Hi everyone, regarding the sleep problems, the easiest and least addicting sleep aid is exercise. I know, not what you wanted to hear and not always effective either. My doc gave me Zopiclone 5mg for when I just have to sleep and haven't for a couple days. He said all sleeping pills are addictive but these are the best of the bunch for helping you sleep without being too addictive. The problem I had with these was the vivid dreams that led to sleepwalking, I fell once and ended up with scrapes and bruises. I no longer take them. I stick to my Gravol 50 mg - it's an anti-nauseant proper name is dimenhydrinate. I've checked and don't find any constraints against using it with Tamoxifen. I find I still wake up at night but it's much easier to get back to sleep again. Good luck to all of my fatigued friends.

On a different note, as some of you know, I have been an exercise proponent since taking my Living with Tamoxifen course. I am still exercising, still wearing my stepper and still faithfully recording every night. None of it though, has done one iota of good where my hands are concerned. Tylenol Arthritis morning and night is what my onc said and I do that too but I still can't make a fist anymore. Typing hurts, opening bottles of anything hurts, sometimes driving my car hurts. Has anyone heard of anything that helps with that problem?

Also, anyone else having memory problems. It's all short term loss - I think. lol. But I have been forgetting to finish a job or forgetting what I marched most determinedly into the room for, or that I already have glasses on my head. Yesterday, I literally juggled my coffee, so I could make myself a coffee, then realized now I had two. It's most disconcerting.

Have a lovely evening. 

Redreading, couldn't agree with you more.  I've totally stepped up my exercise, getting in the best shape I've ever been in and I'm in fairly good shape.  I changed my diet, better eating more water and it is amazing the difference in how I feel.  I've realized water gives me energy and coke makes me tired .   And if I exercise in the morning it gives me the boost I need for the day.  I have a Fitbit too and average 12K steps a day .

My sleep issues are getting better, I know it was anxiety, mind not unwinding.  Making lots of positive changes from this experience.  Other than that, no SE's to speak of.  Still taking Benadryl as needed and it seems many MO's prescribe this short term vs. sleep aides or Xanax.

ps - I should mention I haven't started on Tamoxifan yet, I start in 2 weeks.  If Tamoxifan makes this worse, I'm nervous.  I talked with my MO about HT options a couple weeks ago, and we agreed to keep away from the other options until my joint pain in my hands resolved in some way.  

RedReading - sorry to hear about your hands. I myself start tomaxifen next month so I have been reading up on this thread on what SEs folks are experiencing. I will offer a similar story with arthritis that I was experiencing in my thumb and two fingers of my right hand. The lower knuckles were swollen big time and my hand hurt so bad that I could not make a fist either. At the time I had been seeing an accupuncturist for pain from a servered tendon in my wrist and bursitis in my shoulder and asked if she could help with my fingers. I think after three treatments the swelling had gone down and my fingers feel great. I was amazed at how quickly she fixed me up.

I also am seeing issues with tamoxifen with sleep troubles which my accupuncturist has also treated for me in the past not on the meds. We'll see if my sleeping gets disturbed and if it helps. If you have not tried accupuncture I highly recommend it. I have been going for 3 years (my insurance does cover it) and its helps from what I detailed above, to neck problems, anxiety, ovarian cysts, terrible menses and more. Just make sure you find a good one and I'd recommend seeing a woman.

If you are worried about accupuncture hurting (it really doesn't) but after what everyone here has been through it will be a cake walk.

Hello ladies....

I admit I am not good at exercising....working full time right now and have not added that into my day.  I do try to keep it moving though.  I wanted to share I only took a little over half of ambein last night along with a generic tylenol pm.  I didn't sleep great but this is the most progress I have made.  I am going to try that until I meet with family Dr on Monday.  My memory is awful too...I am always forgetting my words.  Wishing you all sweet dreams.

RedReading, I have the same forgetfulness symptoms as you. I'm learning to laugh at myself more, that's for sure. As far as the arthritis type symptoms, I have had it for years before my BC dx. Seems to be a little worse now. Doesn't help that I have worked on computers all my working life. On tamoxifen I've been waking once a night, so instead of taking at night now, I'm taking it at 6 am. Seems to have worked the last two nights.

Something in the news that I thought would be of interest. 

Exposure to light at night may reduce effectiveness of breast cancer drug tamoxifen

quiet is important too, & digital clocks are very bad for giving off strong emf's.  good tip about turning away the clock face, I can hear the ticking a lot though.  another battery clock is quieter but I use it in another room.  as far as light goes I think it's important to register the moon's change.ing light over the month if you live in country dark & you can

Louanne, interesting read.  Everyday on my FB some new study pops up from The Breast Cancer site.  If you look at the risk etc.  I am NOT someone who should have gotten this AT ALL.  So, I'm skeptical of a lot of these studies, and feel it is just a crapshoot.  Of course I did everything I needed to do, and now even eat better, exercise more, but I think that is part of getting my head back on straight.  I'm on Tamoxifen and I'm thankful I have no SE's I find it odd I haven't  had one.  PR- it seems it is less effective "according to studies".  But some effective is better than none, especially if you have no SE's right?

And regarding studies, I go to MDA, and in May when the 10 year hormonal drug protocol seemed to gain steam I asked my MO about it.  She said it was one study and as an academic hospital they were still sticking to 5.  If additional studies come out that may change before my 5 years is up.

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

O no, not Melatonin too. Gosh if there is a buck to be made from anything..... Did you notice the guy applying for the patent is also the 'discoverer' of the beneficial aspects of Melatonin and the owner of Interneuron as well?

.

All right ladies, chew me out if you think I need it.  But, I am going on a self imposed month vacation from the tamoxifen.  In the last few weeks fatigue is huge, my hands are bothering me again, bone and muscle aches, sleep is getting worse.  Ugh.  I have a colonoscopy next week, so I am justifying stopping for that reason, as I stopped for past surgeries/procedures as well.  Hoping to gain some energy, get some sleep, get rid of pain, and maybe see a touch of my libido that these drugs buried somewhere.  Planning on starting up again Labor Day.  Probably won't tell docs, they just don't seem to get it.  

BayouBabe, my doc actually gave me permission for a medication vacation. Said that some ladies don't take to it well and that if we stop and then restart it kind of kick starts the body into accepting the Tamoxifen. I did this but at my next appointment I will be asking for something else because I can't handle this fatigue, not sleeping, hot flashes and horrible night sweats and my poor hands hurt all the time. It isn't the right drug for everyone but it is good for most people. The SE's subside for the majority of ladies taking it. Wish I was one of them.

Headeast, I've never heard of Fareston. I'll talk to my doc about it but I think it also matters where you are menopausally speaking. lol

question: I was on all three AIs my first year. MO switched me to Tamoxifen because I hurt so much- hips, hands, going on stairs, bending to get newspaper, etc. now I am almost a year in the Tamoxifen. Other than the first month (which was great!!) I basically have the same SEs. More arthritis in hands too. Hips/back hurt most at night, can wake me up. However, notice it all day to a lesser extent. Take Ativan sometimes, helps me sleep through. Cried at 3am last night because I hurt! Had bone scan in Feb, no mets. Walk and do moderate exercise. Is this it???

RedReading, I am post menopausal now because of chemo. Yes, seems Fareston is not a common one, like Tamoxifen, but no SE for me so I am using it. Hopefully it will stay this way for the next 5-10 years!

lisa2012, Oh baby just keep trying until you fine one that works for you. Keep pushing your Dr. I know the feeling of "it just seems to never fricking end"

Sending healing energy and hugs your way.