Bottle o Tamoxifen
Comments
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Tory-thanks, I read the article and had no idea it had that affect on the ovaries. That's interesting and would explain the crampiness. It is like the same type I might get when ovulating. I just worry because I hear about the affects of T on the uterus,etc, but I think symptoms of a problem there were be more related to irregular bleeding and pelvic pain.
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I get the same cramping. I just hope it doesn't bring my period back. I haven't had one since 5-09 and I don't want to start back. lol Glad to know I am not the only one.
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Yes, Sweetie, I just asked about uterine problems at an appt on Friday and he (onco) said as long as my periods are still regular and I don't have any changes in bleeding, I can just continue on with my regular annual pelvic exams and assume everything is okay.
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Tory-phew ok, I'll keep that in mind for my next annual in Jan.
Kittydog-at what point did your periods stop? I have been on it for a little over a month and my periods have actuall been early. Does it take a while for changes in your period to show up?
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It had been 6 months since my last period before chemo was started. Chemo I believe put me in menopause completely. I started having period problems Four years ago. I would have like four and then six months off. Did two months of hormone therapy three years ago and said the heck with that after having two periods in one month. I would rather have the hot flashes.
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Holy crap! I thought it was just me! I am also plagued with the dreaded painful crotch. I have even had some spotty bleeding (after intercourse) which completely freaked me out. Thought it was coming from inside, but lo and behold it was coming from actual minute tears in the skin outside. My gyn says it is from the menopause (an early gift from my chemo) and the walls of the vag and outer folds thinning. Will try the A+D, also K-Y helps. I feel too young (46) for this! But I'm here at least
On tamoxifen 2 years now and am actually getting used to the side effects. Come on FALL weather! I am exhausted from the summer hot flash fiesta.
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Lately, I've been having a lot of memory cloudiness...it makes me think I'm going crazy, but I'm reading that this is also a common side effect of Tamoxifen. The good news is that people with true dementia don't realize they are forgetting or acting different. Still, it is creating issues, particularly when I'm working. Others don't get as upset as I do about it. Anyone else struggling? Any suggestions?
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Jo Ann
Someone told me today that she knows a lot of people that were taking glucosamine and had problems with memory loss that went away when they stopped taking it. I don't know if that is what is happening to you but thought I would throw it out there. I take it for joint pain but am considering stopping since I am not sure it works anyway.
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Jo Ann ~
I've taken Glucosamine for years for my knees (and it does work for me) and had no problems with memory until I started Tamoxifen. It's nothing major, and it has improved a great deal as time passes, but I believe it is the Tamoxifen.
Peg~ I did put it in the search and can't find any documentation that it does. I have read where Tamoxifen does because of its effect on estrogen. My doctor told me that Glucosamine works for some and not for others and that it takes 3-4 months sometimes just to see improvement. Mine was about 2 months.
Hope this info helps.
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Hey Ladies:
Can you describe the knee problems? I am having pain but I'm not sure if it isn't tamoxifen-related, or some kind of injury.
Sirenator
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Sirenator ~~
Yes...my doctor says it's arthritis in the knees. They ache at times, click when I bend them...at times...and the worst is sometimes they even feel like they lock on me for a brief time.
Since mine is both knees, I don't think it's an injury. I've had it a good five years but it's very definitely under control now and I don't even need otc pain med.
Catbird
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My knees seem to ache more, especially early in the morning, but I don't know if it is Tamox or just getting older. I think it is easy for us to blame a lot on Tamox that might be old age things.
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Hi everyone,
I haven't been keeping up with the posts, but I just wanted to pop in here for a moment...
About 2.5 months ago, I came to this thread before starting Tamoxifen and was very scared of the potential side effects. I was worried because there were so many stories of how awful the side effects can be, and I was wondering just how common the side effects are... figuring that the boards may give a skewed view of the Tamox realities, because generally, women who aren't having any problems with it don't come here to say so!
So guess what! I'm here to say, I've been on Tamoxifen for 2.5 months now and haven't had ANY problems with it! No side effects! Not a single hot flash! All it has done is make my period a little bit shorter each month, and by golly, I can live with that!
I'm so relieved. And I thought this info might be helpful to other women scared to start Tamoxifen. It might not be so bad at all.
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Raili-thanks for your encouraging post, I agree!
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Raili that is good to hear! I am started back on it yesterday. I took a break so I could get back to myself a little after chemo. I think since I don't have my period right now due to chemo, that makes things a little worse. I know my aches are all due to chemo cutting off my estrogen so abruptly. I've talked to lots of women who have not had too many harsh SEs but it's nice to hear them here on this thread.
Diane
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Same with me gals! I don't have hardly any side effects at all! I've been on it for 9 months now.... And I notice that when I DO take something for the sleep/dreaming thing, like melatonin, it just makes something ELSE wrong! So watch what you take for any SE's. And I think when we do notice SE's, they'll probably get better in awhile.
It's hard to take something else after what we've been through, but Tamoxifen has been around a long time, & I know a lot of women who have taken it, & still cancer free after 11 years! So I just want to think, that I'm doing what I can to keep it away. I've also heard the SE's for the other two hormone drugs are a lot worse......So Raili, glad to see you on the Tamoxitrain!
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I have been on T for about 5 months and so far so good.
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I know my son-in-law's grandma had BC shortly after Tamox was approved in 1998 and decided she didn't want to go off it at all! She talked to her onco and she just stayed on it all this time!
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BC.....is that right? I mean can we do that? I think I would be one of the ones to want to stay on it too! I'll ask my Onco in November, & just sort of tell her I want to stay on it! Actually I told her I was too afraid of taking Femara, & said I wanted the Tamoxifen, and we did the "test' and found I AM metabolizing it.....So I got my way, Ha!
Maybe some things happen for a reason? My one friend that took Tamoxifen, took it for the 5 years, & that was 12 years ago.... Still cancer free! Thanks for the "heads-up!" (Jeannette in Colorado also! )
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Hi Jeannette,
I know his grandma just told her doc she didn't want to risk it and he was ok with it. Maybe because the SE are not severe. Maybe because of her age (she's in mid-to-late 70s). Let me know what you find out. I'm with you, I might want to stay on meds if I can keep from getting it again.
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Hey T Gang!! I got a question...
So I would say I was not having HOT flashes but rather warm flushes since I my last Chemo in May..my period has not returned but I totally feel like I am cycling cause every month I feel crampy and miserable. Anyhow I would say I was having 4 to 5 flushes a day..well in the last two weeks NOTHING! August 31st was supposed to get my period but another month of nothing but cramps. But I am wondering if my period is coming back. has anyone else experienced this and/or Di you all have cramps etc but no period for a while before it came back???
I am taking T (took a short break). I am 43 and against everyone else's (Onc PS GYN) wishes I do NOT want to be in menopause. Im really hoping hot flashes are gone for now at least and that my period will return soon..
Any insight is much appreciated
Diane
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Diane ~ Similar situation here. I went into Chemopause by December 2009. Have not had a period since. I had hot flashes like crazy all through chemo, went on Tamoxifen in April 2010 ~ they got less in frequency stronger in the hot flash itself. Now for about a month NO hot flashes, maybe an occasional warm FLUSH. Still no sign of a period. Last blood work at gyno showed I am in menopause and he thinks I will stay there. I am 43 years old and don't think I will see my period again. That is fine with me. I also recently took a 2 week break from Tamoxifen due to back pain that has since resolved itself.
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Hi new to this thread and I have been on tamoxifen since March. I have been tired ever since I had my rad treatments and it has continued to present. I noticed bone/muscle pain and was recently diagnosed with low vitamin d so now am on 50,000 a week plus a daily calcium. I thought maybe that was the cause of my pains, but after reading posts here think it may be the tamoxifen. I have recently developed a headache which is on the right side of head above and behind ear. Had CT scan and it showed something that required further tests so they did MRI which didn't show anything the requires any treatment but they want me to have another MRI in a few months to see if what they saw changes any (going to talk to doctor more soon to find out what this is about). Since I had these issues with head, I had a blood test and noticed that my platelet count has dropped. Before my lumpectomy in Oct 2009 count was 244 on 8/17/10 it was 177 and when last done on 9/4/10 it was 160. Has anyone else had any of these problems? I'm trying to keep the positive attitude, but it's so hard when I feel all these aches all the time. Thanks for your replies!
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Hello, everyone -- I have been reading here for a while, but this is my first jump into the tamoxifen forum. I am wondering whether anyone else is experiencing what I call the "Nine O'Clocks"....I had 4 rounds of TC, followed by 35 Rads doses. Tolerated both pretty well. I've been on tamoxifen for about 5 months now, and have been pleased at the overall lack of side effects. In the last few weeks, though, it is like I hit a wall at 9pm. I am not sleepy, but I can hardly stand to take another step. Once I get into bed, I can relax and read or watch TV for another hour with no problem, but I can't imagine staying up late otherwise. I can get up for work and sometimes even get to the gym beforehand, but 9:00 is a brick wall. Thanks for any replies.....
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Diane, I often feel the symptoms of a period coming, but then nothing and like you I don't want to be in menopause yet. My Onc says he would love for my ovaries to "go to sleep." I didn't have chemo but was skipping periods even before the tamoxifen started. Since I've been on it, I've gone 6 months with no menstruation, had it return for 2 months, then gone almost 10 months after which it came back for 2 months, and now it's been 6 months again with nothing, but now and then I still feel like it could be coming. Chances are though, that due to my age (49), it's probably pretty much over for me. My Gyn has said that based on what she sees on my sonograms, my ovaries are far from done. However, she won't test my hormones to see where I'm at, as she says they can fluctuate constantly, so the test really has no value. A month ago, I was feeling estrogen deprived, vaginal dryness, depression, eyes constantly burning and very achy. Now this month I don't feel any of that and my breasts feel fuller too, so I'm wondering what it all means. I think I'll ask my Onc to test hormone levels on my next visit at the end of this month.
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Pam: Well I definitely have the 9'o'clocks......but don't know that I can only blame Tamox for that. I think some of it is that I don't sleep as well but some of it is being almost 50 and just plain tired after 4 surgeries the past year.
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Hey All!! I just wanted to let you know today I had my third Acupuncture treatment and I THINK ITS WORKING!!!! I came home from treatment and laid down I was so relaxed and I fell sound asleep for an hour. I woke up..JUMPED out of bed and NO stiff ankles!!! It was one of those things that I ran downstairs to answer the door and then I was like HEY I RAN!!! without pain!!
Anyhow, I would recommend trying it for those having joint pain. I am doing 3 more treatments and now so looking forward to next weeks session.
Hope everyone is having a good day!
Diane
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Diane, you are BRAVE!!!! I freak out at needles and about pass out getting my labs done. Glad it is working for you!
I find that eating a popcicle when I'm having a bad hot flash/flush from the tamox it helps cool me on the inside and end it faster.
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Icecream helps too. Not that I need yet another reason to indulge.
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Well 1 popcicle (not even sugar free) only has about 30 calories so I don't feel too guilty eating them.
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