Bottle o Tamoxifen

June - Thanks for the update on Tink - I am not on FB and will have to rely on you gals.  Hope she feels better soon.  Sending gentle hugs out to her.

Jo - maybe we can send Tink some virtual drinks:)

Hi, guys. Far from home, visiting family here in NJ, and spotty Internet access so apologies for my absence. Wishing good recovery to tink and good test results to SherryC (whose photo contribution I did appreciate! Is that what men look like in Texas? Wow.)

To our new tamoxifen takers, welcome. I was 49 at dx and premenopausal. Day to day SEs have all been manageable. Joint aches, hot flashes, insomnia, but I've found that taking omega 3 and swimming have helped my issues a lot. Some things have even improved such as pms and asthma. I also think some of it is attitude. I'm grateful there are good medicines that reduce recurrence risks and that helps me shrug off bothersome SEs. I would urge all premenopausal women to be in the care of a smart gynecologist monitoring their hormone levels. I had the unusual SE of my estradiol levels shooting way up and am now getting Lupron shots each month to supress my ovaries. Doing ok on them, but glad this was caught.

SherryC, I am taking Zometa, which I think is like Fosamex, a bisphosphinate. I get it in an IV twice a year. My onc says it reduces recurrence risk. Research said yes, then no, then yes again. No reason I can see not to try. Just have to be careful about dental care as there's a risk of jaw infections. Good luck.

While here visiting, my brother told me his 46 yo wife had never had a mammogram and was scared to go. She said if I made the appt for her and went with her she would go. So what do you know, I'll be at an imaging ctr with her here, next week, one year and a day after my mammogram back home, that started this whole thing! Can't believe I'm the one with experience now. At least it's not my breast center and will try not to freak out in front of her! How often is the outside calm me completely different than the internal not always so calm me? especially now while I'm traveling, visiting old friends and family. Hubby couldn't come so I am often alone with my thoughts. I find that people are either overly inquisitive bordering on nosy (caring?) or silent after the topic has been raised (which is not often.) if I want to just go lie down (like who wouldn't want to lie down now and then) family seems to get nervous. Thankfully my parents are both ca survivors, so they're completely cool. It's my old girlfriends who seem to be the most spooked. Amazing how women are so completely terrified about breast cancer, almost beyond all else. I used to be like them, so I get it, but not sure why there is such terror. Because it's so common? Because there are occasional high profile deaths? But there are so many more normal healthy survivors too. Anyway. Will be happy to be back with hubby after three weeks. Needed my fix with you wonderful ladies, where I can talk so freely.

Jo, important stuff. How did your kitchen turn out?

Thanks, ladies. I love you! Shari

Shari good to hear from you, glad you are having a good time here in the States.  I had googled the recurrance and bisphophanate and knew that the research was out there, just had not heard of anyone else being on it for that reason.  Glad I am not the lone ranger.  And I feel as you do if it will help keep cancer away what the heck.  I went to the dentist last week and talked to her about it.  She said she sees very little problems with Fosomex so she was completely fine with me taking it. But I have wondered about the IV ones, once or twice a year sound pretty good compaired to a weekly pill.  But I will see how I tolerate this first, don't expect to have any problems. Oh and Shari there are some cowboys in Texas that do look like that and some not so much, haha

Jo post a picture here of your kitchen would love to see it.

So one of the SE's that i still have is the vaginal discharge.  I have been on tammy for almost 6 months the discharge is not bothersome except that I have gotten two vaginal yeast infections.  I asked my gyno if this was what I had to look forward to for the next 5 years?  She said lets hope just in the summer time since warnth and moister causes them.  I am prone to them anyway was just hoping I would not have this issue, but it is not the worst thing either. I already do the cotton panties and I take acidophilus so there really is not much more I can do except maybe eat more yogurt but I get tired of that. oh well could be worse.

Sherry - Thank goodness you do not have to go through surgery right now - hope you don't have to have it at all.  You have been through enough crap - you don't need one more thing.  (((HUGS)))

Shari, yikes on your broken foot.  Hope you are not in too much pain.  And yes make the kids wait on you.  And yes I am looking at my news as good news.  No surgery need for now and it is not related to BC.  I like the idea of conservative treatment and I am praying that it resolves itself. Take care of yourself.  I guess at the airport you can get them to take you in the cart through the airport and be delivered at the gate.  Always wanted to do that instead of running trying to be where I need to be to get there and then have to wait. Have a good weekend.

Shari - Fractured foot?  What a bummer - hope you are not in too much pain and absolutely - have the kids wait on you for a change.

Sherry - I will take both doctors please.  What eye candy. 

Shari - George Clooney had me at the eyes - they are so beautiful.

I have talked alot about my kitchen reno project - well here is one before and one after pic.  My kitchen is rather large but I think these 2 I have selected will give you an idea of what I did.

This is the BEFORE

AND THIS IS THE AFTER

Jo I like what you did.  Looks so much larger and brighter.

Hey girls off to the Cape for vacation and wont be on for awhile......I will miss you all and please behave and keep the men pictures coming......love ya all!

Surfette glad your arthritis was not as bad and hope you have a speedy recovery

June-have fun on your vacation, it will do you good to get away for awhile.

Had a blast doing the kitchen make over.  I keep telling myself in my next life I should be either an interior decorator or a full time quilter - maybe both??  I love doing both things.

Just got home from a funeral.  One our friends Dad's passed away from years of lung problems.  It was such a sweet funeral celebrating his life and legacy.  They did a graveside service on their family land and have a family cemetery.  They have a huge family and it was so touching to see all of them there and how they all love each other so much.  A real testimony to his life and how he raised his children. 

Tink glad you are up and about.  Sorry the pain was more than you anticipated.  Also thanks for the report on ECG.  I hope she is much happier this time around.