huh? It works for me and we all have our hurdles to get over to live as normally as possible. My stomach acts up anywhere from 5 days a week to once a month, it comes and goes with no rhyme or reason. Hope you dont go thru this as much as I do.
ChristineSCC 6/15/07 L chk & by L molar both Stag I, age44 2x cispltn-35 IMRT end 9/27/07 -65 lbs in 2 mo, no caregvr Clear PET 1/08 4/4/08 recur L chk Stag I surg 4/16/08 clr marg 215 HBO dives 3/09 teeth out, trismus 7/2/09 recur, Stg IV 8/24/09 trach, ND, mandiblctmy 3wks medicly inducd coma 2 mo xtended hospital stay, ICU & burn unit PICC line IV antibx 8 mo 10/4/10, 2/14/11 reconst surg OC 3x in 3 years very happy to be alive  | | | | | Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 111 "OCF across the pond" Senior Member (100+ posts) | | "OCF across the pond" Senior Member (100+ posts)
Joined: Apr 2012 Posts: 111 | A good question Tim, that I have been wondering about. I am on Lansoprazole, which I think works by reducing gastric acid production. I have tried to do without it a couple of times without success, and have been advised it is better to take it than have acid reflux especially as I am still having swllowing problems so will take it a bit longer before trying without it again. Sally
Dx 10/11 51yrs LBOT Stage 4 2nodes HPV16+. Non-smoker mod alcohol.
10/11 Induction chemox2 (Docetaxel, 5-Flu, Cisplatin) then Cisplatinx2 IMRTx30. Ended 01/13/12.
12/07/11 RIG. RIG removed 05/05/12.
4/12 CT scan clear. Visual scope checks clear as of 10/13. Learning to live with eating challenges.
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts) | | Patient Advocate (old timer, 2000 posts)
Joined: Jun 2007 Posts: 5,260 | I have it too but I take Ranitidine which is the generic for Zantac. They are the same thing. I take one pill crushed in the morning and one at 5PM and it controls it well. This is the only one I can take that works.
Since posting this. UPMC, Pittsburgh, Oct 2011 until Jan. I averaged about 2 to 3 surgeries a week there. w Can't have jaw made as bone is deteroriating steaily that is left in jaw. Mersa is to blame. Feeding tube . Had trach for 4mos. Got it out April.
--- Passed away 5/14/14, will be greatly missed by everyone here
| | | | | Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 31 Contributing Member (25+ posts) | | OP Contributing Member (25+ posts)
Joined: Jun 2012 Posts: 31 | Thanks for the replies, everyone! It sounds like this is pretty common.
Tim D., 43, married (Maurine), San Antonio, TX. Two-time OC survivor, first diagnosis May 2010 - partial glossectomy + neck dissection (17 nodes), recurrence Jan. 2011 - chemo + 2nd neck dissection (18 nodes) + radiation, completed treatments 4/28/11, PET/CT 12/23/11 - clear, scans 6/29/12 - clear
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