Tamoxifen side effects

Hi @Viv_1979, I trust that you have managed to get some advice from your oncologist.   I had a mastectomy end of October including lymph node removal and commenced 5mg tamoxifen about 10 days ago.  I have been monitoring the symptoms pre-tamox and now post-tamox to see if it is "me" and menopause (which I struggled with anyway) and what are the effects of tamoxifen - basically to separate them.  Over the next couple of weeks I need to increase the dose to 10mg per day and have been warned it could be a difficult 3 - 6months as it all settles.   I get the menopause symptoms and headaches in the morning and focus on hydration to try and relieve that which I have some success with. I was told to "play around" with the timing of the dose and to take it after breakfast to reduce nausea, and I  find I also need to take metamucil daily.  Bloating and swollen ankles are becoming a daily occurrence :-(. I have really low days and some days quite good and am seeing a counsellor to help with that however that occurred pre-tamox.   So I am back in 6 weeks (now 4 and a half) to speak with the oncologist and will be able to provide an update to her then on the side effects caused by the tamoxifen and ask what I can do to relieve them, particularly if the strategies I am putting into place are not working.  For me, quality of life is very important. Good luck in these early days of treatment and trying to establish a new norm for yourself.  <3