Bottle o Tamoxifen
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I am having a terrible time with my fingernails. They are extremely dry and brittle, and keep breaking off. Anyone else? Someone have a solution? I've been trying intense hand creams and have been taking 4000 IU of fish oil daily. I'm sure it is from the tamoxifen.
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I just want to say Welcome to all the newcomers to the Tamoxi-train! Also, I want to tell you that this Tamoxifen is also "doable". Yes, it has many nasty se's, but here's the secret ....
REMEMBER: You can always try it and if you are having too many se's, then you can discontinue it. You never know unless you try it...
Good Luck to all!!
Also, yawyaw:
I have started volunteering for American Cancer Society's Reach to Recovery and I am so glad that I did!! It really does help to take the focus off ourselves, and think about others.
God Bless,
Harley
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Susan
My nails are dry and they break constantly, especially in the winter months. But, this was a problem I had before I started taking Tamoxifen, so I can't say that my problem was caused by Tamoxifen. I think it is because I have an underactive Thyroid, and this is one of the symptoms.
If you hear of anything that may help with this nail problem, please let me know.
Hugs
Harley
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hi all - I have been gone a while....a convention for work and then last week to Ft Benning to see my oldest son graduate from airborne...We hadn't seen him in 2 years! We had a wonderful visit...they got back to Germany early this morning.
Still having flashes, pains and wondering if I have an ovarian cyst...this week is medical week
Prep for colonoscopy tomorrow, test on Tues and then my 3 month with onc on Wed....
Everyone have a great week...oh yea...I am on facebook too!
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Valeriex - congrats on jumping off the train...welcome to all the newbies to the thread...I always miss messages when I am gone for awhile...I think I am caught up now...
ok off to the pharmacy to get the magnesium citrate....any suggestions/warnings for the colonoscopy?
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yawyaw! my son filmed the show for ABC Family the show is called Perfect 10, teen drama about the gymnastics world, we are just waiting to see if the network picks it up! such strange business as I am learning! If they pick it up, it will film in April and air in the summer, so fingers crossed! I still haven't got the results yet, my onc's office told me that there was a mix up between them and the hospital so it ended up getting lost in the shuffle over the holidays, I am hoping to get in within the next couple of weeks, the onc didn't seem too concerned, however I am anxious to find out so I have all my ducks in a row so to speak! I will keep you posted!! What was your score?
Lorraine
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Sharon S.....hope you had a good night's sleep last night!
Thanks to all of the well wishes from everyone. Getting to the end of my treatments is monumental for me! Without a doubt breastcancer.org has been the best source of information. My onc has been fabulous, but there are just some things that are best discussed with others going through the same things.
I have leg cramps - tonic water really helps! I have had vaginal dryness - vagifem helps, but not with the libido. Through the last five years I have had sadness and lack of concentration. That has been the hardest and in fact that seems to go hand in hand with libido. I will see if the tamoxifen has been the culprit or if menopause has the blame.
I feel very fortunate that I am am here to talk about the past 5-6 years of my life......
God luck and god bless everyone on this forum!!!!!
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valeriex - congrats on finishing your 5 years of tamaxofin. It's good to hear from those who have made it through the five years. I agree with you - breastcancer.org is the place I go for information and support.
The past week hasn't been a good one for sleeping - I've had alot of hot flashes. I was so tired on Saturday morning and I had a full day of watching my son in a wrestling tournament. I was up at 6:15 am to get his lunch/snacks packed, then I had to really motivate myself to get moving. I am overdue for my period and that makes me feel a little tense. I have a transvaginal ultrasound scheduled for tomorrow. Not looking forward to that.
I go back for all my checkups (surgeon, rad onc, med onc) in March, and I'm going to talk to the med onc about the flashes. I can't function with little sleep. What medicine do others take to help offset the hot flashes????
My friend had her surgery last Thursday and is doing well. She's back at work today and has her follow-up with her surgeon on 2/3. Let's just hope her pathology report come back with good news. They are leaning towards her having chemo, but will know more next week.
Sue-Blue - I used to take fish oil pills too, but they contain soy. And since we should avoid soy, I stopped taking them. I did find multivitamins that do not contain soy, but that took me a while to find them.
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I just started the tamoxifen and anxiously waiting -- did side effects start right away for you ladies?
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Oh Sharon, I hope your spa cleanse went well. (That is what I tell myself the prep is...) I'm sorry I didn't see your post until today, otherwise I would have suggested... well, I guess a good magazine or book. Sharon, I've had an increase in the development of complex ovarian cysts over the last few months. Onc thinks it is Tamox related and he's referred me to a Gyn. Onc. I see her in early Feb. I'll let you know what I hear.
Harley! I love your pic! It's good to see your face.
Murph, I'm sorry to hear about your flashes/night sweats. Boy I can relate. I tried Effexor XR for the night sweats with no relief. I also adjusted the time I take the Tamox from late night, to early evening and then lunchtime with no relief. I may try morning and then 1/2 dose 2x a day and see what happens. I usually try to keep the same time for at least one cycle. I do have a prescription for Temazepam, which is a sleeping pill. I take one of these about every 5 nights just to get some sleep. Last week i was working on about 12 hours cumulative over a three day period. OK, so I was of no help, other than the suggestion for a sleep aid. I guess I could have just said that!
Can we revisit the "cold flash" for a moment? I'm getting these now (maybe due to my change in the time I take Tamox?). I get cold, and a kind of electrical "zing" through my spine. I wonder if this is what a hot flash feels like except I've got the cold end? Does anyone else feel that zing?
Welcome to all the new riders, as well as those that are contemplating jumping on. I was very sad when I boarded, but decided I would take things one day at a time. One day is so much more do-able than 5 years. Plus, I met all these great ladies.
Have a wonderful day ladies... Choo, Choo!!
Barbie
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Traveler56, my side effects started about 2 weeks after starting Tamox. They were gradual. Hopefully yours will be managable.
Welcome to all others!
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I've been on Tamoxifen a little more than 3 weeks. I got a period, although I understand that some people go into menopause. But then again, I nursed my daughters and got my period every 28 days even though everyone else I knew never had a period while they nursed. So my question is, does everyone eventually stop having periods on Tamoxifen. I'm 54 and still have monthly periods with no end in sight.
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JoAnn, mine have ranged (not progression, range) from 3 weeks to over 7 weeks on the Tamoxifen since May, after being set your watch by it regular even while nursing. The flow does seem to be getting less over time. I suspect that your periods will end while you are on Tamoxifen, simply because of your age, and the length of time that we are on the Tamoxifen.
Welcome to the train to you and all the other new riders.
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My periods are lighter (Always used to be very heavy) and run about 5 weeks. I was always regular, like clockwork. I am 42 and premeno. I have been on it for 4 months.
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Jo-Ann-K -- have you had any SEs yet? I have not had a period in three months anyway (52 years old) and have been having hot flashes on and off since going off the pill early last year, so I am guessing I am walking into menopause. I know the weight gain thing will drive me nuts if it happens. Funny, I had no qualms about going on the pill, which has side effects, but this worries me like crazy?
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Hi, ladies I have been on Tamoxifen since Dec. 22 - I am not sure about my se's except for the hot flashes - I am definitely having them - I was on ativan for sleep during my chemo and rad treatment and then stopped taking it - did not realize that I was having withdrawal symptoms from it - that is why I am not sure about the tamox se's - glad I am off the ativan but went about 2 -3 weeks without a good night's sleep - I took ambien cr last night and finally slept - my onc said if the hot flash/night sweats get too bad he would prescribe lexapro - has anyone taken it and what about the se's of it? I am tired of popping pills to fix what another pill is doing to my body - you ladies who have been through the whole five years wow!! I hope I can stand it that long!
Also, I have also read where some people cycle off of tamox for 30-60 days has anyone's doctor done that with them? Just curious.
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Barbie,
Thanks! You wouldn't believe how long it takes me to 'prepare' and get ready for pics. I am not very photogenic, so I have to really take time to fix myself up for a picture. Therefore, we don't have very many pictures of me.
I also get the COLD flashes.
My dh says that he gets 'sympathy' hot flashes. In the evening, usually ONE of us will be sitting in front of the TV, and we'll say, "I'm HOT, then I'm COLD!!!"
He is really funny!! Hugs
Harley
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Kimmy1
That is interesting, about cycling OFF Tamoxifen for 30 - 60 days! I have often wondered about maybe taking Tamoxifen for 3 to 6 months, and then switching to an AI for 3 to 6 months... I guess I may ask my onc when I see him again. Only one problem with this... he usually doesn't know. Last time, he said what I thought he would in response to a question:
"They really don't know..."
UGH!!
Hugs
Harley
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Traveler 56,
I've had a few hot flashes, but I think they're tempered by the Effexor I've taken for a few years for anxiety. Otherwise, I'm okay. I'm overweight and hypothyroid to begin with so knowing that my metabolism will slow down even more is not something I'm welcoming. However, I'll take that over having a cancer recurrence. I'm just getting really tired of having periods after all these years.
Regards,
Jo Ann
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Traveler--my SEs (mainly mild hot flashes) started within the first 2 to 3 months.
Joann K--my oncologist said while on tamox, 25% will continue with normal periods, 50% will have irregular periods, and 25% will stop altogether. Mine became very light and very irregular. I took minipads with me everywhere just in case.
I just finished up my full 5 years about 3 months ago.
Anne
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My hot flashes started immediately after chemo so I don't know about the tamoxifen. Also, can't comment on the periods since they left with chemo too. I am sure that tamox has prolonged the hot flashes. But they are much better than before. I usually have at least one first thing in the morning when I start thinking of all the stuff that I have to do that day. Also, I am a wine drinker. I know that can also cause more flashes. I never tried the effexor.
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Heat was off at work today and I was praying for a hot flash...came home at 3 to start the "spa cleanse" Barbie you are funny....I have finished both bottles of the stuff....reminds me of about day 3 or 4 after chemo...but I think I am running faster to the bathroom......at least during chemo bad days we could eat....
Not complaining too much....my preventative mammo found my cancer....so I will always do these tests ontime!
To all the hot and cold flashers.....I am trying to think of it as my new normal....but they are discouraging sometimes....and the no sleep is annoying...Kimmy1 - I'm with you...I never took anything but a vitamin...now it seems I have tamox, fluid pills, and when I just get tired of not sleeping something to sleep...but again better than cancer!
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Sharon,
What are fluid pills? Will they help with my water weight gain??
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Lorraine, I love those ABC family shows we can all watch without having the remote handy to mute or change channels at any moment. I hope it works out for your son. My OncoDX score was 13. My Onc. said I would not really benefit from chemo. Worked for me!!
Sue_blue, I have a friend on Tamox. that has had problems with her nails, even nail fungus, I will ask her if she has found anything to help.
Barbie, I have only been taking Tamox for a couple weeks, but I have "freeze out" moments too! I thought it was just me. It almost makes my skin hurt. I am sure that will change to "melt out" moments soon.
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Looking for some answers. I have been on Tamoxifen for 26 days (to be exact) and have had the cold, then hot flashes. The leg cramps bother me more. I just started taking B12 and magnesium along with my potassium, calcium and vitamin. How long does it take to see if these will work? Any other suggestions? I see my onc tomorrow and want to be prepared.I'm not sure if i want an antianxiety, but it sure could help!
D
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Sharon, I hope your colonoscopy goes well....I'm sure your "going" pretty well by now I just had that lovely experience too. The actual test was a breeze (not the best word choice)! Three of us girls went together (one to drive) and went for a nice lunch after. Nothing like the horrors stories I had heard. We were a little drugged and pretty happy and fun to be around, but our driver was quite entertained and has sworn to never repeat anything that was said that day!! That's what friends are for
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Hello all: I need some information. I've been on Tamoxifen since October 16, 2008 and then was off for a few weeks and been back on since December or something. Now I'm having Severe Depression and Anxiety. My new Psychiatrist prescribed Wellbutrin which, when we went to pick it up were told that it keeps Tamoxifen from working (metabolizing). As I did research I found that many SSRIs prevent Tamoxifen from working the worst being: Wellbutrin, Paxil, Prozac, Cymbalta, Abilify. Less so Celexa and Lexapro. Problem is I'm on Lexapro. Anyway, one article said that if one is on Tamoxifen they should avoid SSRIs totally. I just don't know what to do as my Psychiatrist has no clue and my Oncologist told me she regularly prescribes Lexapro to her Cancer patients. I wish there were a list of definate anti-depressants that one can't take if on Tamoxifen and what we can take. Anyone have any insight on this?
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Maggie --
The short version is here -- http://medicine.iupui.edu/clinpharm/COBRA/TamoxifenGuide.pdf
If you are more scientifically savvy and want more detail try here --http://www.medicine.iupui.edu/flockhart/
Currently the consensus seems to be that Effexor, Celexa, and Lexapro are the best of the bunch to use along with tamoxifen because they only weakly inhibit the cyp2d6 pathways. To make matters more complicated, there is some discussion about whether that pathway is the essential one -- that scientists don't really know which metabolites of tamoxifen are the important ones for reducing bc recurrance. This is just one more area in cancer treatment where there isn't a definate answer. My personal opinion? Stay on the Lexapro if it is working for you. If it isn't enough to do the job, try Effexor. But that's just my opinion.
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Thank you so far for all your replies. I'm on Lexapro and he suggested to up it. However, also saw it, Lexapro, can inhibit Tamoxifen's metabolization.
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Maggie,
I am on Lexapro with success. No recurring depressions in 3 years. I have bipolar disorder and take lithium as well. Tamox during the last 1 year. For me stability is crucial. It overides anything else. My recent mammos have been great.
Basha
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