Bottle o Tamoxifen
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Believe1- I am sure the gals will tell you, but until someone else posts for ya, I have been told by everyone including my ONC that periods can continue on Tamoxifen. I believe (no pun intended) that the usual experience is a handful of those big periods and then they stop
May I ask you what day of your cycle you started Tamoxifen?
I have a theory, and I am really surprised there's been no study on what day of the cycle Tamoxifen begins related to the side effects. We are creatures who live on a cycle... a
So here's my theory- and apologies if this has already been addressed on some of the previous 92 pages...
I thought at first it would be helpful to take Tamox on the part of the cycle where the estrogen is already receding in our bodies. Like working with the system instead of against it. I read about 2 women on Breast Cancer org who had the same idea but it didn't work. They took Tamox on or as their periods began and they had period-like symptoms on Tamoxifen, like bloating and moodiness, the two issues that worry me the most. I am hoping Tamoxifen will help me escape my perimenopause, not keep me in it! So what I have noticed from reading other Tamox threads (and yes, I guess I should read the other 92 pages on this thread too) is that the women who had "no" side effects or weight LOSS (yippieeee!) couldn't remember what day of their cycle they took it. I checked with my therapist and we reasoned that the women who couldn't remember more likely look it on one of their "good" days of the cycle. So my current working theory is that Tamox may "freeze" your cycle at the point where you take it. So if I took it on my "thin" day, a couple days after my period ends, when I also have a lot of energy and am on some sort of happy high, maybe that's how my five years will be? (OK or 2 years switch to AIs whatever).
I am also highly suggestible so I figure it can't hurt to go with a positive attitude.
I am waiting til September because my ONC said it was OK, because I have lost 15 pounds since December and want to lose as much as possible before I start, I really need to lose some weight and guess it will be more difficult (if at all possible) during hormone therapy. Plus, being overweight depresses me, so it's one more thing that could trigger a problem on Tamox. Meanwhile, my frikin periods are lasting for 2 weeks with major cramps and wrecking my bedding, so it's really motivating me to like Tamoxifen!
I am big on visualization so I am visualizing that I will sweat this whole summer, not being able to wear white pants, lose weight, start Tamox at a healthy weight, lose weight on Tamox, have a couple months of heavy periods and hot flashes and night sweats in the fall, open the windows to let the cold air cool me until Christmas and start 2010 with no pads, tampons or wrecked bedding- or cancer!
Here's one question, if we have drenching night sweats, do we lose weight from all that sweating?
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I have been on tamox for 1 1/2 years (started Oct 2007) In that time, I have had fairly regularly timed cycles (between 23 to 26 days apart. They have become heavier, longer and more painful. The time of your cycle and taking tamox does not effect what happens to your periods. Remember you take it EVERY DAY therefore it doesn't matter in regards to your cycle. Everyone is different in how they react to tamox. My experience may not be like others. Some women stop their periods, some have lighter and some, like me, have worse. It is an individual thing.
Hugs,
Trish
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Trish is absolutely right - when you start Tamoxifen has nothing to do with what your side effects are. First of all - yes, you do take it every day. The only way timing would make a difference, is if you took it on a cycle like a birth control pill. Second, any effects of the drug take 2 - 6 weeks to manifest, so it's not something that suddenly changes your body the day you start taking it.
Also, Tamoxifen will not make your periods stop, and as Trish mentioned, can make them worse.
Sweating does not make you lose weight - only eating fewer calories than you burn will do that. Unfortunately, you could have non-stop hot flashes and sweat buckets, and the only thing that might happen is dehydration.
All bad news, but that said, I'm a big fan of the positive attitude. I believe that it actually makes your body stronger and heal better. Good luck
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Okay, but this is my problem....I never had reg. periods. I would only have a small one maybe ONCE a year, sometimes longer. I have what they call: fiberic systic ovarie syndrome ( I know I spelled that wrong ). and having NO periods is because of that. Its not dangerous, and I have been checked out completely since my dx. This is why I was so shocked to have this period. I havent bled like this since I was a teenager ( and that was a while ago ) I never owned pads, because the once a year I would get something it was soooo small, it would only be when I would wipe. I thought being on Tamoxifen, it pushes you into menopause, so you dont have ANY periods?? Now after reading from those of you who are on it, I wonder if now I will be forced into having regular periods?? But why does that happen, if our estrogen is being blocked??
On one more note, what about weight?? will I put on weight or will I loose?? I have had NOT ONE other side effect and I am sooo grateful!! I have only been on it a month now and am wondering if I am going to end up looking like a Buffalo or a skinny swan??
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Trish and Munchy, thank you - but you didn't answer my question. I understand what you are saying about the 5 years not being cyclical, but what you are saying still doesn't address my theory. This is the question: Do you know what day of your cycle you started Tamoxifen?
I have been reading the Tamoxifen threads here on Breast Cancer org, and also checking the Breast Cancer Prevention Trial (BCPT)
of 13,000 women and the William Buchholtz presentation of Tamoxifen studies - especially his recitation of Susan Love's study, so I have both empirical and anecdotal data and it all matches.
The critical point being the negligible difference in reported side effects between the Tamoxifen group and the placebo except for hot flashes and vaginal discharge. Aside from women who are already high risk for side effects, because they were excluded from the study population.
Believe is one of those high risk women, as she already had fibrous cystic ovary syndrome (I am also guessing on the spelling Believe)
so she's in a spot without much data to consult.
And on the sweating, although all the empirical data says that not only does Tamoxifen not cause weight gain, the actual reported symptoms of weight gain are no different than women taking a placebo. I know that's really hard to believe. My GP who is head of Internal Medicine said something peculiar when I asked him about Tamoxifen side effects. He said to watch out for water retention and reduce my salt intake. So i am pounding the water and cutting out salt. This could be for all women my age (49 as of last week) or it could be related to the Tamoxifen. So this is why I asked about the sweating. I have been following a couple women who are working out and watching calories and not losing weight, so I thought maybe they were retaining water. And if that's so, then would the night sweats give them back the weight loss they deserve?
On one of the other threads they made a really cool point... that the change to our estrogen tells our bodies to distribute the fat we have differently, more like a man than a woman, no small waist.
But I have been reading a lot of women who actually have seen the scale rise
So... those are my questions, does anyone who is having a GOOD experience on Tamoxifen remember what day of their cycle they started Tamoxifen? and for the women having trouble losing or maintaining their weight do they think maybe water retention is the problem, and would night sweats help there?
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Although I appreciate and consider everyone's opinion, I don't think the day you start tamox will have any type of difference on how one's cycle or how se's will manifest themselves. If that would be the case, I would GLADLY stop and restart on a better day!
After my mas, I lost 7 - 10 lbs I then I had rads and when i was done I started tamox. I did start to gain weight after I started tamox (mainly around my middle). But I have stabilized without too much dieting and excercise.
My se's are very minimal, some warm flushes and night sweats at first. Definately have the mood swings (during the PMS part of my cycke) and bloating and abdominal pressure. Other than the heavier and painful periods, I can deal just fine on tamox.
I hope when I have my natural menopause (I'm only 45) that I can breeze through it like this. (except no periods of course!!)
I can try and research what day of my cycle it was, but I don't believe that it would make a difference on my experience. I believe it is an individual experience, based on our chemical reactions to medication and estrogen levels.
Good luck
Trish
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Hi to all I have been on tamox since jan 08 and i have lost 50 lbs and they do not know why. What worries me is that i have also lost muscle mass. my skin is hanging. My daughter says i do not need to lose anymore wieght it is beginning to look bad. Has anyone had this problem. The doc where concerned for awhile but now not so much.
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So does all this mean that for now on I will be having regular periods? Also, I have heard both sides of Tamoxifen, some that say they loose weight and others that say they gain weight, so what is it really? I havent got any of the other side effects talked about, is that because I am only one month into it? I am hoping all stays well.
Thanks to all for the great information!!
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I started Tamoxifen on day 3 of my cycle. My periods have gone from being set your watch by it regular to anywhere from 3 to 6 weeks in between. They have also gotten shorter and lighter. That may well be as much a function of my age (51) as of Tamoxifen.
I've also developed a fun new discharge that shows up occasionally.
In the year and a quarter since my diagnosis, I've lost about 55 pounds, about 35 of them since I started the Tamoxifen. I have increased my activity level, and decreased the amount of food I eat. I don't think that the Tamoxifen caused the weight loss, but I also don't think it has made it any harder.
The hot flashes were there last summer, and seemed to be triggered more frequently when I was hot or exercising. They tapered off during the cooler weather, but they are getting more frequent again so I think that (for me at least) staying cool helps keep them less frequent and less severe.
Most of us are in an age group where other health issues could be brewing, so it is important to ask ourselves if a particular issue that we are dealing with is in fact a side effect of the Tamoxifen or if it could be due to another cause. This is particularly important because some of those other issues can be detrimental to our health if left unaddressed, and/or may be easily treated eliminating the issue that is causing us problems.
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As if said before. I stopped having periods on Tamoxifen. The week I stopped taking it prior to my hyster, my body manged to sneak in one last period. I've been losing weight, but it is related to how I'm eating, if I'm not eating ideally it begins to come back, when I watch what I eat, it falls off. I'm back on it and maybe now that I've had the hyster it will be more difficult to lose weight. The thing is, it is different for everybody all we can do is share our experiences, but none of us are going to have the exact same SEs.
Karen
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Karen is right - not everyone will have the same se's, just as we all have different breast cancers. Some bc have low oncotype, some high - her- or her+, some have nodal involvement and some don't - it's a crapshoot!!
I believe AWB said that her onc tIold her that 25% will stop their periods, 50% will stay the same and 25% will be worse.
Hugs to all!
Trish
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Hi all, I have posted a couple of times and in hindsight sounds so righteous ... I have been on Tamoxifen for nearly 3 months now with little or no side effects, no hot flushes, night sweats, weight gain but a little abdominal pressure and sadness. Saying that, last weekend it was my birthday (turned 47) and due to all our medical expenses I told everyone I didn't need presents. So, guess what. No pressies, no card, no cake. I totally spun out, cried all day, cancelled birthday drinks and have been down in the dumps for 3 days. What the .... Is this Tamoxifen or is it some kind of delayed "why isn't everyone celebrating my birthday and the fact that I am still alive"? Will the depression get easier? Would Effexor make me feel better? I just want to feel like me again - I am so tempted to go off this stuff, but not doing chemo (Oncotype result 6) I'm too scared I will be risking too much. Sigh. Anyone have any advice? Maybe getting my new boobs (exchange sheduled for 22 June) will make a difference.
all over the place
Helena
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Trish, when i started poking around for Tamoxifen answers I read these threads entirely:
Tamoxifen with no Chemo
About to Start Hormones Groupand somewhere in there were at least 2 women who were having issues with Tamoxifen, they stopped for some weeks and restarted and had no problems after that. I think one was 5 weeks and the other two, but I didn't take good notes
. I have no idea if it's because of the day of the cycle, or if its psychological or coincidence or what. Just that it happened to them and I stuck in my hat for use later if I need it. If you are having bad symptoms, maybe ask your ONC if it's OK for you to go off a couple weeks and then start again. On the other hand, having been 45 and now being 49- granted I did 3 courses of IVF from 2005-2006 but still... my whole life except the very beginning my period was so regular it was crazy. I can tell you what TIME it came, 10am on the 28th day. I never had cramps, I knew exactly what the flow would be (I will spare details). It took me a while to realize I was perimenopausal, I think my biggest clue was about 2 years ago I was wearing an all-white ensemble to my annual physical, had a whole chat with my internist sitting across from her on the exam table fully clothed, legs not crossed. As I was leaving I stopped to use the bathroom and WOW what a surprise. My white pants and underwear were completely soaked, I looked like Carrie from the waist down. Of course there was a mother and her 3 year old banging on the door, the kid needed to pee. And here I am inside doing handwash and poking my head through the urine sample exchange door- of course no one there and no sign of a tampax or pad anywhere... at least it was July and hot so when I walked out with my wet white pants it was warm enough but I was never so grateful to see a cab show up...
OK so welcome to perimenopause, its a whole bag of fun- not. My step mom had NO symptoms of menopause, her period just stopped coming. My best pal hasn't had a break from roller coaster symptoms for some years. I get so emotional on my period that even my oncologists noticed it... and was concerned because I was so down and depressed one day, my BS was like- who are you, Sybil? So I can testify, at least about the mood swings and the heavy crazy periods can be just normal fun being a woman of a certain age....
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PatMom- you are gorgeous! Everything you said makes perfect sense and is what I hope to be on Tamoxifen (praying). Even though what you said blows a hole in my little theory (if day 3 of your period means the third day into your period, that's how we counted it during IVF) its still fabulous news because it means maybe I can start Tamoxifen any day of my cycle and still have a good experience! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
One of the reasons I am delaying Tamoxifen is to separate the side effects. I wrote down a list of my "symptoms" before I started RADS, and referred to it sometimes when I had something weird going on... Oh, that happened before RADS. I have to remember to write down that I now have also strange pains here and there, sometimes my head, sometimes my leg, sometimes my boob, and stuff like that, because I have to actually remind myself that I am currently not on ANYTHING, so it's just me being weird. On the About to Start Hormones thread I was writing down all the symptoms and started calling face docs when I read some women saying their facial skin felt dry. But then I kept reading the thread the same women were saying D'oh, it's December, I always get dry skin in December... who doesn't? That's why I love these studies, they have one group on placebo having all the same scary side effects... when you look at them you see, the only side effects that are really more on Tamoxifen are hot flashes and the vaginal discharge. Aint it fun being a woman?
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And thank you Karen, again, completely makes sense.
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Yep, it's a crap shoot, but for one thing it's nice to know its not any kind of a given that I'd have the SEs that i am worried about and for another, can ya tell I am the type who asks questions and works all the angles and angels?
Thank you so much for sharing your experiences, you helped me a lot. Now I gotta get on that elliptical trainer, 'cause I don't have an excuse today for not losing weight!
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Helena... you effed up! The birthday thing alone is enough to make you depressed!!!! Not to mention the cancer diagnosis and worry about not doing chemo, and then not having the SEs on Tamoxifen, wondering if tis working and by the way, you are still waiting for boobs?
I am looking to see if you have a big red "S" under your shirt over your boobs because you must be superwoman.
Tell your friends you effed up, you want those drinks and to celebrate the day of your birth. Please!
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Rachel - I can so relate to the Sybil comment LOL.
My periods had always been fairly bad, always on time due to birth control pills. I have been on the boards when those threads were started and followed them for a little while but I don't remember those particular posts. I discussed my uterine issues and depending on the results of another TVU, probably have the uterus taken out and keep the ovaries. Since I no longer have warm flushes or night sweats, my se's are null.
It's a good idea to write down your symptoms and see what may be causing what.
Karen, Rachel is right - tell everyone that you need a night out with the girls for a celebratory drink (don't go nuts now) and enjoy your day. We sisters deserve to celebrate every damn birthday that we are here to enjoy!
Hugs to all!
Trish
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Helena,
I wish you a Happy Birthday. Birthdays are meant to be special so join me in cancelling this years birthday and celebrating it next year. Was told on my 45th birthday that I would need a second operation this time a mascetomy. Yah what a birthday pressie.
Having a huge Tamoxifen party at the end of the five years. Pity that is 4 years & 11 months away.!
You sound just like me escaped rads & chemo, se's of tamox bearable and myself as yet to organise my new boob. Have been told that I will be a different person when that happens as I won't be so unbalanced. Don't think she meant mentally though lol.
Big hugs to you
Viv
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Viv- you had mast but no chemo or RADS, yes? I have heard of that but don;t really understand how that works. Now I will get all bitchy Jewish mama over you too... I say definitely celebrate your birthday, OK maybe some small way. For me it was plenty that I was
-here with my boy
-done treatment
-had some birthday cards, and even a birthday gift (it was really a mother's day gift from my neighbor but it was my birthday when I opened it and it was for me) and some nice phone calls and facebook wishes. I learned some time ago that it will twist up your mind good if you don't do anything to mark the day... or put in more positive way, its important to have one thing you do that day to let you know you are connected to someone else. It can be really isolating to do nothing. Same for the holidays, espeecially Thanksgiving and Christmas. It doesn't have to be much, just one thing you do with someone, one handmade card, one telelphone call.
- I ordered a bunch of fattening fried food that I haven't eaten since i got on my diet in December... and ya know what, it tasted like crap and that made me happy because now I can go back on my diet and know I am not missing anything.
But I am all for the End of Tamoxifen party! Hell, I am all for any kind of party. Which makes me think of Trish and her birth control meds... I am so jealous you have sex Trish! I remember sex... kinda.
Amen sister, CELEBRATE. The American Cancer Society has a commercial out now where they say they are the official sponsor of birthdays:http://www.morebirthdays.com/morebirthdays/
and Viv is right, how could I be so dense... HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY HELENA
Viv, what were they smokin when they spoke to you like that? Why didn't they share?
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Rachel,
Yes no rads or chemo. Was caught early and just by sheer luck!
Had the mast and nodes were clear, highly hormone driven so given just hormone therapy as it gave me the same chance as with chemo without all the added problems that chemo brings.
Sure hope the doc has got it right.
I think that we just need to party & celebrate because it is Tuesday ( well here anyway in Aus) .
So happy Tuesday , Rachel, Helena and all my other Tamoxifen sisters.
Viv
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Happy Tuesday Viv!!!!!
we're 26 minutes into Tuesday in NYC... and I think that means I can click the breast cancer site again today woohoo!!!!
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RachelBC - yes I think I did stuff it up but it was all so overwhelming at the time!! And yes it was certainly isolating as I turned my mobile off and put the do not disturb on the phone - meticulous in my madness!!! and I won't do that again - I promise. Soft hugs. Don't stay up too late!!!!
Vivvvygirl - another Aussie - hi there. My 9 year old daughter is Vivi (short for Vivienne of course) - its a small world isn't it. Too late now to celebrate my birthday but it being Tuesday and all I might put a smile on my face and hug my daughters, really live it up!!!? Even with my tissue expanders my foobs look amazing so I am very excited about the exchange. Great birthday pressie for you - its all just one surprise after another isn't it. And yes you will certainly be more balanced in every way.
.... and you know what I'm even going to have a glass of wine ..................what a rager!
soft hugs to all of you
Helena
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Rachel,
I had to stop BCP due to my breast cancer (er+). Since Tamoxifen, my sex drive is about null. I don't have much sex. So please - don't be jealous. I don't "accomodate" my dh, but I do have to push myself sometimes. I'm just glad that he understands and loves me anyway!
Everyone have a wonderful day!
Trish
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Helena - What were you thinking girl? After making it through the lumpectomy, SNB and radiation (oh yeah, and a nice case of shingles thrown around Christmas - just in time to make me wait another month for surgery) I decided 45 sucked so bad that I was never going to get upset about turning another year older and that I was going to celebrate every birthday from now on. Sometimes as caregivers we tend to do without. When my kids used to ask me what I would like for my birthday or Mother's Day I would tell them not to waste their money on me. They would get mad at me. My husband pointed out that I should just accept their gifts because they get something out of giving them. Now I just try to graciously accept whatever they give me and not say anything about the money. I think you should treat yourself to something. It doesn't have to be expensive, but do something nice for yourself. You deserve it!
Sue
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Sue - I know, I know.... it was worth celebrating but the Tamoxifen took over me. I had arranged to celebrate honestly but things just got out of control. Thank you for your kind thoughts and words.
I actually didn't take my tablet last nite and am going to have a break for a week or so. I'm seeing my Onc on Thursday and will see what he has to say ... maybe Effexor (yikes) or maybe try taking half in the morning and half at nite. Is that classed as doing something nice for myself? ... probably not. Anyone else split their tablet and had any luck?
Helena
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Helena you wild woman... enjoy the wine
I was an idiot did stay up too late. Oh well, still had fun today. So on my way out to do errands I run in to my friend who is the trainer in the gym here, she had breast cancer before me, I was doing IVF while she was dealing with cancer in 2005. She left all the knowing about the cancer stuff to her sister, escaped chemo with the oncotype test, did RADS and put off Tamox because she wants to have a baby first. She's 46. I was really happy to tell her what I had learned here about the Tamox, and the study with the placebo. I know the whole fertility deal as well and pointed out to her that if I had known there was any breast cancer in my family- or me- there is no way I would have tried to use my own genetics to have a baby. I have been pressing her to use an egg donor or adopt - and if she had, she'd have her baby by now. As weird is that sounds, it helped her. Oh and I told her about the weight distribution thing, thickness around the waist, thing possibly due to lack of estrogen, and how I want to keep my curves. She said (as she is a certified trainer) that Pilates is great for that sort of thing. She also said she's got a bunch of friends on Tamox and they all are having no problem.
So then I am out and about doing errands and feeling really good because I can wear my rings, (my fingers got too fat along with my body) and even better I am seeing friends and they are telling me how skinny (comparatively) look, and my frikin period finally ended (2 weeks this time). Standing in line at the post office I start to get this pressure in my lower abdomen. New thing. Kind of like a cramp or gassiness, but not the same. More in my pelvic area. So I am adding that to my list of "symptoms" even before frikin Tamoxifen.
Just so y'all know (and if I forget, please remind me) that even without Tamoxifen, a normal healthy woman of 49 who is dieting and working out daily is going can have ridiculously heavy and long periods, pressure in the lower abdomen, blah blah blah....
Trish- I am not going to admit how long it's been since I had sex- but I can tell you it was LONG before I had breast cancer... well... hang on... I think I actually did have sex fairly recently... but then I suppose I'd like to qualify it as "sex" vs. "GOOD sex". Well that's not fair, hmmmm. Nope, nope, still it was more than a year. And you have a good husband? Well for the sake of all of us single gals, have some sex for me please? Have the kind of sex that makes you glad you're a woman, please.
Sue- right on! I saw something recently about celebrating the "day of your birth" and i thought I like that better than celebrating how many years old I am. I have always said I'd use any excuse to celebrate. Tonight I had some special fun... I have these little devices that hold a piece of fruit with a handle, and my 1 year old loves them. I was giving him the fruit but instead of just giving t him, I made like a big circle around him, and he was reaching for it and laughing, and the faces he was making were just cracking me up as we exchanged rude noise sounds. Meanwhile my cat kept bringing me his ball to throw for him to fetch. I love my life. I carried the kid to bed and he stopped to pat the cat on the head. Life is good, I celebrate today. (And yet I am still a NYC Jewish Mother Bitch!)
Helena, I am so happy in general, if I start taking Tamoxifen and find myself depressed, that's going to be a very big deal. That's one thing that is not on my symptom list, except on my period days. I hope hope hope your blues are not an SE of Tamoxifen or are easily resolved- for my own selfish reasons. Oh and maybe ask your ONC if you can take a couple weeks off and go back on? That worked for the other gals on the other thread, when they went back on they didn't have the bad side effects.
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Believe, Interesting theory. I guess I stared mine on a fat day. Can I start again??? I want to be thin again.
Welcome to all the new riders! Hope it goes well for you.
Good luck Karol! Hope you feel better.
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Linda, I know you work out, do you do pilates? Does the scale show it or is it your waist widening? Are you watching out for water weight?
Oh, and I spoke too soon. Period from May 12 still here. Getting on trainer for second workout today.
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Rachel, yep going to have a break for a few weeks, saw that some women went off it and then had not side effects the second time around. I started my tamoxifen just when my period was due (thinking it would make it disappear - fraid not) so I'm going to start it again mid cycle. Fingers crossed!!
I'm not prone to depression - I run 4 times a week and love socialising (had 3 glasses of wine last nite - whoops) and keep pretty fit and healthy - sorry to say but it is definately the tamoxifen causing havoc. Anyway I will get to the bottom of this somehow or other - feel better already just being proactive and not letting it control me. Believe me, there are some women I know here who have just sailed through Tamoxifen so don't worry.
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Rachel,
I try and do everything. I walk everyday, that's moe for sanity. I have a pilates dvd that I do, a treadmill, eliptical, I have a LIsa Rinna dancing DVD which is really funny because I can't dance. It gets my heart rate going, though and that's what I want. I also play soccer with my kids, have a den of very active boyscouts etc, etc. I am very active yet I've gained about 12 pounds. My waist is thickening. I guess you would say I am still a small person, but it's not the real me. I don't feel good because of the added weight at my waist. But, as my husband says, who cares?? You're alive and healthy!
I hope you have good luck with the Tamox. Not all of us gain weight.
I also had strange periods which did straighten out after a few cycles. I still get them every month. I am 43 and premeno.
Good luck to you!
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Hi everyone,
I'm joining the tamoxifen train. I just finished rads on Friday (wohoooooo!) and my Onc. has me starting tamox 2 weeks from then, so June 5th will be my first little white pill. I told him I was concerned with the possible blood clotting side effect so he told me to take a lose dose aspirin every day. Does anyone else do this?
I have been getting hot flashes since February, they keep me up at night, especially if I do not taking a sleeping pill... which I'm trying to wean off of. SO I am hoping they don't get any worse. I also haven't had a period since my first Taxotere in January (I'm 43 yo). Anyone get their period back after starting tamoxifen?
Sue
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Congratulations Susan for completing rads!!!!
I have hot flashes and I get my period, though it has become irregular, about every other month.
The good news it that I do not have hot flashes while I have my period. The flashes can be very annoying but I have learned to deal with them. My onc did not say to take an aspirin. Umm, I'll ask her at my checkup in July.
I also work out daily, between a 3 mile walk (or bike/treadmill, depending on weather in NE) and I lift weights. I had to take a year off from the weight lifting. I started back in January, Michelle Obama's arms got me motivated. LOL!!!
Linda - I bought a book years ago called Escape your Shape ... there are workouts designed for body types. I followed this and had great results. My problem area is my butt & thighs, and I was doing incline on my treadmill and also using the weights for my legs. Once I read the book for my body type, I stopped lifting weights for my legs and no more incline on the treadmill. Made a big difference!
Have a great day ladies!
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