Feels Like B-I-Polar Symptoms Since Starting Tamoxifen
I had BMX May 25th with cancer only in right breast. I have IDC & because it was caught early, & total size being extremely small, HER+Estrogen & Progesterone, slow growing & 7.5% chance of recurrence did not need chemo or radiation. I have been on Tamoxifen for six weeks, my GYN & I believe I have already gone through menopause but because I have to wait 1 yr to be certain I have to take tamoxifen. I've also been on antidepressants & anxiety meds for many years. Up until 3 wks ago I felt lthat emotionally & physically I was doing great. Yeah, occasionally I would be more emotional than normal but chocked it up to me just being me. 3 wks ago I noticed myself being over critical of my overall looks and now my main focus has been on these 2 ugly blobs that used to be breasts. After surgery I had no problem letting my husband see them but as of late my self-esteem has dropped pretty low. I no longer feel I look attractive to him & pretty much stay covered up around him. He says I am me with or without the breasts I was born with and I believe him but now suddenly my emotions are running high, I cry all the time, I snap at people over little things, and have pretty much become the person I was when I had PMS most of my life. Continuous birth control stopped them PMS years ago. I feel like the tamoxifen, surgery & going off the bc pills have finally taken its toll on me. It is so bad I'm thinking of going off the tamoxifen all together and waiting a few months when we'll know know for sure if I'm post menopausal & can take an aroma taste inhibitor. Has anyone had these horrendous symptoms & stopped the tamoxifen? Will I have the same struggles on an aromatase inhibitor?
Comments
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Gina...so sorry you are having issues on Tamoxifen. Its a powerful drug that can play havoc on our hormones. Has anyone tested your hormone levels to see where you are in regards to menopause? You might do better on one of the A's. Good luck and keep us posted...
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Yep.
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dtad, I had blood work done on Friday and hope to have the results today telling me where I stand as far as menopause. On top of the tamoxifen side effects my thyroid levels are very much out of whack so that adds to my mental craziness. Will post when I get my results
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How long have you been on tamoxifen and is there anything that has helped you
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There can be interaction between Tamoxifin and some antidepressants. Who ever prescribes your antidepressant should know that you are taking Tamoxifin.
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Gina - It is so common for us to crash and burn when active treatment is over and we are released into the vast BC ocean all by ourselves. I had no idea, but I sure wish someone had told me. I stopped tamoxifen because of it, but tried it again a year later. Here is a link to an article on the main BCO pages http://www.breastcancer.org/research-news/many-wom...
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