Acid reflux/belching/nausea after surgery and radiation

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Cherilynn64
Cherilynn64 Member Posts: 342
edited June 2014 in Managing Side Effects of Breast Cancer and Its Treatment

Hi everyone,

 I had a lumpectomy on Jan 20 and then had the 5 day twice a day internal radiation via the SAVI which ended Feb 9. I worked full time during the radiation treatment. I wasn't overly tired, just mild in the late evening towards the end. I was very tired earlier this week as well, but as of yesterday I'm doing much better.

However, I have noticed that as of last weekend (so about a week now), I have been getting nauseous almost right at 30 min after I eat. Doesn't matter if at home or out, it's right at 30 min. I feel like I just want to throw up but I don't. I feel like there is a tight band around my upper abdomen 24/7 (below the ribcage and about 4 inches above the navel). I also start belching from the time I get up till when I go to bed. I'm much better lying down and have no problems while I sleep.

I started taking omeprazole OTC yesterday in the morning before eating, and sure enough the last 2 days it's much better. I'm still a little nausous and have that tight belt around the stomach feeling, but the belching is much improved.

I'm a pharmacist so I know what these symptoms relate to and treatment etc, but one, I don't want to be on any meds I don't need to be, and two, I have never had any of these problems before. I am wondering if it has to do with the radiation treatment? I had the nausea for about a week after the surgery and I know that was from the anesthesia getting out of my system and the surgery in general, but I only got internal local radiation not external, and I'm wondering if it's from the radiation or just a coindence? Or can it still be from the surgery and radiation together and just stress on the body?

Has anyone else experienced this within a month or so of surgery and radiation and you never suffered from any kind of reflux/ulcer/acid issues before? My appetite is good - I did change my diet and get rid of most sugar and caffeine. I was already vegeterian but a crappy one ("junk food vegetarian" is my own nickname for myself). A good friend of mine who helped take care of me after surgery is a health food guru and she made me lots of good and wholesome homemade food. I have tried to add in more fruits and veggies, switched to almond milk, changed to sourdough bread from white, gave up fast food and microwaved meals.....so she said well maybe it's from surgery, radiation, AND changing your diet all within a 6 week period. My body is adjusting to ALL the changes. 

Time heals everything....I just have never been sick before AND I have no patience, LOL....any suggestions or insight? THANK YOU! 

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  • ma111
    ma111 Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    Your body may not like the protein rich foods like tofu that are hard to digest that your wonderful friend is making for you. Proteins are hard to digest, consider what her ingredients are. When I start having stomach problems, protien, especially nuts are out.

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  • Cherilynn64
    Cherilynn64 Member Posts: 342
    edited February 2012

    Actually she and I both hate tofu and we're both vegeterian (she's a recent covert, I've been on since age 26).I also eat no nuts....I don't taste anything, so they serve no purpose for me lol. She was making me homemade brocolli soup and lentil stews.....but since then I have started on smoothies as well that I make myself. It may be the new food in general and giving up the old crap I ate. I lived on sugar sugar sugar.....I have cut it way way down. I use agave nectar to sweeten as I can't stand stevia. I have gone from barely a banana a day to several servings of fruits and vegetables daily. So maybe my body is in shock of 47 years of junk being gone, who knows? ;-)

     She IS a wsonderful friend, isn't she? We live 25 min apart and I don't think I have seen her 5 times in the last 15 years. When this happened, she stepped up and took care of things. I'm forever in her debt. I always pay for lunch/dinner/movie now and she goes, you don't have to do that, and I'm like "Yeah, I think I owe you about 50 years of dinners and movies, please!" She came over and vacuumed, changed my sheets, folded laundry, and she's the one who drove me to durgery and stayed there while I was under. I have no one in my life really....the man who I thought would see me through this I had to walk away from for many reasons, very sad situation and one that gave me PTSD and send me to a psychologist for the first time....this diagnosis hit 7 months to the day after that day. She knew I was alone and just said, well, this is how we make up for lost time. 

    This sure got off topic, but yeah.......she's a wonderful friend. I shudder to think how I'd have turned out through this without her help.  

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  • M-Aug
    M-Aug Member Posts: 95
    edited February 2012

    So sorry you are having these problems. I love how you call yourself a junk food vegetarian. That is the perfect description of me. Everyone is telling me to eat more healthy which just seems ironic! While I didn't have internal radiation I did do external rads and was very sick to my stomach, heart burn and various other issues. I hope you find some relief soon.

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  • ma111
    ma111 Member Posts: 1,376
    edited February 2012

    The lentil stews have the beens that are protein rich, (hard to digest). The fruit smoothies will probably make you feel better. Sometimes make them without the bananas. Sometimes I have problems with them also. Putting them in a smoothie doesn't make them easier to digest. I bought some brown rice powder protein. That seemed like the only protein that didn't make me sick.

    I am so glad that you have that friend! I have had friends step up more then family, it's nice.

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  • shaah2468
    shaah2468 Member Posts: 72
    edited February 2012

    I had similar to you last year when I was on Capecitiabine.  I was belching from morning to night, so much so that I had sore esophaugs.  Also acid kept rising into my mouth from my stomach and I developed an intolerance to dairy products.  Every time I ate or even drank water within 20 minutes my stomach would start to ache really bad and I would feel nauseous.  My doctor did not feel it was due to the Capecitiabine but funny enough since it stopped working and I have been off it my symptoms have greatly improved and my stomach aches have after eating or drinking have completely stopped.  One thing that did help my stomach aches for some reason was sucking on a hard boiled sweet as soon as it started.

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  • LuvRVing
    LuvRVing Member Posts: 4,516
    edited February 2012

    I underwent Mammosite radiation in July 2010 and I had some indigestion problems for a few weeks.  My esophagus was definitely irritated and for me, spicy foods were a problem.  I avoided them and that worked.  Taking omeprazole may be all you need for a couple of weeks.  Why suffer?  Why deny yourself your favorite foods?  I understand not wanting to take drugs, but honestly if it's helping you then I suggest you go with it for the short term.

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  • Cherilynn64
    Cherilynn64 Member Posts: 342
    edited February 2012

    I completely forgot to put this as a topic to follow and forgot to follow up! Thank you to everyone for all the thoughts and advice, The belching stopped after 4 days of omeprazole....that's all I needed then I stopped and I was fine. The nausea continued just till the last Thurs or so and now I seem totally fine. I think it's a combo of the stress, surgery, radiation, and complete 180 in diat all within 6 weeks. But nice to hear I'm not the only one....I thought I was going crazy. Thank you everyone, hopefully if anyone else ever experiences this they will see this thread :-)

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