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Bottle o Tamoxifen

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Comments

  • oceangirl654
    oceangirl654 Member Posts: 59
    edited April 2016

    Hi Everyone, I have a question- Do you need to go to your gynecologist if you're 41, didn't have chemo, and your period is over two months late, on tamoxifen? I don't want to get examined again! Isn't it pretty normal for your period to be late on tamoxifen? I've already done many pregnancy tests so it's not pregnancy. Thanks for your opinion!

  • labelle
    labelle Member Posts: 134
    edited April 2016

    I hear you, hsant. I so want my brain back!

    Oceangirl: As long as you are SURE you aren't pregnant, I don't see why you would need to see a gyno. Abnormal bleeding while on Tamoxifen is something you would definitely want to have checked out, but missing a period or two doesn't seem very serious to me (of course, I no longer have a brain-see above). There are lots of reasons your period could be late. At 41 becoming perimenopausal with irregular cycles seems like a possibility. Stress or anxiety can also throw people off too.

  • superius
    superius Member Posts: 310
    edited April 2016

    Can I blame Tamoxifen for weird emotions & thought? or should I blame the worrywart? Loopy

  • heidi s
    heidi s Member Posts: 398
    edited April 2016

    Oceangirl, I've been on Tamo since July, 2015. Auntie Flo would always pay a visit every 28-30 days like clock work. The past two cycles have been every 5 weeks, and their extremely light. I have uterine fibroids, so I'm not complaining, but my guess is that skipping a period or 2 isn't unusual. However, I'm not a doctor, so probably not a bad idea to check in with your Gyno.

    Superius, Tamo SEs are what one can experiment during menopause, so I would think weird emotions would fall under that category, mood swings, irritable, anxiety, etc.

    This evening I made a conscientious effort to make a mental note that I put my keys in my pocket before I left the house. About 20 minutes later, what was I doing? You guessed it, searching the house looking for my keys.

    Dang you Tamoxifen



  • oceangirl654
    oceangirl654 Member Posts: 59
    edited April 2016

    Thanks everyone!

  • jabe
    jabe Member Posts: 165
    edited April 2016

    and your evening is cheered by reading these posts and remembering you're not alone. Thank you!!

  • KateB79
    KateB79 Member Posts: 555
    edited April 2016

    I just turned 37, and had my last period in August (it started the day after my first chemo infusion). I've been on tamixofien for about two months now, and . . . nada. I sometimes feel period-y--bloating, cramps, that kind of thing--but nothing happens. My MO says all of this is normal and that it will likely get better over time. I'm to let her know if I experience "irregular bleeding," but she says there's a 50/50 chance that I'll start menstruating again. Time will tell.

    She wants to do ovarian suppression starting this summer, which I imagine will mean no more periods, like, forever.

    I'm with y'all on the memory thing. Between mild chemo brain, early-morning rads, and tamoxifen? Well, let's just say that I write everything down AND use reminders in my phone, or I'd never get anything done!

  • mairew
    mairew Member Posts: 56
    edited April 2016

    Hey guys, I am officially joining this thread. Took my first TEVA tamox pill last night. Fingers crossed I can manage the SEs when they appear. My MO did tell me to take Baby Aspirin and Vit D. Onwards!!

  • rleepac
    rleepac Member Posts: 193
    edited April 2016

    I just need to vent...

    I have been off Tamoxifen for 5 weeks because I had surgery and my MO wanted to see if my SEs went away once it got out of my system. The pain in my hands, feet and knees is about 90% gone but still there enough to annoy me. My DH refuses to offer an opinion on if I should take the Tamox or not saying that if he says I should take it then I blame him for my pain but if he says not to take it and I recur that I'll blame him for the recurrence. Don't get me wrong...we have a wonderful relationship and 'blame' is not even part of our lives but he's just looking forward and doesn't want me to hold him accountable for either side of the coin. He will support whatever decision I make but he won't participate. grrrrrr

    I think I'll give it another shot and see how it goes. I can always stop it if the pain gets too bad. But I did make an appt with my doc in 3 weeks because I'm anticipating the need for a conversation about how to handle pain.

    Thanks for letting me vent!

  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 461
    edited April 2016

    I am using magnesium citrate, glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM, fish oil, and the occasional ibuprofen, plus twice-weekly soaks with epsom salts and peppermint oil. That plus knee bends and stretches a few times a day is mostly taking care of cramps and pain in my legs, joints, and feet.

  • LovingIsLiving
    LovingIsLiving Member Posts: 89
    edited April 2016

    I'm taking Country Life Calcium-Magnesium. It has 500mg of magnesium in 2 pills. But I'm not so sure about how well the magnesium is being absorbed, or if the calcium is binding it. I'm getting lots of muscle cramps in my legs. No signs of blood clots, just the random muscle cramps that last less than a minute but are so painful. Very few hot flashes though. I might switch to a different kind of magnesium after I'm done with this one. I had almost no muscle cramps when I took the magnesium by itself.

  • trvler
    trvler Member Posts: 931
    edited April 2016

    Bekah: I am sorry you have to make that choice. Sometimes, you just want the doctor to TELL you what you should do. I hope this go round is easier on you.

  • jabe
    jabe Member Posts: 165
    edited April 2016

    And cue the WORST leg cramp I have ever had last night (or should I say this morning). OMG! Y'all were not kidding

  • superius
    superius Member Posts: 310
    edited April 2016

    Last period was after Chemo #1. Last month the MO said that no period doesn't mean eggs not viable. But my friend is collecting stuff for Ecuador, her home country. She listed hygiene product as something they need. I'm totally giving them away ... who knows IF I'll ever need them again -- do they have an expiration date? XD

  • Giazuc
    Giazuc Member Posts: 10
    edited April 2016

    Hi guys, I'm a breast cancer survivor who started a YouTube channel to keep myself distracted from thoughts of recurrence and think more positive thoughts. I'm highly anxious and YouTube's my escape! If you wanna get to know me a little more personal here's my link to my channel..

    https://m.youtube.com/channel/UClInmDWkbCeHM6XidqwcpSw

    A big hug to all my breast cancer sisters!

  • deeratz
    deeratz Member Posts: 318
    edited April 2016

    Superius-Re:feminine hygiene products....well with an 18 & 21 year old daughter they will surely be used up. I still have stashes of them in my vehicle and packthem in my luggage if I am travelling. It is like a cruel joke...you may or may not get your period back. All I can say is if I get my period back I will be one miserable Beotch. I will play the hot flash game now, but to have to replay this whole scenario again I may just loose it. It may be the breaking point for me.

  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,072
    edited April 2016

    Right there with you DeeRatz. . .I don't miss it. Sooo talked to MO today about the turmeric/curcumin. She looked it up and came back with the same mixed bag we've been talking about here. One study says it slows liver metabolism so less in the blood. Another promising study says it keeps Tamoxifen working better and stops cells from becoming resistant to tamox. We agreed that at least for the summer when my HFs will be worse it's fine to keep taking the turmeric. We'll talk again in August.

    Scottie

  • DeltaLady
    DeltaLady Member Posts: 17
    edited April 2016

    Thank you for the magnesium idea - it works for me. Now I think I'll have a go at turmeric and ginger. I wonder how the male doctors would react if they had part of their male organs cut off and their hormones were blocked?

  • KateB79
    KateB79 Member Posts: 555
    edited April 2016

    DeeRatz, I'm right there with you, sister.

    I'm taking turmeric, magnesium (malate and citrate), vitamin D, and fish oil. Quality of life is too important to me. I'm also drinking beer once in a while, even though it "may or may not" raise my risk of recurrence. I can't let cancer control the rest of my life, you know?

  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 461
    edited April 2016

    The last research I saw said the body can metabolize smaller amounts of alcohol, but that larger quantities can be a problem.

  • deeratz
    deeratz Member Posts: 318
    edited April 2016

    Deltalady-I laughed at your comment about cutting off male organs and blocking hormones. I had the same thoughts when they stuck those needles in my nipples for my sentinel nodes. Burning radioactive fire being injected....must have been developed by a male. Pretty sure it was

  • KatherineB
    KatherineB Member Posts: 2
    edited April 2016

    Greetings,

    I am just starting tamoxifen. Curious if there are any new recommendations for long flights besides stopping it a couple of weeks before the flight? Thanks

  • ksusan
    ksusan Member Posts: 461
    edited April 2016

    Welcome! I haven't seen anyone here recommended to stop Tamoxifen before a long flight. I assume you're talking about the risk of DVT.

    I fly a fair amount. I wear compression stockings and stay well-hydrated. I do leg and foot exercises in my seat periodically and get up every two hours, walk to the rest room, then do some knee bends and stretches before returning to my seat. My daily medications include an 81 mg aspirin, and I don't add more but do have extra aspirin with me in case I start having leg pain. In addition to this, I wear arm and hand compression garments to reduce lymphedema risk, and do arm and hand exercises as well.

    If you can, break up travel into several flights with layovers. Walk and hydrate during the layovers.

  • DeltaLady
    DeltaLady Member Posts: 17
    edited April 2016

    Hello DeeRatz,

    I likened it to molten lava injections, but the, "This may hurt a bit" or as my surgeon said, "A bee sting" were waaay off the mark!

  • KateB79
    KateB79 Member Posts: 555
    edited April 2016

    Oh, something to look forward to! Molten lava injections! If ovarian suppression is anything like those damn nipple injections, I might look into getting an oophorectomy instead. . . .

    "This may hurt a bit" goes right along with "my hands might be a little cold."

  • MN_Sunshine
    MN_Sunshine Member Posts: 6
    edited April 2016

    I will be done with herceptin the end of July. After that I am hoping to start an herbal product that I have missed taking during my chemo and herceptin process. The herbal product helps with weight loss and energy.

    My question is this.....has anyone received any feedback from their oncologist about taking herbal products while they are taking tamoxifen?

    My oncologist is not an advocate of herbal products so I am just curious what others are hearing from their Drs.

    Thank you.

  • lala1
    lala1 Member Posts: 974
    edited April 2016

    I'm amazed that doctors do those nipple injections while awake. Mine gave me 4 injections the day before the surgery in the 4 quadrants of my breast, 2 of which I never even felt, and then the "painful" one he does once you're sedated for the surgery. He said the 2nd one is too hard for someone to take, especially when already facing a lumpectomy or mastectomy. And he thinks giving it after anesthesia lets it work just as well. He said the first one is the important one that moves the radioactive whatever through and the second one tracks it. I think he called that one the blue dye shot. I was panicked about doing the first set but they were less painful than a blood draw! Wonder why these docs have such different ways of doing things.....

  • superius
    superius Member Posts: 310
    edited April 2016

    I actually don't remember the blue dye thing hurting too much. I think my mind was like, "well, it's going to be gone when I wake up anyway... so whatever!" XD

  • AmyfromMI
    AmyfromMI Member Posts: 115
    edited April 2016

    I think I had the radioactive tracer injected the day before surgery. I remember only two injections which burned like hell. And I believe my breast surgeon did the blue dye while I was sedated for my lumpectomy because I don't remember any nipple injections.

  • Scottiemom11
    Scottiemom11 Member Posts: 1,072
    edited April 2016

    Lol. . .men couldn't handle what we've been through. I had a sweet old radiologist who did my dye injections on BMx day. He apologized ahead of time for the sting. I told him "Trust me, this is the better part of my day." Not sure he really got that joke but it only stung a little anyway.

    I started a new bottle of Tamox about 5 days ago. It's rebranded Watson with their new name on it. I swear my SEs are worse though. Going to have to ask my pharmacist about it. Grrr.

    Scottie