Topic: Bottle 'o Tamoxifen

Nov 29, 2007 08:40PM Barbeqrn wrote:

Hi, sorry I am late joining you all...I just started with the Tamoxifen therapy Nov 26th and my literature said "weight loss" too...oh well, the thought of not watching the diet was nice for a short time!!!!

Harley, I haven't heard from you in awhile as I have been on the rad thread for the most part! I hope yo are doing well and that you are happy with your surgery results.

I too am getting a small amt of hair back...weird thing though is that 4 weeks after chemo I am missing eyelashes on the bottom of one eye and about half on the other! I wonder why the delay...how long does it take to grow lashes back?

Barb

Nov 30, 2007 01:41AM CapeTownJanine wrote:

Good morning Tamox-ladies!

I've been on the Tamoxifen-train since 5 November, and initially there were no SE's. I almost thought that I might not be metabolizing it, and would have to stop (I can dream, can't I?).

Now the "power-surges", as Lynn calls them, have started, but not too hectic. What really gets up my nose though, are those night sweats. I really, really love my sleep, and never had a problem. I could even sleep standing up! But now, I wake up drenced, and bothered. Anyone with some advice on how to curb it?

Another thing, I've been having some lower-abdominal pain. I don't know if I'm just blaming everything on the Tamoxifen, or if I should be worried about it. I'm seeing my onc. on 14 Dec. so will have to mention it to her.

And weight-loss on Tamox.? I can do with some of that...

Have a great weekend ladies!

Janine

Nov 30, 2007 02:54PM petjunkie wrote:

Hi All,
I started taking tamoxifen two weeks ago. My oncologist told me that pre-menopausal women usually have fewer side-effects (I'm 33). I have joint pain, especially in my knees. No hot flashes yet, hooray!

Everyone I have talked to warns of weight gain, especially around the belly. I already am overweight and tend to gain in my abdomen, so I'm not excited about this. Yet here I am sitting on the couch when I could be exercising ;-)

Anyone doing tamoxifen without having gone through chemo? It's hard to tell which side effects people might be having chemo drugs vs tamoxifen.

Karen

Nov 30, 2007 06:24PM JapanLynn wrote:

Good morning from southern Japan, ladies--

I've been reading on these boards about not taking prozac and tamox together...I've been on prozac for about 4 years, first for mild depression and now to help w/ menopause symptoms.  During BC treatment, I saw a million doctors and filled out a million health surveys...can't honestly remember whether I told my onc. about the prozac.  I stopped taking it a couple of days ago and faxed a letter to my onc. for advice on whether to make it a permanent holiday.  We will have a fax and/or phone relationship while I'm here, and I'll see him next summer.

I know a lot of people are on effexor along w/ tamox.; we'll see what he says.  Maybe I could try going without an antidepressant--the idea appeals to me, but if my period decides to make another (increasingly rare) appearance, I'm in danger of losing all my friends due to mood swing scariness.  Stay tuned...we'll see.

Question: How often do you stage I and II ladies see your onc.?  Just curious since my situation is different.

Enjoy your Friday evening...I'll be doing laundry and cleaning house on Saturday while you sleep.  Take care...

Lynn

Nov 30, 2007 09:55PM chemo072 wrote:

txgirl - good job on the weight loss though!!  I know it's slow, but at least your making headway, which is more than I can say. :(

Dec 1, 2007 09:26AM my3girls wrote:

Hi to my tamox friends!

Harley...be patient with the eyelash and eyebrow return.  I too wondered if they would ever come back.  I had my last tx on 8/29 and they still continued to fall out after that.  But now 3 months post tx..and they are back!! My eyelashes still have a little longer to grow..but they are full, just like before!! So happy...so yours will be too!

Layne..Enjoy your visit with your mom!  Where in Ohio?  I am in NE OH.  Thanks for the welcome to the tamoxi-train!

txgirl...Wow...good for you! 15lbs in 3 mos! I think those are great results! That is the healthy way to lose..slowly!  Your calorie intake is really low...maybe that is what I need to do!  Like you..I too gained some weight prior to dx...wonder if it had anything to do with the cancer being there?

Cynthia...I also got my belly fat on taxotere.  Hardly had any before that tx. Darn!!

Have a great day ladies...it's Saturday...but I am working

Dec 1, 2007 09:47PM honeygirl wrote:

Hello Ladies , I'd like to join the tamox train! I started in Sept. I have had alot of hot flashes. To the point of my head is dripping wet! Sometimes hourly. Not fun. Especially at work. I just started effexor two days ago. My onc wanted to see if the hotflashes would stop on their own , but they didn't. So I sure hope it helps. He also mention getting a transvaginal ultrasound done. I never heard of this. Doesn't sound to comfortable to me. Anyone that has had one and would like to share , I'd appreciate it.

Hope you're all having a great weekend. Melody

Dec 2, 2007 08:17AM ashaby wrote:

Hey Layne,
I just swallowed my first Tamoxifen. Yum yum. How was yours?

Basha

Dec 2, 2007 08:45AM my3girls wrote:

Hey Melody...welcome to the train ride!! I had several hot flashes last night!! Always seem to be worse when I am in bed!

Have a great day...talk with you ladies later!

awb...how are you doing?

lisa

Dec 2, 2007 03:59PM Harley44 wrote:

Cynthia,

Did I read one of your posts that mentioned that you were having some achiness from the Tamoxifen? 

I have started feeling achy, and am just wondering if it is from the Tamoxifen, or just usual aches and pains from getting older, and maybe because I have started to walk, and even run again.  I like to walk fast...  but I want to start running soon, even though I have never been able to run continuously for any length of time.  Except  for the 5 K  I ran 2 years ago with my dh.

I hope you are feeling great!  

Harley

Dec 2, 2007 05:16PM - edited Dec 2, 2007 05:17PM by NativeMainer

I started tamoxifen in October.   I didn't have chemo(refused it), so any SE I develop will be from the tamoxifen.  So far, no SE.  NONE.  I do also take prozac and neurontin (prozac for years, neurontin for LE pain) both of which have been used for tamox SE, so maybe any SE are just being masked.  But I'm really, really scared the tamox isn't doing anything for me.  I'm even more scared of changing from prozac to another antidepressant since I went through so many to find one that works. i've already decided that if I have to chose between treating the bc and treating the depression, I'll treat the depression.  I see my onc early Jan and will find out about CYP2D6 and/or endoxifen level testing.  To answer someone's question, the tumor removed was classified stage 2, and I will be seeing the onc every 3 months. 

Dec 2, 2007 06:45PM awb wrote:

Jackie--I do remember a horrible yeast infection within the first month on tamoxifen, but it never happened again.  I didn't really notice any hot flashes or insomnia for about 2 or 3 months and they were both really mild.  I had to have a total hysterectomy a few years ago, so now my oncologist feels that any SEs I have (alot of achiness) are more due to the loss of estrogen from not having any ovaries, but my gyn and pcp fel it is from the combination of the 2 (I tend to agree, it only makes sense).

Dec 2, 2007 06:49PM jackiebrown wrote:

Thanks awb, my symptoms so far have been really mild and I hope it continues this way. Achiness has been the worst of it but maybe that's left over from chemo too.

Dec 2, 2007 07:21PM Cynthia1962 wrote:

Harley - yes, I'm having achiness, but I had it before I started the Tamoxifen so it could still be from chemo.  My fingers are stiff and achy at night, but get better during the day.  I do think I may be developing insomnia, but I'm not sure if it's the Toprol or the Tamoxifen.  I'm leaning toward the Toprol because it was right around then that it started.  I'm having more of the RLS, too. 

Anyone feeling fatigue that they think is due to the Tamoxifen?  I just don't know what to attribute it to.  I seriously want to stop taking the Toprol, because I just don't know what side effects it's causing, but I suspect it's the insomnia and RLS.

Take care everyone and welcome aboard all our newcomers!

Cynthia 

Dec 2, 2007 07:25PM honeygirl wrote:

Hi Cynthia , you know , about a month after my last tx of chemo , my energy level was back as good as new. But after I started tamox. I noticed I felt fatigued. Its not real bad , but not as energenic as I was. Is fatigue listed as a SE?