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Bottle o Tamoxifen

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  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited May 2011

    Jo I will keep you posted and glad something is getting done with your pain.. See we both have BS appts on June 7th.

    OK  I finished reading all the pages and now I cannot remember what I read.  Maybe I can blame that on the tamox as well.  My hair is thinning so bad.  I picked up the stuff my cousing ordered for me and started usuing it but I know it will take awhile to kick in.  I just hope it works.  I have thin hair to start with and don't have any room to loose.  I think it was much worse this weekend.  I could see it all over the counter in the bathroom and when I took a shower the shower could not drain because of my hair.  Or maybe it is just that I am really paying attention.  DH says I have been leaving a trail in the bathroom for quite a while.  umh wonder why he did not say anything to me about it.  I'm sure he knew it would freak me out.  He says if I loose to much he thinks I should get a wig instead of trying to clip in all those hair piece thingys.  Says he would feel better with me wearing a wig for 5 years than to not take tamox. Hopefully it will get better.

  • Linda-n3
    Linda-n3 Posts: 1,713
    edited May 2011

    Jo, I just can't believe you got me whacked Friday as I was trying to be so sneaky!! Just proves you are truly a pro!

    Am thinking of you all tonight, hoping your weekend was a good one.  And sending us ALL positive vibes for healing and freedom from pain and fear.

    Linda

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited May 2011

    Linda - Blame it on Tink -  she taught me everything I know.  AH Friday - that was soooo much fun.

    Sherry - We will have to compare notes on Jun 7 BS appts.  My appt is at 5:10 so it will be late when I post.

                                   

  • tinkertude
    tinkertude Posts: 1,998
    edited May 2011

    Jo... dont give away all my secrets!!! lol.... i still have allot more to share :)

    Shery so glad you had fun at the wedding . I know what you mean about the hair thinning.... me too..

    Linda... hope you can join us Fri for our next pillow fight... I get blamed for alot of "flying around" and the truth is..... well its all true lol!!!1

    Jo/Sherry..please keep us all posted on your next appt. I have my 6month BS and Onc appt on June 16th... June will be a busy moth for all it seems!!!

    what great comfort food that all was.... yum!!!!

    hugs!

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited May 2011

    Tink - My June calendar is loaded with appts.  Have mammo, gyn, bs, onc and gp.  Whew!  If all is good then no appts for 3 months.  I could get used to months without having to sit in a cold waiting room.

    Don't worry Tinderdoodle - I won't give away all your secrets.  That would take all the fun out of it.  hehehe 

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited May 2011

    tink and Jo it will be kinda busy in June.  I have BS, PS and Onco all in June.  And now throwing in Pain Management so don't know what kind of follow up I'll have there.

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited May 2011

    Sherry - I hear ya.  Once I see the pain management doctor, don't know what kind of follow up I will have either.  Still waiting to hear when I go.  Will let you know when I find out.

    GOOD MORNING TAMMI BABES! 

  • Chevyboy
    Chevyboy Posts: 10,258
    edited May 2011

    Morning gals!  Sherry, I just read your post about hair loss and thinning....mine did that too!  But after a couple months, it kind of leveled out.....Sometimes I read where gals give up Tamoxifen for this reason, & go onto one of the others, but the OTHER side effects are much worse.  

    Don't give up yet, usually any SE's stay for awhile, then it seems when our body gets used to them, they go away, and then something ELSE will come along!  Wink   So if you can handle more hair being in your brush, like I did, wait awhile ...... See if it gets better.....  xoxoxoxoxo

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited May 2011

    thanks Chevy, I am giving it a go.  I have had so many SE with tamoxifen.   My body has adjust for the most part, but seems when you get adjust to one SE another one pops up.  I don't think DH would let me off that easy with not taking it.  That is why he told me he would rather me wear a wig for 5 years than not take the tamoxifen because of my hair.  He has been great through all this and does not speak his mind on most things unless I ask, but is always there for support.  So I guess I better respect him on this one because I know this bc stuff scares him too.

  • chabba
    chabba Posts: 3,600
    edited May 2011

    Sherry - 7 months on tamy now with no hair thinning.  I have been taking Biotin. It has also helped my nails.

  • tinkertude
    tinkertude Posts: 1,998
    edited May 2011

    CHEVYBOY..Thanks... of all the se I have had that is not the worst so yes absolutley planning on sticking it out .

    Shery sounds like your dh is great too! that makes such a difference...

    I am still on 15mg and plan on bumping back up to 20mg this weekend.... than July 1st I get to come off of it for 2 weeks for surgery... I am anxious to see how I feel when i am totally off of it

    hope all my Tammy friends are having a great day!!

    Download image.jpg (204.9 KB)Download image.jpg (204.9 KB)Download image.jpg (204.9 KB)

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited May 2011

    Tink - What are the picutres supposed to be of?  They got lost in cyberspace.  Hope you are having a great day.

  • phxsunshine
    phxsunshine Posts: 156
    edited May 2011

    swanseagirl, my Naturopathic Oncologist put me on Hesperidin Methyl Chalcone, it's a flavonoid. One capsule 3x a day, and it did help a lot.  I am down to, usually, one doozie a night now, very occasionally I'll have one during the day as well.  I buy them over the internet, they are made by Douglas Laboratories.  

     Have 2 ?s for you ladies.  #1)  I'm having surgery on 1 July to repair a cystocele (my bladder is falling out, it is gross - feel like I have a ping pong ball in my undies some days and that shit ain't going to fly anymore). It was there before, but the Tamoxifen has made it much worse. Anyhow, I am concerned about the tmox complicating things.  Have a call into my breast surgeon now, but do you all have any advice to share?  #2)  I have had an occasion to fly several times since Feb. If I fly only 1 hr, I am fine, if I fly 2 hrs, my feet and calves hurt for several days afterward.  This has never happened to me before BC, has it to any of you?  Thanks and hope you ladies are having a good day.  

    Today is the 365th day since my diagnosis and I celebrated by throwing on my Survivor shirt and pedaling into the sunrise with a happy and grateful heart this morning.Cool

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited May 2011

    phxsunshine - I am no help with your questions - I'm sure someone will come along with some answers.  But I can say congrats on your one year cancerversay.  This is news we like to hear.

                                        

  • PitPat
    PitPat Posts: 32
    edited May 2011

    Hello ladies,

    I'm officially a member of this club. I began my Tamox 5 days ago.

  • swanseagirl
    swanseagirl Posts: 171
    edited May 2011

    Welcome Pat!  You will find the best ladies in the world on this thread. FYI carry a pillow. EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Phxsunshine, thanks for the info.

    Chabba, parents didn't have much money growing up.  We too had pot roast and whatever could be stretched into two meals.  However, I make pot roast to this day and the family loves it.  My son makes it over in college. Now he does have to stretch his money. LOL

    Off for my walk and then hitting the gym tonight with my daughter for some bonding time.  Oh how I wish she was of drinking age, could definietly bond over a margarita.Surprised

    Happy Monday everyone!

    Jules

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited May 2011

    Welcome Pat - I also would encourage you to carry a pillow with you at all times - especially if you are hanging around on Friday nights.  It can get a little crazy around here.  These gals are the best.

  • Chevyboy
    Chevyboy Posts: 10,258
    edited May 2011

    Sunshine!  I know exactly the feeling!  I was so sick of my bladder causing those problems, I just wanted it to fall out, & I would kick it over to the side of the road! 

    They tied it up once, & did a Hysterectomy at the same time....No problems!  But it came down again a year later!!!!  Damn thing!  So THEN a different Doc, did a Sacrospinus Ligament Suspension....In other words, he built a "shelf" with a Ligament, & attached it to my Spine, or something like that....  That was about 20 years ago, & it is still hanging around up there SOMEwhere...Wink 

    Hi Pitpat!  Don't go gettin' no side-effects now, you hear?  If you get them, just get a beverage of your choice Wink and sit back & tell us what you are doing....BeLIEVE me, we have all done it before, ha! 

    Yes, carry a pillow, these kids really get rowdy around here!  Especially Tinkertoes, Jo, Chabba, June, and Jules!  And n3ypb.....what is THAT?   HA!  Paula....MMMMMmmm Yes, but it has to be Kraft Mac & cheese, right? 

    Okay....I couldn't resist....

    xoxoxoxoxo

    But check into the different options & procedures!  I KNOW they are more advanced now, with their thoughts on keeping it up there!  I don't think the Tamoxifen did it though....EEEEgads, not THAT one too!   But anything is possible.

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited May 2011

    Chabba I started taking Biotin about a month ago because I noticed my finger nails were getting more brittle, did not notice the hair at that time.  I am hoping that will also help me.

    PXsunshine congrats on the cancervary.  Whoop!!!!!!!! sorry I can't answer your other questions.  Someone here will.

    PitPat welcome to the club, hope you sail righ through without SE's, but if you have them I am sure someone here can give you advise.

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited May 2011

    Chevyboy - Love mac & cheese - looks yummy!  Have you forgotten that you have flung a pillow or two?  You are no angel my dear.

    On another note.  I won't see the pain specialist until Jun 15 then follow up with BS on Jun 28.  I was looking forward to seeing the BS on the 7th to get my mammo results.  Well,  I do have a plan B.  I see my gyn on the 8th and he will get them for me.  All my doctors work out of the same hospital system so that makes it nice.  I just don't want to have to wait until Jun 20th when I see my onc - he was the one who set me up for the mammo.

    Of course, the imaging center may surprise me and let me know something before I leave.  I never asked before - did not feel like I needed to - just waited for the card to come in the mail.

    Seems the month of Jun is loaded with appts - but then it will be smooth sailing for a couple of months after that. 

  • PitPat
    PitPat Posts: 32
    edited May 2011

    Well I'm 4 years behind my sister on the BC journey. She is on her last year of Tamox. My doc says it will be two years for me then onto Aromatse inhibitors. My sister has paved the way for me and I see that she has some issues (weight gain to start, then she lost it, now she has normalized).

    She has been my sole inspiration of going forward. She is amazing and she is what holds me up most days as I take all these tenative first steps. But the ladies here at BCO have been great too.

    I'm done chemo and rads. I have salpingo-oophorectomy at the end of august. I want to get back to a bit of normal life before going forward with more treatements.

    I also have re-con to plan. PS thinks implants are my best option. We'll see.

    I'm stiff and sore all the time, regardless if I exercise or not. If I do get active I feel great, but once I stop I kinda seize up. so I feel this way before Tamox. I hope it goes away over time. Cause it really sucks.

    And exactly what size pillow should I carry? and is that to be prepared for a pillow fight, or snooze attacks?

     Thanks for the welcome.

    Patti

  • EastCoastGrl
    EastCoastGrl Posts: 206
    edited May 2011

    Welcome Patti!

    Jo I hope you find relief from the pain soon!

    pxsunshine, congrats on the 1 year!!! 

    Sherry so glad you had fun at the wedding!!

    Tink I made pancakes Sunday morning also! :)

    Thinking about you June and Alicia! Hugs!

    Hope everyone is having a good day. :) I'm not digging the down, blah, indifferent.....feeling I have been continuously having lately. Feels like Tamoxifen has sucked any little bit of "joy" or feeling of happiness I may have had left. Don't know....maybe it's partly Tamox and partly some sort of PTSD? Who knows but I'm not enjoying this going through the motions everyday....want to feel good again.

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited May 2011

    Patti - I am so sorry you and your sister are having to go down the same BC road.  That is just not fair.  You do need a break from treatment before going further - the poor body needs time to heal and adjust.  You will move forward when the time is right and your body is ready.

    The size of the pillow is up to you - it is for the Friday night pillow fights.  One rule though, if your pillow happens to be filled with feathers and it breaks - you have to clean it up.  So you get an idea what to expect - WHACK WHACK -hehehe - you never know when you are going to be attacked.

     ECG - I know what it feels like to go through the motions - have experienced that often.  I thought is was a case of PTSD - would have bad dreams of reliving rads during these times.  Could some of it be from Tamox - maybe.  I hope you get to feeling better soon - (((HUGS)))

  • Chevyboy
    Chevyboy Posts: 10,258
    edited May 2011

    EastCoastGirl....So are you from Jersey?  Ha!  How come no-one admits to being from Jersey?  I just love the way Jersey girls talk!  I mean like the Mob Wives, or who-ever they are! Wink  It's  okay if you feel "down" sometimes!  I do it several times a day!  In fact, I'm getting rather Sassy to my DH....And I love it!  I can be a crab too, I've found out!   When you get snitty, just realize that it will go away.... Yes, the Tamoxifen plays games withour heads, our moods, not to mention our bodies. 

    PitPat...those girls will sneak up on you...Carry around one of those body-pillows, Ha!  That could whack a couple at a time! 

    Now Jo....I thought I WAS an angel! Innocent  See?  I am!  It's just that I can't stay up all hours of the night on Friday, like YOU can!    By the way sweet thing....I really am sorry about all your pain....Hope you get that taken care of.....

    I really AM having Mac & cheese tonight!  Ha, ha!  With Hot Dogs!  Want to come for dinner?

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited May 2011

    Chevy that is one fatening plate of food there.  I am trying to eat healthy.

    ECG wish you could get to feeling better.  You have felt blah for quit a while now.

    Patti so sorry you and your sis are going through the same thing, but at least you guys do have each other for love and support

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited May 2011

    Chevyboy - That plate of food looks wonderful - please fix me one.  My Dh does not like mac & cheese so I don't make it too often - when I do it is just for me.  I don't stay up that late, I am in bed by 10:00 most nights.  You are an hour behind me so you are the sissy.Tongue out

    It will be another 3 weeks before I can get in to see the pain doctor.  In the meantime, I'll have to deal with it the best I can.  It has been going on for almost 5 months now, what is a couple more weeks? 

  • phxsunshine
    phxsunshine Posts: 156
    edited May 2011

    Chevyboy, that's what my Doc is doing for me, building me a shelf. He said they have a new technique the past 2 years that he now teaches to other Docs across the country, he has done 100's of them.  I asked him if he'd do that to his mom or wife and he said he would if they needed it, so I said go ahead, but don't screw me up or I'll hunt you down like a dog and he said I shouldn't worry about a thing.  He'll fix me right up.  Thank you for sharing that your shelf still stands!

    I LOVE macaroni and cheese!!!  One of my favorites, good anytime of the day or night! haha 

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited May 2011

    Jo so sorry you can't get in until the 15th.  Guess I was lucky when I called last Thursday and they made my appt for this Friday. 

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited May 2011

    Sherry - Seems that is about the average time to see a specialist down here.  I was extremely lucky to get into the surgeon in 2 days - thank goodness for cancellations and a little whining does hurt either.  I have decided that once I have my mammo and I get clear results (how's that for positive thinking) then I am going to get started on my kitchen remodel project and work in the slew of appts I have.  I really want to get this done.  It is part of my "new beginning" and I find doing those kinds of things very therapeutic.

  • IsThisForReal
    IsThisForReal Posts: 154
    edited May 2011

    Mmm - the Mac and Cheese looks delicious!!  Sorry, I don't post a whole lot, but do a ton of reading and this thread is one of my 'haunts'.  I've been on tamox since Aug/10 and the fatigue is something else!  I've decided to start splitting the dosage to see if that makes a difference, at all.  Also, am having some depression set in.  I thought I was find until we started cutting down the Effexor that was prescribed for 'hot flashes'.  So now I'm back up to 75 mg...a low dosage, for sure.  So, I'm not sure if the fatigue is from the tamox, or influenced by some depression, or perhaps both.  Anyone experience this, and how did you deal with it?  Many thanks!