MY Experience: First Two Weeks on Tamoxifen!

breastquest

I only needed to be on Tamoxifen for 3 weeks for a MRI test. But, since I was so dam afraid of taking it due to its' side effects (and different googled stories), that I couldn't even swallow my first pill. (Gulped it like a duck). BTW, I am in my early 50s with a somewhat regular period, but only minimal night sweats and no real hot flashes. Ok, the real truth of my experiences:

1. The first night was the worse. Several hours later, got a stomach ache with gas. And woke up middle of night with a hot flash (never had one that extensive before).

2. Second day, I noticed some nausea and was ready to stop taking the medicine totally. But, it went away fairly quickly. Was noting that my worse symptoms started exactly 8 hours after the pill. So, if I took my pill at 2pm or thereabouts, when I was in bed--my stomach always started to churn very hard, like I was hungry or a lot of gas was breaking up. It wasn't bad, or excruciating, but slightly annoying. It happened every dayI took it and always, 8 hrs in--lasting for about 1/2 hour or so. My manufacturer was Mylan.

3. Most days I took a half pill mid afternoon, and then another little piece of pill after supper w/meals.

4. Don't be shocked. Most days I felt kind of "good"..... strangely good. So, don't think the pill from hell is all bad. I did read a few posts that people tolerate tamox fine, and some thought they felt better, so who knows? I noticed some hormonal after period headaches stopped. And my hormonal palpitations, seemed to quiet down as well.

5. I did not have any joint or aches, the only thing I noticed is one afternoon, my ear felt blocked, that kind of concerned me, but it went away.

6. I did have some night sweats, but nothing real concerning. Maybe some mild ones during the day.

7. The worse thing about the pill is the crappy way it tastes! I did break it up, and it is one jagged yucky tasting pill. (Couldn't they coat the thing?)

The best thing, is that today's breast exam w/my surgeon, he said your breast tissue feels like it's settling down nicely--I guess meaning that my tamox was working. Also the most important thing, is that my MRI was clear and photographed well. So, while many brave women out there are taking tamox for years, I can only speak of my two weeks or so of taking it. I was very concerned about risks of stroke, joint pain, period issues, and the like. I know that if I had to take it, I would but might cut it in half. This is just my take on my short experience with it, and it wasn't that awful. So, don't worry about starting them. I nearly didn't, and it could have wrecked my test.

BarredOwl

Hi Breastquest:

Congratulations on the test results, and thank you for sharing your experience on this and on MRI elsewhere.

Just a caution to patients taking Tamoxifen (or any other endocrine therapy), especially for risk reduction purposes or because of a breast cancer diagnosis. Please do not alter the prescribed dosage without first consulting your oncologist.

BarredOwl

breastquest

Yes, you are right. I adjusted it w/o consulting with my doctor. So, yes please consult w/your doctor first.