bingbing

Funny you should mention this. I have been on arimidex for about 2 and a half years. 2 and a half years to go. Yaaay. the first year was pretty awful and yes it really hit me I had a very hard time putting socks on, I could not get my feet up high enough to put them on. I had to use a cane because my knees could not be trusted to hold me up and hurt like h***. I thought I had developed arthritis all of a sudden, although I always did have the aches in my knees. I went to an orthopedic dr and had xrays done. He said I had a little arthritis in my left knee but nothing to cause the pain I had been expiriencing. He looked at the meds I was taking and said OH here's your culprit, arimidex. His wife was on it and  he knew exactly what I was going thru. He gave me an anti inflamitory and every thing was sooo good. then I started getting slightly anemic and that was a side effect of the anti inflamatory so I had to stop it. UUUUgh. Eventually it got a little better, I can put on my socks with ease and walk without a cane, although not too fast. This summer was not really too bad, I thought ok my body is getting used to no estrogen, hurray. But as soon as winter came, and it comes in Nov for sure here in minnesota, the aches are starting again. I am walking slower and the aches are getting worse. I can still put on my socks with ease and no cane yet but it definitely is a lot worse than the summer was. I am hoping I do not get as bad as last winter, but I made it thru then and I really do not want to give up the arimidex. I at least know that I will find some relief again in the summer. I would be a snowbird and live in Arizona, for 6 months of the year,  but my youngest grandson is 8 and I would miss him and everyone  else too much. So I will plug along and feel like I'm 80. We are going to Florida after thanksgiving (we are driving, so wish me luck sitting in a car for a few hours at a time ) We will be gone about 2 weeks total, maybe that will help to get a little relief. Anyway, I think you are on to something with the cold weather bringing on more aches with arimidex. Anniealso, I'm still laughing about your story, it made my day, what a hoot.  Well that's my expierence with arimidex and cold weather.

I had mild anemia and am on arimidex. My onc was a bit concerned and sent me for a colonosopy in case I was losing blood. Everything checked out well, didn't even have a polyp.My normal is now 11.5. It just seems to stay there. He doesn't seem too concerned anymore as everything has a new normal since  bc. I don't eat a lot of meat or beans so maybe that is the reason. I have been on arimidex for 27 months. the onc didn't see it as a side effect of arimidex though. hope this helps but doesn't answer your ? about why.

I have a question for the experts. I started doing mld on my side where I have had pockets of fluid since day 1 and all docs said my body would absorb it but never did. Anyhow I have been doing mld for about 4 days now, morning and night. Yesterday I got that burning feeling and felt like I had to go to the bathroom all the time... kneew it was bladder infection. Went in this morning and sure enough . the doc said it was pretty bad infection for only starting yesterday. Do you think the stale bacteria laden lymph fluid in my side caused this. You do have to go to the bathroom more when you move fluid so I was just wondering if anyone knows the answer. The doc said  no, but he didn't seem to know too much about le. I helped him along with that but it still does not answer my question. Thanks   Sharon

I have a solaris tribute and I think binney said they can last about 2 years. Correct me if I'm wrong, Binney. However I am on my second one in two years, my insurance paid for it all the first year and I had to pay 20% last year. So now I rotate every other night,in November I will get a new one and pay 20% and retire the first one and keep rotating with the new one. So far it is working out real well.

Have to add that I do this wearing my sleeve and glove. Also haven't gotten around to getting colored sleeves and gloves. Sharon

sushanna. I love the--- practice your "lymphedema wave". excellent way to put it. I especially do that when traveling in a car, get some strange looks and even some waves back. But then I just pretend I am Minnesota nice--- what pretend? I am Minnesota nice.  Sharon

Hi, just wanted to put in my two cents worth. I am from minnesota and we like to travel. I had a mastectomy and 23 lymph nodes taken (all clear, thank God ). I  developed le right away and have gone to a therapist and know how to wrap and do exercises to keep le under control. I wear a day sleeve and glove and also have a night sleeve ( tribute by solaris). We have traveled from Minnesota to all parts of the south and west in the last two years. We went to Arizona three times, as I used to live in Chandler about 50 years ago.I wanted to see it again and also show my husband the grand canyon, painted desert and just the majestic mountains. I wore my sleeve and glove and did exercise my arm every so often. What I did was to wave with my arm up and down and sideways ( we did get a lot of looks and waves back from others on the road-- they must have thought we are very friendly in Mn.--- actually we are. Anyhow at night when we were in motel I faithfully did my exercises  with my sleeve and glove on and at bedtime put on my night sleeve. I had no problem whatsoever. My arm felt good and did not swell. we are planning a trip to Oklahoma in May and another one to florida in the fall. I will follow the same regimen. I was so glad everything turned out great because I would sure hate to give up traveling as that was our goal when we retired three years ago. Bc and le kinda got in the way for a while but hopefully that will stay in the background for a long time. Also the gas prices are not helping either, but that I cannot control. The le I can. well I guess I can control how much we spend on gas-- we take the van instead of the motorhome. Much cheaper gas wise. Oh well, you have to compromise some times lol. anyway that is my two cents worth.    sharon

Nancy, I also got the silicone band the last time. I really like them. I got so tired of pulling the other ones up all the time.I do think they are a little tighter on the top, but my arm feels better with these ones on. No one ever mentions them so I didn't know if anyone else wears them. Glad to hear some one else wears them, too. Sharon

Anna, what great news, glad everything went well, yes it is good to be treated like a human being with needs. good care is out there but I guess we have to be assertive and not passive, and not take anything for granted, Kudos to you. sharon

I had my colonoscopy this morning. I am happy to report everything turned out ok--- no polyps and no tumor. I do however have diverticulosis, which are pouches formed on the colon. I just have to eat more fiber and I should be fine. They were very careful with my right arm. I did everything that was suggested on the boards here, and had no problem. I talked to the nurse when she gave me the iv and also the dr who performed the procedure. Iv and bp info was written and went in to the room with me and everyone was very accomodating, just one lpn wanted to take the  bracelet thing off my left arm and put it on the right so the iv would have more room, but I said no way, I did have to repeat it 3 times but she said if it was in the way she would put it on my ankle. I am most relieved and know my prayers were answered. Thank you God   Sharon