Ok, hands-up all you who forget to take your tamoxifen, then remember that you’ve forgoettn to take it, look at the packet and try to work out if you have actually taken it, then spend the next few moments trying to work out if it would be better to skip it or run the risk of taking two in one day…? C’mon, you know who you are.
Well, today I bought a fine-tip pemenant market pen and wrote the days of the week on the back of each strip of tablets, one on each bubble. Inspired!!
Now, any suggestions for fuzzy head? Last week I sent an e-card to 30 work colleagues, wishing them all a Merry Christas (sic)…!?!
Good ideas ladies - think I’ll get a permanent marker…Chemo has made my middle name ‘forgetful’! - have just been given my Tamoxifen tablets today to start. Onc said, no problem with starting them after Xmas. Is there bad SE’s to start with then and he wanted me to have a SE Free Xmas??
Yeah thats me cupcake when i first started them i could count up from the strips and what day i started on now im onto box 4 and havent got a bloody clue if i dont get it out 1st thing and put it ontop of the microwave i dont know if ive taken it or not ( how bad is that ) i have now invested in a weekly tablet dispenser ( like the little old dears ha ha ) scarey thing is im a nurse so how the hell im gonna remember to give the patients theirs if i cant remember my own ( and im going back to work 3rd Jan ) ha ha x
roully I started mine after my well deserved hols after chemo and apart from the hot flushes at night ( which i had started with before)i have also gained a stone in weight but that was with chemo aswell which im trying to get under control now that im a bit more active but apart from that i have had no other side effects x Julie
Roully, everyone is different and experiences different se’s. Mostly, my emotions went a bit haywire for no reason (lots of tears!!) but that calmed down after a couple of weeks. I do suffer from fuzzy head (I can see the word that I want to say but I just can’t get it out…). Oh, and my skin feels drier, but that just may be the harsh winter we’re having. And I do suffer from vaginal dryness. But other than that, it’s all good. I would take your GPs advice and wait until after Christmas before you begin. You’re going to be on them long enough, why rush…
Thanks for tip, I kept forgetting so now have a bit of a calendar attached to the box and mark off when i take it, so far this has worked but your tip looks better
Hee hee Cupcake, you have just described the exact experience that I have every morning! I have even tried writing on the packs but was obviously using the wrong sort of pen. I keep meaning to buy one of those weekly dispenser thingies but the thought goes out of my head as soon as I am in a chemist that might sell one!!
I also suffer from the dreaded fuzzy head, I have tried to narrow down what causes it as sometimes it is worse than others. The only possible link that I have come up with is dehydration, so try to drink as much water as possible. I also have hot flushes, these are usually worse in the evenings and night times. I haven’t gained any weight, in fact I have managed to lose 19lbs this year on weight watchers, so weight gain isn’t inevitable
xx
I did have a little laugh at this as I have exactly the same problem. You wouldnt think remembering to take one pill would be so difficult would you and I forget all the time. My husband now, has put an alarm on for phone for 10.30am to remind me. xxxx
cup cake thats exactly what i used to do until may when i was prescribed simvastatin and that has the days on them so i know longer have to use the marker…
i also set an alarm on my mob every day for 10pm for ‘tamoxifen time’ to help me remember…
i used to recommend this to women on the pill when i saw them at family planning clinic and suggested they attach the pack to their phone eg with an elastic band so that when the alarm goes off the pills are close to hand.
i also suggest taking them at night if you are prone to hot flushes as you may not notice them so much while your asleep… although i know people with night sweats would prob prefer to take them in the morning.
I was taking Tamoxifen for the past three years and had exactly the same problem - not in taking the tablet but remembering if I had already taken it! I think the Tamoxifen must affect your brain!
I used to get three months at a time and as soon as I got home from the chemist I would number the boxes and label each strip with the days of the week. Those small CD marker pens are good as they have a very fine tip.
I’ve just switched to Femara and, hurrah, they have the days of the week marked on (although you need a magnifying glass to read it!)
Love the thread, I have had so many mornings like that - no idea if I’ve taken it or not - now I have a new rule - first sip of tea take your tamoxifen…seems to work so far and the OH is big on reminders!
Had to stop using my pill dispenser as someone told me that pills need to be kept in a light-resistant container. Really good idea to write on them.At the moment take them in morning with breakfast (yummy!)
Why is it that remembering to take one pill a day is difficult? 'Cos Tamoxifen scrambles the brain! Started off taking them after supper but that was a variable feast and I forgot. OH reminded me and I reminded him to take his simvastatin - has life come to this?
Now keep them by the bed and take with water first thing unless I’m feeling a bit queasy. Not sure about taking with tea as they’re ‘film-coated’ and I think hot tea might dissolve film.