Dread eating, as acid reflux and IBS pain starts immediately.

Hi Catsski

What a shame you are having a rough time ! My mum described it as eating cardboard! She struggled too!

Can I suggest you phone our helpline staff as they may be able to put you in touch with one of the nurses who have experience in the field . 0808 808 0000. 
Aldo remember to speak to your team . A small reduction in dose helped find the right tolerance level for my mum and reduced a lot of the symptoms. They are very experienced at that aspect and know how to assist either with other interventions for side effects or dose alterations. Please don’t suffer though as they are there to help you and there are things they can do to make it more tolerable. They would want to know and help you !

Take care ,

Court 

Hello Court,

Many thanks for your suggestions. I have been in touch with my team, one was extremeely  helpfu and suggested  the Buscopan, also adding that if not better the next day I would probably  need a review. The next another nurse who contacted  me as a  follow up and I informed  her that nothing had changedl She thought that  I had an upset stomach and suggested  that I did no eat fruit.!

Of course at the weekend  no one available,  so  I will contact them tomorrow ask if I could have a review. Taking my daily diary with details of everything! Just hoping for some pain  relief.

Oh right ! Catsski

Its a bit more than an upset tummy as my mum had the same . She got some relief from buscopan However she did have quite serve Colic like symptoms to the point we thought it was an obstruction and contacted the surgeon ! She used a hot water  bottle but to be honest I had not seen her like that before . Hopefully the review will help with the nausea , indigestion and pain . Just to encourage you it happen on round two for my mum but did improve with help . 
Let us know how you get on . 
Court 

Hello Court,

I did contact the chemo nurse, last Monday who suggested that  I should get it checked out at local A&E.I did inform  the doctor that I thought it was trapped wind but he was concerned that I had a blockage and sent me  to have CT scan that proved to be clear. So they sent me home  on the Wednesday despite saying that I was in pain etc. They just did not seem concerned and kept telling me that constipation and diarrhoea was  a typical side effect..

Just getting someone to listen  to me,  observe me when I am doubled up with severe pain, would be good. I also use a hot water bottle it does relief the pain at times

Thank you for  your reply much appreciated especially when you say that your mother improved on round 2..iwud like to delay round 2 until I am painfree, the feaar of spending another three weeks as I have been this week really worries me.

I never suffered this whilst having Chemo. However, had the same pain/ problems in the past.....& never found Buscopan of any use. I was prescribed Omeprazole...& just one tablet eased this within minutes. I wonder if you are allowed this medication whilst on Chemo. Might be helpful to ask a member of your team.

Best wishes

Marianne 26

Thankyou Marianne,A good suggestion.I used to take Omeprezole for my hiatus hernia and it was very effective. I looked in my medicine cabinet this morning and found some only to discover they were four years out of date! i will certainly ask about Omeprezole. Thank you so much.

Hi Catsski

im on cape tablets only and on my week off on cycle 1 I had a bad tummy pain and constipation and diarrhoea but it only lasted 2 days after speaking to the chemo nurse she thought I’d eaten something that my now delicate stomach didn’t like . Then towards the end of cycle 2 the same tummy gripes started - quite high up almost towards my rib cage , more upper stomach than bowel . Again chemo suite suggested buscopan which did help initially but the pain got worse , nausea was awful but no vomiting and cooking smells were vile - anyhow I went to get my bloods done to start cycle 3 and  the chemo nurse said I should go to A And E do I did ! I was admitted for 8 days . In the end I was on morphine and tramadol for the pain . It turned out I had a stomach infection and bowel obstruction ( even though I was passing stools ) The oncologist thought it might be a side effect of the chemo , but bowel surgeon didn’t - I’ve had a break from chemo of 2 weeks so am ready to start again this wed - obviously slightly apprehensive in case it all happens again 

Hello Takayasu,

Thank you so much for replying.Gosh sounds as if you had a really bad time but so pleased that you were sent to A&E and got sorted despite an eight day stay! I was given morphine by one of the doctors before he sent me  for a CT scan as he thought I may have a blockage, at least he witnessed the pain that I was experiencing and acted upon it.

Apology for my late reply, but having contacted the chemo nurses again, yesterday morning, they recommended  that I  should go to the oncologiy ward at the hospital. So pleased that I  did as the doctor listened to me and I showed her my diary that I have been keeping of every medication that I take and all the problems that I have been  having and every bowel movement etc( probably too much information, but with chemo brain essential !)I returned home with a collection  of new medication and feel so much relief that a doctor took the time and considered all possibities.Most of the medications are short term (Max a week) and to be reviewed. I have confidence that they will work,even have  morphine  oral solution for those times I am writhing in pain. I am to have my second course of chemo on Wednesday and now feel a lot happier about it,  knowing that someone will listen and respond should I  suffer with all this pain again. (Also worried in case the same  debilitaing pains return).

Like you cooking smells still make me nauseous and my appetite is non existant. The doctor said not to even think about meals but just have snacks about six-eight times a day, with plenty to drink.Also advised  me not to drink milk as possible lactose intolerance but soya milk. Again a few years ago I did have a period of substituting milk with soya, but thought it had all cleared up.

I shall be thinking of you on Wednesday when you are having your third course and I'll be having my second course.Once again thank you for replying really appreciate it.

Have to say that each reply has been so helpful and I have taken on board all that has been said.

Thank you!

reply

I’m so glad you have had a sympathetic ear from your oncologist and now hopefully trying new medication will help . Bring on the next cycle !!!!! 
I’ll let you know if my side effects come back once I start again . X Dawn 

Takayasu and Catsski so glad you both have been given some help but sounds so rough ! My mum was the same literally writhing in pain and she has a high pain threshold. When you are like that you know yourself it is nothing like an upset tummy !

take care ,

Court