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Bottle o Tamoxifen

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  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited October 2011

    Sherry - Thinking about you today - I know the service will be difficult but you have a very loving family.

  • Paula66
    Paula66 Posts: 1,572
    edited October 2011

    Sherry your in my prayers!

  • carberry
    carberry Posts: 997
    edited October 2011

    Sherry thinking of you, hope you are keeping busy to make the time go faster. Please keep us posted.

    Going for my last herceptin in a few hrs.  I need to talk to onc and address the tamox issue.  I still makes me sick to my stomach no matter what I do and I still got a period this month.  Now what will they do,  was it just random?

    BTW  i lost my job over this disease, I am a nurse, and i have decided I cannot pound the pavement anymore and be on my feet all day long,plus the stress was killing me (literally) so have decided to re-invent myself and am starting on-line classes.  Am I crazy..trying to learn new tricks at 53?

  • MamaV
    MamaV Posts: 373
    edited October 2011

    Good for you carberry!  You are NOT crazy - BC makes us all reevaluate things!  Good luck!

  • Just_V
    Just_V Posts: 436
    edited October 2011

    Wow - I've been AWOL a bit and now see so many newbies!   Wanted to let you all know that after having started Tami on 7/17 and getting HORRIBLE hot flashes (like 20 a day), I now am having none!  I almost miss them b/c I am one of those people who is always cold.... and on top of no hot flashes, my period, which disappeared after beginning Tami, has not returned... hm.. not so bad!!! LOL.

     Sherry - {{{hugs}}}}  when I lost my folks, the only word that made sense was that it sucks.  prayers are with you for a b9 result tomorrow on the biopsy.

  • odie16
    odie16 Posts: 1,415
    edited October 2011

    Good morning ladies...

    Sherry - Hugs & prayers with you today as well as tomorrow.. It is never easy to say goodbye but please know we are all here for you....

    Question for my Tammy girls, I just got my script Monday for my Tamoxifen but am wondering if I should wait to start it. I am scheduled for exchange surgery on 11/15 and thought I saw somewhere that I would have to stop it the week prior to any surgery. Or should I just suck up and start it?

    Carberry - Way to go for having the courage to try something new... Any thought of case management?

    Tinkertude - Hey neighbor!  I am in Chantilly 

    Wishing everyone a good day.

  • juli0212
    juli0212 Posts: 801
    edited October 2011

    odie:  I'd definitely ask my oncologist about when to start the tamoxifen.  Good luck on the exchange surgery (I admit to being stupid, I do not know what that is?) coming up in a few weeks.

    carberry:  I also am 'medically-retired' due to daily migraines, hyperparathyroidism(surgery to remove benign tumor and a parathyroid gland) and cancer after-effects.   One does what one has to do.  BEST to you and may you find something enjoyable!

    just-V:  Yeah, the hot flashes/night sweats for me lasted all the way thru the 3 1/2 years of taking tamoxifen, and continue now with aromasin.  I'm always 'red-faced' and get sweaty easily, especially if I'm talking passionately!    Embarassed  I always look 'mad'...lol...gotta just go with it.

    ~juli

  • tinkertude
    tinkertude Posts: 1,998
    edited October 2011

    Sherry.. thinking of you today.. lots of love and prayers coming your way!

    Carberry.. your not crazy at all... it really does make us re evaluate everything... good luck today

    ODIE..Hi there neighbor yes that is not to far from me at all. As a matter of fact my son had his graduation Mass last year at St Timothys in Chantilly... small world :)

  • MamaV
    MamaV Posts: 373
    edited October 2011

    JustV - same thing here!  Hot flashes were awful in the beginning, but hardly any now!

  • SAB
    SAB Posts: 1,121
    edited October 2011

    May I ask how long after starting Tamoxifen did you start experiencing side effects?

  • juli0212
    juli0212 Posts: 801
    edited October 2011

    For me, pretty much right away, but I'd also been chemo-induced into menopause, so that didn't help  (with hot flashes/night sweats).   ~juli

  • June2268
    June2268 Posts: 926
    edited October 2011

    SAB - everyone is different.  It was weeks into it that I was constipated, had insomnia.  I treated myself with some meds short term and finally just made some chnages on my end as I didn't want to be controlled by drugs.  However having major stomach issues and I wonder if it is due to Tamox.  I was diagnosed about 6 months ago with having 2 duodenal ulcers and every time I go off prilosec within a week to 2 weeks the symptoms are back.  I am wondering what to do as they told me not to stay on this long term.  Good luck!!

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited October 2011

    SAB - Like June said, everyone is different.  I have been on Tamox for 10 months now and have very minimal side effects.  Hot flashes are pretty much nonexistent and I am dealing with the hair loss by taking Biotin everyday.  The one major issue is that my cholesterol won't come down - so now having to not only take a RX medication but also have to take fish oil twice a day.  My medicine cabinet looks like a mini pharmacy - all because of BC.

    Haven't posted in a while.  Welcome to all the newbies and hope everyone is doing well.  For those having tests, keeping fingers crossed for all clear results

    Hey, Tink, June, Paula and all the other Tami Ladies.  Hugs to everyone 

  • sgreenarch
    sgreenarch Posts: 253
    edited October 2011

    Hi, Everybody, missed you. Been so busy at work. Trying to be patient with my spoiled clients and just barely succeeding...

     Sandee: I admire how you seem to be making decisions about your life that make sense for you. Sounds pretty smart not to buy a house that's far away. Who needs a long commute now? For that matter, who needs house upkeep?

    Tink: I agree about the tiredness. Fatigue is an SE of tamoxifen for me, I think. It's hard to know what's really causing it, though. I think having hot flashes all night may be part of it. I wake up a lot to either pee, have a hot flash or a leg cramp. I actually lie down and nap when I can grab the time and that seems to help. Wish I didn't need to but I am into accepting and dealing, not wondering why. 

    Sherry: Thinking of you all week. Hope the ceremony was meaningful and glad that you all had each other. Will be with you tomw.

    Carrie: Congrats on the last herceptin. That must feel really good. As for trying new tricks at 53, sure! If not now, when? My job is also quite stressful. I'm an architect, more mentally than physically taxing.In this sense BC has been a good thing. It has made me recognize what's important and what's not. I no longer sweat the small stuff at work. I used to go nuts when clients were upset (with a million things that had nothing to do with me but that I had to help them deal with nonetheless.) Now I act concerned but it doesn't really touch me inside as I know how incidental it all really is. Think I'll go for that long dreamed about sabbatical soon. Trying to figure out how to swing it, but even dreaming about it keeps me happy.Keep us posted on what you're thinking of doing next.

    Odie16: I agree that you should ask your MO about when to start tamox. Good luck w your surgery.

     SAB: SEs started within a few months of starting tamoxifen, but don't be that worried about them. For the vast majority of us they are annoying but not dangerous. Lots of hints on how to deal, on these pages. And sometimes just venting and talking about it helps. Good luck. Thank heavens we have a good medicine like this on our side.

    June:Sorry to hear about your stomach problems. I have a friend who has ulcers and she's found antibiotics to be helpful. Not sure if this is relevant to you or not. Maybe? Feel good.

    Hi, Jo, Paula, everybody else. Time for some new good pix. (I still don't know how to do this...)

    Well I'm now scheduled for that oopherectomy on Nov 10. Hopefully they can do it laparoscopically (questionable due to scar tissue from hysterectomy in 2008, but we'll see.) Just looking forward to getting it over with. Need to stop tamox for a week before. This will be the first time in more than a year that I'll skip it. Wonder if I'll even notice the difference in such a short time. Good news flash: went to the breast surgeon for my biannual check and all was good. I now love good news and never take it for granted!

     Take care, Ladies,

    Love, Shari

  • juli0212
    juli0212 Posts: 801
    edited October 2011

    Congrats Shari, and good luck on the ooph, hope also it can be done laparoscopically.  ALWAYS good to hear good news!  ~juli

  • SAB
    SAB Posts: 1,121
    edited October 2011

    Good news on the check-up Shari, and good news soon I hope on the ooph.  

    June, I have been trying to wean myself off Prilosec too.  My pcp told me that often symptoms get worse before getting better, and suggested that I go to every other day and then every third day, etc.  I have been doing that, and nearly off.  Supplementing with Tums--like today after my tomato soup lunch! 

    Thanks for the input--I'll try not to think about it.

  • Just_V
    Just_V Posts: 436
    edited October 2011

    I go in for a UMX (the other breast) and a double DIEP on 11/9 - will they have me stop taking Tami?   When you all went in for followup procedures, did you need to stop?

  • tinkertude
    tinkertude Posts: 1,998
    edited October 2011

    SAB.. It took awhile for me to start having se. They do switch off and I dont have the same ones all the time except  for fatigue and that darn mood swing weepy kinda thing.

    Shari.. I think the fatigue is from the Tam it doesnt matter how much I sleep or dont sleep I am still so tired I push myself through the day and function ok but the minute I stop or add something extra into the mix... I am done lol!

    Just v.. Good luck with surgery I had a DIEP as well. Please let me know if I can answer or help with anything. My PS had me stop 2 weeks before and 1 week after..

  • Paula66
    Paula66 Posts: 1,572
    edited October 2011

    Hey girls.  Its been a long day.  I am ready for bed already.  Its only 5:30, ugh!  I haven't sleep well the last few days, so that may have something to do with it. 

    Shari its good to see you are getting the surgery set up.  

    My SE have their good days and bad days.  The hot flashes are either a nightmare or not.  I still have alot of pain due to it.  Im hoping that goes away sometime soon.  The doctor doesnt sound hopeful about this, so thats not what I wanted to hear.  

    ((((Sherry))))))

    Well June, Tink, Jo, V, Sherry, Shari, SAB, Juli Love to you all.  If I missed anyone Im sorry!

  • Sandeeonherown
    Sandeeonherown Posts: 1,781
    edited October 2011

    June, Shari- thanks for the positive feedback..so hard some days to make these decisinos hmm? but when you do, the weight of the world lifts...being at a desk in the middle of the chaos is weird...and not having aplace for people to come and unload when they want seems odd too but it did not stop two teachers from coming over to my desk and having a little cry so....guess it doesn't matter to them, hmm?

    I think fatigue is related to all of these drugs...arimidex is kicking my a** so I am trying to lay low this week ....no hot flashes though....YAY!!! Actually urned on the heat the last few nights!...didn't have it on much at all last winter.

    SAB- I had hot flashes within two weeks of starting the drug, which is how I ended up on this website..I googled tamoxifen and hot flashes and got here....I then had a heart attack which everyone says (including the cardiologist and oncologist/radiologist) was caused by the tamoxifen so do ensure you talk about family history when you have the tammi talk, hmm?

    SAB- gaviscon seems towork better than tums:)

    Sherry- holding you in my heart

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited October 2011

    Shari - Glad you were able to get the ooph set up.  Waiting to hear good news once it is done. When I had my hysteroscopy and D&C done, I did not have to stop Tammi.  Don't know about oophs.

  • SAB
    SAB Posts: 1,121
    edited October 2011

    Sandee-Good advice on both fronts.  Thank you.

  • sunangel27
    sunangel27 Posts: 234
    edited October 2011

    (((((((((((((((((((((((((Sherry))))))))))))))))))))))))))

     I gave you my condolences on fb........but wanted to come here and give you a HUGE HUG!!!!!!!!

    I cannot believe they have found another tumor also.......my prayers are with you sweety!!!!!!!
    Love and Hugs

    Paula

  • June2268
    June2268 Posts: 926
    edited October 2011

    Okay I have to share this with you ladies.....my daughter Paige turned into a young girl yesterday and I am freakin out.....she is 2 weeks shy of turning 11 and I know that getting your period earlier than the age of 12 increases her risk....ARGH!!!  I was out at the store last night and she text me to see if it is ok for her to go to the bathroom and I tell her yup.....well she text me back to tell me "I got it again"  how freakin precious.....I said Paige boy oh boy do we have to talk again.....ha ha  I love when they are so young an innocent!!

    Thank you for letting me share that and Sherry I am thinking about you today and hope all is ok!!

  • juli0212
    juli0212 Posts: 801
    edited October 2011

    June, my daughter who is now 29 years old got her period at age 10 (me:  age 12).   She had horrible cramps (I did also) and was put on the pill at age:    12!   She passed out at school (I did as well, but was never brought to a doctor until I did it myself at age 18 and put on the pill then, a blessing for sure)...so she's been on and off the pill since very young.   She's had polycystic ovary syndrome and wicked cramps that pass her right out if she's not on the pill.   So, just to share that, even though you didn't ask about cramps/the pill!   Sorry!    (My daughter also had 'body odor' at age 5....it was sad....she needed deodorant at that age too...NOT that I WANTED to do that, but it was necessary for her).   What we all go thru!    BEST to you and your precious 'lil girl', as she still is.

    ~juli

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited October 2011

    My Dad's service was beautiful and I think just what he wanted.  He was catholic and said he wanted a short mass so mom decided to have the funeral at the funeral home instead of the church.  So with that the priest was able to forgo the big mass with communion. 

    As for me my surgeon called and the results were inconclusive and I have to have an excisional biopsy done on Thursday.  I tried to weasle out of it and asked about different types of biopsies but she spoke to my MO and he said he wants it out.  I also called my PS and they thought I should go ahead with the excisional biopsy and see what happens from there and we can still work with my BMX after that.  So looks like I'll max out my insurance again this year and next year.  Gee when will I get a financial break.  Spoke to my boss and told him the news and asked him when he was going to get tired of me and he is so sweet just said he wants me healthy so I can work with him for the long haul.

  • juli0212
    juli0212 Posts: 801
    edited October 2011

    So sorry Sherry you are having to deal with all of this along with the passing of your beloved Dad.  Sounds like just the right service that he would've chosen.   Glad you have a good boss!   BEST to you on your journey....again.    ((((HUGS)))))   ~juli

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited October 2011

    Sherry - OMG!  Sweetie you need to catch a break real soon.  More waiting now - that really sucks.  Looks like there will be another pocket party on Thurs - you will have to let us know what time.

    June- I was 11 when I started having periods and hated them.  Cramps were so bad sometimes, my dad would have to pick me up at school and take me home.   

  • tinkertude
    tinkertude Posts: 1,998
    edited October 2011

    Sherry.. i am glad all went well with your dads service. You have been in my prayers. I cant believe you have to wait another week.. sweetie we are with you all the way!!!! many hugs to you! xoxo

    Junie aww congrats on Paige "growing up" it happens so fast! hugs!

    All my other TAmmy ladies too you all are the best!

  • juli0212
    juli0212 Posts: 801
    edited October 2011

    jo:   Same here, and I didn't have the most understanding father...he'd pick me up and not say a word to me...got home and took NyQuil to put me to sleep, or I was pounding the walls!   The pill was a lifesaver, which I got much too late....was not going to let that happen to my own daughter.   Rites of passage!    ~juli

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