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valentine
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01-05-2012
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26-03-2015
02:06
I've been on Tamoxifen for 6 years now and have always had problems with hot flushes at night time. Last May the oncologist suggested I take Venlafaxine to alleviate the problem. It has helped and although I still get hot flushes they are so much milder and I'm getting more sleep. However, since tkaing them I've noticed the weight gain. At first I thought it was my eating habits and have cut back and increased the exercise, but nothing works. I've only just begun to think it may the the drugs. Does anyone else take this and have you noticed an increase in weight? It seems as though I may have to decide between a decent night's sleep or being able to fit into my clothes!
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16-01-2014
02:10
Went for 5 year check-up today. Really hoping this would be the end of it. Instead was told there was a possibility of another 5 years of treatment. Need to wait now for results of blood tests before this is confirmed. At least I get a 12 week break but I was so looking forward to being able to sleep through the night!! Every night!!! Trying to think of cheerful things instead, family holiday coming up, big birthday this year, but main thought is just Bugger! Bugger! Bugger! (rant over)
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18-06-2013
01:36
Hi there, not been on this site for a while. My surgery was 5 years ago, been on tamoxifen since Jan 2009 and not long to go before I finish it. Side effects not too bad but lately the hot flushes are getting worse at night. I have to get up at 6 for work and really have to drag myself out of bed. The latest I stay up would be 10, it was 9 last night and this morning I am exhausted. Been interviewing all morning and it's such an effort to look interested in what people are saying.
I only drink one cup of tea a day, no coffee, so very limited caffeine intake. I know red wine and chocolate can aggreviate the flushes so avoid them as much as possible and I know that eating early in the evening helps me to sleep better. However, I'm still following all these principles but being constantly woked with hot flushes. Does anyone have any advice? (Anyone a regular traveller on the District Line, I'm the one fast asleep with a book on my knee)
Thanks for reading.
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11-06-2013
02:15
Nooooo, periods come back!!!!
I just assumed they were gone for good! I was diagnosed at 45 and should be finishing Tam next Jan, 2 months before my 50th birthday. I was hoping for an end to all hot flushes and sleepless nights. Didn't think about periods coming back.
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11-06-2013
02:08
Would love, love, love to swim with dolphins. The nearest I've ever been to this is swimming with jellyfish and sea snakes in Hong Kong. (I was about 7 and remember the panic when the snake was captured, given me a fear of them ever since!)
The person below me loves baking.
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13-09-2012
08:54
I haven't been on this website for years. I was diagnosed in 2008, had surgery and chemo. Towards the end of the chemo my fingers and ankles started to swell. 4 years on and there's no sign of them reducing. The Drs don't seem too concerned. They did a heart check as this could indicate heart problems but once they had eliminated this possibility were no longer concerned about it. I know from reading other topics that a few other people have mentioned swollen ankles so I don't think I'm alone in this. I know in the whole "illness thingy" this gets very little priority but I WOULD LIKE TO WEAR MY WEDDING RING AGAIN!!!
I've got 16 more months of Tamoxifen. Not sure if they'll be any treatment after that but was wondering if anyone else has finished Tam and then had the swelling reduce. I'd love to be normal again!!
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01-04-2011
09:16
Hi all,
I'm now 2 years down the line with Tamoxifen and have suffered with the hot flushes and leg cramps at night. My GP recommended tonic water or bitter lemon for the leg cramps as they both contain quinine which helps to prevent cramp. It's working well but reading the comments on bananas I'll give them a go next as I've read that fizzy drinks are not good for your bones.
As far as the flushes go I've found that the less I eat in the evening the better I will be at night. Ideally I aim to eat by 6, but this isn't always possible as the days I work I get in later, or I eat only a small amount. I go to bed hungry but it does cut down on the flushes. Only 2 or 3 mild flushes a night compared to 5 or 6 sweltering hot.
During the bitter weather we had in winter poor hubby was going to bed wearing a fleece over his pyjamas and a woolly hat as I insisted on leaving the window open all night.
Only another 3 years to go!!!
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25-03-2011
09:16
It's my birthday today!!!
Cards and presents from my husband and daughters, the promise of a chinese takeaway tomorrow night (too busy today with work and running girls to Girls Brigade)Afternoon tea and cakes on Sunday with parents and friends, and a bottle of wine in the firdge for when I get home tonight. Life doesn't get much better.
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20-12-2010
10:16
Can I get this off my chest...
Fed up of having swollen fingers and ancles and nobody being bothered about it. Nobody can tell me why this has happened but after 4 rounds of FEC they started to swell. 2 years on and nothing has changed. As long as there is no cancer Drs aren't bothered. But I want to get my wedding ring on!!!!!
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20-12-2010
08:48
Yes, my last 2 doses were reduced by 20% as my white cell count never recovered in the 3 week period between each dose. I had every round of FEC delayed and the hospital had tried everything. Injections to boost the immune system, when that didn't work they tried increasing them from 5 days of injections to 7. Still didn't work. Then they reduced the chemo and increased the injections. Still didn't work. The ironic thing is that all my life I've been really healthy. Hardly ever get colds. I expected my immune system to be strong.
All over now!!!
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18-06-2010
07:22
Hi ladies, same problem here. I started Tamoxifen in Jan '09 and since then have never had a full nights sleep.
What I have found recently is that the less I eat in the evenings then the better I will sleep at night. If I can go to bed with an empty stomach then I may rouse twice in the night, but only need to kick the quilt off and will be back to sleep in minutes. This does, of course, have disadvantages. In the last week my husband and I have never had a meal together as I will be eating early with my daughters, or coming home from work at 6 I'll only have weetabix. At the weekends I don't care, we enjoy a meal together and share a bottle of wine. Then I know I'll be up 4 or 5 times in the night, and take a while to get back to sleep.
Only another 3 1/2 years to go!!!
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05-05-2010
09:15
Hi ladies,
I finished chemo in Dec 08 and have been on tamoxifen for just over a year now. Over time I have found that the only thing that really works is to eat a light meal in the evening and nothing at all for at least 3 hours before bedtime. Then I only get 2 flushes a night and I usually fall asleep pretty quickly after them. If I eat any later then I can be up several times and take ages to get back to sleep.
It's also good for weight control. I'm wearing the same jeans I had before diagnosis.
My worst night was New Years Eve when I spent the evening on Bailey's and chocolate. I was up for hours, but it was worth it!!
Keep going, ladies, and take one day at a time.
Valentine
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23-04-2010
04:14
Sorry, didn't mean to cause confusion. The drug is still Tamoxifen, it's just the supplier's name that has changed. Instead of WockhardtI now have this new name on the box.
I'll let you knkow if the side effects are vastly different.
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23-04-2010
09:00
Morning ladies, hope you are all enjoying the sunshine.
I've been on Tamoxifen for just over a year now and have been fairly lucky with the side effects. Stiff ankles in the morning and hot flushes every night, and I've found these are considerably reduced if I don't eat too much in the evenings.
Anyway with my latest collection from the chemist I've noticed that 2 months are the Wockhardt brand I've always had and the 3rd is a completly different box/design which states Tamollen (or Tallomen, I'm at work now so can't check)
Does anyone else have these and how are you on the side effects?
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19-01-2010
05:20
I had mastectomy and reconstruction in July 08. In August 09 I went rock climbing and abseiling. This was the first time ever and I wasn't brilliant at rock climbing, gave up by the time I was 20 feet above the ground but I did enjoy the abseiling and water activities that we did. I didn't have ANC, just 2 nodes removed and all was clear so don't know if this will really help you.
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19-01-2010
05:14
On the positive side. While I was going through chemo last year, my daughter read a Jacquline Wilson book where the main character's mother had breast cancer. It helped her to have someone to relate to with similiar experiences as she was the only one at school (of the girls that she knows) to have a mother with a serious illness.
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18-12-2009
01:32
It's exactly a year since my last chemo. I've lost the weight I put on during that time and tonight I am off to the office party dressed as Marilyn Monroe (it's Hollywood theme!) I've got a halter-neck, backless white dress, (with good support, strapless bra underneath)and killer heels.This was all the suggestion of a colleague after seeing my new curly hairstyle post-chemo. I got the hairdresser to give me blonde highlights earlier in the week and I'm really pleased with it.
Tonight I am going out to celebrate that there is life after cancer, the only problem is I'm full of a cold and feel terrible. Management are providing 2 free drinks to everyone at the party so what would you recommend, whiskey or baileys?
Happy Christmas everyone and a healthy New Year.
Valentine
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30-11-2009
12:57
I had FEC, not Taxotere. My GP seemed to think it was due to the weight I gained during chemo and advised me that once I had lost the extra weight my fingers would be slimmer. Well, I have lost all that weight but my fingers and ancles are still bigger than they once were. Not very helpful but I suppose as side effects go I've got off very lightly. No mood swings, no weight gain, just hot flushes and fat fingers!
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19-11-2009
01:16
My fingers and ancles started to swell about 13 months ago. At the time I just had 2 rounds of chemo left. I was hoping that once chemo was finished they would go back to norman. No luck! I started Tamoxifen in January and since then have actually lost about 10 lbs. All done to hard work and exercise, but my fingers and ancles are still swollen. I would like to wear my rings again.
Has anyone else experienced anything like this? Anybody got any suggestion?
Have a good day
Valentine
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19-11-2009
01:09
My doctor suggested tonic water or bitter lemon. Both contain quinine.Since I've started drinking a glass a day the cramps have stopped. Unfortunatly I can't stand either drink but it's worth it.
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