Acid Reflux 4 weeks after treatment ended

Hi Sharon. Sorry to hear your husband is still struggling but it is early days and well  done for both of you getting thus far. 
Reflux is a common problem after RT. He’s not swallowing alkaline saliva which can upset the stomach status quo. 
The only answer at the moment is something like Lanzaprazole taken religiously every morning for a few weeks. On occasion it doesn’t do any harm to take a glug of Gaviscon before bedtime 

2 years down the line I still keep some to hand though I don’t have to take it often. 
He will get there small steps, sometimes backwards but he will. 
Best wishes 

Thank you Dani,

He got a prescription for something similar to that on Tuesday so hopefully that will start to help. Gaviscon seemed to sting a lot when he tried that but at least we have some now to try again at some point. So it’s the luck of saliva rather than food that causes the acid? It’s certainly something he has never had before but didn’t come up as a side affect in our appointments. It does at the moment feel like one small step forward and a big one back.

thank you for your prompt response. Take care

Sharon 

Sharon. Ask his team for a drug called antacid with Oxytecaine. It’s an antacid with local anaesthetic. It’s used to help people swallow food while undergoing and recovering from RT. You swish it round the throat and swallow. That might be better than gaviscon for now. 
My dieticians were quick on the ball with reflux. I was told about it very early on. Equally my SALT team gave me much more support than my oncologist. I just think they have more time and are better at looking after their patients. 
Have a word with them. 
My oncologist didn’t tell me about carotid artery and thyroid damage either. I learned about them here. These effects are very important but discussion about those can wait as the effects aren’t urgent at present . 

Hi Sharon, just as Dani said this is a common problem after RT, I still get it now 31/2 years after treatment ended, although it is a lot better than it was at one time. I was on Lanzaprazole for a while which does work very well, also Gaviscon Advance which I still take every night before going to bed, and sometimes in the daytime if it's needed. Your husband seems to be doing very well with eating, such a short time after his treatment, keep up the good work . All the best to you both.

Regards Ray.

Hi Sharon welcome to the club and well done for hubby getting through treatment. I too never had acid reflux but was warned about it. I was given omaprozole and still kerp them at hand if need be. Yes the recovery phase is challenging and in time length varied. 
please mention to consultant they will be aware of it. In meantime try Gaviscon extra. 
best wishes 
hazel 

Yup, I’m still on 15 g of lanzoprazole, 10 months now since treatment ended, it just keeps it at bay

Tim 

I think i have mentioned before that i have these problems because there is no valve to stop my acid coming up like it is in a natural state. I have complained to doctors but for some reason which i cant understand they cannot put a valve in. That also means if I bend down the food from stomach if higher will come up. I am not sure if this has to do with this post

Hi Sharon. I’m 14 weeks post treatment and now getting to my new normal. I too used Oxytecaine when eating was difficult and I still take Lanzaprazole first thing every morning to keep acid reflux at bay. Both have proved to be very effective.