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Bottle o Tamoxifen

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Comments

  • JustmeAlicia
    JustmeAlicia Member Posts: 629
    edited January 2011

    Calamity ~ you certainly have reason to be stressed.  I am thinking it sounds like vertigo but what do I know.  I hope it doesn't happen to you again and that you feel better with all the positive results.  Hang tough !

    Wishing everyone a good day.

    :)
    CHOO CHOO

    Alicia

  • jan508
    jan508 Member Posts: 724
    edited January 2011

    Changed my time to the AM...big mistake.  I've been taking the train with my supplements in the mornings after breakfast for the past few days and I have NOT been feeling good in my tummy and my 'warm' flashes are increasing.... UGH

    I'll try after dinner to see if that helps. If not I may have to go back to my mid day regime.

    Jan

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 7,545
    edited January 2011

    Jan - you may want to consider splitting your dose - half in the am and half in the pm.  That seems to be working good for a lot of us.

    Jo 

  • jan508
    jan508 Member Posts: 724
    edited January 2011

    Yes, I was thinking of doing that too.

    I may ask my onc for a different RX where I can take 2 10 MG tablets.

    I don't like to break pills if they are not scored.

    Jan

  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 486
    edited January 2011

    Did anyone here have a colonoscopy while on Tamoxifen?

    I'm scheduled for a colonoscopy on Tuesday. I forgot to ask the gastroenterologist if I should stop taking Tamoxifen for a couple of days prior to that. She didn't ask me if I was on any meds although she should be able to see it in my medical history. She gave me a couple of pages about the prep which said that for one week prior to not to take any vitamins/minerals/iron products/anti-inflammatory drugs (Advil, Aleve, Ibuprofen, etc.) or any blood-thinning medications. I won't get anywhere if I call the office over the weekend and on Monday I should already be in the middle of my prep -- which I'm not looking forward to.

  • jan508
    jan508 Member Posts: 724
    edited January 2011

    I had a colonoscopy while on Tamoxifen and I did not have to go off it for the procedure.

    Jan

  • jan508
    jan508 Member Posts: 724
    edited January 2011

    Just don't take anything anti inflammatory like Advil or fish oil.

    Jan

  • MaryNY
    MaryNY Member Posts: 486
    edited January 2011

    Thanks Jan. I hope the suggested prep (Citrate of Magnesia and Dulcolax) do the trick without causing too much pain and discomfort.

    About your Tamox Rx -- yes, it would be a good idea to ask your onc to prescribe the 10mg tablets. One thing though is that some pharmacies do not have the 10mg in stock as most doctors (around here at least) have their patients on the 20mg. So there may be a delay of 24 hours while they order them for you. The price is typically similar for both dosages.  

  • EastCoastGrl
    EastCoastGrl Member Posts: 206
    edited January 2011

    yes, my pharmacy did not stock the 10mg either. They had to order them in for me.

    Ok, I'm on day four (yes, baby dose of 2.5mg) and have felt some nausea last evening and now again a couple of hours after taking it. Ick. Such a small dose but I think it's cummulative since it has a long half life. I am ultra sensative (and one reason I'm starting so small dosage) to medications though.

    Ok, so something that keeps running through my mind....Tamox blocks estrogen  in certain places of the body and not in others such as it blocks it in breasts, but I have no breast tissue left, so my risk of BC there is low (1-2%) already. And it doesn't block estrogen in the bones, for example, (one reason it is good for bones unike the AI's) .......AND has a risk of uterine cancer from taking it.....then where/what is it protecting me from?? 

  • CrazyKitties
    CrazyKitties Member Posts: 58
    edited January 2011

    I have been on tamoxifen for 5 months, take lexapro, and got so depressed, I thought I would harm myself. I stopped it last week. I am planning on getting a lupron shot in the hopes that it will work as well, without the depression.

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited January 2011

    Eastcoastgirl - tamox can halt the growth of mets if they are lingering elsewhere.  But not always.  My oncologlist says tamox is used in stage 4 patients - clearly it can't cure it but it can slow it I guess.

    I have done a lot of prayer and thinking and reading.  I have decided to give myself a break for a week from the tamox and see if I feel any better.  I took a dose this morning and have been dizzy again --totally spacey feeling and have had no appetite.  I spent last night awake and shaking - like chills but I wasn't cold.  THis has increased over the past couple of weeks on the tamox and is really bad now.  I tried to go running and could only manage to walk because I got too light headed.

    If this is what the next five years are to be, I can't do it - I won't.  I can't focus -- i've been in a "tunnel" all day mentally.  Emotionally I've never had such anxiety for no real reason and I can't pull out of it. 

    I'm not making any permanent decisions but I need to find out IF it is the tamox.  Then go back on and see if this all happens again.  But I do know that as of right now, I can't live like this.

    Has anyone tried Lifemath.net for tamoxifen?  When I add in my age, nodal status, grade, etc., etc., it comes up as only a 3-5 percent decrease in survival.....yes, I know that is signficant and I promised I would do ANYTHING - anything at all -- to prevent a recurrence.  I could deal with it if it was my phyiscal appearance, or hot flashes or even some fatigue. But I have four kids - they need their mommy....mommy not to be in a corner with her head spinning, crying.  

  • susantm
    susantm Member Posts: 71
    edited January 2011

    calamtykel, when my doctor showed my stats, the survival rate stat was similar, but it reduced the recurrence rate by 14%. I decided it was worth it if it helped keep me from going through this again. However, I might reconsider if I had SE's like you are having. That would be really hard, especially with little kids to care for. I pray that you can make a wise decision.

    I officially hopped on the Tammy train this morning, with my first half dose. I also felt dizzy after about an hour, but it has gotten better. Also since I just returned from a business trip and am a bit behind on my sleep, I can't tell how much is just from that. Onward and upward...

  • phxsunshine
    phxsunshine Member Posts: 156
    edited January 2011

    I saw my Rad Onc on Thus for a check up and she told me to remember that I am "an otherwise healthy person who just happened to get a little case of breast cancer."  I can LIVE with that.

    I'd also like to chime in my 2 cents for the gals who are using a Naturopath to help them get well.  I am working with a Board Certified Naturopathic Oncologist who worked with my Rad Onc and Breast Surgeon.  They each play their part in my recovery.  Never once has she told me to not take tmox, instead she is helping me to live with the SE's.  The clinic she works at specifically states they are NOT there to cure cancer.  

    We had a big event in our community this morning and I saw many people I had not seen since this all went down. Thanks to my Naturopath, everybody commented on how good I looked, that my skin (normally blemish prone my entire adult life) was glowing.  One of my good friends is now headed to her clinic so she can look as awesome as me! haha 

    For everybody the PTSD is real for us.  I must say that after one session of a Tension Releasing Exercises Workshop, I have slayed the Cancer Boogeyman that had taken up residence in my head.  It is so simple, but it worked better than Ativan and Xanax ever did - it doesn't wear off.  Here's the link:  www.traumaprevention.com

    Peace & hugs to all my Sisters here.  God bless you all real good. 

  • tinkertude
    tinkertude Member Posts: 1,998
    edited January 2011

    Thanks for the site SUNSHINE,!!!

  • Unknown
    Unknown
    edited January 2011

    thanks ladies -- I'm going to take a break for a few days.  Going for a detox footbath Monday --hoping to relax a little bit and stop thinking and worrying about it all --   I did have a total mastecomy on one side (against the doctor's advice - she thought a lumpectomy would be sufficient) and had a reduction on the other side.  I have no qualms about taking off the other breast if even the slightest thing rears its ugly head!  Of course we still have breast tissue and that is the scary thing, along with "circulating" cells......( thought chemo was supposed to kick those little buggers to the curb!)

  • chabba
    chabba Member Posts: 3,600
    edited January 2011

    I've been on tamoxifen for 70 days and so far not too bad.  I've always felt cold more easily  than most do but now I just plain get the chills.  Even with temperatures in the 40's and 50's I'm in long underwear every day--usually wear it once or twice a year.  Increased pain in joints that are already arthritic, increased weakness and cramping in right hand - the one with arthritis.  Major cramping, especially at night, in toes.  The worst SE's are psychological..moodiness, the need for solitude, anger, fear. All things I've often experienced, but normally less intensely and that I could deal with.  Now at times they are overwhelming. 

    Oh, the worst one.  I have never had trouble sleeping.  Now there are several nights a week when I can't get more than 3 to 4 hours of sleep.  Not good.  The scary part is that after while the lack of sleep affects the thinking process.

  • phxsunshine
    phxsunshine Member Posts: 156
    edited January 2011
    chabba, I'm repeating myself here from an earlier posting, but I'm taking 1500 mg of Glycine every night before bed, per my Naturopath, and from day one I have been sleeping  a solid 7-8 hours a night, where before, on the tmox, I was you, with the crappy 3-4 hours, maybe.  There are no bad SE's and it may help fight cancer.  When I am overtired, everything is a crisis and it sucks.  When I am rested I laugh at bullshit.  I prefer laughing.  Extra hugs to you.
  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 7,545
    edited January 2011
                                  
  • chabba
    chabba Member Posts: 3,600
    edited January 2011

    Thanks sunshine.  Is glycine a healthfood store item or would I find it at a pharmacy?

  • dsgirl
    dsgirl Member Posts: 193
    edited January 2011

    Hello,

    I read with interest Phxsunshine post regarding the Glycine for a good night's sleep, and thought like chabba, I'd like to know more about it.  You say no SE's, and that sounds great, but what is it ? a supplement ? or a prescription item, and are there SE"s, and it just so happens you are lucky and don't have any ? , would love to know more.  Thanks

    dsgirl

  • Sandeeonherown
    Sandeeonherown Member Posts: 1,781
    edited January 2011

    I found glycine in my local naturo-store...i a powder so assume I will have to mix it with juic.n o woories. it owulde nice to get off the trazodone to sleep@! one med a enough!

  • Chevyboy
    Chevyboy Member Posts: 10,258
    edited January 2011

    Morning gals!  I was interested in "glycine" also!  I googled it, & came up with this...

    http://www.dietandfitnesstoday.com/foods-high-in-vitamin.php?nutid=516

    It sounds like anything with gelatin in it, has a higher amount of glycine than the other choices!  I guess that means we can just dissolve the jello in hot water, then add the cold & drink it?  It might be a more natural way of getting this in our system ....and the "unsweetened" gelatin has the highest amount of glycine.

    Of course we could always try those barbecued pork rinds & pickled pigs feet, which I used to eat...Ha!  So anything gelatinous does have glycine...I don't know how much of that you would have to eat to get the same amount as the crystals, but I'm going to try the sugar-free gelatin with a little extra water at night!   I am an experiment in progress...Wink

  • jan508
    jan508 Member Posts: 724
    edited January 2011

    Can you take Prilosec with Tamxoifen?  I have acid reflux which is acting up.

    Jan

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 7,545
    edited January 2011

    Jan - You can google Tamoxifen Drug Interactions and you will get a list of meds you can not take.  If it is not on the list go ahead.  Or, you could ask your MO.  

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Member Posts: 7,545
    edited January 2011

    Jan - Just looked it up and it is not on the list.  However, it is recommended you ask your doc or pharmacist to make sure.  If it was me and I had acid reflux, I would go ahead.

  • jan508
    jan508 Member Posts: 724
    edited January 2011

    thanks jo

    I'm going to ask pharmacist

    jan

  • Chevyboy
    Chevyboy Member Posts: 10,258
    edited January 2011
    Jan...I have acid reflux, or heart-burn every once in awhile....I have & still take Ranitidine, instead of Zantac....It is the generic of Zantac, & a lot cheaper.  Doesn't interfere with Tamoxifen.
  • CatbirdC
    CatbirdC Member Posts: 235
    edited January 2011

    So do I Chevyboy....

     and have had no problems at all either.

    Catbird

  • jan508
    jan508 Member Posts: 724
    edited January 2011

    Thanks Ladies

    I bought Prilosec at grocery store today so I should be ok..

    Jan

  • CrazyKitties
    CrazyKitties Member Posts: 58
    edited January 2011

    Calamtykel(sp?) I totally get what you are saying. I am 49, peri-menopausal, and am considering having the plumbing removed rather than go thru 5 years of tamoxifen. On cancermath.net I get the same outcome whether I have my ovaries removed, take tamoxifen, take tamoxifen then switch to an AI, take an AI. I don't feel safe anymore with my ovaries, and I am certain that my periods will not stop until I am 60, like my mother. It's too risky. I too have gone thru horrible mood swings---women who have had hysterectomies don't seem to be as bad off as we are on this drug! Best wishes to you!

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