I'm loosing it fast....HELP!!!

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Mary1223
Mary1223 Member Posts: 31
edited June 2014 in Life After Breast Cancer
I'm loosing it fast....HELP!!!
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  • Mary1223
    Mary1223 Member Posts: 31
    edited January 2008

    Hi, I posted this on another board and I guess I should have posted here.  But anway, I'm an almost 5 yr bc survivor and I've been taking tomoxifen for 4 years.  I am a mess!!!  My hot flashes are relentless, been having them for more than five years now, my hair is thining, the skin on my neck is getting looser everyday, I can't sleep at night,  I can't seem to lose these 8 pounds that I've been trying to lose for years, my skin is so dry, sex???  What's that??   I'm 55 and I don't know what I can take to help because I'm estrogen +.  I need to do something fast before I really loose it.   I shouldn't be feeling like a 70 year old.  I need to reverse, (or at least stop) what this hormonal imbalance is doing to me,  I just don't know how.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.  

    Mary

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  • Mary1223
    Mary1223 Member Posts: 31
    edited January 2008

    Thank you.  That was really a wonderful response Laughing.  Joanof ardmore...wow, she was on the boards five years ago when I was diagnosed.   How ya doing joanof ardmore?  HOpe to hear from you soon. 

    Mary

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  • Naniam
    Naniam Member Posts: 1,766
    edited January 2008

    Mary,

    I didn't make it very long before the "dryness" was a huge problem for me.  I had tried the Replens but they burned when I tried them and did not help me at all.  I am also estrogen positive.  I ended up in a mess and I mean a mess and they put me on a vaginal estrogen cream.  My oncologist knows about it and he said it was ok; some will tell you you can't have that.  I use it!!

    The weight and sleep - I think every woman that has had breast cancer and treatment is having these issues.  I can sleep OK for a while and then I have a month that I just can't sleep.  I'm 2 l/2 years off estrogen now and the hot flashes come and go - when they are bad they are really bad and that is when I don't sleep well.    Lots of vitamins and supplements have helped my hair get thicker.  For joint pain, the best thing I have found is SAMe - at least 800 mgs a day.  

    Suzy is right though, Joan and some of the other gals will be able to give you much better advice that myself.  I just thought I would share that I "had" "have" to use the estrogen cream; I will not get myself in the mess that I experienced a while back.

    Brenda 

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  • Bren-2007
    Bren-2007 Member Posts: 6,241
    edited January 2008

    Wow Mary,

    Congrats on the 4 years of Tamoxifen!!  A lot of your symptoms can be from normal menopause.  The difference though for us ER+ breast cancer gals is that we don't get to experience the normal progression of menopause.  With Tamoxifen, Arimidex, oophrectomy, etc., we're thrown into immediate menopause so our bodies never get to gradually adjust to the changes in a decline in estrogen. 

    It totally sucks.  I didn't last long on Tamoxifen or Arimidex due to severe gastrointestinal issues.  I'm going to try Evista soon. 

    As for the sexual SE's, you might take a look at the Mojo thread. Lubricants and finding a position that works for both of you might help.  Also, trying to find ways to "get in the mood" is another challenge when you feel like crap.  We all understand that.  I think there is a section on the bco info area on intimacy that addresses some of these issues. 

    Sleep is another problem.  I just gave up and use Lunesta everynight.  My docs have no problem keeping me on this medication forever if I want. 

    Keeping you in my thoughts,

    Bren

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