Hot flushes

Hi Mel

If the hot flushes are affecting your life, sleep etc then it's important to get on top of them early I thought i could tough it out but found it's near impossible! Yes you'll get less in the cooler weather but they won't be going while you are on tamoxifen. Go and have a chat with your doctor or onco am sure they'll help you.

Sarah

i dont drink coffee anyway or much spicy food. Is it too early to ask for the tablets. my mum says she doesnt think a doctor would give them to me because ive only been having them for a short while since december and probably by the end of march summer will be over so hopefully i will get less.. im not sure what to do.

Hi Mel

I have been on tamoxifen for almost a year now after finishing radiation in Feb 2011. I put up with the sweating and hot flushes for 6 months and saw my onco who put me on 37.5mg of effixor daily and it has decreased the flushes a lot  I only get a couple a day now when I was having a couple an hour . It hasn't caused any other problems. When I saw  my onco this week for a check up he also said the more exercise you do the less flushes you have I took up Dragon boat paddling in June 2011 and it's true I have never had a hot flush while training! or walking the dog he also said yoga was especially good but am not sure if my body is ready for that yet. My biggest problem is working in a hospital where the aircon is not that cold everyone is saying how hot it is and I am the one with the water running down my face, still if that's all small mercies. I do live in Queensland so have to factor in a bit of normal sweating too!

Good luck but don't put up with the flushes it's just not worth it.

Sarah x

Hi Mel

I have been on tamoxifen for almost a year now after finishing radiation in Feb 2011. I put up with the sweating and hot flushes for 6 months and saw my onco who put me on 37.5mg of effixor daily and it has decreased the flushes a lot  I only get a couple a day now when I was having a couple an hour . It hasn't caused any other problems. When I saw  my onco this week for a check up he also said the more exercise you do the less flushes you have I took up Dragon boat paddling in June 2011 and it's true I have never had a hot flush while training! or walking the dog he also said yoga was especially good but am not sure if my body is ready for that yet. My biggest problem is working in a hospital where the aircon is not that cold everyone is saying how hot it is and I am the one with the water running down my face, still if that's all small mercies. I do live in Queensland so have to factor in a bit of normal sweating too!

Good luck but don't put up with the flushes it's just not worth it.

Sarah x

When I started Tamoxifen I took it for about 2 months and couldn't stand the hot flushes,lack of sleep and irritability any longer. Once the hot weather hit they become worse. My oncologist put me on a very low dose of Endep(10mg) and it helped with all of the above with no side effects.I still get the hot flushes but not as many and maybe not as intense  -perhaps I'm so used to it. I find if I can nip it in the bud when I first sense one coming on then it's not so bad. I keep hand fans everywhere and also iceblocks/cold water too. Your GP should be able to prescribe antidepressants.I know we are all different but be wary of Effexor-that left me like a drooling zombie.    Good luck.

                              Tonya xx