Anyone deal with Acid Reflux or GERD after lobectomy?

Yes. Just talked to my thoracic surgeon about it this week. She couldn’t say whether there’s a relationship because it hasn’t been studied. I take omeprazole daily. That takes care of it.

I had recently gone off PPIs when I was diagnosed with microscopic colitis because it’s one of the medical triggers for that. But I was taking Pepcid - an H2 blocker. Not as effective as PPI (Nexium in my case) to me. But man was I glad to have it after surgery. I’ve never experienced the degree of gerd I had in the days immediately after surgery. I felt like my esophagus was having a hole burned through it.

Does the reflux happen all day, or just when in bed?

Depends on the day. Today started after breakfast but I would say most days it starts after dinner and lasts into the night. I normally don’t eat much until dinner though and then that’s when the cough starts too.

I have an electric adjustable bed and I always go to bed in what’s called zero gravity position. I will usually wake up about 2AM and move to flat position. That really helped me. By then my stomach is empty and less of an issue. I have to eat smaller portions than I did when younger. I’m 77 now.

I can suggest the ideas presented in webmd for GERD triggers. It has to do with habits after eating: sitting upright for a couple of hours before lying down, mall meals etc. I also like hot tea with my meals that have more fat than usual. A recent bout of constipation has been pretty well relieved by Dr advice to take two magnesium oxide pills in the morning and night.

Merry Christmas! From what I understand, the Gerd and acid reflux are caused from the shifting of the stomach and diaphragm after lung surgery. In my case, I had a Segmentectomy and small wedge of Upper Left Lung. So everything shifted up afterward. I also now have a “tiny hiatal hernia” that wasn’t there before. I feel like everything that I eat just makes my stomach bulge but now higher and sits there for awhile. I don’t take any medicines, but will take some pepto if it gets that burning feeling. I’ve just realized that at night is when you need to eat smaller meals. Eat your big breakfast and lunch because you’re moving around more. Small for dinner and try to avoid greasy, and dairy such as ice cream at night. It’s worked for me. I also have an adjustable bed and I leave the head up a bit. I sleep much better that way. Hope you all have a Wonderful and Blessed day! God Bless you!

Thanks so much! That is very helpful. My surgeon referred me to a pulmonologist to help figure out the cough but I’m pretty sure it is related to Gerd as well. It awesome that lobectomies help remove the cancer but it is a bummer it causes some side effects! Merry Christmas to you!

Thank you for this, I had a lobectomy of the right lower lobe 2 months ago and have had problems of acid reflux (later in the day and the same dry cough as described by others) and also with my voice since then( I sound like I have a cold and will start to loose my voice if I talk for too long - phone calls become difficult). I thought that the two tubes used down my throat during the surgery irritated everything but had hoped it would all go away by now. I like your suggestions and will talk things over with my doctor before starting chemo in the new year.

I wish you the best of luck with your chemo! I had the dry throat and I drank lots of coffee and warm Cinnamon Apple tea with Raw Wild Flower or Orange Blossom honey. Mine went away in about a month, I think. It was from the tubes during surgery, and oxygen that they were pumping into me. Even if you don’t have an adjustable bed, they do sell the Wedge pillows. I think I would rather just put a bunch of pillows and make my own as that, I feel, is more comfortable. If you have a dry cough you may want to try a humidifier or at least an essential oil infuser next to your bed. Rosemary is good for your respiratory and if you mix Lavender with it they are calming as well. Just make sure they are true essential oils, not perfumes. Those will irritate your respiratory system. God Bless You and I wish you Well!
Cindy