just a quickie (which makes a change for me!!)… is heartburn one of the many side effects of chemo?? I have just finished the epi part of my E-CMF chemo last weds and have been suffering from what I can only assume is heartburn ever since. I’ve never had heartburn before but I’m pretty sure thats what it is. Having had 3 epi’s prior to this and no such problems before I’m wondering whether its chemo related or just coincidence?
I’ve scoured all my ‘chemo side-effects’ bumph but can’t find anything about heartburn. Am I just making it up or could it be related??
I am pretty sure that one of the drugs I was meant to be given after my first chemo was for heartburn and that it was the steroids that were said to cause it. However because I already take Omeprazole which is similar, they didn’t give it to me after all.
Sorry I am a bit vague as I seemed to be given so many pills, mouthwashes etc at the time and didn’t need to use them all!
Your GP can prescribe Omeprazole if you can’t get it easily from your oncologist.
Hi Kelly
I have also suffered from heartburn after my first EC chemo, it started after the sickness eased and was worse in the evening. I have been having peppermint tea which while in hospital after my operation the nurse recomended for heartburn/wind problems. I wasnt sure weather i could take over the counter heartburn remedies so asked my Onc last week and he said Gaviscon was fine and if the peppermint tea works thats fine too.
Hope this helps
Rachel
I suffered from terrible heartburn when I was on chemo (Epi). I normally have quite a lot of heartburn and have Lanzaprosole from my GP.
I found myself buying large bottles of Boots Indigestion Mixture and Gaviscon. Other people I spoke to were also getting heartburn so I think it is probably a side effect - another one!
Mine has eased off now that I have finished chemo. I found certain things made it worse, unfortunately wine and chocolate which, now that I remember the oncologist said would be a side effect of having a glass or two of wine - but I coped.
sorry to be the one to tell you but I had heartburn with epi and also have it with CMF so you could find that it will continue whilst you have more chemo. Mine wasn’t too bad and I managed to deal with it by taking good old Rennies
its not just my imagination then! Thought I was going mad for a mo!! Thanks, as ever, ladies for your speedy and helpful replies. My mum went out and got me some Gaviscon tablets earlier, bless her. Have taken 2 already (after I ate the steak pie she brought me back!) and it has eased a bit.
I tried some peppermint cordial yesterday but really didn’t like the taste at all, will defo give peppermint tea a try though. This chemo lark is just no fun at all!!!
Thanks again and if anyone has any other remedies for heartburn then send 'em my way,
I suffered terribly from heartburn when going through chemo. Ask your doc to prescribe you some Zoton Fast Tabs. These were fabulous. They’re little strawberry flavoured tablets that melt on your tongue and they kill heartburn in minutes. I actually still take them and even if the gaviscon works for you these are super to have on hand just in case.
Another heartburn sufferer - have swigged Gaviscon constantly - seems to be in my good period -i.e. 10 days before my chemo. It was the same during pregnancy…
Moira - I shall defo be getting some of those tabs from my docs. The Gaviscon tabs have seemed to work so far today but they are just VILE!! I don’t know if its my distorted, chemo ravaged, tastebuds or what, but I’m not liking 'em to be honest. A strawberry flavoured remedy sounds much more my cup of tea!
Heatherlou - isn’t it a pain when we get annoying things like heartburn just when its our ‘good’ time. Typical!!
I’ve been getting heartburn as well. During last night it was so bad couldn’t sleep for over an hour, pain went up my neck. Today was day to see Onc so asked for some tablets, she said it was a common side effect of steroids but was worried at severity so gave me an ECG which showed a slight problem with my heart. I had some blood taken and had to wait for result for an hour all ok not a heart attack just indigestion which is what I had assumed she suggested I take two Lansaprole instead of one. I usually use Boots Cream of Magnesia.
val
Have you tried the lemon tabs, Kelly? They changed the recipe a couple of years and I don’t find them as nice as they used to be, but certainly better than the mint ones…
Yes definately a side effect of chemo. I was crippled with it and still have quite strong bouts 2 mths after last FEC. I discovered Gaviscon liquid, mint or aniseed flavour, recently and it is brill but quite expensive. I was told recently you can get it on prescription which helps if you get free ones which I do for another condition. Rennies didn’t touch it for me.
I didn’t need chemo just rads so don’t know about the heartburn side of chemo. What I do know is how painfull heartburn is as I was diagnosed with hiatus hernia about 3 years ago and take lansoprazole (prescribed).
If this doesn’t take it off what seems to work for me is a big glass of cold milk and sometimes I use tums indigesttion tablets from pharmacy. Also chewing gum often helps. Hope you get it sorted out as it can be a horrible pain.
Shorty
If you’re OK with mint Gaviscon tabs, don’t buy the cardboard packs from the shelf. Ask for the boxes of 3 dispensing tubes from behind the counter. Before they stopped doing those in Lemon, I was paying about a fiver for 60 tabs.
milk helps me loads -swig it all evening or try milkshakes or smoothies
Failing that Gaviscon -a big swig from the bottle before i go to sleep normally helps!
your continuing comments on my heartburn probs are greatly appreciated. I had no idea how common it was. Have a docs appt on mon and as I get my prescriptions free I think I’ll get him to prescribe me something, perhaps the ‘zoton’ that has been mentioned.
In the meantime I’ve now got some boots own brand gaviscon type liquid as those tabs were just making me heave!
I definately recommend Omeprazole, my indigestion was unbearable until I mentioned it to the onc on the third session ( I had tried gaviscon etc and other over the counter remedies they lessened it but didn’t get rid of it) i got a prescription for Omeprazole, which i took til the end of chemo and never had pain again!
thanks again for all the top tips re: heartburn. Muchos gracias! I went to the Dr’s today and along with a lifetime supply of Gaviscon he also prescribed me ‘Omeprazole’, which I know has come highly recommended by yourselves. Funnily enough I haven’t suffered with the heartburn for days now, but its chemo time again on weds so at least I’m all prepared now!