Tamoxifen Vacay

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Pokemom1959
Pokemom1959 Member Posts: 198
edited August 2015 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

So, for a week now, I've been on a self-approved vacay from Tamoxifen. I don't know if it's mental or physical, but I feel so much better. The chronic fatigue is gone, the joint pain is diminishing and the hot flashes are almost gone. I'm afraid that I'm going to be so happy off the Tamoxifen that I won't want to go back on ... even though I know I should. Oh well, I guess I will just enjoy the next 3 weeks and hpe for the best

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  • Lj061197
    Lj061197 Member Posts: 47
    edited July 2015

    Hi

    I am not on Tamoxifen yet. I have read that fish oil helps with the joint pain.


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  • CidneyI
    CidneyI Member Posts: 79
    edited July 2015

    I took a 2 week vaca from Tamo and felt like my old self again - which was great. I didnt have the brain fog or short term memory issues, the constipation went away and I even felt slimmer. I told a couple of friends I was on a break from Tamo and they all yelled at me to get back on it and I did. Guess, what? The brain fog is back, the constipation is worse than before and I feel like a whale. I almost cried the other day when I went to put on a new pair of shorts I just bought a month ago, they no longer fit.

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  • SummerAngel
    SummerAngel Member Posts: 1,006
    edited July 2015

    I'm on a break, too. I was only on it for 6 weeks and the SEs were so bad my oncologist's office told me I should take a week or two off and then try again, every other day to start. I've been off since Friday and especially today I feel like a totally different person. I knew the tamoxifen was making me cranky, but I didn't realize HOW cranky until I went off of it! The docs say that mood SEs are just a "minor" issue, but it's not a minor issue to me! (And to those around me!) Of course, my other SEs were awful, too: Severe pelvic pain and pressure, eye pain, blurry vision, floaters, watery eyes, decline in vision (after only two weeks), leg cramps, increased joint pain, headache, sore throat. I also started craving sweets, which was totally bizarre because I am NOT a sweets person at all.

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  • magiclight
    magiclight Member Posts: 8,690
    edited July 2015

    Hi all tamox users. I just started 1 month ago and so far my only side effect is blurred vision. I've already had cataract surgery so I'm not thinking that is the cause. Does anyone know -- are vision changes caused by Tamox permanent?

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  • SummerAngel
    SummerAngel Member Posts: 1,006
    edited July 2015

    Magiclight, I just got back from my ophthalmologist. He said that tamoxifen's effects on the eyes can be permanent but it takes a long time for them to get that way. He said generally the SEs on the eyes go away quickly after stopping the tamoxifen. In fact, he said he was sure that my eye problems were caused by tamoxifen toxicity but that since I stopped last Friday he only saw traces of inflammation of my retina.

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  • susannickski
    susannickski Member Posts: 17
    edited July 2015

    I also decided last week to stop Tamoxifen for a while. I have been on it for just over three years and it has really done a number on my hair. My once lush wavy hair is now just short , thin and brittle. It breaks off everyday and comes out by the fist load every couple of weeks. I'm hoping it will start to grow in better without the tamoxifen but I might not notice for a few months

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  • ClaireFraser
    ClaireFraser Member Posts: 94
    edited July 2015

    I was on it for a year and am now taking a break... the joint pain, fatigue, mood swings, hot flashes were starting to take a toll on me. My oncologist said "enjoy your summer."

    Yes, I will.

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  • CidneyI
    CidneyI Member Posts: 79
    edited July 2015

    I am doing a happy dance this morning  - I just got the blessing from my onco that I can take a month break from tamo! Due to weight gain, I can no longer fit in most of my clothes so I am going to focus this month on changing that!

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  • Pokemom1959
    Pokemom1959 Member Posts: 198
    edited August 2015

    I've been off it for a month now and I do feel better. I was filling up my pill case tonight and after staring at the Tamoxifen bottle for 10 minutes, I decided I'm going to take another month off. Probably not the best idea, but I'm feeling a little self-indulgent these days. Pretty sure I will start back up in September

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