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the 16th ***TAMOXIFEN***thread

989 replies

MaryAnnSingleton · 10/11/2011 16:58

...here we go again

OP posts:
smee · 14/11/2011 18:49

Ah you don't need brain cells with us, Amber. You okay though?

Driftwood999 · 14/11/2011 18:54

Hello everyone, and best wishes and hugs to all that are going "through it" after a good few days feeling quite good post surgery, am now feeling terrible, headaches, emotional. Today was the first day i stayed in bed until 1pm, each day since op I've been showered and pottering by 9am. Go for the results tomorrow late pm. Since dropping the codeine the pain is worse, and am swollen under my arm, also patches of numbness and pain on the outside of my upper arm.

smee · 14/11/2011 18:59

Drift, could the stress be making things worse? I know it's physical, but it always does with me. Waiting's horrible. Here's hoping you get the best news possible tomorrow. Will be thinking of you x Smile

DeeScent · 14/11/2011 19:05

Hi Drift, sorry you're feeling a bit yuck. I had the same procedures as you about 3 weeks ago and for the first week felt really bouyant and then after about 2 weeks hit a bad patch - emotional, a bit down, lethargic. Don't pretend to understand it all but they do talk about it all being rollercoaster, don't they?

I had pain down my arm too, which has now pretty much gone.

Our bodies have been through a trauma of sorts and this is going to affect everything. Relentless pain does get you down.

I've now got through my "blue" patch and just today feel really upbeat. Hope it lasts! I do hope you get some good news tomorrow.

jchocchip · 14/11/2011 19:24

Drift - +ve vibes coming your way for a good result tomorrow.

On the train home after rads. Have changed the rest of my appointments to 8.24 am - I think I may get more done this way rather than staying in bed all morning

DeeScent · 14/11/2011 19:58

For everyone who has taken Tamoxifen, how soon were you told to take it? I thought I would get myself through rads first, then start Tamox about Feb time once I'd recovered, but does anyone think I should be taking it asap? I actually have my first batch of the pills upstairs in readiness.

I guess I don't want to miss getting started promptly if that's going to be important - just thought I'd try to avoid two lots of sideffects simultaniously. I'd be interested to know what your oncs recommended. Ta.

jchocchip · 14/11/2011 20:08

I thought it would work that way too, but started taking them after first onc appointment. There was quite a delay before I started rads and I suppose it did feel like I was doing something...

DeeScent · 14/11/2011 20:13

Oh, okay, Jane thanks for that. So you managed both sets of side effects at the same time okay? Perhaps I should have a rethink...

Ilovegeorgeclooney · 14/11/2011 21:03

Hello all, have been reading posts on my way home. Interestingly my boss said to me as I left, 7.50pm having got in at 7am, "have a good evening, you don't want to overdo things!!!!!" WTF!

On the plus side DD was told today that already positive signs are showing that her Lymphoma is responding! My gorgeous baby girl!!!!

Have a good evening.

sandripples · 14/11/2011 21:12

ILGC - I'm so pleased to red the news about your DD - fantastic!

topsyturner · 14/11/2011 21:14

That's great news ILGC , hope your DD carries on responding this well to treatment . And grrrr to your boss !

Amber you have an awful lot on your plate right now . Are you ok ?

Drift will light the candle for you tomorrow , plenty of positive thoughts coming your way .

How is everyone else this evening ?
Anyone need any hand holding or hugs ?

jchocchip · 14/11/2011 21:23

Really good news Ilgc. I have a friend who was treated for a Lymphoma in 2005 in the middle of medical school. She is well now and she completed her studies and qualified as a surgeon. Really hope it all works out well for your dd.

MaryAnnSingleton · 14/11/2011 22:31

drift loads of good luck for tomorrow
ILGC excellent and fab that dd is responding so well to her treatment- Smile
dee I asked if I could delay tamoxifen until after rads as I was still very doubtful about taking it and I also had a book to do during rads - she spoke to onc who said it'd be ok. I just tried to make it less scary for myself. I finished my rads in July and took my first tamoxifen on 7th September
Am feeling really shattered with my new complicated commission (ask amber !) felt quite sick earlier, but better after something to eat. I have taken on a lot of work which always makes me nervous !

OP posts:
MaryAnnSingleton · 14/11/2011 22:32

bcn spoke to onc,is what I meant to say.

OP posts:
smee · 14/11/2011 22:45

ILGC, that's fabulous. You must be leaping around. Long may it continue. Smile

dee, I started tamoxifen after chemo, but before rads. I didn't ask too many questions about why though. Confused

Wishing you all a good night of sleep. zzzz x

KurriKurri · 14/11/2011 22:58

Loads of good thoughts for tomorrow Drift xx

ILGC - I'm so pleased your DD is responding well to her treatment, that's great news Smile

Dee - IIRC, I started tamox. after I finished chemo, just before I started rads., I don't think you can take it while you are having chemo (there was a reason but I've forgotten it Blush) but it's fine with rads.

Night night all x

DeeScent · 14/11/2011 23:08

Okay, thanks ladies, I might start the Tamox tomorrow then!

Also I have a CT scan on Friday and despite reading the leaflet I'm still not sure if you have a dye injection, or any other injection. I keep thinking the planning session is going to be no problem/stress - is that about right? [hopeful]

OneInEight · 15/11/2011 06:47

Good morning all.

Drift - hope your results go well this morning & goodluck to anyone else with appointments or treatments this week.

ILGC - great news about your daughter.

Can anyone advise me about bras after the op. I read somewhere that you need a bigger size - why I ask myself when surely you have less after a mx than before! Anyway is this cup size or back size? Fairly well endowed so will not be able to go without.

jchocchip · 15/11/2011 07:13

Dee - When I had my planning ct scan there was no injection. The radiographers were lovely and spent quite a bit of time doing measurements and then three tiny permanent marks which were not a problem. So just a bit of lying around with your arm up behind you...

MaryAnnSingleton · 15/11/2011 07:36

morning all - special x to drift
dee take the tamox. in the evening,if you are starting - you can sleep off any SEs then...(having said that I take it in the mornings-and honestly have been ok on it)
Today is my brother's anniversary -it's been many,many years since he died but the date is etched in my mind.

OP posts:
topsyturner · 15/11/2011 07:53

Morning All

Dee rads planning CT doesn't involve any contrast dye . Mine was lying on the CT table (topless) and being measured some more and having wires and sticky tape stuck to me !

1in8 are you having lumpectomy or mastectomy ? Best advice is to get non wired granny bras ! Or a good non wired sports bra .

mas hugs to you today .

drift all the very best of luck for today x

Good nights sleep last night . Only woke up once and managed to drift straight back off .

Don't have anything that I need to do today , so going to have a lazy one . (again ?)

Driftwood999 · 15/11/2011 08:42

1in8 have you looked at Marks and Spencer online for bras? I was ordering something else and saw that they have a range called "post operative", (or somesuch name) they don't look too bad.

DeeScent · 15/11/2011 08:44

Thanks everyone for your comments - have had a nice calm week with my head in the sand and now fretting about rads and tamoxifen. But what you've said has helped.

oneineight, my breast was swollen and had a seroma so dh, bless him, had to dive out for a bigger bra - wish I had been forewarned.

Thinking of everyone having appts today - all the best x

pinkstarlight · 15/11/2011 09:58

drift...i also had that pain on the back of my arm that bothered me more than anything i remember it being agony to touch,my op was in august and its still sensitive to touch but no way like it was.

i feel for you as im also trying to do with out as many pills as possible,im still having really bad leg and joint pains but im not allowed take the usual ibufrofen type of medicines because im being treated for a bloodclot.i was taking a form of codine but ive ended up with an enflamed stomach seems like its catch 22 and you just cant win.

good luck for later today.

dee...glad your feeling better now.

mas...bless you be kind to yourself today,i will say a prayer.

1 in 8...im another one who cant go without a bra when i go out due to size,i bought alot of vest tops because i had a seroma so really struggled with a bra but another reason is to hide the gape i get around the top of my cleavage.you could always go get measured at m and s ,debinems or john lewis then buy on line if you dont like what they have to offer.

im going to need the paitence of a saint today as i now have 2 children off school with a virus and they both dont do illness quietly..at the moment they are both still asleep im thinking of crawlling on to the settee for a snooze before the madness starts.

Driftwood999 · 15/11/2011 10:15

Thanks for the good wishes, done all my little jobs and will now go and shower and prepare for the journey this afternoon.