I was diagnosed with Shingles about 1 yr a go. Surprise to me too. My Ong/Gyn asked me if i wanted the vaccination but I'm so sick of needles I told her no. I was in alot of pain when it first broke out. For weeks I had a terrible backache and then one morning I saw the bumps. About 2 months after that I had a staph infection on the back of my leg. I was tested for MRSA but it all came back normal. Ever since I've had chemo it seems like I'm getting the oddest infections. Now I'm dealing with stomach issues. I was tested for stomach cancer that was negative. I was tested to see if it was my GallBladder. That was negative. Now they want to see if its my stomach. A possibility that it may not be digesting properly. Has anyone had this issue? At first I thought it was the cancer coming back. I have all the symptoms.... gas, filling full after a small meals, constipation and fatigue. But my CA125 is "2" and my CTScan is normal. I've had a upper GI and a HIDA scan twice. What is up with my body????
Already a member? Sign in
Welcome to Inspire!
What - Inspire is a place where you can connect with people who share your health concerns and find information and advice in groups sponsored by organizations you know and trust.
Why - As a member you can use Inspire to let friends and family know how you're doing, contact others who share your health concerns, receive personalized updates and information about participating in surveys and clinical trials, and more.
How - Joining Inspire is completely free and usually takes less than a minute. Join now!
Stomach problems
- By christinem1968
- Posted September 25, 2009 at 8:49 am · 6 replies
- In What, me worry?
- Shared with the public
Explore topics in this discussion:
MiraLax Cancer MRSA Stomach cancer Colace Blisters Glaucoma Metamucil Carafate Constipation Pain
6 replies
- Oldest first
- Newest first
- By lifeisgrand
- Posted September 25, 2009 at 9:05 am
- Report post
I'm having the same issues. Gas from sun up to sun down. Nothing helps it. Nausea. My mouth waters all the time. Constipation on and off. It is annoying but not causing other problems. I manage to eat well enough in spite of it.
I just finished chemo, had my last dose July 31 with a clear CT scan and a CA-125 of 12 three weeks later. My gyn/onc felt it was unrelated to the cancer. I had these exact symptoms prior to my diagnosis so of course I was concerned. He suggested going back to get the stomach scoped again because the chemo may have caused some new problems that weren't seen before. Honestly, I have had 3 abdominal ultrasounds and 3 CT scans in the past year, I'm getting tired of chasing this down.
My oncologist put me on Carafate two weeks ago. This is supposed to coat and heal any ulcers or chem-induced gastritis. So far it hasn't improved. My CA125 was 16.6 three weeks after the end of chemo one. Before my oncologist started me on the Carafate, I saw my PCP about the stomach issues. He checked my thyroid and said this can sometimes cause stomach problems. The TSH was low so I had a thyroid scan this week and am waiting on results. I am hoping it will show something to improve the GI symptoms. It gets exhausting trying to find the reason, especially when the reason is probably that heh, you have cancer... what do you expect but to feel like crap. My PCP actually told me not to come back... lol... he doesn't want to have to start dealing with it again and wants to hand it off to the oncologist.
- By kimsmom
- Posted September 25, 2009 at 9:48 am
- Report post
I don't know if this will help, but I have had shingles numerous times since I was about your age. Eating a lot of sweets seems to weaken my nerve sheath[s] that get affected, and i first get digestive upset and feel "yucky", and then get a burning aching feeling along the usual nerve sheath, and then the outbreak of blisters.
Oh...I do not have cancer. That is my daughter, Kim, who is pictured here on my kimsmom site.
Years ago, I found out about L-lysine amino acid and B6 vitamins...and what they do to strengthen nerve sheaths that are weakened to allow all types of herpes outbreaks[from shingles to cold sores]. I take L-lysine and B6 everyday. If I ever stop for as much as 2 weeks, I get a shingles outbreak...and if I start to get shingles..I double-up on L-lysine and it goes away.
Ask you gyn/onc if L-lysine and B6 would harm you in any way. If not, it can't hurt to try.
By the way, I live in Germantown..and wondering who treats you in the Memphis area. My daughter may get to come here one day for follow-up.
She was diagnosed early June of this year [IIIC grade 3 papillary serous]. she is having her 4th round of chemo on Monday..but, her first round done IP.
hopefully, the rain will end and we will have a beautiful week. Stay off the sweets, and eat lots of fresh veggies. Ask your dr about L-lysine and B6. I know it works. Many people who have had shingles and cold sores have tried it and it's 100% effective for everyone that I know who started taking it. I think L-lysine is an amino acid which aids in absorbing or utilizing proteins in the body.
hugs and prayers,
kimsmom
- By momanderson920
- Posted September 25, 2009 at 5:01 pm
- Report post
I had all kinds of weird pains and illnesses after chemo that lasted for around 7 months and then I started returning to normalcy. I still have had some episodes of weird pain in my back and stomach region and like you no one knows what it is. Negative CTs but my CA125 is rising. I think the chemo does a number on you that takes months to recover from with some people. It did for me. I had two more abscessed teeth, an ear infection, a weird bout of what felt like food poisoning but it lasted a week, and got two long protracted bad bad colds back to back and before chemo I NEVER got colds. I think the chemo takes awhile to recover from for some. Perhaps that is what is going on with you. On the positive side I had no leftover neuropathy to speak of...only an occasional burning sensation but nothing major. I do have vision and hearing damage...my hearing is not as good and my ears ring from time to time and my vision is worse, early stage glaucoma the doc says.
- By momanderson920
- Posted September 25, 2009 at 5:02 pm
- Report post
Oh and as for stomach, am having horrible reflux episodes which have affected my lungs...have flushing of stomach acid into the lungs. I sleep on elevated bed now AND take high dose proton inhibitor.
- By quacker
- Posted September 26, 2009 at 10:36 am
- Report post
Chemo destroys your ability to digest and absorb foods, sometimes for a year after it is over. Try getting a good brand of digestive enzymes, one with both plant and animal sources and take them according to the label on the bottle. Make sure one of the ingredients is Betaine HCl.
- By ovagal
- Posted September 26, 2009 at 8:56 pm
- Report post
Sorry to be so graphic, but along with irregularity, do any of you have issues with narrow stool passages that feel like they are large, but are not? This is not an everyday occurrence, but seems to have become more prevalent recently.
I am on Miralax, Metamucil, Colace and eat two - four dried plums (prunes) daily.
CA-125 at the end of May was 5.6, and last week's pelvic exam was good.
Thanks,
ovagal
Add to the discussion