Bottle 'o Tamoxifen

I've always had dizzy spells, but really having problems at the moment. I did a home blood pressure reading this morning, it was 87/65, so I guess that explains why I have to hang on to the furniture when I stand up.

A few years ago I was advised to use more salt to keep my blood pressure up, they said it's fine to increase your intake if your BP is low. They suggested making a drink with bouillon powder to increase both salt and fluids, that's worked for me in the past.

Dizzy - thank you for posting! I get very occasional bouts and always wrote it off to ear problems. The next time I’m going to grab my BP monitor and check it out.

Vampeyes- Regarding scans..IMO we should be very mindful of too much radiation as radiation itself can cause cancer and it's cumulative so it all adds up over a lifetime. I try and stay clear of CT scans (lots of radiation) and even X-rays (less but still something) unless it's the only option. MRIs and Ultrasounds are not radiation and safe -- that said, for cancer screenings some MRI require dye (called with contrast) which my oncologist told me at last appointment that there is some research showing that the dyes can end up in the brain to cause havoc later. But even with that, MRI w/contrast likely safer in the long run than CT scan.

I have been drinking Propel. No sugar but it has flavor. And it also has electrolytes. I just know that I am under doctors orders to drink more water and I thought I was doing good. I average about 8 oz an hour at work. Gonna have to up that I guess.

Vampeyes: I am with you on sick of being poked. I had a CT wed for some lower abdomenal pain and they blew two veins and had to poke me 3 times. Now they saw a spot on my lung and I have to have another one wed.

Also, another thing that helps with the muscle cramps but is not ideal is muscle relaxers. I got a RX and while they did help, I hated taking them because they make me drowsy and dehydrated. But maybe if you take them once in a while?

Thanks, Vampeye! At least I don't have to drink the icky barium stuff this time. Trying to look on the positive side.

Vamp - crossing my fingers for a Wonderful Wednesday. Send me your food, I’ll eat it!

Go into your appointment ‘locked & loaded’!

vampeyes- the manufacturer should be listed on the prescription label of all your prescription meds - usually in small print. If you can’t find it there you can always plug the letters/numbers on the pill with its name into google to get a result. I did that for you and your tablets were manufactured by Apotex.

Vamp - Lula is correct with Apotex (of Barry and honey sherman fame). It changed to apotex last year for me too, you could check with your pharmacy to see what brand they switched from.

Donuts...arrrg I’d love em’ but I don’t eat wheat at all....so nice of the twins to make mum a nice treat! Just eat the holes..no calories there lol!

So weird that the aspirin doesn’t do anything, that’s the second time I’ve seen that on the thread (yours and Katies’s experience)...it seems like such a widely recommended product for those at risk, and seems to make great sense.

Too bad donuts weren’t a clot protection med!

Will be there in spirit with you tomorrow! Sending mental donuts

huh. couple months ago my MO told me to start taking baby aspirin. ( I think because of my cholesterol)

Hmmm... i have tried twice to post a thorough analysis of aspirin therapy to reduce risk of initial/recurrent DVT/PEs and both times the system ate it. So here's the cliff notes version:

Aspirin reduces risk of recurrent DVT/PE by ~30%

Warfarin, Xarelto/Eliquis, and the injectable Lovenox/Fragmin/heparin/LWH reduce risk of recurrent DVT/PE by ~90%

Aspirin, warfarin, Lovenox/Fragmin/heparin/LWH have significant rates of internal bleeds. This means that statistically, Xarelto/Eliquis offer the maximum efficacy with the least internal bleed risk.

Is it going to help to take an aspirin before a flight? Not much, but it won't hurt (provided no contraindications with your other meds and you're ok with the bleed risk). The best way to prevent a clot while traveling is to stand up and walk a little at least every hour with or without aspirin on board

There are no well controlled studies looking at using aspirin in combination with tamoxifen to reduce DVT/PE risk.

Based on the half life and duration of action of aspirin, a baby aspirin a day likely won't make much difference at all in regard to reducing DVT/PE risk of tamoxifen except for the first few hours after taking it. It would take a significantly higher dose for the benefit to last all day or multiple doses throughout the day. But again, we have no studies to back this up.

If the baby aspirin (81mg) a day benefit only lasts a few hours, why is it used for cardiovascular protection? Ideally, you'd take it in the morning upon waking. The first few hours after we wake up are when we are most at risk for a heart attack because our blood is “stickier" in the morning (I could list out the process on why this happens but this is the cliff notes version) and the increase in adrenaline release in the morning that helps our body wake up and get the day started that can rupture plaques in the blood vessels. So taking the aspirin that will act quickly and last for about 4 hours during the most critical time of the day for heart attack makes sense.

I hope this helps! I hope it posts! 🙂🙃🙂

Vampeyes, I am sorry you are getting conflicting information. It is so hard to know who to listen to. I have been following your posts and I am so happy to hear it's arthritis and nothing worse!

I have a question for you all. Do any of you have issues with sunburn now that you hadn’t had before? I have always been a beach bum. Grew up on the coast and swam and sailed. I very rarely (if ever) get sunburned. I went to the beach last weekend with some friends. Used sunscreen tho maybe not as much as I should, but I did use it. I have a NASTY burn on one side of my lower legs and the tops of my feet. It has been almost a week and they look almost like sun poisoning. I have NEVER had anything like this before so I was wondering if it could be from the Tamoxifen.

Sorry for the rant, I am super happy that it's arthritis and not bone mets. With all the different answers, my faith and trust in our medical care system has dwindled.

Lovinggrouches - why have you stopped Tamoxifen?

TaRenee - ouch! Hope that clears up quickly.

Good morning my fellow friends. I have jumped on the Tamoxifen train with my first dose this morning after breakfast.