Tummy Turmoil

Letter to My Primary Care Physician

I don't even know how to eat a healthy diet anymore. It was a struggle before being on chemo, as I have the oral lichen planus which only permitted bland foods and little chewing. I've had that almost permanently for seven years.

I was also on a fairly bland diet because of GERD. But, now since I cannot take H2 blockers or proton pump inhibitors, controlling the GERD is not happening, even though I've got the misoprostol which helps a bit, and that other one I can only take on an empty stomach. (Sucralfate?). The only time of day I have an empty stomach is when I first wake up. After I eat something, my stomach is never empty for the rest of the day. My food just sits there, burping and nauseating throughout the day. I dread eating anything most of the time. And now of course, we realize all that coughing has been caused by the GERD (Though it started with that cold or flu I had before christmas).

So, as each day goes by, I test whether or not I have appetite. If I don't and I eat, I just feel worse. So, I might nibble on whatever feels safe to eat. Sometimes I can eat soup, cereal or even part of a frozen dinner. I hate it that lettuce makes me sick now. I miss my salads!

If I have to stay on this chemo the rest of my life and just tolerate the inadequate control of my tummy problems (also have hiatal hernia), I know I cannot maintain a "healthy diet" that will change my cholesterol issues. I find this whole thing extremely frustrating and discouraging. Even the Questran sits in my stomach like a rock and queasiness is my companion. I've had to carefully balance my health for years. This is out of control. I'm at a loss for what I can do.

Doesn't seem worth it to be on the chemo!