fatigue from Tamoxifen?

dbhadra
dbhadra Member Posts: 344 Member
edited November 2022 in Breast Cancer #1
Hi all:

I am about three weeks out from finishing radiation and started on Tamoxifen, also about three weeks ago. Suddenly within the past few days I am feeling so much fatigue. I just don;t want to get up and do anything and feel like I am dragging my body around. I feel so fat and puffy, it's almost like a PMS, except I no longer have a period, so it's not.

Has anyone else had a similar feeling after starting Tamoxifen? Other than this I have not had any side effects yet.

Thanks,
Laura
«1

Comments

  • LoveBabyJesus
    LoveBabyJesus Member Posts: 1,679 Member
    #2
    Hi Laura,
    Yes, I have felt
    Hi Laura,

    Yes, I have felt fatigue from tamoxifen - although Drs. think it's related to rads. I am finding it hard to get up in the morning, just oversleep all the time. Feel tired. But I also work full time and I travel to the city which takes me 1 hr. each way. It can be related to everything, plus trying to get back to "my normal life".

    I think your side effects will get better with time. The first weeks I had a bad time with tamoxifen, with depression, anxiety, moody, and tired. But started noticing an improvements after 6 weeks. So if you feel any of these don't panic. It should get better with time.

    My dr. suggested I exercise. Working up your body will help fight this fatigue, and it has helped me. Try to take long walks everyday and see if it makes a difference.

    Good luck with tamoxifen. I was scared of this med, but now I just have faith it will work and not harm my body. I pray it does the same for you.
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #3
    just over 3 yrs tamoxifen
    I know I didn't (or dont') have fatigue...all my drs would asked if I was fatigued? I would say not sure what is it...? they laugh and say then YOU are NOT!

    I didn't get it from Radiation thankfully!

    ONLY real (serious) side effect I had was thickening of uterus & starting bleeding (I am post menopausal) so had total hysterectomy in May..


    Denise
  • NJMom10
    NJMom10 Member Posts: 176
    #4
    disneyfan2008 said:

    just over 3 yrs tamoxifen
    I know I didn't (or dont') have fatigue...all my drs would asked if I was fatigued? I would say not sure what is it...? they laugh and say then YOU are NOT!

    I didn't get it from Radiation thankfully!

    ONLY real (serious) side effect I had was thickening of uterus & starting bleeding (I am post menopausal) so had total hysterectomy in May..


    Denise

    I think it's radiation
    I finished radiation at the beginning of June and this past week is the first time I can say I felt like I had my normal enery back. I didn't think it was from rads but looking back I'm pretty sure it was. Give yourself some time...a few months...before you start to link side effects to tamoxifen. I actually started it during rads so at the time I couldn't really say which was causing what! On the bright side...you WILL feel better.
    Barb
  • robang13
    robang13 Member Posts: 333
    #5
    Laura,
    It's from both the
    Laura,

    It's from both the rads and the tamoxifen. I finished rads the end of May and am just starting to feel almost normal. That is 4 months and I still have my days. I was also very tired when I started the tamoxifen. That lasted about 2 months. I was bloated and exhausted all the time yet couldn't sleep at night. Rest!Rest!Rest!! Your body needs time to get it's energy back. I was told by our pink sisters that it could take up to 6 months after rads to get my energy back. So add the meds to the mix and it's no wonder you are pooped! I hope you feel better soon! Give yourself a few months before you start back to normal.

    Good luck and hugs!!
    angela
  • grams2jc
    grams2jc Member Posts: 756
    #6
    I vote both also
    Rads made me tired although felt better than I had with chemo. Tamoxifen changed my sleep patterns and have taken care of that with 1 Benadryl before bed. I could be so tired and then not be able to go to sleep or stay asleep. Thankfully the Benadryl is doing it for me so not needing anything stronger. I have also noticed more fluid retention, kind of like PMS only that isn't it.

    Good luck, hopefully it will get better for you soon,

    Jennifer
  • Tux
    Tux Member Posts: 544
    #7
    fatigue
    I would guess that your fatigue is more from the rads than from the tamoxifen.
    They told me the effects would be cumulative.
    Also, I felt that going to rads for 30 days was tiring in itself. Rest up, and
    if you don't feel better, maybe check with your onc. doc. Good luck!
  • dbhadra
    dbhadra Member Posts: 344 Member
    #8
    Tux said:

    fatigue
    I would guess that your fatigue is more from the rads than from the tamoxifen.
    They told me the effects would be cumulative.
    Also, I felt that going to rads for 30 days was tiring in itself. Rest up, and
    if you don't feel better, maybe check with your onc. doc. Good luck!

    thanks all for your replies
    I am glad to hear I am not the only one feeling puffy and bloated with this! (not that I am happy that anyone else is puffy and bloated but you know what I mean!) Feels very hormonal.

    Good to know the fatigue will get better as I get further out from rads.

    I've also started working and stay pretty busy with my kids...all good, but tiring! Resuming "normal" life is also, for me at times, mentally exhausting as well.

    Funny note on Tamoxifen...one of the first side effects listed was "weight loss"...ummm...really? All I've heard about here is weight gain from it!

    Laura
  • carkris
    carkris Member Posts: 4,553 Member
    #9
    dbhadra said:

    thanks all for your replies
    I am glad to hear I am not the only one feeling puffy and bloated with this! (not that I am happy that anyone else is puffy and bloated but you know what I mean!) Feels very hormonal.

    Good to know the fatigue will get better as I get further out from rads.

    I've also started working and stay pretty busy with my kids...all good, but tiring! Resuming "normal" life is also, for me at times, mentally exhausting as well.

    Funny note on Tamoxifen...one of the first side effects listed was "weight loss"...ummm...really? All I've heard about here is weight gain from it!

    Laura

    The docs think I had a
    The docs think I had a delayed reaction to rads, I had a tough time with treatment so didnt realy notice a difference. Interesting ..
  • deeb111
    deeb111 Member Posts: 141 Member
    #10
    fatigue
    OH YES the fatigue is terrible and that is exactly what i do drag my body around all day i wish i could say it gets better but from my stand point mine is getting harder gonna talk to dr but this might not be case for you i have friend on it and they got past this so i hope its this case for you and hang in there
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #11
    as posted prior
    I had no fatigue or tiredness-I told my DRs I thought it was due to I am over high energy person and the treatments and meds may have evened me out to NOrmal person. They just kind of chuckled...but thankfully...it worked out..

    Thinking of you..

    Denise
  • Ballerina
    Ballerina Member Posts: 152
    #12
    I've Been There
    Hi,hang in there. The fatigue is mostly from the radiation treatments. Although you are finished with the treatments, the side effects really kick afterwards. The fatigue will lessen as time passes. However, you may still feel like you are having pms while on tamoxifen. I've been taking tamoxifen since february 2010. I have hot flashes most of the day and sometimes I feel like I'm going to faint. My doctor says just push through it because tamoxifen is the only medicine for me right now. Give your body time to heal. If you are tired rest. Do what you can a little at a time.
  • robang13
    robang13 Member Posts: 333
    #13
    grams2jc said:

    I vote both also
    Rads made me tired although felt better than I had with chemo. Tamoxifen changed my sleep patterns and have taken care of that with 1 Benadryl before bed. I could be so tired and then not be able to go to sleep or stay asleep. Thankfully the Benadryl is doing it for me so not needing anything stronger. I have also noticed more fluid retention, kind of like PMS only that isn't it.

    Good luck, hopefully it will get better for you soon,

    Jennifer

    @Jennifer be careful with
    @Jennifer be careful with the benadryl. On the list of drug interactions with tamoxifen ,It says that it is a moderate inhibitor of tamoxifen. Please check with your drugist about this~

    Angela
  • JuJuBeez
    JuJuBeez Member Posts: 332
    #14
    Ballerina said:

    I've Been There
    Hi,hang in there. The fatigue is mostly from the radiation treatments. Although you are finished with the treatments, the side effects really kick afterwards. The fatigue will lessen as time passes. However, you may still feel like you are having pms while on tamoxifen. I've been taking tamoxifen since february 2010. I have hot flashes most of the day and sometimes I feel like I'm going to faint. My doctor says just push through it because tamoxifen is the only medicine for me right now. Give your body time to heal. If you are tired rest. Do what you can a little at a time.

    I've been on Tamoxifen since
    I've been on Tamoxifen since Aug '10. I am also taking 75 mg of Effexor. My side effects aren't horrible, just bothersome. I still feel it takes me twice as much energy to do the same amount of stuff than before cancer. I've been getting headaches, leg and foot cramps, and 'heat waves'. I don't get hot 'flashes', but I'll be hot for a few hours, then cool off. If I get too hot, I feel sick and dizzy. If I don't rest like I need to, I will feel like I'm starting to catch a cold or something. That's my cue to add a nap to my day. Some days I feel I can conquer the world, some days I can't get out of my own way. I've noticed more fatigue during my period (still getting them).

    I was having problems getting up in the morning, felt too groggy. I changed when I took my Effexor, and that seems to help. I had been taking 37.5 mg 2x day, and now I take them together in the morning. I'm more tired at night, but that's better than falling asleep at work at 8:30 in the morning.

    I did have my 6 month endometrial biopsy two weeks ago, and they found polyps. I need to have a hysteroscopy and d&c. That's new since Tamoxifen. My periods really changed all of a sudden, so I figured something was up.

    Best of luck to you. Let us know how you're doing.

    Julie
  • mamolady
    mamolady Member Posts: 796 Member
    #15
    accumulation of everything
    Laura,
    It is probably an accumulation of everything your body has been through. Especially if you are getting back to your old routine. I know I am exhausted this week because of Breast Cancer Awareness month, it is crazy at work. It is all I can do just to get Sammie fed and in bed after work.
    If it is a side effect, it should ease soon. If it's the accumulation, it will also ease soon.
    Give yourself time.

    Cindy

    My biggest problem is there is so much I want to do that I missed out on last year!
  • disneyfan2008
    disneyfan2008 Member Posts: 6,583 Member
    #16
    JuJuBeez said:

    I've been on Tamoxifen since
    I've been on Tamoxifen since Aug '10. I am also taking 75 mg of Effexor. My side effects aren't horrible, just bothersome. I still feel it takes me twice as much energy to do the same amount of stuff than before cancer. I've been getting headaches, leg and foot cramps, and 'heat waves'. I don't get hot 'flashes', but I'll be hot for a few hours, then cool off. If I get too hot, I feel sick and dizzy. If I don't rest like I need to, I will feel like I'm starting to catch a cold or something. That's my cue to add a nap to my day. Some days I feel I can conquer the world, some days I can't get out of my own way. I've noticed more fatigue during my period (still getting them).

    I was having problems getting up in the morning, felt too groggy. I changed when I took my Effexor, and that seems to help. I had been taking 37.5 mg 2x day, and now I take them together in the morning. I'm more tired at night, but that's better than falling asleep at work at 8:30 in the morning.

    I did have my 6 month endometrial biopsy two weeks ago, and they found polyps. I need to have a hysteroscopy and d&c. That's new since Tamoxifen. My periods really changed all of a sudden, so I figured something was up.

    Best of luck to you. Let us know how you're doing.

    Julie

    NO fatigue as stated prior
    NO fatigue as stated prior but sore heals each time I stand up...worse after sitting long time...anyone else (ya think side effect of tamoxifen? -I thought it was due to flip flops all summer , now wear good sneakers or low heald work shoes..

    Denise
  • robang13
    robang13 Member Posts: 333
    #17
    JuJuBeez said:

    I've been on Tamoxifen since
    I've been on Tamoxifen since Aug '10. I am also taking 75 mg of Effexor. My side effects aren't horrible, just bothersome. I still feel it takes me twice as much energy to do the same amount of stuff than before cancer. I've been getting headaches, leg and foot cramps, and 'heat waves'. I don't get hot 'flashes', but I'll be hot for a few hours, then cool off. If I get too hot, I feel sick and dizzy. If I don't rest like I need to, I will feel like I'm starting to catch a cold or something. That's my cue to add a nap to my day. Some days I feel I can conquer the world, some days I can't get out of my own way. I've noticed more fatigue during my period (still getting them).

    I was having problems getting up in the morning, felt too groggy. I changed when I took my Effexor, and that seems to help. I had been taking 37.5 mg 2x day, and now I take them together in the morning. I'm more tired at night, but that's better than falling asleep at work at 8:30 in the morning.

    I did have my 6 month endometrial biopsy two weeks ago, and they found polyps. I need to have a hysteroscopy and d&c. That's new since Tamoxifen. My periods really changed all of a sudden, so I figured something was up.

    Best of luck to you. Let us know how you're doing.

    Julie

    @Julie,
    I feel the same way!
    @Julie,
    I feel the same way! I am on one 75 mlg pill of effexor. You should ask for that since it is time released. I also started taking my tamox at night right before bedtime. It helped a LOT! I can't get moving in the mornings for atleast an hour after I wake up. I find I need a cup of coffee and for my effexor to kick in before I can move. I was always an up at 6 person and now my family knows not to wake me before 10! I also can't get to sleep at night before 1 so I think that adds to the fatigue. I get hot too for long periods of time. I have never sweated so much in my life! I walk around with a hair tie on my wrist now. You would think I would get skinny from all the sweating!! I am all bloated from the tamox.

    Wow! I hope your surgery goes well w/o complications! Maybe after that the hot feeling will get better? Good luck to you and let us know how it goes.

    angela
  • Alexis F
    Alexis F Member Posts: 3,598
    #18
    NJMom10 said:

    I think it's radiation
    I finished radiation at the beginning of June and this past week is the first time I can say I felt like I had my normal enery back. I didn't think it was from rads but looking back I'm pretty sure it was. Give yourself some time...a few months...before you start to link side effects to tamoxifen. I actually started it during rads so at the time I couldn't really say which was causing what! On the bright side...you WILL feel better.
    Barb

    Rads will wear you down and
    Rads will wear you down and the effect can last for some time. My rads oncologist said it could take up to a year to regain my energy. Hang in there, you will feel better!


    Lex
  • Anboju
    Anboju Member Posts: 2
    #19
    Tamoxifen
    Hi Laura, I was diagnosed in 2008 and after surgery, chemo and radiation, I was given tamoxifen too, I had sever side effects, like drowsiness, fatigue, I was getting worse the longer I took it, I walked into things like a zombie and did not function at all, ten months later I fainted, ambulance staff told that my heart rate was so slow, it was not good.
    After ten days in hospital on the heart ward, I could go home but I never took tamoxifen no more, cardiologist said that I had developed prolonged QT. And that the tamoxifen was the course of that.
    Please Laura, listen to your body and if you think you can not cope with it, ask for a different one like Armididex. Or if there are other options.

    Anita
  • Anboju
    Anboju Member Posts: 2
    #20
    Tamoxifen
    Hi Laura, I was diagnosed in 2008 and after surgery, chemo and radiation, I was given tamoxifen too, I had sever side effects, like drowsiness, fatigue, I was getting worse the longer I took it, I walked into things like a zombie and did not function at all, ten months later I fainted, ambulance staff told that my heart rate was so slow, it was not good.
    After ten days in hospital on the heart ward, I could go home but I never took tamoxifen no more, cardiologist said that I had developed prolonged QT. And that the tamoxifen was the course of that.
    Please Laura, listen to your body and if you think you can not cope with it, ask for a different one like Armididex. Or if there are other options.

    Anita
  • briedawn
    briedawn Member Posts: 8 Member
    #21
    disneyfan2008 said:

    as posted prior
    I had no fatigue or tiredness-I told my DRs I thought it was due to I am over high energy person and the treatments and meds may have evened me out to NOrmal person. They just kind of chuckled...but thankfully...it worked out..

    Thinking of you..

    Denise

    High energy person slowing down and gaining weight.
    Since surgery, chemo, radiation, tamoxifen.... my energy level is down. Just like you said Disneyfan - to a normal person's level. I have started exercising (for the past two months). I eat right & get plenty of sleep. But I still just don't have enough energy and I have been gaining weight. None of my work pants fit. I had to buy 2 sizes bigger.
    My period also came back after an 11 months chemo-pause. (I'm 42).

    I guess the point is that I am tired, get weird tastes in my mouth (never went away after chemo), & can't lose weight. I don't like the "new normal". I keep thinking if I go off the tamoxifen (taken for the past 6 months) then my life will go back to normal. Some days, I feel like pulling over on the drive home to take a nap & I work less than ten miles away. I get that tired.

    My oncologist says to keep taking it and that I'm fine.

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