Bottle o Tamoxifen
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So glad I came to this thread tonight. I have a corneal disease and I am finally seeing my eye specialist again this upcoming week. I have not seen him in about 2.5 years (due to insurance). My specific corneal disease causes very dry eyes. So, I will be mentioning the Tamoxifen to him in regards to my corneal issues and possible problems it could cause.
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Hi ladies,
Tamoxifen for 1 week now and only aching bones. Hot flashes seem no worse then with chemo...which weren't too bad.
Sloan: I too am 51 and on 20mg only. I asked my doctor why this dose and he told me this was standard dosing.
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I also have some joint/muscle pain. But it is hard for me to differentiate between exercise pain and pain due to Tamoxifen. I exercise every day - with weights, walk, etc. I feel like I pulled a muscle in my top thigh. But it has been a week and hasn't gone away. So am wondering if this is due to drug? Hopefully Tamox won't prevent me from doing what I love to do which is moving this aging body. I guess I just have to wait and see. I am about 1 month on it.
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I think Tamoxifen is like a mild chemo drug....it compromises your body but to a much lesser degree. I think it makes you a little more susceptible to colds, a little more likely to injure yourself and then a little more likely to take longer to recover from that injury or cold or whatever. I hadn't had a cold in 15 years till my first winter on it which was 9 months into it. Now I get 2 or 3 colds every winter. Right now I still have a runny nose and ear ringing and my last cold was a month ago. And I've been going to the gym most days for the last 2 years and right now I have pretty severe heel pain that's worse when I don't move. Plantar fasciitis? Who knows. Don't remember specifically injuring myself so I think it's the med making me more susceptible. And my MO makes me take an aspirin. When I started it was daily and I would get some bruises that were real doozies just from something as simple as resting my chin in my hand so I swapped to twice a week (which he says works just as well). I still bruise pretty easy and it takes longer for them to go away so again, Tamoxifen? I hope so, Otherwise it just means I'm getting old!!
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lala. I went throug a few plantar fasciitis flare ups. Stretching is the best treatment!
I have upper thigh aches when I'm sleeping. I'm stiff when I first get up from sleeping too long.
I was telling a friend about how tamoxifen blocks your estrogen production. She asked me if I grew a penis yet! Bahaw!
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jbok that is too funny!
I had plantar fasciitis and received a cortisone shot in the heel. What a relief! I was told it was related to the tamoxifen. I also now wear orthotics in my shoes and I have a night brace I purchased at CVS. I currently do not need it, but it did provide relief so I could stand in the morning
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I'm now into my seventh month on tamoxifen. Muscle aches are a huge issue for me lately I hope this will pass. Tailbone pain shoulder and chest muscle pain mainly. Not fun especially when your stage four and worrying that it could be cancer. Only to find out it's the medication that's making you feel like crap. Oh well I guess it's better than the alternative.
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Wendy3---Ask your oncologist is you can try turmeric and ginger. It's made a huge difference for me and if you google them, you'll see all sorts of research as to how they help people with arthritis, maybe even as well as arthritis meds.
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RobinLK--how do you know which type of orthotics to use in your shoes? And what does the night brace do?
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Lala - Sofsole makes a great orthotic - I wear the green one. Stores like Action Sports sometimes have a device you stand on that tells where the pressure is and which orthotic would be best. I eventually got custom orthotics, but I still use the Sofsoles in my slippers. Comfy!
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I purchased over the counter orthotics that were labeled specifically for plantar fasciitis. The night brace holds your foot at an angle to provide a slight stretch.
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thanks, Robin, I'll check that out for shoe inserts. Kaiser had recommended this one that cost me $38 and I had to take it back cause it hit my heel wrong. Anyway, my problem is a lump at the ball of my foot that suddenly appeared about the size of a nickel. It was diagnosed as Mortons neuroma, a swelled nerve. Always something....it is totally putting a cramp on my exercising ability:
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wendy3, I have that exact list of pains as you, and have had them since shortly after starting treatment for BC. I had a barrage of scans, only to find that the tailbone pain was caused by perineural or tarlov cysts, the shoulder pain was caused by a small tear (probably from when I over-exercised it after surgery). The chest wall pain is likely from rads, or surgery. And the rest of my many aches and pains are due to fibromyalgia. My MO let me stop tamoxifen for 7 weeks last year, to see if that was the cause, but apparently it wasn't, since I actually felt worse while off it. Go figure! hopefully they are scanning you, to help alleviate your fears about the pains. I know what that's like!
Lala1, I agree with you that maybe tamoxifen just makes us more succeptible to things. Like you, I hardly ever get sick. But this year I got sick in mid November and 10 plus weeks later, I am still fighting off the last lingering symptoms of a post infectious cough. And for the first six weeks of the cold, I was so fatigued I could hardly function!
RobinLK, I also have developed planters fasciitis, and it is always worse when I get out of bed I in the mornings and feel I have to hobble around for awhile. I Never knew about those night braces.
All things aside, I am still glad to be on tamoxifen. In my case, I am better on it than off
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Had Caribbean rice with Turmeric for dinner. Trying to see if it will helps. If so I may add it to my diet.
UPDATE: Bought a turmeric support today. . .should have looked up drug interactions first. One of my stable of docs is my gastroenterologist who has me on Omeprazole. Apparently turmeric does not play well with that drug. Will have to give my supp. to DH.
Bummed
Scottie
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is anyone having liver issues with the Tamox? During my last checkup my liver function numbers were elevated. Doc said could be due to Tamox, but that if they don't go down, they'll want to do a liver ultrasound. Not that I drank much before, but I'm 100% on the wagon now. I don't take Tylenol or any other meds except Tamox and my BP meds
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I woke up with a scratchy throat. Any suggestions on what to take
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I had a nasty sore throat last week that ended with a sinus infection and on antibiotics. Doc said I could take aleve or tylenol with tamoxifen... fyi. Hope you are feeling better soon. -Kim
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I've been on Tamoxifen for 7 months. I don't really have any of the listed physical SEs, but I do get leg and foot cramps. I also feel anxious, and off for lack of a better word. I'LL do weird, absent minded things like putting my eggs in the pantry instead of the fridge, and the other day I put the milk on top of the refridgerator instead of inside. I asked my MO if it was possible that I could have a hormone imbalance, and he said it was unlikely. But my father is a physician, and he thinks that it makes sense. I don't forget to take the Tamoxifen, but sometimes I can't remember if I took it, so I've started to use a pill container, with the days of the week. I have never had short term memory issues before taking this med.
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hsant - I started using a pill container for the same reason. I couldn't remember if I took it or not!
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I also use the pill box - I sometimes doubt whether or not I took it or forget. I am also on Gabapantin three times a day and have had some of the issues that you have with memory, absent minded, anxious. I had to titrate down on the Gabapentin and it seems better but I think the two meds together do a job on me. For example, I was driving to the market and ended up at the post office! I've lived here my whole life - was sort of funny...I just laughed and said "okay, long way around" - However, when I could not remember names or would go to a room in my house and not remember why I went, I got a bit nervous. Seems better with lower dose gabapentin. I have such nerve pain in my groin and legs and rheumatologist is trying this.I did tell my MO on Monday at my appt that I also have bone and rib pain but he thinks it is still from radiation and the Tamoxifen. He said that, if I still have it at next appt, we'll do a bone scan. I've also had lots of abdominal issues with some rectal bleeding so having colonoscopy and endoscopy on Monday (that will be a fun day) - I'm 49 so figure that 5o is close so better safe than sorry and do it all now. The Tamoxifen seems so different for each person. I have an acquaintance who did not have a single side effect and others who said it was just awful. I've been on 9 weeks and have had 4 periods - so weird. my OB has checked me a couple times with ultrasound and all is fine now. She actually told me last night that, even though people say your period stops, it is beneficial to keep having them as it sheds the lining and helps avoid uterine issues while on Tamoxifen - So, as I have no control over that, I hope the meds are working properly and all will be well!
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Momoftwins98 I'm 51 and am seeing a specialist on Friday concerning rectal bleeding I have no pain what so ever but like you I figured better safe than sorry. I just had to add my twins were also born 1998 so funny. Anyway I wish you well
Wendy
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Yes, Sjacobs146, I had a problem with elevated liver enzymes at my checkup 6 months ago. I was taking Tylenol for my Tamoxifen-related joint pains. I was keeping my daily Tylenol dosage below the recommended daily maximum dose, but my MO said that I had to cut back on the Tylenol. Now I only take Tylenol at bedtime, because otherwise joint pain keeps me awake, and my liver enzymes have returned to normal levels.
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Hi
Happy to meet another mom of twins! Mine will be 18 in May...a boy and a girl and best friends. What do you have? They have been so strong through this journey - I was diagnosed this past Sept 1, the day before their senior year of high school started and all I kept thinking was "I am going to ruin this year for them" - they've been amazing and my reason to fight! I dont know your story but hope you have good support. I'm told I am cancer free but have so much pain and many symptoms that i get scared and worried and research so much. I hope your bleeding turns out to be nothing! Would love to hear about your twins!
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momoftwins, I also had rectal bleeding a year ago. It turned out to be some virus in the small intestine. I was treated with a target antibiotc that cost me a $100. It worked! Not a problem since. This might be TMI for some, but I had one issue, after the colonoscopy, I came down with a bladder infection. I think that was caused from the after washing they gave me. I would advise anyone getting a colonoscopy to pee afterwards to clean out. Good luck, let us know how you do
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Well I don't have twins but I have a son born in 1998 and a high school senior. Can't believe how fast they grow. Plus have one two years behind him. My kids have been so good throughout this whole ordeal. I was diagnosed May 27, 2015. I cannot believe I will be coming up on a year in the near future. It has been a whirlwind and I am so ready to be done with all of it. Exchange surgery set for March 8th. Moving forward!
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What is exchange surgery? Yes, our children are amazing and, for me, my strength! So much going on at this age and, to throw a diagnosis at them too, seemed like so much to handle - but, handle it they have. I'm lucky that my parents live down the street and we are all very close so that has been such a support too.
Stage1 - How did they find the virus? I am dreading the tests but know they have to be done. The bleeding has subsided but, already planned so going through with it - besides, as I said before, I'll be 50 in August so was going to have to be done anyway. I was looking at your profile and you had no treatments? Wow...good for you! and five years ago? stay healthy and well!
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hsant-I've been on Tamoxifen 10 mos now and have the leg cramps and absent mindedness. I make sure I always double check my work now. I too have done half-brain things like taking laundry to the bathroom. I also find I don't remember things as good as I used to. Had hot flashes early on, but started taking magnesium and they have gone. Almost done with first year of tamo!
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momoftwins, the biopsy was done in the colonoscopy, felt nothing, it was a breeze, no worries...never knew he took a biopsy until I got the results. The worst part is prep the night before, drinking all that liquid. Since I had it done, I understand the is an easier drink to buy, smaller quantity but does the job. Also, I think it important to time the procedure so that you are not up all night eliminating...
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mm68, I was taking magnesium for leg cramps and constipation, for about a year, and then I got my lab tests that showed a plummet in my GFR and creatinine in my blood which points to Cronic kidney disease stage 3. Magnesium, I now find out is not a good thing to be taking. Now, my age is 67, so that might have been a contributer. I stopped vitamins, but Dr.says continue calcium and 800IU of D3 for my osteopenia. I go to a kidney health class at the end of the month, so I'll know more then. BTW, oncologist says tamoxifen does not affect the kidneys. But I will have her check my liver enzymes cause I noticed primary Dr. Did not. I'm tellin ya, we have to keep watch, cause the Drs d
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Just finished radiation yesterday! Unfortunately I am with you all in the brain function difficulties. I have always had a good memory, and with aging just found I needed to put more reminders on my calendar than before, but now after just over a month on tamoxifen it is awful! I do absent-minded things and sometimes can't remember what I did the week before. I am hoping that it is just so bad because of the combo of tamoxifen and rads and that it will improve at least some now that I am done with rads.
Stage1 - Thanks for the info on magnesium. I was taking magnesium every day for the constipation caused by tamoxifen and when my family doctor heard he didn't want me to do that. He suggested Miralax instead which has been working fine. I still take occasional magnesium for restless legs but good to keep this in mind.
SweetCaroline - Good to know about the Tylenol and liver enzymes. I used to rarely use any meds, but right now am using maximum Tylenol for radiation skin issues. My MO had warned to take OTC pain meds only as much as needed. I hope I am not needing it for too long.
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