leg edema and Tamoxifen

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fadheir
fadheir Member Posts: 63
edited February 2017 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

I am on Tamoxifen since 3 years now and i am having some leg odema

on my last visit to my oncolgy he mentioned that it is a side effect from Tamoxefin

and he prescribed for me a kind of diuretics to get ride of the excess water 

i am taking this tablets once i have the edema one or two tablets per month

is any body else experience the same side effect and how you solve it ?

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  • Alirena
    Alirena Member Posts: 82
    edited April 2012

    Fadheir, I find that going on a low salt diet of lean meat/fish/poultry, vegetables, and fruit for about 3 days gets rid of my edema.  I'm not sure what makes me swell in the first place...salt, sugar, starch, wheat, or a combination of all or some of those things.  I had edema on and off before I started Tamoxifen but it got somewhat worse after starting Tamoxifen.  I also notice more stiffness and cramping in my lower legs and feet since being on Tamoxifen.  I would love to find a solution for those things.  I noticed how much diet played a part in my edema after my allergist put me on an allergy food elimination diet for three weeks (this was before my cancer diagnosis).  The first thing I noticed was no more swollen ankles.  Plus, I felt wonderful.  Never did find that I was allergic to any specific food items. 

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  • shadylady1
    shadylady1 Member Posts: 75
    edited April 2012

    I have the same problem.  It comes and goes.  I sleep with my legs up and wake up in the morning without issue.  I also get muscle cramps (like a charlie horse) in my left foot.  Did you take Taxotere?  I had the same problem while I was getting chemo.

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  • jhungness
    jhungness Member Posts: 3
    edited April 2012

    I stopped taking Tamoxifen on 3-30-12 after 6 months because of several bizarre side effects.  I am still having leg swelling.  My onocolgist said it will take 6 weeks for the Tamoxifen to be out of my system.  I too wake up in the morning and my legs are normal, but by mid day they are swollen again.  B6 will get rid of any cramping in your feet and hands.

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  • Yself
    Yself Member Posts: 44
    edited April 2012

    Are both your legs swelling or just one? I had a blood clot after five years on Tamoxifen. I was 8 days from getting off. Only one leg was slightly swollen. It began to feel "funny." Putting it up on pillows to sleep didn't stop the pain. Googled it and was led to blood clot. Went to doc in the box and he urged me to go to the ER. He was right.

     Take care.

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  • apple
    apple Member Posts: 7,799
    edited April 2012

    once i drank V-8 on ice for a period of days. It was so delicious.    my legs swelled up so badly.  (i don't remember what chemo i was on at the time).  It must have been the salt.   I don't mean to offer a trite solution, but maybe reducing salt will help.

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  • hope2learn
    hope2learn Member Posts: 23
    edited June 2012

    I have very bad edema with the Tamoxifen especially when I sit on a computer for some time. I don't know if it is lack of estrogen. Estrogens as far as I know have a beneficial effect on all blood vessels. Edema can also occur when the veins don't work well anymore. Actually, I cannot see why either would be the cause in my situtation as the effect sets in as soon as I take Tamoxifen. It is so bad, that I consider stopping Tamoxifen.

    I am hesitant about diuretics. The less volume of blood you have in my mind, there more viscous your blood gets, the more at risk you could be for a blood clot.

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  • fadheir
    fadheir Member Posts: 63
    edited July 2012

    Thanks all for your reply

    The Doctor told me that Tamoxifen cause leg edema in about 11% of patients

     He prescribed for me a water pill every other day and it works

    but now i have high blood pressure, i google it and some patient experience high blood pressure as a side effect from Tamoxifen but some articles decline that

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  • Mypuppy
    Mypuppy Member Posts: 11
    edited February 2017

    Hi. Last week i noticed swelling of my upper thighs. Ive been on tamoxifen 2.5 yrs. i placed a call to my oncol today. Waiting to hear back.

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  • Kicks
    Kicks Member Posts: 4,131
    edited February 2017

    Mypuppy - You will probably get more responses if you start a new Thread rather than pulling up a Thread that has not been posted on for 5 yrs.

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  • MinusTwo
    MinusTwo Member Posts: 16,634
    edited February 2017

    Oh but wasn't it nice to see Apple again. I still miss her.

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  • Mypuppy
    Mypuppy Member Posts: 11
    edited February 2017

    hi i have been on Tamoxifen for 2.5 yrs now. Just last week i was showering and noticed swelling of both my upper thighs (right above the knee). I am seeing my gp today and placed a call to my oncol to find out if it can be a side effect of this dreaded drug? In the meantime was curious if anyone has experienced this on Tamoxifen?

    Thank you.

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