Bladder Pressure on Tamoxifen?

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kec1972
kec1972 Member Posts: 269

Hi All, I started tamoxifen 10mg 2 weeks ago. I’ve since developed a very distressing feeling of bladder pressure...like I have to pee all the time. I really don’t think it’s a UTI, since there’s no pain, burning, or stinging, no leaking, just a feeling of pressure on my bladder. I’m seeing my GYN tomorrow where I’ll mention it, but I was wondering if anyone has had this as a side effect of tamox

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  • Veeder14
    Veeder14 Member Posts: 880
    edited May 2019

    Hi kec1972,

    I started on 20 mg of Tamoxifen and right away I had the bladder pressure. I was on it for 4 months and no UTI was found but my uterine lining had grown to 17 mm thick. I was taken off of it and had a hysterectomy since thick lining is a risk factor. Now back on Tamoxifen and the bladder pressure is gone. Ask your Gyn about getting an sonagram and transvaginal ultrasound to see what's going on in there.


  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited May 2019

    Hi there. I agree with the above post. However there is also something called interstitial cystitis which mimics the symptoms of an UTI but there is no infection. I have it and its miserable. It can be caused by a lack of estrogen. Talk to your Mo about it but if you are not satisfied see a urogynecologist. Good luck and keep us posted.

  • kec1972
    kec1972 Member Posts: 269
    edited May 2019

    dtad is there a treatment for IC? I really think this feeling is related to the tamoxifen since I was perfectly fine before. Hoping this feeling will subside

  • BlueGirlRedState
    BlueGirlRedState Member Posts: 1,031
    edited May 2019

    I've been wondering about Tamoxifen or maybe even supplements and bladder pressure/urination frequency. Getting to the point where I might try to get an appointment with a urologist. Frequency started happening with menopause and gradually increased, menopause suspected, ultrasound revealed some fibroids. UTI checked, negative. Did not know about interstitial cystitis, maybe need to check that as well. Frequency and urgency have definitely increased over the years. Sneezing/coughing etc might also trigger. This is the second time with tamoxifen, bladder issues much stronger this time. 3 weeks ago I was traveling so not adding turmeric to food (about 1/4 tsp with meal), and symptoms seemed to decrease. But turmeric did seem to help with stiffness. I do take it as a supplement as well. I should also ask about the BP drug, whether it also acts as a diuretic, and if there is an alternative. Some BPs are diuretics, I did not think mine was. Have been taking BP for 4 years or so, first one was changed becasue of persistent coughing.

    2009 ER+ left breast. 52 yrs. Lumpectomy, Sentinel node removal, negative. – 1. Radiation 6 weeks, tamoxifen 5 years. Dense lumpy left breast, normal right. Acupuncture offered at facility as part of integrative medicine. It really helped with anxiety/stress during radiation treatment.

    2016 ER+ left breast. Probably a new cancer, but unknown. 4 rounds TC Aug-Oct 2016, Bi-lateral (my choice) Nov 2016, no reconstruction. 2 sentinel nodes remove, negative. Cold Capping using Chemo Cold Caps (DIGNICAP not available). Anastrozole 1 mg starting May 2017. Joint issues noticed immediately. Stopped Anastrozole after 3-4 months due to joint stiffness in. After several months of no AIs, fingers were feeling better. Started tamoxifen March 2018

    10/2018 noticed stiffness and some trigger finger again. Was eating meat a lot more (daily) than normal. Usually 1-2 /wk. Have cut way back on the meat, seems to help, but one finger still very prone to trigger finger. Trigger finger seemed to be getting better, but now 4/2019 seems worse, is it the break from added turmeric to meals?

    Exercise very regularly, if not at the gym, then walk/hike, weights, stretch, swim, x-country ski etc

    Supplements: GAIA turmeric-joint; glucosamine-chondroitin; magnesium glycinate; biotin; potassium-iodine; low dose calcium; C; B-complex ; D; Fish oil (but not now). For a year or so after bi-lateral used Juven Nutritional therapy for wound healing with 7g arginine, 7g glutamine for about a year. Often add turmeric to meals. Ran out of fish oil supplement that I liked, other brand caused fish burps, so have not taken for a while


  • kec1972
    kec1972 Member Posts: 269
    edited May 2019

    BlueGirlRed, I see in your stats that you had a recurrence after taking tamoxifen. That makes me completely re-think this drug altogether. The fact is, tamoxifen is no guarantee against a recurrence, so I have to have a real heart-to-heart with myself as to whether I am willing to put up with distressing side effects. Saw my GYN today, she is going to do an ultrasound for me on Tuesday.

  • BlueGirlRedState
    BlueGirlRedState Member Posts: 1,031
    edited May 2019

    Kec1972 - the second time with BC, same breast, it is unknown whether it was a new cancer or recurrence. The first time after 5 years of tamoxifen, the oncologist I was seeing told me that new literature was coming out that suggested 10 years for tamoxifen, but he was not pushing that, but would continue to prescribe it if I wanted it. The second time with BC, the oncologist (different oncologist and clinic) suspected a new cancer since it was more than 5 years and since I had taken tamoxifen for 5 years after the first round. My left breast was dense/lumpy, so maybe detection was always difficult. I share your concerns with how well does tamoxifen really work. It seems like there are no metrics/checks or anything while taking it, and all they can say in support of it, is that abut 30% fewer women who take tamoxifen have reccurrence during the first 5 years than women who did not take anytning. I plan on living longer than that. I wonder if there are statistics that track longer than 5 years .

    2009 ER+ left breast. 52 yrs. Lumpectomy, Sentinel node removal, negative. – 1. Radiation 6 weeks, tamoxifen 5 years. Dense lumpy left breast, normal right. Acupuncture offered at facility as part of integrative medicine. It really helped with anxiety/stress during radiation treatment.

    2016 ER+ left breast. Probably a new cancer, but unknown. 4 rounds TC Aug-Oct 2016, Bi-lateral (my choice) Nov 2016, no reconstruction. 2 sentinel nodes remove, negative. Cold Capping using Chemo Cold Caps (DIGNICAP not available). Anastrozole 1 mg starting May 2017. Joint issues noticed immediately. Stopped Anastrozole after 3-4 months due to joint stiffness in. After several months of no AIs, fingers were feeling better. Started tamoxifen March 2018

    10/2018 noticed stiffness and some trigger finger again. Was eating meat a lot more (daily) than normal. Usually 1-2 /wk. Have cut way back on the meat, seems to help, but one finger still very prone to trigger finger. Trigger finger seemed to be getting better, but now 4/2019 seems worse, is it the break from added turmeric to meals?

    Exercise very regularly, if not at the gym, then walk/hike, weights, stretch, swim, x-country ski etc

    Supplements: GAIA turmeric-joint; glucosamine-chondroitin; magnesium glycinate; biotin; potassium-iodine; low dose calcium; C; B-complex ; D; Fish oil (but not now). For a year or so after bi-lateral used Juven Nutritional therapy for wound healing with 7g arginine, 7g glutamine for about a year. Often add turmeric to meals. Ran out of fish oil supplement that I liked, other brand caused fish burps, so have not taken for a while

  • gb2115
    gb2115 Member Posts: 1,894
    edited May 2019

    You know, I get that bladder pressure feeling sometimes. I think I get cysts that come and go. Sometimes it will hurt a whole lot for like an hour, then disappear. I think it's cysts rupturing. They must not be terribly big because obviously it has ended up ok. Hmm

  • kec1972
    kec1972 Member Posts: 269
    edited May 2019

    gb2115, I wonder if that's what it is? It's weird, I've never had this before, so I'm thinking it must be the tamox. I am having a pelvic ultrasound done next week to check things out in there.


  • dtad
    dtad Member Posts: 2,323
    edited May 2019

    kec1972...there are 2 medications to treat it. They do not work that well for me but they might for you. I also believe its the Tamoxifen. There are also supplements to treat it. They seem to work better for me than the prescription meds, although I do take both. Imo it is not ovarian cysts but its a good idea to have the pelvic ultrasound. Good luck and keeps posted. Please let me know if you have anymore questions

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