Members suggestions what helped them thru hormone therapy

[Eirelass]

Might kick this thread along for others on hormone therapy at the moment. It's been good (and scary) to read of others experiences.

I started Tamoxifen Tuesday and started on half a tablet (read somewhere here that someone's mum, a pharmacist has suggested that) but took whole one today. Seeing GP tomorrow and thought I'd sound like a wuss if I was weaning myself onto it. Plus I see med onc in about 3 weeks, so want to have a feeling for what it's doing to me by then.

I've had some more hot flushes, (had started getting some in the last 6 months, manageable though) mostly at night (usually just as I'm dropping off to sleep, then I'm wide awake for another hour ) but wore a really light nightie last night and was ok.

I already take fish oil (we get a distilled one from the USA) and if I get any cramps etc will get some Endura which is a sports drink with magnesium - I usually make it up weaker and it doesn't mess with my gut. Use it when exercising.

The Tamoxifen I am on had GenRx on the label and I thought it was a brand till I realized it meant General Prescription

Has anyone got or used one of those mattress underlays that are meant to keep you cool in summer? Just curious as we have the usual 'bedding debate' over summer doona/summer blanket etc and our bedroom is upstairs and boiling in summer.

Also, has anyone noticed if alcohol has any effect on their hot flushes/medication? Just curious. Never used to drink - should have stayed that way!! Usually just a couple of glasses of wine on weekends nights.

[Eirelass]

Erin, I'll be looking out all your posts next week - starting Tamoxifen then. I'd read about starting gradually - if I can break the pill in half I might do that!

[winterlong]

bring on the Tamo!!!

[erint]

Hi again Winterlong,
I did Tamoxifen for about a year before the switch to Arimidex, once they confirmed that all my blood levels were post menopausal. I thought I would have a hell of a fight getting off the Arimidex, but my surgeon looked at the list I had written and just said to go back on Tamoxifen, which we knew I would tolerate better. As she said, unless she was going to come to my house every day and personally supervise me taking it, it probably wouldn't happen. That is certainly the case with many women who get awful SE's. They just don't take it. It's better to be taking the Tamoxifen, than nothing.
The few SE's that I get on Tamoxifen are easily managed with supplements for joint pain, herbs for libido, and as I said the biggest impact has been the change of diet getting rid of the hot flushes completely. I even get to cuddle up to my husband now, without overheating and pushing him away

Erin

[winterlong]

Thanks so much for that erint.

I will read everything here. I found most was about Tamo, but i guess as far as diet, it will work with either.

I think my Onc said I could try Femara if this doesn't work, but not tamoxifen at this stage. Post menopausal thing maybe?

I hope it works better this time, and sorry to hear you had so many side effects. yikes!!
1!!!

[erint]

Hi Winterlong,
I didn't do too well on Arimidex, it made me pretty ill with more than 20 SE's so I went off it after about 6 months, and went back on Tamoxifen. At that time there was only one (original) brand so it might have been different if I could have tried an alternative. It can't hurt to try. Lots of women have few if any SE's or find that they can work around them. There are options to alleviate the SE's, or you can try another aromatase inhibitor, or go onto Tamoxifen. I have posted on this thread about some of the things that helped. More recently I have found that a change in diet has had a profound effect, but for many it's too big a commitment (it IS hard to give up some of the foods, but I find I feel so much better that it's worth it)

Good luck, hope it's better for you than the last time

Erin

[winterlong]

Hi, I posted in 'treatments' section, but it's a bit out of the way there, so hope you won't mind me re posting it here?

I am re starting Anastrozole tomorrow.
I tried for a few weeks after Rads, but felt lousy.
When I saw my Rads Onc, she said I'd tried it too soon after treatment, and to give it another go, but take only 1/2 a tablet for awhile, and see how that goes.
She has other patients who that worked for, and her point was, some is better than nothing.

My chemist asked if I wanted generic, and I asked if it differed in any way from the Arimidex..ie fillers etc. he said it was Exactly the same.
Reading through on line forums about it, and best time of day etc, many seem to feel there IS a diff.
quite bewildering.

I think I'll just go ahead anyway, with the generic.

Would love to hear others experience if they've taken it, or Arimidex.

Cheers,

winterlong (Wendy)

[erint]

I had really bad constipation a few months after starting Tamoxifen. After a colonoscopy (no fun - really) my gastroenterologist agreed with me that it was probably due to Tamoxifen. Drink at least one glass of water when you take the tablet. Make sure you drink enough water during the day. Eat some capsicum if you like it (I do) it's great for constipation


Erin

[carmie]

Studentgirl, I started Tamoxifen about a month ago & in the last week have suffered with some constipation as well, which is very unusual for me !! Movicol is my friend at the moment !!! & I have been trying to drink more water & one of my friends & I are trying to walk for about 60 minutes at least five days a week. It doesn't help that I have pernicious anaemia (that still isn't sorted) & have to take iron tablets !!!!! Will be chatting to my GP in two weeks about it !

[Janette]

I wonder if the constipation is a coincidence or could be something in the filler doesn't agree? Headache could be through the hormonal changes caused by the Tamoxifen and should settle down. I guess time will tell.

You don't have to worry about too much information here. Good luck with the Tamoxifen.

[studentgirl]

Just going to give this a little bump - I've been on tamoxifen for just a few days and I have the worst constipation (i'm so sorry if that is too much information). Is this another side effect of tamox? will it go away as my body adjusts to the new meds or do I need to look at a long term solution?
I also have a bad headache which I guess could be anything but I'm on the look out for stuff I guess.

[Crystalady]

Meg,

Remember that if you decide to take it and then find you can't tolerate it, then it's your choice to stop.

Sandra

[megg32]

What are the alternatives?

It might come as a bit of a surprise but I am stressing about this a bit

[Janette]

Megg,
Lots of ladies take it. It has been around for many years now so you wouldn't be taking something with unknown consequences. Only you can decide.

Hopefully you're not damned either way.

[JudyB]

Meg, I can 't tell you either take it or not but some people have little or no side effects from it. Maybe you could just try it and see how you go. There is no reason you have to keep taking it if you feel it is too much.