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Bottle o Tamoxifen

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited June 2011

    donnasac - Welcome to the group. Sorry we had to meet this way but you will find a wonderful group of ladies here that are very caring and supportive.  I have been on Tamoxifen for 6 months and hardly have a hot flash.  I tried Effexor and the side effects were really bad.  I was having a hard time sleeping but I had terrible toe joint pains and burning/stabbing pains in the BC boob.  I went to a pain specialist and am now taking amytriptyline.  It has taken my pain away and is giving me wonderful sleep.  What I am saying is maybe you should stop taking Effexor and see what happens without it.  You do have to remember that you have to stop it gradually.

    I know some of the other ladies will come along and share their experiences.  Come back often and ask all the questions you need to - we do tend to have some fun along with way too. 

  • didel
    didel Posts: 733
    edited June 2011

    Sherryc Congrats on the new addition to the family!! Babies always make everything better! I don't have any kids but I keep telling my friends I have to find younger friends to have babies since their kids are growing up so fast..lol...that's such great news.

    I have to say I never had a full on hot flash more like warm flushes following chemo but that stopped once I got my period back..but I only had it four times in the last year. My onc doesn't think I am in menopause (I am only 44) since I have no symptoms of menopause. I hope he is right. I am not ready for night sweats and hot flashes. Tongue out

    I forgot how much I enjoy you ladies on this thread...I have been lurking but I need to get back into the social aspect of this forum..you ladies make me smile. Thanks!

    Diane

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited June 2011

    Diane - I had hot flashes starting at age 44 - still had periods then.  Went through menopause at 52 and the hot flashes got worse.  Was on Prempro for 2 1/2 years until BC.  Now am on the T and have only warm flushes mainly in the evening between dinner and bed time. Hate the darn things.

  • Paula66
    Paula66 Posts: 1,572
    edited June 2011

    Shari I will be there with bells on.  My Onc gave me a pill to take, but I forget the name.  When I pick my script up tomorrow I will let you know the name.  She strongly stated that if someone suggests any thing natural, give her a call about it.  She says even the natural stuff can have estregen in it and that is a big no no for me.  Im having them bad too.  Somtimes when the heavy duty ones kick in I am beat red, thats how you know Im having a really bad one.  I will make for sure I get back to you with what she recommends for me.  Have a great night all!

  • tinkertude
    tinkertude Posts: 1,998
    edited June 2011

    Donna..welcome!!!!

    JO..I will email you! :)

  • rackie
    rackie Posts: 5
    edited June 2011

    hello everyone.  i started my tamoxifen in december and i am having terrible stomach problems.  one day is good and the next is bad.  losec helps a bit, i ws told it most likely a motility problem (slow emptying).. i read june's comments before about her problem and mine are very similar.

    @june- did you ever find out what was causing your stomach issues?  or did it rectify itself?  i am going on vaction next week and i do not want to think about any of this cancer garbage.  i just want to go on a vacation and forget about this:)

    jackie

  • June2268
    June2268 Posts: 926
    edited June 2011

    Jackie I am sending a PM now......

  • Sandeeonherown
    Sandeeonherown Posts: 1,781
    edited June 2011

    Shari- wear lots of white cotton, nothing you can soak through so you do not have that anxiety hanging over your head (the 'ph myI love this shirt but how embarassed will I be if..." feeling...and get a little portable fan. I tend to break out into laughter whenever I get a hotflash and I announceit to anyone nearby....I figure what the hell...if I am going to get red in the face and suddenly start sweang, I may as well acknowledge it is happening rather than pretending it isen't! Seems to work as everyone laughs along with me:)

    I have aGP appointment tomorrow....apparently there was a note on my blood results for me to check in with my specialist abou tit next time I see her...I called my GPs office and seaid ; well the heart specialist says I don't need to see her for 12 months so...guess I need t come in and see you instead!"...wonder what the heck is up now? cholesteroal now that I am off tamoxifen!?

    I miseed three days on this thread and do not have time to read through it all so....will simply say' hope all are doing well and to remind us all to breathe through the days up to our mammograms and appointments. I spen the wekeend with my girlfriend Carla who is a 7.5 year survivor~: We can do it too~

    June- how are you doing?

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited June 2011

    Got a question!  I know there has been discussion on this and I can't find it.  My hairdresser has said my hair is getting thinner on top. What should I use to help stop this?  I have noticed that I get more hair in my brush and on the floor. 

    Hope everyone had a great weekend. 

  • Sandeeonherown
    Sandeeonherown Posts: 1,781
    edited June 2011

    jojoba oil helps...I massaged it into my scalp a couple of nights a week when I was on tamoxifen and a two other times in my life when my hair was brittle and thinning..helps a lot

  • chabba
    chabba Posts: 3,600
    edited June 2011

    Jo - My hairdresser warned me about the hair loos when I was first DXed and suggested Biotin (an over the counter B complex.  Like you, I'm post menopause and on Tamoxifen for the same reason.  Started Biotin with Tami in October and no hair loss yet.

  • tinkertude
    tinkertude Posts: 1,998
    edited June 2011

    JO..I also found a shampoo called Schwarzkopf time repair with q10 in it I found it on amazon. its helped some too!!!

  • kjbell
    kjbell Posts: 454
    edited June 2011

    Sandeeonherown-I too announce it to anyone and everyone when a hot flash is approaching! I'm glad I have company. My face turns beet red and I start sweating profusely. It is absolutely disgusting, but what the heck. It is what it is. I just try to take it in stride!

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited June 2011

    Sandee - Chabba - Tink - Thanks for all the suggestions.  I am hitting Wal Mart tomorrow and will look for the biotin and jojoba oil.  Will also check out amazon.com for the shampoo.

    Miss seeing you TammiBabes on here.

    Hope everyone had a great weekend. 

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited June 2011

    Jo I also am having hair thinning.  I am taking Biotin and also my hairdresser put me on Nioxin which is a shampoo, conditioner and scalp treatment.  I do think it is slowing down. She ordered the starter kit for me and then I picked some up at Ulta

    I had a great time with weekend, but last night ended up getting the bug that my DIL's mother had that landed her in the ER on Friday.  I helped my DIL get her mom home and settled from the ER.  Anyway was up at 2 am vomiting then diarrhea. luckily I had some pheregan with me and took three pills.  All I had or I would have taken more, but no telling how bad I would have gotten if I had not had those.  So at sunrise DH went to the convenience store and got me something for the diarrhea.  I finally got to where I thought we could go home.  Ended up stopping in San Antonio at an Urgent Care Center and had to have an IV, get meds and I had a fever.  So I left my sons at 10:30 this morning and finally made it home at 7:30 this evening.  This was not a fun road trip today.  Called my son and told him if my DIL vomits to call her Dr and get her to the hospital.  She does not need to get this sick with just getting pregnant.

    Have to tell ya'll something cute my GD said last night.  She will be 5 in Sept.  We were talking and i told her that her Daddy was my little boy and she looked at me very seriously and said Mimi he is bigger than you. Of couse I am 5'3" and he is 6'4" so yes he is much bigger than me.

  • Paula66
    Paula66 Posts: 1,572
    edited June 2011

    Sherry Im sorry your visit was ended that way.  I hope it does stay away from your DIL.  I hope your getting better.  I love what your GD said.  They will always be our little boys, thats for sure.

    Shari have the name of the pill my onc suggested, but i only have the generic name.  Its venlafaxine hcl er 37.5mg.  She did let me know that it is an anti depression pill, but it helps the hot flashes.  I hope itll work on the flashes, because thats what I  need.  They are a nightmare sometimes.  With it being summer its not a good thing thats for sure.   

  • tinkertude
    tinkertude Posts: 1,998
    edited June 2011

    Hi Jo!!! Hi Paula!  Hi KJBELL!

    Sherry sorry you got the bug hope you are feeling better, your GD sounds adorable, the things they say are precious!

    Few more days I iwll be home, looking forward to it in a way and probably will feel differently after the first day back lol, but there really is no place like home!

    Have a great day ladies, hugs to you all

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited June 2011

    Hey Tink!!!!  Hope you are having a good day - miss you.

    Good Morning TammiBabes - Have A Great Day Everyone. 

  • Paula66
    Paula66 Posts: 1,572
    edited June 2011

    Hi Tink!!!  I hope your having a good time.  You are missed around here. 

    Shari I did get the name brand for the pill my Onc gave me and its name is Effexor.  I just started taking it so I'll have to see how it goes.  She did say itll take a few weeks to start kicking in.  I hope this helps you!

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited June 2011

    Have my last BS appt tomorrow afternoon.  Although I love my BS and he is really cute - it is time to move on.  No appts for 3 months - family doctor and that is routine - no onc for 6 mos.  Just what the heck am I going to do with all the free time I am going to have.

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

    Shari, I also have had MAJOR hot flashes for about 6 months, started when I was on tamox, but continued even when I quit the tamox. They occur about every 1-2 hours, sometimes making me think I am going to pass out and I have to sit down, cannot concentrate on ANYTHING going on around me - quite disturbing to me, but apparently not to my doc. She just says "yes, some people have disabling hot flashes" and she DID offer Effexor, but I am so intolerant of most of the drugs that she has prescribed so far (including the chemo) that I am just trying to deal with them. They DO seem to be getting a little less intense over the past couple of weeks, and it may have something to do with less stress during a wonderful vacation. I guess the solution is for me to just go on permanent vacation! Laughing

  • Paula66
    Paula66 Posts: 1,572
    edited June 2011

    HMMMMM free time on your hands Jo!  Enjoy it.  You deserve it after all you have went thru!

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited June 2011

    Paula - I am soooo busy these days - just love it though.  This is what I was like before BC.  Always doing stuff and not having enough hours in the day to get it all done.  Although  hate to admit it but I need to slow down a little bit.  That could be a good thing.

  • stephsal
    stephsal Posts: 6
    edited June 2011

     Hi everyone.  I have been lurking for some time now and have a few questions.  I am one year out and started Tamox. 6 months ago.  In the past month or so, I have been having ear pains, and localized neck pain.  I went to the ENT who said no ear infection, but still hasn't gone away. I don't know if this could be a side effect from the T?  Anyone else or have you heard of this?  Of course after BC, you think the worst of every pain and twinge!  Any insight would be appreciated!

     Thanks!

    Stephanie

  • sgreenarch
    sgreenarch Posts: 253
    edited June 2011

    Dear stephanie, i havent heard of ear pain but nothing is outside the realm of possibilities. I had a weird rash on the top of my feet that went away when i changed brands of tamoxifen on the recommendation of my family doc. I suggest you talk this over with your family doc and rule out all the mundane things it could be; like an allergy.



    Sherry, sorry about the stomach bug. Hope you are better. Congrats on the new baby. Paula, thanks for the name of the med. I will mention it to my doc, though i am nervous about being on so much medicine. Lupron shots, zometa, asthma meds and tamoxifen. I was the type who never used to take a tylenol! Jo glad you are getting back to normal although i know what you mean. I am sliding back into the old me that routinely overdid it.



    Flying to US tomorrow to visit whole family and have some vacation. Looking forward.

    All the best, Shari





  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited June 2011

    Shari - Have a safe flight and an awesome vacation with family.

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited June 2011

    Shari have a great time in the US.  Where will you be?

    stephsal-Chabba who post here sometimes lost some of her hearing while taking tamox.  you might want to find her and PM here about her symptoms leading up to it.  She has stopped tamox now and has hearing aids and is better. Good luck

    I cannot seem to get rid of this diahree so the dr is calling me something in to the pharmacy.  I sure hope it works.  I have already take so much immodium and kaopectate. Although I do feel better overall just have to stay close to the bathroom and I sure don't want to get anyone else sick.

  • Paula66
    Paula66 Posts: 1,572
    edited June 2011

    Good luck with the BS today Jo. 

    Sherry I hope you get some relief soon.

    Have a safe flight Shari

  • chabba
    chabba Posts: 3,600
    edited June 2011

    Sherry, I think it was Chevyboy who lost her hearing.  Mine is fine.

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited June 2011

    Chabba you are correct it was Chevyboy that had the hearing issue.  Thanks I have been sick and my brain is not working so great.

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