Bottle o Tamoxifen
Comments
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Susie - Good luck ! And please keep me/us posted. Seeing my med onc in less than two weeks so I'll likely be making my decision soon.
Amy - Thanks for the explanation. Definitely sounds interesting. The things I'm learning !!!
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Hi ladies. I'm on my third bottle of Tamox and, in the past few weeks, have noticed some breast tenderness on both sides. Could Tamox be causing it? Anybody have the same experience? Thanks.
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I just read about a week's worth of posts, after having a long, tiring, stressful week. I'm glad to see that dialogue has returned to a more supportive level, although I'm not judging anyone for saying anything in particular. At times I just get so tired of SFBC/treatment/after-cancer-life stressors that I start feeling really weighed down by conflict, but, hey, that's my personal problem to sort out, isn't it? I have been trying to live with a quote in mind, as the last couple of weeks have been rather trying: "Keep what is worth keeping, and with the breath of kindness blow the rest away." So, I am keeping the positive energy, information and support that I needed, and I am sending the rest away with kindness. I wish you all peace and well-being to whatever extent that is possible for you....
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americanpinay - I have been taking tamoxifen since 7/15 and in the last 2 weeks I have felt breast pain also. I am also thinking it may be late SE's from rads. I am glad I am having my mammo, dexascan and onc appointment in a week and 1/2 and have started a list of questions for her.
Susie - I take tamox around 8-9 oclock at night. My Hot flashes started during chemo and have gotten more intense. Being 51 and Chemo/Tamox induced menapause could contribute to them. Going to have onc. increase the effexor.
Oncologist prescribed Ambien during chemo. Need it more now. Hoping increase in effexor will lesson the night hot flashes and I'll sleep better and maybe I will be able to stop the Ambien.
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Brendatrue...I got to remember that...keep what is worth keeping and, with the breath of kindness, blow the rest away...
PattiB...thanks...I also thought about rads but sometimes the tenderness seems worse on the good boob...I'm thinking maybe I don't feel much tenderness on the radiated boob because of numbness?...sigh....anyway, wishing you less hot flashes....
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Hi Susie,
Susie,
Good for you - get that tamoxifen going! Even thought I take 30 mg, I was told to take it all at one time. It was suggested I take it in the evening so most of the SE would take place as I slept and also to reduce possible nausea. I usually take it late in the evening with some crackers (watch out they don't have soy/flax...) or 1/2 a banana. I am trying to avoid anything with phytoestrogens.
One month down; 4 years 11 months to go ;-))))) and so far, only occassional night sweats.
Best of luck!
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Susie,
I am not sure I would put up with an onc who is that patronizing. You need to be in control of your own health. The only dumb question is the one not asked. I can't believe a doc would say that to you. You deserve to have as much info as possible to make informed decisions. What a jerk!
As my BC is 'simple', I don't have a medical oncologist - just continuing with my rad oncologist. He was pretty patronizing at first but always had heaps of time for my/my husband's questions. He also was prepared to alter my Tamox dosage, when I found out from my being tested (without his support/ encouragement), I am an IM.
Hope by now you have downed that first pill!!
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Yes, I too have a sore somewhat bumpy boob. My onc app't is in two weeks, so I'll see if it is a possible result of the tamox.
Good luck tomorrow, Susie.
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Good morning everyone! Well, I did it! I took tamox last night so I am on the tamoxi-train as you say now. No side effects, but, I am sure it is too soon. Thank you for your encouragment and support. Keep it up as I will need it. lol
Up early to get ready to go to the hospital for the CAT scan. I have to drink that Berrium stuff, and, that is it. I opened it up and it didn't smell too bad. I hope it isn't. I won't find out until next Monday the results is what my rads oncologist told me. He is the one that ordered it.
And, I am sorry to read that anyone else has an oncologist like mine. I think I will probably have to change, but, I am giving him one more chance. I see him this month again, so, we will see.
Well, thanks again ladies! I appreciate your kind words, support, encouragement and advice. I hope you all have a great day!
Susie
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Good luck on the CT scan Susie, and here's hoping day 2 of Tamox will be as uneventful as day !
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I am noticing that the little aches seem to have subsided, but the weekly insomnia (at least once or twice a week) has not. I may switch to taking it in the a.m. and see if that helps. Otherwise, no real big deal here . . . and Susie, I was one of the most sensitve people about medications - can't really take anything - has an effect on me - and this so far is okay.
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Susie -- congrats on having the courage to take your seat on the tamox train! I will begin taking mine in December (I have one more surgery to go through before I start). I was very hestiate to take the drug as well but I do believe it is for the best. And, I have much more peace of mind after reading entries from all the wonderful women posting on this site. It is so wonderful to have strong, intelligent, caring women to lean on...so lean, lean, lean!
having a great day all!
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All of you women are so amazing! Thank you so much for your support and kind messages. Well, no se's yet from my first tamox pill. But, I imagine it is too early. Thanks for supporting me in taking it and making me less afraid! That is exactly what I needed.
My CAT scan this morning was pretty awful. I drank a whole bottle of that horrible tasting stuff before we went and then I had to drink one more cup of it before the test. Then, they put some stuff in an IV in me. ( i didn't know they were going to do that ) And, guess what? I had a bad reaction to it. Broke out in hives. I had a CAT scan when they were getting my treatment ready for rads, but, no IV of that stuff. So, this was my first one. I thought it might be like the stuff they give you for the MRI, but, it is different. It had the same metal taste and the same warm, weird feeling going thru my body. It made me feel like I peed my pants, but, I didn't. The tech warned me that I would feel that. lol They were all very nice. They quickly gave me some Benadryl, which has taken care of the hives and made me sleep the rest of the day. Just got up a little while ago. Just glad that is over. So, just wanted all of you to know. I hope that your day was great and free of hives! Man, I am glad they are gone. And, that they all reacted so quickly to it. Just about time for my 2nd tamox. Thanks all
Susie
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Be careful. From what I've read, Benadryl is one of the drugs considered to have a "major interaction" with Tamoxifen and so you probably want to ask your doctor expressly about interactions between the two. Although I believe I've cited them on this thread before, the sites I've used are :
http://www.drugs.com/drug-interactions/tamoxifen.html and http://medicine.iupui.edu/clinpharm/COBRA/TamoxifenGuide.pdf and, if you are more scientifically savvy and want more detail try here: http://www.medicine.iupui.edu/flockhart/
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Yes, benadryl can inhibit the action of Tamoxifen, so you don't want to use it on an ongoing basis, (like taking Tylenol PM every night to sleep better) but to use a dose to counteract an allergic reaction in a situation that could become a significant emergency is quite reasonable, and won't make any difference in the Tamoxifen protection in the long term.
Susie, glad to hear that you didn't have any lasting effects from the reaction. Make sure you find out the name of exactly what was in the IV so you can add it to any list of things you are allergic to, and share that info with all of your doctors and your pharmacist. There must be alternatives if you need another CAT scan with contrast in the future, but you certainly don't want a repeat of the hives or worse!!!!!
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PatMom - Thanks for the clarification. One additional question if I may: since you've mentioned Tyleno PM and since so many sleeping aids seem to be contraindicated, are there any over the counter sleeping aids are ok for frequent use with Tamoxifen ?
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I agree about the benadryl. It likely will cancel out your Tamoxifen, Susie, for a few days BUT in a crisis, taking it is obviously the right thing.
Which begs the question for all of us....is there a substitute for benadryl that'd be as effective if we find ourselves in Susie's situation?
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I agree about the benadryl. It likely will cancel out your Tamoxifen, Susie, for a few days BUT in a crisis, taking it is obviously the right thing.
Which begs the question for all of us....is there a substitute for benadryl that'd be as effective if we find ourselves in Susie's situation?
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Susie: Hope everything turns out well with your scan and glad to hear the hives cleared up. I'm sure taking the Benadryl just once will not have any lasting effects but better to stay away from it in the future. Day 2 of your train ride.....it'll get easier to take with each new day .........
Sleep well everyone...... wishing you no HF's !!
Terri
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hi everyone...
the countdown continues....
40 more pills... til I see my onc, and may be switching to an AI....
I think I may wait til Jan. 1st to switch, which will make it 60 days...
Hope everyone is doing great....
Sleeping is a problem, and no, we can't take any otc sleep aids... benadryl interferes with Tamoxifen.
Good night!!
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Rachel
I don't really post often but always reading. I have to tell you I really like your posts and your NY attitude saying what's on your mind (almost like my NJ attitude). I have been on tax for almost two years....virtually no side effects other than hot flashes/night sweats but not sure if it is from menopause (I am 57) or tam. My dr. may keep on tam another year and then switch me to an AI. am moving Friday to PA - Palmer Township, right outside of Easton.
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I sleep easily and well without any chemical help. I mentioned the Tylenol PM because it is OTC and many people don't realize that the main ingredient in that to help you sleep is actually benadryl.
If you are having trouble sleeping, ask your Oncologist what to take. There are prescriptions that work and don't interfere with the Tamoxifen, but since that isn't an issue for me, I don't know what they are.
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Hey Joyce- the feeling is entirely mutual!!! And here's weird, Thursday I am going to check out an apartment in Easton! If we're both there that'd be a huge relief because we can do our attitude thing and not offend any of the native Pennsylvanians...
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Well, I am still alive! YEA! I slept almost all day yesterday and thru the night. That benadryl is some strong stuff. I have never had it, that I know of. And, the hives are gone.
Terri: My hives are gone now, thank goodness. So, the benadryl did do the job. And, my day 2 of the tamoxi-train went fine. Still no side effects, so, that is good. But, with everything else that was going on, I doubt I would have noticed. lol
Caroline: So, the benadryl cancelled out the tamoxifen? Dang. I didn't tell them I was on tamoxifen. I never even thought to tell them. They sent some extra doses home with me of benadryl. But, I don't think I need them today, so, hopefully I will be ok.
PatMom: The tech said she made notes in the file about my reaction to the IV stuff so that if I had to have it again, they would give me something 12 hours prior to the test. But, I don't remember what she said it was. Does that sound right?
Thanks all for your concern and help. That was scary. I was already scared taking tamox and then add that Cat scan IV hives stuff on top of it. I should know the results on next Monday. That is when I see my rads oncologist.
Thank you again!
Susie
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Thank you kmmd for wishing me luck! I appreciate it
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Thanks MTG for the thread on drug interactions. That is really nice to have. I will print it off too. It never occured to me that could happen. You all have been so helpful to me! I don't know what I would do without you! Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Susie
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We can't take anything to help us to sleep at night? I didn't even ask my rads oncologist this question. I have taken otc pills before.
Susie
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Susie, how very scary, sorry to hear that. Keep going on the tamox, we'll all be here to cheer you on
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I just had the discussion with my onc last week regarding benadryl. I take 2 every evening to help me sleep. She believes there is not enough data to say you shouldn't take it at all and since I am having so many side effects from the Tamoxifen, it's safe to say that the benadryl is not inhibiting it at all. Sooooo, I may continue to take it.
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hello hot flashes and night sweats. after a little over 2 weeks on tamoxifen, the se's are kicking in. it all started sunday night and i woke up the next day with my period.
for those of you on tamoxifen, are the hot flashes and night sweats usually related to the timing of your period, or are they constant (hope not)?
for the first time since my 20s, i also have zits. used to break out all the time when i got my period. anyone else have this happen?
i'm glad though. i'm pretty sure the tamoxifen is working
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