Dec 11, 2021 10:36AM lala1 wrote:

runor- Not stupid at all. Tamoxifen became a sort of security blanket for me. At 5 years I took the BCI test and found I got no benefit from continuing so my MO and BS both said time to stop and I panicked! My MO suggested I treat it like AA and do it one day at a time. He gave me a 30 day supply and told me to take it home, put it with my supplements I take every day but to just not take that one pill. It really was half scary and half fun! But with each day that went by that I didn't take it, I became more comfortable in all the other ways I was trying to keep myself healthy. My MO reminded me that eating healthy, exercising daily and keeping a healthy weight actually gave me almost as much recurrence risk reduction as Tamoxifen. So that's where I turned my focus. And one day I realized I hadn't thought about Tamoxifen in weeks....so I threw it away.

Dec 14, 2021 03:21AM salamandra wrote:

I had terrible acid reflex starting hormonal treatment. I had no idea gas could be like that. I treated it with prescription strength PPIs. It did eventually get better - I don't remember exactly how long but definitely a lot more than two months.

OTOH I had other tamoxifen side effects that never did get better.

I think it's not really possible to know except by letting it play out a while longer (and maybe doing some experimenting with the drugs), but if you haven't spoken to a doctor about possible help with symptom relief, it seems like it's at least worth a try.

Dec 14, 2021 02:21PM sampy661 wrote:

Salamadra - Initially I did have acid reflux actually, long after chemotherapy ended which subsided with medication and hasn't returned since. I have discussed my issues with my GP and the oncology nurses, they feel since my blood tests came back within the healthy range they surmised I've developed food sensitivities. They couldn't guarantee I'd overcome them with time, they're not convinced it's a side effect from tamoxifen either, symptoms seemed to have escalated while on Tamoxifen I feel.

Initially I was treating constipation/diarrhoea with medication but quickly realised these over the counter medications were not a long term solution so I endeavoured finding my own solution which was FODMAP.

Waves2Stars - This is the thing, I can't eat celery anymore, it has mannitol, a substance the body converts into sugar that bloats me to uncomfortable proportions, blue berries are full of fructan, even small doses of fructans will send me into a downward spiral really quickly. Carrots on the other hand, I can eat to my hearts content. These are all foods I could devour without issue previously.

I've managed my symptoms by very careful food choices, I think steel cut oats has been a life saver but it's disheartening to have to avoid eating out, the other day I went to a food court at a shopping centre and brought my own cut lunch, like a peanut - incidentally, peanuts I can eat since they're low FODMAP. I swear people were looking at me

I may have to wait it out, I like the thought of having my gall bladder checked, my mother had gallstones so it has piqued my interest. Maybe chemo is the culprit, I hope these food sensitivities pass, in any event it's encouraging to read Tamoxifen is unlikely the cause. Thanks for your input guys, much appreciated, rant over