Connect
← Return to Tamoxifen and mental health
Discussion
Comment receiving replies
I’ve been on tamoxifen for 3 years. I’m also on Effexor and Xanax to help with the anxiety. I am 52 and have night sweats, curse in my sleep and yell “help” every night. My hair has become very thin on top, my teeth are breaking. I have 4 new crowns. I’m extremely tired all the time. No one has empathy. Everyone thinks since my mastectomy, I’m back to normal and should act normal. But I don’t feel normal. It’s like I’m in fear of every thing. I present myself as “all together” then come home and remove the happy mask and crawl in bed.
Replies to "I’ve been on tamoxifen for 3 years. I’m also on Effexor and Xanax to help with..."
I am sorry you have going through all of this. I have night sweats and hot flashes all the time. I am sure I curse in my sleep too 😂, although I can’t say for sure. My hair is thinning and is salt and pepper, as in gray and white. I also am in my 50s and sometimes feel like I am 70.
I can remember feeling like everyone just wanted me to “get over it” . As soon as my hair was growing back and I gained a few pounds. Like you, I struggled to be alright when I really wasn’t, but then I decided I didn’t care what people thought about it.
I did not do well on Effexor or Xanax, the Xanax made me more depressed and the Effexor left me feeling bi-polar with no idea what the day would bring. I take Zoloft and I have been stable with that for years. I have my moments, but mostly a ton better.
Have you talked to your doctor about any of this? Has your doctor given you a time frame to take Tamoxifen?
I hear you sister. Same frustrations.
I'm 53 and had not started menopause when I was diagnosed. I started Tamoxifen and it threw me into menopause after almost two months of being on it and had a lot of the same side effects @tmfranz did. I have crazy night sweats followed by freeze sessions, I'm losing my hair, and I became very anxious and depressed. I feel absolutely crazy sometimes. I'm finally able to start exercising again and hoping that will help. I'm currently not taking anything but thinking I might need to. I also struggle with the empathy factor from other people. I actually had someone tell me that I had this thing beat and I should "move on." Really insensitive. We are also moving to a new city and I'm going to have to find doctors all over again which feels a little overwhelming. Thank goodness it's going to be close to JAX Mayo Clinic and hopefully can find some good ones. Thank you all for sharing your struggles. It helps me feel a little more normal.
Connect
@tmfranz, that's a lovely photo of you. I hope you'll add it to your profile.
I'm sorry to hear that you are struggling with tamoxifen. So many members here empathize with these struggles, especially the expectations of others to get back to normal. @rhongirl has written a few eloquent posts about this here:
- Emotional aftermath following breast cancer treatment https://connect.mayoclinic.org/discussion/emotional-aftermath-following-breast-cancer-treatment/
I know @texasduchess @auntieoakley @aspapla @anjalima @naturegirl5 and so many others know what you're talking about and have walked in similar shoes, so to speak.
How are you doing today?