Please can anyone tell me what they have done to avoid horrendous heartburn? It has prob not been helped by the fact that I have been sitting, slumped in front of TV or in bed, but was beyond a joke last night. Have never suffered with even indigestion before, so I have no idea what I can do to avoid it. I am on Ondansetron already, and took some gavescon…help!
Tracey
Hi
Omeprazole or lansaprazole switch your gastric juices off, domperidone controls symptoms a bit like gaviscon. Indigestion is awful. I found it worse on tax but thses tablets completely sorted it for me. Hope you get some relief.
Debx
That’s interesting. Have not been bothering with the domperidone, because I feel less sick on Tax than FEC. Keep on going would be your advice then? Am leaping out of bed almost as I type…thanks,
Tracey
Lansaprazole I meant. God, am on so many drugs, can’t remember what I’m taking them for! Got those for the three weeks this time. Onc was reluctant to prescribe a double dose though- even though my nurse was pushing him to.
Tracey
I had terrible sickness on fec, but only indigestion with tax, felt like a knife in my chest. At the time I was given omerprazole and it took a couple of days to work but once it did I didn’t stop taking it through the rest of chemo - in fact I am still taking lanzaprazole now( diff doc ) and I finished chemo in oct. I certainly worked for me.
Debx
I was told 30 mg Lans will cover 24 hours, but some people find it better to take two 15 mg one in the morning and one at night.
D
That’s really interesting Midge. I think I need to push and see if I can take two a day, rather than one. You are right, it is like a knife going through you isn’t it?
Thanks, that is really helpful,
Tracey
In extreme circs it’s possible to take 60mg lansoprazole, generally first thing each morning, before any food. However PLEASE check first with a gp/pharmacist as each person’s history and drug regime is different.
I never had indigestion before…got it on Fec and was prescribed omeprazole and was good, now on tax and on double omeprazole which keeps it at bay plus gaviscon when needed. Tax is like drinking bleach and does awful things to the digestive system!
I do completely sympathise. Mine started up during tax and has been quite a problem. I’d never had it before that.
The best thing as the other women have said is to get a prescription for either lansoprazole or omeprazole - they are very similar.
I do take domperidone as well. You take this before meals and helps the food to move through the stomach more quickly so you don’t have it making more acid. It also tightens the sphincter in the stomach stopping acid from refluxing back.
All of these can be bought over the counter but I would strongly advise getting them prescribed. Your doctors need to know what you’re taking. Also it means you get them free (domperidone is expensive over the counter).
Your GP will be able to prescribe these for you.
The other thing I’ve found helps is to sit upright for at least one hour after eating. Avoid things that make it worse such as fruit juice and too much fruit, coffee, fatty foods etc. Everyone is different so it’s working out what makes it worse for you.
Hope you get this resolved soon.
take care, Elinda
I never had it til chemo either. That finished in Dec 07 but I still have the reflux now. Certain foods/drinks aggravate it and some are now an absolute no-no. I take slippery elm tablets from the herbalists. They look like compressed sawdust (and taste like I imagine that does too!!) but I just chew one when I need to and they work for me. Sometimes I can go for 2 or 3 weeks without needing one and other times I need at least one every day.
Hope you get some joy with some remedy cos it really is horrid on top of all the other side effects of treatment.
Liz
Thanks All,
Elinda- I did have a feeling that being so slumped yesterday prob did not help. Have eaten at the table today, and sitting more upright, so fingers crossed. Will also start on the domperidone again, I’ve got loads left fortunately.
Any ideas of what to eat? Started herceptin last week, and everything is shooting through at an alarming rate. So I’m trying to avoid too much fibre. Protein I guess? Fish etc?