Best Of
Re: Feeling "blue" on tamoxifen
Hi @laurie123, it’s not you,it’s Tamoxifen. Hot flushes,sleepless nights and low mood- the only thing that got me through was a VERY low dose antidepressant called Endep 10mg. It didn’t give me any side effects and took the edge off all of the above symptoms. Unfortunately these anti hormone drugs are a necessary cruelty.You’d think we’d been through enough.Talk to your oncologist because you shouldn’t have to suffer.
TonyaM
1
Re: Feeling "blue" on tamoxifen
@laurie123 you are so welcome, it is so hard to navigate everything that comes with cancer and everyone here has some really valid points and good ideas. I will let you know what my Onc says next week as this is my first visit as well post treatment. I have read quite a few peoples posts on here that say they switched off Tamoxifen and it was a noticeable difference, so it could really be worth a discussion. Anything to not feel so flat and teary all the time!
Hang in there xxx
Hang in there xxx
Re: New Group Proposal - No Reconstruction post Breast Cancer Surgery
As William Shakespeare wrote..."A rose by any other name would smell as sweet"....I'm happy with whatever is chosen, so long as people know it's a group for those of us who are, or will soon be without a breast or breasts. Technically speaking, I'm not 'flat' either. My chest looks like a motocross track for BMX cyclists, with a squiggly line traversing from one armpit to the other over mounds and dips. Sometimes I think I look like a pale, cylindrical bratwurst sausage that someone tried to take a bite out of, other times it looks like a huge shark had a go at me, then spat me out after one chomp as I was too sour. Whichever and whatever, a back and forth of semantic debate could go on until forever, and there would still be some who would not be happy. Another quote by poet John Lydgate..."You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can never please all of the people all of the time".
AllyJay
6
Re: Bike riding after latimus dorsi flap and implant sugery
thanks, I had the implant using my own skin over 5 years ago. Sadly my implant has failed . I’m wondering once I’ve had LD flap sugery and recovered if I can still ride
Active
1
Re: Feeling "blue" on tamoxifen
Very true, wise words @Afraser. I do believe that it all has just hit me, after christmas when my radiation ceased and the new year kicked in, and I am facing the prospect of my next scans (1st scans post diagnosis). I could very well be feeling like this without the tamoxifen.
I am starting to feel like I may need something more, my GP wanted me to talk to a counsellor before starting me on any medication, which I have done (Cancer Council have been amazing), but I think I may need something more to get me through this stage of life. I've never taken antidepressants before but I've never had cancer either. I think my poor hubby and kids thought I'd be through it all, and on the other side, I feel like I am letting them down in that sense, as my journey is only really just beginning...
I am starting to feel like I may need something more, my GP wanted me to talk to a counsellor before starting me on any medication, which I have done (Cancer Council have been amazing), but I think I may need something more to get me through this stage of life. I've never taken antidepressants before but I've never had cancer either. I think my poor hubby and kids thought I'd be through it all, and on the other side, I feel like I am letting them down in that sense, as my journey is only really just beginning...
Re: Feeling "blue" on tamoxifen
Hi @Christabel03 thank you so much for your reply. I really appreciate you taking the time. It is so nice to feel I am not alone...I am getting teary as I type this....some days I really do feel all alone, so it really helps tremendously and means so much to me. I too am up and down like a yoyo. I know I have anxiety that i would have had anyway, but I am sure this tamoxifen is messing with me more so. I feel I am constantly PMS, except it never goes away. I am a joy to live with some days haha!!! I hope all goes well at your Onc appointment, please let me know if she has any suggestions. I don't see mine until end of April, which will be my first follow up since T, so counting down.
Thank you again, I hope you have a good day today xxx
Thank you again, I hope you have a good day today xxx
Re: Feeling "blue" on tamoxifen
@laurie123
Just a thought but anxiety can have similar effects and it may be worth discussing this too. I am still on Letrozole (10 years done in May!) and it hasn’t caused any depression or anxiety but reaction to having cancer (diagnosis, surgery, chemo or other treatment) can take a while to kick in. The prospect of medication for years may be a trigger. It may well be a reaction to Tamoxifen, but possibly a delayed reaction to
the whole damn thing. Take care.
Just a thought but anxiety can have similar effects and it may be worth discussing this too. I am still on Letrozole (10 years done in May!) and it hasn’t caused any depression or anxiety but reaction to having cancer (diagnosis, surgery, chemo or other treatment) can take a while to kick in. The prospect of medication for years may be a trigger. It may well be a reaction to Tamoxifen, but possibly a delayed reaction to
the whole damn thing. Take care.
Afraser
2
Re: Mastectomy
Please include us lopsided members in the title @Tonya as I am sure you have a wealth of information on this subject.
Ladies end up lopsided for a number of reasons and not always at their choice. Me ? I was rushed in, I had no previous knowledge about BC and, as the surgeon did not do reconstructions, I was not given any information, let alone the opportunity to go flat at the beginning.
Ladies end up lopsided for a number of reasons and not always at their choice. Me ? I was rushed in, I had no previous knowledge about BC and, as the surgeon did not do reconstructions, I was not given any information, let alone the opportunity to go flat at the beginning.
June1952
2
Re: Feeling "blue" on tamoxifen
@laurie123 yesssss meeeee! I find it is so hard to tell whether it is Tamoxifen, or normal stress etc but I know that since I started Tamoxifen in October last year my anxiety has gone through the roof and I do feel quite depressed I guess at times. You have described it perfectly feeling flat, I find some days I am just so flat and others I can be quite ok and then some others just no good at all.
I am actually just about to start some counselling as I think dealing with the "cut free" feeling after finishing treatment has not been easy for me and then factoring in how Tamoxifen is making me feel I just felt like it was time to offload.
There was a suggestion in a previous post of taking half a tablet morning and half at night which I haven't tried but I take mine at night regardless. It could be worth talking to your Onc about as they can change brands etc if it all gets too much.
Sounds like you are doing everything you can, exercising is great I find that helps too. I will be mentioning how I am feeling to my Onc next week when I see her to see what her suggestions are. It is miserable to think that something we have to take for so long makes us feel so lousy.
I wish I had pearls of wisdom for you, but maybe it will help just to know you are not alone
I am actually just about to start some counselling as I think dealing with the "cut free" feeling after finishing treatment has not been easy for me and then factoring in how Tamoxifen is making me feel I just felt like it was time to offload.
There was a suggestion in a previous post of taking half a tablet morning and half at night which I haven't tried but I take mine at night regardless. It could be worth talking to your Onc about as they can change brands etc if it all gets too much.
Sounds like you are doing everything you can, exercising is great I find that helps too. I will be mentioning how I am feeling to my Onc next week when I see her to see what her suggestions are. It is miserable to think that something we have to take for so long makes us feel so lousy.
I wish I had pearls of wisdom for you, but maybe it will help just to know you are not alone
Feeling "blue" on tamoxifen
Hello there, has anyone else felt flat, down in the dumps after starting tamoxifen? I have been on the little white pill 20mg for 2 months now, and my anxiety levels are also quite high, but I do have upcoming scans and alot of worries still.
Any pearls of wisdom for helping to overcome my flatness? I exercise daily, trying to eat as healthy as I can. In all honesty I do miss a little bit of alcohol to help me relax!!
Thanks ladies
Any pearls of wisdom for helping to overcome my flatness? I exercise daily, trying to eat as healthy as I can. In all honesty I do miss a little bit of alcohol to help me relax!!
Thanks ladies