Continuing reflux

[Popsic]

Hi all, I am 7.5 yrs post Ivor Lewis, all’s good, but I’m getting a it concerned lately, I suffer with bi polar so certain situations are enhanced because of my state of mind, this question is for those of you who are longer post op really,

I still suffer reflux, sometimes quite badly, I am on 40mg omeprazole and I take gaviscon before bed, but just lately my mind has been in overdrive thinking something more sinister is going on, I have spoken to oncologist nurse about it, (I still see them because I have had dreadful trouble with diarrhoea and dumping syndrome, ) she says it’s normal to get reflux still and she has never known anyone in her yrs of experience to get cancer in the same place, I had an endoscopy in February this yr and nothing was seen, I guess really I am looking for reassurance from the more “ experienced “ of us, as it were, can anyone help.?

Also weight is a problem, I can’t lose it, in fact I have put on half a stone since lock down, I’m not eating anymore than usual, any suggestions?

Thank you for taking the time to read

Popsic

[Planthead]

Pops, perfectly normal, just keep taking the gaviston, or peptac is a lot cheaper, at £3.50 a bottle, but take it 3 times a day to coat the oesophagus, to try and keep it from becoming inflamed. Unfortunately you can get a recurrence of cancer at your oesphagus join, or anywhere else, which it is why its important to monitor your symptoms and report them, like difficulty in swallowing. inflammation of the oesophagus caused by reflux can be alarming as it makes it painful and difficult to swallow. As for weight, the simple answer is to watch what you eat, dont eat after 7pm, and get some more exercise, difficult during a winter lockdown, but a good walk in the morning is good, get a decent health band wristwatch, such as the mi fit 4, to monitor how many steps you do in a day, they can be as low as £15 on amazon, and are an excellent way of keeping track of how active you are, and can also measure other activities such as sports, sleep and weight, from your smart phone, as well as telling the time, and getting notifications of messages.

[Popsic in reply to Planthead]

Hi Planthead, Thank you for your reply, I do keep an eye on symptoms, but I feel like a hypochondriac sometimes. I don’t like to bother the docs.

I do have a fit bit, it’s an Aspire hr, I guess I’m going to have to kick my ass in gear and get moving!

My hubby goes into hospital on Monday for a hip replacement,but I’ll get on to th docs as soon as.

[Planthead in reply to Popsic]

Cheers. The doctors and professionals, like you, I am 6 years post op, so they consider us cured, and just managing any odd symptoms. No one knows of the internal terror, of thinking the cancer has come back, unfortunately for some it does. I just had a major scare, where my lymph nodes were enlarged and a pet scan lit up. Luckily on biopsy, it was benign. All because of severe reflux causing inflammation of the oesophagus. Get your fit bit on, and try for 8 to 10 thousand steps a day at a reasonable pace. Good luck and have fun.

[Popsic in reply to Planthead]

Thank you, I'm terrified the cancer will come back, I have an open link with the oncology nurse, but with this covid I can't see her. I get myself in such a state, my brother died suddenly in August due to cancer and it was like living it all again. People just don't understand.Thank you for replying

[Singforyoursupper]

Fully agree about walking 8-10000 steps but just take it up gradually! Let us know how you're going - and we can encourage ll probably find you are less stressed too after more exercise. Good luck