Tamoxifen side effects that are not on the list...?

Public Archive
1

Hi

 

I’ve been on Tamoxifen for 3 months now and have had a couple of side effects that are not on the very extensive list of side effects. 

 

  1. pins and needles in my arm on the side where I had surgery

  2. small and hard stools

 

I was just wondering if anyone had experienced these, especially the stool issue? What did you do to help it? I’ve basically ended up being reunited with my hemorrhoid and it’s very painful as you can imagine.

 

Many thanks,

 

xx

2

Hi moonandmoon,

Sorry to see you haven’t had any replies as yet, but our helpline team are at hand if you would like to give them a call.  Lines open at 9am today until 5pm (weekdays) and 10-2 Saturdays calls are free, 0808 800 6000.

Take care,

Jo, Moderator

3

The pins and needles could be lymphoedema related, nothing to do with the tamoxifen.  I have mild lymphoedema in the back of my hand, and sometimes I get tingling down my thumb which I have always assumed to be related.  I get it when I have been using my hand a lot, either gardening or playing my clarinet.

4

Hi Moonand moon. If you post your query again in the Hormone treatment thread you may get additional answers. There’s been a lot of discussion of Tamoxifen side effects there.

 

Oh - that’s really funny. I did spell-check and it queried Tamoxifen and suggested “Damnation”!!!

5

Hi Moon,I’m glad you posted this because I have the same as what you describe. The pins and needles I let my arm hang down until they go. I eat prunes and nuts and veg and drink plenty of water(by the pint). I bought some bisacodyl tablets they are stool softeners and helped. But I will only use them as a one off as I certainly don’t want a lazy bowel(it warns on the packet) things are bad enough with out that:)

Breast cancer.org has a lot of threads about being “stopped up” while on tamoxifen.

How have you got on with things? Any improvement?

Take carexx