Bottle o Tamoxifen
Comments
-
Margot,
I believe that the night flashes are a result of Tamoxifen, because I had stopped getting them after I was dx'd with bc... then BAM! They started in earnest, after I started the Tamoxifen. Only I've been taking Tamoxifen for over a year now, and they seem to have subsided somewhat.
Good Luck!!
Wishing Happy Holidays & Merry Christmas to all! Hope everyone has a Happy Healthy NEW YEAR!!
HUGS
Harley0 -
Hi Ladies:
I am a Stage IV metster who is five years out from mets dx and doing quite well. Before putting me on another chemo, my onc suggested Tamoxifen, which I never did during the first BC go round. It is working and my mets are shrinking (of course for how long, no one knows).
What I have noticed is that despite not initially changing the way I've been eating, my weight wants to inch up and I now have to watch it day to day if I don't want to grow out of all my clothes (cannot afford to by a whole fat wardrobe!!!!). I can keep the weight off, but it takes a lot of effort, which is annoying to say the least.
Second, when I wake up in the morning, my right hip is most uncooperative. Until I move around a bit and have my hot shower, it hurts but thankfully does subside. After reading your posts, I am now attributing this to the Tamoxifen, not old age (51).
I hope I can be on the Tamox train for a long time and would love to journeywith you lovely ladies. There are not too many of my mets buddies who are on this tx and it would be nice to have people to compare notes with and commiserate with.
Hope all of you have a great holiday and thanks for reading my post.
Robin
0 -
Shari - I got my results from my TVUS. More complex cysts although they are new and on the left side. The ones they were watching were on the right side - and they have resolved. My PCP wants me to talk to my Onc about what to do next and whether the tamox is causing all this ruckus. I do not have a medical degree, but I'm guessing the answer is YES. And, as long as we monitor them and they continue to resolve and the pain isn't too hard on my QOL, then I'm guessing I'll stay on the train. I'm scheduled to see my onc in two weeks, so I'll report back after that. While I'm not happy that this is a continuing cycle, I am very pleased that my doc now believes that I have pelvic pain, and she has something to attribute it to!
Robin - welcome, I hope you have a very long, and very successful ride on the Tamoxi-train.
Welcome to the other new passengers too. As you know by reading the beginning of my post, I do have a few "extra" side effects. I do not have hot flashes, but oh my, the night sweats are awful. I do not wake up hot, instead I wake up wet, clammy and freezing. I usually get about 4 hours of sleep before waking up and wrestling with the hot flashes every 45 minutes until my alarm goes off. I have a perscription for sleeping pills and I take about 1 or 2 a week in order to try to get a night's rest by sleeping through the flashes. I don't sleep all the way through, but I do think it helps.
There are many ladies here with very few SE's. I hope this will be your journey!
I'll be off the boards for a couple of weeks. Holidays, Vacation, no work.... Be safe and well everyone!
Barbie
0 -
Good luck to the newbies on the Tamaxofin. My only issues have been irregular periods (and sometimes heavy) and the hot flashes. In fact, I just got my period today - a month overdue. All the doctors say that is a common side effect. Urrggghh. The hot flashes do wake me up at night, and they do correlate with my cycles. So, I haven't had any the last 3 nights, since I was close to getting my period. Not so much during the day, as I take my pill before bed.
I wish you all a safe and happy holiday season. It's been quite a year and I'm glad to see 2009 come. Between the cancer diagnosis and the economy, it feels 2008 was my perfect storm. I can only hope the new year will be a better one for my family. I feel so fortunate and appreciate all the support I have received from my "virtual" friends. Here's a poem I'd like to share with all of my friends on this train. Merry Christmas, girls.
Girls in My Circle
When I was little,
I used to believe in the concept of one best friend,
And then I started to become a woman.
And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up,
God would show you the best in many friends.One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man.
Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom.
Another will sit beside you in the bleachers as you delight in your children and their activities.
Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.
One friend will say, 'Let's cry together,'
Another , 'Let's fight together,'
Another , 'Let's walk away together.'One friend will meet your spiritual need,
Another your shoe fetish,
Another your love for movies,
Another will be with you in your season of confusion,
Another will be your clarifier,
Another the wind beneath your wings.But whatever their assignment in your life,
On whatever the occasion,
On whatever the day,
Or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back,
Or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself ..
Those are your best friends.It may all be wrapped up in one woman, But for many, it's wrapped up in several..
One from 7th grade,
One from high school,
Several from the college years,
a couple from old jobs,
On some days your mother,
On some days your neighbor,
On others, your sisters,
And on some days, your daughters.So whether they've been your friend for 20 minutes or 20 years,
share this with the women that God has placed in your life
to make a difference. If this poem made you miss people from your past, be sure to reconnect with your friends.0 -
murphmort - That was beautiful! I hope your 2009 is wayyyyyy better than 2008.
I was in Boston today for appointments with my BS and Genetics counselors. Boston was beautiful with all the snow. It took my 2 hours to get there (usually 30 mins or so), but once I got over the driving anxiety, the city was just wonderful. A beautiful sight to see right before Christmas. Merry Christmas to all!
0 -
Makraz - We're neighbors ... I'm 25 minutes south of Boston. My surgeon is at Dana Farber and my radiation oncologist is at Boston Medical. I hope all went well with the dr appts. I had the genetic testing in July.
It snowed for 3 days straight - it was so pretty. We ended up with 22" of snow! It was alot of fun, and the kids get so excited when it snows ... even us big kids! LOL!
Basha - couldn't help but laugh with the line from the poem about the shoe fetish!
Everyone, have a safe and happy Xmas and New Years. I'll be off-line for the next few days enjoying the season. Next week, I'll spending 3 days straight in a smelly gym for wrestling tournaments, hoping no one gets hurt.
Hugs to all.
0 -
Just wanted to stop by and wish everyone a wonderful holiday season!
Murph, what a beautiful poem! Thanks for sharing. Enjoy the snow and the wrestling...I'll be working our HS's wrestling tournament in January.
Take care, ladies...love you all!
Lynn
0 -
Happy Holidays, Gals!
Now it raining on our beautifulsnow. Being mixed religions, I am lighting the Chanuka candles and being a Christmas elf. Whew! Busy.
Love to you all.
ps..it's Barbie who has the shoe fetish.
0 -
Happy Holidays to all. Wishing peace, health and happiness for all - we certainly deserve it after this last year! Thanks to all for your support. It would have been so much more difficult without all of you cyberfriends.
Joan
0 -
Checking in after a long absence. Returned from a trip to Ariz...did a cross country conference, Sedona and Grand Canyon - a GREAT trip. Luckily we took the southern route with flights so returned on the 23rd....to breeze through both family gatherings......both were here and I am pooped!
As for the joint pain, I am with a lot of you....my joints are killing me! Hips, feet, funny leg pains at night....and yep those feeling that the big C has moved do come into my head when I can't sleep at night because of the hot flashes and night sweats! I had a hysterectomy in 95....so no uterus, but my ovaries must have stayed in high gear!
Guess I am a bit stressed as this is the time last year when it all started...my next mammo is Jan 5th, see the surgeon for the report on 12th and then head to the onc for a follow up on the 20th...been on tamox since mid August and I would have thought things would be getting better....but I swear it is worse.
Been in a funk the last 2 days and that is just not me....still have the big 50 to celebrate on the 1st and then also schedule the colonoscopy....
The best to all
Sharon
0 -
Welcome back, Sharon.
I'm sorry you are suffering in your joints. This has been my worst symptom too. Low back, hips, and even thumbs or toes!! I noticed it gets worse when I initiate a new exercise, like now, when I am snowshoeing and skiing. Once my body gets used to it, the pain subsides. I've been on it a year and there are definitely times it's much better.
Hang in there, but do ask your doc what s/he thinks. Happy almost birthday.
xxx Basha
0 -
Morphmort, I like that poem, it is so true. I have to send it to all my friends
0 -
Hi HopefulLady! I understand your hesitation to get 'aboard' as I decided to do the same. Perhaps you just need some time to relax and get back to your 'new normal'. You need to do what you think is best for you. You know what you're going through better than anyone. I found that I needed to give myself a mental and physical 'rest' from the day to day realities of diagnosis and treatment. My Onc supported me as I had some challenging SE's from chemo and radiation (that included a surprise visit to the ER) and some SE's have been slow to make their departure (i.e. double vision, neuropothy and chemo brain). So I decided to take a couple of months to recup and get my energy level up before beginning on Femara. Having had a bad reaction to this AI, my Onc then prescribed Tamox. However, I think that I was experiencing a bit of post traumatic stress, as the bottle is still on my counter unopened. I feel great, have lost 20 pounds since chemo ended by eating healthfully and getting back to my regular excercise regimine. It's almost as if the better I start to feel, the less I want to take the Tamox. However -- It's Time! You need to know that I have made the committment to 'board the tamox train' on January 1st! Let me know how you are doing and what you decide. Happy New Year!
0 -
Good LUck to Hopeful Lady and Lucky Lady, and all those who are boarding the Tamoxi train at this time!!!
I have been on board for over a year now (11/18 it was ONE YEAR for me!). If I can do it, then so can you. I had some problems over the summer, but I'm still here, and will continue on Tamoxifen, it all goes well, for the next year. My onc says that he would like to see me on Tamoxifen for another year, switching to an AI in Nov/Dec 2009.
Good Luck! and wishing you all a Happy & Healthy New Year!!
Harley0 -
Hello and thanks Harley. Nancy, I have decided to get on board this train on January 1st also. I know that I have to do it, and the longer I wait the harder it will be. I have a bone density test and bone scan on the 5th, and a pelvic exam on the 8th. Then more blood work and an onc visit on the 15th. The fun is not over yet!
Let me know how it goes for you.
Chris
0 -
Basha - Hope you are right...and yea I forgot about the toes and fingers....sometimes I wonder if that is left over from chemo?
So I think my funk was related to a little too much Ativan. I could not sleep Christmas night and about 5 am on the 26th decided I would get some sleep and took an ativan....slept til noon....then on that night took an ativan at 1030 because I wanted a good night's sleep....definitely felt depressed all day Saturday even with a 5K run in the morning. So I guess I will just live with the 2 hours at a time sleep....
Welcome to all the newcombers....sorry to be a complainer yesterday...have a good week all
Sharon
0 -
Sharon, this is one place you never have to apologize for being a complainer. You have a lot on your plate right now...the big 5-0 (Happy B'day!), upcoming scans, colonoscopy, joint pain, etc., etc. Hope your pain improves in the new year.
<:AtomicElement>My hips have been killing me at night especially...I rub on the Traumeel before bed, take Aleve, and toss and turn all night trying to get comfortable. At least it's better during the day, but I have leg and foot cramps. Grrrrr...
<:AtomicElement>My latest drama--I was filling my pill box for the week on Sat. night and realized I'm down to a week's worth of Effexor. Eek! I had been on Medco a couple of weeks ago, and it said if I ordered it they wouldn't start processing my order until 12/25. I reorder on Dec. 27 and they say it won't be mailed until the 5th. Eek again! The problem, I think, is that a couple of months ago my onc doubled my dosage to 75 mg.; that explains the shortfall. Yesterday I started taking only one pill/day, hoping I'll have at least half the dosage until the new bottle arrives. Any other suggestions?
<:AtomicElement>Hope everyone is having a happy holiday! Take care...
<:AtomicElement>Lynn
0 -
Happy New Year, Tamoxi-friends! Wishing you fun and safe celebrations wherever you are. We've already crossed over here in Japan, and 2009 has brought snow. Fun! It's sticking to roofs but not to the streets.
Wishing everyone the best of everything in the new year...
Love, Lynn
0 -
Lynn
Glad you are enjoying the snow!!
Sorry that you are running out of Effexor! I have to say though that 1/2ing the dose may be a way to make them last til you get the new order of pills but be very careful! When I went off Effexor, I had a MAJOR breakdown!, and I didn't go cold turkey, either. I kept increasing the time between pills, for example, instead of every other day, I took it every THREE days, then every FOUR days... but I still had an emotional MELTDOWN!
I'll be thinking of you, and hoping you do ok til your new pills arrive!
Since I saw my onc in December, and we decided that I would try to continue on Tamoxifen for ONE more year, I was laying awake the other night, trying to determine HOW MANY more Tamoxifen pills I have to take, before I can switch to an AI. I came up with something like 350.... Oh, 350 pills left to go....
350 pills on the way, 350 pills, take one down, pass it around...
Oh, that is they wrong song!!
Happy New year, everybody!!
Hugs
Harley
0 -
Hi fellow Tamoxitrain passengers:
Happy New Year to everyone. I got a very good new years present this year. Found out on 12/31 that Tamoxifen continues to work on my Stage IV tumors. ALL tumors in my lungs and my liver got smaller and there are no new problems. I was ecstatic to get the news. So keep chugging along on the train guys, this stuff works!!!
Robin
0 -
Okay, in a few minutes I will take my first pill. I am getting on board this train with no more excuses. Nancy, are you here?
Best of everything to all of you brave souls in 2009.
Chris
0 -
Robin - That's fantastic news for the New year. Yeah!
0 -
Harley, I love your song!! I reached 365 pills ,or 1 bottle, Dec. 1. I won't even count how many more bottles..
Aside from a sore low back, only some new hot flashes. Hey, does anyone else get freezing cold ssometimes, like a cold flash? For me, it never happens in a normal temp situation, often in bed. Huh???
Lynn, Miss you. We have 15 inches of snow on the ground. Sledding party??
Virginia, I miss you!
Sharon, Snowshoeing makes my toe joints hurt this year.
Love to all, Basha
0 -
Today I will join you all as I take my first pill!!
I'll be checking here often to see how everyone is doing and to compare notes.
Happy New Year and a HEALTHY 2009 to all.
Jordie
0 -
((((((((((((((Basha)))))))))))))) thank you!! I'm here.... Got a really bad head cold the Saturday after Christmas. So annoying. I have been off since 12/23, but have been sick the majority of the time. Christmas and New Year's have been hard. I cry every day for my Daddy...I still miss him so desperately. But, I have 7 nieces and nephews and they stayed over night last Friday, so that was fun. They played plenty of Guitar Hero!!
Harley- your song made me laugh out loud. Hey, whatever it takes to get through, right? Humor always helps...
Lynn- or should I say <Atomic Element> ... I see now you don't even comment on that anymore...it just seems "normal" now, eh?
Not much news to report otherwise...hope everyone is well... I am off to see a dear friend of mine in Central NJ...about 1 hour away. Tomorrow I see my 7 year old niece (the baby) for her birthday which was yesterday...
Been achy lately...but figure it's a combination of being sick and too much laying around and playing the Wii. Yesterday I stepped on the Wii fit and it had been 89 days...yes almost 3 MONTHS since I've used the Wii Fit. Ugh. I promised my "health coach" from work that I would use it at LEAST 20 minutes PER WEEK...don't cha think I could do at least that much? Anyhow, the Wii Fit told me I was 11.5 lbs heavier than the last time. So depressing.
To those that lost their period...I think I've joined that boat. As someone who always had 28 days (perfect) cycles...my period has stopped in the past few months. Although, I did get one in the past 4-5 months... Not officially in menopause 'til 1 year... Whatever... The only annoying thing is now I don't know when it will make an appearance...
Ok, I'm being a rambling fool as usual...
Love and hugs to all... (see, I'm bad about checking in b/c I'm not at work! Isn't that terrible...but so much easier to check at work b/c I don't always fire up the home PC).
Happy belated New Year!!
Love, Virginia
0 -
Basha,
I get the hot flashes, and then at time, I'm freezing cold, too!! UGH!
Virginia,
Happy New Year! Oh, the achiness! You never know if it is from overdoing the wwii, or just se's from the Tamoxifen!!
I still have the sore neck, and shoulders, too. But I just got a new electronic organizer, and have been sitting still, entering all my friends' phone numbers, addresses, birthdays, etc... so that could be why... or I'm here, online, typing and reading posts... my dh says I need to stay off the computer!!
Happy New Year, all!
I sure hope I can find a new job!
Harley0 -
Basha and Harley,
I recently started getting the episodes of freezing cold at night too. Alternating with the "sweats" of course. I still have lots of joint pain too and I have also noticed it's more pronounced when I do different physical activity... like shoveling snow for instance! I Shoveled for about 5 hours yesterday and boy I have aches I've never had before.
Sharon,
Welcome back and Happy Birthday!! Boy do I know what you mean about those horrible thoughts of the Big C coming back...With every new ache or pain the mind jumps right there doesn't it? Especially in the middle of the night! I finshed treatment in April 08 and started Tamox. the middle of May and I think the se's change all the time,for me anyway. I just had 2 CT scans and a TV/ US on Dec. 19 and I was just sure these hip ,shoulder and pelvic pains were mets, but my onc. gave me a clean bill of health... for the next three months anyway! My CT reports said I have degenerative bone changes on the right side of my spine which could be responsible for my pain. I also have some pretty good size fibroids. My onc. then sent me for a bone density scan(DEXA). I haven't heard the results of that one yet. I told myself and my family that if I got good news at my last appt. I would stop this almost constant worry, but I also promised my DH that I would not be as obsessed about this web site... you see how well I'm doing with that! Ha!
Happy New Year!
Shari
0 -
Gals,
I get these freezing flashes without the hot flash; they are not linked! Weird, huh?
Such great skiing here now that it's hard to be anything but blissed out.
Shari, 5 hours of shoveling? You are one tough cookie.
Love, Basha
0 -
Lynn - thanks for the encouragement...glad you are enjoying the snow - in my Christmas cleaning I dumped a bottle of effexor...could have mailed it to you.....I could not take it...Hope yours is there by now
Robin - That is wonderful news....hope they continue to shrink....
Basha - I started having the freezing cold thing about 4 weeks ago...in fact I just had one before I sat down to log in...I am cold cold for about 15 min, then I have a hot flash. They start after dinner and I also have them at night. I still have my knit cap by my pillow and put it on to feel warmer. The first time it happened I woke up the hubby and told him I thought the furnace was on the fritz....
Harley - good luck with the job hunt
Back to work tomorrow - going in early...and then for the mammo at 9
The birthday was good....my dear hubby made 3 cakes from scratch and they were beautiful...all that while he was building a new vanity to put in a new sink in the bathroom.....my book club (Ya Ya's) says he already has won hubby of the year....The ya ya's also took me to breakfast yesterday and gave me a gift certificate to our health club store.....a couple of them think we should add swimming to our exercise and do a triathalon....swimming has never been one of my favorite things...but I am going to give it a try...maybe it will help with the joint pain..
good nite all and Happy New Year
0 -
mmmmmmmmmmmmm- I wrote a whole post, but I must never had hit the "submit" button. Ooops!
Happy belated birthday Sharon!! Your husband DOES sound like hubby of the year! Maybe the century...lol.
Today is the TWO year anniversary of my BC surgery... I can hardly believe it. Some ways it feels like yesterday and some ways it seems like 100 years...
Happy Monday all!! Hope everyone had a great holiday!!
Hugs,
Virginia
0
