sjandtj

I was first put on Aromasin the pain was terrigle so then he switched me to Arimidex the same thing so I was then put on tamoxifen,,,It was the kindest to me but then I had small mini stroke so he took me off the tamoxifen, Now I am on Femara and having lots of trouble with it.  Lower back pain, numbness sharp pain and tingling in both arms and hands.   Before my dx which was May 8th 06 I was in great shape and felt wonderful But now afer going through chemo rads and now the drughs my quaility of life sucks!!!!  I think everyday I will quit taking the femara and just pray I never get a recurrance but the fear sneaks in so I take it every night.  But if the pain qets worse I will probably quit taking it.  Quaility of life has to be considered!!!

sfj

Home again and cheryl,

Thank you for adding your comments.  I am not sure if my thyroid is right yet..I did see my endocrineoligst 2 weeks ago she is trying a new thing on me. She dropped my synthroid dose and to 75 and put me on cytemel also.  So I hope that helps!!!!!  of course it takes about 6 weeks i guess to tell.

Cheryl have you had your thyroid tested?   I am pretty sure that the chemo killed mine so you might have yours checked!

I finally got some test back from my regular doctor,  It was a saliva test to check cortisol levels and mine are high.  I haven't seen her yet to see what can be done about it,  Hopefully this week I will find out something.  I do know that cortisol has to do with adrenal glands which the thyroid and adrenal interact with each other,  I think so anyway.  All I know is I am so sick of feeling this way.  Oh yes also the test was to check my hormone levels,  Which I told them even if they are low I can't take anything to help that because of the Breast Cancer,  I do know that hormones do play a major part in the fatigue but I guess we might as well forget ever doing any thing about that problem. 

Keep in touch gals and let me know if you find any help out there!

sj

I am a 2 year survivor of invasive lobular 1 node envolved !  went with a lumpectomy , chemo and rads.  I am on femara after trying everything else!!! 

I still have sever fatigue even after 2 years but I am cancer free!!!!!!!!

sfj

I was dx with invasive lobular May 8th 06!  I did research and talked to my oncon and surgeon!  The stats say it is the same for recurrance with a lumpectomy or total removal so I went with the lumpectomy!

But you have do be comfortable with your decision!  I did have to do chemo and rads and I am still having alot of problems from the effects of the treatments even after 2 years but I am still cancer free!  I am on femara after trying all the other inhibitors.

I still worry about recurrance but that is normal wether you have had total removal or lumpectomy,  THe worry lessens with each year that passes that is until it is time for check ups again but that to is normal!

Good lucK

 Sfj

Gals,

I was dx with Invasive lobular May 8th of 06! I am a 2 year survivor!!!!

Take the tamoifen and if it don't work try something else,  The thing with lobular is .....it is hard to detect and it can also so up in the other breast!

I had a lumpectomy and had to do chemo and rads,,,which the chemo is awful!!!!!!!!!  So if you can take a  med to keep you from getting Invasive cancer do it.  There are side efffects from the tamoxifen (mostly menupausel symptoms)  But it is better than having to do the chemo and rads also!!!!

Oh and can't remember which one of you said they developed a cyst on the ovary but It could be from the tamoxifen!!!  OUr darn doctors don't want to admit to some of the side effects but that is one of them!!!!

Good luck to all of you and I pray that everything goes great for all!!!

sfj

I had vagina dryness also even when I was on tamoxifen,  My gyno Doc gave me perscription for a vaginal suppositore that had estorgen but isn't asorb in the blood stream!  It reall helps!!!

sfj

I had vagina dryness also even when I was on tamoxifen,  My gyno Doc gave me perscription for a vaginal suppositore that had estorgen but isn't asorb in the blood stream!  It reall helps!!!

sfj

I had vagina dryness also even when I was on tamoxifen,  My gyno Doc gave me perscription for a vaginal suppositore that had estorgen but isn't asorb in the blood stream!  It reall helps!!!

sfj

I have been on femara now since March,,,I first tried Aromaisn terrible bone pain and depression so then was put on Arimidex still the bad pain so He then put me on tamoxifen,  I had side effects with it but it was toleable until I had a mini stroke,,,so that is when he put me on the femara,  So far I haven't experienced to much pain.  I have been suffering from Chronic fatigue for 8 months now so Don't know if the femara is causing amymore fatigue than I already have.  I take my femara at night also. 

I am a 2 year survivor now since May 8th which is great,!!!!!  Now if I can just get rid of the fatigue!!!!!  I just don't know what has caused it,  Some of my doctors think it is just one of the side effects from the chemo and rads but I just don't think so it has lasted to long!!!

Is anyone out there having problems with fatigue since all the treatments? 

sfj

I have been on tamoxifen for 7 mos. also.  The joint pain in my hands and feet is getting increasingly worse.  The night sweats are about the same.  The aleve and motrin don't help me.

My oncon started me out on the inhibitors,,,Aromasin and then Arimidex,  The bone pain was so bad with them, I told him no way! so Tamoxifen!  I told myself and my oncon I would give it a year but don't know if I can do it.  I see my oncon the 13th for my check up and going to talk to him about some type of pain med other than the lyrica I take now.  It is for my neurapathy,  Hope he can give me something that will work on both!

Good luck

Steph

PS,,,To anyone,,,Have any of you experienced breast tenderness on the tamoxifen?  Mine are both very tender in spots!