Tamoxifen & urge to constantly eat

Hi Sarah

I don't have experience of breast cancer so unfortunately can't offer any answers to the questions you have asked about increased appetite and tamoxifen.  I  am sure before too long though one of the regular members of the group will respond with some advice and information for you . 

In the meantime you might like to take a look at this information on the side effects of tamoxifen over on the Cancer Research website. There is lots of information on the Macmillan website too about coping with menopausal problems. I have put a link here to it. There is also the Ask a nurse section here where you can pose your question and one of the nurses will get back to you within two working days.

Take care

Best wishes

Sue

Thanks Sue

Hi Sarah - I have been on Tamoxifen for a couple of months now. I too have an urge to eat constantly but I hadn't linked it to Tamoxifen - but what you say makes perfect sense as I think the grazing has got worse since I started. I'm afraid I don't have any tips to stop grazing - I don't have very good will power! xx

Hi Sarah

I've been taking Tamoxifen for just a couple of months.  You're right it's like having PMT when you want to eat constantly , I'm currently struggling to control my urge to eat chocolate peanuts all the time, I just have to limit what I keep in the cupboard..............hot flushes & night sweats not much fun but then I guess same/similar to going through the menopause. 

Best wishes

Hi

I was having a similar issue and decided to try a sugar free diet. I did a fair bit of reading first and borrowed a couple of books from the library for recipe ideas. The Sugar Free Family Cookbook by Sarah Flower & I Quit Sugar for Life by Sarah Wilson.

Both of which I have now purchased along with a couple of others.

My logic was that if I eliminated the sugar cravings / highs and lows sugar causes, then I might get my urge to binge under control.

For me it has worked with the added benefit of less hot flushes. Don't get me wrong when I have a flush I could still power the national grid but I am most definitely having less of them. Have more energy too which is an added bonus as I was struggling with fatigue.

Next phase of my plan is to research the do's and don't's of eating for arthritis to see if I can ease my aching joints through diet.

Hope you find something that works for you.

Karen xx

Thanks for the replies, i sort of feel 

better I'm not imagining this. So I was naturally going

through the menopause and the cancer was found 

in a round about way due to a check up of my hrt

meds. I'm trying sage tablets for the hot flushes (they really are making me feel rubbish)

and trying to eat healthily l. I guess it's one step at a time

Best wishes Sarah x

Karen - that's really interesting about the sugar free diet. I'm going to look into that and get the books you mentioned. It is the sugar that I usually crave.

For arthritis I wonder if you have tried cherry juice? I take it to help my sleep but it is also supposed to help arthritis and seems to help my husband. I get it from Holland & Barrett.

Evie x

Thanks for the tip Evie,  I'll give cherry juice a try. Currently take Max Strength Glucosamine & Chondroitin from Boots which does help (it is literally in all my joints, was struggling to function) but willing to try anything to improve the situation further!

Another useful cookbook is I Quit Sugar Simplicious by Sarah Wilson. I liked her other book so decided to buy this one as well, I wasn't disappointed.

Good Luck x

Thank you for that info. I’ve also been trying to manage the pain n fatigue with diet. I’m working with a book called The Anti-inflammation Diet and Recipe Book by Jessica K. Black, ND, which has been very helpful. But I’m still struggling with insatiable hunger and cravings since I stared the tamoxifen in April. I’ve put on 13 Lbs n am not well pleased. And I’m walking 1-2 miles everyday. 

Hi Sarah. My issue is also with the Tamoxifen. It makes me so damn cold that unless I eat very regularly and have hot drinks on an almost hourly basis I am barely unable to function. There are also the hot flashes but they are bearable in comparison to the horrendous chills. I'm not overweight and fairly fit and feel that it's making my body accelerate calorie burn way beyond normal measures and I can't seem to find a food/drink that makes me feel warm