Bottle 'o Tamoxifen

This stupid tamoxifen is causing pain and making me feel like a crazy emotional person. I don't know if I'm going to be able to keep taking this and the thought of the possibilities that could go with that scares me too.

I feel like there's no winning either way right now.

Just saw schipmom's post but then couldnt find it again. Cellulitis is very dangerous! Lymphedema is NOT fun. These two problems are discussed in depth on the thread Grrrrrrrrrr I hate LE!  hugs Terri

This is not bc related but I now have the bug that sent DH to the emergency room MOnday morning. I have been vomiting all afternoon. I sure hope this passes soon. I was to go to mom and dad's and set up his meds but I did not want him to get sick since he has chemo on Monday. So had to talk my mom through setting up Dad's meds today.

Poor Sherry....what a week you've had! I hope you feel better soon....

Maria - Thank you so much!  The back pain is pretty bad, by the end of the day it's almost more than I can manage.  If it isn't better by Monday I'll be calling the oncologist for some pain meds (never done that before!)

Sherry so sorry you caught what your hubby had.....hope it passes quickly, HUGS!!!

MrsVino and Mpeaches hope that these docs can do something for you ladies, no one should ever have to suffer through debilitating pain......keep us posted....

Happy Sunday ladies.....

Hello Tammi ladies,

Panmars-The best decision I made through all of this is to have my ovaries removed. Had uterus and cervix removed 2 years ago so didn't have anymore issues there but once they removed my ovaries they found a large cyst in the Rt and a benighn tumor in the Lt-had previously never had issues with these, so don't know if it was the Tammy or not. Just very relieved that I don't have to worry with this anymore.

carberry-My surgeons did work together. PS did chest work after GYN removed ovaries. Maybe you can find surgeons that will do the same.

Sherryc-bless your heart. Stomach bugs are the worst, Hope your feeling better. I say that once you have chemo, you should never have to vomit again for the rest of your life.

MrsVino & Mpeaches-I'm so sorry you guys are having to deal with pain. I had terrible back pain during chemo but have been lucky so far with Tammy. You need drugs for sure. Have you guys checked into a pain clinic? Alot of things can be done to relieve the pain without having to always be on drugs.

Paula66-so sorry your missing your daughter, Hope you get to visit with her soon.

So hot flashes are better, increased Effexor dose to 150mg and that seems to be doing the trick. Hope all you ladies have a hot flash free night of sleep.

Juliet I have had the same problem since my last chemo.  I thought it was left over from there and when I went for my 3 month checkup with the MO.  She recommended that I see a rheumatologist.  I went and he has told me he sees this alot with women on Tammoxifen.  He gave me Meloxicam to try.  I do have other places that are giving me problems as well.  I looked up the drug and it has a moderate interaction with the Effexer so I am putting in a call to the MO to see if its ok.  Luckey you on the hot flashes. 

Thanks survivor11!  I miss her so much that it drives me crazy sometimes.  I do better when we text or chat on fb.  But when I talk with her on the phone its always the hardest on me.  Plus the fact we had a family outing when she called and she wasnt there to be a part of it.  But I am happy that she is coming for a visit. 

survivor, any SE's from the Effexor? My hot flashes, though not frequent, are wicked sometimes. Feel like I'm going to burst into flames. I'm just not sure that I want to be on another drug in addition to my tamox and pred right now, and the hot flashes occur only about 2 to 4 times a day. Probably not enough to take anything right now, but if they increase in frequency, then I may have to.

Yeah, it's a pretty common SE, Barb. I had to have an ooph because of the rupturing cysts that developed. Glad I did, though. I feel way better without the ovaries.

Barb, I had been on tamox for 4 1/2  months before my ovaries went crazy. I also have joint pain and swelling in my hands from it  ( not severe ), which I still have, but that's being controlled with meds for now.

Hello Ladies!  A bit of history.  First diagnosed with BC in 2003 at age 33.  No history, no gene.  Lumpectomy, chemo, radiation.  Diagnosed again June 2010, bilateral mastectomy which lead me to a 3 degree burn to my left breast when my plastic surgeon told me to put a heating pad on my left breast for swelling.  I was two weeks out of the mastectomy, I fell asleep and 4 hours later I'm being transported to a burn unit where I resided for two week.  I've had 11 reconstructive surgeries since.  Now I'm a month in to tamoxifen and according to my ONCO the side effects are "minimal and worth it."  I feel like my body has been through hell.  So far no SE's except that I am very emotional and have little patience.  And my face is getting furry.  WOW!  I'm worried about every single side effect you girls have listed as well as changing my eating, exercising more but not too much, don't drink, don't move, don't breath, don't live!  I'm afraid my liver will swell, my ovaries will go bazerk, my hair will fall out or that I'll just become bloated and swollen.  Am I taking the right supplements, should I stop having manicures, am I covered head to toe in cancer as we speak.  If I wasn't a single mom with two small adopted children I'd pack up and move to a tree and live on bark!  Then just let life take it's natural course.  Now I hear my recent colonoscopy produced three pre-cancerous polyps.  My question...should I immediately get on an antidepressants or will the combination make my feet swell and fall off? 

Signed,

My Mind Has Left The Building!

Kjackson, first of all welcome. Second of all....YIKES! You've been through a lot. It's understandable that you are worrying about stuff. I did too for a while. Recently I've given up worrying about stuff. You can live clean and healthy, and still wind up with cancer or some other thing. It's just not worth it. Yes, you can take antidepressants if you think that would help, or you can just live one day at a time, and do what you feel is best for you. There are many opinions about what you should or shouldn't do, but everyone is different. Take care of yourself, eat well, get moderate exercise, get enough sleep, all common sense stuff. That's all you can do. So, go get that manicure, have a drink, and enjoy it.

Kjackson wow you sure have been through it.  I have taken Effexer for the hot flashes but I do know that its an antidepressent as well.  Take care and dont worry we all have been there with the Tammoxifen worries.  It does get better.  Come on back anytime and good luck!

KJACKSON..I am so sorry you have been through so much. Welcome to this thread the ladies hear are wonderful we will walk with you the whole way!!! hugs