Tamoxifen

Just when things are feeling like they are getting back to normal...I take a few steps backwards.

On Friday, April 19th I started taking Tamoxifen.  I chose to take it in the evening before bed, to help eliminate any potential nausea.   The first nite I took it, I had a lot of cramping in the early morning, followed by what felt like morning sickness.   I experienced that for a few days and then things seem to feel okay.   As you all know, I started exercising again per my doctor's orders.   I believe that was about 2 1/2 weeks ago.  Jogging seemed to be fairly easy and I was starting to do some light weight-lifting at the gym.  None of which seemed to cause any problems.  In fact, I felt really good and full of energy.

The morning of April 24th, I went for a run and immediately felt breathless.  I thought it was just one of those bad workout days that we all experience once in a while.   Nothing major, right?   That evening, I couldn't catch my breath...my breathing was difficult and somewhat labored.   I was debating whether or not I should go to the ER, but I felt like this would pass.  I had a much more intense feeling in my chest, just after coming out of recovery from my bi-lateral mastectomy.  If I could relax enough and find a position that would allow more air into my lungs, perhaps the feeling would subside.  Only, it didn't.  I started to feel a tightness in my chest and my heart beat felt more like a flutter or butterfly.  It was irregular.  I thought this was all coming on because I was becoming more anxious as the time passed and my symptoms were not improving.  As I lie in bed, breathing thru my mouth trying to pull air into my lungs, I felt tremors in my body.  This felt more like the body was starting to relax.  I thought, if I go to the ER I will be there all nite and I was too tired to go.  After 40 minutes of difficult breathing, I drifted off to sleep.   

I woke up the next day feeling pretty crappy.   I contacted my doctor and she asked me to head to the hospital because there was a small chance I had a blood clot in my lung.  I took a taxi to the hospital and as soon as I arrived and shared that I had gone through a bi-lateral mastectomy 8 weeks ago, they admitted me.  The quickly ran an EKG, checked my oxygen, hooked me up to an IV and ran a series of blood tests.   Given my symptoms, they also performed a C-Scan, to ensure there were no blood clots in my heart or lungs. 

All my tests came back normal, but they continued to monitor me.   By this time, I'm feeling more relaxed and my breathing isn't feeling as labored.  I was able to get some rest in to completely unwind.   

The doctor came in to check on me and thought that the symptoms could be related to both my tissue expanders and the tamoxifen.  They recommended I take baby aspirin to avoid getting any blood clots.  Tamoxifen is known for causing blood clots.

They suggested I continue to take Tamoxifen and rest and not do any vigorous exercising for a few days.   

On Monday I saw my doctor and it was confirmed that these symptoms are related to Tamoxifen, but to give my body time to adjust to it.  I have said all along I would give it 30 days no matter what symptoms arose.

I got in to see my Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor.  They look at your body's symptoms an eastern/alternative way vs. the way western doctors look at test results.  She noticed my body was completely out of balance, my emotions were high and my diet was off (so true), my liver and spleen were also out of balance.  She checked my blood pressure on both my left and right side, which didn't match.  The top #'s looked okay but the bottom numbers were quite high...creating much concern.  You see when the bottom number is high, that indicates your heart is working to hard.  When you exercise, drink coffee, have alcohol, or eat foods that have a lot of sodium in them...that can add pressure to your heart and cause it to beat faster and pump more blood through your system faster than it should be.

She started acupuncture immediately, to help me relax.  She started by inserting several needles in my back.  After they were all in place, I laid on my back.  She checked my inner feet, which hurt as well as the inside of my knees and thighs. All the pressure points she touched, were quite tender.  She inserted a needle at each pressure point along the insides of my feet, knees and thighs.  The last needle was inserted in my lower belly.  She pulled over a contraption that hung over my belly, which radiated heat to the area.  She turned off the lights and I left the room.  I took many breaths to calm my heart.  It felt like I spent the entire time trying to catch my breath.  By the time she came back in the room, I could pull air into my lungs without work.  It was a peaceful feeling.

She removed all the needles and pulled out a tray of bamboo cups.  She dipped a long thing metal stick into a clear liquid and lit the end on fire.  She put one end of the stick in the cup and quickly blew it out and attached it to my back.  I could instantly feel the pull on my muscle, it was like someone was grabbing my muscle trying to let the tension out.  She added 4 more bamboo cups and another one to the top of each of my traps.  OMG, it was an incredible feeling.  The cups were sucking on my back like leaches.  Pulling all the blood to the surface.  My heart slowed, my lungs completely opened and I could get air all the way to my belly.  It felt AMAZING!   I didn't want her to take them off.  The tension was leaving my back as the cups sucked harder on my back.  She came back in the room and removed the cups.  As she removed each one a popping suction sound happened.  It left marks all over my back, but I didn't care!  I was relaxed and could catch my breath again.

She recommended I increase my chinese herbs and see her two more times this week to make sure we have worked through the rapid heart rate issues.   I haven't had any coffee today and while I'm tired, my breathing is good!   That's all I care about.

I'll see her again tomorrow and am hoping we will have eased the side effects I'm feeling from Tamoxifen.  I am relieved she is able to treat these symptoms...otherwise I may not be feeling okay about continuing the Tamoxifen.  

Until next time...