Best Of
Re: Psychological reactions to aromatase inhibitors.
lotusnoiramethyst. My oncologist in 2017 told me to learn to live with it. I quit arimidex. I am sorry you have one with the same attitude. In my opinion someone like that should find a new career. I am now stage 4 and I have a new oncologist. Makes me wonder if I would be stage 4 if he had taken me seriouly. I also have a palative care Dr. My oncologist gave me effexor 75mg. It helped a lot. I had to have the dosage increased recently and now I take 150mg. It has been a game change. I am not saying I am 100% because I still struggle with some sleep issues but nothing like before. I will say 95%. I don't think some of these Dr.s realize how serious the side effects are for some people. Not a lot of people get this bad, but a small % do. My oncologist said in 30 years he has only seen 3. I am the 3rd. My crisis happen this time while my regular doc was on vacation and I saw a non breast cancer Oncologist. She likened it to a man taking anabolic steroid. And was very helpful getting me through the crisis. It needs to be taken seriously.
Re: Psychological reactions to aromatase inhibitors.
I also stopped aromatase inhibitors early due to side effects. For me, it was more the physical strain of achy joints than the neuro pysch syndrome you describe. Since I’m a violinist, stiff fingers are not good. However, having a topic like this on the palliative care forum is highly appropriate and will be helpful to others who find themselves going down this same road.
As a retired pharmacist, I want to mention taking gabapentin for the night sweats which may happen with anti-estrogen therapy. Upon starting fulvestrant injections almost 5 years ago, I needed 600mg at bedtime to cut the number of episodes in half (from 5-6 down to 2-3). Recently I reduced the dose to 300mg since now just one, sometimes none, occur.
Cotton takes too long to dry so, unless you want to get up and change linens, consider using polyester “winter fleece” sheets year round. In addition, I keep a couple nightgowns handy. Then, when I awaken, the damp one can be peeled off and a new one popped on.
Re: Psychological reactions to aromatase inhibitors.
Thank you for sharing. In 2015 I had tremendous knee and back pain along with everything else. When I stopped arimidex my surgeon suggested I work out at the gym that some early studies were showing that it slowed down progression. I don't know if it is true but what I do know is that exercise 5X's a week has kept my joints from getting sore an improved my deca scan over a 7 year period.
Re: I say YES. YOU say NO....Numero Tre! Enjoy!
Exbrnxgrl, I believe that this forum should be a place where politically like minded individuals can feel free to share their thoughts. People who are feeling particularly concerned about the potential outcome of the election need a place to blow off steam, and I thought that this was one of the reasons that this board was created. If perceived too much negativity or positivity becomes a problem for someone, they can choose to take a break from the board for a while. I would argue that those who are particularly struggling with feelings of fear or despair probably need this safe space to share those feelings more than those who find it easier to remain optimistic. Please do not feel that your thoughts are no longer welcome or appreciated here.
Re: My Chemotherapy Journey
pneuma,
I haven’t commented in a while as I don’t want to sound as if I’m invalidating your feelings.
I agree completely with trishyla. Please remember that even when going through chemo, your body still experiences normal everyday things that are not side effects of chemo. Cuts, bumps, bruises, rashes, toothaches… any of these can happen but not because of chemo. I hope that a nurse navigator, social worker, or someone can help you gain a more realistic perspective on your situation because you have created an intensely anxiety provoking situation when there doesn’t need to be.
Your feelings are valid but they shouldn’t override facts (finger punctures are not an se of chemo, people do not bleed out for a week, not taking OTC drugs is not a preventative for neuropathy) because your feelings are leading you down dark paths to false assumptions that there’s no need to travel and you’re associating things that have no relationship.
I wish I had better words to help you. Take care
Re: My Chemotherapy Journey
I don't understand. Why are you afraid of a small puncture hole on your finger? That sounds like something to put a bandaid on and wonder how you did it without noticing at the time.
This is not something to bother a very busy oncology team with. You don't seem to be aware that they have hundreds of patients they deal with, many of them with severe side effects, not bloody noses and mild nausea. Those are expected for pretty much ALL chemo patients. Nothing you've written about has even risen to the level of moderate side effects. I understand you're afraid of these mild symptoms, probably because you haven't educated yourself on what to expect with chemo.
Here's a suggestion. Rather than just posting every minor symptom you encounter, take the time to read other postings here. Start with threads about HER-2 positive cancer, then maybe check out threads that deal with chemo and it's side effects. Use the wisdom of the thousands of women (and men) who have traveled this road before you. Hopefully it will reassure you that what you are experiencing is nothing to panic over. And it will help prepare you for what's to come. Chemo is cumulative. Your side effects will most likely get worse with each successive infusion. You can do this. You just need to know what's to come, and work with your team to minimize their effect on your daily life.
Good luck! Trish
Re: I say YES. YOU say NO....Numero Tre! Enjoy!
There is no one prepped and ready to step in. The Dems in Congress are not talking about Harris taking the top of the ticket so I don’t know who their “perfect” candidate would be. But they better be able to make a lot of money fast (the money accumulated for Biden/Harris would only go to Harris if Biden is out and they better figure out a way to appeal to all of those voters who voted/supported Biden for the president spot. Good luck with that.
Re: I say YES. YOU say NO....Numero Tre! Enjoy!
Although I have never been a supporter of blind loyalty, the Republicans are and in these circumstances, that will be an advantage.