Discouraged on Tamoxifen

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We glad that you found us here and hope that the baords will be a good source of support and information for you.

Many many members will understand your experience on Tamoxifen. You will find lots of other members to talk with in the very active thread in the link below.

Bottle o Tamoxifen

Wishing you well,

The Moderators.

HI TLJ3, sorry you're not enjoying being on Tamoxifen. I was on it for two and a half years (until it failed). Tamoxifen did not make me gain weight, but possibly made it tougher to shed my "chemo bloat". I started a very low carb diet the same day I went on Tamoxifen, and lost about 50 pounds in a year, then started to be less strict with the carbs, and some of the weight crept back on, but I did not climb back to pre-diet weight, and certainly did not gain more. As for hot flashes ... ay ay ay I think I just learned to live with them. I sleep with the window open unless it is freezing. The covers go on/off on/off on/off all night and sweaters off/on all day. As for leg cramps ... yes. And toe cramps. Dry eyes yes. And vagina ... I co-miserate sorry !

I have found great relief from horrible hot flashes, brain fog, and low energy simply by changing my diet. I started a paleo type diet three weeks ago and have lost seven pounds, reduced the amount and intensity of hot flashes, and have great energy and sharper mental clarity since beginning my BC journey. Please give it a try!!! Cut out simple sugar and processed food. I'm also taking a low dose of ambien every night which is giving me a four to five hour stretch of solid sleep which has helpedso much! Best of luck and keep looking up...💪👍🎀🙏

LIke GiGi, I follow a clean, pretty much Paleo type diet plan. I also take a lot of supplements, including fish oil and turmeric for inflammation and melatonin to help me sleep .

Most of the side effects I've had with Tamoxifen have been temporary and transitory-about the time I'm ready to give it up, the SE lets up. I've had problems with joint (hips especially) pain, acne, both vaginal dryness and discharge at different times, but all seem to come and go with the exception of constipation which dogs me all the time since I started Tamoxifen. These days, I've caved after trying dietary changes and natural remedies, and just take Miralax most nights to keep me (almost) regular. I developed an ovarian cyst after starting tamoxifen and thickening of my endometrial lining, but as of my last TV ultrasound, the cyst is now shrinking (it never bothered me anyway) and my endometrial lining seems to be going back to close to normal per my gyno. In the last year, I've given myself a couple breaks (one for almost a month, the other for 10 days) from tamoxifen when the SE were starting to get to me and both times when I restarted it seemed to go better.

Hello,

I've been on Tamoxifen for 2 years now and although I do have some side effects, they don't seem as harsh as they were the first few months. I had horrible yeast type infections and vaginal dryness in the beginning so for a few months, I used a gentle cleanser "down there" (rather than soap) and it really seemed to help. I do have cramps (in my feet mainly) and hot flashes but I've been taking melatonin for a few months and I do think I sleep better. I've gained 15 pounds or so, but I lost 15 during my diagnosis and treatment so I'm back to square one. Do you take your tamoxifen at night? I do and figure (hopefully) I can sleep through many of the SEs. My MO offered to give me something to help with the hot flashes and to sleep but like someone mentioned above, I don't want to take yet another pill. He also said I could break the dose into two - half in the morning and half at night but I would probably forget to take it and I'm in a routine at bedtime now. Good luck! I know it's hard but I just try to consider it my battle partner.