Heart Burn and Nausea with Ratiation Treatments

Roseann

They ALWAYS say its not related but I believe it is as I too had heart burn issues with rads...Ask them now what is ok for you to use for heart burn so if yours follows through like mine did you will be prepared.....as time went on my heart burn got worse...I actually lived on those little cartons of chocolate milk because I over the counter meds didnt work for me. I didnt have the nausea that others talk of.....

Best wishes

Jule

Roseann,  I feel very fortunate that my rad/onc and my techs never dismissed anything I said.  They would tell me if it was common or very rare, but they always gave me suggestions on what I could do.  My doctor came in to the room the next morning after I complained of a funny taste in  my mouth and nausea to check where the field was hitting my stomach/esophagus (sp). She said she couldn't change it, it was as high as she could go.  She then suggested a ginger tea.  It worked very well for me.  I also bought some ginger candy that I would eat on my way there in the morning.  The good thing for me is that it went away after about 2 weeks.  I hope it does for you also.

Hang in there, it will be over before you know it....

Take Care, Laura

I got so mad at the techs and my radiologist because it seemed that nothing was related to the treatments, even the burns! (I'm stretching on that one!)  My ribs hurt, I had dark, dry patches on my neck, and even on my back, I felt soooo tired, AND I had pains in my chest and gut that made me feel like I was having a heart attack at times.

When I mentioned it to my primary care physician, she said that radiation has a lot of "scatter" to it, and she believed that it was causing problems with the esophogus and stomach.  She gave me a prescription for Prolasac.  Since I had some OTC Prolisac at home, I started back on that, and it did the trick. 

I don't understand why the radiology departments can't just 'fess up and admit that there are some side affects to this and let us deal with it.  I'm ok with some stomach issues --- I dealt with it during chemo and I could have dealt with it during radiation.  Just let me know that that is what it is and I'll take something for it.  Instead, I laying awake at night thinking I'm having a heart attack!!!!!

So try some stomach stuff and see how you do!

I too had nausea and heartburn. I was told it had nothing to do with the radiation. It was about 2 weeks inot my sessions. It had gone away since I am very careful of what I eat. I have 2 treatments left! This is my first time on a discussion board and I want to say THANK YOU! I don't feel as though it is all in my head.

Any suggestions for the rawness under my breast? It looks like blister that has popped and is very painful. My doctor said I shouldn't wear a bra. Unfortunatly my breast is a DD so it doesn't get air cirrculation. I am putting Aquafor and Aloe on it but it isn't helping. I had to stop treatment for a few days. 

Thank you Jule! I will ask this morning.

He told me to try Desitin first. I put that on yesterday after treatment and it was very soothing. I am now done with treatment. He said to call if it isn't better in a week. I am hopeful! 

I agree totally.. same here @ my radioligist.. they blame chemo & chemo blames the rads.

Go figure. I had heartburn and took prilosec two times a day/ suggested by my oncologist.

I never really had that much nausea with chemo but as soon as i started radiation it really set in & stayed the whole 35 treatments. Tried everything. No real relief. sorry. Still have some in the morning even after treatments are over for 2 weeks.

Yes, Yes, Yes.  I am totally frustrated.  I have only had five treatments so far but I have been nauseated for the last couple of days.  Everything I try to eat leaves a metalic taste in my mouth.  My right breast (the one they are zapping) is very sore and downright painful on some days.  It is always hot.  I can't see a burn yet but I can feel it.  I have even had diarreha for the last three days but I am told that is not a symptom, perhaps it's a virus.  I am exhausted and they are telling me it is too early to be exhausted.  I am struggling with my job because I was litterally too worn out to drive to work today.  I wish the doctors would just tell what they see and admit that we may know more about what's going on in our bodies than they do!  Thank you so much for letting me know that I am not the only one!                      Bellvadeer

I, too, had radiation to my spine, but was told by my radiologist it would mess up my stomach. I didn't realize how bad. Could hardly eat anything, I was so nauseous; totally no appetite. I lost 20 lbs in that month alone. It's been 2 months since my last radiation treatment and, like you, my stomach still isn't back to normal. One of the Onc. nurses said it may not ever get back  to absolutely normal again. I'll get diarrhea at the drop of a hat and must be very careful about eating refrigerated left over food. We put a refrigerator/freezer thermometer in to make sure the refer stays below 40 degrees and the freezer below 0 degrees.

Anita, has your radiologist given you any meds for nausea? I took Zofran and did not eat before radiation. Milk products tend to make nausea worse. Try toast without anything on it, baby applesauce or unsweetened applesauce, and my main staple chicken noodle soup. Tangy and tart vs. sweet was better for me. Even with the Zofran the nausea didn't go completely away. Hope this helps.

My radiologist didn't really believe me about the nausea.  My primary care doctor gave me phenergan.  This morning my radiologist told me to take the phenergan before I ate.  I had a bagel and some cereal for vitamins.  It didn't go well.  No vomiting but nasty stomach pain and nausea.  I will ask about Zofran tomorrow.  I have the applesauce and have been eating dry toast.  Thank you for the suggestions.  I'll keep you posted.   Anita

They swore up and down that radiation didnt make people sick like chemo did.

wow - I am 6 months past rads, but I suddenly developed really horrible reflux in June - I wonder if that could be related? I take OTC Zantac which works fine.

I start rads soon (had simulation, get tats tomorrow yada yada theyre playing around for months).

But anyway, I just printed the side effects from the net here and Im showing my rads doctor tomorrow. All she does is lie. She said the first day I met her, quote "If you get sick, see your family doctor, rads didnt do it" So Im telling her about it with paper in hand. (I didnt tell my husband, lol, he would have a fit, but Im tired of them downplaying rads, its radiation not a walk in the park.