Bottle o Tamoxifen
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Tink - You are going to be so great - those little ones will be very lucky to have you as their teacher.0
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Aww thanks Jo... I think I need them as much as they need me lol....how are you doing? Miss you xo
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Tink - I am doing great these days. My winter season is coming to an end. Have been trying to get some neglected things done before my recon surgery in a couple of weeks. I will have to be out of work for about 2 weeks. How are you - other than landing a dream job? Miss you more! XOXOXO
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Congrats Tink! Great ages to work with.
Lynda - I appauld you for doing what is best for you...
Had a busy weekend filled with household chores and have been fighting a bug all week. Here's to a better next week for all of us.
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Thanks everyone for the support -- really do appreciate it. It sounds like you have all known each other for some time -- what a strange and wonderful group to belong to. I only found this site recently and it has already helped.
Yes quality of life is very important to me. Ironically i am in great health and love life. We ski, cycle, swim and even run marathons, i am never tired -- so i am very much used to using exercise for therapy -- which is why being "down" was such a shock -- i am normally always happy. Have a great life -- semi retired, travel lots, nice DH and four wonderful grands (who all live very close so i see them almost daily)
However much life i have, whether a month, a year or a decade or two -- i want to continue having a great time -- and this past month has not been great.
I think part of it has sort of been sort of PTSD -- all through treatment i was great and i think somehow i had it in my mind that when treatment ended it would be over -- well i still have very little hair and i still feel ugly and now since my consulting business has slowed down i feel useless to boot -- so i have to get busy. I can understand why you are happy abuot getting a job Tink -- congrats!
I have decided to go off tammy for one month to see how i feel and then try it again in May -- just to see what happens but if it makes me miserable again i will go off it for good. I am pretty drug averse and would never consider taking anything else to counter the side effects, i think once you start taking a ton of stufft it is a slippery slope !
Like you said it's a bit of a crap shoot anyway.. And finally -- i take a baby aspirin daily -- i have read lots about its effect on preventing the recurrence of BC and the numbers are almost as high as tammy (although not everyone agrees yet) nevertheless, much fewer side effects if any.
Thank you for listening -- although i really wish none of you were in this group -- i am so glad to have people to talk to who really understand.
cheers
Judy
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Hi all! I has been another busy weekend for this gal. Whew good thing its the start of the workweek and I will get a break, lol. Why do I continue to cram as much as I can into a weekend? But I had a good time so thats all that counts. Got some more goodies at the auction yesterday, so it was worth it. Got what I went for so I'm a happy camper.
Judy I think its how alot of gals feel during treatment. I know I did. For me I expeted life to just spring back into place when I got thru treatment and in my mind I was so ready for it, but my body wasn't. That I wasn't expecting. Hang in there, it'll all fall into place. Everyone is so different I wish I could give you a timeline but I can't.
Well all its time for me to go to work, ugh! Have a great day all!!!
Love you my Tammo Sistas!!!!!!!!!!
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Welcome to the newbies - I have been on tamoxifen since last July and other than general achiness I have pain in my left foot more than any other place - and I realized one day that I cut it really bad several years back (I mean really bad) but had forgotten about it. I do not have any other previous injuries to anything so it does make me wonder if it sometimes settles in old injuries.
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Thinking of you Sherry and hope you are recovering nicely......
I have completed 3 weeks of my Tamoxifen break and since being off the thing I really noticed was the fog has lifted and I feel like my old self. My weight still seems to be creeping up and I am hating how much I am putting on, not sure what that is all about.......pretty darn frustrating.
love all you wonderful ladies and hope you have a fantastic week.
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June,
I have gained weight since starting Tamoxifen, and I am SO BLOATED all the time!
Can't wait to be done with it!
Enjoy your break! When do you have to start on Tamxofien again? or are you?
Harley
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Hi everyone! Hope your Monday is going well! I am actually excited about it being a Monday for once because I have a lot of ambitious plans I want to get done - we'll see how I feel at the end of the week!
Tink - I'm so happy for you! I would love a permanent part-time job! Especially with the little ones - they can make you smile all day. Oh, and they love you sooo much - how sweet that will be! I agree, I think staying at home is now slowing me down, too. This job should be so much fun for you and not take ALL of your energy!
Gerri - when I heard about the possibility of baby aspirin helping to reduce bc recurrence, I asked my onc about it. She told me to take 3 or 4 per week.
Paula - sounds like you had a great weekend! I remember the good old days when I couldn't wait for Monday because I needed a break - back when I was a busy realtor and showed houses all weekend. Come Monday I would get a breather, then Tuesday it was office day. I wish the real estate market was like it used to be, but don't we all!
My SEs aren't too bad on Tamoxifen but I have noticed it seems to highlight old injuries, for sure.
June - I would love to feel like my old self, but I really don't think it's the Tamoxifen that's causing my problems. I think it's the whole freaking out from the diagnosis and then treatment was hard on me. It knocked me out, but as usual, I was impatient for it to be over and overly optimistic. Paula, like you said, I expected to feel like my old self fast. I remember giving myself 9 months - HA! It's going to be more like 2 or 3 years, judging from what other women have said. Oh, and my PCP! He told me it would be a few years - of course, that's just for me, everyone is different. I can't get a straight answer from my onc about something like that, so I just asked a totally different doctor.
Love to all my Tammy sisters! Hope everyone has a super week!
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Heartsnsoul, my PCP also said it will take a few YEARS to get back to "normal." The MO never gave me a straight answer, just said it takes "a while." If she had been honest with me from the beginning, I would NOT have refused treatment (as they seem to fear), but I sure would have been more patient, less angry, and taken some time off at the beginning to rest more, and maybe have healed a little more. Now I am still having to take reduced workload and intermittent FMLA to deal with it. Luckily, I have a wonderful and supportive boss and colleagues! So, yes, a little more than 9 months - and probably more than 24.
I'm not sure what to attribute my fog to - tammi, chemo, old age, PTSD, too much on my plate stress, etc. Hoping it clears up after the semester ends and I won't have to think as much to answer student questions. If not, I will change my life mission to "Just leave 'em all confused!" and have a good time with it.
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Linda quality of life is so important. You have to do what you think is right for you.
Judy welcome aboard glad you joined us here.
I went to the PS today and got one of my two drains removed. It was really bothering me so I hope tomorrow I start seeing a difference in the way I feel. Hopefully I'll get the other one out later this week. But nurse said everything looks really really good. I was disappointed that I did not get my path report today. PS took a long weekend to take his son to visit one of the Universities he is looking at. Nurse did not know if it had come in and was on his desk or if they are still waiting on it. He will be back tomorrow and the nurse will call me tomorrow so at least I'll know if he has gotten yet or if they are still waiting on it. Hope I don't have any surprises.
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Oh once those nasty drains come out Sherry you will start feeling so much better. I don't know what it is about them, but I never ever cared for mine. The nurse is right though, you will notice a huge difference tomorrow.
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Linda - isn't that funny how we both got the same non-answers from our MO. I guess that's what they're trained to say. I'm with you - I wish I had known what to really expect from chemo, I still would have done it, I just wouldn't have put such high expectations on myself which now have probably contributed to me feeling depressed. I'm sure the Tamoxifen doesn't help that, either. I guess it just takes time.....time, time, time. I hate waiting so long to get my life back to where it was! In the meantime, I TRY to get other things done but I'm just not motivated. I should probably try an anti-depressant - I just hate adding another drug to my repertoire. Of course, that would be THE anti-depressant. I think the only one that doesn't interfere with Tamoxifen is Effexor. I tried it once and it gave me terrible headaches. Still, maybe that would help for a little while, maybe just enough to get me over this hump.
I hope you notice a big difference when the semester ends - the stress would be too much for me, I know! I love the "just leave them all confused" - that sounds fun! At least you'll enjoy it, and we have to get our kicks however we can. My brother calls it the mushroom theory - leave them in the dark and feed them sh*t all day.
I don't think oncologists have a grasp on how traumatizing this whole thing is. Some doctors just look at statistics and don't see how asking us to take a pill with SEs for 5 years is kind of a lot to ask. I know I feel depressed and yes, I don't know what's causing it either - chemo, tamoxifen, middle-age crisis, uhh...breast cancer crisis, for sure. How do they expect us to feel? It's a lot to dump on someone and NOT expect an emotional reaction.
Sherry - it must feel great to get rid of that drain. Hope you lose the other one this week, too!
Well, I had goals yesterday that I did not accomplish so I'm going to try to tackle them now. I think once I get started, it will fly by - it's getting started that's the hard part.
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(((Lynn)))) Hang in there, it will come to you. Hang in there girl, you are a strong woman, stronger then you know.
Well I am up in arms about this whole soy thing. What have your Onc told you about the amount of soy that is safe. Mine says that the amount that in the foods we eat really doesn't make that huge of a difference. I don't do tofu so I'm cool with cutting that out of my diet. But if I want my favorite cookies, by golly I should be able to eat it. What have any of you gals come across regarding this. I know its a hot button issue around here, but I am not in the mood to be taken down over my choices and I know you all aren't like that so thats why I value your opinions.
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Paula. Mine said the same thing what is normally in food is fine just don't go all soy..like all milk soy and all.
Linda..I know I'm very foggy with Tam . You have even more ln top of it and then just the BC itself I believe is so stessful and anxiety can cause that feeling too...so much to deal with...hugs!, we are here for you
Heart soul....thanks! Yes being home gives me way too much time to over think everything. Working with 4 yr old takes me to a diffetent place. They make me laugh and be silly I love it. One little girl said to me last week.." Ms Maria do you wanna color with me and don't worry if you don't know the rainbow Colors in order I'll sing you the rainbow song. Sooo cute I knew it but wanted her to sing it for me anyway lol...precious!
Junie Jo sherry sandee and all my wonderful Tammy ladies. Hugs,,0 -
Paula regarding soy my MO said what I eat in food is OK just don't take any soy supplements as that would give you way too much. So he said eat what you want that has soy.
I have not had a great day today. I guess I overdid it yesterday. I had to go into the city to the doctor and eat lunch. It take 1 1/2 hours to get there. Then when DH got home I asked him to take me to the grocery store to get a chouple of things. It felt good to get out but I have not gotten out of my PJ's today. DH will help me take a shower tonight and I'm sure I will feel better after that.
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heartnsoul - On the topic of antidepressants - yes, there are others you can take instead of Effexor. I did try that one and it lasted a week. Last summer I had to go see a pain specialist and was diagnosed with permanent nerve damage from rads. He prescribed Amitriptyline 50 mg and it was wonderful. No pains, hot flashes, much better sleep, feeling better than I have in years. A few months ago, we switched to Nortriptyline and have the same benefits. Those of these drugs are tricyclic antidepressants that are also used to pain management issues. So, both are safe to take with Tamoxifen and they are not addictive. I was told I would have to be on one of these drugs for the rest of my life - thanks to radiation.
Sherry - Sorry you overdid it. That's what happens when we are feeling good and just want to move forward. I'm sure a nice hot shower will do wonders for you. Rest up and be kind to yourself.
On the issue of soy - my MO told me what is in foods is okay but to not go overboard like switching to soy milk, etc. He especially said to no take supplements that contain soy - that would be overdoing it and then some. I have done extensive research on the topic and it is so conttroversial. Some studies say it is bad news - some say it can help prevent a recurrance or new primary.
Hi Paula, Tink, June and anyone else I missed. Love you all!
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Sherry...hugs....gentle ones. Hope tomorrow is better for you. I kniw once I got my drains out I felt so much better...keep healing and rest my friend xo
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OK, I went to a grand rounds presentation last year by an MD/PhD who does research on breast cancer and soy. She said that Chinese women who have a lot of soy in their diets have lower BC rates than women in US. She said there is no evidence that soy in the diet has any adverse effects on breast cancer in women in the US. BUT, she said DO NOT use SUPPLEMENTS. Dietary soy and the soy that is processed in the supplements is apparently different, maybe because of the concentration, maybe because of the processing or other stuff in the supplements, or whatever, but again, she has data that shows it's just fine to eat soy-based foods, but not the supplements. She really did not address the soy milk question, but I would probably avoid it.
Paula, thanks for the encouragement. What kind of cookies do you like? I'm a milk & oreos or milk & chips ahoy girl myself. And I do occasionally steal one of my DHs Girl Scout thin mints (he orders a case every year, then rations them so he has enough for the whole year! and when I steal one, it just really messes up his count! LOL).
Heartsnsoul, I LOVE the "mushroom" analogy! Thanks for the laugh today!
Sherry, I know how great it is to get the drains out - such a relief! But don't rush them too much - you want to be sure any fluid that is still being produced has a way to get out!
Today has also been a struggle here - fatigue about as bad as I have had for a while. But DH fixed me a wonderful fruit & yogurt smoothie for supper and it really perked me up - at least enough to get into my jammies for the night.
Jo, Tink, June, Harley, Judy, archpurple, and Betsy, chabba, Gerri, and anyone else I have missed, hoping you all rest well tonight, and wake up tomorrow to a brighter day, feeling better!0 -
Good night Linda
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I am a double stuff oreo kinda gal, be still my heart! Plus I do love a thin mint. My favorite is almond windmill cookies. They are my go to cookies when I want to rememeber my time with my auntie.
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You ladies are so great
Linda your smoothie sounds wonderful
I had a friend bring by dinner tonight and it was so wonderful. She made a sweet potatoe souflee that was so good. I am sure that I am gaining weight but not about to get on the scales and find out.
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Hello ladies....
Sherry I am so glad you got out yesterday and you had a nice meal last night.
I sit here and read all your stories from all you wonderful ladies and I think HECK, I haven't gone through 1/2 of what you have gone through and I have no right to complain as I never had chemo only radiation and this stupid pill, but after listening to all you have endured I realize this is why I come here often as each one of you is here for all of us no matter what he have going on in my life.....and you are all so knowledgable......feeling kinda sappy and just wanted you all to know that I love ya all!!!!
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June don't ever think you JUST had rads and the little pill because both are a big deal. Love ya girlly0
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June
Just so you know, I had a bilateral mastectomy, cause I was so afraid of RADS.... so don't think you have no right to complain, cause you DO.... You had your skin burnt til you were crispy....
Just want you to know that I love you, too!!
Harley
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Junie, love you to girlie!!!!! Here i'll WHACK you with my pillow just to show you how much I love you!!!!!! WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAck!!!!
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June - Each one of us has had to endure a lot of crap. You do have the right to complain and this is the place to do it. We are all here for each other. Love ya Gal!!!
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Junie... love you too!!!! I agree dont ever say JUST it all sucks and none of it is fun!!!! hugs girly
Well my eye doc called today and said that my field of vision test was abnormal and he wants me to see a Retina specialists... oh once again the joys of Tammy!!!!! ugh!!!
And my DD has to have a colonoscopy..... the fun never stops at our place.... for an encore maybe will can do some wart removals!!!! lol..
anyway needed to vent!!!
Sherry hoping today is a better day for you !!!
Paula Jo Linda Chabba Sandee harley heartnsoul and all you wonderfil Tammy ladies Hugs!!!!
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