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  • stheresa987
    stheresa987 Posts: 13
    edited January 2012

    Started Tamozifwn two days ago....So far so good.  Have been taking it at night and have had no SE's yet except I have been unable to go to sleep until around three or four in the morning.  Going to take it one day at a  time.  Only 4 years and 362 more days to go LOL!!!

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited January 2012

    stheresa987 - Welcome to the group.  You have found a great source of information and support.  May I suggest that you take your pill in the morning with breakfast.  That may allow you to get to sleep sooner.  Some of the ladies have tried Melatonin with some success.  I know others will come along and give you some of their ideas.  I have been on the Tammi train for 1 year and 18 days and I am not counting either - LOL!

  • Paula66
    Paula66 Posts: 1,572
    edited January 2012

    Welcome stheresa987 to the group.  The gals around here are a great bunch.  If you have any concerns or questions, dont be afraid to ask.  They are really helpful around here.  I have always taken my Tammo in the AM because of the sleeping issues.  So I cant help with that.  Good Luck!!

  • tinkertude
    tinkertude Posts: 1,998
    edited January 2012

    Welcome Theresa... I actually split my dose 10 in am and 10 in pm... has helped as before I was having a hard time just functioning... just a though in case anything pops up..... best wishes and welcome aboard. You have found a wonderfully supportuve group of ladies here

  • Sandeeonherown
    Sandeeonherown Posts: 1,781
    edited January 2012

    Welcome Theresa...I split mine like Tink did..in fact, it may have been Tink that recommended it...realllllly helped with the hot flashes..

    And now that I am on nothing, I am cold again...good grief! cold hands and cold feet...at least things 'feel normal' because of it!

  • odie16
    odie16 Posts: 1,415
    edited January 2012

    Welcome Theresa.. Wish I could help on the insomnia issue but no luck. I take mine at night (due to nausea) but have no issues sleeping. Maybe taking it in the morning will help. 

    61 days down, only 1749 more to go............. 

  • CarolAnn6
    CarolAnn6 Posts: 3
    edited January 2012

    I want to join in....on my fifth day of Tamoxifin. I am on countdown and five years seems really long. Today is 30 days post op. Just yelled at my kids for arguing during dinner....sigh.

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited January 2012

    Welcome CarolAnn6 - Of course you can join us.  This is the best bunch of gals you will ever have the pleasure of meeting.  You will find so much good information and support here.  Just to let you know we tend to get wild and crazy sometimes - okay about every Friday.  We like to unwind and have some fun.

  • Paula66
    Paula66 Posts: 1,572
    edited January 2012

    Welcome CarolAnn6!  This is the place to be, well that is if your taking Tammo, thats for sure. 

    Sandee this is my first winter with the tammo and let me just say that right now Im not complaining about the hot flashes for sure.  In the car the poor riders get a chill, but Im gettn cool as a cucumber!

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited January 2012

    stheresa and Carol Ann welcome to the tammi train.  This is a great group of ladies here.  Ask any questions you want and please feel free to cut up with us at times as well.

    To those that are having sleep issues.  That was a huge deal with me at first.  Mine was so bad that Ambien CR was not working all that great but better than nothing.  After about a month things started getting better and I was finally able to switch from Ambien to Melatonion.  I have tried to skip the Melatonion and I still don't sleep well without.  I slept fine before tamoxifen.

  • Paula66
    Paula66 Posts: 1,572
    edited January 2012

    Sherry I have found the Ambien works well for me.  I still wake up with night sweats but can go right back to sleep.  I have tried a few nights without it and spent most of them up because it took longer to get back to sleep.  I will check into the melatonion.  Is it one that you need to have plenty of sleep it off time.  I know that when I do the Ambien I have to make for sure I have 7 hrs of sleep or its a chore tryn to wake up.

  • Ceeztheday
    Ceeztheday Posts: 246
    edited January 2012

    Welcome Carol Ann and stheresa. I had really bad hot flashes and sleeplessness at first. Like some of the other ladies, I started cutting my pill in half and taking half at bedtime, half in the morning. It has helped a lot. I bought a pill splitter on amazon.com for about five bucks. Good luck and feel free to post here whenever you need to (or just for friendly conversation).

  • chabba
    chabba Posts: 3,600
    edited January 2012

    Paula, I use the melatonin.  I use a very low dose--only 1.5 mg blended with lemon balm, chamomile and lavender. 1 or 2 tabs at bed time.  You can take another during the night if you wake and can't get back to sleep but that has only happened to me a couple of times.  Package warns not to drive for at least 3 hours after taking.  I never have any trouble waking after taking it.  I always get up at 5 am on Sundays to cook breakfast at the Senior Center.  Even though I always set the alarm I usually wake up before it goes off.  One Sat. night I didn't get to bed until 1 am.  Took melatonin and had no trouble waking.  I was wide awake and a ready to get going as I ever am. 

  • Paula66
    Paula66 Posts: 1,572
    edited January 2012

    Thanks chabba I will have to check that out.  I want to get myself off of some of the meds I have been taking since the BC came in to the picture.  Its not like Im a walking pharmacy I just want to get rid of a few pills that I am taking.  Im sure the more natural has to be a better choice in the long run.

  • MamaV
    MamaV Posts: 373
    edited January 2012

    Welcome to all our new friends who have joined us since my last visit.  Super busy with work and life for a few days ... I guess that's good being "normal"

    I still check in daily, but can't always send a note.  Plus I burned the crap out of my hand and coudn't type for a few days ... I tried to look at the positive ... a burned hand means I was healthy enough to get out of bed to do something, right?

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited January 2012

    Paula I take 2 of the 3 mg melatonion and I have no trouble getting up in the morning.  I have tried taking 1 and it just does not cut it for me.  I think tamox messes with me too much.  DH takes the 10mg time released.  He sleeps terrible just like his mother.  But the time released seems to help him stay asleep.  He tried taking 2 of my 3mg and he still woke up during the night.

    Last night was day 2 of getting back on tammi and wouldn't you know it I woke up at 5am with an anxiety attack type thing.  So far this morning I am feeling a weird anxiety nervousness.  This is not normal for me at all.  I called a nurse friend and went and had my BP check and it is fine.  I know this is a SE of tammi so I sure hope it passes.

  • Linda-n3
    Linda-n3 Posts: 1,713
    edited January 2012

    MamaV, I sure hope you were cooking something good to have suffered a burned hand!

    Welcome to the new Tammi Friends.  I never slept well BEFORE BC and tammi, have been on ambien since the diagnosis.  It still helps, but not as quickly as when I first started it.  I tried the melatonin but it just made me drowsy for about 24 hours but no sleep.

    Maria, do you still split your dose?  I am having the WORST pain in my arms, legs, ribs - thought maybe this is a good sign that the bones are actually getting strengthened and they are letting me know it - but I am just miserable most of the day, absolutely the worst in the morning.  I take tamoxifen in the mornings, so that should be its lowest level, but I am nearly ready to ditch it because of the pain.  So do you think splitting it helps with overall SEs?  I have actually had a decrease in many of the SEs over the past few months, but not the pain thing.  Thanks.

    Have agood morning all.

  • peg119
    peg119 Posts: 190
    edited January 2012

    I have had trouble sleeping since I have been on Tamox but not sure if it is all Tamox or menopause since I am 52.  I take Ambien most nights and still don't sleep well.  Melatonin doesn't seem to help much.  I have tried Lunestra once but am afraid of the side effects and still didn't sleep so I will keep it for when I haven't slept for days.  Hate waking up and having difficulty falling back to sleep.  Less hot flashes now though and the achiness seems to come and go.  2 1/2 more years to go.

    Welcome newbies.  Sorry you had to join us but you will be glad to have the support.

  • June2268
    June2268 Posts: 926
    edited January 2012

    Welcome newbies- a wonderful group of ladies but don't be shocked by what you see posted here as we tend to have too much fun....

    Update on Mom......still hanging in there and today she seems to be doing alot better.  We went trough this with Dad as one week or day horrible and the next better.  She still has pneumonia and hasn't kicked its butt yet.  The Nursing home freaked out on us as when my family is there it overwhelms everyone around as I am sure Sherry understand where I am coming from as well.  I guess it is one day at a time from here on in and I hate the stress of it all.  The nurses did tell me that when she was at her worst she kept saying she couldn't leave her kids alone that we all needed her.  Now we all thought for sure she would never ever say anything like that as her heart belongs to my Dad, but I guess she is doing everything in her power to stay alive.......which is fantastic news to us all as saying goodbye is obviously not something any of us want to do.....

    So I am feeling a little better emotionally  today and just wanted to say love you all and thanks for always being there......

  • Paula66
    Paula66 Posts: 1,572
    edited January 2012

    ((((((((((((((June))))))))))))))

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited January 2012

    June ((((((((((((((HUGS)))))))))))))))

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited January 2012

    June (((((HUGS)))))

    Just got back from the pain specialist and he told me to change the time I am taking the nortriptyline.  Since I have been on this medication, I can't sleep.  Unlike the amitriptyline this does not have the sedative effect. I am going to take it in the morniing for the next week and see what happens.  Had a follow up in 2 weeks.  Does this shit ever stop? 

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited January 2012

    Jo it seems to go on forever. But at least he had a solution for you to try.

  • jo1955
    jo1955 Posts: 7,545
    edited January 2012

    Sherry - I am just whining today - don't pay too much attention to me.  I am tired - not sleeping well. 

  • Sherryc
    Sherryc Posts: 4,503
    edited January 2012

    Jo have you tried a sleeping pill like Ambien CR or Lunesta.  I know I am a real B***h when i don't get sleep and they have been a life saver when I have needed them.

  • Linda-n3
    Linda-n3 Posts: 1,713
    edited January 2012

    June, lots of ((((hugs))).

    However, those hugs having been given, I would like to point out that your little announcement to the new ladies seems to have a false ring of innocence to it.... as if you don't have any idea where all those boy toys come from!!!!  Quite the ringleader, you are, despite your quiet innnocent comments.... I am saving a special pillow for you this week, my friend!

    Jo, you sound enough like me today to be my blood sister.  Whine, moan, complain....

    OK, now I gotta get back to work or I will have a bunch of students sending me emails and cluttering up my inbox.  I just needed a quick break to see how everyone was doing.

  • tinkertude
    tinkertude Posts: 1,998
    edited January 2012

    Junie.....great big hugs

  • stheresa987
    stheresa987 Posts: 13
    edited January 2012

    Thank you ladies for the welcome.  Still not sleeping but I guess things could be worse.

  • June2268
    June2268 Posts: 926
    edited January 2012

    Linda you crack me up and how is it you are so darn smart girlfriend?  Damn, and I thought I had all of you fooled.....

    Jo thinking of you and this does suck and you are one hell of a strong lady and will get through this. 

    stheresa987 I had insomnia in the beginning and it did get better.  I take my pill first thing in the morning with food, when are you taking yours?

  • Paula66
    Paula66 Posts: 1,572
    edited January 2012

    Oh Junie Im not that easily fooled, lol!

    Did someone mention boy toys??????  Now this is what I call a wet Tshirt contest!!!

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