Bottle o Tamoxifen

Here is an update on our Sherry - She is home, has some pain and is taking pain meds.  She sounds really good and may post something tomorrow.  

Hi Ladies,

 I have a question for you.  I'm going through txt for a local recurrence.  I was first diagnosed in 2003, went through chemo, mx and then tamoxifen for 5 years.  My MO and I haven't really discussed it yet in any detail but have any of  you been put back on tamoxifen for a recurrence? 

Thanks Harley.  I'll be seeing my MO today and ask him about it...

Sandee, bon voyage!  Have a great trip!

Jo, thanks for the update on Sherry - glad she is doing ok.  Hope you are also doing well.

Welcome, Leesa Ann.  Several women here have had joint issues.  I have had major pain issues, lots of joint things, but it is difficult to sort out whether it it is really the tamoxifen vs. prolonged neuropathy from chemo vs. exacerbation of previous problems. 

Have been off tamoxifen for just over 2 weeks and don't see huge improvements in the SEs yet.  Will give it a little more time.

Work is crazy busy with end of semester anxiety running high in the students, very high maintenance, and along with the high maintnence this body of mine requires, I am not here much, but thinking of every one of you every day.  I will check in periodically, am trying to at least read the boards every couple of days.  Wishing you all inner peace.

Leesa Ann.  I have had joint pain on tamoxifen.  The pain in any joint where I had pre-existing authoritis has been agrivated but I have also had pain in my toes where I've never had any problem with authoritis.  I've had surgery complete with bone removal and pins on the right big toe.  The pain has been bad in both big toes with no difference between them.  I don't kmow if this info is of any help---but anyway, for what it's worth.........

Hey everyone! Happy Friday!

Just popping in for a second because I'm putting off exercising...I know, I know, I'll do it

LeesaAnn - yes, Tamoxifen can definitely cause bone & joint pain, and weirdly it seems to cause a lot of foot bone pain. Mine toe pain comes and goes. Like Paula said, we are all so different, there's just no telling how it will affect you. I could have gone with an AI or Tamoxifen, but chose Tamoxifen because I heard it causes LESS joint pain than an AI and that was important to me. But yes, I still have some bone & joint pain every now and then. I've been on Tamoxifen 1 year and 3 months, but hey, who's counting?

Sherry - thinking good thoughts for you! Glad you are home - the best place to heal! 

Hey tammi sisters I am still alive.  I came home wed and have been taking it easy.  My mom has been here with me during the day and I finally took a shower today.  It felt so good.  I have pain but I have pain pills too and I am taking them.  I will get one of my drains out on Monday and maybe the 2nd one as well.  This afternoon it finally started slowing up so we shall see.  I think I took 4 naps today.  I had so many visitors while I was in the hospital that I did not get much sleep but I am making up for it now.  Thanks for all your prayers.  I'll check in later.

Hi Sherryc....glad you are on the mend and so nice that you have your Mom there to help.  Yes, it is tough to tell people not to come visit because you need their love and support, but sometimes you need your rest more!  I hope that your drains come out on Monday.  You will feel so much better! Have a good weekend, continue to take those naps and let people take care of you.  Peace and ease to you tonight.

ok...  the countdown continues!  

183 more Tamoxifen pills to go!!

Harley

I haven't been on this thread before but I need to talk to someone about this wholeTamoxifen thing. I sailed through lumpectomy, four rounds of chemo and 30 days of radiation -- finished Dec. 16 - never once cried, kept up my running (i do marathons) and generally felt good. Now i have been on Tamox since January and i am seriously thinking of giving it up. I have hot flashes all the time, my joints ache enough to keep me up but worst of all i am getting anxiety attacks and depression -- I am not normaly prone to depressed - but now for the first time i am constantly on the verg of crying! I hate it. 30% increase in 10 year survival rate sounds great but in real numbers it means that instead of 12 women out of 100 dying of cancer only 8 will in the 10 year period - that is 4% fewer death. So i ask myself -- is lousy quality of life really worth it -- HELP would love your input.  

Judy

Gerri, I'm nearly 20 years post menopause and was switched to tammy when I got terrible bone pain SE's from Als.  I've been on low-dose asprin for at least 10 years pre-BC. 

Judi... welcome. sorry you are having a hard time. I can relate. I have had from the beginning with TAMOXIFEn mood issues sadness etc. I have been on it 18 months and while I do have better days it is still a challenge. I did talk to my MO and she wanted to put me on effexor for the moods. I seriously considered it but didnt want to add anything else to the mix. So i see a therapist exercise everyday and try to keep as busy as possible and with all that STILL have issues lol. I agree with Jo talk with your MO and see what they suggest to help you. In the meantime we are hear for you to vent laugh ir cry with hugs!

Hope all my Tammy ladies are having a good weekend.

I am excited I was offered a permanent part time position next school year at the school I have been subbing at and used to work out. It will be a great diversion I think. I think for me being home and recovering was great but now I think staying home may be hindering my " recovery" if you know what I mean

 Jo Paula Junie Lynda Chabba heartsouls Sherry sandee and all my Tammy girls

Hugs to you all

Maria

Gerri I take a baby aspirin daily.  My MO put me on it when I started tamoxifen because I have a very strong family history of cardiac disease even though I do not have BP or cholesterol issues.

Tink Congrats on the job.  Permanent part time sounds ideal

Judy, sorry you are here under these circumstances, but welcome!  Great bunch of ladies here to support each other.  I actually felt so bad on tamoxifen that I went off of it last year, then had recurrence 4 months later.  Went back on it, still had bad SEs, so am off it again.  MO is not really happy, but she now understands that quality of life is far more important to me than length of life.  Each person has different SEs, each person has different life values.  Some women have children that they want to see finish school, get married, anticipate grandchildren.  I have been giving to my professional life my entire life, I don't have children, and now just want to enjoy the time that I have in this life, and that means being able to participate in activities that are meaningful to me.  I also looked at the "absolute" benefits vs. the "relative" benefits of tamoxifen for my stage and general clinical situation, including other health factors, and this is my choice.  I still hang out here because these are the "bestest buddies" in the world, they UNDERSTAND and support, regardless of personal choices.  I also may go back on it in another month or so, depending on how I am feeling then.

So today, I did not take ANY medications or supplements! Very liberating - decided my vitamins could wait until tomorrow! Of course, I am likely to take the ambien for sleep, lol.

Maria, so glad you are going to be "gainfully employed!" What will you be teaching?

Sherry, Harley, Jo, geri, all the rest of you tammi friends - thinking of you, sending you all wishes for a lovely Sunday evening and a great beginning to the new week.

Linda...Thank you! I will be working in preschool ... love the lil ones I was a first grade assistant for 7 yrs and love it. I subbed for a few yrs but found once I got higher than 2nd or 3 rd. I wasn't quite ax happy lol....