abdominal bloating on tamoxifen

[lilbitzmom]

Hi.
I was diagnosed with breast cancer this year (in January).  After a couple of lumpectomies, I finally ended up having to have a mastectomy - lymph nodes negative so did not have to undergo chemo or radiation therapy.  I was started on tamoxifen 3 months ago.  I am 40 years old by the way and still having a period each month.

Lately I have begun to develop abdominal bloating with some GI cramping.  Could this be a side effect of tamoxifen?  I have never experienced anything like this before.  I have gained about 10 pounds since starting this medication but the bloating seems to be something else entirely.
Thanks for any comments!  

[sylvief]

A related discussion, Tamoxefen was started.

[lilbitzmom]

Hi Nikki.
I posted a comment but I don't think it went through.  Sorry if you get this twice.

I just want to thank you for sharing what's been going on with the bloating and weight gain.  I hate you are having to deal with it, but it helps knowing I'm not alone!  I agree the tamoxifen causes weight gain - it makes me so hungry I want to eat all the time.   I have been a size 4 my whole adult life.  I have always stayed active and fit, so for me to gain 10 pounds in 3 months is highly unusual.  The bloating, however, is something different.  My husband and I both think I look pregnant whenever it happens.  It is terrible!  

As for the bloating, I finally called my oncologists' nurse and told her I just didn't know if I could take it any more.  I could not even zip up my jeans!  She told me it is safe to come off the medication for 2 weeks to see if it is indeed the tamoxifen.  If it is, they have another medication they can put me on which works, in her words, "just as well as tamoxifen."  So, I'm giving the 2 weeks a try and feel fortunate I have doctors and nurses willing to listen to me and my symptoms.

I wish you the very, very best and thank you again for posting your comments!
lilbitzmom  

[NikkiH74]

Hi there,

I am 34 and have been on tamoxifen for 2.5 years.  I have had abdominal bloating for most of that time.  None of my doctors can seem to explain it.  I've been told to take fiber supplements to help occassional constipation, but I'm bloated whether I go to the bathroom everyday or not.  I've never had this problem before tamoxifen.  I had a completely flat stomach before taking tamoxifen and now I look pregnant sometimes.  I'm actually going to have a colonoscopy in the next couple of weeks just to rule out anything serious.  I also get weird pains in the soft tissue around my ribs that come and go during the month.  I've had rib xrays, chest xray, and an abdominal ultrasound that looked at several organs.....all of those tests came back negative for anything unusual.

As for weight gain....you'll find a lot of other women with the same problem.  I was in the type of shape similar to a fitness model before my diagnosis and now I can't lose 1lb.....and believe me I know how to diet and excersize to lose weight.  I've been trying to lose 10lbs. for 2 years now.  It's funny because most doctors don't want to admit that tamoxifen causes weight gain, but I beg to differ.

All I can hope for is that things will go back to "normal" when I'm finished with the medicine because I didn't have these problems before I was on it, so the only explanation is that the medicine is causing it.

Best of luck to you!  You can email me if you'd like to talk.  ***@****
Nikki