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Bottle o Tamoxifen

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  • tinkertude
    tinkertude Posts: 1,998
    edited August 2011
              How bout some dancing ladies????
  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited August 2011

    This is a signature drink on Carnival Cruise Lines - it is called a Miami Vice and it is to die for.  Think I will head to the Lido Deck for one of these.

                                      

     

  • tunkylala
    tunkylala Posts: 18
    edited August 2011

    Hi Ladies,

     I wanted to update you all on the SE's I have after 2 months ion TMXFN:

    • Leg Cramps (minimal and controlled with potassium intake)
    • Dryness (everywhere)
    • PMS like symptoms
    • Hairloss (yep..all over the floor in the bathroom)
    • Depression (can handle this one, Dr wants to put me on anti-d's)

    Anyone else want to chime in on there SE's? Please let me know if the depression subsides. I don't want to go on Lexapro

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited August 2011

    Tunkylala - I have had hot flashes that are doeable and hair loss - for that I started taking Biotin 5000mcg and it seems to be helping.

    Just popping in quickly to let everyone know that today is my one year cancerversary - nothing special on my agenda today.

  • Elizabeth37
    Elizabeth37 Posts: 43
    edited August 2011
    Ya Ya Jo congrats to the one year and tunkylala I take Lexapro it does help with the depression. But I was on it before Because I have a problem with depression I also have the leg cramps and still get very tired.I hope everyone has a great day   
  • June2268
    June2268 Posts: 926
    edited August 2011

    YAY to the one year girlfriend......we are all here to celebrate and take your mind off back to the day this all started......love ya Jo!!!

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited November 2013


    Jo happy cancerversary and if you don't feel like celebrating that is OK and I'll do it for you girl friend.


    Tunkylala i have the dryness and hairloss. I am like Jo started taking 5000mcg of biotin and it is working.


    Went went to the movies yesterday and saw Cowboys & Aliens it was good, then to Gruene which is a cute little touristy place with an old dance hall and lots of places to eat and shop. They have a wine tasting room that specializes in Texas Wines so we did that and then hung out at the old dance hall, they had a band playing. Anyway the last of my kids the Seattle ones are leaving this afternoon. I will be sad as we have had a really great time.

  • tunkylala
    tunkylala Posts: 18
    edited August 2011

    Congrats Jo! Thanks for the advice ALL!

  • tinkertude
    tinkertude Posts: 1,998
    edited August 2011

    Jo great big hugs to you!!!

    Sherry did you  bring any of those cowboys home for us???? lol

    Junie Paula tunkylala momoftwo and all my other tammy ladies.... hope your having a great day!!!!!!

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited August 2011

    I went to see my BS this morning - he wanted me to stop by today.  I got there this morning and we shared some hugs, I shed a few tears, he told me how fantastic I looked and I told him I was forever grateful & how wonderful he is.  As I was driving home, I felt like I was able to finally have some closure to this last year and that chapter of my life.  I am truly now ready to start a whole new chapter and I take with me all you wonderful gals that have meant so much to me.  

    Sherry - I have been to Gruene and just love it.  The food is really good and I just like the small town feel to it.  Just a bit of trivia - it was the place that George Strait got his singing career started.

    You gals are so wonderful and I love everyone of you.  I couldn't have done this without ya'll.

    Hope everyone is having a great day!!! 

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited August 2011

    Jo I know, I spent many a night at the dance hall there when in College in San Marcos.  I was telling my kids some of my college stories and they were getting a kick out of it.  I was also telling them how back then there was nothing in greune but the dance hall, tube rentals, the Greune Mansion inn and the grist mill and that was it.  Sadly now they have built quiet a few subdidvision..  Use to you knew when you left New Braunfels now it is all meshed together, but still a neat place to go.

  • June2268
    June2268 Posts: 926
    edited August 2011

    Jo I am so glad you finally got the closure you were looking for, as this last year has been one hell of a ride.......I know I can speak for all when I say this, but you are an amazing person with one hell of a fun fun personality and it would be really dull without you!!!  So here is to you my buddy!!!

    Now lets drink up and get this party started!!!!  Kiss kiss!

  • Paula66
    Paula66 Posts: 1,572
    edited August 2011

    Jo congrats on your 1 year.  You've come along way baby.  Its been a treat getting to know you and Im glad we meet. 

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited August 2011

    Paula - I am so glad we met too.  

    June - Aw Shucks!  You made me blush!  I just really like to find the positive in things and since you brought the bubbly - I will bring these - they go very well together.

                                    

                                  

    You gals are great and I love everyone of you.       

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited November 2013


    Smile Heres to you Jo!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • peg119
    peg119 Posts: 190
    edited August 2011

    congrats Jo on your one year.  Your BS sounds like a great doctor.

  • June2268
    June2268 Posts: 926
    edited August 2011

    Peg I have missed you, where you been?

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited August 2011

    Jee Whiz Gals - This has been a great day thanks to all of you.  I could not have made it this far without you - have I said this already?  Too bad - gonna say it again and again.

    Love everyone of you.

    Off to bed - have to work in the morning

    Hugs and Sweet Dreams

    Jo 

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

    Hi ladies! I have been MIA for a  while, mostly because I had stopped tamoxifen due to severe SEs, now have started it again.  My "cancerversary" is not a good one - recurrence already - tamox might have helped, but am trying not to do the shoulda-coulda-woulda game, just looking for a way to get through the SEs this time.  I know there was a lot of discussion a bunch of pages back, but I was wondering if you would mind reminding me if taking it in the morning or evening is better, or splitting the dose works better.  I am starting with 10 mg instead of 20, plan on doing that for a week or so, then going to full dose.  I think it took a couple of weeks for the worst of the SEs to set in for me last time, and they did not improve over 6 weeks, and it took 2-3 weeks to get it out of my system.

    Jo, congrats and hugs! Hugs to all the rest of you, thanks for the info on Biotin, thanks for the treats and eye candy!!!!

    Linda

  • Paula66
    Paula66 Posts: 1,572
    edited August 2011

    Linda Im sorry to hear your news.  I now this dang disease ticks me off.  I know the major SE for me is hot flashes.  They were so bad that I started taking Effexer for them.  I started out with a low dose, but that didnt do the trick.  I had to get it bumped up to 75 mg.  That helped alot.  They arent as entense as they once were.  I do have aches and pains but that could be left over chemo related. I did split the pill in half.  I even bought a fancy pill splitter.  I took 10mg in the am and 10mg at night.  I did this for about 3 weeks and that got to be a chore so I just jumped in and took the whole thing.  Good luck and I hope that it does get better for you!

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited August 2011
    Linda - Sorry to hear such news. This damn disease is a real bugger. I have tried Effexor and my body does not like it so I am stuck with the hot flashes and actually after 8 months they are tapering off.  The ones I have now are doable. Like Paula started on a split dose in the morning and at bedtime. Got a fancy pill splitter and did that for about 3 weeks.  It got to be such a pain in the butt, I jumped in and took the whole thing in the morning with breakfast.  I had issues with nausea when I tried Armidex and Femara - has some also with Tamox so I was taking mine with a glass of milk - I think my stomach has adjusted and I don't need the milk anymore.  Good luck to you and keep us posted.
  • sgreenarch
    sgreenarch Posts: 253
    edited August 2011

    Hi, Ladies,

    Jo, congrats on passing a year. One day at a time. Good that you have such a nice relationship w your BS.

    Linda, sounds like you have a good attitude. I know of women who have been through this two, even three times and are doing fine. Re SEs, I guess we all have them to some degree. I find if I do the following the SEs are lessened:

    .drink lots of water.

    .take tam at night with some kind of sleeping aid. Now taking a sleeping pill but I'm going to try to wean myself off to melatonin. Right now I sleep through the hot flashes. Still have some during the day but not so many.

    .take omega 3 tablets, zinc, vitamin D. Also a probiotic.

    .big change in diet. Mostly veggies, fruits, beans, nuts and whole grains. Mostly organic. Except for yoghurt, almost no dairy, very little meat. Occasional poultry. Try to eat fish more. Banana a day seems to help w leg cramps.

    .still weepy and a pms head case sometimes but I'm not sure if that's the tamoxifen or the Lupron shots. Feel like a bundle of hormones, my 14 year old daughter has nothing on me. Pity the men in our house who are dazed at the wreckage. Oh well.



    Hope this helps. Hi to everyone else!

    Shari

  • June2268
    June2268 Posts: 926
    edited August 2011

    Linda my heart goes out to you, please know I am thinking and praying for you.....I started taking my Tami at night right before bed as I was told I would sleep through most of the SE's.  However I ended up with insomnia and ended up taking it in the morning with food as so far so good.  In the beginning I fought constipation and still insomnia and headaches but over time it got better.

    Here is to all you lovely ladies I call friends......have a great Wednesday!!!

  • tinkertude
    tinkertude Posts: 1,998
    edited August 2011

    Linda.. I am so sorry to hear about a reoccurance. You will be in my thougths and prayers. I have found that splitting my dose into 10 in the am and 10 in the pm has helped . I agree with drinkinglots of water and regular exercise had also helped a bit.I also use melatinin for sleep help and biotin for hair thinning and considering b12 for energy. Havent figured out how to deel withthe horrible weepy mood swings yet though.  Good luck and please keep us posted. We are here for you!

    hugsMaria

  • CML0310
    CML0310 Posts: 32
    edited August 2011

    Does the biotin really work?  I have long thick hair and I don't think I am shedding more than normal but now that I am on the Tami I seem to count the hairs i shed each day.  Apparently 75 or less is normal (I just read that in a redbook magazine I think)  I started the biotin just in case on Friday and called to check with my MO to get the official ok.  I never asked asked the what can I take what shouldn't I take with Tami.  Overall though I think I'm SE free after one month hoping and praying that continues... 

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited August 2011

    Linda so sorry for the reoccurance.  I know how bad the SE's can be.  I think I had every one of them and felt horrible the first three months I was on it.  My MO kept telling me my body would adjust.  And then seems like overnight it did.  I still have trouble with insomnia but was able to go from Ambien to Melatonin.  Also have the hair loss but I am taking biotin and that is helping.  Hot flashes had stopped and then a few weeks ago  stated with warm flushes again and not they have stopped again.  I take mine in the evening.

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited August 2011
    CML0310 - I started taking 5000mcgs of Biotin and not only and I seeing a difference - my hairdresser also sees a difference.  I am not shedding near as bad and it seems to be getting a bit thicker.
  • Paula66
    Paula66 Posts: 1,572
    edited August 2011

    I wish I could add some advice on the hair, but I cant.  Im still growing it.

  • June2268
    June2268 Posts: 926
    edited August 2011

    Paula I bet you look beautiful too!!!!

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

    Thanks so much everyone!  I have PET scan tomorrow, see the surgeon on Friday, and figure out the game plan from there.

    One day at a time... all my yoga breathing and midnfulness-based meditation seem to finally be paying off, and I am actually much less stressed now than I was with the initial diagnosis a year ago. 

    I think I finally partially accepted the fact that this is not going away, that it is a chronic disease, and if I want to enjoy my life, I better stop fussing about the annoyances (like SEs...). I say "parially accepted" because I think I still have a lot of denial going on here. Wink

    Hugs to you all,

    Linda

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