Tamoxifen almost a year on

I would suggest talking to your Doctor for advice. I have not yet started hormone treatment but I'm about to and would be interested in reading any answers to your question. I can't offer further advice but hopefully this will bump your question to the top again.

Hi Kasey11,

I started Tamoxifen last July and my symptoms kicked in in September.  I have brain fog, memory loss, menopause symptoms but the tiredness is the hardest.

When I asked my Oncologist he told me I am working too hard and it isn't the drugs - of course it's the drugs.

I get very tired very easily unfortunately.  I did have 10 sessions of Chinese acupuncture which REALLY helped but wasn't free.

I have to listen to my body and if it says sleep, I have a 1 hour power nap.

I hope you will be OK.

Take care

Kate

Came here looking for the same answers! I'm a year on Tamoxifen, and kind of forgot it might have side effects. Had my nurse call last week and she was asking about mood swings and brain fog... I had been thinking I was just having a really crappy few months and working too hard... 

But now I'm wondering if it the Tamoxifen side effects? My brain stopped synthesizing information. I read and read and read and nothing sticks or fits together. 

Really hope someone else can comment and offer advice or insight because I'm at a bit of a loss what to do. 

Winnersh Kate  thank you for sharing your experience! Wondering if you've had any luck managing it or improving it?

Hi Yulia,

To me it sounds 100% like menopause symptoms, the same as I experience.

I also have really bad tinnitus now too!

Sleepless nights do not help, if you are having night sweats.  My local GP has prescribed amitriptyline to help me sleep a little better and my brain is coping better when working after taking this.

Honestly you have to listen to your body.  I can no longer work 12 hour days - my brain just explodes, I now do 8 hours and then stop.  Some days I can exercise and beat the tiredness, other days I must give in and snooze for an hour (it's like re-calibrating your brain).  

I have to write a lot down or I easily forget things.

I say all these things are tamoxifen = menopause related and there's nothing we can take like HRT to help us.

There are lots of good books out there on menopause - Davina's was a breath of fresh air but she too can take HRT.

Red clover in tablet is also suggested to help with symptoms too.

Hope this advise helps a little?

Wishing you all the best

Winnersh Kate

oh gosh, sorry to hear your symptoms got worse!

I was on zoladex for 3 months during chemo and had the menopause and it was AWFUL! Again, couldn't figure out if I was stupid / in a toxic job or if it was the hormones...

I think what throws me off is that I felt OK mostly between March 22 and Jan 23... 

Doing a Masters degree and working 2 manuals jobs, so this is like super inappropriate to have fatigue and brain fog

Will look into red clover! Thanks for the tip!

WOW you are in at the deep end, no wonder your brain is tired.

I am also trying Menopace Max which also has red clover - can get it on Amazon and includes vits and mins to help with the Menopause - highly recommended.  but my biggest game changer is the amitriptyline to help with the deep sleeping.  You are doing a super amazing job to work and do a masters degree so don't be too hard on yourself.

All the best

Kate

I’m on my final box of Tamoxifen (the last 2 years of 5 on reducing oestrogen) was swapped from Letrozole as even though post-menopausal I already had some osteoporosis, Tamoxifen is kinder to the bones.

apart from the flushes which I still get, foot cramps especially early mornings, are a pest. Last summer the heat was tricky but hand held fans were a boon and a blessing. 

Good luck on persevering, especially with the brain fog and tiredness, will be interesting if those effects improve when I finish the drug.

hugs xxx