I hope someone can help! Its been a good few months since I’ve been on this forum due to things going on in my personal life, however due to feeling the way I do at the moment, I have come back to ask the people who have the knowledge and experience. I’ve been on tamoxifen now for a year and within the last 3 months I have noticed that I’m feeling very low and tearful, in fact bursting into tears at work (which is definitely not me), headaches, extreme tiredness - yet I can’t sleep at night, a constant fogginess and forgetfulness. What concerns me most is the feeling of dread I have in my stomach and the feeling of despair. I can’t remember the last time I genuinely felt happy and I’ve forgot what that feels like? I know I should be happy as I’ve been through the worst and I’m moving on but I can’t seem to be able to do it. I’ve made an appointment to see the doctor on Monday but I thought I would run it by this forum to see if anyone has had similar experiences and what worked for them.
Hi,
I am feeling exactly the same at the moment, headaches, fogginess/forgetting things, not sleeping, constantly near to tears etc…in fact you could be describing how I feel perfectly.
I am physically and emotionally exhausted after nearly 3 years of treatment, reconstruction etc I have recently reduced temporarily my hours at work ( after bursting into tears at work for no reason) and am having some me time.
I am having more surgery in 2 weeks time and I have a holiday booked which is my main focus.
I am holding off seeing the dr at the moment and I too would like to hear from others about how they coped, so you are not alone.
Hi Daisy, and thanks for your reply. We could be twins
I literally burst into tears today in front of my boss, considering I’m not really an emotional person and more so in front of colleagues. Its like its out of my control. I had my second mastectomy and double recon in Feb and actually felt quite positive then, but its like a big black cloud has plonked itself on my head since then. Anyway thanks again, much appreciated.
Just a quick suggestion based on what I’ve read rather than personal experience (I start Tam next week).
Some ladies have found that the different brands can seriously affect their moods. Have you recently changed to or from Wockhart, and I think there’s another one called APS or something like that? It could be as simple as changing back to the brand you were on until 3 months ago.
Hope that helps, but in the meanwhile have a big hug and a box of virtual tissues.
Seconding what CM said. It took me a while to recognise that I was feeling more c**p than usual, although I’d been on Tamoxifen for a while, then linked it to a change of brand. I returned to the original brand and generally feel much better and more cheerful. For me it’s APS that is OK and Wockhardt that made me feel rubbish, so now I always specifically ask for APS.
Sarah x
I am not on tamox, I was on it for 15 months then had my ovaries removed and have been on arimidex for 10 months, I do not think it is the hormone meds in my case but sheer exhaustion mentally and physically.Although they does cause me some pain and lack of oestrogen can cause tiredness etc…
I have been constantly having one thing or another done for nearly 3 years combined with everyday problems and a few big things and enough was enough.
I am trying kalms tablets at the moment as I have had previous experince of anti depressants for postnatal depression and don’t want to go down this route yet.
In the mean time I am going to enjoy summer and relax as much as possible.
I started on Arimidex and then had to swap to Tamoxifen but both give side effects. On Arimidex my hands were bad, on Tamox it’s my feet! I too feel very low at times and just think that it is likely that the meds plus what we’ve been through do just muck our systems around. Since chemo I don’t think I heal as well, since stopping Herceptin because of a dodgy echo I feel that the cancer is going to come back and it’s very difficult to shake out of it.
You need some serious TLC and also maybe something to do for you. I decided to study something I’d always been interested in, and it’s given me more focus.
I think there are many women out there who would like to give you a big virtual hug, and crack open a bottle of wine to share with you.
Generics brand gave me the exact se’s. The tearfulness and anxiety was horrendous. Anti-depresants were, for me personally, never an option. I only took Generics for three weeks and then someone on here suggested changing. Once I changed brands, the improvement was instant. Wockhart and APS were fine (well comparatively). Generics is cheaper and more readily available.
I no longer take Tamox, a huge risk, but when I read threads like this it makes me feel like I have made the right decision…
Ah I just want to say a big thank you for your comments. It means alot and I’m sure my brand of Tamoxifen has been changed a few times. I know at the minute I’m on Wockhart but I think I need to monitor to see how it goes and ask for APS and see how it goes. I’m seeing the doctor on Monday so I’ll take it from there. I’m frightened of going on anti-depressants because of the scary stories I’ve heard.
just finished tamoxifen, I got on great with APS, the only trouble I had was managing to get that brand, no one seemed to stock it this last year. I think its more expensive and ofcourse chemists look for the cheapest brands and sometimes they are the nastiest.
Krissi, try the change of brand first, but if that doesn’t work for you then don’t be frightened of anti-d’s. If you’re so low that you’re ceasing to function, they can be a complete life-saver. They’re not an admission of failure, far from it. More like an admission that you need help, which is something it takes strength to admit.
Good luck with the brand change, and keep us posted.
Chocciemuffin hi…which anti depressants were you on? I’ve posted on another thread about feeling very down whilst on Tamoxifen and have not taken it for a few days. My GP gave me amitriptylene (10 mg) to help me to sleep after my op. They did help but left me feeling a bit dopey. This was OK when I was on sick leave but I daren’t take them now in case I’m not fully functional at work. I’m getting more confused by the day. I’ve never been good at making decisions at the best of times and have made some bad ones in the past. I suppose what I’m trying to ask is this…should I carry on with the tamox and restart amitrip. Perhaps they would counteract the low mood? I used to be uncertain but now I’m not so sure!
It was about 7 years ago and I was on Prozac, but it doesn’t go well with Tamoxifen. But there are lots of different types out there that work, so if amytriptylene (or however you spell it) gives you a frontal lobotomy, speak to your GP and try something different. I’m no expert by any stretch, but I also found amytrip upset my ability to think. I had ONE dose of it and just couldn’t think at all.
Go back to your GP and have a chat about what your options could be.
Thanks for reply CM. You’re right of course…I need to speak to him about another option because it could mean I can carry on with tamox. without this feeling of “no point to owt”. Anyway the sun’s out again so I feel better today but it could be because I haven’t had the tamox…???.Grrrr!!!
Just thought I’d let you know how I got on at the docs. She was really lovely and when I explained how I was feeling she was very supportive and said it was very “normal” and understandable when we go through a serious illness. She recommended putting me on ad’s - citalopram. I’ve read up the side effects and I’m panicking a bit. Has anyone been on these?
Thanks Naz. I asked about the brands but she said it was down to the chemist
I’ve been wondering about alternative therapies, just not sure what to go for. I’m thinking of trying meditation cos I’ve heard really good reports about it.
I have been on tamoxifen only since february. Last year I had surgery for breast cancer then operation for lung cancer. I was a mental health nurse, my emotions have been up and down, like others I feel I have been through the worst and should feel much brighter about things. I have just managed to get a job after being out of nursing for a few years but have to wait for crb, medical and references, but I am so pleased that someone would take me on as I was feeling like I would not be employed again. I would not want to go on antidepressants but recognise I need some help so I am having a course of aromatherapy with reflexology and massage and have been given a aroma smell stick to assist with my symptoms which may be the menopause or side effect of tamoxifen its hard to know which. I also referred myself for psychological therapy, there are different ones to assist with thought processes, this starts this week. So I would advise others to look at these to assist with menopause, side effects and mood changes. I just feel it can do me no harm and gives me something to do lol.
