Issues with heartburn?

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finallyoverit
finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
edited October 2019 in Stage IV/Metastatic Breast Cancer ONLY

Over the last 2-3 months, I have had bouts of heartburn for the first time in my life. It’s not every day or every week. Being a Stage IV’er, I never know whether it’s a side effect, something I’ve eaten that my body does not appreciate now or something more nefarious.

I’ve been on the same drug regime (Ibrance, Femara) for over 2 years, so I don’t think that’s it. No major changes in diet.

Thoughts? Chalk it up to getting older?

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  • nowaldron
    nowaldron Member Posts: 94
    edited July 2019

    Hi,

    I had the same problem about six months ago - out of the blue - I had just had scans, so my onc wasn't worried at all. She did, however, write me a prescription for Xantac (generic) and is it so much less expensive than the small package you can buy at the pharmacy. You might ask for a script, at least it will ease your symptoms.

    Take care,

    Nancy

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  • JACK5IE
    JACK5IE Member Posts: 760
    edited October 2019

    I've recently started getting heartburn more and wondering if it's the Ibrance. I've been on it awhile now so I'm wondering why all of a sudden it would get worse or wondering if it's something more serious. Anyone else get heartburn on Ibrance?

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  • finallyoverit
    finallyoverit Member Posts: 382
    edited October 2019

    @Jack5ie ~ that’s a good question. I am on Ibrance and never connected the two. Perhaps that’s what it is. Took a while to happen though. I’ve been on Ibrance 2.5 years and the heartburn just started in the last couple months. Surprisingly enough, now that I’ve gone keto, heartburn is gone

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  • jobur
    jobur Member Posts: 726
    edited October 2019

    JACK5IE, I was on Ibrance for 2 1/2 years and it definitely gave me heartburn, though I can't remember now if it started right away or took a while. I took omeprazole for all or most of that time and it took care of the problem. When I stopped Ibrance I also quit the omeprazole and had no problems with heartburn during my time on A/A. Now on Piqray, the heartburn is back big time. According to the patient info from Novartis, Zantac (ranitidine) is not allowed and omeprazole does not seem to help, so I'm eating a lot of Tums.

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  • JACK5IE
    JACK5IE Member Posts: 760
    edited October 2019

    Thank you both finallyoverit and jobur. I'll try to watch the spicy foods more and I actually bought some Tums yesterday.

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  • exbrnxgrl
    exbrnxgrl Member Posts: 12,424
    edited October 2019

    I’m not on Ibrance but have developed chronic heartburn and low level nausea. I used to have an iron stomach and now eating is not nearly as enjoyable. After being carted off to the ER this past July due to severe dehydration and undergoing lots of tests and a CT scan, I was sent home with Pepcid. It does help but I am not always taking it consistently

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  • booboo1
    booboo1 Member Posts: 1,159
    edited October 2019

    Jobur,

    I am getting ready to start PIQRAY too. I went through all of the side effects with the nurse, and she said I should start using either Claritin or Zyrtec before starting PIQRAY. Were you also instructed to do the same? Any other words of advice? I am nervous to start this very new drug.

    Thank you.

    Laurie
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  • jobur
    jobur Member Posts: 726
    edited October 2019

    Hi BooBoo1/Laurie,

    My mo didn't suggest taking Claritin or Zyrtec, but I read here on the forum that an antihistamine was a good idea to help prevent rashes. I took Claritin the 1st 3 months, but have since read that Zyrtec is better, so yes, by all means give it a try!

    I'm sorry you are in the position of having to change treatments, it is always hard and causes all of us anxiety. I have been fortunate and have not had any of the usual se's. No Big D and my glucose has stayed just a bit above normal. I have some weird skin stuff going on, but not really a rash like those I had on Ibrance.

    I'm sorry, I have no wise advice, but I hope this will be a good tx for you with great results and no intolerable se's. I am really liking it and hoping scans next month will prove it's working.

    Here are a couple of threads for those on Piqray.

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topics/...

    https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/8/topics/...

    See you there!

    Jo

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  • jobur
    jobur Member Posts: 726
    edited October 2019

    Back to the original topic. I decided to try omeprazole again and it seems to be helping with the heartburn. Yay! I was trying to avoid it as bc.org's Piqray page says you can't take omeprazole with alpelisib. I have spoken with my specialty pharmacy and they said it was okay to take. Just hate it when there is conflicting advice! Mods, do you know where this info came from?

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  • booboo1
    booboo1 Member Posts: 1,159
    edited October 2019

    Dear Jobur,

    Thank you so much for your reply. I am so scared of all of the side effects, and you just put my mind at ease. Maybe I’ll get lucky and have few side effects like you. I was on Xeloda for over a year, and I had only a few minor issues with that drug. I am SO happy that PIQRAY comesin pill form. So much more freedom with pills!

    I hope you continue to do well on this drug. Big hugs for giving me hope!

    Laurie

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  • jobur
    jobur Member Posts: 726
    edited October 2019

    Laurie, Your post made my day! So glad I could help you feel more at ease about starting Piqray. Will you be getting fulvestrant (Faslodex) too?

    You gave me a shot of hope too as Xeloda will be in my future when this drug fails. Big hug back to you!

    Jo

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  • LoveFromPhilly
    LoveFromPhilly Member Posts: 1,308
    edited October 2019

    hello friends!

    When I was starting Ibrance my MO was ready to also prescribe me a proton pump inhibitor as well (aka Omeprazole). Heartburn is a known side effect as Ibrance causes GI distress similarly (but perhaps less intensely) as chemotherapy.

    I do get heartburn once in a while. My CT scans show that I have now developed a small stomach hernia as well as have esophageal erosion from the stomach acid. Yay!! Thank you medicine!! Oy!!

    Mostly I am okay but I do tend to avoid spicy food and too much acidic foods.

    I am assuming this means I get to eat more ice cream??? 😉 lol

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  • booboo1
    booboo1 Member Posts: 1,159
    edited October 2019

    Jo,

    Yes, I’ve already had my loading dose of Faslodex....of the joys of those butt shots

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