FEMARA
Comments
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I take mine at night and find that taking magnesium at night does help with the fatigue too but you need to build it up
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I too have noticed fatigue. Some days worse than others. Also have had some nights where it is difficult to sleep more than 3-4 hours, and lots of joint pain (especially in shoulders, hands.). Have had arthritis in feet and knees but not the others. I have been on the Letrozole since Nov. 2011. (3 years/7-1/2 months to go, but who's counting)
Have appointments with MO/RO both April 19. Will discuss this with the MO. I also think the seroma is returning, so will have that checked out too.
Vickie
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Vicks - it looks like you and I started at the same time. My fatigue has lessened somewhat, but the leg pain can be fairly debilitating at times. Like Eph - I take mine in the evening. Lately, I've started experiencing a lot of anxiety and waking in the middle of the night. I'll be glad when I can stop...
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Gardengumby,
That makes 2 of us who will be glad when we can stop this merrygoround. I have been taking mine in the mornings.
Let's hope and pray that it does the job it is supposed to do!!!! I am glad for the good medical treatment I have been receiving!!!!.
Vickie
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Vicks and gardenbumby- i started off taking mine in the morning but by 10am i was ready for a big nap. So i was told to take it at night with my effexor for hot flashes. well the two of them together kept me up for about 1 week. Went back to the Onc and she then suggested Effexor in the morning and femara at night. I have slept like a baby ever since. Would definitely suggest taking it at night. that way when you get the SE of the fatigue you are already sleeping and it doesn't become bothersome.
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I hit the drug store yesterday and loaded up on magnesium glucosamine and vitamin D. I am hoping the magnesium will help with the joint pain. My arthritic knees are now really achy but the pain my wrists and fingers is new. I am grateful for all of the coping suggestions that I found on this site.
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No chemo nor rads here. Fatigue is so big.
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yeah no chemo/rads here either.
Galsal- do you take your Femara in the morning or at night?
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Has anyone had trouble with glaucoma since on femara. I have been dealing with this after the 1st year on femara. Did not have problem before starting the femara.
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Nanna - I had glaucoma b4 BC. Asked my MO, my optometrist and my glaucoma doc if Femara worsened it. My optometrist is BC aware as his wife is BC survivor. All 3 said no. It seems pretty stable, only been on Femara since June but glaucoma since 2007. Now in general I think vision is worse. Beginning cataracts, too but I'm 60.
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nanna- When I went last year for my annual vision check. I was told to make sure that I go in every year for a check up. I was also told that I would need to make sure that I get my eyes dialated every visit. Also, that with us having had BC that we are more likely to get glaucoma. I swear this damn disease has us coming and going. Waiting for the next drop in the bucket at every turn.
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Chrisrenee, I take it at night. Was I told to? Nope. Know from reading on here.
I agree, had my annual eye exam and told the Dr that I'd had BC since the last visit. She was very glad I was there, that eyes needed to be checked quite well because of that. That wasn't even a private eye clinic but the VA Hospital.
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Month eight for Femara for me. At first I wrestled with joint pain in my hips, knees, and hands. Maybe I'm just getting used to it, but with exercise (walking and cycling) and stretching, it's better. Sure I'd prefer to NOT take it...but I'm not crazy about the alternative. Not willing to risk it.
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I take my femara at night. I sleep well (though long: 9-11 hours/night) but have fatigue on and off throughout the day.
Have not had glaucoma, but I do have a problem with excessive tearing in one eye. When I go for a walk, it tears so much that the inside of my glasses gets splattered with tears. Not sure why it mostly happens outdoors, I'm guessing that the air movement irritates it even in a mild breeze.
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cfdr - I need much more sleep since starting femara. Where I used to get by perfectly well on 7-8 hours of sleep, now I need 10-11. When I was talking to my MO about the muscle pain I experience (and didn't when on vacation in Hawaii) I attributed the lack of pain to the heat, but she suggested that it might be related to fatigue and that I should try to sleep the same amount. I told her that I'd have to be in bed before I got home from work to get the same amount of sleep...
. One of the reasons I'm going to retire this year.0 -
Cfdr, I have the same problem with the tearing. Weird.
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For me, the tearing dates to taxotere chemo. It has gotten much better, but still starts up once in a while.
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Interesting - I had no chemo, but I also tear up all the time. I never thought of it as yet another side-effect.
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I too have had a lot of tearing too. Went to the opthamologist last summer and he said I have 'dry eyes' and told me to use eyedrops. He gave me a sample and I am able to buy it otc at Walmart. He said, that as we age, our eyes tend to water a lot, but no longer have something (I don't remember what he called it) . Eyes are much better since I started using the drops several times a day, as needed.
Vickie
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I do have the dry eyes but had that before dx'd with BC. Also already had Rosacea although now I have Occular Rosacea too. I was surprised to find that there's some preservative-free artificial tears at Wally World.
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I did read that taxotere can cause scarring of the tear ducts. Seeing my opthalmalogist next month and figure I'll ask her about it then. The oncologist certainly don't want to hear about any more side fx.
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Hi ladies -
Anyone have issues with yeast infections on Femara? I am just 90 days into this and feel like I have one. I haven't had one in 10+ years! I was on Tamox for 5 years prior to Femara with no issues. Just wondered if it could be due to the meds.
Thanks!
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Connie, yes, the estrogen-suck can make you prone ot yeast. Take pro-biotics.
Odd with the dry eyes. I was told this at some point. I tried the artificial tears, but I am too chicken to put things in my eyes.
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The lack of estrogen causes vaginal dryness, and I'm guessing that could make you more prone to yeast infections. I use coconut oil as a nightly moisturizer...much cheaper than replens or any of the others on the market.
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Galsal,
The drops prescribed are Systane Ultra. (One of Walmart's private label one has same ingredients) The pharmacist told me about it and it is MUCH cheaper..
Vickie
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conniehar, I got what felt like urinary tract infection after being on Femara for about a year & half. I added cranberry capsules to my daily handful of "stuff" and that has taken care of that feeling.
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Thanks ladies - it seems a bit better today so I will keep an eye on it! I did think it was a UTI at first but really no burning during urinating so don't think that is it.
Hope everyone is having a good day!
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I have been on lezotrole for about a month and started with the SEs about a week ago. Every day they are worse. This morning I felt like I'd been hit by a truck and barely made it to my teaching job. I'm 64 and well past menopause so I thought that the SEs would be a bit easier but menopause was nothing like this. I am going to give it until Monday and if I stiill feel like this I'll call my onco. Do the SEs level out or can I expect them to remain so debilitating?
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Bookworm, mine evened out with exercise.
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Wow....bookworm.....we are twins...lol....same age .....still,teaching also...same dx...same treatment.
I've been on Letrozole for a year now ....my S/E include hair thinning, diarrhea, and the occasional ache...... all in all not bad. Please be patient because I believe you need to give it another couple of months for your system to adjust. If you can exercise, it helps tremendously. Hang in there.0
