Bottle 'o Tamoxifen

Lala

I'm interested in something you said a few days ago, about the effects of general anaesthetics. I recovered really easily from my first surgery and surprised myself at the way I was back to normal within a few days. It was only a WLE, but with oncoplastic reconstruction, so about 3 hours. I didn't really have any pain to speak of and no fatigue.

But move forward another three lots of surgery in the next 14 months (a cavity shave and two reductions to the other side ) and I was a complete wreck, couldn't stop crying, too tired to drag myself round and just not really able to pick myself up and carry on. And I felt really guilty that I should have been back to normal, like I was making a fuss over nothing. And I was a bit worse after every one, I would say it took two months to really feel like myself again after the last operation.

So your explanation about the effects of general anaesthetic makes sense to me, that maybe the effect accumulates in your system. It's either that or I just became more and more of a wuss each time!

The only other difference I can think of...I didn't start taking tamoxifen till after the margin shave, so maybe it was the tamoxifen mood swings...

In response to the poster who was told by their pharmacist to be sure to take the pill at the same time every day...why? I find this very curious. We know that tamoxifen has a very long half life, which means it hangs around in detectable quantity in your system for a long time. So is the pharmacist implying, "Oh my god, you have to take this at exactly the same time otherwise your tamox levels will dip dangerously low and you will suddenly be consumed by lurking cancer cells just waiting for you to be half an hour late with your pill!" Cause if he's saying that, I think he's full of shit. I think he's laying a worry on you where no hyper vigilant pill taking needs to exist. People say all sorts of things for all sorts of reasons, maybe to make it look like they are dispensing sound medical advice along with your pills. I don't know. But next time someone throws down this ' you must take this pill at the same time every day', ask why. Why? And if they give you some answer, ask where you can find data and research to support this information. Maybe there is a solid reason to take the pills exactly at the same time. Or maybe not. Find out.

Tamoxifen is a little white tablet and not a stick of dynamite. Frankly, dynamite is way more fun! Until you've blown some trees out of the ground, you just haven't lived! But rest assured that if you miss the timing of your pill taking by an hour or even two, the world will not end, no puppies will be kicked. Focusing on the timing of the pill is a way to provide a false feeling that we are meeting the demanding sacrifice to the cancer gods. See how good I am, see how I take my pill on time, see how vigilant and dutiful I'm being, please don't give me cancer again. There is a little magic thinking attached to rigid pill taking and the belief that it provides any more protection than the loosey-goosey pill takers. And that just ain't the truth.

So, please, do NOT add worry over pill taking to an already stressful situation. You'll remember your pill. You'll take it. Might be at 9, might be at 11. Whatever. You are doing fine.

Funny thing is my pharmacy just switched to a new system and now your prescriptions come with a little chart that tells you when to take them. My Tamoxifen says to take it in the morning even though I’ve always taken it in the evening. I have no plans to switch. Just curious what they base that recommended time on?

My surgeon also recommended going off Tamox for surgery. I did for about 10 days before and after Exchange. I believe it's the possible clotting issues. (Some doctors do not recommend this, however, I've read here.)

runor---I was also required to stop Tamoxifen for any surgeries due to increased risk of blood clots. I had to stop any blood thinners as well like my turmeric, fish oil, multivitamin and baby aspirin. They had me stop a week before surgery and restart a week after.

Hmmmm ladies. I may call my PS and ask about stopping my Tamoxifen because I have my exchange next Thursday. He didn’t say anything about that, but neither did I.

Egads, you are NOT old, the wrinkles are totally caused by tamoxifen and I think as part of my treatment I should be entitled to a face lift. You know you're too saggy when, as they clamp your boob in the mamm machine, your lower eyelid peels down and a breeze dries out your eyeball while you're being mammed. Waaay tooo much of you is in that machine! Tamoxifen baggy skin! I want it fixed!

Runor - LMAO...omg do I hear ya! I felt like I was being sucked into a vast void during my last mammogram. And yes, facelift should be part of the package...same for the hands that go papery thin and decrepit looking! It’s bad enough that my chest was featured on Sesame Street during the ‘one of these things is not like the other’ song, but to add insult to injury the neck skin looks like the bark on the old oak tree

Had to google image search...ROFL.....purdy' as a picture!

1. Buy sunscreen.

2. pray.

I talked to my PS today. They said no worries with the Tamoxifen to keep taking it as usual. Wonder why some have us stop and others don’t.

Runor and Egads, I am “happy” to know I’m not the only one who has aged YEARS in a few months. I’m googling skin care and wrinkle treatment... I don’t like this SE. I always looked younger than I am. Not anymore. I feel older too

After only 2 months on tamoxifen I started getting lots of age spots on my face and chest. Has this happened to anyone else?

Egads007,

Thanks for the advice. I already use a daytime moisturizer with SPF everyday but maybe I need a true sunscreen on top of that. I had used Rodan and Fields Reverse regimen a while back so I pulled that back out and hoping it fades these spots. The toner and treatment have a lightening agent in them. Who would have thought that this tiny pill could age our skin soooooo quickly! It also makes me constantly wake up all night long......previously I was a very good sleeper. I hate now having to take something over the counter every night before bed to try to help me get restful sleep.

JOSIE- do I ever hear you on the sleep thing!!! I think I've had a total of 5 hours sleep in the last 4 years. *sigh* drives me nuts, but still wouldn't stop taking it.

AMYSCHAUMBRG - hi and welcome to Club Med Aka Club tamoxifen! I had the nausea at the start like you...it got better in a few weeks. I drank tons of water, helped a bit. So oh yeah it's normal. Don't lose hope, there are plenty of members here that don't get many side effects (lucky buggers lol), some get none at all. Strangely enough if you read through the men's posts it seems to me that they get much less side effects..but don't take that as a given, just my observation. Besides having to take more care with my skin and a tiny bit of hair thinning I don't suffer. I used to have huge problems with leg spasms but once I got my butt into a gym regularly the problem was basically gone. It a really varies from person to person. I think taking a positive frame of mind goes a long way. Given time you'll discover whether it's for you. Good to see you post! Much love right back to you...btw, you' part of the amazing women crew

I am going to say something about the sleep thing. I think that going without sleep is very dangerous. It can lead to weight gain, diabetes and a number of other problems. I have to believe at some point, the negatives of that outweigh the benefit? The latest thing out about lack of sleep it that it leads to high rates of dementia.

Discuss.

Falconer - the first brand was Watson and I was relativley okay. This new brand is Mayne and I'm feeling terrible on it. I need to check with my pharmacy about getting the Watson back.