Tamoxifen & Constipation

Hi @bubszane10. Sorry you’re going through this. It sounds very hard. Have you contacted a colorectal surgeon about the fissure?

I have not had Tamoxifen. When I was constipated after my reconstruction from pain meds, I did drink prune juice mixed with club soda to help. And I used colace and miralax.

Again, sorry you’re going through this. Hope you get some answers and help soon. Hugs.

Susan
Thank you for responding!
Yes finally got an appointment with a Gastro Have been working with an NP & she got me in!

This will probably end up with Some type of surgery as even the prescription cream NP gave me not working.

I’ve been taking Linzess & doing fine for yrs but this drug just shut everything down.
Guessing this happened because of my issue already.

@bubszane10 I’m so sorry to hear of your problem. I take tamoxifen and did not have this issue but I don’t have the gastro problem.

I think our doctors often aren’t clear about how hormone therapy throws the body into a postmenopausal state with all the side effects. Natural menopause is generally gradual starting with a few years of perimenopause preparing the body for the big change. Oncological hormone therapy can be a shock to the body.

The Cleveland Clinic, a source I trust, has an article* about constipation and menopause. “It’s very common in the post-menopausal or peri-menopausal period for a person to develop constipation. Through complex mechanisms, shifts in hormones can worsen constipation.”
Could be that tamoxifen made your situation worse.

I hope you can avoid surgery. Best of wishes as you deal with this!

*Article link:
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/what-really-works-for-your-constipation-after-menopause

Thank you - yes It did - hope can get it fixed ! Cannot believe how painful the burning is from such a big fissure !