Tamoxifen & Fatigue

Hi

It sounds like you’re doing the right things which will help. It’s probably not all the tamoxifen. Your body has been through a major trauma with the treatment, especially if you had chemo. I’m 14 months on from the end of my treatment and still get surprised at how tired I can get doing things that I wouldn’t have thought twice about before. As you say, energy levels can really peak and trough. Definitely make sure that you prioritise sleep. I have also done a 15 minute stretching routine every morning since after my op. It really helps with the aches which are worst first thing after being immobile at night (I’m on tamoxifen too), but it also wakes me up a bit and probably helps my energy levels. 

Well done on cutting out alcohol. I stopped drinking 4.5 years ago and it was the best thing I did for my health. 

Take care,

Linda x

Hi kateland, I have been on letrozole for 4 months now and I am finding my joints ache a lot, I get days when I feel really tired , I put it down to the mastectomy I had in June. It is major surgery after all, I know the tablets can affect your joints. I try to keep active by walking when I can and find it helps to relieve my joints a little. I have been back to work ,four weeks ago and some days I’m exhausted and end up doing very little in the evenings. So it is important to make sure we rest as well, well not sure if this has helped but it is good to know there are others feeling the same way. All the best, hopefully symptoms will

improve in time, if it keeps the cancer away I will

put up with the symptoms. 

Rita x

Hi Maryland

I had a break down after five years on tamoxifen. Nobody bothered to tell me that some of the side effects were painful joints, memory loss and fatigue. I just thought I was loosingthe plot and had arthritis. But that was in the olden days.

Hi ladies,

I have also been on letrozole for 4 months and finished radiotherapy on Monday.

I ache all over, i’m 54 and some days I feel so much older, my wrists ankles and right knee hurts and I can only put it down to the letrozole so I wonder if it’s worth switching to anastrozole instead.

I am of the same mind as Rita though, I will put up with the symptoms if it keeps the cancer from returning.

Take care all

Tina x

Hi Kateland

I have been taking tamoxifen now for a year and like you I get extremely tired a week before my periods. I am usually very active and love walking for miles in the countryside but boy..! When the fatigue kicks in I can barely make it to the train station to go to work

not to mention the low mood..! I hate this the most. Feeling low and sad. Of late I have noticed my knees hurt a lot. Thought I had arthritis but turns out it’s a side effect of tamoxifen. 

i stopped drinking which helps especially when the low mood sets in. Exercise helps I find so I make the most of  it when the fatigue goes away. Helps me cope with the next bout. 

Hang in there one day at a time is my motto.