Bottle 'o Tamoxifen

Jabe

and your evening is cheered by reading these posts and remembering you're not alone. Thank you!!

KateB79

I just turned 37, and had my last period in August (it started the day after my first chemo infusion). I've been on tamixofien for about two months now, and . . . nada. I sometimes feel period-y--bloating, cramps, that kind of thing--but nothing happens. My MO says all of this is normal and that it will likely get better over time. I'm to let her know if I experience "irregular bleeding," but she says there's a 50/50 chance that I'll start menstruating again. Time will tell.

She wants to do ovarian suppression starting this summer, which I imagine will mean no more periods, like, forever.

I'm with y'all on the memory thing. Between mild chemo brain, early-morning rads, and tamoxifen? Well, let's just say that I write everything down AND use reminders in my phone, or I'd never get anything done!

mairew

Hey guys, I am officially joining this thread. Took my first TEVA tamox pill last night. Fingers crossed I can manage the SEs when they appear. My MO did tell me to take Baby Aspirin and Vit D. Onwards!!

rleepac

I just need to vent...

I have been off Tamoxifen for 5 weeks because I had surgery and my MO wanted to see if my SEs went away once it got out of my system. The pain in my hands, feet and knees is about 90% gone but still there enough to annoy me. My DH refuses to offer an opinion on if I should take the Tamox or not saying that if he says I should take it then I blame him for my pain but if he says not to take it and I recur that I'll blame him for the recurrence. Don't get me wrong...we have a wonderful relationship and 'blame' is not even part of our lives but he's just looking forward and doesn't want me to hold him accountable for either side of the coin. He will support whatever decision I make but he won't participate. grrrrrr

I think I'll give it another shot and see how it goes. I can always stop it if the pain gets too bad. But I did make an appt with my doc in 3 weeks because I'm anticipating the need for a conversation about how to handle pain.

Thanks for letting me vent!

ksusan

I am using magnesium citrate, glucosamine/chondroitin/MSM, fish oil, and the occasional ibuprofen, plus twice-weekly soaks with epsom salts and peppermint oil. That plus knee bends and stretches a few times a day is mostly taking care of cramps and pain in my legs, joints, and feet.

Anonymous

I'm taking Country Life Calcium-Magnesium. It has 500mg of magnesium in 2 pills. But I'm not so sure about how well the magnesium is being absorbed, or if the calcium is binding it. I'm getting lots of muscle cramps in my legs. No signs of blood clots, just the random muscle cramps that last less than a minute but are so painful. Very few hot flashes though. I might switch to a different kind of magnesium after I'm done with this one. I had almost no muscle cramps when I took the magnesium by itself.

Trvler

Bekah: I am sorry you have to make that choice. Sometimes, you just want the doctor to TELL you what you should do. I hope this go round is easier on you.

Jabe

And cue the WORST leg cramp I have ever had last night (or should I say this morning). OMG! Y'all were not kidding

superius

Last period was after Chemo #1. Last month the MO said that no period doesn't mean eggs not viable. But my friend is collecting stuff for Ecuador, her home country. She listed hygiene product as something they need. I'm totally giving them away ... who knows IF I'll ever need them again -- do they have an expiration date? XD

Giazuc

Hi guys, I'm a breast cancer survivor who started a YouTube channel to keep myself distracted from thoughts of recurrence and think more positive thoughts. I'm highly anxious and YouTube's my escape! If you wanna get to know me a little more personal here's my link to my channel..

https://m.youtube.com/channel/UClInmDWkbCeHM6XidqwcpSw

A big hug to all my breast cancer sisters!

DeeRatz

Superius-Re:feminine hygiene products....well with an 18 & 21 year old daughter they will surely be used up. I still have stashes of them in my vehicle and packthem in my luggage if I am travelling. It is like a cruel joke...you may or may not get your period back. All I can say is if I get my period back I will be one miserable Beotch. I will play the hot flash game now, but to have to replay this whole scenario again I may just loose it. It may be the breaking point for me.

Scottiemom11

Right there with you DeeRatz. . .I don't miss it. Sooo talked to MO today about the turmeric/curcumin. She looked it up and came back with the same mixed bag we've been talking about here. One study says it slows liver metabolism so less in the blood. Another promising study says it keeps Tamoxifen working better and stops cells from becoming resistant to tamox. We agreed that at least for the summer when my HFs will be worse it's fine to keep taking the turmeric. We'll talk again in August.

Scottie

Jumpship

Rleepac-I took a 3 day vacation from Tamoxifen this week too. Most of the time I feel so much better! I know I'm being "bad" but I have to say that it's the first time I don't feel like a weak, sick, old woman since chemo started in November of 2014. I'll get back on the horse (and hope that no cancer grew in the meantime) but it feels good not to hurt all the time.

DeltaLady

Thank you for the magnesium idea - it works for me. Now I think I'll have a go at turmeric and ginger. I wonder how the male doctors would react if they had part of their male organs cut off and their hormones were blocked?

KateB79

DeeRatz, I'm right there with you, sister.

I'm taking turmeric, magnesium (malate and citrate), vitamin D, and fish oil. Quality of life is too important to me. I'm also drinking beer once in a while, even though it "may or may not" raise my risk of recurrence. I can't let cancer control the rest of my life, you know?

ksusan

The last research I saw said the body can metabolize smaller amounts of alcohol, but that larger quantities can be a problem.

DeeRatz

Deltalady-I laughed at your comment about cutting off male organs and blocking hormones. I had the same thoughts when they stuck those needles in my nipples for my sentinel nodes. Burning radioactive fire being injected....must have been developed by a male. Pretty sure it was

KatherineB

Greetings,

I am just starting tamoxifen. Curious if there are any new recommendations for long flights besides stopping it a couple of weeks before the flight? Thanks

ksusan

Welcome! I haven't seen anyone here recommended to stop Tamoxifen before a long flight. I assume you're talking about the risk of DVT.

I fly a fair amount. I wear compression stockings and stay well-hydrated. I do leg and foot exercises in my seat periodically and get up every two hours, walk to the rest room, then do some knee bends and stretches before returning to my seat. My daily medications include an 81 mg aspirin, and I don't add more but do have extra aspirin with me in case I start having leg pain. In addition to this, I wear arm and hand compression garments to reduce lymphedema risk, and do arm and hand exercises as well.

If you can, break up travel into several flights with layovers. Walk and hydrate during the layovers.

DeltaLady

Hello DeeRatz,

I likened it to molten lava injections, but the, "This may hurt a bit" or as my surgeon said, "A bee sting" were waaay off the mark!

KateB79

Oh, something to look forward to! Molten lava injections! If ovarian suppression is anything like those damn nipple injections, I might look into getting an oophorectomy instead. . . .

"This may hurt a bit" goes right along with "my hands might be a little cold."

MN_Sunshine

I will be done with herceptin the end of July. After that I am hoping to start an herbal product that I have missed taking during my chemo and herceptin process. The herbal product helps with weight loss and energy.

My question is this.....has anyone received any feedback from their oncologist about taking herbal products while they are taking tamoxifen?

My oncologist is not an advocate of herbal products so I am just curious what others are hearing from their Drs.

Thank you.

lala1

I'm amazed that doctors do those nipple injections while awake. Mine gave me 4 injections the day before the surgery in the 4 quadrants of my breast, 2 of which I never even felt, and then the "painful" one he does once you're sedated for the surgery. He said the 2nd one is too hard for someone to take, especially when already facing a lumpectomy or mastectomy. And he thinks giving it after anesthesia lets it work just as well. He said the first one is the important one that moves the radioactive whatever through and the second one tracks it. I think he called that one the blue dye shot. I was panicked about doing the first set but they were less painful than a blood draw! Wonder why these docs have such different ways of doing things.....

superius

I actually don't remember the blue dye thing hurting too much. I think my mind was like, "well, it's going to be gone when I wake up anyway... so whatever!" XD

AmyfromMI

I think I had the radioactive tracer injected the day before surgery. I remember only two injections which burned like hell. And I believe my breast surgeon did the blue dye while I was sedated for my lumpectomy because I don't remember any nipple injections.

Scottiemom11

Lol. . .men couldn't handle what we've been through. I had a sweet old radiologist who did my dye injections on BMx day. He apologized ahead of time for the sting. I told him "Trust me, this is the better part of my day." Not sure he really got that joke but it only stung a little anyway.

I started a new bottle of Tamox about 5 days ago. It's rebranded Watson with their new name on it. I swear my SEs are worse though. Going to have to ask my pharmacist about it. Grrr.

Scottie

katcar0001

Anyone have elevated liver or kidney enzymes since being on Tamoxifen? My Urea and BUN were elevated; now getting tested for ALT and AST and cholesterol plus getting a liver ultrasound. I guess fatty liver is one concern. Ugh.

stage1

Kat, yes my GFR was elevated from57 down to 42. I will be re tested by my regular dr in a week or so. My MO said that Tamox does not cause kidney problems. So, I am thinking it might have been the colonoscopy prep after reading about it online.

katcar0001

Interesting Stage 1... I hope that your numbers pop back up. My onc does seem to think Tamoxifen is hard on the kidneys, but I have not found much info from Dr. Google.

Sjacobs146

katcar0001, I had elevated liver enzymes. Doc said to check again in a month, and if they were still elevated, they'd do a liver ultrasound. I stopped drinking alcohol completely (although I was not a big drinker by any means) and a mo th later, everything was back within normal range. Doc said that liver problems are an SE of tamoxifen