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[grumpy2008]

Sorry... I just realised it's 2 years since I last posted, and I'm here again asking for support and advice. Also, I searched the forum and of course there are other threads relating to this feeling of being overwhelmed, but I'm just too overwhelmed/tired to read them... so doubly sorry .

Long story short - I was taking tamoxifen for breast cancer, then found to be post meno (no periods for 2 years) and switched to arimidex. A few months later my periods came back, big style. It was horrendous. Came off the arimidex and suffered a few months of on/off bleeding, flooding etc. This finally stopped and bloodwork showed I was in menopause. That was 8 months ago.

Two days ago my period started again. I was sort of expecting it since I'd had all the signs. But the mental side effects are worse than ever. Like a turbo charged PMT. I just crashed at the weekend; fatigue, irritability, migraine type headache etc. But worst of all is the feeling of being totally overwhelmed, by anything and everything. I'm angry, fearful, can't think straight, can't settle, keep crying, and feel emotionally exhausted.

Who else has been through this? What's causing it? Logically I know I'll feel better in a few days (fingers crossed) but how do others cope? I can't focus. Plucked up courage and went to the GP this morning, who couldn't really help. In fact, he asked me what I wanted him to do about it?! I cried on the nurse's shoulder afterwards. I feel quite pathetic.

[I've also had several hysteroscopies to investigate changes to the womb lining but the last few have been ok, so this all seems to be hormone related]

[CLKD]

You've been through a lot, give yourself some slack.  Shock.  Treatment.  Acceptance.  tamoxifen almost killed me and there were no other options so I didn't take anything.  As an oestrogen suppressant of course it affected me but the Consultant never explained nor did I think to ask  but I had cold flushes as well as feeling very ill.

I suspect that the medication has surprised your hormones!  Why not go to see the Consultant who did your surgery?  HORMONES  .

 

Your GP sounds about as useful as a chocolate fire-guard, a box of Kleenex might have helped and he should certainly have considered referring you to the Surgeon! 

[grumpy2008]

Thank you, CLKD


It's just before 5am and I'm wide awake - tummy rumbling, mind racing... you're right of course, I also blame the medication for completely messing my hormones up. I've had plenty of ups and downs before but the downs are worrying me now, because they are SO down. The GP should have seen that, but I suspect he just saw a 'neurotic' woman. He even asked if my husband thought I was irritable (as though he didn't believe me... )!

You've made me wonder if I should call the breast cancer nurses. It was they who transferred me to the arimidex though, which I'm convinced has caused a lot of the problems. Hindsight is a wonderful thing.

Happy to see you here and hope you are well? Doctors are only too quick to give out pills. I imagine you didn't ask about the tamoxifen because you had other things on your mind! It's easy to forget just how powerful these pesky hormones/inhibitors can be  .

[Kathleen]

Hello grumpy2008.

I've just posted a question to the lovely ladies on a similar topic.

I'm wondering if my HRT is causing a similar disruption to my hormones, the symptoms you listed certainly ring a bell.

Like you I'm waiting to hear what the ladies think but if I were you I would contact the cancer nurse as well. It may be that other women have had similar reactions to the medication and they may have some suggestions for you.

Sorry I can't be of more help but I do sympathise. Hormones are scarily powerful!

Take card and sending hugs.

K.

[CLKD]

There should be a yellow card system for patients to fill in reactions to prescribed medications but I have never been offered 1.  Also tamoxifen can cause womb cancer  - a friend went through similar procedures to me 2 years B4 I did and continued with it - after 15 years she died of womb cancer  .

I felt so ill on it that I stopped after 4 months.  I hadn't felt physically ill during diagnosis and treatment/s so didn't think that the off chance drug was worth continuing with.  That was in the 1990s  .  It was on a suggestion that tamxofen might lessen the return of the cancer ........ I wasn't prepared to suffer nausea, panic attacks, cold flushes 

How do you feel today?  I was thinking about this in the early hours, I never thought that by stopping the drug the periods would return but it stands to reason because it has suppressed the natural workings of the reproductive system.  Get your iron and Vit.D levels checked too!

[grumpy2008]

Thanks Kathleen and CLKD  . It helps to talk. I feel much better today but this week has been a struggle. I did as you both suggested and saw my breast cancer nurse at the drop in clinic. She was lovely and sympathetic and will write to my GP surgery urging them to coordinate my care a bit better (which is what they should be doing). She said she's also write to the gynae dept too, because the 7 week wait for results isn't acceptable. But I think it's all a symptom of the failing NHS and (because I'm a naturally reserved person) feel quite bad now at kicking up such a fuss.

I'll see what the blood test results come back as (VitD and B12 were checked, among others). Just to be clear I'm not on any anti-oestrogen at the moment (stopped arimidex a year ago, and tamoxifen before that) but can't help wondering about long-term side effects. I think my system is only just recovering from the tamoxifen.

I'm thinking of trying counselling, which I've never had. Do you know if there are menopause/women's health counsellors out there?

[Kathleen]

Hello again  grumpy2008.

If  you look online for counsellors in your area you'll see which individuals include menopausal problems as a subject for discussion, probably meaning  they have helped other women with similar issues. Personally I would also favour an older woman as she is more likely to know how all this actually feels!

Hope this helps and do keep us updated.

Take care.

K.

[CLKD]

Well done on moving this forwards.  If we don't ask we don't get  and you are the most important person in this!! so don't hold back.

Sometimes the NHS is so busy that patients get put to one side, or the system doesn't work as it ought.  [long story short]. 

Let us know how you get on.  There are a couple of threads about menopause counselling here somewhere