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Tamoxifen when not gone through menopause

Hopeoverfear
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Hi,

I have been on tamoxifen for 10 months. I haven't went through menopause. I feel as the months are going on the side effects are becoming unbearable. I have constant muscle aches and joint pain all over, feet,hips, elbows and hands. At night my legs constantly cramp. The flushes are horrendous. I honestly couldn't say the last time I slept all night. I have tried 4 different brands of tamoxifen now and I don't think one is better than the other. I have also tried taking it in both the morning and the evening. It made no difference at all. I am ready just to stop it and at least maybe have a better quality of life. I don't see me tolerating feeling like this for 10 years. 

Has anyone any suggestions of anything i can do or any supplements I can use to at least minimise the side effects. All the doctor prescribes is cocodamol and I don't really want to be reliant on pain relief on a daily basis. I feel if I don't find something to help me the only option left will be to stop the tamoxifen. It's a risk I know but when quality of life is so poor what other option is there?

Parents
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    Hi,

    I'm on Letrozole, because I am post menopause by a couple of decades.  I have all the side effects you mention, as well as quite bad osteoarthritis.  My doctor has prescribed Co-codamol for taking, as needed, during the day and Amitryptaline at night and it really is a life saver for me.  I don't have to take the full 8 tablets a day of the Cocodamol evrery day, I also take a calcium and Vitamin D twice a day, and folic acid once a day on prescription plus a magnesium and zinc supplement I bought myself, for the cramps and since I started I haven't had any of the horrible leg and foot cramps I used to get every night

    I hope you are able to manage your symptoms better, I feel that once you get on the right combination of drugs and supplements life will be a bit easier!

    Christine x.

     

  • Offline in reply to Sheltie_Lady

    Hi Christine, 

    Thanks for listing everything you use to help alleviate the pains. I have a hospital visit next month so I am going to ask if I could try any of these that you suggest and it could be a start. Deep down I know I really can't risk coming off tamoxifen so early on this 10 year course of it. If the side effects could be reduced then it could be a Start.

    Thanks for the advice x

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  • Offline in reply to Sheltie_Lady

    Hi Christine, 

    Thanks for listing everything you use to help alleviate the pains. I have a hospital visit next month so I am going to ask if I could try any of these that you suggest and it could be a start. Deep down I know I really can't risk coming off tamoxifen so early on this 10 year course of it. If the side effects could be reduced then it could be a Start.

    Thanks for the advice x

Children
  • Offline in reply to Hopeoverfear

    Hi,

    I hope you get the right combination of meds and supplements. I know the hormone therapy is there to prevent the cancer coming back, but it's no fun being in pain for the ten years!  

    I must say I was quite a baby about taking the hormone blocker at first, because of possible side effects, and only started taking them with the proviso that I would stop if they were too much to bear.  As it is, they are a nuisance but, with the help of my doctor, I can manage. In fact when I had a blood clot in my leg, a few months ago and had to stop taking the Letrozole for 6 weeks, while my BCN checked that they hadn't caused the blood clot, I felt a bit uneasy and was glad to start taking them again when they were given the all clear.

    Best of luck,

    Christine x

     

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