More fun with Tamoxifen

Yeast infections. Every month I get a mini yeast infection, it lasts for 5-10 days though. It doesn't feel like enough to bother with sometimes but it does ruin sex. And the random periods sure don't help that either.

I still have alot of pain in the affected boob. I feel like the implant is so large and the skin layer there is so thin. I have an appointment this week with the plastic surgeon to ask about it.

I'll be making an appointment with my oncologist pretty soon to ask about Zometa and this news as well as asking about all the Tamoxifen side-effects.

Mini-Menopause, not fun

The tamoxifen is wrecking my cycle and giving me a glimpse of menopause. Sex is tricky and sometimes painful for no apparent reason and lubrication is a necessity now. I hear this is because the lining of the vagina itself has changed. I may have to investigate Estrogen creams and whatever else I can try.

I never know when to expect my period and I have cramps at random times through the month. The breakthrough bleeding made my OB/Gyn do a (negative) test for Uterine cancer and that gave me more cramps for week.

Five years of this will be a pain, I'm wondering if the dosage can be adjusted but I'm not too hopeful.

Boobs Still Hurt

A month post-surgery and my breasts still hurt, especially the non-cancer (not tissue-expanded) breast. I did not expect it to last this long but friends who have had breast augmentation say it may take another month to feel better. They look fantastic though, they haven't "dropped" completely yet but they look almost normal. My plastic surgeon was fantastic.

The Tamoxifen side effects seem to be mild so far, no hot flashes and periods are nearly normal.

One last chemo side effect: fine blonde hairs on my face and back, something I never had before. Guess I'll have to Nair or wax them, they don't seem to be getting worse so I bet they stay away after I get rid of them.

On my head the hair is about an inch long. Still wigging it, probably will for another couple of months until I can get a hairstyle that doesn't look like a boy.

Tamoxifen

I started taking my Tamoxifen. I wanted to wait until I was clear of all the chemo effects.

The hair is about 1/2"

Chemo Symptoms Finally Easing

The eye doctor gave me some ointment which has kept my eye feeling good but I can't wear my contacts at all. It's been several days since I needed a nap so I'm over the fatigue. I'm dry from head to toe though, more so now than during the actual treatments. No hair growing in yet but it's only 3 weeks since the last treatment.

The oncologist says I should not expect to feel normal for another month or so. Luckily he says I can wait to start taking Tamoxifen until then.

No period this month, we may have to wait 6 months to see if my ovaries survived the treatments. I'm really hoping they are okay, I need the Estrogen to prevent osteoporosis and heart disease.