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Bottle o Tamoxifen

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Comments

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited March 2008

    Lynn,

    I slept ok last night, so I got some relief... YAY!  I didn't take my sleeping meds.   I am hoping that this means "maybe" that the Effexor is FINALLY out of my system, since even though it helped with the hot flashes, I STILL didn't sleep very well while I was taking Effexor...

    Hope you are doing well...  Maybe you can meet me in the bar car, and we can have a couple of drinks together...  my favorite drink is  a Melon Ball!!!, or two!

    Fingers crossed that I will sleep ok tonite, too... 

    Hugs,

    Harley

  • my3girls
    my3girls Member Posts: 1,291
    edited March 2008

    Hi Harley...how have you been doing??

    Tamox has been pretty uneventful for me lately.  Even the hotflashes I have had, are very small and not too bad.  Maybe it's because of this darn cold weather and snow! haha..

    Take care tamox friends..and welcom to all of our newcomers!

    xoxo

    Lisa

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited March 2008

    Lisa,

    I am feeling better, thanks!

    Glad to hear that your hot flashes have been minimal.  Mine were also minimal, until I stopped taking the Effexor.  But, even while taking Effexor, I was having trouble sleeping... 

    I  hope everyone is doing great, enjoying the ride on the Tamoxi-train!!

    Hugs

    Harley

  • livinginboji
    livinginboji Member Posts: 9
    edited March 2008

    Hi ladies,

    I stopped the lexapro on Wed. and can definitely tell the difference with hot flashes. OH man...the blankets are on...then they're off...then they're on...  It's still not horrible. I find myself having to fan myself. The onc put me on wellbutrin....which has no treatment for hot flashes. Frown  But it's suppose to help with ADD, do you think that it will help with chemobrain?? LOL! Laughing  Just started taking it on Saturday so we will see.

    Thanks to all who sent good wishes for good xray! It is greatly appreciated. We are in this together!

    Take care

  • CowgirlTuff
    CowgirlTuff Member Posts: 16
    edited March 2008

    Nash--

    You and I are thinking alike-- I figured the same thing, that I could probably do the ovarian suppression and AI after the five years of tamoxifen (hoping of course that the cancer doesn't come back before then). 

    I took my first pill last night, and actually had night sweats already.  I was kind of surprised, because I thought it would have to reach a certain level in my bloodstream first before it would do that.  Maybe it's just a coincidence that it happened-- I'm not sure!  I'm hoping it doesn't happen again tonight.  No hot flashes during the day today, though!  Yay!

    How are you doing?

  • CowgirlTuff
    CowgirlTuff Member Posts: 16
    edited March 2008

    Harley--

    Thanks for the welcome! 

    What kind of sleeping meds were you on?  Did they help much?  I already had night sweats last night and I've only taken one pill!  I was surprised because I didn't think it would happen that quickly-- thought it would have to build up in my system for a while first. 

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited March 2008

    Cowgirl,

    I was taking Ambien.  It helped, kinda... I slept ALL night through, BUT...  I was STILL so darn tired the next day, so what good does it do me, if I feel spacey, dizzy, and fatigued??

    My onc told me that I should have hot flashes within the first month of being on Tamoxifen.  When I took Effexor, it helped alot with the hot flashes.  I STILL got them, just not as severe.

    Others have had better luck with different sleeping meds.  My insurance won't allow brand names if there is a generic available, so I don't think I can get Ambien CR.  I may call and ask anyway.

    Sorry you are having hot flashes already.


    Hugs

    Harley

  • ashaby
    ashaby Member Posts: 200
    edited March 2008

    Welcome, everyone new!!



    I am going thru a lot with my son right now and feeling overwhelmed. We're waiting for a program for addictions that my insurance accepts. Not sleeping well...



    I'm having lots of foot pain again after a long hiatus and steamy flashes. But otherwise, my health is fine and...I sold another painting!!



    Love, Basha

  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 314
    edited March 2008

    Harley---hugs---thanks for the message.  Ambien CR is good if you tend to wake up a lot in the middle of the night.  I gues the CR is "controlled release."  I have been taking them a lot and sleep, but I do feel very tired every day.  I've been having lots of crying jags...today I got my period.  So, I think I am having wicked PMS.  Enough that it's depressed me to the point that I want to ask my onc for some relief today...

    Basha---  I feel for you.  I cannot imagine how hard it is for you to deal with your own "stuff" as well as your childs....  It must be very difficult.  WAY TO GO in seeling another painting!!

    living...you have to tell me if Wellbutrin helps with chemobrain!  I swear my brain is still mush after all these months...

    Welcome newbies!!  I'm still in the bar and chocolate cars...oh, and occasionally the Dunkin' Donuts car!  :O

  • dcbkc
    dcbkc Member Posts: 137
    edited March 2008

    Hello to all!

    It's been a while since I posted -- getting ready for trip to Palm Springs tomorrow.  Can't wait for the warm weather!!

    Basha,

    Good luck with your son.  And a big WAHOO on selling your paintings!  You go girl!!

    Virginia,

     Hang in there!  Have a donut for me please!!

    To all the newcomers,

    Welcome!  I wish I could say hi to each of you.  As I've said before, this is a great group.

    To all the other riders -- Lynn, Harley, Melody -- I can't remember all the names -- tamox brain ? --

    Stay strong!  We're all here for one another.  Cyber hugs are coming at you all the time.

    Everyone have a wonderful week and a half!!  I'll check back in when we get back!

    D

  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 146
    edited March 2008

    Thanks for the additional welcomes!

    Cowgirl--I've taken 3 days of tamox so far, and haven't noticed anything different. I've been having gnarly hot flashes from the chemo, so I don't know if I'll notice anything different with the tamox.

    My onc pulled my estradiol levels last week when she ran blood, so that should be interesting to see what they are. I'd imagine they will be very low, as my periods have stopped and I'm hot flashing up a storm. Ugh.

  • ahnicky
    ahnicky Member Posts: 1
    edited March 2008

    I started taking a daily does of Tamoxifen on Feb 26/08.

    I then started rads on Mar 04/08 (8 days after starting Tamox).  I've read a few threads where those that are on Rads are NOT on Tamox yet.  Now I'm wondering if maybe I didn't hear something from the chemo oncologist or maybe he didn't tell me??? I've called the doc's office and left a message for someone to call me back - no call yet.

     ......hoping that I'm on the right path here.

    Nicky

    P.S. I ride my own too :-)

  • Miss_Lolli
    Miss_Lolli Member Posts: 72
    edited March 2008

    Hi Nicky! I'm pretty sure that there's no harm in doing rads while taking the tamoxifen. Some docs just start you on tamox after radiation is over so if you have se's you know which thing is the culprit.

    I see my onc on Thursday, so I should have my own bottle soon.

    Sorry to everyone having mood and sleep problems. Sheesh life was so much simpler before all this wasn't it?

    Extra thoughts and good vibes to you basha...may your son get the help he needs very soon. Addiction is a horrible thing to deal with from either side. Congrats on the sale!

  • ashaby
    ashaby Member Posts: 200
    edited March 2008

    Thanks D and Lolli, A program for my son came through today. It's local, an everyday group for addictions and related issues, 5 days a week and goes for 5 or 6 weeks. He can sleep here.

    I've been worrying more than I like. I'm very tempted to pillage the bar car.



    XXX Basha

  • honeygirl
    honeygirl Member Posts: 136
    edited March 2008

    Basha , good to hear your son is getting some help. You don't need all this extra worry. I hope this is just a "bump" in his young life and he gets back on the right track. My prayers are with him and you.xxxx

  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 314
    edited March 2008

    Nah, Basha, you DON'T want to pillage the bar car...  Not worth it.  Come to the chocolate car or the Dunkin' Donuts car with me ...  Much less destructive.

    Sending you lots of warm thoughts and wishes...you'll get through it...

    D- have a great time in Palm Springs...never been...jealous...

    Was a puddle of mush at the oncs office yesterday...  She gave me something for my anxiety...hopefully it will help...  I've been having Tamoxi-Blues along with my Tamoxi-Rage...  Not a good combo...

    Hope everyone is hanging in there...  Hugs to all......our name train is getting to long to mention everyone individually!!  But, think of you all often...my cyber Tamoxi-pals!!

    V

  • livinginboji
    livinginboji Member Posts: 9
    edited March 2008

    Hi Nicky,

    My onc wanted to start me on tamox when I started rads too, but rads onc said NO it raises the chances of bad skin reactions (more chances of burns) during rads. As far as I know thats the only reason they say to wait till after rads to start. I chose to go with rads onc. I finished rads on Jan. 16 and took my 1st tamox that day.

    Good luck to you! Stay on the tamox train...its a great thread!

  • JapanLynn
    JapanLynn Member Posts: 211
    edited March 2008

    Good morning, ladies--

    Sniffling, sneezing greetings from Japan.  I'm not sure what this is...allergies, sinus thing, whatever.  I'm plugged up and sneezing like crazy.  This doesn't happen on any kind of regular basis, such as when the _____ is blooming, so I never know what the cause is.  One likely candidate: this time of year we sometimes get what is called "Gobi Dust" from China...looks like smog, and it's been around off and on for a week or so.  You should see my car; one day last week it actually rained mud for a little while--nasty.  It should be gone soon, though, and the cherry blossoms will be coming.

    Wow...lots of new riders; we might need to add a few more cars.  Cheryll and Nicky, just to add another comment re: tamox and rads-when I was going through treatment I wanted to do both at the same time.  My rads onc said I could...said the only problem would be what was causing various SEs.  I ultimately chickened out and waited to take my first pill after rads.  She never said anything about worse burns.

    Basha, let's just have a glass of wine in the bar car--no pillaging allowed.  I hear your concern for your son, and I hope this new program works out.  We're here to listen if need be...take good care of yourself, and congrats on the latest art sale!

    Virginia, hope your new meds give you some relief from the raging tamoxi blues...sounds like a country song, doesn't it?  How's your dad?  Keep the faith...your fellow train riders have your back.

    Harley, hope you're sleeping better and flashing less.  Thinking of you...

    Hi to everyone else...today is my school weigh-in, so if you see me in the chocolate car, please bodily escort me to the workout car. :-)  Take care...enjoy your evening!  Off to work for me...

    Lynn

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited March 2008

    Lynn,

    So sorry you are having allergy/sinus issues.  I have been having sinus related headaches and stuffy nose/sinuses, too.  I think the pollen levels are very high.  maybe it'll rain soon, and wash some of it away.

    Interesting about the "Gobi dust".  Some friends who live in Florida tell me that they get something called "Red Tide", and it sounds very much like that.  They have sinus/allergy problems and even have trouble breathing when it's like that.

    Thanks!  I DO seem to be sleeping better, but I guess the days of sleeping straight through the night, peacefully without a worry in the world are long gone.

    Hugs

    Harley

  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 314
    edited March 2008

    Basha- thinking of you....hope you check in soon....

    Lynn- bummer RE the head cold!  I've been battling one since last week.  It's been lingering.  That mud-raining sounds icky...  LOL the country song...Tamoxi-Blues...

    Tried a Xanax last night...not sure if it did anything or not...  UGH.  Although, I do feel less desperately unhappy, so that's a good thing.

    Thanks for asking about Dad.  He's ok...hanging in there.  The rehab place is a SCARY place.  We have to watch the staff like HAWKs.  Tues after my onc visit (and my total meltdown) they made a MAJOR mistake in his meds that my brother caught and I was just sobbing in the hallway.  I think I scared the staff...and and my brother.

    Harley- I think I've run into the problem you have with the Ambien CR.  My onc gave me a prescription for that as well and when I check on-line, it shows as needing "pre-approval" or some nonsense.  It will be interesting to see how that resolves itself...  I got the xanax (no-name brand) for 5 bucks!  I loved that!!

    Hugs to all........I'm sure lots of us are spending time in the Chocolate car with all the Easter Candy eh??  I'm actually heading over to the Girl Scout Cookie car...my sister brought me 2 boxes last night and I expect my brother to bring me 2 more tomorrow night!!  LOL

    Virginia 

  • Barbie7
    Barbie7 Member Posts: 126
    edited March 2008

    Is there a spa car or massage car on this train?  I have such terrible body aches and I'm less than one full week into this.  I have good faith that this stage will only be temporary, but geesh! 

    I had a massage on Monday night.  My massage therapist has a table that has recesses for the breasts, so I was able to lay on my belly for the massage.  This is the only time, in the last 5 months that I've been able to lay on my belly.  Anyhow, when he was massaging my middle back, below my ribs, I had cramping in my lower abdominal area in my front.  He worked with me to determine what was going on, but it clearly wasn't muscular.  It was interesting, I think my body is just rebelling a bit.

  • ashaby
    ashaby Member Posts: 200
    edited March 2008

    Welcome, Barbie. Oh yeah, we have a massage car NOW! I free item to new train riders.



    Thanks Virginia for your messages. It really keeps me going. Sam checked in today to day treatment. We'll see if it takes.



    Lynn and Virginia, the chocolate car for me. Lynn, haven't had a drink for 17 years, and the thought of virtually pillaging the bar car was very satisfying. Little cocktail stirrers flying! Olives!



    Hey Cynthia, Harley, how is it chugging along?



    Love, Basha

  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 146
    edited March 2008

    OK, day five of tamoxifen, and I already hate it. Please tell me this improves over time or that I can split the dose in half and take it twice a day or something.

    I'm nauseous, dizzy, headachey, anxious and just generally off-kilter. It doesn't help that my mom passed away four weeks ago from bc, so it's hard to sort out what's grieving and what's the drug, but I think a lot of this is the stupid tamoxifen. I'd been feeling very well physically up until yesterday and today. And I know a drug-induced funk when I feel one.

    HELP!!!!!!!!!!! 

  • Blinx
    Blinx Member Posts: 82
    edited March 2008

    Nash -- my first week was the worst -- I think I posted that I wouldn't be able to stand it either. Then it got a LOT better. But, I've only been on it for 6 weeks and I keep waiting for another week from hell to show up.

    VERY sorry to hear about your mom  -- truly can't imagine what you've been through. I lost my mom a dozen years ago, and it took many years to pull myself out of grief. This too gets better with time.

    Blinx

  • VirginiaNJ
    VirginiaNJ Member Posts: 314
    edited March 2008

    oh Nash, I'm so sorry for your loss...  I too lost my mom to BC, 25 years ago...

    I am sure that your emotions are just on overload with all you have been dealing with...  My Dad is in the end stages of Congestive Heart Failure and I was in a puddle of tears in the oncs office this week.  I blamed it on Tamox and she said that it was more "the straw that broke the camel's back..." and grief over my Dad's medical condition.  She gave me some Xanax to help me get through the extra tough times...  Don't be afraid to ask for help.......you've been through a lot....

    Sending you best wishes....

    Virginia

  • nash
    nash Member Posts: 146
    edited March 2008

    Thanks, Blinx and Virgina--that makes me feel a lot better. Blinx, I'm sorry about the loss of your mom, too. And Virginia, I'm so sorry to hear about your dad. Prayers coming your way.

    <<<<<<<hugs>>>>>>>>>>>>> 

  • JapanLynn
    JapanLynn Member Posts: 211
    edited March 2008

    Oh, Nash...so much to be going through all at once.  Take care of yourself!  Hopefully your SEs will even out quickly.  So sorry for your loss.

    Oops, Basha...how about if I have a glass of wine and throw a few maraschino cherries while you dispatch the cocktail stirrers, olives, and little paper umbrellas.  Then we'll head over to the chocolate car.  Congrats on your 17 years!   

    Virginia, you, too, have way too much to take of right now.  How horrible that you have to keep such a close watch on staff at your dad's center...that's so common, and so awful.  There's a special place in hell for those who prey on old, sick people...or young, sick ones for that matter.  Please hang in...we've got your back.

    Barbie, of course we have a spa car on the tamox train...glad you're taking advantage!  I have a weekly acupressure/acupuncture treatment with my Japanese massage guy and I swear by it.  I had some cording under my surgery-side arm a little while back, and he took care of it in short order.  Good luck to you, and welcome!

    Harley, how are you feeling?  Hope you got some sleep last night and will get more tonight.

    No news from here...it's pouring rain today (a good thing--we need it), and hopefully it'll clear all the dust out of the air.  I'm still feeling a little punk, so I think I'll take the afternoon and baby myself at home.  Have a good evening, ladies!

    Lynn

  • Cynthia1962
    Cynthia1962 Member Posts: 236
    edited March 2008

    Hi all,

    Welcome new boarders!  Please feel free to add whatever cars you'd like.  We aim to please.  

    So, I started the melatonin two nights ago and I don't know if it helps me sleep or not.  I think it does help me fall asleep, but that's about it.  My daughter's been waking up lately at all hours of the night crying because she can't breathe through her nose (allergies are killing us here, too) and I have a hard time falling back to sleep.  And, I just realized that I've been so tired during the day today and yesterday in spite of coffee in the morning and tea all day long.  I'm thinking it's the melatonin, but it's only 2.5 mg so it's kind of surprising.  I'm not going to take it tonight and see if I feel better tomorrow.

    My mom had a complete abdominal hysterectomy yesterday and is doing well.  It was for a solid mass on her rt ovary per 2 u/s, 1 CT scan, and an MRI.  Well, after the surgery her gyn tells us that her ovaries were perfect, it was just a uterine fibroid. Wth???  Sigh....  So much for any confidence I had in those tests. 

    Virginia - Sorry to hear how stressful everything is for you lately.  I'm glad your dr was compassionate and gave you the xanax rx.  I hope it helps. 

    Nash - I don't see why you can't split the Tamoxifen and take it twice a day to see if it helps with the side effects.  I know many women do.   I hope what you're experiencing is very temporary.  {hugs} for the recent loss of your mom. 

    Basha - glad you found a local treatment program for your son.  That's great! 

    Take care riders,

    Cynthia 

  • CowgirlTuff
    CowgirlTuff Member Posts: 16
    edited March 2008

    Nash-- I'm so sorry for your loss and that you are having such a hard time with the tamoxifen!  I lost my mom to colon cancer in 1992, and I still miss her tremendously. 

    Hang in there! 

    --Linda

  • Barbie7
    Barbie7 Member Posts: 126
    edited March 2008

    Nash, I think we started tamox at the same time.  I've only been on it for one week, and I've felt crappy all week.  Same stuff as you, plus body aches and cramping ~ oh and the fatigue of it all.  I'm hoping this is just my body trying to get used to the drug and it will all settle down sometime soon.  I know you've been dealing with so many things of late, I do wish you well.

    Virginia ~ I'm sending you hugs as well.

    I posted a question in another thread called "crazy side effect..."  so far, i seem to be alone on this one.  If anyone can shed some light on this, let me know.

    Barbie

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