I've lost my footing

j916
j916 Member Posts: 141
edited March 2014 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi all....
I feel like i had turned the corner, and life was starting to look up again. Finished chemo may 29, started reconstruction process, surgery july 7, and again the 28th of this month. I've had the peaks and the deep valleys, but for the first time, i felt my energy soar, and felt so good!
BUT THEN
the discussion topic was posted about anti depression medication and tamoxafin....i found out that the AD i was on i SHOULD NOT be on...i confronted my onc about it, he seemed very unconcerned because i'm going to have a hysterectomy sometime before the end of the year, and will be switched over to an AI, so he felt for that short period of time it wouldn't be an issue......THEN i talked to my pharmacist and asked why i hadn't been told of the interaction problems with the two drugs....they looked it up, and said that when he had called it in, the computer had sent up a flag, and they contacted the dr, and he said to fill it anyway.
I am in the process of weaning off my AD, and the dr that prescribed it will be back in town on monday so hopefully will get that straightened out....but this has really knocked me. I have gone from feeling so incredible for the first time since december, to being overwhelmed with survival stats, and dying. I will admit that i had not been mad at all before this happened, but this....boy...this brought out one huge mad...stomping, throwing, spitting crying yelling mad. I told my dr...you know, you have been great about telling me about other possible side effects...nausea, constipation, hair falling out...but this little one....the possiblity of DYING!!! you failed to tell me!!!! I'm pissed that i wasn't informed...i'm PISSED that i have lost confidence in my dr....i'm PISSED that i'm scared, really scared now, and i don't know why...i'm just pissed...
I know i can request a different dr, and i probably will as soon as i finish my surgeries because if i switch now i will have to have everything authorized again...and i don't want to have to do that...but you know what....this just sucks....
it just sucks....
I live alone, i've gone through most of this alone....and i feel dropped through the cracks...i've lost my footing, and can't seem to get back up.....and i'm pissed about that too....
help me...
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Comments

  • Diane 88
    Diane 88 Member Posts: 19
    Sorry
    Sorry that you have had this problem with your Dr. It is not a small thing. You have every right to be pissed. You should've been told. It is hard enough to trust the Doctors. I wish the best to you. I wouldn't want to change Doctors either but would really have to consider it. Maybe your Doctor didn't know and it was a nurse to said go ahead and prescribe both.
    Good Luck,
    Diane
  • Akiss4me
    Akiss4me Member Posts: 2,188
    Hey J....
    Wow, this really has to be making you mad as I know it would make me mad. But on the other hand, I thought this discovery with the antidepressants was fairly new. Even if a Doctor was not up to date on it, I think the pharmacist should have informed you that a red flag came up, but was told by your Doc to fill it. I think he dropped the ball too. At least that would have given you a chance to decide if you wanted to take it or speak with your Doc first. Apparently the pharmacist admitted to knowing valuable information at the time of refill.
    I know my pharmacist tells me everything. I had a similar situation that my pharmacist warned me about. He was unaware that I had stopped another RX that would have caused a conflict prior to getting the new one filled. My Doc told him to fill it anyway (my Doc told me to stop the other one, so he knew). My pharmacist warned me anyway. Thats what should be done.
    In the mean time, it is good that you are getting it all out. I wish I could help you, but I don't know how, other than to tell you we are here for you and this is a safe place to vent. Oh yeah, and to send big ((((((HUGS)))))your way!!! :O) Pammy
  • Calleen
    Calleen Member Posts: 411
    Akiss4me said:

    Hey J....
    Wow, this really has to be making you mad as I know it would make me mad. But on the other hand, I thought this discovery with the antidepressants was fairly new. Even if a Doctor was not up to date on it, I think the pharmacist should have informed you that a red flag came up, but was told by your Doc to fill it. I think he dropped the ball too. At least that would have given you a chance to decide if you wanted to take it or speak with your Doc first. Apparently the pharmacist admitted to knowing valuable information at the time of refill.
    I know my pharmacist tells me everything. I had a similar situation that my pharmacist warned me about. He was unaware that I had stopped another RX that would have caused a conflict prior to getting the new one filled. My Doc told him to fill it anyway (my Doc told me to stop the other one, so he knew). My pharmacist warned me anyway. Thats what should be done.
    In the mean time, it is good that you are getting it all out. I wish I could help you, but I don't know how, other than to tell you we are here for you and this is a safe place to vent. Oh yeah, and to send big ((((((HUGS)))))your way!!! :O) Pammy

    I am so sorry
    that you are so mad.. I would be sooo furious too... I share your fears completely.. I am the type that would change Doctors becasue I would be too afraid of what else he might do... reguardless of all paperwork involved!!! remember you figured it out!! so use your anger to a useful purpose.. post everywhere about the danger of mixing the drugs.. you never know who else may be combining the two drugs... you sound like you have a very strong fighting spirit and that my Friend is a good thing!!!

    Let me know how your doing!!!

    HUGZ....Calleen
  • elm3544
    elm3544 Member Posts: 748
    I'm sorry you are going
    I'm sorry you are going through this
  • Eil4186
    Eil4186 Member Posts: 949
    J, I am sorry you are so
    J, I am sorry you are so upset. I think I was the one who posted about tamox. and antidepressants. I too am very stressed. I had been prescribed one by my pcp that she said was ok. Then I talked to a nurse at my cancer center and she said the one I had was no good and gave me a list of ones that are ok and then friends on this site informed me that the list is wrong!!!!! Now I don't know what to think. My therapist said I should have a psychiatrist prescribe an antidepressant for me because they are experts.

    You have given me an idea----I think I will ask my pharmacist about it.

    Hang in there. Perhaps you could ask around for another onc and get a second opinion.
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    Eil4186 said:

    J, I am sorry you are so
    J, I am sorry you are so upset. I think I was the one who posted about tamox. and antidepressants. I too am very stressed. I had been prescribed one by my pcp that she said was ok. Then I talked to a nurse at my cancer center and she said the one I had was no good and gave me a list of ones that are ok and then friends on this site informed me that the list is wrong!!!!! Now I don't know what to think. My therapist said I should have a psychiatrist prescribe an antidepressant for me because they are experts.

    You have given me an idea----I think I will ask my pharmacist about it.

    Hang in there. Perhaps you could ask around for another onc and get a second opinion.

    The antidepressants doubling
    The antidepressants doubling your chance of a recurrence with tamox is not new. There have been other studies and papers published long before the one that Mimi posted. If you are on an antidepressant and tamox, talk to your oncologist. The list that Eil got was a list of all of the ones not to take.

    Sorry for what happened to you. I think I would get a new oncologist if I were you.
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    elm3544 said:

    I'm sorry you are going
    I'm sorry you are going through this

    Sorry for all of this.
    Sorry for all of this.
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    jnl said:

    The antidepressants doubling
    The antidepressants doubling your chance of a recurrence with tamox is not new. There have been other studies and papers published long before the one that Mimi posted. If you are on an antidepressant and tamox, talk to your oncologist. The list that Eil got was a list of all of the ones not to take.

    Sorry for what happened to you. I think I would get a new oncologist if I were you.

    I think Effexor is one that
    I think Effexor is one that you can use with tamox. But, find out for sure first. So many of the big names are ones that double your recurrence.
  • Noel
    Noel Member Posts: 3,095 Member
    Akiss4me said:

    Hey J....
    Wow, this really has to be making you mad as I know it would make me mad. But on the other hand, I thought this discovery with the antidepressants was fairly new. Even if a Doctor was not up to date on it, I think the pharmacist should have informed you that a red flag came up, but was told by your Doc to fill it. I think he dropped the ball too. At least that would have given you a chance to decide if you wanted to take it or speak with your Doc first. Apparently the pharmacist admitted to knowing valuable information at the time of refill.
    I know my pharmacist tells me everything. I had a similar situation that my pharmacist warned me about. He was unaware that I had stopped another RX that would have caused a conflict prior to getting the new one filled. My Doc told him to fill it anyway (my Doc told me to stop the other one, so he knew). My pharmacist warned me anyway. Thats what should be done.
    In the mean time, it is good that you are getting it all out. I wish I could help you, but I don't know how, other than to tell you we are here for you and this is a safe place to vent. Oh yeah, and to send big ((((((HUGS)))))your way!!! :O) Pammy

    I can understand why you
    I can understand why you would be mad. That info has been around, it didn't just come out. Your oncologist should know all of this and inform you. I hope that he will go over it now with you. I would also get a new oncologist.


    ♠♥ Noel ♥♠
  • Kylez
    Kylez Member Posts: 3,761 Member
    Diane 88 said:

    Sorry
    Sorry that you have had this problem with your Dr. It is not a small thing. You have every right to be pissed. You should've been told. It is hard enough to trust the Doctors. I wish the best to you. I wouldn't want to change Doctors either but would really have to consider it. Maybe your Doctor didn't know and it was a nurse to said go ahead and prescribe both.
    Good Luck,
    Diane

    Sorry that your doctor
    Sorry that your doctor didn't tell you.

    This is very serious.

    I would be looking for a new oncologist.

    Good luck!

    ♥ Kylez ♥
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930
    Calleen said:

    I am so sorry
    that you are so mad.. I would be sooo furious too... I share your fears completely.. I am the type that would change Doctors becasue I would be too afraid of what else he might do... reguardless of all paperwork involved!!! remember you figured it out!! so use your anger to a useful purpose.. post everywhere about the danger of mixing the drugs.. you never know who else may be combining the two drugs... you sound like you have a very strong fighting spirit and that my Friend is a good thing!!!

    Let me know how your doing!!!

    HUGZ....Calleen

    Sorry
    I am sorry about what happened to you too.

    I would be furious too.

    I can't believe your oncologist.

    I would be looking for a new one, that's for sure.

    Hope you are feeling a lil better by now.

    ♠♣Susie♠♣
  • susie09
    susie09 Member Posts: 2,930

    I think Effexor is one that
    I think Effexor is one that you can use with tamox. But, find out for sure first. So many of the big names are ones that double your recurrence.

    Hope you are feeling better
    Hope you are feeling better today and can find a new oncologist to help you.

    Post and let us know.

    ♠♣Susie♠♣
  • sweetgeorgia
    sweetgeorgia Member Posts: 10
    I'm sorry...
    I am new to this support group but already feel like a part of something big. I want to provide my love and support even if it is just a posting of well wishes. I'm sorry this is happening to you. I will pray for you and that you are given the strength to make the right choices for your health. Take big breaths, call your friends/family, talk, and smile.
  • mimivac
    mimivac Member Posts: 2,143
    I am pissed, too
    This does suck and I am mad for you. I am mad for me, even, and I'm not on either Tamoxifen or antidepressants. I'm mad because this disease takes away choices from us. It puts us in crappy situations. It makes our lives harder. It throws us for a loop after we've worked so, so hard to get our lives back. It makes our time seem limited and pointless. It makes us pissed for being pissed. What a load of crap. I'm with you. I don't know what to say except that I understand. I really do. And that you're not alone, and will get back up again. So sorry for all this.
  • j916
    j916 Member Posts: 141
    Thank you
    Thank you for all of your support....i am still really struggling :(

    i talked with my onc....he was so casual about the whole thing, and basically said....wellllll, if YOU feel uncomfortable about it, i guess we can make the change...i don't think there is big problem in taking it since you're having a hysterectomy some time this year, and will be switing to an AI instead of tamox. hello? do i get a say in this? AND THEN...i went and asked my pharmacist....and she was so very kind, and as she was looking at my file on the computer....she got very still, called over the head pharmacist, and then they came over and told me that they had made notes on my file that when the tamox. had been called in, because i was already on the wellbutrin, it sent up a flag, so they called my dr., and he said...go ahead and fill it anyway. again...HELLO?????? remember me? the person that's going to swallow it???? AND NOW....the dr that prescribed the wellbutrin wasn't all that convinced that it was a big deal....so he want's to "research" it further, and can't/won't see me until thursday to discusss it. In the meantime, i am not only pissed, but going through withdrawls of an anti depressant....

    i hate this
  • dmc_emmy
    dmc_emmy Member Posts: 549
    j916 said:

    Thank you
    Thank you for all of your support....i am still really struggling :(

    i talked with my onc....he was so casual about the whole thing, and basically said....wellllll, if YOU feel uncomfortable about it, i guess we can make the change...i don't think there is big problem in taking it since you're having a hysterectomy some time this year, and will be switing to an AI instead of tamox. hello? do i get a say in this? AND THEN...i went and asked my pharmacist....and she was so very kind, and as she was looking at my file on the computer....she got very still, called over the head pharmacist, and then they came over and told me that they had made notes on my file that when the tamox. had been called in, because i was already on the wellbutrin, it sent up a flag, so they called my dr., and he said...go ahead and fill it anyway. again...HELLO?????? remember me? the person that's going to swallow it???? AND NOW....the dr that prescribed the wellbutrin wasn't all that convinced that it was a big deal....so he want's to "research" it further, and can't/won't see me until thursday to discusss it. In the meantime, i am not only pissed, but going through withdrawls of an anti depressant....

    i hate this

    When my first onc didn't listen to me...
    I fired him.

    We as cancer survivors, No let me rephrase that, we has human beings are given the freedom to make choices. Granted, we need to have all the facts first--that would help a lot--but once we have the facts (even belated ones) we can then make a choice as to what we should do next.

    I know about anti-depressant withdrawals, they can be tough, but if you withdraw slowly (maybe over a 2-week period) then the effects shouldn't be as bad. If you've been on this combo of drugs for awhile, two more weeks (I don't think) would make that much difference. I would ask your pharmacist.

    Your pharmacist had a responsibilty, too, he/she should have informed you of the possible drug reaction--regardless of what your onc said. That's why you go to a pharmacist instead of buying potent drugs of the shelf.

    I'm not saying that you shouldn't be angry, because you have every right to angry. If this were me, I would begin by looking for an onc that will listen, NOW. You are not seeing your onc as a participant in a research project on possible drug reactions, you are seeing him/her to be treated for a disease that is treatable, but (unfortunately) not "curable." Therefore, you have the right to be treated for this disease in a responsible manner, by responsible medical providers. Your onc, nor your pharmacist, are being responsible med'l providers.

    Now that you know that they are not responsible in giving you all the facts, the next time you get a script, read the side effects (even after you fire your onc). Just for the sake of easing your curiousity (?), I think I would confront your pharmacist and ask why you were not informed of the possible side effects. If you don't get a satisfactory answer, go elsewhere. My pharmacist ALWAYS tells me about possible side effects when I am prescibed a new drug, especially if I am on other meds (either talking directly with me, or printing them directly on the bottle. That is their job.

    Again, as a human being, you also need to be proactive. I know that it doesn't seem fair, that while we are battling for our lives, that we have to also be so diligent how we are treated medically. But, on the upside, it puts cancer into our playing field (at least a little) and that's a good thing. When I didn't get the answers I wanted to hear, I asked more questions and then researched on my own. I did this over a period of years (3 to be exact) and I'm still learning. I've learned a great deal from others on the boards and then I researched what they said. I feel more proactive now and like the fact that I have some control in regards to my medical plan and my life.

    Just my thoughts on this...hope you find some peace with what you decide to do.
    dmc
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    j916 said:

    Thank you
    Thank you for all of your support....i am still really struggling :(

    i talked with my onc....he was so casual about the whole thing, and basically said....wellllll, if YOU feel uncomfortable about it, i guess we can make the change...i don't think there is big problem in taking it since you're having a hysterectomy some time this year, and will be switing to an AI instead of tamox. hello? do i get a say in this? AND THEN...i went and asked my pharmacist....and she was so very kind, and as she was looking at my file on the computer....she got very still, called over the head pharmacist, and then they came over and told me that they had made notes on my file that when the tamox. had been called in, because i was already on the wellbutrin, it sent up a flag, so they called my dr., and he said...go ahead and fill it anyway. again...HELLO?????? remember me? the person that's going to swallow it???? AND NOW....the dr that prescribed the wellbutrin wasn't all that convinced that it was a big deal....so he want's to "research" it further, and can't/won't see me until thursday to discusss it. In the meantime, i am not only pissed, but going through withdrawls of an anti depressant....

    i hate this

    Sorry you are struggling, I
    Sorry you are struggling, I hope it gets better for you. I can't believe that your oncologist didn't think it was a big deal that he was risking doubling your chance of a recurrence. What a jerk! I would fire him and find one that cares.

    That is so sad that you are going thru this now, and, it is his fault. And, your pharmacist should have told you too. Someone has to take responsibility.

    I wish you good luck. I know it is hard.



    Hugs ♥Lex♥
  • jnl
    jnl Member Posts: 3,869 Member
    j916 said:

    Thank you
    Thank you for all of your support....i am still really struggling :(

    i talked with my onc....he was so casual about the whole thing, and basically said....wellllll, if YOU feel uncomfortable about it, i guess we can make the change...i don't think there is big problem in taking it since you're having a hysterectomy some time this year, and will be switing to an AI instead of tamox. hello? do i get a say in this? AND THEN...i went and asked my pharmacist....and she was so very kind, and as she was looking at my file on the computer....she got very still, called over the head pharmacist, and then they came over and told me that they had made notes on my file that when the tamox. had been called in, because i was already on the wellbutrin, it sent up a flag, so they called my dr., and he said...go ahead and fill it anyway. again...HELLO?????? remember me? the person that's going to swallow it???? AND NOW....the dr that prescribed the wellbutrin wasn't all that convinced that it was a big deal....so he want's to "research" it further, and can't/won't see me until thursday to discusss it. In the meantime, i am not only pissed, but going through withdrawls of an anti depressant....

    i hate this

    Hope today finds you feeling
    Hope today finds you feeling better! So sorry

    Leeza
  • taleena
    taleena Member Posts: 1,612 Member
    j916 said:

    Thank you
    Thank you for all of your support....i am still really struggling :(

    i talked with my onc....he was so casual about the whole thing, and basically said....wellllll, if YOU feel uncomfortable about it, i guess we can make the change...i don't think there is big problem in taking it since you're having a hysterectomy some time this year, and will be switing to an AI instead of tamox. hello? do i get a say in this? AND THEN...i went and asked my pharmacist....and she was so very kind, and as she was looking at my file on the computer....she got very still, called over the head pharmacist, and then they came over and told me that they had made notes on my file that when the tamox. had been called in, because i was already on the wellbutrin, it sent up a flag, so they called my dr., and he said...go ahead and fill it anyway. again...HELLO?????? remember me? the person that's going to swallow it???? AND NOW....the dr that prescribed the wellbutrin wasn't all that convinced that it was a big deal....so he want's to "research" it further, and can't/won't see me until thursday to discusss it. In the meantime, i am not only pissed, but going through withdrawls of an anti depressant....

    i hate this

    I hope that you are hanging
    I hope that you are hanging in there... Don't relent on this... it is a sad fact but we "REALLY" need to be advocates for our own health... you stand your ground until they give you the answers that you need... I hope the withdrawls of the antidepressants are too bad... Please let us know what you find out on Thursday! I will be thinking of you and hoping that things begin to get better.

    ♥ & Hugs

    ~T
  • survivorbc09
    survivorbc09 Member Posts: 4,374 Member
    taleena said:

    I hope that you are hanging
    I hope that you are hanging in there... Don't relent on this... it is a sad fact but we "REALLY" need to be advocates for our own health... you stand your ground until they give you the answers that you need... I hope the withdrawls of the antidepressants are too bad... Please let us know what you find out on Thursday! I will be thinking of you and hoping that things begin to get better.

    ♥ & Hugs

    ~T

    Good luck on Thursday and
    Good luck on Thursday and let us know.