Reflux

[TCLEFT]

Any Post Radiation guys out there have problems with reflux (G.E.R.D.)? I'm just about 2 years post i/o, and doing well except for some pretty bad reflux. Up at night, bad heartburn, pain through to the back, problems swallowing, etc........ CT from October was clear. I had an abdominal ultrasound to check gallbladder, all clear. Had blood work for H. Pylori, all clear. I was on nexium, that didn't work. I'm on protonix, that's not working. I'll be going in for an endoscopy on the 19th. I'm losing weight, I wanted to, but not like this. All the tests say I'm healthy, and I'm thankful for that. My Onc knows all of this and doesn't seem concerned (as far as metasthesis). I guess I'd just like to feel as good as my test results show. I'm hoping the endo solves the mystery, but wondered if any of you guys had a similar experience.
Thanks,
TCLEFT

[huckchef]

tcleft, i didnt have any reflux during treatment but i did have it before being diagnosed and i dont really have it now!!! who knows why? i guess after radiation through the gut it just laughs at reflux!!!!hahaha!!! have you tried to change your diet? i know dairy products, fried foods, and if i drank alot of water before bed would cause some problems. thats about all i know! hope it helps! god bless, brian!

[greatgroundling]

im ALMOST a year passed my radiation treatments, and for the past few months i have been experiencing reflux also. kind of in the same boat as you...(not sure if its related) however, i havent been to see a doctor about it.

i did change my diet, but like i said, its only been a few months and im still kind of experimenting with the types of foods that cause it more than others...

also....red sauces DESTROY me. i cant drink coffee anymore either...

i know im not much of a help, but if it makes you feel any better, im still experiencing some of the same frustrations you seem to be.

good luck...and if mine persists i'll head to the doctor to find out whats happening.

keep us posted.

[LoneNutTheorist]

I had to pull my car over once or twice shortly after RT to spit out a horrible taste that started coming up in my mouth. At the time, I thought I was spitting up bile -- although I don't know what spitting up bile is supposed to feel like. I had a very acrid and bitter taste in my mouth and a short bout of nausea.

In the past 8 months, I don't think anything really happened -- I did have a few fleeting moments of nausea, but I think they were triggered by things that would cause nausea in many people (odors, etc).

I quit coffee during RT because I couldn't deal with the smell and I was already anxious enough without the caffeine. I do drink some coffee now, but much less. On some says I'll have a cup, on others I will skip it.

I think that a lot of this stuff is cumulative. We are probably just a bit more sensitized to some of the things that cause reflux in the general public.

[TCLEFT]

Leap Frog

Hey Everyone. Here's the results from over the past few days. Endoscopy revealed a mild hiatel hernia, some mild irritation (but not an ulcer) and........ compression around the esophagus from the outside. Next day, the pain was through the roof, so off to the ER I went. I was admitted and scheduled for a CT of the chest. Guess what, an 8cm mass compressing my trachea and esophagus. So...... off to get a bronchioscopy to get a biopsy through the trachea. The good news, it's a seminoma. I'll be starting cisplatin and (the other I can't recall, someone says it and I'll know it). That's the story. A suggestion for Stage 1 Seminoma protocols: Might as well CT the chest as well as the abdomin. You're on the table anyway.

[Scott]

Mark, I'm sorry to hear about your recurrence but glad that it has been discovered and you're starting treatment. You'd expect that mass would have shown up on your last chest x-ray.

(The second drug must be etoposide.)

[Eric]

Mark

You have the same problem that i had last fall i am very sorry to hear this.
But the good news is that my mass has disapeared right after the first cycle of chemo and i am sure it will be the same for you.

One thing i would like to know is have you had vascular invasion at your original diagnosis?

I think if you are like me we should have been treated by chemo from the start because radiation is a local treatment and is useless if you have seminoma in your blood vessels.

Keep us posted with this and i am sure that your mass will shrink very fast.

[Mom]

Mark, jeez, you just can't let down your guard. Thank heaven you persisted in getting to the bottom of your symptoms. The chemo will knock it right out of you. Hang in there. Dianne

[TCLEFT]

Hi all. I'm not sure how well x-rays pick up soft tissue, so I guess in this case they didn't help. I've never had any positive tumor markers and the original diagnosis had no vascular invasion. The thing that's got me thinking and was actually confirmed by my new Onc was it's all of about 1 extra minute to CT the chest while you're there, and it's alot more accurate. So...Why not? While I was at the Hosp, I had another US and Righty is still Mighty. They also did an MRI of my head. They said my brain looks great! No one has ever said that to me before. All in all the news is positive, so that's what I'm going to be. I actually took the first step today and had my head shaved (originally down to mid-back in a pony-tail). I donated my mane to Locks of Love. Hopefully someone will wear it in inpending Good Health. Thanks Everyone!
TCLEFT

[Eric]

Mark

When will you begin your treatment?
Is it a 3 or 4 cycle?

Strange that nobody ordered me a MRI at my recurrence

I hope that my head is clean

Good luck for your treatment

[TCLEFT]

Finished treatment 1 of cycle 1. 4 cycles total. Feeling ok so far. I was the one who requested the Head scan. I won't leave my treatment to just the Doctors anymore. They have an awful lot to know but they have a tendency to be protocol driven. At some point someone needs to take a step back and say "well what about?.....". If you're not feeling right, you need to push until you find out why. The Doctors, even with the best of intent, are still only human, and like I said, a bit protocol driven. The Insurance companies sure as Hell aren't going to get to the bottom of things. That just leaves us folks on the slab, you and me. Many of you have most definately helped me. If I can do the same, take it and run with it.
All the Best Gang,
TCLEFT

[Mom]

I think the chest x-ray should have picked it up. We require chest x-rays and physicals as a condition of employment. Twice they have picked up a tumor in a lung. Both men under 40. As horrible as it was, if they didn't go for the chest x-ray they might not have learned of their condition until it was too late. I don't know what happened to them. As you said, you have to be your own advocate. Dianne

[TCLEFT]

Reply to Eric's message

Hey Eric. Your Inbox is full, so I'll answer here.

Thanks for asking Eric. I'm ok. I'm on my second week off. Next week starts cycle 2 of 4. I'm not looking forward to the nausea and fatigue, but anxious to get this over with,
Thanks,
Mark

[TCLEFT]

This Just Got Real

Never wear a white shirt when on Cisplatin! Lots of little hairs are all over it, and lots of open spaces are now on my head. I have a date with a razor tonight.

[Eric]

My bed and pillow was full of hair at the beginning of my chemo so i shaved it.
My wife liked my new look but she prefer my look with hairs.

By the way i am sure that your mass is already gone, i think that the 3 other cycles are to prevent another recurrence.