Bottle o Tamoxifen
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hello everyone
my name is Mary, Have anyone get period , during taking tamoxifen ? I had been tamoxifen since jan, 2008 this year untill last aug.26 I started my period . recentlly, have been easy bleeding for example cut finger seem bleed for than usual, when Im constipated when to bathroom still bleed from rec. sorry tell you this but have anyone experience this? I am worry thanks If someone reply
i really apppreciated
worry me .
Barbie, I had that before but I think its from tamoxifen, its meess up .Anyway, I suggest that talk to your Oncologist Dr. which one you preffer. or radiation DR. everyone different not the same. But when I brought that up DR. sent me for CAT scan, Mri now next week I will have Pet scan
My Mri and CAt show normal accepted fatty liver , kidney cyst but Dr.said was cyst resolved by its own. well I will go for the pet scan next Monday its been a year seen I diagnosed with Bc
Hopefully good I pray
thanks
Mary
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Hi everyone, I am trying to get on the tamoxifin train, but am getting derailed with my Effexor prescription. I finally got it approved by the insurance and picked it up. Now I am scared to death of taking it and tamoxifin. Mainly the effexor. She gave me the Rx because of "hot flashes" and insomnia. I have to admit the hot flashes are not that bad but the insomnia is what is getting to me. One of the side effects of effexor is insomnia............so why take it? I wonder if I should just start the tamoxifin and see how I do.....can always take the effexor later. She wanted me to take that for 2 months before the tamoxifin. The fact that it is difficult to get off it is what is scaring me so much.
Any suggestions............does the effexor help with sleep.........is it the "heat flushes" that wakes me up?....
So confused.
Donna
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Donna--
I understand your reluctance to start the meds...it can be a scary proposition. Here's my experience w/ Effexor...I started taking it both for mild depression and to help with night sweats/hot flashes. Had my first dose in Feb. after starting tamox in Nov. It has helped w/ the depression immensely, and night sweats are gone for the most part. Hot flashes have picked up during the day--I don't know what's up w/ that. I found out that most people take 75 mg. of Effexor, and I'm on 37.5; I may ask my dr. to up it.
Effexor doesn't help me w/ sleep, but I'm a long-time insomniac so I'm not the best judge. My onc gave me a prescription this summer for Lunesta, so I either take that or a Xanax at night. I, too, had read it's one of the hardest anti-depressants to wean oneself off of, but I figure I'll drive off that bridge when I get there.
Good luck w/ your decision...keep us posted.
Harley, and anybody else on the east coast, do what you have to do to stay safe w/ Hanna on the way. Good luck!
Basha, your poor kitty! I pray she makes her way back home. Keep us posted.
Welcome, Linda and Mary! Mary, sounds like you're having some weird symptoms. I haven't had a period in a year, so someone else will have to take that question.
Off to work for me...TGIF! Take care, riders...I'll be in any car where I can eat junk. Stress eating off the charts!
Lynn
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Hi Donna. I dreaded taking that first pill. I remember staring at the bottle. It was as if it was bigger than me. BUT, honestly, it has been just fine!! It is almost a year for me. First thing, about 4 pound weight loss. I'm small anyway. Then night sweats from time to time, but they seemed to have lessened. Irregular cycles, for sure. Anywhere from every 20 to 45 days, but they only last 2 days. The only bad thing for me has been fibroid growth, but mine were big to start with. They are coming out in Nov. I was one of the lucky ones that did not have rads recommended, so I really wanted the tamox. My onc said to try it, if it's just awful, get off. Endo metrial issues are very rare, as well as strokes. You may need an occasional u/s and try to get out and walk every couple of days to keep your heart healthy. Nada
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Lynn,
Thanks!! We are thinking that Hanna may not be too bad, but now we are concerned about Ike.Hurricane season is so much fun!!! NOT
Hope everyone is doing great, and if I don't pop in again tomorrow, have a great weekend!!
Harley
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Thanks everyone for you info. I think I will start the effexor tonight.......then Nov 1, will start the tamoxifin. I have all the trust in my oncologist (lucky, she only deals with womens issues)---and---do we have issues!! She is starting me out on 37.5 mgm and increasing to 75 mgm in 2 weeks. All I can do is try it.
Donna
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Gals,
My kitty is back and on the mend. She is as feisty as we are!!
Donna, I had a weird reaction to Effexor but I have bipolar disorder. It literally kept me up all night. Think it interacted with mania. Anyway, shouldn't be a problem for you in the same way. Good luck! You can always stop taking it.
Lynn, Your prayers worked! Basha
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Gosh, thanks everyone for your support and suggestions. I took the effexor last night. Of course I expected instant relief..........NOT.......but will give it a good trial and then start my tamox in Nov.
Basha, am go glad your kitty is back. I watched my neices cats over the summer while I was having radiation and they were a great diversion. She picked them up this week and I miss them.
Harley, stay safe with the storms........hurricanes are so frightening.
Nada, funny but my GYN has an US machine in his office and does a TVUS yearly in his office.
Lynn, my onc is starting me on 37.5, increasing to 75 after 2 weeks.
Have a safe weekend.
Donna
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Donna,
Welcome to the Tamoxi-train! Hope you do well with it. It caused these polyps to grow in my uterus, and now my abdomen is huge!
The storm should be a wimp, and IKE may hit Miami, so I think we are safe for now...
Take care, dear.
Everyone have a happy weekend.
Harley
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Hi All. Welcome to the "newbies". Lots going on between work & home. Catching up on all the postings.
Donna - I'm only on my 3rd month of Tamaxofin and still get my periods. I also have hot flashes, but nothing crazy. The other side effect that I have noticed is I bruise easily.
I have been waking up around 3:00ish am to use the bathroom and then not able to fall back asleep for a while. I do finally get back to sleep but this is out of pattern for me. I seem to recall someone using CoQ10 or something like that? Any info is appreciated.
Basha - glad to hear your son is adjusting to college. I dropped my daughter off last week and it was a little different saying goodbye than previous years. She had a few tears but we quickly dismissed them! Now it's just me and the "boys" at home ... I miss the balance of 2 girls & 2 boys!
High School football season officially starts tonight. I'm a very nervous mom, as my son will be starting on Varsity even though he's a sophomore. He's very happy about the opportunity, I'm not! He suffered a concussion when he was in 8th grade (I call it his "$6000 hit") and I so worry when he's out on the field. I do enjoy the sport, just not when he plays.
Have a wonderful weekend, girls. Gotta get back to work!
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Hi All,
I found this thread looking for Harley. Harley I've been worried about you girl. Anyway I've had a terrible time with the effexor. I wish I had never started it. Whatever you do DO NOT just stop taking it. The side effects are really really bad. I'm now weening off it off the next several months. I don't want to take anything that causes such terrible side effects if you stop. I've also talked to my onc about stopping Tamoxifen. To me the side effects just aren't worth it.
After my 2nd chemo I stopped having periods. It has been almost a year without. I did have some spotting over the weekend and I was flipping out. I so don't want to have periods again!
I
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Tami,
Hi there! I have been kind of busy, with that job at the expensive boutique, and haven't had a chance to catch up with the girls from my Aug. 2007 chemo group. I know that they started that YAHOO group, but for some reason, I can't always get into it. Maybe it is chemo brain!! lol
It is SO GOOD to hear from you!!
Hope you are doing great!!
Harley
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Hello Ladies,
Thanks for the welcome - I appreciate it. I've been doing some reading on this thread, but haven't come across the topic of skin yet.
I am wondering if Tamoxifen tends to affect the skin ?? (Even though I'm 42, I've been battling zits for several years, and about 2 weeks after my surgery I began to break out horribly on my face and chest. Guess my body just went into an uproar.
Anyway, just wondering if anyone has noticed any changes - good or bad - with their skin after being on Tamoxifen for a while.
Thanks & have a good night
Julie0 -
Julie,
Yes, I break out a little and I always had good skin. I think a sudden drop in estrogen messes with your skin. I haven't needed Clearasil since high school!
Basha
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Hi Basha,
Well that stinks. Sorry you are breaking out! Ugh - all I need is MORE zits. lol!! I'm going to try & convince my body that the opposite will occur
Hugs, Julie
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Julie and Basha, me too. especially the first 2 bottles...but I haven't had any zits in a week or so and my skin is doing better, but I changed the way I take the tamoxifen and I wonder if that is the reason..maybe after several more bottles i will know what triggers what...
I still struggle with insomnia though, but the hot flashes aren't as bad...and i notice that my legs and hands/feet tend to swell more. also leg cramps during the night...
hugs
Amber
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Hi,
I'm new to tamoxifen. I'm 46 and had a lumpectomy,re-excision and partial breast radiation for 4 mm of intermediate grade DCIS in July & August. I find that I'm sleeping a little longer,moving a little slower and have less energy.
How long did you find that it takes to get your equilibrium back?
Thanks,
Mary
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Hi MaryF2 - I had a similar diagnosis & treatment - I just turned 47. My surgery was on 2/29 and I finished up radiation on 6/9 (not partial breast). I started Tamaxofin on 6/16. I am finally able to say that I'm back to feeling pretty good, but that has only been in the last week. Every one reacts differently. Take the time you need to rest and recover. Your body has been through alot. I am not tired the way I was a month ago or two months ago. I moved my daughter into her dorm room on 8/29 and I was very pleasantly surprised that I was not exhausted from that. I seemed to have turn the corner the beginning of September with my energy level.
I have my 3 month checkup with my radiation oncologist on 9/10. Yippee!!
Gotta run, lots of work to get done.
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Hello Ladies
I'm just popping in to say Hi to everyone and welcome to the newbies.
Basha - I'm so relieved to hear your Kitty is doing well.
MaryF2 - I'm hitting a new patch of extreme fatigue and I'm 6 months post rads. Could be something entirely unrelated, so I'm waiting it out for now...
Virginia - I hope that your absence from the train means you spent a long weekend in California. I'm praying for you and your Dad.I gotta run, sorry I couldn't address everyone individually, but know that you are all on my mind!
Barbie
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Hi everyone. I'm curious as to why we take the Effexor to help with hot flashes and insomnia. I was just reading the side effects for Effexor and it says that hot flashes & insomnia are major side effects....I'm confused..my onco said to take Effexor to help???
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Hi everyone,
Just wanted to pop in to let you know that for now, I will be continuing Tamoxifen. I saw the gyn onc today and NOTHING was really resolved. The FSH/LH test proves that I am indeed post menopausal, but when I mentioned switching from Tamoxifen to an AI, I also said... AI's are bad for my bones... he just said "well, I have no problem with you staying on Tamoxifen." Well, I told him that I DO NOT want to have another D & C!!! So, if these things grow back, I will be MAD! Anyway, he said that he will call my onc to see what he thinks. He also said that he would do a D & C every six months, whether I need it or not, but I think he was kidding!
Later in the week, I'll call my onc to see what to do next. I will run out of Tamoxifen in mid November, but I don't see my onc til mid December... are they always this stupid?? So I'll have to get an Rx for one month of Tamoxifen, or else an Rx for an AI. It seems like I am the only one who is concerned about ANY of this, and it makes me so mad!!tif, I didn't read that Effexor would cause hot flashes, but maybe, in some women, it does. The insomnia part is true... when I was taking Effexor, I had trouble sleeping... but Tamoxifen also caused insomnia. I think I'm sleeping better, now that I have stopped the Effexor, but I still have problems sleeping through the night.
Virginia,
I hope your Dad is doing ok. I think of you often and hope you are ok... Sending HUGS your way!!!
Harley
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Hello ladies! And Welcome to the new riders!
It took me awhile to catch up on the posts, so I won't be able to 'talk' to each of you -- forgive me.
Basha,
Glad the kitty cat has returned. She IS a tough broad -- she definitely belongs with this group.
Lynn,
Take the stress out in class one day and may be the kids will be so frightened that they'll behave? Just kiddin' but it does present a funny mental picture!
Harley,
Don't count Ike out yet and don't lose sight of Josephine! Keep those hatches battened down. Sounds like you're finally getting some answers but still not enough. You keep fighting, girl!
To all those talking effexor -- sorry I can't help. My med onc suggested Vitamin E to help with hot flashes and it has helped some. He said effexor would be the next step -- which I am trying to avoid. I won't see him until January though and I'm almost done with my third bottle (quarterly) which means my script is running out -- just ONE MORE thing to do.
I'm in the process of having my rads tattoos removed. Had the 2nd treatment today and I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it'll take care of it. I have to wait two weeks to determine effectiveness. I hate them.
Oh, BTW, I may have found another part time job. I'll find out more later in the week and I'll let you know.
Have a peaceful night all. You keep me sane.
Deb
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Deb - I knew you would land on your feet - and in cute shoes I'm sure! I'm glad you found a new job and I've got a feeling you are going to LOVE this new job and be much happier.
Harley - So sorry that you feel like you are the only one that is keeping tabs of what is going on in your body. Rest assured, you are the BEST person to know whether something is amiss. However, we need to get your docs on board with you!
Sorry Tiff, I don't take effexor. I don't really have hot flashes either - rather warm flushes. I think this is a genetic predisposition for me, my Mom didn't have hot flashes when she went through natural menopause. I'm sure some of the other ladies will respond soon.
Ok all, have yourselves a great day - I think it is time for some fall shoe shopping!
Barbie
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Thanks, Deb... They are tracking Ike, and he seems to be headed for the Gulf.
Barbie,
You are SO right!! I went to see my pcp today, and for the past week, I have just been SO TIRED! I told him, and he gave me a B-12 shot. Man, do they ever hurt! The nurse said that I would get them every month, but geez.... I guess if they help with the fatigue, I may just endure those shots, but yowzy! OUCH! My arm is so sore now!
Oh, and when I was feeling these fake boobs, I thought I felt something strange, near where I found the bc. My pcp also felt it, but we both think it may just be scar tissue. So he wants to check it again next month, just to be sure that it isn't changing any.
Hope everyone has a great day!
Harley
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I use to have to give b 12 shots to patients at the prison and it is thick so you have to use a bigger needle and it is hard to push out that is why is hurts to much. Have you ever seen the needle we use to give shots for syphillis? They are HUGE and has to go deep into the muscle, It is probably 5 inches long. I never want one of those shots. EVER. Harley I have a lot of lump and bumps around my foobs too and it is scary cause you don't know if its scar tissue or something else.
Another thing usually they give b12 in the butt, am surprised they gave it in the arm unless things have really changed since i retired from nursing.
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Spar
Thanks for the reassurance about the lump in my saline boob. I figure it is probably just scar tissue but better to keep having it checked out, just to be sure. Are they monitoring your lumps? Will you be getting any screening tests, just to make sure everything's ok?
The b-12... well, I asked her if she could put it in my arm, so she did. But she said that it may not hurt as bad next time, if she gives me the b-12 in the butt.... great, another thing to look forward to... I got the Neulasta shots in my abdomen, but this nurse said that she never gives shots in the abdomen. Go figure. It is the spot where I have the most fat, and she won't do it that way.
Thanks!!
Harley0 -
Hi All- I am new to the train. I have been taking Tamox since June of this year and I wanted to know if anyone has had any headaches with it? I suffer terribly with migraines as it is, and I feel like I have a headache/migraine now everyday! Also my skin is breaking out and I feel moody at times and been bruising alot.... I don't want to place all the blame on the T, but.... I just feel BLAH! I'm only 31- I don't want another 5 years of this! Anyone feel this way?
Thanks :>
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Dawn,
I have a history of migraines and noticed that after my lumpectomy, I took CoQ10 400mg..the reason I am saying this is that I barely got a headache while takng the CoQ10, then I did research and indeed it helps migraines, but when I started tamoxifen 2 months ago the headaches returned, though with less intensity, I am taking the CoQ10 with the tamoxifen, only I have lowered my dose to 200mg, (it is so expensive). But I was taking 300mg at first with the tamoxifen and I didn't notice the headaches. So maybe that is something you can look into.
I have googled Tamoifen and CoQ10 together and have found that CoQ10 offsets some of the problems tamoxifen causes with the lipids (liver stuff). and that CoQ10 in itself has shown promise with regards to success in treating BC.
But yes, tamox has my head aching as well.
hi! to all my other tamox buddies...I am still having insomnia, and if I even mention to my DH that I was up during the night, he tells me to stop taking the tamoxifen...so I just try to keep my mouth shut..no complaining...glad that you all will hear me and I can read what everyone else is going thru.
Hope everyone is have a stellar week!
Amber
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Amber,
Do you take the CoQ10 at night? I started out doing that, and found I was having trouble sleeping...now I take it in the morning. My energy level during the day seems better, and I sleep through the night.
Pat
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Pat,
I don't take it at night....I take 100mg in the early morning with 10mg tamox and 1 cap of flaxoil, then I repeat the dose somewhere around lunch time..my energy is great, I feel better than I have in a long time...I also take ferrous sulfate 325mg with this, because I am being treated fro iron deficiency anemia...but I probably will be able to drop the ferrous sulfate when my hemoglobin is better.
I did forget to take the CoQ10 one weekend and the iron and felt really poorly the following Monday....and then I realized the reason and know that the CoQ10 has an impact on my energy level...but I still have trouble sleeping...maybe it is because of my morning coffee....I hate to give it up...
Hey I like your motto about most effective treatment below your name...everyone's body is different and perhaps we each respond to different treatments.
God Bless!
Amber
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