Bottle o Tamoxifen
Comments
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Harley- you most definitely NOT a dufus! LOL Just click on the story, then the video should be available...
Murph- my niece in college also did the absentee ballot. My sister and I were talking about it - how she took the initiative and got it all ready. It has to be post marked by today. My sis and I were thinking --- do they even count the absentee votes?? They are going to announce a winner tonight, right? What happens to all those absentee ballots that won't arrive until later this week. Who knows. I voted this AM as well. NO one was there...just a handful of people. No wait. Guess that's an advantage to the 'burbs. But I was so confused...(happens easily to me)...there were like 6 columns. I was ok with the first 2...Dem and Rep, but then was like, HUH? Oh well, I hope I did everything right. So sad...chemo brain at it's best... I saw that blurb on the Tamox study on the news too! They have it at ABC.com
Dee- best of luck to you with the rads and Tamox. Like Lynn said, you will find a full range SE's here. Some of us are fairly lucky with little to no SE's and others have more intense SE's.
Lynn- I almost choked on my coffee when I saw the Atomic Element. HILARIOUS! Sounds like you are getting a sinus infection... I'm sorry... Make sure you break down and get the antibiotics...it will make that infection go away faster. Take care of yourself!!
Hugs to all,
Virginia
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So we turned the page and I missed a whole load of posts. :O
Amber, I'm really glad you are still checking this thread...who cares if you aren't taking the Tamox...doesn't mean you can't ride the train, right?? There's plenty of ice cream, cake, martinis, massages, whatever you fancy, to go around.
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Harley and Virginia...Thx so much..I'll be starting tamox in early Jan when I finish rads...I dont want INSOMNIA !!!!!!!! I can take evrything else but that...
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Well, I voted also, no lines and then had a nice lunch!
Virginia - even though it is important for everyone to vote, it's really those delegates that make up the electoral college whose votes count towards electing the president. But they vote the way the constitutents vote(usually). This was a discussion topic with my poli sci major on the way back to college last Sunday! LOL! She went into a very detailed explanation which I pretty much forget by now. I could also share statistics about how they poll people and the margin of error, especially with many people not having land lines, only using cell phones. It was a long ride back to Providence! LOL!!!! I was a business major, no interest in poli sci!
I'm just ticked that DWTS won't be on tonight. Results show is on Wednesday, my guess is that Susan Lucci is voted off?
Dee - good luck with the rads. Take care of yourself while undergoing the rads. I started tamaxofin seven days after my last radiation treatment. I immediately started with hot flashes, but they do come and go, dependent on where I am in my cycle. I still get my period, but it has been really crazy for timing. One month I was 10 days early, for two months I was 10 days late.
I take the tamaxofin at night right before I am going to bed. I have forgotten to take it 2x, and as soon as I remember in the morning, I'll take it. It seems to help me sleep, but others have issues sleeping, so who knows how you will react to it.
Have a good night, everyone!
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Dee,
I have been having trouble sleeping since this whole bc journey began. Sometimes, it helped me to take Ambien to help me get to sleep. I wouldn't recommend it EVERY night, but sometimes it helped my brain to shut off, so I could sleep.
Good luck with your rads...
Murph,
Glad you voted!
Amber,
I hope you will continue to post here, even if you aren't taking Tamoxifen anymore, because you have encouraged me SO much!! I hope you are doing better every day!!
HugsHarley
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Thanks Harley and Virginia, you are both wonderful encouragers...
And everyone else too,
God Bless
Amber
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Ah, Murph, very slowly from the back recesses of my mind --- I too had a conversation with someone RE the electoral vote and I guess I didn't understand it much then and just pushed it out of my mind! LOL... I remember thinking, why the heck are we voting if it's decided by the electoral vote anyway. Oh well... Hopefully a change in party will do the government well...
Today I am off for focus groups on pasta sauce.... It's already going to be a day full of eating carbs as well as M&M's b/c focus groups are famous for having junk food in the back observation room.
Hugs girlies... And please, I love all of you and come here for support which is never failing... It's something I look forward to!!
Have a great day all...
Virginia
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Hi all - and a happy day to all...
Basha and Harley - I always slept like a log before BC....now I am up 2-3 times a night....What I do when I really feel the need to sleep is take an ativan....onc said it was ok...the tylenol PM and the over the counters...just make me feel crappy the next day.
Last night was one of those nights....tood ativan and slept ALL night....I think that has only happened twice since all this began! So I am feeling great this morning...Ran 4 miles and although my feet ache....I think that is tamox also....at least I have the exercise endorphins
I tried the tamox literally morning, noon and night.....and still feel stiff and can't sleep...so have resorted to morning....just because that is the easiest for me to remember.
Have a wonderful day
Sharon
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Gals,
The sleep, the achy feet, the flashes...think we should invent a new dance; The Tamoxitwist?
Basha
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Hello ladies,
I need a little help. What do you ladies do to help with your night sweats? Here's my situation:
I do not have any hot flashes, I "only" have head to toe dripping wet night sweats. A "good" night is waking up 2-3 times completely soaked (and freezing). The week before my period, I can have 3-4 episodes a night. I've recently added Effexor to my arsenal, but this hasn't done much to help (yet). I have Temazepam to help with sleep as needed, but this doesn't help the night sweats, it just makes it easier to fall back asleep. I've heard about Bee Pollen, but I believe there is estrogen in bee pollen so i'd like to avoid that.
Thanks for any insight you can give me. In the mean time, I'm going to the nap car!
have a nice weekend everyone.
Barbie
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Good morning, ladies--
<:AtomicElement>I've had a miserable week...this cold and cough keeps hanging on, no matter what I do (or don't do). I thought it would be long gone by now...sheesh. The worst part: I've been living on low-cal/low-sodium soup and crackers for a week, and my stomach isn't anywhere near flat. How unfair is that?!
<:AtomicElement>I like it, Basha...the Tamoxitwist! I do it nightly with my hip aches and foot cramps.
<:AtomicElement>Speaking of dancing, Murph, I'm with you...it was time for Susan Lucci to go. I like her, but she just wasn't up to snuff. Next to go should be that kid who was dancing w/ Julianne, IMHO.
<:AtomicElement>Virginia, how was the pasta? What a cool job you have!
<:AtomicElement>Harley, Barbie, Sharon, and everyone else having sleep issues...wish I had some pearls of wisdom, but I'm with you in the tossing/turning club. I just faxed my onc asking him for more/different sleep meds; also asked him to double my Effexor. Barbie, your night sweats sound gruesome; sorry I don't know anything about bee pollen. Hope you get some relief soon.
<:AtomicElement>Amber, how are you? So glad you're checking in every once in awhile.
<:AtomicElement>Friday was my birthday and I was supposed to go out with friends for dinner, but I felt so crummy we've put it off until next Friday. I used to make jokes about my advanced age/hating b'days/etc., but no more...since my diagnosis I'm just glad to be here.
<:AtomicElement>Hi and sorry to those I didn't mention by name. Like Virginia, I, too, look forward to checking this thread every day and seeing what's happening on the train. I'll be in the soup car for another couple of days, I think. Have a great weekend!
<:AtomicElement>Lynn
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Damn it...does anyone have any ideas on this atomic element thing? Is it a virus or something, or just a reminder that I almost flunked chemistry in HS, and DID flunk it in college? How cruel...
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sons4us---I just finished my 5 years of tamoxifen about 3 weeks ago. My SEs were mainly mild hot flashes and a little trouble sleeping. Everyone reacts differently, but tamox is generally well tolerated by most, with the most common SE being hot flashes. It does take your body a while to adjust (sometimes a few months), so hang in there!
Anne
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Barbie,
I have had problems with those darn night sweats also, and when we did the Fall time adjustment, 'falling back', it got EXTREMELY BAD! I woke up with the sweat just POURING off me... so I guess I'm just saying that I really don't have any answers, just hoping that things adjust when we get used to this new time change, maybe? And I'm hoping the insomnia I'm currently experiencing will also adjust back to where I am sleeping better.
Lynn,
Hope you are feeling better soon. The cold/cough sounds terrible!!
The insomnia is very annoying!
OK... someone please tell me that the 'stiffness, and joint aches, and stuff are ALL NORMAL se's of Tamoxifen. My neck and shoulders feel stiff and sore, and I am getting scared!Any advice???
Harley
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Hello to all my tamoxi-friends, it has been forever!!!
5 months on Tamox, but the hot flashes are very mild - Thank you Lord.
Harley, my shoulders, neck and back have been very stiff also. My wrists started getting sore about 3-4 weeks ago. I stretch/massage/work-out almost 4-5x a day, and that really helps. Then I take an Aleve before I go to bed.
I'm back on Ambien because I quit taking Tylenol PM. The diphenhydramine (sp?) in the Tylenol PM inhibits Tamox, so I can't take that anymore. I have to talk to my onc about Ambien, because I really don't want to be dependent on these drugs. Aargh, I just want to be able to sleep good.
Have a wonderful weekend everyone!
Aurora
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Aurora
Thanks! I'm glad to hear that it isn't just me. I'm not crazy!!
Oh, and I also take Ambien. It helps me sleep but I feel so dragged out the next day, it isn't worth it.
Well, I gotta go. Let me know what your dr. says about the sleep issue. I will see my onc Dec 12th so I'll ask him then. Only he probably won't have any advice for me. He DOES seem to keep up with most of the new cutting edge info., though.
Harley
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Lynn, I am just getting over a cold too. and I chuckle at the chicken soup and soda crackers...that has been my staple food too..HAPPY Birthday!
Barbie, that is what woke me up, the sweats, but the medicine you are taking is great, I worked with open heart surg patients and that was the drug of choice post surg to help them sleep and it worked great for them. I do hope the night sweats dissipate...I keep 4 pillows to use during sleep to interchange when I get hot,,,the cotton pillow case gets cool easily and helps my skin feel better. but mind you I switch pillows when I wake up. now it is just once or maybe twice nightly.
Harley, hope the achiness goes away, and that you get a good nights rest...I had the insomnia for quite a while, I do seem to wake up still, but I feel good...and don't really need naps. but I can take benadryl now...and I DO! I am wondering if that just going thru BC causes us to not sleep well.
Ann congratulations!
Aurora good to hear you are 5 months out and that all is going well, Aleve is a good pain reliever and I hope you sleep better.
My liver enzymes haven't really changed...the onc called me (not his nurse), and he had a pow wow with me, trying to get me to decide to try tamoxifen again....dumb me forgot to tell him one side effect that scared me, the week I stopped tamoxifen and had the abnormal irregular heavy menst cycle, that bruises started popping up for no reason...I have never had that happen before. but when I googled bruising and tamoxifen to check to see if it could cause this problem, I found that tamox can lower your platelets which help with clotting....and I did notice on my lab that the platelets though normal were on the low side...there are other blood clotting factors as well, but the platelets are the only one my onc checked...I really like my onc...he is pretty smart and is thorough with all my care...but I just forget to tell him everything. the onc wants to recheck my liver in 2 weeks...so he is concerned and thorough...but I can't take the tamoxifen.
Hugs to all!!!
Amber
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Hi All - Looks like things have been pretty active....I have been taking ativan all week...I think my cough is finally getting better...they way I figured it, if I didn't sleep I wouldn't get better. Been a rough week, a close cousin died, my Mom is having some health issues....and I am sick and tired of the hot flashes! Sorry for whining.
For the night sweats - I wear a running shirt which wicks the sweat away and keep a towel by the bed that I put on top of the sheet if they get too wet.
Tomorrow we go to my cousin's daughters for her son's bday party - will be sad without her...she always made everyone's cake. For me it is an ativan and off to bed...even if it is not 9 yet...still on the old time I guess
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Amber,
Thanks for mentioning the bruising...you reminded me that I have suddenly had these bruises popping up on my leg for no reason. I noticed when I was taking Motrin I had the same reaction, bruises would appear on my legs. So I stopped using Motrin and I only took Alleve today for the terrible neck and shoulder pain I've been getting. I have been taking it on and off, and only just started it again today. Great! Another thing I have to mention to my onc. I wonder if I'll make it to my next appt. - Dec 12, or if I'll have to call and get an earlier appt.
I noticed that before the time changed from Daylight Savings Time, I was actually sleeping better but now I'm having trouble again.
Glad you are still doing great!
Harley
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Harley,
I was so glad to see your post about the stiff and sore neck and shoulders. I too have experienced this since starting Tamoxifen in May 08. I also have very sore feet( mostly my heels when I wake in AM), hot flashes, night sweats and lower back and hip pain. I have been searching this thread for other mentions of these SE's and your post prompted me to reply. I am also worried that they are not normal SE's and are mets instead, especially my back and hip pain. I'm due for a CT scan in Dec. that hopefully will rule out mets. I would also like to know if these are normal SE's.
I also just had a trans. vag. ultrasound and was told that I have pretty large uterine fibroids so I wonder if that is causing the lower back and hip pain. Anyone else have painful fibroids?
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Dear Gals,
Sorry for everyone's aches and pains; Harley, Lynn,Amber, Barbie...does the long list tell us its Tamox? Me too. Now, low back, poor sleep. The hot flashes are on a lull, thank God.But several months ago, Sharneu, my heels killed me. I did have plantar faciitis, but did the Tamox play a role?
Sharon, So sorry for the loss of your cousin. I send a a big hug.
Love xxxxxxx, Basha
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Sharon,
I am very sorry to hear about your cousin.
sharneu1,
Welcome to the Tamoxitrain! I'm glad you posted. I know that my thoughts also go to those dark places, worrying about mets. I will talk to my onc about this neck and shoulder pain when I see him next month. I really don't want to wait that long, since it's been bothering me on and off since August, but I don't want to be a pest.
I also want to tell you that I also have uterine fibroids, which I KNOW are growing because of the Tamoxifen. BUT, I can't get my gyn onc to admit that Tamox. could be causing more problems. I also had a trans vaginal u/s in June, which showed my endometrial lining was thickened, due to Tamoxifen. The report further stated that there was some 'complex growths' in the lining... WAS I EVER SCARED! But the gyn onc to whom I was referred said that it was 'probably uterine polyps', and they are almost always benign. I also had bleeding from these polyps. Well, he did a D & C in August, and yep, they were polyps and yep, they were benign.
Sorry for the long post, but I just wanted to reassure you. As far as the uterine fibroids causing back pain, I said the SAME thing about my lower back pain, but the drs. won't admit that could be the cause of my pain. MEN! Grrr.... Turns out, I have a herniated disc, but I can't help wondering if the fibroids aren't putting pressure on those discs, and if they didn't cause the herniated disc problem. Anyway, good luck with your dr. appt. Please let me know what you find out about the neck and back pain, and the uterine fibroids.
Basha,
This has become quite a bumpy ride! I am sorry that you are also having lower back pain. We went to an open house at our vets yesterday, and they didn't have any place to sit, so I was standing for the entire three hours, and my lower back is letting me know about it!! But that isn't hurting as bad as my neck and shoulder.
The insomnia (and night sweats) are the worst!! I can't function during the day if I don't sleep at night. I took an Ambien the other night, and I slept all night, but I was all spaced out the following day. It isn't worth it to have uninterrupted sleep, if I still feel like crap the next day.
I want OFF this crazy Tamoxi-train ride!!
HUGS
Harley0 -
Harley,
Do you happen to remember how thick your endometrial lining was? Mine was 12mm which I guess is a little thick even for someone on Tamox. My onc. said 10mm is normal for someone on Tamox. He wants me to have another US in 2-3 mos. I know what you mean about the sleep aids, I've only tried Tyelenol and Advil PM which helped me sleep but... like you, I felt like crap the next day, so whats the point? The hot flashes and night sweats have come in waves for me...sometimes I think they're getting better and then they return with a vengence, along with leg cramps!
Basha...what do you do for plantar faciitis?
Thanks for the info gals...I appreciate it!
Shari
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Shari
I think my endometrial lining was 10 mm, but I don't remember much these days. I have been getting these u/s every year to check on the fibroids, and the one I had when I was dx'd with bc showed 4 mm lining. When I saw the gyn onc, he just said that 10 mm lining wasn't very thick, but I pointed out that going from FOUR mm to TEN mm was HUGE!
The insomnia and night sweats are driving me crazy! Oh, and before I forget, the OTC sleep aids contain Benadryl, I think, and that interferes with Tamoxifen, so it's best not to take those. You are right. If we are going to feel like crap anyway, what's the point of taking any sleep aids, which may help me to sleep, but will only make me feel worse the next day?
I am starting to think this is a quality of life issue, and if my onc can't suggest something to help keep these se's in control, I want OFF this crazy Tamoxi train!!
Please keep me posted on your u/s results, and let me know how you are doing!! Sending HUGS your way!!
Harley
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Shari,
I went to a podiatrist and she diagnosed it. Then she made me an insert for my shoe and told me not to wear overly flat shoes. She prescribed Alleve and very soon after my piggies are good as new.
XX Basha
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Hi Girlies-
The board is so quiet! I hope you all are doing "fun" stuff. Saw my onc yesterday for my quarterly visit. She was happy. Complained about my feet but told her that I didn't want her sending me to a podiatrist. I told her that I self diagnosed myself as wearing too many flip flops in the summer... Oh well, the pain is definitely getting better. She said that foot pain is not usually a SE of tamox...more like charlie horses...
Anyhow, she said I should take 2000 IU of Vitamin D a day... Said it's shown to have a positive affect on BC or the prevention of stuff (went into the steel trap of my mind....and out)... Has anyone else been told by their onc to take Vitamin D?? Asked her to also check my thyroid b/c I'm tired all the time, but I KNOW it's because I am lazy and do not exercise one iota...
Hope everyone is ok... Had a huge eating week last week... Too many carbs! :O
Virginia
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Virginia
Could it have been prevention of recurrence? I know, I'm the same way. If my dr. tells me anything, I had better write it down, but since I'm not good with stenography, maybe I should have a recorder on at all times, to get everything down. My dh doesn't go with me anymore, because these are just 'routine' appts. in his mind...
I am glad your appt. went well. Can't wait for your next installment!!
Harley0 -
Hi everyone,
I wish I was doing "fun stuff", instead I was going to meeting after meeting after meeting. Up next is a meeting about the meetings. It is a good thing that I forget things easily because these meetings would be dreadful if I had to remember them!
Viriginia, I'm a self-diagnoser too. My PCP gets a kick out of it, because I'm usually way off. Not in a hypochondriac way, but in a "ah it is probably just a flesh wound" sort of way. She's asked me a few times very sarcastically "and where did you get your medical degree?" Anyhow, glad to know your Onc was happy.
I've started to get some answers to my pelvic pain. Apparently I've got some largish complex cysts on one of my ovaries. There appears to have been some hemmoraging, which I guess is a good thing (meaning more likely benign). We're going to do another ultra sound in 6 weeks to make sure they aren't something more ominous. Does anyone else feel validated when they actually find something? For 8 months I've been complaining of this pressure and fullness and I got a lot of "hmmm's". Now that there seems to be a reason, I feel like saying "see! I wasn't making this up!!". Not quite an "I told you so" but close.
I've got another meeting. Will come back later...
p.s. I booked an overnight at a luxury spa to commemmorate the 1 year anniversary of my surgery. I'm taking two days off of work and going to treat myself to some decadence. I plan to do some journaling as well. (6 days and counting!)
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Barbie,
Congratulations on your upcoming ONE year surgi-versary!!
A woman I worked with at that dress shoppe told me that she had 'complex' cysts, and her gyn did a hysterectomy, and he said that he had to take out the ovaries, to be sure it wasn't ... ca. Not to scare you, but all these gyn issues really scare me!! What treatment did your dr. recommend? Please let me know how you are doing, ok?
I have given some serious thought to writing about my bc experience. Maybe once I get it out on paper, it'll be easier for me to move on. I don't know.
I'm not posting on the boards as much these days, because I'm still looking for a job! I am really upset because even though there ARE jobs out there, when I apply, they NEVER call me, and by the time I get to speak with the decision maker to follow up, they have already HIRED someone else! So, why didn't they AT LEAST call me for an interview? I think they see that I haven't worked for TWO years, and now no one will hire me. I'm damaged goods.
Well, gotta go. A friend is coming over to work on her hobby - making greeting cards, and I'll be working on making beaded jewelry. At least it's relaxing, and maybe I can forget my troubles for awhile.
Harley
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Barbie- i love your posts... LOL about the self diagnosing...i'm glad I'm not the only one. I always pooh-pooh everything... I have to get to the drug store to pick up some of that vit D. I really love my onc so much.... She really is exceptional.
Harley- don't get down girl! Something will come along! Keep the faith. I'm sure it's just a really had time to be looking for a job with the economy and all. I'm sending you all the good karma I can muster!!
Well, I'm off to some focus groups again this afternoon... hope everyone has a great rest of the week.
hugs, Virginia
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