Forum Discussion

msg132's avatar
msg132
Member
5 years ago

Switching from AI to Tamoxifen after 8 months

Hi Everyone, Hope you are all doing well. I was diagnosed last year and undergone lumpectomy and nodes removal, Radiation therapy. I was HER2- ER PR+
Per my doc advise , I skipped chemo and started Zoladex 3.6mg and Latrozole once per day. I developed trigger finger and stiffness in my fingers. Doc moved me now to Tamoxifen . 
I wanted to know has anyone else gone through roughly the same path way? if yes, how fast you think Tamoxifen start giving side effects?  I have taken only 3 tabs, and have been very bloated and gassy and had stomach ache... 
Not paranoid but just wanted to know, hence reaching out. I am 48 years old now, and was having periods before I started AI
Thanks in advance.
ai
side-effects
tamoxifen

2 Replies

  • ddon's avatar
    ddon
    Member
    5 years ago
    I am 47 and started tamoxifen 3.5 months ago - I haven’t been on an A1 yet. I was having periods until I started on chemo last December. I have plenty of hot flashes and spend my nights alternatively sweating and shivering - but that began with the chemo which put me into menopause. When I started the tamoxifen the hot flashes became more frequent for a few weeks but then settled a little. I found swapping from taking it in the morning to night improved a hangover type feeling in the afternoons. Poor sleep is the other major thing for me - which means more fatigue. 
    The first week I felt hungry sick each afternoon but that settled quickly and has never happened since. 
    Really, I haven’t found tamoxifen a problem so far. I expected it to be worse and maybe as time goes by it will be, but for now it doesn’t bother me. Hopefully, you will find it easier than the letrozole.