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Bottle o Tamoxifen

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Comments

  • bikefam
    bikefam Member Posts: 98
    edited May 2016

    Noni, I am post menopausal also. My hot flashes (maybe warm flashes) were very mild during menopause and very mild with Tamoxifen. I find that if I exercise and avoid stress in my life, they almost go away. My aches and pains are nothing more than normal for being 60, I think.

  • lala1
    lala1 Member Posts: 974
    edited May 2016

    I am also post menopausal from a hysterectomy. I didn't have hot flashes on Tamoxifen before surgery but got them about 2 months after. At first they were hot flashes but now they are mostly warm flushes. I don't know if time eased them or the supplement I take for them helped. All I know is they are fewer and farther between and not as strong. I also exercise and do yoga so that might be helping as well.

  • el_tigre
    el_tigre Member Posts: 453
    edited May 2016

    Hi

    Is anyone doing Tamoxifen with Lupron? I am doing that combo until I can get on AI's but I'm only 37 and they are watching my hormone levels closely before switching me over to AIs.

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

    El Tigre . . .I did two rounds of monthly lupron shots. 4 months on 3 months off and 4 months on. I had to stop them b/c the side effects were too much for me. It did stop my cycles though. Keeping fingers crossed but it's been 9 months. I hopefully got the benefit I needed.

    Good luck,

    Scottie

  • ayr1016
    ayr1016 Member Posts: 156
    edited May 2016

    El_Tigre Yes, I am taking Tamoxifen and am getting monthly Lupron injections. I am scheduled tomorrow for another one.

  • MJS1266
    MJS1266 Member Posts: 159
    edited May 2016

    Noni, My experience is similar to yours, I've been on Tamoxifen nine months with one month off for surgery.  I get warm flashes usually after walking quickly outside or coming into a warmer room from a cooler location.  It is not significantly worse than when I was just perimenopausal.  Good Luck with your treatment.  MJS

  • stillwater
    stillwater Member Posts: 6
    edited May 2016

    I don't know if your concerns have been adddressed, I don't have the time right now to scroll through all of these pages ... However, I've been taking Tamoxifen for about 1 1/2 years. Initially I had no hot flashy during the daytime but extreme night sweats. Had to sleep on a towel. Those are gone but I get pretty bad hot flashes day and night. About 2 months ago I developed these excrutiating headaches, right where my reading glasses hit my nose and in the sinus area. I went to an ENT thinking it might be a sinus situation. Also low bloodsugar in the PM seemed to be a trigger. 400mg of Ibuprofen did not work, later I tried 600mg (3 tabs!) worked ok but that's not doable for longer, of course. I had almost talked myself into a brain tumor and the ENT ordered an MRI of the sinus and brain. Came back clear, no sinus issues and no cancer. So I ruled out one thing after another (among it Glaucoma eye drops) and figured it had to be from dropping estrogen levels. I had read that hormonal headaches do not respond to OTC pain meds. No periods anymore but FSH, LH still too high to switch to an AI. My solution was Botox. I hadn't gone in a while and when I went (20 units/forehead) the headaches went away the next day. It is used for migraine my onco said. So once in a while I get those headaches but just take 600 mg of Ibuprofen to take the worst pain away, but the problem seems to be handled and its been 3 months since Botox injection.

  • Giazuc
    Giazuc Member Posts: 10
    edited May 2016

    Hi guys, anyone stop or not take Tamoxifen? I'd love to hear long term stories, like 5, 10 or more years out. I've been taking it for 2 years and can't take the constipation issues (chronic anal fissure), the thickened lining and ovarian cysts. And now I'm getting major night sweats and hot flashes...I wish I could just quit it but I'm afraid of recurrence

    Thanks,

    Gia


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

    StillWater, did your insurance cover the Botox shots?

  • stillwater
    stillwater Member Posts: 6
    edited May 2016

    I went to a med spa and didn't really worry about the cost. With Botox and Dysport always offering discounts the cost isn't that bad around here. I am not sure how the insurance coverage would work and haven't researched that further. At the time I had no idea that it would affect my head aches so dramatically.

  • AmyfromMI
    AmyfromMI Member Posts: 115
    edited May 2016

    I would check into your insurance covering the Botox because it was a treatment option suggested by my PCP when I was suffering from migraine like cluster headaches while on tamoxifen.

  • momwriter
    momwriter Member Posts: 276
    edited May 2016

    Giazuc,


    re:constipation: a homeopath recommends this and it works.

    Take as much magnesium as it takes to become regular.

    I had been just taking 1-2 200mg every day or two, and it didn't help. But I upped it- at first -1200-1400/day and I'm regular for the first time in two years. I've also gone mainly gluten free. I've been decreasing the amount of magnesium as my body is getting more used to being regular. - (And it's easy to tell if you have too much -sorry TMI- green or runny).

    I've been on tamox almost 3 years and I know that I'm going to probably be on these things for 10 years. I'm achier than I'd normally be, but when I eat well, do yoga, and exercise, I feel pretty good. Too much sugar makes me feel awful. Being regular is a game changer.

    Good luck!

  • stillwater
    stillwater Member Posts: 6
    edited May 2016

    Apparently is may only be covered if you have tried several migraine meds and then involves a lot of paperwork. Also, insurance companies do not reimburse plastic surgeons for botox but it's different if a neurologist does it (which is stupid because botox is done best by people that do that all day long. The injector is the "artist" to make it look good. Like raising eyebrows but not evil looking and still have mobility, not a frozen face. So for me 20 units are enough. At $9/unit with discount I pay around $150. It's been 4 month, still good. Usually every 6 months. The frown muscles also atrophy, so you do not need more and more units to get the same effect. You could start with 10 if you don't need it cosmetically and see what effect you get. It isn't painful, you can numb the forehead with ice or use a gel.

  • starsarestars
    starsarestars Member Posts: 30
    edited May 2016

    Hi all,

    here's a question--- regarding ovulation and Tamoxifen--- and birth control----

    Since mid way through chemo I lost my period, I just turned 40. I assumed that was the chemopause. I haven't got it back yet, been on tamoxifen for 2 months now. My oncologist told me on Friday that I could still get my ovulation back, but tamoxifen suppresses periods. So I could still ovulate but not get a period?? So there is a chance I could get pregnant while taking Tamoxifen? I know getting prego is very bad on Tamoxifen- because of the drugs on the baby and we are taking tamoxifen to suppress estrogen. My oncologist also told me it was ok to get an iud- even the progesterone iud! My cancer was Er, Pr, Her2 positive! This sounds crazy to me??!

    What is anyone else doing or what have you heard from your doctors?

    Thanks!!


  • rleepac
    rleepac Member Posts: 193
    edited May 2016

    What formulation of magnesium are you taking for regularity

  • bernr1309
    bernr1309 Member Posts: 1
    edited May 2016

    This is my 3rd week, but nothing out of the ordinary yet.

  • VickiRides
    VickiRides Member Posts: 163
    edited May 2016

    Starsarestars - I had my hormal IUD (Mirena) replaced with a non-hormal IUD soon after I was diagnosed. My cancer was 100% ER/PR+. At first my MO said it wasn't necessary to switch but after I did more research he agreed that it was a good idea. I started chemo in August and my last period was in September. My MO told me periods may or may not come back on Tamoxifen. I've only been on Tamoxifen for 5 weeks.

  • superius
    superius Member Posts: 310
    edited May 2016

    Starsarestars - My MO said no period doesn't mean the eggs not viable. I turned 43 a month ago.

  • lala1
    lala1 Member Posts: 974
    edited May 2016

    rleepac---My doc told me the same about magnesium. I take 200mg of magnesium glycinate and 200mg of magnesium chloride a day. Supposedly the glycinate helps more with muscle cramps and joint pain and the chloride helps more with regularity. All I know is that between the two, I am regular and I have very little joint/muscle pain. I'm with momwriter.....between exercise and yoga and my supplements I feel pretty darn good and plan to be on Tamoxifen for another couple of years before switching to an AI or I may just stay on Tamoxifen all 10 (+) years (my BS is all for the latter.).

  • ORgal
    ORgal Member Posts: 37
    edited May 2016

    Lala1,

    Where do you get your magnesium glycinate? I can't seem to find it anywhere.

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

    Adding to my stable of complementary/holistic treaments. Got this at Sam's club. I already have several essential oils and have been seriously considering diffusers on Amazon. Anything that reduces my stress levels can only help the SEs.

    Scottie

    image

  • lala1
    lala1 Member Posts: 974
    edited May 2016

    I buy magnesium glycinate 400 from either Amazon if I have an order for other stuff or Vitamin Shoppe if I don't have time to wait on a shipment. I have seen it at Walmart a couple of times.

    Amazon.com: KAL - Magnesium Glycinate 400, 180 tablets: Health & Personal Care

  • mairew
    mairew Member Posts: 56
    edited May 2016

    Hi Melly,

    I have the same issue as you. I am most definitely premenopausal and just started on tamox. I discussed with my Onco and she said talk to Gyno. The two main options presented to me were getting my tubes tied (or getting my partners tubes tied ... yeah hes not doing that), or copper IUD. The barrier method (condom with spermicidal foam) was the least preferred method due to probability of failure. This sucks.


  • el_tigre
    el_tigre Member Posts: 453
    edited May 2016

    Scottiemom1 - hey have you purchased one yet? how do you like that diffuser?? I was looking into getting one

  • ORgal
    ORgal Member Posts: 37
    edited May 2016

    Ahh, what's happening to my nails? Is this the Tamoxifen? I've been on it 10 months now. My nails keep tearing and chipping, even my toenails have started. I didn't take chemo so didn't deal with it then. Any advice on how to deal with this? They get torn down pretty low.

    I know biotin (a B vitamin) is supposed to help with hair and nails, but I've been taking that since before BC.

    Thanks lala for the info on the magnesium glycinate, I ordered some. I'm hoping it's better than the oxide I've been taking.

  • edwsmom
    edwsmom Member Posts: 270
    edited May 2016

    I've been finished with my treatments for 1 month now and started tamoxifen.

    I feel strange....kind of aimless. It's so strange to not have appointments every week (though I'm so grateful not to right now) and to just be proceeding with life as it was before the diagnosis. I feel like I should be worrying about the cancer. I should be doing more for prevention.

    I'm going to a wellness seminar for cancer patients in a couple weeks to go over diet, exercise, etc. for after treatment ends, but after being beat up and overwhelmed for months, it's so strange to be inserted back into normal life like nothing happened.

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

    El Tigre . . .the diffuser works great. Amazon has some in the same price range, but this one came with a 15ml bottle of essential oil as well. I look forward to experimenting with different combos. I have 6 different essential oils so far.

    ORGal. . .my nails are the same. I have always had thick, long and nearly unbreakable nails. Now they are like tissue paper. I'm also on Biotin. My hair is growing like crazy and much thicker, but it does nothing for my nails. A coworker suggested Healthy Hoof cream. I've been thinking about that from Amazon as well.

    Got my ginger supp today and have added that to the tumeric. Hoping to kick the HFs to the curb.

    Scottie

  • Live4them
    Live4them Member Posts: 4
    edited May 2016

    Hello Ladies , new to this Tamoxifen stuff.. My Oncologist wants me to take Effexor for hot flashes . I was on it but really don't want to continue , don't like the feeling and here getting off is a nightmare . I want to try a more natural approach .. What have you guys found to help hot flashes ? And do they normally subside after awhile or is this something I get to look forward to for 5 years ... I can't sleep 😩 Any advice will be greatly appreciated

  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 771
    edited May 2016

    Hi everyone. There are a few supplements you can take for hot flashes but please check with your doc first....I have tried ICOOL which I get on Amazon and Remizen which I get on its website. I would definitely try them before going on Effexor. Im not a fan of taking one medication to combat another medications SE. Good luck to all....

  • trvler
    trvler Member Posts: 931
    edited May 2016

    Supposedly magnesium helps with hot flashes. I take it but I don't know if my hot flashes would be worse with out it o not.