Arimidex
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My doc recommends every 2 years too. He REALLY pushes calcium and Vit D, so I force that horse pill down twice a day
Hey Jo---I'm gonna try the belt technique. Sounds like it would bring relief
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I had severe vertigo/dizziness 5 years ago, long before my BC dx........the ENT diagnosed a problem with a little crystal that got "out-of-wack" in my inner ear - it's called "benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV)" - and is very common as we get older. Here's a link to the Mayoclinic explaining this condition:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/balance/bppv.html
And here's a link to a Youtube video showing how the Epley Maneuver can cure the problem nearly immediately:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZqokxZRbJfwI actually have learned how to do the Epley Maneuver in my own bed - and find that sleeping on the "good" side helps prevent the vertigo from coming back. I've been on Arimidex for nearly a year and a half, and haven't had a problem with dizziness at all. Not to say Arimidex isn't causing this SE to other women...........but if you find you get dizzy looking up on a high shelf, or abruptly turning your head to the left or right, you could actually be suffering form BPPV. Don't suffer with this - go see an ENT specialist and get a diagnosis and see if the Epley Maneuver can help you. Good luck all!
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Wow! I can't believe I'm reading about the dizziness problem. Last night I was sitting on the porch with my family and I started to feel really weird. The porch was spinning. Honestly, I thought I was going to die. I thought, "this is it". My husband helped me into the house and I sat for a while. It finally went away. I couln't believe it is from this tiny white pill. I immmediately came to this forum and found out that it's most likely the Arimidex. I have been struggling with the hot flashes and very bad joint pain and now the dizziness. It has only happened once but it was not good. Funny, today I don't have the joint pain. I feel so free. I don't think I realized how bad the pain was until it has lifted today. I am praying that it will stay away because it can get pretty bad. 600 mg of ibuprophen does help but it's much better not to have it at all!
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Hey, Welga! If it doesn't go away in a week or two, I'll try this! (Ativan)
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Ok..............I'm not even going to catch up with this thread........I do believe I read many posts back a few weeks ago.....but I am not even going to check for that.
I AM FEELING SO ANGRY! H@ll.......is this the mean side effect for Arimidex? I was so nice on Tamoxifen and now after taking this Arimidex since July 15th........I swear I could knock someone's head off! I have little time for STUPID people these days. As you can tell.......from this post.....heck.....I don't even feel like typing this note.....but need to get this feeling on paper!
I recommend this Arimidex be given to every woman who needs to tear something up.....clean house....or fight a WAR! Maybe our soldiers should be given this drug!
I swear I just want to knock my husbands head off at times.......I did not feel this way before! I told a friend that I just felt really MEAN on this drug. I am really a SWEET PERSON.........but I am really being one heck of a B@TCH on this Arimidex!
Sorry for the RANTING.............but I feel so MEAN right now!
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Thanks JO-5 for your explanation of the exercices. I will start them and hope they will help. About Antivert, I don't remember the name of the pills I was advised to take when I started with the episode of dizziness. The only one I remember is Gravol. All I can remember is either they made me sleepy of didn't help.
About the joint pains, I wonder if the bone loss we are seeing after taking those pills for 5 years is not the reason for those continuing sores. Don't remember where on the board I also read that those aromase inhibitors sorts of dry our joints. Could be it's a permanent side effect...Really scary.
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Noticed the last 2 days - no joint pain - YAY! Still have the problems with my right hip and I do attribute that to Arimidex as I had total relief on Glucosamine Chondroitin prior to Arimidex. If I can just figure out the right way to stand after bending I would not have that pain at all. Oh well. Not suffering normal depression, just don't want to do anything outside of work and come home. I am, however, an introvert anyway so can't blame that on the Arimidex - just use it as an excuse to turn down invitations.
Still better than BC!
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Rant away, Rumorette, that's what we are here for. To hear you, acknowledge your anger and pain and support you--whatever you feel. This is your reality, your truth and you had great courage to let it out. Thank you for trusting us. In sisterhood, xo
s
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Rumoret, that's how I felt when I began menopause and it's the reason I took HRT, which restored me to feeling like a human being. I became so hostile toward everybody including my husband. I continued to take HRT after all the scare publicity was aired by the media. I am not sorry I took it because I had all those years when I felt great, plus there is no clear evidence that it causes bc. So far to my knowledge, there has been no study with women like me who started HRT around age 50. The women in the Nurses study were in their 70's or older when they started taking HRT. I concede that taking estrogen could encourage an estrogen positive cancer once it has started to grow for whatever reason. But nobody knows whether the estrogen CAUSES the cancer cell to activate.
I am dreading the day in my near future when I begin taking Arimidex. I've already decided that if I lose all quality of life, I won't continue to take it. Is a life of misery really worth it?
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rumoret, I know exactly how you feel. I have found that this anger just continually simmers below the surface waiting to spew. Additionally, I am so much more fatigued and very blue. While I do have the joint pain, that se is not one that really bothers me. Everyone has to decide if staying on this med is what they want to do. For me, I made the decision that my quality of life is more important and when I see my oncologist at the end of Sept I will be letting him know that no more drugs for me.
Please know that I am not saying this is what you or anyone else should do. We each need to make decisions that are best for us. For me, this feels right.
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Hey Ladies, I just started my 5 years of Arimidex and was curious of possible side effects. When I discussed the effects with my oncologist, I asked her about my sex drive, her answer " You won't have one." anybody have this problem? I had a very healthy sex life with my husband of 38 years, before BC and was hoping to continue. I feel guilty asking this question, and am thankful my prognosis is what it is, but also want quality of life.
Would love to hear about this issuse.
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Thanks JO-5.
We are set up for a six week course group starting the end of September. I have a lot of questions I would like answers for.
God Bless
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Just a word on Arimidex,
I tried Arimidex for about 18 months and had severe insomnia and anxiety. Now have switched to Femara and insomnia and anxiety have dramatically reduced.
Melissa
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Hi Ladies,
I fianally called the onc today about the se's of the arimidex (primarily about the horrible joint pain). My radiation oncologist INSISTED that I call after I told her that I thought the arimidex was causing me the pain. I spoke with the nurse practioner at the onc's office. She told me that the joint pain was a very common se and that it may go away as my body gets used to the med. If not, they could try to switch me to another AI. In the meantime, she called in 600 mg of ibuprofen to help me out. I took one and it really did help a lot. I have taken it before but not consistently. I am going to try to take it every day and see if it help. The problem I have is taking a medication to offset the se's of another medication. I really hate that. But.... if the arimidex is going to stop the cancer from coming back then I'll continue with it as long as I can. I certainly don't want to be taking ibuprofen for five years though. I would think that that would not be a good thing so I'll see what happens. As for the dizziness, she said if it was happening all the time then she would be more concerned but it only happened a couple of times. I'm just going to start pretending that everything is ok. I'm really good at pretending! I pretend everyday that I didn't really get cancer and I pretend that my house is clean. Try it, it helps!!
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Sukiann, yea, I like the idea about pretending the house is clean. Was going to clean it this weekend but your way is much better!
My joint pain comes and goes (right now it's gone). Rather than taking the ibuprofen everyday how about every other day or just take it when you feel the onset of pain. That's what I do when I feel I may have a problem going to sleep. I can usually tell about 9pm - if I'm not feeling the slightest bit tired I know it's going to be a sleepless night and then I will takejust one tylenol pm (usually the joints are a little achy). If the joint pain is a little more intense, I will take 2 tylenol pm. Amazingly only that 1 or 2 will keep my aches at bay throught the next day. It's rare I have to take any during the day. I would guesstimate I use the tylenol pm only 3 or 4 nights a week.
As JO says, better to fight the se's not the bc!
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I have to repost and remind everyone - you don't have to live with the side effects of Arimidex! There are other drugs out there that work and may have less side effects for you. I'm on Femara now and I have to praise my decision to switch. No one wants to get a recurrence - but the QUALITY of your life while on these meds is also VERY important. Give yourselves a break - and try a new drug.
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I'm sure everyone knows to take ibuprofen only with food. It can do bad things to your stomach like cause ulcers. It's my painkiller of choice but I'm always careful to take it in the middle of a meal.
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JO-5
About dry eyes, dry nails, and mouth sores, I have all of those too. I think the dry mouth is the reason for the mouth sores. I was also prescribed eye drops, I seldom use them, we have so much medication to take in a day, I keep forgetting about those drops.
So much fun!!!!
Also I am better on Femara than I was on Arimidex. For me anyways side effects on Arimidex were too much to bear. Have a nice day
Welga
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wblibrary, I know I can ask to be switched but don't all of the AI's have the same side effects? I started researching this and I found that they are all pretty much the same. I just bought a brace for my left hand because it is so sore - especially at night. It falls asleep and my thumbs hurt on both hands. I just can't believe it. I've only been on this stuff for 1 1/2 months. I am just so scared to stop because of the cancer coming back. My oncotype score is a 32 which is in the high category so I know I have to be on something. I guess I could try to switch and see if the the other ones have fewer side effects.
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Sukiann, you should not stop because fighting bc is harder than fighting the se's. However, you have only been on the Arimidex for a short time and sometimes se's go away after a period of time. So you may want to try and wait it out for awhile. But, if they are extremely bothersome then go ahead and switch to another. You can always switch back.
I've been on Arimidex for 6 months. Wrist problems have mostly disappeared. May flare up occasionally but I'm on the computer at work every day and then evenings on the laptop. With that much keying, and not properly positioned to do so, even without meds I should be hurting. My joint pain has seemed to be less the last week or so. I feel depression is trying to rear it's ugly head and I'm fighting that with positive thoughts and my faith.
I just think that SE's on other meds could be better, but they also could be worse so give this one time unless you can't tolerate it at all.
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JO, if you continue to agree with me on all my posts I'm gonna have to increase your pay. LOL
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Patoo,
Do you have carpal tunnel. My hands/wrists are killing me at night. They hurt so bad I am up and down taking Motrin to get some relief. I know the CTS is a side effect, but wasn't sure what to do about it. I had it prior to BC and Arimidex, but could always get the flares under control. I can't seem to fix this!
Thanks,
Chris
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hi everyone
i was on arimidex for 5 and half years. i started it immediately after finishing chemo/rads/ interesting; i really didn't associate the symptoms i was having with the arimidex; after i finished chemo and rads...my body felt like crap...and onward to the arimidex. i just always thought my joint pain was a result of all the treatments. lol HOWEVER...after being off the arimidex for a year and half now...i feel great. these are the symptoms i had on the arimidex: (now as i look back..lol) wrist/ankle pain...muscle stiffness...my blood pressure/cholestrol was up (i had a consult with cardio doc and it helped so much...now i am gradually getting off B/P meds and no more statins for cholestrol0 and i had to go on fosamax for some bone loss..not a lot...because i have very good bones on account i was a runner...etc) now i am off the fosamax. oh, no sex drive was another side effect....but i am happy to say....that is returning.
i don't regret being on the arimidex. i am glad it was available...when i started it in 2002 it was relatively a new drug and the studies were just coming out. i believe it has kept me cancer free to this point. i found taking vit D and calicuim helped. esepcially the vit D.
hope this helps. hang in there warriors.
diana50
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As I said before - I have tried all 3 - arimidex, femara and aronsin. I went back to arimidex. The lesser of the 3 evils. I have the joint pain but beats the alternative as everyone agrees on. I am also taking the vitamin d and glucosiman.(sp) I have been on this stuff since January. We can march on, slowly now but moving!
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I'm going to try to hang in there with the Arimidex. I know I've only been on it for 1 1/2 months but it is really hard to know that you feel like this because of this little white pill. I tried a brace for my hand/wrist and finger pain. It helped a lot. When I took it off my hand was VERY stiff but it worked itself out after a couple of minutes. I thinking about gettting one for my other hand. They are about $27 at CVS so I was cheap about it. I wanted to see if one would work before I got one for the other hand. I wonder what my husband is thinking! He goes to bed with a bald, chubby woman with one and half boobs who has a brace on her hand, night guard in her mouth to prevent grinding of the teeth and who has zero sex drive!! He still loves me (so he says!!)
After reading about the other AI's I don't think that I would feel any better on the other ones (well, maybe??). I am taking my ibuprofen, wearing the brace, taking calcium, fish oil, glucosomine and msn (just started that). I'm doing everthing I can to make this work!
Thanks to all of you for your support! Patoo, I'll agree with you if you pay me too! I could use the extra cash! he, he!
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Jo it took about 6 mnonths before i really really felt good. but it is totally worth it....no relapse.
hang in
diana
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JO - does LE stand for lymphodema?
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Jo, I was told by the NP that there is much reduced chance of LE with SNB, where only a few nodes are removed. Makes sense. I had only 4 nodes removed but the BMX must have cut some nerves that resulted in occasional numbness and tingling in both arms, but worse in right arm, which gets more use.
Lazy this morning again. Didn't get up until 8am. But it's cloudy outside so I'll go get my walk in despite the late hour.
Good day for all.
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Okay, I'll play Oprah - checks in the mail for everyone who agrees with me.
I was using a wrist brace while on the computer (mine only cost about $19) and it was on the same side as bc. Have not had to use it for at least 2 weeks now. Had a sturdier one I wore at night but haven't worn that in a couple weeks either. Wrist and knee pain may have gone bye-bye! (yeah, occasionally I feel a tingle).
My Dexa scan and blood tests came back all normal so no bone scan for another year and will continue my blood work every three months.
JO, thanks for the info on preventing LE. I start a class next week that will teach all about exercise, nutrition, LE, SE's, med follow-ups, etc. Once a week for 10 weeks - 2-1/2 hours each. Should be interesting as I'm better in a class than researching and reading online.
Okay, my boss probably thinks I should go back to work. Later all.
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Jo, how long after your nodes were removed did you develop LE? My surgery was in March 2009 and I had 9 nodes removed. No sign of LE. They did tell me to get my blood drawn and blood pressure taken on the other side. I'll run the brace by them.
I read on another thread that someone decided to take the arimidex later in the day. I remember one day last week I didn't have the pain as bad and I also remember that I had forgotten to take my arimidex until later in the day. Whether this was the same day I can't remember. I can't remember anything anymore. It's ridiculous (is that they way you spell it? i can't remember - I'm not kidding!) So, anyway, I took my pill at noon today instead of at 7 am. I feel pretty good but I also have been taking ibuprofen, fish oil, glucosime, msn, calcium and vitamin D. I'm doing too many things at one time so I won't know which one works! Very typical of me!
Patoo, I'll be watching my mailbox for your check. Yes, get back to work so you can continue to send checks! he, he, he!
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