Feel like I am going crazy.

Sounds like a good plan Dot.The only trouble is you have to try these things for a few weeks and if they don't help you are back to square one. If you end up with the antidepressants it may take 2 weeks to kick in.However,it helps with sleep straight away.The first one I tried was effexor and OMG,I couldn't get off the chair,was like a drooling zombie.Anyway,the next one (endep)did the trick and no side effects.Good luck with all the pills.

                                   Tonya xx

Thank you Moira for you advice.  Well girls I went to the Menopause clinic.  I am quite amaze did not realize there is a menopause clinic that deals specifically with breast cancer and tamoxifen.  

They have given me heaps of information of the different things to try to alleviate the hot flushes plus all the other side effects of menpause and tamoxifen.  First its vitamin e and evening primrose.  If no improvement then try the anti- depressant tablet.  It is given at a very low dose to help alleviate flushes.  Then if not try some nerve blockers. 

They want to make sure my mood is from not getting any sleep from the hot flushes.  Once they can find relief from my hot flushes/night sweats. Then hopefully I will get better sleep and my moods might improve.  They said they are going to monitor me because if my moods don't improve, then I might possibly need a antidepressant for the short term until the menopause symptoms disappear.  They advise and having the right frame of mind helps in your recovery process of breast cancer.  Also she said, for the brain concentration it takes a good 6 months for some people for their brain to recover from chemotherapy. 

So I feel a little bit better that there is a plan in how to handle these symptoms.  I have been taking the vitamin e and evening primrose for 6 days so far and no relief at night time.  At least there is a next step if nothing happens with this.   

Thanks alot girls

Dot

xxx

Thank you Moira for you advice.  Well girls I went to the Menopause clinic.  I am quite amaze did not realize there is a menopause clinic that deals specifically with breast cancer and tamoxifen.  

They have given me heaps of information of the different things to try to alleviate the hot flushes plus all the other side effects of menpause and tamoxifen.  First its vitamin e and evening primrose.  If no improvement then try the anti- depressant tablet.  It is given at a very low dose to help alleviate flushes.  Then if not try some nerve blockers. 

They want to make sure my mood is from not getting any sleep from the hot flushes.  Once they can find relief from my hot flushes/night sweats. Then hopefully I will get better sleep and my moods might improve.  They said they are going to monitor me because if my moods don't improve, then I might possibly need a antidepressant for the short term until the menopause symptoms disappear.  They advise and having the right frame of mind helps in your recovery process of breast cancer.  Also she said, for the brain concentration it takes a good 6 months for some people for their brain to recover from chemotherapy. 

So I feel a little bit better that there is a plan in how to handle these symptoms.  I have been taking the vitamin e and evening primrose for 6 days so far and no relief at night time.  At least there is a next step if nothing happens with this.   

Thanks alot girls

Dot

xxx

well as the other ladies said you are certainly NOT going crazy.  I too went down the same road a couple of months after i finished treatment, and started on Arimidex.  Uunfortunately this is the time we think we should be on top of the world, we are here to tell the story, we should be greatful etc etc.  but on visiting my breast surgeon for my check up i burst into tears, and then explained what was happening, i knew this sad, and grumpy person was not me, he explained that a large percentage of women who finish treatment fall in a heap, he suggested a take a mild anti depressant for a year to fix it out. My reply to that was i am a strong person, i got through the other crap, i can get through this, but he explained i would only go further down, and i was one of the lucky ones who accepted something wasnt right, anyway after having the prescription for a week in my drawer and after another crying fit, i decided  to give it a go...... The best thing i ever did.  I was on them for a year and knew myself i was back to normal, so visited the doc and was able to come off them. NOW I AM BACK TO NORMAL. so seek the information you need from the professionals, and they can help you decide what road you can take.  Just dont feel there is something wrong with you feeling like this, its a side effect of BC and treatment. and i am sure the professionals will get it fixed out. Take Care Moira

Thank you girls, for the support.  I feel better knowing some of you had the same problems.  Before BC and chemotherapy I was getting my periods every 3-4 weeks more, now I have had only one period since starting chemotherapy in December.  So I could be going into menopause.  I am taking Genox Brand of Tamoxifen. 

I thought once chemotherapy was finish I would start getting my energy back and could get back some of my life.  Instead, my brain just does not want to function some days and then that starts to get me down.  Then I start getting sooky.  Then my brain starts going into overload. I should be doing this and I am not. I don't seem to accomplise as much as what I use too.  So I feel like I am not making the most of my life, because it is taking longer that normal to complete things.  Yes I have had a few people say that maybe I should accept its time to slow my life down that I did do too much for everyone else and not for me.  Then I am not sure what I want out of life anymore.

Well I am going to the hospital next week to see if I can get relief from any of these symptons.  Thank you for listening to my whining.

Louise that will be great if we catch up.   I understand about your deadlines for tax.  Yes I only just sent hubby company 's tax return to the accountant.  Its nearly the end of financial year again. Haha

Thank you again Girls

Dot xx

PS it taken nearly 40 mins for me to concentrate on writing this.

Thank you girls, for the support.  I feel better knowing some of you had the same problems.  Before BC and chemotherapy I was getting my periods every 3-4 weeks more, now I have had only one period since starting chemotherapy in December.  So I could be going into menopause.  I am taking Genox Brand of Tamoxifen. 

I thought once chemotherapy was finish I would start getting my energy back and could get back some of my life.  Instead, my brain just does not want to function some days and then that starts to get me down.  Then I start getting sooky.  Then my brain starts going into overload. I should be doing this and I am not. I don't seem to accomplise as much as what I use too.  So I feel like I am not making the most of my life, because it is taking longer that normal to complete things.  Yes I have had a few people say that maybe I should accept its time to slow my life down that I did do too much for everyone else and not for me.  Then I am not sure what I want out of life anymore.

Well I am going to the hospital next week to see if I can get relief from any of these symptons.  Thank you for listening to my whining.

Louise that will be great if we catch up.   I understand about your deadlines for tax.  Yes I only just sent hubby company 's tax return to the accountant.  Its nearly the end of financial year again. Haha

Thank you again Girls

Dot xx

PS it taken nearly 40 mins for me to concentrate on writing this.

Thank you girls, for the support.  I feel better knowing some of you had the same problems.  Before BC and chemotherapy I was getting my periods every 3-4 weeks more, now I have had only one period since starting chemotherapy in December.  So I could be going into menopause.  I am taking Genox Brand of Tamoxifen. 

I thought once chemotherapy was finish I would start getting my energy back and could get back some of my life.  Instead, my brain just does not want to function some days and then that starts to get me down.  Then I start getting sooky.  Then my brain starts going into overload. I should be doing this and I am not. I don't seem to accomplise as much as what I use too.  So I feel like I am not making the most of my life, because it is taking longer that normal to complete things.  Yes I have had a few people say that maybe I should accept its time to slow my life down that I did do too much for everyone else and not for me.  Then I am not sure what I want out of life anymore.

Well I am going to the hospital next week to see if I can get relief from any of these symptons.  Thank you for listening to my whining.

Louise that will be great if we catch up.   I understand about your deadlines for tax.  Yes I only just sent hubby company 's tax return to the accountant.  Its nearly the end of financial year again. Haha

Thank you again Girls

Dot xx

PS it taken nearly 40 mins for me to concentrate on writing this.

Hi Dot,

These ladies have given you lots of worthwhile information.  You must be now thinking "Thank Goodness - I am not going mad".  This is such a fantastic site that helps us all through - I couldn't live without it.  I am well aware that similar could happen to me after I finish chemo treatment.  It is such a big ordeal that we all go through.  Thank you for being honest and recognising your problem.  There is always some solution.  I had a long term friend visit me today.  She had two families so at 50 she now has a 15year old daughter and a 9 year old son plus two grown up children and grandchildren. She thinks she is going mad trying to cope with the young ones = always tired  and arguing with the teenager.  Luckily I was able to support her and give her some space, peace and quiet at my little "oasis".  I asked her what she had got out of our day together.  The first thing she said was "I now know heaps about chemotherapy".  I thought that was so funny.  I thought her answer would be "I have to find time just for me" Anyway it was a distraction for her to be with me and we are going to catch up again prior to my next chemo.  I am going to make sure that she is not just a mummy, wife and grandmother.  We all need to escape sometimes. XLeonie

Hi Dot like everyone has said NO YOU ARE NOT CRAZY.

i had similar hassles with tamoxifene and had to change to toremifene as i just went mental on tamoxifene. moody like anything sweats unreal. and crying over nothing. i also had constant nausea and dizzyness . i also found i had rotten fanny itch hee hee. not a nice thing.  i tallked to my oncologist and they changed the tabs i still get sweats from the shoulders up wet head syndrome ha ha and have the occasional mega down down which is normal. the moodyness is part of getting chucked into the deep end of early menopause , no more itch thank god. and as everyone has said from day one to when treatment ends its all full on then nothing we are on our own and its scarey.  i know i went a bit of the planet. too. dont be hard on yourself, have you time and remember you are only human and you have been to hell and back so it will take time. toremifene worked for me but may not be suitable for you but there are other drugs maybe it isnt tamoxifene but if you dont ask who knows dont suffer in silence i did for over tweleve months and it isnt worth it believe me.  xx Fran

Hi Dot like everyone has said NO YOU ARE NOT CRAZY.

i had similar hassles with tamoxifene and had to change to toremifene as i just went mental on tamoxifene. moody like anything sweats unreal. and crying over nothing. i also had constant nausea and dizzyness . i also found i had rotten fanny itch hee hee. not a nice thing.  i tallked to my oncologist and they changed the tabs i still get sweats from the shoulders up wet head syndrome ha ha and have the occasional mega down down which is normal. the moodyness is part of getting chucked into the deep end of early menopause , no more itch thank god. and as everyone has said from day one to when treatment ends its all full on then nothing we are on our own and its scarey.  i know i went a bit of the planet. too. dont be hard on yourself, have you time and remember you are only human and you have been to hell and back so it will take time. toremifene worked for me but may not be suitable for you but there are other drugs maybe it isnt tamoxifene but if you dont ask who knows dont suffer in silence i did for over tweleve months and it isnt worth it believe me.  xx Fran