Bottle o Tamoxifen
Comments
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Helena - isn't it nice to know we are not alone. I keep wondering if I will have to do the effexor or lexapro - my onc. prefers lexapro - we shall see - I haven't had a true blue hot flash, but I have just been hot - I know the weather is hot, but It usually doesn't bother me too much - it does now. Thursday I will have my exchange surgery for my reconstruction and get my port out. YAY! I had a ct scan and bloodwork this past week and all things were clear!!! What a year it has been. Keep up the good work ladies - wherever you are on this tamoxifen journey.
God's peace and love to all.
Kim
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Hey, ladies! I just have a quick question for those of you who were pre-menopausal pre-bc: how long did it take for your periods to resume? I quit my low-dose birth control pills the day of my dx in Dec- despite infertility had been on them for migraine and heavy period management. Started tamox end of February. Still no period. I'll be 48 in September. I'm just worried that I'm going to start at the most inopportune moment!
Still having night sweats and some trouble sleeping, though that seems to have improved the last couple of weeks. Minor joint pain still there. Funny thing.....though I haven't exactly lost weight, I haven't regained the weight I lost between dx and recovery from bmx, despite regaining my appetite and resuming my prior exercise routine. So, I guess there is some truth in the tamox product info!
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Woohoo Kim - clear ct scan and bloodwork - fanbloodytastic. And amen - we are not alone. I haven't had any hot flashes, just hot surges which are quite nice at the moment, it being winter and all over here in Oz. And I'm having my exchange surgery next Monday Kim - you must be doubly excited with getting your port out too. I can't wait to get rid of these rocks and have some nice smooth, soft Foobs. Let us know how it goes for you.
I have my effexor script waiting for me - I will use it if my depression/anxiety gets too much. Fingers crossed for both of us!!!
Val - I am 48 (47 at diagnosis) and pre-menopausal and my periods haven't stopped at all - started taking tamoxifen in March 2009. I now only have 3 days of bleeding (pretty full on I'm afraid) and that is it. Some women's periods stop others just keep on going. If they haven't resumed you could probably get a test to see if you are heading into menopause. Glad the sleep and night sweats are improving.
soft hugs
Helena
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Vivvygirl - mine is white and soooo soft (even though purple is my favourite color) - I get extra hugs from my two daughters (10 and 7 years old) - love it!!!!!! Did I tell you my oldest daughter is Vivi.
soft hugs
Helena
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Helena,
Yes you did tell me your daughters name...not may of us Viviennes around though.
Think I may stay in my dressing gown all day today...bad teary day.
Sick of cancer......Feel like stamping my feet like a small child and yelling "I don't want this, I didn't ask for this, take it back I just want to be normal again"
I have my fingers crossed that the SE will be minimal for you this time around. Good luck with the surgery. I haven't looked much into my options so am not sure what exchange surgery is?? I currently have just gone done the prosthetic path ...jury is out to whether I like it or not.
Hugs & Love
Viv
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Pill 2....1823 more to go...I CAN do it! Decided to make peace with the pill and be friends...for it could save my life..............jules
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Welcome to all the new faces! It was also nice to hear from some familiar voices again.
Jilly, Rachel, Jules - Your good attitudes are an inspiration. I wish I could be that positive.
I had my onc appt last week. And yes, it does seem a waste of time. I told him that I had cut down to half dose of Tamox and he was not at all happy with me. He is insisting that I talk to a therapist. Apparently worrying about side effects and disregarding the fact that Tamox can improve my chances of survival means I am crazy. (sigh)
I do feel somewhat better on half dose and my sex life is a little better too.
My onc is still worried about my other breast. He feels that the surgeon may have missed the lump she was supposed to have removed during the last surgery... or maybe it's a different, new, lump. Argh... I don't want another surgery! I have another appointment with her next week to check it out.
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vaginal dryness will suck New husband (have not needed lube..ha ha)..not looking forward to that...but labido?? I didn't know that. OMG! I am 42 and in my prime sexually...can't imagine life without it......jules
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Jules I can't believe you added up the amount of tablets LOL - but it is nice when you get up to counting months!! Good on you - as John Lennon said "give peace a chance". God how corny amI today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (love the black and white photo).
Vivvy I am so sorry you are having a teary day - no need to stamp your feet or yell just come here and type in capitals and use lots of exclamation marks - we are all listening. I think somehow we all have to come to a point when we have to realise this is the new normal, sucks doesn't it.
Munchy, I just posted on the other tamoxifen thread - nice to see you here too.
soft hugs
Helena
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val61:
I was pre-menopausal until the very day I took Taxol...did you have chemo (I didn't read everything here, sorry!)...because that put me into menopause October 2006, in ONE DAY! I was 47 also...totally pre-menopausal, in fact first rounds (4) of chemo INcreased my bleeding, I bled every day, so had an endometrial biopsy just in case! (If any onco tells you that chemo will STOP your periods, they are wrong-o)...been menopausal since Oct. 2006...on tamoxifen, but probably next month (july 2009) at age 50, will go on an aromatase inhibitor, as labs show I'm post-menopausal by now. VERY limited se's on tamoxifen (the most being the calf pain when walking)...hope all is well with you...just got xanax for anxiety, it HYPES me up however, so not really doing what it's supposed to! I stay positive, what else is there for us to do (but yes, there are 'down' days...that's what I get on 'chat' for!)...all my best to you all....juli
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Thanks Helena....
Yep,, I added it up. Could I say maybe I am goal setting to make it to the end. I do love black and white photos...thanks...jules
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Only 2nd day on tamox. Maybe just paraniod?? I woke up very early with a terrible headache today... 5 hours later still killing me...and my hands feel like they are burning up.Maybe I am just letting it get to me??
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Hi, everyone:
I now have my very own Bottle 'o Tamoxifen waiting on my counter...I'm going to start in another 2 weeks. Any advice? Seems like most are saying it makes sense to take 1/2 a pill in the morning and evening. Anything else you'd recommend? I'm pretty nervous about it...
Thanks.
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adenacb, I've been on Tamoxifen since Nov, and I take one pill in the evening after dinner. Works find for me! I'm not having to much trouble on the pill so far! Good luck.
kle
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Kle,
I sure rely on hearing comments like that!!! I'm gonna be ok..jules
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I have been on it since 3/30/09. Not that long but I have had no problems so far. I have hot flashes since chemo and still have them but they are okay. I known a few ladies at work that have been on Tamoxifen and are done. They all told me they too have very little problems. I know thing may change, maybe not...
Kle~your going to be just fine...
Tomorrow i go for my 1st mammo ! I am a bit nervous...I pray it will be fine. I feel it will buti still feel a bit worried.......
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Good luck tomorrow, Marlenet!!
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Here is my experience with Tamox. Remember as everyone one's dx is different so is everyone's experience and reaction to Tamoxifen. My journey is as follows:
abnormal mammo - calcs (April 2007), biopsy- dcis, mri- left breast lit up like a Christmas tree, ultrasound-found suspicious area(radiologist actually said "This looks invasive"), consult with BS decided to do mast as dcis throughout whole breast, had mast with tissue expander for recon, path stated 8mm invasive (radiologist was right, damn it!), had 1/2 syring fill on TE as I am an A cup and right breast I left alone, had rads (26 reg & 9 boosts) due to margins, low Oncotype so no chemo, started tamox (October 2007), exchange surgery, and now 2 years past original abnormal mammo.
So it was a whirlwind for about 6 months. I stared at my first tamox pill thinking "what's gonna happen with this? Can't be any worse than what I've been through so far."
My se's have been very mild - after the first 2 weeks I started to get night sweats (went away after 2-3 months), warm flushes (also have gone away) and leg cramps. I have noticed a widening of my middle, but only a 1/2 size for me. I do have heavy periods (STILL!!) and a period of PMS during the month that I call tamoxi-rage, but that has seem to calm down. Other than that, I have no se's to really speak of. My onc has said that if I at least some of the se's, then it was working.
I take my pill before bedtime as I always took my BCP before bed as to not upset my stomach. That seems to work for me.
As I said above, everyone is different, and reactions are different.
If I would have to summarize my experience, it has been a favorable one.
Gentle hugs to all tamoxi-train riders!
Trish
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I am so glad to see all the positive posts for all us newbees to read~~~~jules
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Hi, Everyone ~
I need a seat on the Tamoxi Train as I'll be taking my first dose tonight. Thanks for this very informative thread!Hugs to all,
Artemis0 -
Welcome.
The seats are comfy, the company is good and best of all the airconditioning works.
This may not be the journey we intended to take but the friends you make along the way make up for that.
Hugs
Viv
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I am new to the Tamoxi train. I have been taking it about a month. Can't seem to remember to take this pill every morning (maybe subconsciously I don't want to take it). I have had the warm flushes, a few night sweats and some leg cramping - mild SE's compared to others.Only 59 months to go.
Denise
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Hey Artemis! I just started today too! One seat on the train please... let's hope it is a smooth ride for all of us... no bumps in the road.
Penguin aka Michele
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Hey Artemis! I just started today too! One seat on the train please... let's hope it is a smooth ride for all of us... no bumps in the road.
Penguin aka Michele
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Done with surgery, rads and the oh-so-yucky chemo. I now have a script for tamox in my purse, haven't filled it and kinda wish it said "percoset" instead. I fear my ovaries already look like raisins and I don't need anymore raging hot flashes, thank you very much. Waiter! Check please!
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one or the other....I am incredibly nauseated..maybe a virus or the new tamox? Just wanna puke my guts out,,,so sick!!!! Help!! Is this the tamox doing this? Hope not...can't deal...jules
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jules---probably unlikely that it's the tamox, but you should call and let your doctor know of your nausea and headache and burning sensation in your hands. Hope you feel better soon.
Anne
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Jules,
I was feeling that way when I started but not straight away.
Was taking the 'dreaded one' in the morning then...now taking it just before bed with a glass of milk.
Hang in there
Big hugs
Viv
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Popped my first pill today. Oh, how I DO hate taking pills. Funny thing to complain about after the past year of surg. (still have exchange ahead of me), chemo, and rads.
My oncologist told me today that she preferred I leave the port in for one or two years.........just in case. Ah, the optimism is overwhelming! HA! I don't give a flip, this sucker is coming out! They can put another one in (if God forbid, BC looms its ugly head again). If I leave it in, it needs flushing once a month. Okay, ladies, hmmmmmm let me think real hard on this one. One, puny, minor out-patient surgery or.........months and months of painful jabs in my port to flush (never mind the port blood letting that hurts like hell, too)! I may not have my MD, but I'm not a complete masochistic idiot.
Oh, well, just wanted to rant a bit (sorry)!
So, five years of pill popping, lovely. Sh#t, I forgot........she said something about Femora (sp?), once I'm done with Tamox. Just keeps getting better. Oh, yeah, and to share......she recommended NOT getting pregnant on Tamox. OMG!!! YeeHA, that was so on my list of things to do!
Shan
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prob. nothing. but the nausea is just so bad tonight. Have been unable to eat today. I took med for nausea without relief. I will call doc tomorrow for better nausea med. just would hate it if I stay nauseated for months...keeping positive ...really I am....jules
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