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Bottle o Tamoxifen

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Comments

  • dawney
    dawney Member Posts: 136
    edited January 2011

    Anyone having problems with their eyes?  My eyes watered really bad all the way through chemo and had gotten better but since I started taking tamox they have gotten worse and now I am getting sty's (sp) in my eyes. 

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

    I just changed my prescription and I informed my eye doc about my breast cancer surgery in august and tamoxifen just in case....I am having trouble adjusting to the new prescrip....things seem a bit blurry but it is likely just my brain adjusting to the difference.

    I too am going to get some knox gelatin tomorrow and give 'er a try! It has to beat zopliclone!

    I think taking tamoxifen with a huge glass of water also helps...it says it on the bottle and I have found if I take it in the am wih coffee instead of a big 8oz glass of h2o, I feel a bit wooshy....might be a connection

  • surfette
    surfette Member Posts: 108
    edited January 2011

    I have noticed a vision thing. I wear contacts for distance and just in the past week I have noticed that I can't read closeup with my contacts in. It could be that I am just getting to the age where I need reading glasses but this has come on all of a sudden in week 3 of tamoxifen so I guess it could be related.

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

    hmmm. I would say keep an eye on it and go and see your eye doc if it continues. That seems like a bit of a coincidence..unless we are all just hyper aware of changes in our body..which is also incredibly possible.

  • janet in virginia
    janet in virginia Member Posts: 923
    edited January 2011

    Yes on the eyes!  Woke up this morning & one eye really hurt, all bloodshot & very sensitive to light  all day today???  I'm still only on 2.5 also & turning into a full blown hypochondriac!   And it's strange - just very aware of my uterus!  Doesn't hurt but this is weird.  Any other post-menop train passengers feeling that?

  • dawney
    dawney Member Posts: 136
    edited January 2011

    Janet - you made me laugh out loud about your uterus!  Not to make light of your concerns but I needed the laugh :)

  • surfette
    surfette Member Posts: 108
    edited January 2011

    Also my period is very late since I started tamox on January 1. Anyone else notice this?

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

    Got on the train almost three weeks ago.  After a bit of nausea the first few days taking 10mg I am feeling no side effects.  Have been on the full dose almost 2 weeks - splitting the dose.  Had some joint pain in my toes and don't really know if I can blame it all on the Tamox - it was really cold here and that does make my joints hurt.  Hope the train ride continues to be smooth.

    Hope everyone can find the right time to take Tamox and the side effects you are experiencing go away real soon. 

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

    I have a hard time reading with out my reading glasses . I know that sounds silly but even though I had reading glasses I never really used them unless I was going to read for an extended amount of time, but now I need them to read anything with smaller print, and oh yes my periods are all over the place.. thought I was getting off easy last month and it wasnt coming.. oh no 2 weeks late and bam!!!!! and it made itself comfy and stayed awhile oye!!! I range now from 30 -??? whenever the heck it shows up days :)

  • CrazyKitties
    CrazyKitties Member Posts: 58
    edited January 2011

    I wish the tamox didn't make me so depressed. i have an unusual chemistry to deal with. Long story short, the SE"s of hot flashes don't faze me at all---I think it's funny! I stopped the tamox temporarily---I am leaning towards ooph---not giving up on treatment, just changing gears.

    By the way, milk thistle extract is available cheap in pill form and it is great for the liver. We should all take it. I do, and I swear it works. Your onco will agree with it, i looked it up in an oncology book.

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

    CrazyKitties - Thanks for the tip about the milk thistle extract.  Will check it out.

  • EastCoastGrl
    EastCoastGrl Member Posts: 206
    edited January 2011

    I think I read that there was some protective quality to the liver with the use of gelatin/glycine also. But good to know about the milk thistle. :)

    I had an eye exam before I started taking Tamox. I have "driving" glasses with a really low script. Never wear them. They do make things such as signs more clear but it doesn't bother me much. I did get a new pair of sunglasses though with the script to help protect my eyes with the polarized lenses and UV and all that. I am 43 (44 in a couple weeks) and have always been able to see teeny tiny print. I mean the REALLY small stuff. My eye dr was amazed while doing the exam that I was able to still read the teeny tiny print on the up close card while he had the "prescription" for driving on my eyes. He said that was unusual at my age. Ha Told me I had bionic eyes,lol. I'm sorta wondering if that's going to change being on T....sounds like it might. Hope not! Of course age will catch up with me sometime or another! ;) My poor hubby has to put on reading glasses to read anything up close and small....not wanting to do that. :( Oh well.

    So far so good on Tamox. I feel good mentally. Some mild nausea that is annoying. Weirdly, I get it about an hour or so after I take it (feel fine before) and then it goes away for the most part for the day and comes back in the evening. Strange but I definitely see a pattern. I am also a tad anxious towards afternoon evening which is ok til I need to sleep,lol.(got alot of cleaning done yesterday ;) ) And this at only 2.5mg. I'm sure it is a somewhat cumulative effect since it has a long half life though. Not sure when I will up it to 5mg. Maybe the end of this week or early next.

  • jan508
    jan508 Member Posts: 724
    edited January 2011

    Eastcoast girl:

    I'm going on over 3 mos and just started getting the nausea from Tamox along with some sweats.

    I'm hoping this is only temporary.

    Jan

  • Harley44
    Harley44 Member Posts: 2,126
    edited January 2011

    MaryNY 

    I had a colonoscopy while on Tamoxifen, but wasn't told to stop taking it...  hmmm.... strange.

    Why does it seem everyone gets a different set of instructions?

    Anyway  sorry I haven't been on for a few days...  I have a vicious MIGRAINE, that won't quit!

    I just started back on Tamoxifen last week, and am now wondering if any of this is due to the Tamoxifen...  but I don't remember having any more headaches than usual.  This is a really NASTY one!

    Thanks for the warm welcome back.

    I will try to go on bco more often.  

    Welcome to all the new riders!

    That pasta looks delicious!

  • jan508
    jan508 Member Posts: 724
    edited January 2011

    Harley:

    Hope you feel better soon!  Where is Carolina Shores?  I'm on Pleasure Island

    Jan

  • dawney
    dawney Member Posts: 136
    edited January 2011

    Ok, I called my onco about my eyes.  They think it might be pink eye and not a side effect of the Tamox.  I am using the drops my daughter got last fall when she had it to see if it clears up.

    Also, I had hot flashes ALL night long last night.  I  have been on Tamox since Dec 15th and the flashes are getting worse.  I take the whole dose at bedtime.

  • janet in virginia
    janet in virginia Member Posts: 923
    edited January 2011

    Dawney - keep us posted if the drops are working -  I thought about pink eye as a possibility too.  If mine doesn't get any better in another day guess I'm off to ANOTHER doctor appointment!  I can't remember from when my kids were little whether you can get pink eye in just one eye or both.

  • jan508
    jan508 Member Posts: 724
    edited January 2011

    dawney:

    Sorry you are having issues - hate it too. I do find exercise has helped me. When I go to the gym and use the treadmill it does make it easier.

    Good luck with your eyes and hot flashes.

    I hear the se's come and go..

    Jan

  • phxsunshine
    phxsunshine Member Posts: 156
    edited January 2011

    I went for my annual eye checkup today.  Nothing has changed, I've had the same Rx for 2 years now don't use my glasses most of the time, tiny print makes me reach for them. I'm 54 now.  I had some weird eye deal go on right after I started the tmox, 4 months ago, like I was looking through sepia tones or something.  A real change in the quality of light, which concerned me.  Well, it's gone now and she can find nothing to worry about.  I have developed 3 tiny sebaceous cysts on my eyelids, 3 on each side, between my eye and my eyelashes.  She said if they get larger, they can remove them and she said they develop when you mess with hormones.

    My eye Dr told me a story about her sorority sister who at the age of 29 discovered a lump while nursing her 3 month old.  It was stage 4 and she did not live 90 more days.  The Tech, who checked me out first, told me his mom died of breast cancer 3 years ago, he's in his early 30's.  I told him I was sorry and he said something was going to get her, she'd been a heavy smoker all her life and wouldn't quit.  This crap is everywhere. 

    I see my Naturopath in a few weeks and I'm running the Milk Thistle by her to see if I can add it to the pile I snarf down every day. Thanks for that hint.  We ARE going to all get through this with each others help, love and support. 

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

    Good info in the milk thistle thanks

    You are so righ SUNSHINE, together we are united!!!

  • nmi
    nmi Member Posts: 112
    edited January 2011

    Hi yall, I have been reading this thread and love all the info, but missed the info on the milk thistle and colonoscopy.  I am due to have a colonoscopy in a couple weeksno one said anything about stopping tamox, but then, nurse only asked if I was on Plavix or other blook thinners.  I looked back a couple pages but couldn't find any info, might have missed it.  Could someone let me know? Maybe I should just skip the colonoscopy.. yea!!!

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Member Posts: 4,503
    edited January 2011

    Had my last tx for rads today so I will be starting tamox in a couple of weeks.  Have been reading this thread off and on so I guess I will be joining you guys here for sure.

  • phxsunshine
    phxsunshine Member Posts: 156
    edited January 2011

    Welcome Sherryc, sorry we had to meet like this, but we'll just make the most of it.  My daughter is marrying a Texan in Texas in a month, so I've got to luv ya! 

  • swanseagirl
    swanseagirl Member Posts: 171
    edited January 2011

    Tinkertude, starting to gain weight with all the pasta and drinks. LOL

    Checking out further down the train to see if there's anything healthier. Skinny girl margarita maybe?

    Thank you all for recommending tamox in half. Has really helped withe the nausea. Still weighting for the weight loss seSurprised

  • hopeful34
    hopeful34 Member Posts: 522
    edited January 2011

    First off I want to appoligize bc I know this is probably already answered on here, but I have sifted through several pages and cannot find anything.  I have not had a period since I started Tamox.  Is this normal to stop menstruating immediately?  Also, I am sleeping all the time.  Does Tamox. make you fatigued?  I have been sleeping like 15 hours a day.  I just can't seem to get anything accomplished besides housework.  Also, I have noticed in the last week that sex is horribly painful.  Should I go to the OB/Gyn.?  Sorry for all the questions.    Allison

  • surfette
    surfette Member Posts: 108
    edited January 2011

    Allison,

    My period came very late but finally came. I had the opposite problem than you of not being able to get to sleep at all, thankfully that has gone away. And I have extreme vaginal dryness. So your symptoms are not really all that unusual, I heard these go away after a while! 

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

    SWANS... So glad the 1/2 pill is helping Smile, any trick that works is awesome... Skinny girl Margarita sounds great, let me know what you find..lol

    ALLISON, No need to apologize... when I started Tam I had insomnia big time but now I want to sleep alot too, I dont know if you had any chemo or rads ( I did not)... if so that could be adding to it and also the stress of all,that we have been through catches up to us. I dont know about the stopping the periods  I do know my are veerryyyy irregular every 33- to whenever it decided to show up... But I have only been on it since Sept... As far as painful sex they say vaginal dryness can be a se.. maybe thats why would always check with the doc....good luck to you!!!!

  • June2268
    June2268 Member Posts: 926
    edited January 2011

    Hey Ladies just catching up on this thread......it seems like so many Doc's do things so differently.  I have not had one blood test or any test for that matter as it seems like my Doc does not believe in them. I even asked him to test me to see if I was metabolizing the tamox and he said there was no need for it.......The only real SE I had especially in the beginning was insomnia which he told me "that is not a SE of Tamox"  I want to like him, but almost anything I ask him he tends to think I am CRAZY!!!!!!  I too was freaking out when starting Tamox as I cannot take anything as I am so ULTRA sensitive to drugs of any sort and to take this and be almost non-symptomatic get me kinda worried......I am not sure if it is the extreme cold winter but I have been exhausted and cannot seem to wake up in the morning.....I mean really who can hit the snooze button like 6 times and not get their ass out of bed......I just am feeling very tired and I am on month 9 for me.....anyone experiencing this???  Snowing here again in Mass and supposed to have another kicking storm on Wednesday, not a dull moment here.....

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

    Had my first real experience with a night filled with hot flashes.. I actually feel like it was just one big flash that lasted all night lol.. everytine I would wake up I was sweating... I guess we will see what tonight brings!!...

    JUNE, I havent had any blood work done yet either only when I was having problems in Nov, I go back in June and will be anxious to see if she does any.

    Good day ladies, off to the orthodontics with my daughter for her braces :)

  • jan508
    jan508 Member Posts: 724
    edited January 2011

    Tinker:

    I started having sweats this week along with some nausea.  I'm hoping this passes quickly!

    June:

    Yes, all docs are different. Mine does not do any tests either unless there are symptoms. I go for a bone density in June and then back to onc for the first time - I started Tamox in October, went to onc in Nov and that was it.  Go figure! I thought for sure there would be a 3 month check up. Maybe because I didn't do chemo or rads?

    Well enjoy the day ladies....

    Jan

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