Bottle o Tamoxifen
Comments
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June: For a lot of my early years on Tamox I had no side effects just the occasional hot flash. It's different for every woman as you can see here!
Pat
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June - Sounds like a lot of you gals have experienced numbness. I'm the opposite - I have pretty good sex drive after taking it four years now! I do hope your doc can help and that you feel better soon, especially with that cold. A lot of that is going around now.
IsThisForReal - I oddly enough have a better sex drive than before! But...I had been on Paxil for anxiety before I even started Tamoxifen and had to get off it as it can interfere with Tamoxifen's effectiveness. I know Paxil can dim sex drive so I figured that going off it was what brought it back but now after 4 years on tamoxifen...ahhh..who knows if its perimenopause and my hormones are just all screwy?!
Pat
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Jan508 -- I hear ya!!! I am scheduled to get my period tomorrow but I doubt I will. I've only had it once since starting T and my UTERUS IS ABOUT TO EXPLODE...or at least that's how it feels. I called my onc and he basically said what I am feeling while cycling is normal and a good sign that I am in deed metabolizing T which is at least good to know I am not taking it for nothing. I met with my trainer today and she's offered to come up with a program for me to do at home and one at the gym. I just can't wait to feel confident again about the way I look. I got lazy and depressed during treatment so I ignored the "stay active" recommendation. I am hoping as I become more active again the bloat and cramps will dissipate. I'm not gonna complain though I know some people have worse se's than bloat.
I can't wait to till these 4 years and 8 months are up!!
Di
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DiDel: Yes, I can't wait either! Like I said I was post menopausal for alot of years before taking Tamox and hadn't had a period for forever!
The bloat comes and goes with 'gas'....UGH!!!
Hopefully this will all be just temporary. The walking does seem to help though.
Jan
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I just read that Tamoxifen is a 'chemoprevention' drug. What does that mean exactly? Is Tamoxifen considered chemo?
Jan
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rjiuff-I'm glad it got better for you. I may being staring perimenopause. I still have my periods. In fact I thought they would stop on Tamoxifen but I haven't missed one and sometimes they are even 8-10 days early! I have not hot flashes or night sweats either. I know this a weird thought but do you think not having sensation in our breasts can affect us down there? I read a book called the "Breast Book" and talked about how much everything is related to each other in our bodies.
Catmom-hearing your story gives me hope! The only other med I was on before T was a thyroid med and that never gave me any issues. Maybe all this is part of perimenopause as well as the T.
Didel-I feel the opposite of you, I haven't missed any periods since starting T and I wish I would. I am hoping that I am metabolizing it as I should. It's great your getting a trainer to help you work out. I walk every day and I still feel bloated and don't lose weight. I know I probably need to add something else to my routine, it gets harder every year to just maintain.
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Sweetie, getting periods early is how I started out. I would get them after only 2 or 3 weeks and think that maybe I had remembered the date wrong. From there, I progressed to suddenly going a whole 3 months without a period. Even did a pregnancy test. I was also waking up frequently with my clothes all soaked and feeling some vaginal dryness. When the pregnancy test was negative, I finally put it all together, that at age 46, I was starting perimenopause. Several months later, I went to a Gyn, but mainly to discuss a solution to the decreased sensation problem as I was unwilling to accept that for the rest of my life She told me to use phytoestrogen pills and gave me a Rx for estrace cream. I started with the pills and they worked great on all the problems. Even seemed to bring my periods back to regularity for a few months.. Then I found out I had BC, so a few months later, reluctantly stopped using them. The sensation problem of course, started up again.
Can't say that I have any decreased nipple sensation though. In spite of lumpectomy and radiation, that circuitry is still working just fine. However, I read a book about testosterone and what it does for women, and one of the signs of deficiency mentioned was decreased sensation in the clitoris and nipples, usually happens with menopause.
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You know what really stinks. I finally get to have sex without worrying about pregnancy and now I have no desire to have sex.
I see my doc next week and hopefully will find a way to get my MOJO back. 0 -
Hi all! I am back from the gym and I fear I may NOT be able to move tomorrow.
When I left the gym I had to hoooooooold on to the railing walking down the steps. My legs were all a quiver! I forgot how cruel my trainer can be!! LOL
Good night to all!
Di
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D4: Good luck!!! I hope you get that MOJO back soon. Life can be cruel, huh?
DeDel: OOOO....sorry you are having a hard time tonight...boy, wait until tomorrow.
That happened to me and had to take 2 days off from the gym...
Have a good night!
Jan
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I have been taking Tamoxifen for 8 months now. At first I only noticed the hot flashes but now I am putting on weight. My biggest fear!! I go to the gym as often as I can and no results. I am careful about how I eat as well. Not perfect but mindful. And I too have no sex drive!!! My husband and I fight about it all the time. He doesn't understand....It is like I am completely numb there!!!
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Jan508 Ok I totally hurt today in everything I do...going to the bathroom is especially painful and it is a constant reminder of all the squats my DRILL SARGENT trainer made me do.. OH boy!! But it's a good hurt. I was still able to run 2 miles with my puppy today and tomorrow is yoga to stretch it all out. If I can physically get myself out of bed..down the stairs and to the gym
Baking Christmas cookies which I give away as gifts. It feels good since last year all I did for the holiday was prepare for my mx.
Happy Friday!!!
Di
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Di
I'm sure the yoga will really help you tomorrow!
Hmm...don't eat too many of those cookies.
I went to the gym today and only did my 1 1/2 mile walk. We'll see how the legs feel tomorrow - I overdid it the other day on the incline on the treadmill.
Did you acquire a sweet tooth on Tamox?
Jan
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rjiuff-based on what your saying I'd guess I'm headed into perimenopause, I am 45 and this started about a year or so ago. As far as sensation in the nipples, I had a bilateral MX so I have no sensation there at all. So in that respect your very fortunate to have had a lumpectomy and have been able to keep your sensation. I wonder what natural ways there might be the help boost the libido since we we don't want to add estrogen back to our bodies right now. I will ask gyn in Jan and my oncol who I also see in Jan.
Sweetie
Diagnosis: 2/25/2010, IDC, 1cm, Stage I, Grade 1, ER+/PR-, HER2-0 -
Jan -- No I did not develope it on T I've always had it! I like to bake for years have been giving my variety of cookies as gifts. I owe a lot too this year since so many people helped me through treatments and surgeries.
Yes heading to the gym in a bit and more sore today than yesterday. I've been running 2-3 miles a day with my puppy but that doesn't compare to the dreaded SQUAT. LOL!
Di
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Di - I love to cook too. Just wondering if you had a good sugar cookie recipe for Christmas cookies? I've never been much of a cookie baker, esp sugar cookies ( isn't that the best for the cookie molds?) soooooo thot you might have one that you would share with me -- save me time researching and testing.
Scarlettohred - Totally identify with you on the weight gain. I don't quite know what to do except stop eating anything starchy and sugary. I also notice that I'm hungry more than I was before. Have 10 lbs to lose or I'll have to go up a size -- which I am not willing to do. I want to go back to the gym and will do so when I can walk three times a week for two miles. So far, I can do it but it wears me out for the rest of the day. Don't know how I could do the free weights.
Have a Question -- Does anyone half their Tamox and take it in the am and pm? Not sure you can do that? I am having trouble sleeping, well really waking up and not being able to go back to sleep. At least a couple of times during the night and sometimes just have to get up. Anyone else with this problem?
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ECT - lots of people are aplitting their doses but I would check first. I have had a lot of trouble getting to sleep and staying asleep. Haven't tried splitting the dose though. Have tried melatonin and take ambian when I am just exhausted and need to get some sleep. That usually helps but I don't like taking it. I am with you on the weight gain. I lost 40 lbs about two years ago and don't want to gain it back.
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ECT: I asked my onco about taking 1/2 in the am and 1/2 in the pm. He said they initially prescribed Tamox that way in the beginning. I don't see a score on the tablet where you can break it though.
You may want to double check with your onco
Jan
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Get yourself a little pill splitter thingie and cut them in half. I got mine at Walmart....and it
works great even if you don't have a split in the pill and my Tamoxifen has none either. My
doctor suggested it to help with side effects. I think it made a difference.
Catbird
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ECT: I take my Tamoxifen in split doses (10mg in the AM, 10mg in the PM). That was the way it was prescribed in my case. The cost of the Rx is about the same, so you might want to ask your onc to prescribe the 10mg tablet. It would save you having to split the 20mg ones.
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ECT-I also split my doses AM and PM as that is the way the Dr prescribed it to me, 2 pills per day split and I have no SE at all and sleep very well. I'd ask your Dr about it. It may help you.
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I have been wonderful for 6 months never forgetting a pill. Now it seems that I forget at least once or twice these last few weeks. Could be due to the fact that I have been on many antibiotics for an ongoing chest and head coldand have been popping so many pills........who know.......wish I had a brain these days. Any of you women feel brainless or is it me just trying to blame this darn little white pill......June
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June I have been foggy headed myself. I think it's the Tamoxifen, it put me into menapause and I have been absent minded since. I just write myself alot of notes and put every appointment on a calander.
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Hi everyone - I just started my tamoxafin tonight - a couple of hours ago and have developed a sinus or migraine headache. I can't believe it's from the pill since it hasn't been my system very long. Anyone thoughts and is it OK to take advil while on tamoxafin?
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I have suffered from migraines for years and seem to get headaches constantly. I have been told by several of my doctors that it is okay to take the various painkillers (Advil, Tylenol, etc.) while on tamoxifen.
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My headache lasted most of the night and while better this am is still there, along with a kind of sour feeling in my stomach. I called the onco this AM who thought it probably was due to the meds- geez - I can't believe how fast these things work! After reading so many of you say that you split the dose I asked if I could do that and was told that I could. Hopefully that will help.
I know from reading some of these posts that some people can't seem to take the stuff, but not taking it is not an option I can accept. For those of you who have had mild side effects, do they go away or am I looking at 5 years of this?
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boatergrl - good question I would like to know too as I start Tammy in Jan. I'm sorry you are having SE's. My prescription is for 20 mg and I don't know whether to take it all at once, morning or bedtime, or split it...my instinct says to take it at bedtime or split it, but I haven't started yet...Hoping to get advice...I sure hope you feel better soon and I feel the same, not taking it is not an option. My oncotype dx score was only 6 - my cancer was extremely hormonally based - gotta stop that estrogen from driving my breast cells crazy.
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I take my 20 mg in the morning. If I have any hot flashes I would have it during the day, so I don't have it when I am sleeping. This works well with me.
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AsiaYM - thank you!
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Beanius, Best thing when you start is to pick a time you'll best remember to take it and do that for a while. If you have disruptive SEs, then you can try changing the time, or splitting dose, but if not then you'll have a good system already in place.
boatergirl, I had headaches, stomachaches, nausea and fatigue at intervals in the first couple of months but it all tapered off. That should give you hope that yours might as well. Good luck!
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