Is this normal?

When I first started taking Tamoxifen I had trouble sleeping,hot flushes,low mood,forgetful.My ocologist put me on a very low dose antidepressant called Endep 10mg. It helped with all of the above but probably made the forgetfulness and lack of concentration a little worse.These are all menopause symtoms too so it's hard to know if chemo has caused this or if it's entirely Tamoxifen or abit of all 3! In anycase,you should really talk to your gp or oncologist- don't just put up with it. My mastectomy scar is very tight(done in 2010) -feels like I have duck tape across my chest.My surgeon says it's adhesions and not much can be done.Perhaps see a physio about your neck and back?               Tonya xx

Hey Pip

Lovely to hear from you. I hear you......

I finished radiotherapy sept/oct following my chemo.

I was put on Tamoxifin but couldn't function at all on that straight away so was taken off that and put on Femara.

I can't say I have had a clear head at all throughout my whole treatment and blame everything silly I do on chemo brain :-) BUT I believe the Femara plays a big part in my tiredness, foggy head, pain, constant hot and cold flashes. It has all got a lot worse since around Christmas time which is a few months after being on the drug.

I think what I am dealing with is the side effects of the drug. Unfortunately I could try a different aromatose inhibitor but who says it is going to be any better for me. Unfortunately we don't really have any alternative but to take these drugs. I don't know what the answer is but if you find one I would luuuuuuvvv to know what it is as well.

I will say though that I beleive exercise helps. I have been tooing and froing from Perth to home so my exercise regime has gone totally out the window and I am feeling worse by the day. Not sure if you get time to exercise with working but it is worth a try. I was doing so well but now just feeling blah again.

Luckily I haven't had to return to work but I am wondering whether it would be a good thing for me or a bad thing if I am feeling the way I do.

I didn't have mastectomy but I do have a lot of tightness/soreness/numbness and itching from the surgery sites still. Some days are worse than others for no particular reason. I am sure it is much worse with a mastectomy scar. Are you able to discuss it with breast nurse or surgeon maybe??

I know I have not been much help to you but I hope it helps to know that you are not alone in how you are feeling.

Thinking of you and wishing you wellness.

Mich xoxo

hey pip, just came back from physio to work on my back. My scar often feels like i am wearing a very tight bra and the tightness goes right around the back in  a band. When my scar is tight I tend to put my shoulders forward in a protective type stance- it is not something that i am consciously doing. but this then makes my back sore. Having the physio work on my back relieves this tension. They just need to be aware of whether you have had lymph nodes removed and where.

hope this helps 

Thanks everyone for your advice, its reasuring to know that these are common problems after breastcancer.

I am now fairly certain that i am going through menopause and even though there is nothing i can do about it, knowing what i am feeling is normal is a relief....and i know the tamoxifen doesnt help but i gotta take it !!

And yes my scar feels like a tight band as well, i have been to chiropractor and have massage regularly ,but it dosen't really help.....I am going to see a plastic surgeon about reconstruction ,my sugeon wants me to go... i dont know if am upto going through such a big operation, but i wonder if this will get rid of that tight band feeling on my scar??

So many things to think about and worry about ....no wonder its overwhelming for all of us ...and we still have to carry on as normal.

wishing everyone well

Pip xxxx

Hi Pip, I had some laser work done on my scar with the Physio. It really helped to soften the scar and break down adhesions. Ask at the phsio department to see if any of them use this hand held machine. It is often used on the lymph node area as well. It might help with your scar too.
Love Chris xx

Hi Pip, sorry to hear you are having so many symptoms. I can relate. I had severe flushes every 10 to 30 minutes  and later night sweats, plus mood swings, irritability, fuzzy thinking, aches and stiff joints etc.

I too had laser. Mine was a low level Scanning laser. It seemd to help with softening scar tissue and range of movement, as I usually get thick scar tissue. I had 11 nodes removed, followed by radiation.

One word of caution. I am not sure what your job is, but if you are having hot flushes regularly at the moment, then please take it easy.

Vasodilation of blood vessels and doing lots of work at the same time might be counter productive. In time the sweats and flushes may diminish, and you will hopefully adjust to a new  part of your life.

Yes, gentle exercise may help..to relieve anxiety and keep calm which may help with flushes to some extent.

I hated the " out of control feeling" my body was doing 20 times a day ! It is a lot better now, but I have slowed down too.

I also take low dose SRI antidepressant, which helps with flushes, pain,  low mood,  general well being. Mine is Zolft. Tonya is on Endep. I started on Zoloft and it seemed to help me not feel so miserable.. so I will probably keep taking it. Talk to someone, I agree. I left it a bit late and is certainly is overwhelming, but there is help out there.

 TC... All the best, Kathy.

 The hot flushes could just be onset of menopause. when they start prematurally it can seem full on as your body hasn't had the gradual decrease in hormone.

Thanks again everyone for more great advice and for sharing your own personal experience.

I do have a stressful job ,but i only do 3 days a week...but if i find something a bit less demanding i may consider a career change.And I do walk most days for at least 40 mins...i am also thinking of joining the gym ,maybe start to do some weights, so i am trying to keep my self in good shape...I managed to take off the 5kilos that i had put on during chemo ,that really helped my self esteem .

I know that i am feeling overwhelmed lately and sometimes fearing the worst , but i feel that this just the after effects of having breastcancer ,but if i start to feel really bad i will go to see someone and get some help...I suppose i have to accept that i am changed forever .

wishing everyone well

pip xx

Just a quick note Pip, you were so helpful & kind to me earlier.  I can really recommend a DVD my mentor from the Cancer council put me onto called 'Strength & courage' - excercises for breast cancer survivers. Has simple up to more challenging exercises where you incorporate weights into your exercise. I got it from the Cancer council library - check out the website for great resources or just call them and ask for the library section - they pop it in the mail. Im only 4 weeks post my mastectomy but its great even at the simple level.

Be kind to yourself, jackie x

I have one more chemo to go in a couple of days, so have started formulating an exercise plan to get me up and running. My first part is to walk to the end of the street and build on it each day. I do yoga through the kim walters choices program and love it as it keeps my chest supple. some of the movements in particular the clock was exactly the same one the physio recommended and it's very relaxing. The yoga they do is called Hatha. Before all this I thought all yoga was the same, but I'm a convert. They also run a social tennis up the road and when I'm further along will turn up each week but keep it to 3omins as I find it really easy to overdo it, then fatigue sets in and I have to lay down for a day or two.

Does anyone else have advice on exercise post surgery post everything?

cheers

majella