Bottle o Tamoxifen

Been on Tammy for 16 months now.  Except for a little occasional trouble sleeping which melatonin takes care of and my peripheral neuropathy and the accompanying balance issues my SE's had pretty much gone away until a a month or so ago.  Lately I've been awakened several times by sharp, intense, shooting pain in the right joint of my jaw.  I think someone has mentioned this problem before but I don't  remember who or when.

Then there is the more embarrassing problem.  I fart........a lot........more than I ever have before.  No recent changes to my diet, in fact none since I first started this battle and started eating more healthy foods.  Anyone else with this problem?

Hi, Everybody! Another day on the leukemia floor, but at least it was sunny and in the 60's this afternoon. The hospital has a roof balcony where you can go to to escape and it was glorious to be there today. You don't often see temps like this in NYC in early March, especially after (Alicia is right) a rainy start to the day. I even took a few walks, which would have been even better if my damned hip didn't ache so much, but no moaning this email:)

Tink, I have an idea for you re your sinus infection. I have been sick with those kinds of things more in the last six months than in the previous 50 years. I even thought that maybe it's tamoxifen (fun to blame it for everything) and while I do think perhaps it can lower our resistance, my brother suggested another reason fro the repeated sinus infections that is more logical. He's an expert, having had sinus infections his whole life and even sinus surgery that sort of helped, until he found....nasal rinsing. Sounds kind of gross, and it kind of is, but it really works. Dr Med or any other brand, has these saline nasal rinses that are now sold in all drug stores. You add these special saline packets to warm water and spray it in your nostrils using a special bottle. (You buy the whole kit for about $11.) Takes about 2 mins and you do it once a day. I had repeated sinus infections, even used antibiotics a few times and they always came back. Then bro says its probably because the bacteria sits in the sinuses and probably never really gets cleaned out, and told me to try these rinses. Did it and haven't had an infection since. SO maybe it's worth a try. Not the prettiest or most pleasant experience but it really seems to work.

 Chabba, now for the farting! (First we do sinus snorting, then farting.) I started this heavy duty farting thing pre BC and even went to get it checked out. Turns out it was simple lactose intolerance. Also, broccoli and cauliflower. I think our systems change with age and so do our responses...I guess you can first try to eliminate certain foods and see if it goes away. Ah the fun of aging...

 Jo, good luck with the recon. I haven't done it yet, mostly because every time I try to have a calm spell, something has come up, whether with me or some other member of the family. I see it as my reward for when life calms down again. Except when naked, I actually don't think about it as much any more. But that could be cause I'm spending most of my time on a leukemia floor. Oh well.

 Happy SUnday to everyone,

Shari

Hello beautiful ladies!
Has been a while since my last post... but so far everything has been ok. I'm about to be 1 year with Tamox (next May) and hot flashes, dry skin, weight gain and other "nice" side effects have been part of my life. I've been not too bother by them or maybe is just me trying to not think much about this...
Two weeks ago was my anual check up and mammo and other tests came clean. Very very happy and thankful to hear those news and to know the bastard is NOT back.

During all this time with Tamox I'va had a pretty normal menstrual cycles, I'm actually super regular.  But this changed today, just 15 days after my last period I'm having a very heavy flow and I have painful cramps....  SO the question is, has enyone here experienced such "out of the sudden" changes???
I'm a bit scared to think that my periods will start to be a super uncontrolled and random thing, I have a daughter of 15 months, but hubby and I would really really like to have a nother child in the future.... Tamox messing up with my body is scaring me now
Thanks in advance for your support!

Joystars & Suebak,

I was told to watch out for any heavy bleeding or abnormal bleeding and call my ob/gyn if that happened. Don"t want to be an alarmist but think a quick call to the doctor may be in order...If nothing else, than the peace of mind. 

Gentle hugs......

Dianarose   Having the ovaries suppressed was recommended to me too, either by oopherectomy or suppression shots.  I heard that the Tamoxifen would still need to be taken for a couple of years even after an ooph, then a switch to an AI.  I was told that estrogen doesn't disappear right away, that's why Tamoxifen would continue for awhile.  

If you hear something different please let me know.  

Joy and Jo- thanks for the information. I will have to talk with my MO and go from there. I would love to sign up for the trial BC vaccine. My daughter is an RN down south married to a marine, so I am hoping she can get some more information on it. I think if they asked for volunteers we would all be in line.

I think if there is a choice that will make my periods go away I would lean towards that. I have them every 23 days and they are from Hell. Hot flashes aren't always a bad thing here in Maine.  I have never had night sweats though. They don't like something I want to sign up for eithere.

Got up and made a big batch of homemade doughnuts. Now I have to go deliver them to some friends because I can't eat them all. Wish you all were close to share with.

Jo- I have a really easy recipe. No need to let the dough rise. Just mix , roll, cut, and drop them in hot oil and then toss in cinn & sugar. If you want to make some I can PM you the recipe. I'm weird, I love to make all these things, but not eat them.

Joy & Suebank I agree call your ob/gyn right away. 

Dianarose-the donuts make me hungry.

Ok gals need a pocket party tomorrow.  I have my pre-op appt for my upcoming BMX/reconstruction.  I'm nervous when I think about it but yet know it is the right thing to do so kinda calm at the same time.  I know that sounds weird.  Tomorrow I found out all the details of surgery, drains, fills, etc.

Shari my date is March 26th.

Dianarose plese PM your donut recipe to me as well Iove to cook and bake.  I always take a taste and then give everything else away. My neighbors love me.

Dianarose - I would love the donut recipe.  It sounds so simple and that is what I need with my hectic job.

Sherry - What time do I need to be in your pocket?  I am curious to know the information about the drains.  Maybe I will sit on your shoulder so I can hear better.  I promise to be good.  LOL!  And no, it isn't weird.  I am feeling the same way about mine and I don't even have a date yet. 

OK I would love the donut recipe too sounds great!



Sherry....wings packed and ready to go!!!!!



Shari..thanks for the info. I really appreciate it. I actually hsbe a netti pot and tried it a few times but had a hard time and gave up but now that I know it really does make a difference I will give it another try.... thanks.



Junie...how are you feeling sweetie?



Dinarose..I am premenapausal and my periods have been all over the place since starting Tam. I did have an episode where I bleed twice in a month and they did an ultrasound. They said I had endometrium thickening on the upper limits of normal that they see with tam. Said would redo 6_12 months it sooner if any more bleeding issues.



Paula Jo sandee Linda and all the rest of my wonderful Tammy ladies...have a great week



Maria

Ladies we will have a great time at the PS tomorrow. My appt is 12:30 CST. Bring food and drinks. I really don't think I am all that brave. I really think this is what I should have done in the beginning. But God always has a different plan and maybe he knew I needed time to really soak it all in and be good with all of it. I decided I need to quit being mad at my original BS.

About the netti pot. I don't use it on a regular basis but if I feel like my allergies are starting up I start using it and it seems to clear up faster than before.

Sherry will be there for sure!!!  Jumping in for a party!!!  Sherry I know what you mean about the doctors and what they do sometimes.  I was lucky to have one that gave me choices and then he let me make the call on how I wanted to treat the cancer.  Some people were stunned when I choose to remove a healthy breast.  But they didn''t have the whole picture just what was going on.  I know when I started looking around the www and read story after story.  I was so greatful to have a doctor like that.  I was not going thru this a 3rd time.  The first time I was very lucky, the 2nd not so much.  Heck even my older sissy was going to have a BMX after 2 of her sissys had cancer.  She didn't test BRCA+ so she didn't have that done.  Her gyno was freaking out cause she was even considering it. Even told her that no surgen in our area would even consider removing her breasts.  I asked my BS if he would do it, and he said oh yes he would.  Its just plain crazy what others want you to do with your body.

Tink, Shari, and others using the neti pots: Please be sure to use distilled or boiled water.  The CDC had some reports last year of possible infection with an amoeba after using contaminated neti pots.  Not a high risk, but something to be careful with.

http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/naegleria/faqs.html

Will be in pockets as needed this week.  I can't believe Jo is so trusting of Tink, though..... she certainly SOUNDS sincere about behaving herself, but I just wonder if that behavior would be considered "trouble-making" or not! 

Went to get eyes checked this am.  6 months on tamoxifen, now have cataracts.  Didn't have any evidence of them before tammi.  Am seriously considering going off it - body pain, depression, moodiness, drenching sweats, now the eyes.... Eye doc says "don't worry, we can fix it when you lose enough vision".....     

Diana, know what you mean, I often leave my phone by my chair when I'm relaxing.  I find that it just won't change the tv channel.