Sorry, I’m having a whinge - feeling a bit sorry for myself. Its no big deal in the big scheme of things I know, but its driving me crazy
I have been on Nolvadex for about 2 months now and the tiredness is just getting worse. I actually thought it might be just that I was doing too much (I took on board what Loocie said in a previous post), but sometimes when I get chance to relax the desire to nod off is just too much! I’m assuming its the Nolvadex thats doing it.
I am working during the week and I can sort of keep going but by Friday I’m practically on my knees with tiredness. My husband wants us to go out at the weekend but I just can’t face it most of the time.
I usually end up having at least an hour’s nap on a Saturday afternoon and then again on a Sunday, and even then I still feel wiped out. This Sunday was ridiculous - I woke up at 11.45am and then fell asleep for another 2 hours in the afternoon.
I feel sorry for my husband and little girl, it can’t be much fun for them when I keep saying I’m too tired to do stuff.
I’m generally happy with Nolvadex as don’t have many SE so don’t want to change tablets, but does anyone have any hints / tips to alleviate the tiredness, apart from having a daily siesta!
I keep meaning to start exercising because I heard that can help, but I’m usually a bit zombie like by lunchtime. Does it help? Is there anything else anyone can suggest?
I can’t help with the Nolvadex as i am trying to get the chemist to get me them, have felt really sick with the ones i am on. So hopefully that will help.
How long ago did you finish treatment? I go for a walk every morning, i have to go then otherwise i would be too tired but i do think it helps. I’ve tried to do it all through treatment and apart from anything else if i get up and feel a bit low it always lifts my mood. Not sure if that helps.
Hi sg you work and you have a child you are entitled to feel tired as you work all week never mind the looking after the house and shopping.Sometimes I wonder if its the treatment or our bodies telling us that after all we have been through we need to rest as much as possible. If you broke your leg you would send time recovering and after everything we go through we are often shattered for a long time. Donr beat yourself up if you need a rest have one. best wishes suzan x
Re Nolvadex. I have been on tamoxifen since Jan 2008 and have tried four different brands of tamoxifen as all seemed to have different side effects. Nolvadex was meant to be ‘the best’ to help with tiredness. Sadly, for me it didn’t help although I noticed I had less brusing and leg cramps on it!!. HOWEVER, the company - I think it’s AstraZeneca - have stopped producing it. I tried lots of pharmacies incl Boots, ABC, and it’s no longer available. If you do find it anywhere it’s apparently beacause the chemist will still have existing stocks.
Re your tiredness - I’m not sure when you had your cancer treatment, however please believe me when I say the body needs time to heal never mind the brain! I was diagnosed April 2008 and had a mastectomy, chemo and radiotherapy. I started a new job 9 months after diganosis and treatment and have been working 4 days the week 8 hours/day. I am ALWAYS tired by end of day and never feel rested!! I have a loving and supportive partner however no children whereas you have a child…
We are of course ‘all different’, but please ‘let yourself off the hook’ and accept where you are for now, and it’s not whingeing!
Nicky Ann
xx
Thanks for all your support and advice, I am actually starting to think now that perhaps its not the Nolvadex and its just that … my body is tired!
I had a lumpectomy at the end of March 10 then 28 sessions of radiotherapy, and I went back to work full time (40hr week) 3 weeks after the op and had to keep popping out every day for the radiotherapy sessions. I thought I’d be okay as I work from home, but the only difference really is that I didn’t have the commute everyday. I also still go to physio twice a week.
Having read all your comments it now seems a bit obvious I’ve probably just not given myself enough time to get over it - although it usually takes some else to point out the obvious!
I had an appointment with a psychotherapist this morning (I’d forgotten about it!) and she also suggested that maybe I try going to bed at 8 or 9pm on a Wed and Thurs - see if that builds up a bit of “awake” time for the weekend, which I’m going to try because at the moment it feels like I am either working or I’m asleep
I think I’ll also try just going for a walk at lunchtime - as at the moment I’m doing zero exercise.
ive been on tamox since April this year. I am still getting tired- and have a little sleep every afternoon! Anyway, i did mention it to my onc and bcn , and they both said that it takes a long time to get other surgeries/chemo /rads etc.
