Bottle o Tamoxifen
Comments
-
PatMom, I am doing a lot of those things already, taking cancer preventing supplements, working out frequently, eating my raw colorful fruits and veggies, cutting down on all the bad stuff. What I'm talking about is eventually just doing that stuff and not taking tamoxifen any longer like some of the Natural girls do. The reason I would do this is because I worry about the long term side effects of tamoxifen, and because I don't know if my particular case really benefits all that much from it. And summer is coming, I don't know if I can live with all these intense hot flashes making me miserable as well as the sex problem.
I'm still thinking whether or not to take it today or wait another week or two to see if those side effects let up.
0 -
Thanks for the info on the drinking. I usually only drink a few beers on the weekends - I drink "chickalob" (Michelob Ultra -low carbs). I will be cutting back, why not? I also didn't drink last year while going through treatment. My daughter will be turning 21 next month and I'll be sure to toast that milestone!
My husband doesn't drink much at all, but for one of the July 4th parties he always makes a "surprise" drink for all to try.
My next med onc is July 16th and I"ll bring up the alcohol usage with her.
0 -
why aren't the rest of my friends as much fun as you guys?
OK, my gal pals in the pic are... but... Chickalob? BC porn? HAR HAR HAR!!!!!!
Rose... ya didn't think BC was going to make sex get better, didja?
And about the long term effects... they have been doing the Tamoxifen thing for 30 years, I think they'd know by now. It's nice to have a LONG TERM. Fear is maybe a side effect of BC, but not of Tamoxifen, and fear ain't going to lend you a hand. Knowledge is power. I keep posting the data on Tamoxifen, if you didn't see the results of Tamoxifen vs. placebo, lemme know here or PM and i will send. They were testing the effectiveness of Tamox as a treatment on 13K women and coincidentally the SEs. Turns out the placebo group had the SAME SE's as the Tamox group- except for hot flashes and vaginal discharge. (and hot flashes and joint pain have been shown to further reduce recurrence!). So actually, you are getting the best of it! They had to stop the trial because the women who were taking it were doing SO MUCH BETTER against recurrence, it was unfair to the women who were not taking it. Try the "break" that Helena took, 2-5 weeks and see if your blues go away. Try the Effexor or whatever if that doesn't work. (Try xanax, we are hearing at least one gal is having FUN with Tamox and Xanax). Try to stay on Tamoxifen- it's your friend.It makes complete sense that we'd all be weirded out about sex.
0 -
Murph, Thanks for the laugh about th Chickalob!! My DH drinks that all the time! Can't wait to ask him if he wants one tonight!
BC porn was pretty funny too!
0 -
Thanks, Artemis! Okay then, one first class, luxury accomodations train ticket good for five years please... is there complimentary wine aboard? I may be in need- although, so far so good. Chocolate is way better than soy any day by the way... go for the good stuff, you are so worth it!
Penguin
0 -
Penguin ~ you bet there's complimentary wine, Sister!
Tsarinas ~ I wonder if more SE's are showing for me. I was all teary today until about an hour ago. Now, I want to snap/shout at anyone who says anything to me. I feel fine. I don't feel as if I don't want anyone to talk to me, but when they do it's hard to not say "DON'T TALK TO ME!!!"
Is this the dreaded moodiness kicking in? Lordy, for the sake of my family I hope it isn't. I've always struggled with mood swings and depression; I just got everything under control about seven years ago. I sooooooooooo don't want this to start up again.
Hugs to all
Artemis0 -
Hi all. At the April BC Symposium co-sponsored by Komen NY there was a presentation form a women from Memorial Sloane Kettering who among other things said 1/2 glass of wine each day gives a 6% increase in BC recurrence risk and 2 glasses per day increases the recurrence risk by over 30%. Good thing I'm not much of a drinker. Do enjoy every now and then - and plan to continue at that relatively low frequency.
Joan
0 -
lesse... no wine, less sex, no smoking. Uh.. no wonder we tend to gain weight.
0 -
Rachel, that explains so much to me! So sad........
0 -
Leggy, I just accepted what my onc told me, because I can not deal with anymore bad news. I'd rather live in denial. My 24 yr old pregnant cousin was in a head on accident last night, she is due Aug 1. She is ok had to keep her overnight to get her bp and contractions under control. Her dad is the uncle that needs a pacemaker.
Xanax is very very good. I took some about 14 years ago when I was working retail and having panic attacks, because a colleague of mine was closing her store. I was afraid to be in the store alone and was having nightmares. Xanax helped me sleep.
Rachel so happy that boy won the contest for Aerosmith!!!! He will have a blast, how great, he deserves it.
Friday and then the w/e. I have to get up early and do all my errands, b/c traffic will be a joke here in The Poconos! LOL. The kids will like that, it means lunch at Mickey D's.
HAPPY 4TH of JULY THANK A VET TODAY. I will have to show my hubby how grateful I am LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I try to keep up on the posts, but it is so hard to remember everything I want to say, then I always seem to go off on a tangent.
The posts are very funny, it may be the tamoxifen talking. One thing for sure, is my libido has increased, of course with three kids, that does not equal more sex. However I have been more playful with my hubby. Have a great w/e
0 -
Mary K, sorry about your cousin's accident, hope all is well. Your right about denial, I'm already accepting what he say's. The only alternative is knowing, so for awhile I'll live in ignorance and forget the look on my Onc.'s face. I'm sure I image the worst, anyway.
HAPPY 4TH OF JULY I'll watch the fireworks, from my front porch, and think of all the VET's in my family, who sacrificed their lives for our freedom!
0 -
Mary- check your PMs... wanna have lunch Monday?
0 -
Happy 4th of July to all my American friends. Enjoy the weekend.
0 -
You really crack me up thanks! sounds like I am in for a roller coaster but it is part of the process. I have flashes and night sweats now so won't be too bad and sex yea as we get older it seems to be more work sometimes will see how it goes but love all your frankness and support. I am 49 and start on tamox and rads next week. I too have read that the SE out weigh the recurence risk. will continue to eat right enjoy "bad" good food and wine occasionally and have to tell my DH that he drinks chickalob! All have a terrific holiday weekend.
0 -
Hi Tsarinas -
Well, the lovely floaty effect did not last - now feeling very melancholy, depressed, sad and weepy - and hot flashes are starting. This is Day Three of Tamox . . . . there goes the theory of Xanax and Tamox in tandem being a "fun" thing!
And I am not prone to depression . . . so this has to be a side effect - but so soon?
Any input, anyone?
Former Blissed-Out Tamoxer
0 -
Britt--Bummer about the Xanax/Tamox combo. Damn...could have been ground-breaking news! I'm on day 5 of the Tamox, and I haven't noticed any se's. Chemopause gave me horrendous hot flashes that I was abe to control with a progesterone based med, however, my onc recommended that I wean myself off of that med before Tamox. So, at night, I've noticed a slight warming or flush feeling, but not nearly a fraction of the heat flashes I had experienced before. Also, I still have the night chills more so than the sweats...but also, not nearly to the extent that I had them with chemopause.
But it feels like waiting for the other shoe to drop. After all, let's face it, I haven't been on tamox that long, so I'm thinking that there's still time for se's to show up.
Which makes me want to ask those of you who have been on the T-Train for awhile...when did you notice your side effects? Were they continuous after you got them, or did they sort of come and go? Also, just for the record, I'm currently taking two doses of tamox of 10mg a day. Once in the morning and once at night.
Okay, there's Wimbledon on the tv, and errands to be done. I hope everyone has a nice holiday weekend!
Catherine
0 -
Catherine -
Nice to know of someone who started the T-Train at about the same time as I have! Yes, too bad about what would have been a revolutionary combination - but I think in my case it's just rabid PMS that I am suffering from. Not sure if it's from the Tamox or not.
I too am curious about those of who you have been on Tamox for a while re side effects - the duration, the severity, etc. - particularly when they began to manifest themselves.
Everyone have a great holiday weekend!
0 -
Catherine, been on for approximately 2 months, 2 weeks ago called and got something for the hot flashes. My onc said to expect them to peak at 3 months then slowly get better over the next 3. Hope she's right.
0 -
Britt--I know it's good to have another person have a simillar start date. Our berths on the train are right beside each other. We can be baselines for each other!
Kmmd--Good to know about the three months. So, I'll be on the alert at the end of September. I also hope your onc is right! In the sceme of things, paeking at 3 months and then waning is definitley doable...especially if you can get something rx'd for it.
0 -
For those of you newly starting out on the tamox, Catherine, Britt., I've been on it for about 7months although I'[ve presently been taking a little break from it for the past week. Anyway, I didn't notice anything right away, not for several weeks at least. Hot flashes and night sweats, I had a little before tamox started, and on the tamox, they have tended to come and go. I was about 6 months into it when they got suddenly more intense and this time, they have not gone away. Lately they've been a little less, but I've been cheating with some herbal remedies (black cohosh, which is considered controversial in breast cancer pts., although one study done at UPenn showed that the Remifemin brand actually helps prevent BC) and of course, haven't taken the tamoxifen for just over a week now. My Med Onc told me to try tincture of rhubarb for the hot flashes and said I'd probably have to search online for it, but I haven't found it yet, so can't comment on that.
Where I initially had vaginal dryness and needed lubricants, since tamoxifen, I can honestly say I've been pretty well lubricated from the vaginal discharge. Sometimes it gets heavier and I need to wear minipads, but lately it's rare that I have any at all. I used to have this"raw" feeling even with the vag discharge, but since I've been using a lot of flaxseed, I no longer have that.
And for the past couple of weeks, my mood has been more upbeat than ever, no crying and the one day that I felt like depression was coming on, I was able to pull myself right out of it by taking my daughter and her friends to the beach. This felt like a milestone for me, as I've always been one to sink into depression very easily.
As for the other side effects, see my post up on the very top of this page.
0 -
Rose, thanks, I'm going to have to look into the tincture of rhubarb thing
0 -
Rose - How do you use the flaxseed? I just bought it and was surprised it is a "meal". Do you add it to anything or only certain types of food. Thanks for any suggestions.
0 -
Britt - bummer, sorry to hear that things have turned bad - yeah got the sadness and fatigue but not till about 8-10 weeks in. Hopefully this will be just another phase, but the hot flashes, although crappy, are a good sign that the stuff is working
Catherine - I'm now doing the 10mg morning and night after having severe depression after 3 months on the 20mg at nite. Working a damn treat I have to say.
Also meant to mention a while ago that when I first started getting fatigued from the tamoxifen (or whatever it was) I started drinking coffee again to give me that hit in the morning. When I started again with the 10mg dosage I quit coffee and now have tea instead. Not sure if it makes any difference - who knows.
One side effect which I am getting, which ladies have mentioned before, is what I call the "rabid dog" syndrome. I'm happy and carefree and my daughters will do something fairly mild and I will just turn and go grrrrrrrr - snap right at them. Hmmmm. I had to have a family meeting to explain that it is the medication I am on. Whether it is or not I'm not sure but better to blame it on that than me turning into b#*%ch. It is nice though to not put up with all the crap like I used to - I can now say no when a mean no and stand my ground. Must be the testosterone.
KMMD - my se's definitely peaked at 3 months. Be warned.
soft hugs
Helena
0 -
Thanks Helena, find myself ambivalent about the 3 month peaking. In a way it would be nice to know what the SE's will be and not have rude surprises down the road, but sure could make for a lousy summer
0 -
PattiB, I use the flaxseed sprinkled in oatmeal and other cereals. Because it tastes pretty good, I've even sprinkled it in yogurt with some almonds added. I also buy this flax raisin bran from Trader Joes that has about 10g of fiber per serving.
I would go easy with it at first, because in the beginning when you aren't used to it, it can cause some intestinal cramping and gas, but it does clean you out. It took a few weeks for my system to get used to it. Now that I've been using it for several months, those effects have let up considerably. But it's still great for preventing constipation.
And my Med Onc said flax was fine to use,
0 -
Happy 4th of July!!
Only been on Tamox for a month and these hot flashes are nasty. Now with them I get a little sick to my stomach. I wonder what next month will bring? I really hate surprises. I work nights so I take my pill in the morning. Let's just say that sleep and I use to be good friends. Not anymore. One good thing is that my hair is finally growing back. A happy gal I am.
Laurie
0 -
Catherine - I've been on Tamox for almost one year. Didn't have any SEs until about 3 months in. Severe hot flashes started after 6 months. Some joint aches also came along but are manageable. I take 20 mg all at night. Haven't had the mood issues that many others have reported. Perhaps that's because I went on Gabapentin to let me sleep through most of the hot flashes.
Laurie - Yeah to hair. I finished chemo in April 2008 and still refer to time with my husband as number of haircuts. He laughed (good naturedly) when I really delayed that first haircut. Had #5 just on Friday. Still have the extra curls.
Joan
0 -
Hi to all. I got my 4th period since starting tamox in March. This month it is a lot lighter than the pervious ones, I hope that is good news. I go see the genetic counselor on Wed for the results of my gene test. I will ask him about alcohol consumption.
Have a great weekend.
0 -
I can't keep up with this board! Helen, I am sorry to say but gatchies is underwear. Maybe it should be spelled gotchies? I don't know. Actually, I grew up in a Polish-American neighborhood and we used the terms gotchies and dupa (fanny) regularly. I can't remember any others right now which is probably just as well. I miss my old neighborhood. It was kind of neat, in a way, but it's all boarded up now. sorta sad
I am a worry wart but started taking Lexapro just after I was diagnosed. That helped immensely but the Tamox seems to make me anxious. Not too much, just a little. I just hope that goes away with time.
I am six weeks post-chemo and I have a major energy crash after the work week. I used up all my leave with two surgeries and five months of chemo, so I had to start full time pretty much right after I was done, about a month ago now. I will do what I can at work and I hope that if anyone is irritated by me forgetting, being slower or having to rest, that I'll just not let it bother me. At least my job is protected. Thank you ADA.
My baby is watching some kind of movie. It sounds like a black & white oldie. I think I'll hang out with him then wash a dish or two.
I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend.
Nancy
0 -
Laurie - isn't that great about your hair - but bummer about the sleep. For some reason I'm still getting my 8-9 hours most nites except just before my period I can't sleep at all 2 nites before - must be the excitement!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hey Joan, can you also ask your gen counsellor whether white or red wine makes a difference - heard white is a real no no.
Hi Nancy, I get a little anxiety every now and then on tamoxifen but it is very liveable. Working full time must be exhausting and you are right, don't let it bother you, what a hell of a ride you have been on, you are doing amazing to be back full time so quickly. You're a star as far as I am concerned.
have a great Monday
Helena
0
