Bottle o Tamoxifen
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So, does anyone else get back pain from tamoxifen? My back has been hurting me for weeks and I couldn't figure out what I did to it. My nutritionist said it could be the tamoxifen.
And this might be tmi, but my bowel movements have been consistently green. I tried looking it up, but ended up just scaring myself.0 -
jo1955- Thanks, I think I will stick with Tami as long as I can. I am NE of Fort Worth. I think I have heard of Donna.
BethCon1-I think Tami takes whatever pain you have and can make your joints feel achy. My pain is usually in my wrists, hips and ankles but it seems to go away with movement. Sometimes what you eat can change your output, your can aways as your ONC or a gastro MD just to ease your mind.
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My pharmacy is CVS and they also changed me to Watson recently. That brand makes me nauseous, so yesterday I asked them if they could get the Teva brand. They called me and have my prescription ready - 22 pills of the Mylan brand and 8 pills of Teva. That should work out pretty well because I know the Mylan doesn't make me nauseous and I should be able to give the Teva a chance without leftover effects from Watson.
Jo, I'm so happy your surgery is over and done. Hopefully, that means the SEs from this little white pill are over and done, too!
I'll let you ladies know if I'm still nauseous on the Teva brand - I guess we are down to Teva or Watson brands. sigh... Mylan was pretty good to me.
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I take Teva brand I get it from Rite-Aid 90 pills for 15.00...No nausea......
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heartnsoul - I have been taking the Teva brand from the beginning and no nausea. My pharmacy was just bought out by CVS and I will have to ask them if I can still get the same brand.
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Day 3 and doing well on Tamoxofin.But I still get a little panicky after taking it.Nothing happens to me but Its probably my nerves.My allergies have been really bad so it's hard to notice any bad effects from the Tamoxofin.But.I did have a burning chin this afternoon.Probably because I was on the phone a lot at work.Come to think of it though my chin was burning this morning to on the way to work.My joints ached a little but went away.It comes and goes.My tummy hurt really bad at bedtime but that could be due to 2glasses of lemonade with Sierra mist mixed in.
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Jo, A Cali girl, I knew it:)
As for me I haven't noticed any difference between brands. What I am noticing is a belly that I have never had before. It's unsettling.
Also, does it make a difference from Ali to Tami? I hope to stick with my Tami. Plus it's good for thebones.0 -
Jo, glad to see that you have come through your surgery well. Should be clear sailing for you now since it sounds like you have otherwise tolerated Tami well.
I think the belly fat is just another gift from having our estrogen messed with. I have been working with a personal trainer who my Mo referred me to for increasing my stamina, and while it is really helping my body get more fit, the sudden belly fat is the most stubborn to go. Since doing this regimen, I have noticed a nice improvement in reduced joint pain, which does help my quality of life.
However, I have developed severe allergies this year (constant eye itching, skin reactions, food allergies) which my derm doc said is related to the Tami and what is happening to my estrogen. That and the cognitive issues are the most distressing SEs right now. My MO would like me to try an AI to see if these things could be alleviated, but I have heard nothing better about those,0 -
I have tried the AIs and not only did I experience terrible nausea, but my joints ached like no tomorrow. I don't have the joint pain with Tamo. I would rather deal with the belly fat than the joint pain anyday. If you ladies are able to stay on Tamo then my recommendation would be to do just that. It is not worth switching unless you absolutely have to.
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Hi ladies,
I've been on Tamoxifen for almost 2 1/2 years. I've been asking my Onco and OB for at least an ultrasound to make sure that everything is OK in uterus. OB said no need at my last yearly exam, since I was BRCA negative and have had no abnormalities. Well, at last Onco appt, I told doc that I felt like my periods were stopping. He said that was totally normal and that it would start to fluctuate and thought that I'm in the beginning stages of being peri menopausal (I'm 41). Since then, I've had 2 periods 3 weeks apart, which I find pretty abnormal. OB scheduled an endometrial biopsy for Monday. I have no heavy bleeding at all, just these stupid abnormal periods. Is that common with Tamoxifen? I just hate that I'm taking something that could potentially do harm to another part of my body. I wish they would just take out my uterus so I can sleep at night!!! Need some reassurance:(
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momof3infla - I can't help you with the issue of periods since I am postmenopausal.
I don't want to scare you but the first year I started Tamoxifen, I asked my GYN to do a transvaginal US and it turns out I needed a biopsy and a D&C. Next annual exam - same thing. Fast forward to this year. Abnormal post menopausal bleeding - another ultrasound and a endometrial biopsy which was B9. I just had a hysterectomy and for the first time since I started Tamoxifen in Jan 2011, I can rest easier. The only way "abnormalities" can be found is with an ultrasound. I would definitely push for an ultrasound if for nothing else, your own piece of mind.
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I have been on the Tami for over a year, and take the Teva brand. I have my doctor prescribe that, as I tried one other (can't remember what it was) and had a reaction. Minimal SE's from the Teva.
I saw my GYN a couple weeks ago, and mentioned the vaginal ultrasound because so many of you mentioned it. I still have my uterus, tubes & ovaries removed, and I was post-menopausal when I was diagnosed (June 2011). I have no bleeding, cramping, etc. and never had trouble with my periods.
He did not blow me off, but he said he doesn't do the ultrasounds for everybody. He said in the US they often see some thickening, do a biopsy and find nothing; so we decided not to rock the boat since I have no symptoms. I like and trust him very much, so that's what I am doing.
Weight ... I maintained my weight at about 150 before, during and after treatment. About 4 months ago I went on Zoloft (the crying stopped! YAY!) and I have lost 15 lbs. That is the least I have weighed since my first pregnancy (my oldest is 26). I just do not have much of an appetite. Plus I finally have my strength back (amazing what a difference 2 years post-treatment and the Zoloft makes) so I am doing a lot of gardening. No real walking or weight lifting tho, I gotta get back to that. These bingo arms suck!
Hugs to all ... Debbie
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Hi Debbie - I have a question. If you don't have your ovaries anymore, why do you have to take Tamoxifen? My Dr. said if I had my ovaries out I wouldn't need to take it.
Thanks!
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Marcy - I'm sorry but that is the dumbest thing I have ever heard. The purpose of Tamoxifen is to block estrogen from getting to the breasts. It makes not difference one way or another if you have your ovaries or not. Your body is still going to produce estrogen through your adrenal glands. Both my GYN and MO want me to finish my 21/2 years.
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Marcy, fat productes estrogen too. That's another reason why belly fat is so dangerous. It produces a lot of estrogen. This is another reason they encourage us to have a healthy weight.
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I wish they would just take my darn uterus out! I don't need it anymore, and I'd be more than happy to say goodbye to it lol.
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My onc looked at me like I had 2 heads when I tried to pitch going off Tami, since I had my ovaries out. She stated all the things Jo & Marcy said, and that it was as important as my chemo. If I could not tolerate the AI, Tami was better than nothing.
Re the hysterectomy ... I opted to leave the uterus. I do a lot of gardening, and I know a couple people who had hysterectomies and everything fell down afterwards. The nurse at my surgeon's office talked about avoiding heavy lifting, etc. ... I said to the doc, what can go wrong when you remove a healthy uterus? He said what he often sees 10 years down the road is the (my words not his) the vagina "falling down" because it no longer has the cervix to hang from. My onc would have preferred I had it removed, but my hubby and I made the decision after weighing pros and cons with my doc. He said just watch out for pain or bloody spotting, and get right in to see him if I did.
Somebody else may have made a different decision, but it was the right one for me. You just have to do what feels right for you.
Debbie
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Debbie, Unfortunately for me I had no choice when it came to having the hysterectomy. Mulitiple uterine issues over the past 2 years and post menopausal bleeding. If it wasn't for that, I would have been happy to keep the plumbing. I am so sick of surgeries and hope this is the last for a very long time.
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Jo,
Could I ask you is the Endometrium biopsy painful? I am on tamoxifen and the vaginal ultra sound showed to be 6mm so they decided to just check it with a biopsy. I have no bleeding but thats what the Gyn thinks to do. Did you take any medication before hand for pain?
Thanks for all your insight on this, in all your posts.
Sharon
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Sharon - The endometrial biopsy is more uncomfortable than painful. It feels like a huge cramp and the test doesn't last very long. I didn't take anything before hand and really didn't need to. I drove myself to and from the doctor's office. You may want to take a couple of Tylenol or Aleve before the test if you have a low tolerance for pain. By the time I got dressed and left the office, I was just fine.
When is your test? Please keep me posted.
My experience with Tamoxifen is most likely the exception and not the rule. I feel like I do need to share my stories so that others know what can happen.
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Thank you Jo, my test is in a couple weeks. I have only been on Tam for about 6 months and now the lining is starting to build up, he told me that was normal as long as there is no bleeding. But I am worried, of course. I am going to ask him if they find anything in the biopsy, to do a hysterectomy.
Did you have the problem with the lining of the uterus building up over time or did it stop.
How are you doing after your surgery. Hope your feeling better.
Thank you for you answer, Sharon
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Sharon - On the advise of the ladies here I asked my GYN to do a transvaginal ultrasound the first year I was on Tam - had been on it for 6 months at that time. I wanted at least a baseline. My uterine lining was very thick so my GYn did a hysteroscopy and a D&C. Fast forward one year later. I asked for another ultrasound and once again my uterus was thick so he did another hysteroscopy and D&C. He also found a 3 cm polyp and removed that - is was B9 by the way. This year I had some post meno bleeding which lead to the endometrial biospy and ultimately the hysterectomy. The bleeding was really the catalyst for all this.
The short answer to your question is that my uterine lining kept building and did not stop inspite of the repeated D&Cs.
I want to keep reminding anyone reading this - especially for the first time - that my case may be the exception and not the rule.
I would recommend anyone on Tam to get a transvaginal ultrasound for nothing else but peace of mind. BTW! The test is very simple and is done in the doctor's office. It is nothing but a probe inserted into the vagina and instance views can be seem.
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Last year I had an endometrial biopsy came out ok.This year my Pap test came back with atypical cells have to go back in sept for another pap.If this one is the same then he will want to do another biopsy.I still have one more year on Tamoxifen.😖
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mumito - Let's hope your next pap is normal. I swear if it isn't one thing, it is another.
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OB told me to take 3 ibuprofen before the biopsy tomorrow. I've heard that cramping is the main complaint. I'm really not overly concerned, since I was just spotting before my normal period (which came this week, on schedule). I was probably jumping the gun a bit, but better to be aware I think. I'm 41, pre menopausal, 2 and a half years into my Tamox treatment, but Onco thinks I'm coming into the peri menopausal stage, and that's why there's some irregularity. No heavy bleeding at all, but it just concerns me that I'm taking something that could be doing harm to my uterus. Blahhhh! I'll post after the biopsy tomorrow. We are going to Vegas on Sunday, so definitely blowing off steam from this week!
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Ive had several endometrial biopsies prior to ever taking tamoxifen. Have had an ongoing problem with uterine thickening and pylops etc.. should be interesting to see what tamoxifen will do. When the ob does the biopsy when he or she does it cough and it will help.
As for tamoxifen, ive been on it 6 weeks now, and havent noticed any side effects other then im loosing weight. Im on teva brand.
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Thank you for all the input on the biopsy- just when I think things will be ok this comes up. But the GYN told me it is very common to have a thick lining on the medication. It's like we just can't win!
You will hear me coughing away!
Sharon
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I started a week ago and so far so good. The dr also put me on efxor, I haven't had any side affects
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I started a week ago and so far so good. The dr also put me on efxor, I haven't had any side affects
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momo3infla - Cramping was the main issue when I had my biopsy. It doesn't last very long. By the time I got out to my car the cramping was over. Let us know how it goes.
Sharon - Uterine thickening is very common. Just how much I think will determine if your GYN does a D&C and/or a biopsy.
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