Bottle 'o Tamoxifen

RobinLK

jbok that is too funny!

I had plantar fasciitis and received a cortisone shot in the heel. What a relief! I was told it was related to the tamoxifen. I also now wear orthotics in my shoes and I have a night brace I purchased at CVS. I currently do not need it, but it did provide relief so I could stand in the morning

Wendy3

I'm now into my seventh month on tamoxifen. Muscle aches are a huge issue for me lately I hope this will pass. Tailbone pain shoulder and chest muscle pain mainly. Not fun especially when your stage four and worrying that it could be cancer. Only to find out it's the medication that's making you feel like crap. Oh well I guess it's better than the alternative.

lala1

Wendy3---Ask your oncologist is you can try turmeric and ginger. It's made a huge difference for me and if you google them, you'll see all sorts of research as to how they help people with arthritis, maybe even as well as arthritis meds.

lala1

RobinLK--how do you know which type of orthotics to use in your shoes? And what does the night brace do?

Sloan15

Lala - Sofsole makes a great orthotic - I wear the green one. Stores like Action Sports sometimes have a device you stand on that tells where the pressure is and which orthotic would be best. I eventually got custom orthotics, but I still use the Sofsoles in my slippers. Comfy!

RobinLK

I purchased over the counter orthotics that were labeled specifically for plantar fasciitis. The night brace holds your foot at an angle to provide a slight stretch.

Orthotic link

Night brace link

stage1

thanks, Robin, I'll check that out for shoe inserts. Kaiser had recommended this one that cost me $38 and I had to take it back cause it hit my heel wrong. Anyway, my problem is a lump at the ball of my foot that suddenly appeared about the size of a nickel. It was diagnosed as Mortons neuroma, a swelled nerve. Always something....it is totally putting a cramp on my exercising ability:

L2girl

wendy3, I have that exact list of pains as you, and have had them since shortly after starting treatment for BC. I had a barrage of scans, only to find that the tailbone pain was caused by perineural or tarlov cysts, the shoulder pain was caused by a small tear (probably from when I over-exercised it after surgery). The chest wall pain is likely from rads, or surgery. And the rest of my many aches and pains are due to fibromyalgia. My MO let me stop tamoxifen for 7 weeks last year, to see if that was the cause, but apparently it wasn't, since I actually felt worse while off it. Go figure! hopefully they are scanning you, to help alleviate your fears about the pains. I know what that's like!

Lala1, I agree with you that maybe tamoxifen just makes us more succeptible to things. Like you, I hardly ever get sick. But this year I got sick in mid November and 10 plus weeks later, I am still fighting off the last lingering symptoms of a post infectious cough. And for the first six weeks of the cold, I was so fatigued I could hardly function!

RobinLK, I also have developed planters fasciitis, and it is always worse when I get out of bed I in the mornings and feel I have to hobble around for awhile. I Never knew about those night braces.

All things aside, I am still glad to be on tamoxifen. In my case, I am better on it than off

solfeo

I have had plantar fasciitis for years but it never bothers me as long as I wear the right shoes/orthotics. You can get very expensive custom orthotics but I've had good success with less expensive over the counter solutions. Dr. Scholls makes inserts for plantar fasciitis that have worked well for me in sneakers and other closed shoes. For sandles and flipflops I wear Vionic with Orthaheel Technology shoes that have the supportive footbeds built in. There are also Orthaheel inserts but they run a little more expensive than the Dr. Scholls. Sometimes you can get the inserts and shoes cheaper on Amazon or eBay than directly from Vionic.

In the beginning I had to wear a brace but not now as long as I prevent the flareups. Glad that hasn't come back on the tam! Another good way to stretch that area is to roll your feet over a tennis ball. More ideas here:

http://www.athletico.com/2012/05/09/plantar-fasciitis-solutions/

Scottiemom11

Had Caribbean rice with Turmeric for dinner. Trying to see if it will helps. If so I may add it to my diet.

UPDATE: Bought a turmeric support today. . .should have looked up drug interactions first. One of my stable of docs is my gastroenterologist who has me on Omeprazole. Apparently turmeric does not play well with that drug. Will have to give my supp. to DH.

Bummed

Scottie

Sjacobs146

is anyone having liver issues with the Tamox? During my last checkup my liver function numbers were elevated. Doc said could be due to Tamox, but that if they don't go down, they'll want to do a liver ultrasound. Not that I drank much before, but I'm 100% on the wagon now. I don't take Tylenol or any other meds except Tamox and my BP meds

TinyDancer5

I woke up with a scratchy throat. Any suggestions on what to take

goldenpawsKim

I had a nasty sore throat last week that ended with a sinus infection and on antibiotics. Doc said I could take aleve or tylenol with tamoxifen... fyi. Hope you are feeling better soon. -Kim

hsant

I've been on Tamoxifen for 7 months. I don't really have any of the listed physical SEs, but I do get leg and foot cramps. I also feel anxious, and off for lack of a better word. I'LL do weird, absent minded things like putting my eggs in the pantry instead of the fridge, and the other day I put the milk on top of the refridgerator instead of inside. I asked my MO if it was possible that I could have a hormone imbalance, and he said it was unlikely. But my father is a physician, and he thinks that it makes sense. I don't forget to take the Tamoxifen, but sometimes I can't remember if I took it, so I've started to use a pill container, with the days of the week. I have never had short term memory issues before taking this med.

Sloan15

hsant - I started using a pill container for the same reason. I couldn't remember if I took it or not!

MomOfTwins98

I also use the pill box - I sometimes doubt whether or not I took it or forget. I am also on Gabapantin three times a day and have had some of the issues that you have with memory, absent minded, anxious. I had to titrate down on the Gabapentin and it seems better but I think the two meds together do a job on me. For example, I was driving to the market and ended up at the post office! I've lived here my whole life - was sort of funny...I just laughed and said "okay, long way around" - However, when I could not remember names or would go to a room in my house and not remember why I went, I got a bit nervous. Seems better with lower dose gabapentin. I have such nerve pain in my groin and legs and rheumatologist is trying this.I did tell my MO on Monday at my appt that I also have bone and rib pain but he thinks it is still from radiation and the Tamoxifen. He said that, if I still have it at next appt, we'll do a bone scan. I've also had lots of abdominal issues with some rectal bleeding so having colonoscopy and endoscopy on Monday (that will be a fun day) - I'm 49 so figure that 5o is close so better safe than sorry and do it all now. The Tamoxifen seems so different for each person. I have an acquaintance who did not have a single side effect and others who said it was just awful. I've been on 9 weeks and have had 4 periods - so weird. my OB has checked me a couple times with ultrasound and all is fine now. She actually told me last night that, even though people say your period stops, it is beneficial to keep having them as it sheds the lining and helps avoid uterine issues while on Tamoxifen - So, as I have no control over that, I hope the meds are working properly and all will be well!

Wendy3

Momoftwins98 I'm 51 and am seeing a specialist on Friday concerning rectal bleeding I have no pain what so ever but like you I figured better safe than sorry. I just had to add my twins were also born 1998 so funny. Anyway I wish you well

Wendy

SweetCaroline2

Yes, Sjacobs146, I had a problem with elevated liver enzymes at my checkup 6 months ago. I was taking Tylenol for my Tamoxifen-related joint pains. I was keeping my daily Tylenol dosage below the recommended daily maximum dose, but my MO said that I had to cut back on the Tylenol. Now I only take Tylenol at bedtime, because otherwise joint pain keeps me awake, and my liver enzymes have returned to normal levels.

MomOfTwins98

Hi

Happy to meet another mom of twins! Mine will be 18 in May...a boy and a girl and best friends. What do you have? They have been so strong through this journey - I was diagnosed this past Sept 1, the day before their senior year of high school started and all I kept thinking was "I am going to ruin this year for them" - they've been amazing and my reason to fight! I dont know your story but hope you have good support. I'm told I am cancer free but have so much pain and many symptoms that i get scared and worried and research so much. I hope your bleeding turns out to be nothing! Would love to hear about your twins!

stage1

momoftwins, I also had rectal bleeding a year ago. It turned out to be some virus in the small intestine. I was treated with a target antibiotc that cost me a $100. It worked! Not a problem since. This might be TMI for some, but I had one issue, after the colonoscopy, I came down with a bladder infection. I think that was caused from the after washing they gave me. I would advise anyone getting a colonoscopy to pee afterwards to clean out. Good luck, let us know how you do

Suzanne50

Well I don't have twins but I have a son born in 1998 and a high school senior. Can't believe how fast they grow. Plus have one two years behind him. My kids have been so good throughout this whole ordeal. I was diagnosed May 27, 2015. I cannot believe I will be coming up on a year in the near future. It has been a whirlwind and I am so ready to be done with all of it. Exchange surgery set for March 8th. Moving forward!

MomOfTwins98

What is exchange surgery? Yes, our children are amazing and, for me, my strength! So much going on at this age and, to throw a diagnosis at them too, seemed like so much to handle - but, handle it they have. I'm lucky that my parents live down the street and we are all very close so that has been such a support too.

Stage1 - How did they find the virus? I am dreading the tests but know they have to be done. The bleeding has subsided but, already planned so going through with it - besides, as I said before, I'll be 50 in August so was going to have to be done anyway. I was looking at your profile and you had no treatments? Wow...good for you! and five years ago? stay healthy and well!

Mm68

hsant-I've been on Tamoxifen 10 mos now and have the leg cramps and absent mindedness. I make sure I always double check my work now. I too have done half-brain things like taking laundry to the bathroom. I also find I don't remember things as good as I used to. Had hot flashes early on, but started taking magnesium and they have gone. Almost done with first year of tamo!

stage1

momoftwins, the biopsy was done in the colonoscopy, felt nothing, it was a breeze, no worries...never knew he took a biopsy until I got the results. The worst part is prep the night before, drinking all that liquid. Since I had it done, I understand the is an easier drink to buy, smaller quantity but does the job. Also, I think it important to time the procedure so that you are not up all night eliminating...

stage1

mm68, I was taking magnesium for leg cramps and constipation, for about a year, and then I got my lab tests that showed a plummet in my GFR and creatinine in my blood which points to Cronic kidney disease stage 3. Magnesium, I now find out is not a good thing to be taking. Now, my age is 67, so that might have been a contributer. I stopped vitamins, but Dr.says continue calcium and 800IU of D3 for my osteopenia. I go to a kidney health class at the end of the month, so I'll know more then. BTW, oncologist says tamoxifen does not affect the kidneys. But I will have her check my liver enzymes cause I noticed primary Dr. Did not. I'm tellin ya, we have to keep watch, cause the Drs d

keepwalking

Just finished radiation yesterday! Unfortunately I am with you all in the brain function difficulties. I have always had a good memory, and with aging just found I needed to put more reminders on my calendar than before, but now after just over a month on tamoxifen it is awful! I do absent-minded things and sometimes can't remember what I did the week before. I am hoping that it is just so bad because of the combo of tamoxifen and rads and that it will improve at least some now that I am done with rads.

Stage1 - Thanks for the info on magnesium. I was taking magnesium every day for the constipation caused by tamoxifen and when my family doctor heard he didn't want me to do that. He suggested Miralax instead which has been working fine. I still take occasional magnesium for restless legs but good to keep this in mind.

SweetCaroline - Good to know about the Tylenol and liver enzymes. I used to rarely use any meds, but right now am using maximum Tylenol for radiation skin issues. My MO had warned to take OTC pain meds only as much as needed. I hope I am not needing it for too long.

keepwalking

I had seen a gynecologist because of lower abdominal cramping/pain when I first started tamoxifen. An ultrasound showed a 7mm thick endometrial lining after only 2 weeks on tam, so he wanted to do a hysteroscopy to see what what going on and also to get a baseline. Well, I had that yesterday after my last radiation treatment.

Hooray that my uterus looked perfectly normal (!!) and I can rest easy that the thicker lining is of no consequence. He did find and remove a polyp that was on my cervix and sent it for pathology. He must have told me 3 - 4 times that it was nothing to worry about and just nothing. Well, there was a time that when a doctor said that I could just rest easy and not think about it again. But, after hearing one negative pathology report it will not be so easy to just forget about it until I get the results (appointment in one month) although I do think he probably has a good idea of what looks normal and not.

Mm68

stage 1- thanks for the info on magnesium, I'll look into that. I have blood work now every 4 months, so far normal.

Keep walking- I did baseline ultrasound before started tamo and 6 months into it I too had a polyp on my cervix - results not cancer. Repeat every six months now

MomOfTwins98

The information seems to differ depending on who I talk to - I saw the dietician at our Cancer Center and she has me on 400 calcium and 1500 Vit d but said it cannot be taken within two hours of the Tamoxifen. She also said no grapefruit or flaxseed - My MO said "you can absolutely have grapefruit" - Don't love grapefruit so staying away:-) just to play it safe. I had some wirk done at the Lymphedema clinic for preventiona nd she was not good and really hurt me - now in pain and again, Drs differ onw hat pain medication I can take. I try to take so little but really hurting and have to get to work and get through the day.

when I started Tamoxifen, found large ovarian cysts. I am nervous about the uterine lining but my OB said not to worry...it is thicker but she said it is normal.

Keep Walking...Yay on finishing Radiation. For me, it was bittersweet but glad to have it over. The techs became such friends while I was there. I see you are in Israel..my sister lived there for 4 years and my children, now seniors in high school, are talking about maybe doing birthright in a couple years. I've been once, a very very very long time ago.

I just use prune juice and Benefiber for the constipation - the Tamox and Gabapentin together are causing all sorts of issues with that. They told me not to take extra magnesium but I did see that it is in my Calcium pills. They also suggested Colace but I've had rectal bleeding and it specifically says on the bottle not to take with bleeding so, not going to take it.

Hope everyone has a good day!

dtad

lala Just want to say that I think you are very fortunate to have a doc who not only listen to you about complimentary medicine but will actually research it! IMO the combination of conventional and complimentary is the way to go but most docs are not on board. Good luck and keep us posted...