Bottle 'o Tamoxifen

MissouriCat--Over the last almost 7 years since diagnosis, I've been trying all types of magnesium to see which one does what for me. One thing I can tell based on MY experience is that Slo Mag is the one to take if you're constipated! Definitely not the one if you're dealing with diarrhea! And I tried a strongly recommended magnesium citrate which I felt did nothing for me. Not for a good poop or to help with muscle and joint pain from Tamoxfen. But give me a KAL magnesium glycinate tablet and all is right with the world! I makes me regular and it my body just feels great on it. Don't know why that's the one that works for me but it is. Having said that, every once in a while I swap to the Slo Mag just to really clear me out which I'm feeling particularly stopped up. I take it for a couple of weeks then go back the the KAL and am usually good to go for months. So crazy how the different magnesiums work different ways but I'd definitely think about taking a different kind at least for now for you!

Everyone needs to find the magnesium that works for them. Magnesium citrate often is used for constipation. I buy a large bottle of Costco's Nature Made, extra strength 400mg Magnesium, in a softgel form. This also dissolves quickly in the stomach for rapid absorption. My doctor suggested I take one after dinner and this dose has been working for me. Try a small bottle and see which one works best for you. It definitely has made a difference.

Hi Lomlin, I just had a conversation with my hairdresser about my hair. I know it's thinning. I used to only be able to wrap a hair tie around my hair twice and it was difficult on the second wrap, now i can wrap it four times! Fortunately, I started off with exceptionally thick hair. It is not noticeable to anyone else, yet, but I am wondering if it will continue to get thinner.

Since radiation and tamoxifen I feel like a crazy person. I don’t know if my hip pain is joint pain from tamoxifen or just from age. Although, I don’t see many 54 year olds having difficulty walking when they get up from a chair. Then there’s the fatique, it was terrible when I started Tamoxifen. I now take Provigil on weekends, when I remember, because if I take it too late I won’t sleep, and Concerta during the week for work because i was having difficulty with concentration.

The hot flashes and night sweats are a killer!! I am in a study where i get accupuncture twice a week for ten weeks but it’s not really helping, maybe a little at night but I get so embarrrased when I have sweat rolling down my face at work or when I am out with people.

I feel fortunate that I “only” had DCIS, I know there are many people who have far worse diagnoses so I feel like I really shouldn’t complain but I never had these issues prior to Tamoxifen. The good news is that this whole experience has made me think about eating better and exercising more and I have lost 23 pounds!

Sorry to hijack your post. I started typing and just couldn't stop! Enjoy the rest of the weekend everyone

Hi Dorothy, I was started on 20 mg Tamoxifen per day. I had nausea in the beginning but when I started taking it at night it got a lot better.

I saw the study regarding a lower dose of Tamoxifen for DCIS but when I read it, the study did not seem too big. I just happened to have an appointment with my oncologist shortly after the study came out and she said the practice had discussed the study and did not want to change the practice's decision of 20 mg per day. So, I stayed on it. If I am on the 5 year plan, I am 1.5 years in. If i fi d out it's going to be 10 years, we'll see.

It's just weird that the joint pain is happening now and the thinning hair. Makes me wonder what's next!

Lewhy, I have been on 20mg for 7 years now. The joint pain seems minor even though it does ache from time to time compared to others in this forum and for those on armindex or femara.. i am doing 10 years Tamoxifen and not switching regardless of my age.. The hot flashes are the most annoying but tolerable.

Mymomsgirl I like the idea of splitting the pill in two doses. After all these years I have never thought of that. I will give that a try and maybe the hot flashes will be more gentler like yours with the split dose. Might be easier on my stomach too since I take it in the morning.

Best of luck to both of you!

That stupid Tamoxifen. I was fine on it for the first 3 months then I dealt with the joint pain. But the nausea didn't hit till about a year into it! I was ok until then. And I had the nausea and dizziness for close to a year till I figured out that ramping up my water intake got rid of it. I found some info that indicated Tamoxifen COULD be dehydrating. It's what worked for me so you might give it a try. Everybody reacts to Tamoxifen in different ways so try different things til you hopefully find one that works.

I tried taking 10 mg in the am just to see. Had this big panic attack which was all in my head.Although I think anxiety is a true SE. I think i will stick to my 20 mg day that I have been taking for 7 years now. Three to go. Those who take 10 mg spit in two doses or even less, I wish all of you luck. I bet MDs say that a little is better than none. Maybe one day you can handle more. For me, it's 20 mg. Those warm flushes are annoying and I bought a fan and a cooling cloth toI wear for them. the joint pain in my hands and hips are annoying but tolerable. I do take Zantac before bed which helps my stomach in the AM. No pepcid AC or Tagamet. not allowed. I will try more water and more B vitamins and more magnesium. I appreciate reading all suggestions.

Thanks for the opportunity to vent. Best of luck to all of you ladies.

I drank 10 3/4 cups of water yesterday

I'm getting tired of having multiple "warm flashes" (and sometimes real hot flashes) every day. Menopause for me was no more than one hot flash each night and none during the day. However, I will take that over some of the other possible side effects.

Last night was my 4th extra half pill at night. I'm alternating 10 mg and 15 mg at night, none in the morning. So far it is very tolerable. I am not going to try to ramp it up more until this has reached "steady state" which will be towards end of Sept.

I had my pre-meeting for LiveStrong Tuesday. I got the form for the dr to sign. She said it was fine to be my primary care regular doctor as long as she has knowledge of my condition. I found out at my last visit w/ her that she actually read my files from the MD Anderson website (I had signed her up for access). She also is a breast cancer survivor and took tamoxifen (which caused her to be so depressed that she was suicidal and had to take anti-depressent). I have an appt w/ her for next week. I'm sure she will sign form for me. The other good thing about LiveStrong is that it includes access to the Y and all free activities for the 12 weeks - so water aerobics, etc, etc.

Hi Runor, Very good point!!

Regarding leg cramps- another idea is to use a foam roller. My husband is a runner and was plagued with leg cramps at night. He uses a foam roller and he swears it has made a huge difference. So maybe a combination of adequate fluid intake and foam rolling will hel

I'm not Gokale but yes. They're like the noodles only harder. Amazon has them, probably even the canadian version of Amazon! Or really any store with workout gear would.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Valeo-18-High-Density-Foam-Roller-for-Deep-Tissue-Massage-and-Preventing-Muscle-Soreness-and-Improved-Flexibility/15920082?wmlspartner=wmtlabs&adid=22222222223017270770&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=o&wl2=m&wl3=10363692560&wl4=pla-1103073901623&wl12=15920082_10000000113&wl14=foam%20roller&veh=sem&msclkid=fd67f3001a4517545c78ae6a90c6ccc4

Here’s a foam roller at Walmart. Or if you know someone who will let you borrow theirs to try, that will give you the chance to see if it helps you.

https://www.muscleandfitness.com/workouts/leg-exercises/videos/calf-roll

Here’s a little video of using the foam roller for calf muscles.

Have been drinking lots of water and also taking magnesium supplements, which helps some. But what is the solution for depression? It’s been 3 months PFC. Feels as though depression started kicking in a week after starting tamoxifen, also 3 months now, which seems to be getting worse.

Will it get better eventually? Or should I talk to a psychologist? Perhaps anti depressants

Angie definitely have a conversation with your MO. Tamoxifen can cause depression. Once I built up to treatment blood levels (about 3 months in) I began struggling with depression and wanting to just isolate myself from everyone. I was able to manage through it and things stabilized a little around month 11 for me. Perhaps my body adjusted somewhat although I still have to push myself a bit. I am not taking any anti depressants because of concern with how I metabolize tamoxifen. Otherwise, yeah I think I would be on Efflexor. Be careful with anti depressants because there are quite a few that don't play with with T.

Do not suffer in silence, your body's reaction is real so reach out for any medical support you need. I hope things get better for you quickly.

Hi All,

I just wanted to check back in regarding joint pain. I had experienced quite a bit of joint pain for the first 6-9 months after starting Tamoxofen and then I switched to a vegan diet. Since that time, I rarely experience any joint pain!! I told my MO about it and she said it's consistent with what she has read---meat and dairy products cause inflammation and eating vegan removes those inflammatory triggers. Now my SEs are hot flashes (which I just deal with) and vaginal dryness--which had started in my perimenopause, before I began Tamox. There are lots of good resources available on vegan diets and since so many meat substitutes have come out (like the Beyond Burger and sausages and the Impossible Burger), I don't miss meat. I actually crave veggies--weird, but true.