Arimidex
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sad sad sad - my belly which was always my pride and joy - now bulgy, puffy, ugly - my midriff is a planet I've never been to... I want my old body back - I don't care about the breasts, I just want my weight(before Arimidex) and a figure that I was proud of.
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Belly bulge: sit ups, sit ups, sit ups
!!!! I would guess constipation would be supplement related. Are we having fun yet?!0 -
Oh no, the last thing I need is more belly bulge. I gained 8 lbs. in 4 months on chemo and will start Arimidex after radiation. Has anyone not had this problem? Or better yet, has anyone had it and reversed it? please tell us what you did. Thanks!
Kathy
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I didn't gain weight (when I was on chemo, chocolate tasted like chalk; which I'm sure kept me from gaining TONS of weight!). I have really stepped up the exercise (if you're interested check out the 'Let's Post Our Daily Exercise" thread under the fitness topics, it's almost always on the active topics list....). I have actually lost a few pounds and have toned up enough to be DOWN a pants size!!!! So it can be done, but it's work (no magic bullet
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Balsie and Bobcat, you hit the nail on the head and describe exactly what I am talking about!
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Sue-61~ Well today I am going to really watch what I eat and step up the exercise and maybe cut back on the supplements and gradually keep adding them in to get my body use to it. I think I shocked my digestive system, which use to run just fine. With or without pain from the icky arimidex I am walking and doing my Yoga workout and I think I may need to add some crunches.
Belly Be Gone
Balsie~
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Thanks, Ruth. I'm going to look into that thread.
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kathlev - it's a fun thread and very motivating!
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I lost weight after chemo because of staph. I have not gained it all back yet and it has been a year. I exercise every day and watch what I eat. The constipation comes and goes but that is control by foods and senekot-s and plenty of water!! My neck is hurting today and hoping it is not an SE. Hopefully the cold weather is bringing some of this on. Fingers crossed. I'm on the motivation thread and it is really good too. Everyone have agreat Wednesday.
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Balsie, I should walk about 10 mi per day and see if that does anything for the belly. I have a pretty bad back so sit ups aren't an option. I just NEVER had a midriff before and actually bought a long line prosthetic bra. I hate it. Every time I sit down, the bottom of the bra folds up and makes this snapping sound. I am such a vision. I wonder if Spanx makes panties for this issue. When my dtrs were younger, I used to buy them Carter's undies, the cotton kind that shrunk in the dryer. One of my kids referred to them as "brunderwear" due to the sizes I purchased. She could put them on and pull them up to her bra. Yup, I think I need some BRUNDERWEAR!
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I've been on Arimidex since January. No weight gain, Have joint pain but I have Arthiritis.and get relief with exercise. . Having less SE than I did with Femara. I do tread mill 3 times a week, weights 2 times a week and water aerobics class once a week (easy on the joints) And once a week I use a warm water therapy pool (on my own, no classes) and do easy movement exercises and stretches. Very relaxing. .
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MariaG,
That sounds like such a well balanced exercise program. You are doing a good job!
pam
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I have been trying to see a post concerning rough scaly skin on this subject. Please let me know if you skin is totally dry with red patches on the face.
Thanks
Becky
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Hi All,
Would it be safe to assume that at 39 I should get a full hysterectomy, get those ovaries out and get one arimidex, tamoxifen scrares me. I hear that arimidex is much better at making sure a reoccurence doesn't happen? Any suggestions, words of wisdom, anything? much appreciated
(I will defintely ask my onc next week but she's hell bent on putting me on Tamoxifen)
She said I have a teeny cancer, geesh, it's a little under 2cm IDC, not that teeny and at anytime could come back as not so teeny Stage 4. Help Please!
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I'd sure look seriously at doing whatever to get out of tamoxifen & on Arimidex. Less side effects (and usually less serious side effects), lower reoccurence rate etc. etc. One of my pre-menopausal friends was on a clinical trial and had her ovaries shut down through injections. That was about three years ago, so maybe that is something they just now on a more regular basis ??? I can find more out about it if you want me to.
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Back again, all my information is a couple years old & you might want to go back to the information pages on BCO, but here is something I have; "Ovarian shutdown uses medication to stop the ovaries from producing estrogen. You are given an injection (shot) of a small implant under the skin of your belly. You will get one of these injections every four weeks for several months. Your doctor will give you blood tests to see how your estrogen levels have dropped over time." and of course ovarian surgical removal is also an option & I believe can be done with laproscopically (I'm sure that's spelled wrong). I think you need to have a serious talk with your doctor and make sure she KNOWS and FOLLOWS what YOU want. I wasn't sure of my menopausal status (had been on hormone replacement), but if I had come back as pre-menopausal, I think I would have done one of the above options to get myself into menopause so I could go right to the aromatese inhibitors. Good Luck! Ruth
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I was on Tamoxifen between 1st and 2nd, the third time they felt that it was missed on the 2nd run. I had very lumpy breasts so I was not surprised when they told me that. I chose to have the bilateral mastectomy so that I was sure the 3rd time was the last! I've been on the Arimidex for going on 3 years with no recurrence so I feel that this drug is working well.
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I was reading on another website some posts about women who took a month or two off from the Arimidex just to take a break from the all the annoying side effects, and I'm seriously thinking about that. I believe I will not have a recurrence in that amount of time. I feel so healthy but I hurt and have low energy, and there are days when I experience endless hot flashes, one leading into another and that's exhausting. I'm also having some serious nerve pain on one spot on my foot which is intermittent but very intense. I work full time at the local welfare office (low pay but health insurance) and I would like to work feeling well for a while. I'm taking the generic Arimidex from Canada ($170 including shipping for a 3 month supply) and it's definitely working. Less hair on my head and more on my chin, dry skin, struggling with my weight, insomnia, depression and other minor ones but all together add up. I don't go the gym but exercise at home 3 to 4 times a week, some weight lifting as well. Anyway, it's good to share things with women who understand.
take good care all of you
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Would it be HARD to go back on though, if you quit? I am kind of the opposite, I forgot to take mine ONE DAY and was scared to death! I will probably be really nervous after 5 years when they tell me to go off. Yikes, it definitely plays with your mind!
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Well Ruthbru I had not considered that. I've been tempted to stop and then tell my onco but I think I want to do this under supervision. If I do feel better, perhaps it might be hard to go back to it. I'm on my 7th day of a persistent headache which nothing will touch so I don't want to take it. I'm not sure that I would feel tons better within a month but I feel I need a break. Will the cancer come back in a month, hard to know. It takes 10 years before it shows up in a mammogram or during exam so I think I'll be safe. (Having a hot flash while I type and those are getting really frequent). One of the hallmarks of menopause is "intolerance" so when we are in menopause x 100, some days everything is annoying.
I'll keep in touch on the outcome of my drug "holiday"
too many rainy days, I'm even whining about that.
take care all of you
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The question to ask is "Are all of the things coming from the little white pill or is something else triggering it"? Could be foods, lack of or too much exercise, vitamins and other stuff. I find if I eat something sweet I get hot flashes worse. I watch what I eat and what time and that makes a difference too. I don't like the SE's either but I'll stay where I am for the 5 years.
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casaredonda,
Have you tried one of the drugs that help with hot flashes? I can't remember a name but know Carolehaltom has posted about what helps her. If you are interested I will try to find the name.
CAROLEH.. are you out there?
pam
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Casaredonda, I just wrote you a PM, but I'll repeat the same info. I began taking Effexor 75 mg the end of June last year when I was dx'ed and stopped HRT. In mid Sept. I started Arimidex. My hot flashes are very mild. Also I do not have the mood swings that plagued me when I began menopause some years ago. Effexor has been tested for alleviating menopausal symptoms and the test results were positive.
The reason I took HRT for 16 years was that I was so miserable when I entered menopause that I couldn't stand myself and nobody else could stand me either. The hot flashes, night sweats, mood swings were all awful. Now with no estrogen production, I'm doing ok. At some point I may ease off Effexor, if my dr. recommends it, but for now I'm more than willing to pay the $35 a mo. copay and take the med daily.
As stated by others, I don't believe there is a generic for Arimidex on the market yet.
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Hi All,
Someone from Cyprus posted on here that they have a generic Arimidex called Aremed. She said it was tested in Canada and was going to be available in the EU in 2010. I'll google it to see if there is any info on it.
pam
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No, nothing legitimate. Got a website for Viagra and mail order brides :-(
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the stuff I'm taking is called Anastrazole and it comes from Germany, and by the similar SEs that I'm having to the stuff that costs 425 a month in the US, I feel confident that it's working. The reality for me is to really consider the reason I'm staying with this treatment. Is it fear or is it a complete belief that it's the best thing I can do for myself. I guess I have some stuff to think about.
I'll talk it over with my oncology nurse practitioner later this month. I can't stand the MD in the office, but she's a excellent and understanding. We don't have many choices around here being in a rural area. Well my 7 day headache has stopped so that's a step in the right direction.
I used to own a health food store so I know about many supplements for hot flashes but don't find most of them that helpful. When I'm not having one right after another, it's ok.
Thank you all for your suggestions and ideas. take good care
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My insurance company only offers the "high test", Arimidex. The website says no generic available. I get emails from Astra Zeneca. I signed up for "in your corner", an information thing from them. Sad thing is, it requires you to remember your sign in and password. I never remember them. Anyway, as I was perusing the latest info sent in the newsletter just yesterday, there is a way to contact the FDA re any untoward side effects, etc, or to just contact them (the FDA) for general questions. So I did. Asked the FDA when it was going generic and who will manufacture it. Will let you all know if I hear back from them. I will edit this to copy and paste the website. I did also find info on getting it cheaper if you fall within certain income guidelines and have health insurance. The regular AZ web kind of shuts you out of getting a deal if you are insured.
EDITED TO ADD: inyourcorner@astrazeneca-us.com
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Hi Ladies,
Arimidex looses it patent in June of this year. That means other companies will be able to make it and a generic form will be available fairly quickly after that. Yay!
I have a question. I started Arimidex about 3 weeks ago and I'm very tired, pretty much all the time. I'm thinking it's from the Arimidex because that's the only thing that's new for me. Did anyone else have this se and will it last or get better as my body adjusts to it?
Thanks, Susie
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Susie 123, I can't help with your question about being tired as I don't think I had that symptom, but am curious as to where you found the info that Arimidex is definitely going generic. Thanks, Sue
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Sue-61
Where did you find info on getting meds cheaper if you have insurance AND have low income? My husband and I both need this. We are both disabled. Tiny income, just enough to pay for insurance. His meds alone are $1500/month!! Everything I have found disqualifies you if you have any insurance. Not fair. We sold our home to pay medical bills. Our savings is nearly gone, too. Pretty soon, we'll be on welfare, I guess.
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