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kezmusc's avatar
kezmusc
Member
8 years ago

Tamoxifen, Bone aches, brain fog and poor memory. Any one else experiencing these?

Hi all,

I tried to put this in the tests and treaments category but for some reason it won't let me.

So I'm on week nine of taking Tamoxifen and having some serious concerns. Apart from the ever popular hot flushes, my back and hips are aching constantly.  Not too bad through the day when I'm moving around a lot, but quite painful at night in bed or sitting.  

This one is the more worriesome to me at the moment. 

Very poor short term memory I have to write notes and set alarms for everything at the moment.  I am struggling at work when it gets  busy.  Poor concentration. I am going from the middle of one task to another instead of finishing the first.  If it's super busy i.e paperwork, phone ringing, people asking questions, making appointments all happening at once it's like my brain shuts down into this cloud of fog and I have to walk away for 10 minutes so I can think again.  I have trouble remembering words during conversation. Occasional light headed, dizziness. Just generally feeling like a bit of a space cadet at the moment. :)   So much so, that I asked my GP to schedule a brain scan!  

So I decided to stop taking the Tamoxifen for a few days and guess what?  Within 48 hours I was clear headed.  

This isn't constant some days my brain works fine LOL,  

Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing any thing like this.



hot-flushes
pain
side-effects
tamoxifen
  • kezmusc's avatar
    kezmusc
    Member
    8 years ago
    Thanks ladies.  At least I know its not just me!  I will definitely try the brain training app thankyou @socoda.  
    Had a quick google and it seems they are starting to do some research in this area.    
  • Giovanna_BCNA's avatar
    Giovanna_BCNA
    Member
    8 years ago

    Hi @kezmusc,

    Sorry to hear that you have been experiencing bone aches, brain fog and poor memory, that must be very frustrating for you.  Speak with your medical oncology team regarding the symptoms you have been experiencing and that you stopped taking the tamoxifen for a couple of days and felt better.  Your oncology team may be able to make some treatment recommendations.  Hope you are feeling better.

  • Jandy232's avatar
    Jandy232
    Member
    8 years ago
    No bone aches but I'm definitely not as sharp as I used to be. I can relate to that feeling of being mentally overwhelmed and not being able to remember words sometimes. I assumed it was an ongoing effect of having been on chemo but maybe it is the tamoxifen. I've only got two and half more months to on on it. I will be interested to see what difference (if any) it makes to be off it after 5 years.
  • socoda's avatar
    socoda
    Member
    8 years ago
    Hi @kezmusc, most definitely. I discussed the memory problems with my oncologist and she said it is a common side effect and recommended brain training. So I downloaded an app for my phone called Elevate and within a couple of days I no longer had to backtrack into a room 17 times to remember why I had gone in there in the first place. I'm 15 months on Tamoxifen now and I remember things (probably not as quickly as I used to but I'm not forgetting things to an incredibly frustrating level any more :) . As for aches and pains I also had pressure in pelvis and hips and had gp check it out, she monitors me to keep an eye on any untoward symptoms but mine is mainly my aching left knee. I have always used magnesium (always had horrid leg cramps) but have added vitamin D and also some magnesium oil rubbed on (called Karma Rub). You can always top up your magnesium with epsom salt baths too. I use panadol osteo of a night time for my knee and raise my knee onto a folded pillow as that is the only way it doesn't hurt. Wishing you all the best with the symptoms and reducing them. Xx Cath
  • Brenda5's avatar
    Brenda5
    Member
    8 years ago
    Yes kez, Add in my latest side effect of Tinnitus and we could be twins.
  • primek's avatar
    primek
    Member
    8 years ago
    Yes yes yes ...but I'm on letrozole. But with training it got better. I need breaks when stressed at work...but that's actually not such a bad thing
     I started on fish oil to help with aches and pains which made a huge difference (to joints and brain) as well as getting back to my weights and stretching exercise. Always discuss concerns with your oncologist. We all worry when we have aches in our bobes and joints.   I ended up having a back CT for terrible stiffness and pain ...which I had to a lesser extent pre chemo. Well all fine apart from arthritis, spurs and bulging discs. My exercise routine has helped this so much I hardly have pain there now. (Or maybe it's overshadowed by my excruciating quad and bicep pain from my workouts instead. Haha)

    I had light headedness for a while after chemo which turned out to be cardiac related and the medication I was on.  It's okay now. I needed to ensure I was always well hydrated.