Bottle o Tamoxifen
Comments
-
Hi all,
Have been taking Tamox twice a day for nearly a week and thankfully it has relieved me from the nausea/vomiting. Yipee. However still getting the hot flashes. Even sitting out in the 40 degree Washington weather I still have them. Carrying my fan around with me everywhere. That and my protein bar.
Sadly I am attending a funeral this afternnoon. My daughters friends father was dx the same time I was with Hodgkins Lymphoma. He had complications before Christmas and was put on a ventilator. He was taken off a week ago. I so do not want to attend, but I am so proud of my 16 year old who didn't hesitate to tell her friend she'd be by her side. My daughter said "mum, that could have been you". Mortality sometimes smacks you right in the face.
Sorry for sharing. It's just a blue day and yes "I HATE ALL CANCERS"
Heading to the pasta car right afterwards.
Hugs to all xxxxxxxx
Jules
0 -
I had a colonoscopy in November and started Tamox last year in January. I did not stop my Tamox for the procedure. The prep was the worst part of it. Bleck!
My onco gives me the impression that a lot of women "forget" to take their pill if it is twice a day and taking once a day is easier for them. For my household it is easy since DH is diabetic and has shots at 7 and 7 and I take my pills at the same time. It is just medication time in our house. If you have a problem with forgetting though it would be better to take once a day when you feel the least amount of side effects.
0 -
bcincolorado - Sounds like my house. DH is diabetic but just needs a pill. Me, on the other hand have to take a cholesterol pill at night - 1/2 Tamox - and blood pressure pill & 1/2 Tamox in the morning so it is easy for me to split the dose.What's one more in the pile. But, I would agree with you, if once a day is better then do it when side effects are less.
0 -
Hiya Gals ~ Here's a link for glycine info I found: http://www.mammalive.net/supplement/glycine
Glycine is an amino acid that our own bodies produce, not a vitamin, not an herb/supplement. Guess I needed a little more than I was producing because it helped immediately, from the first night, and also eased my anxiety down to almost nothing. Like a calming salve painted all over my mind. No SE's because it is not a drug.
I buy mine from the pharmacy at my Naturopaths and on Amazon.com. Same price both places. I use Thorne Research 500mg capsules - 3 at bedtime every night. The guy who runs this outfit was one of my Naturopath's instructors and she trusts the quality of the product Thorne puts out, that's why I'm taking a particular brand. A little over $15/bottle, 250 ct. I take 3 a day, so it's costing me all of 20 cents a day to sleep like a lamb, except for the one gigantic hot flash that seems to visit me almost nightly.
0 -
Everybody has to decide for themselves if they are better off with or without tamoxifen. I've been going over the recurrence rates for myself and basically I have about a 20% chance for a recurrence if I don't take it. So, with my stats, 1 out of 5 women will have a recurrence. I don't trust my luck on this one. The oncs say the SEs from tamoxifen usually disappear after 2 or 3 months. I hate to stop taking a pill that is such a pivotal part of what I can do to get rid of this cancer because of SEs if they will pass soon. The other worrisome thing for me is how it can affect the liver. I've decided I'm going to have my GP keep a running test on my liver panels to keep an eye on that. I guess for the most part the oncs are just concerned with keeping the cancer away, but I think I'm going to have my GP play a bigger role in my health care to make sure the rest of me is handling the tamoxifen okay.
I guess I'm more scared of a recurrence than anything else. Here I don't want to take tamoxifen, and if you have a recurrence I don't think you are ever off drugs again!
I know we will all make the decision that feels right for us and we are all much more educated about breast cancer than we ever wanted to be, this is just basically my thought process in all of this...we each know ourselves better than anyone else does....just blessings and best wishes for each of us!
0 -
Thank you phxsunshine for the additional info on glycine, I sure do want to try that when insomnia hits again. Mostly it's when I have a doctor appt. or test or whatever scheduled, I get really "antsy" and soon cannot fall asleep at nite either, then after the tests visits, and results are given I am back to normal sleep patterns. I used to take Ativan to get a good nights sleep during these events, but would like to try something that's not a drug.
Again Thanks
dsgirl
0 -
Heartnsoul... you are right once it mets, there is no end. A good friend of mone didnt catch hers in time she had a huge lump and sadly she ignored it and when it came back cancer she originally refused a mas and went with a lumpect . the margins didnt come back clearx2 and long and short had to end up having a bilater.. with many nodes involved....Now it had metas. and she does Chemp once a week with no end in sight.... God only knows what will be but I want to help Him out a little by doing what I can
.....SWANSGIRL.. sorry about the loss and dont be sorry for sharing thats why we are here !!! Your daughter sounds like a wise young lady....hugs.
Meet you in the pasta car with drinks !
Maria
0 -
heartnsoul - I know what you mean about having your GP more involved. I saw my GP yesterday for some routine lab results - cholesterol screening - and my liver functions were up slightly - nothing to raise any flags but something he wants to watch. He asked me if my MO did labs and when I said yes - I had them done in Dec - he immediately called and asked for my results from there. He will also get future copies from my MO so he knows what is going on. Right now he seems to think the increase is due to starting Tamox and we will have to wait until the next round of labs.
Yes, it is a good idea to have your GP do liver panels on a regular basis - my GP does them every 3 months - right now seeing my MO every 4 months. I think I am well covered. Don't know what I will do if Tamox is going to screw with my liver - I can't take AI's. Not going to worry about it - have enough to think about now.
0 -
East Coast Girl, you asked about the need for tamoxifen even if you have no breasts. Besides blocking estrogen in breast tissue, it also blocks it in any circulating breast cancer cells that may have escaped from the original tumor site. These cells could potentially settle in a distant area of our bodies, such as bone or lungs, and start to grow into a metastasis, but the tamoxifen is supposed to deprive them of estrogen so that they die off and don't get the opportunity to do this.
My Onc checks my liver function on every visit. After 2 years on tamoxifen, I just got moved from every 3 months to the every 4 month plan.
0 -
I am going to go and pick up the glycine tomorrow after work..they have it waiting for me at the healthfood store in town. It would be good to do something natrual to sleep instead of taking a pill...I end up waking up at 4am and eating whatever sweet thing I can find...to the point where I have nothing in my home resembling a cookie, candy or whatever. Weird...it also affects my writing ( as a few posts here can attest to)...looks to me at the time that things are typed accurately, but clearly they aren't.
Swanseagirl...funerals are never, ever easy...doubly so when it triggers our own thoughts of mortality. You too are as courageous as your daughter for going. I am sure, especially given the circumstances, that his family will be grateful to see you.
0 -
I've been nauseous the past couple of day. I've been on Tamox for 3 months...normal? Could it be liver?
Getting nervous
Jan
0 -
Could it possibly be the flu? Remember to breathe Jan...it could be something simple. If you are still nervous about it in the am, call your GP and make an appointment to ease your mind and/or get some tests done.
0 -
no, not the flu, maybe a virus but I also have acid reflux so i'm hoping that's it.
0 -
My onc only sees me every 6 months I started in Sept. She saw me 3 months after I started and now said every 6 months is that normal???
0 -
My onc is seeing me in June. The last time I saw him was Nov (1 month after I started Tamox). I was not on chemo or rads so only Tamox treatment.
I have no appts (except for PS) until March (BS) and June (MO). My MO doesn't do scans either unless there is a symptom
I was tolerating the meds great until about a week ago. I think it's because I was playing with the times I take it. Can't take it in the AM, causing nausea - trying to take it after dinner now. We'll see how that works.
Jan
0 -
Jan, does taking it with food and lots of water help at all? Splitting the dose? Acid reflux is a whole other story. Can't be easy. So sorry you are having a rough weekend.
0 -
ok JAN that sounds about right for me too. I go back to the breast surgeon for 6 month in June too and the PS in March to sched next revisons surgery.
I have heard sometimes the se come and go, I hope if it is the Tam that it goes very quickly for you. Do you take it once a day?
Feel better!
0 -
I meet my radiologist in March and my next mammogram is in June too! Sounds like March and June will be nervous months. I am taking myself and a pal to hear Sarah McLaughlin sing the week of my radiologist appointment...will have to do something equally celebratory in June. I am not having the side effects you gals are describing...not regularly.
I have had a few days where I feel slightly nauseated or 'weak'...and last week I felt like someone had shoved a straw into my chest and was sucking my wind out bit by bit....but that is it. I forced myself to the gym anyhow and that seemed to help, oddly enough....taking the pill two times a day at meal time also seems to help...every 12 hours 10mg instead of 20 all at once. Until told oterhwise, I am goign to continue to take it this way.
Feel better Jan.
0 -
Sarah Mc Laughlin awesome!!!.. you still get mammo? I dont but I dont have any breast tissue left , that must be why... My surgeon just does an exam I dont think much else. I am kinda uncomfortable that from this point on no scan no nothing all symptomatic... anyone else a little freaked out by that???
0 -
I have both breasts intact..though the left is no longer a 34DD....but post radiation, the shape is coming back ....and I am wearing assymetrical patterns and swaeters with one button done up so no one is the wiser...and those who know don't notice so...
The mammogram...yeah...June. I imagine June will be a LONG month...both before and after the mammogram. A big part of me is waiting for June to come and go so I know what to do with my life.....if I get the all clear, I am seriously considering taking a year leave of absence and travelling and doing teacher training around the world for a year....and then, going with the rose coloured view of things of course, possibly doing 6 or 7 months of teacher training at the school I am currently at and winters in warmer climes doing the same....but if June slaps me in the breast with another diagnosis...well, it will be another year of gym, choir and African dance as coping mechanisms...in the meantime, I am keeping my heary and soul and mind as occupied as possible between now and June...not having a mommogram or test of some sort would freak me out too tinkertude...
0 -
Splitting the dose will help with the nausea. I take mine in the am & pm. The first couple of days I was a bit nauseous and got something over the counter which helped. Now it is gone. I think this is normal but at the same the amount of nausea will differ with each person. My MO is in agreement that the split dose is the way to go. He said you still get the same effect as taking the full dose at one time.
I see my MO every 3 months - next time will be in Apr. June will also be a nervous month for me as I see my gyn for my annual PAP and mammo. That will be nerve racking.
Have to see my BS on Tues for a CT scan. Been having unexplained burning sensation in boob for the past 3 weeks. He does not think it has anything to do with rads or healing. The problem is not even close to the lump scar so it is not that. Has ruled out the nerves coming back. So, next step is the scan. Am sitting on pins and needles and getting really nervous.
0 -
Thanks for the kind words.
Yes, exercise has helped me too. I'm just hoping it's the change in times I was taking the pill. I originally started out taking it mid day then tried in the AM with all my supplements (maybe that was the problem). Now I'm trying evening with my 2nd calcium. Once I get this under control I'll be so happy and I'm hoping the SE's are temporary.
My onc doesn't do scans either and yes, that disturbs me at times. Like I said I go back in June after my bone density test.
So, June seems to be the month we all are dreading....hopefully we'll all get through it unscathed.
Right now I'm concentrating on getting these te's removed and getting my 'new girls'.
Jan
0 -
Soooo glad that I accidentally found this forum and these discussion groups when googling for information on Tamoxifen a few weeks ago. The support and wisdom and humour are a goddess-send. Really. We will all get through June and the months in between one way or another. Knowing there are women who understand sure does help
0 -
yes sandee:
this forum does make a difference in our lives. When nobody else can understand or they care not to, we have each other.
Jan
0 -
Yep....scale of one to ten with regards to being grateful, I am about a twelve and counting
0 -
agree
0 -
couldnt agree more..
Hugs to all you wonderful brave ladies!!!
0 -
My Onc said she will see me every 3 months for the first 2 years, then every 6 months for the following 3 years, then once a year after that. No body scans or anything unless symptomatic.
I found this site about Glycine/Gelatin (there is a high amount of glycine in gelatin) Very interesting. (also read the page she linked, lots of good info)
0 -
So interesting that I sent hubby out for some Knox gelatin. Think I'll try some tonight before bed.
Well, I'm still on only 2.5 mg (quarter of a 10 mg tablet) of Tamox and have some mild nausea after I take it. Crazy, such small dose, but have definitely seen a pattern. I will take mine in divided doses also. When I decide to go up to 5 I will just add a 2.5 quarter piece in the evening and so on.
Excited to try the gelatin thing though! Sounds promising and good for more then just a few things.
0 -
Have to also agree with everyone! This site is so full of good information and I find the support priceless. We do understand each other and that says volumes.
0
