Arimidex
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Been on arimidex about 5 months, when I first started doing walks on beach (also about 5 months ago) I could barely do a mile, was so tiring, now doing about 4 miles 2x a week and now it invigorates me, also takes my mind off bc....So far, I have a numb toe since arimidex, don't know if that's related....
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come over to the 'post your daily exercise' thread if you want some inspiration and/or a kick in the butt to get or keep moving
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Lisa,
Wonderful news and happy day!
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To Maryhogan:
In addition to my left wrist that is killing me, yes, my fingers have swelled. Can't wear my rings at all, and don't want any jewelry touching my wrists and/or fingers.
Fingers are puffy.
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Ronqt1 - when you sleep, where are your arms? above your head, down by your side or under your body? Down by your side is the best position to avoid cutting circulation. Wouldn't be an "overnight" cure, but over a longish time, would probably help. Hardest part would be to retrain your arms.
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Hi,
Has anyone noticed that they perspire more on the side where they had their mast? I had 14 lymph nodes removed under my right arm and it gets more sweaty than my left arm pit. Does this usually happen?
Thanks!
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Hi,
After taking Arimidex for just over a year, the onc took me off for a month to see if my "quality of life" would improve. It has been nearly a month now and 2 days ago I noticed that I actually felt much more like myself -- more mentally and emotionally than physically. My back and neck still hurt, but I have all sorts of disc and joint problems, including bone spurs and arthritis, so these aches and pains probably can't be blamed on the Arimidex. I'm way past menopause (just turned 63), but still having pretty severe hot flashes several times a day, so the Arimidex must hang around for a long time. Still can't sleep through the night because of pain, but that's my back (and our cats!). At any rate, I see the onc again next Wednesday and he will put me on a different AI. Can hardly wait -- yeah, right!
Have a great weekend. --bonnie
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DentThomas... I had radiation on the left side so no sweat, no hair, no odor on that side. Rad Onc says they did not zap my armpit but evidence says otherwise.
I exercise a lot in an effort to tolerate Arimidex well. It seems to be working for me so far. But I do think it is simplistic to suggest exercise is the answer to everyones' side effects. Some women just have a worse time of it. I doubt Arimidex causes arthritis but likely makes it more symptomatic. What I have found is that although I walk 3 miles a day, ride my bike, work in my yard, swim when weather permits, walk in the surf in soft sand, stair climb, and lift free weights... my muscle strength is very much less than before surgery, radiation and Arimidex. I am just not as STRONG. And I hate it! I have a general feeling of weakness that I think falls under the SE category of asthenia. I'm putting up with it but I DON'T LIKE IT!!!
Best wishes to my sisters in this great experiment.
pam
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Besides Al's (or along with them), I think some of it is because we have had the priviledge to get older, and some of it also has to do with the fact that we have gotten beat-the-hell up by the combination of our treatments!!!
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I too have noticed my fingers are somewhat swelled up. I took my wedding ring in to the jeweler's today to have it resized. I can't even get it over my knuckle joint. It was in the 80's today, and I had a hard time with the heat, and I always love the heat. Not now, with hot flashes I can't take it. I was sweating today!
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I actually seem to feel less "tight" in the hot weather. When I walk and get hot my joints seem less sore and I loosen up. Of course it is hard not to be warmed up living in Florida :-)
pam
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I start Arimidex today. Femara caused a lot of pain so we're switching. Can anyone who's taken both speak to the side effects, comparatively?
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ruthbru - good point! I certainly feel beat up by multiple treatments.
My latest conspiracy theory is that the AIs don't really work; it's the NSAIDs we take to address the side effects that keep the cancer at bay!
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Ya know, all the rants here are actually upllifting. I think because we are all in the same boat and so it's good to be able to come and see that we are not alone. I have very minor se's and maybe the Arimidex only brought out the symptoms earlier in life than they would have otherwise. But, SoCalLisa got through it and therefore, so can I.
That is not to say, however, that everyone will be able to do it but I wish you all the best. Only 45 more months to go for me (but who's counting?)
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Hello Ladies -
I started my stint in the Arimidex club on 5/17, two weeks after rads. I am just coming out of my chemo/rads funk and starting to get back in the world of the living again. Here's hoping my side effects are mild - so far I haven't noticed anything except some mild warm flushes, so I'm hoping I will do well on it. I am just starting to get back into some kind of exercise. So far the most I can manage is a short 20 min. daily walk. Looking forward to getting a little more stamina and vitality..
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I looks like it is time for me to join in on the discussion too, I started on Armidex yesterday, I've been reading this wonderful group for the last two months and as a result decided to give Armidex a try. Thanks everyone,
meg8000 I hear you about the stamina! - me too. Rads were relatively easy, but chemo was rough, and it wasn't because I didn't exercise beforehand, I did, even up and during my first tx, went to exercise classes without hair even, but it's only been the last week that I've been able to do a 30 minute walk in my neighbourhood. My PFC was April 1st, finished rads on Tuesday.
[I'd like put in here before I forget - in case anyone else is reading this and can't swallow pills - Arimidex is no problem. They are small and you can easily chew them.That was one bit of information I could not find anywhere beforehand...silly the things we worry about.]
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I started on Arimidex about 2 months ago, after 9 months on Tamox (caused big uterine polyps) and 8 months on Aromasin (noticed hair thinning.) Has anyone noticed hair thinning while on Arimidex?
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Hi Molly, In answer to your question where are my arms when I sleep, I have started to be able to sleep on my stomach, so I keep my arms stretched out. (always looking for a cool spot because I am always warm). I will pay attention to what you said.
Lene17 - As of now, hair thinning is not a bad s/e for me. Yes, I see hair everywhere, but not noticable. I also never did chemo or rads, so I count my blessings there.
Have a great holiday everyone.
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Ronqt, is it possible that you have lymphedema?
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Try Nioxin shampoo & condtioner if your hair is thinning (it works), and if you want to try something without any scientic base at all, eat 1-2 oz of at least 70% dark chocolate a day. I have been doing this for several months because of it's reported health benefits (and the fact that I like chocolate and will grab any excuse to eat it), and my hair is growing like a WEED. My hairdresser has commented on the fact at both my last haircuts, and in fact asked if I had changed my diet because the change is so noticable to her. I have not changed my diet at all, except adding the chocolate!! Might be worth a try.
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Ruthbru, that has gotta be the best remedy I have every heard. Now I have a "reason" for eating chocolate. What was I thinking, I was gonna cut it out. Sorry, just came from the Southern Slang thread and it's contagious.
PS My hair has thinned considerable - you can see my scalp. I've been on Arimidex 4 1/2 years.
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Hey gang....I could tell you my whole story but I'll cut to the real scoop. If you are on Arimidex and having nasty side effects PLEASE check all of your suppliments, health bars, anything that might have soy as a component. It is also called "tocopheral" in fish oil, multi-vitamins and who knows what else. I eliminated every micro-bit of soy from my diet and the difference is night and day. I also exercise daily which is key BUT until I took the hidden soy out I was still a mess....good luck!
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He ellie, there is much discussion about soy, for and against, but it works for you so it's all good. I don't have many se's on Arimidex but I do look at ingredients more often now and try to avoid soy. The problem is there is soy in almost everything so I've taken to trying to keep as much of it out of my system as possible but haven't gone overboard because it can make you crazy. Thanks for the heads-up on tocopheral. I just checked my fish oil (haven't really been taking it regularly) and my one-a-day multi (which I do take everyday) and both have tocopheral. We sure do learn so much from one another here.
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Hi Ladies. I am beginning my 4th month on arimidex. It has been terribly painful in my joints, particulary my knees. IBprofen did not help. Alleve did not hellp. I got so desperate that I cut out all sugar and within about 10 days i am feeling so much better!! I have also started doing stretching exercises that were prescribed for back problems years ago and the stretches really help. I can't believe the difference now. If i hadn't been in such pain, i never would have been able to quit the sugar. Hope this may help someone else.
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Cowgirll13~ I started the no sugar thing too... and I can see and feel some relief. You are right I would have never given up sugar unless I wasn't kind of desperate for some relief & glad I did...super was really hard to do....and impossible to do all the time.
Warmly~
Balsie
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Hello Ellie123 - I've been reading this thread the last few pages, would like to know more about this soy business and arimidex. I've been on it for over a year, have major joint pains, this is the first time I've seen a mention of soy/tocopherol as possibly contributing to ses of arimidex. would love more info.......
About wrist pain - mine started aching and paining, fallikng asleep at night, tingling etc. once on arimidex, and I eventually found a carpal tunnel specialist and sure enough......but, way before this,and this is going way back, i think it was Patoo who recommended wrist splints at night and I got and used them every night and they made a HUGE difference. The carpal tunnel dr. told me they'd probably kept the carpal tunnel at bay (it took me a while to find her) and I didn't need surgery. I'm now at a phase where I don't need them anywhere near as much as I used to.
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Good AM souad,
I don't think the idea is that soy increases the SEs of Arimidex. Rather, soy is a natural estrogen that raises one's estrogen levels. Since, with Arimidex, we are attempting to decrease estrogen levels consuming soy is counter productive. There is a good bit of disagreement on this matter but most of us try to avoid soy in our diet or in skin products we use.
Maybe someone will post an opposing point of view?
pam
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I am concerned about soy because it is a phytoestrogens. Here is what some of the science says. I found it surprising. I couldn't find any studies about Arimidex and soy.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19996398
...The multivariate-adjusted 4-year mortality rates were 10.3% and 7.4%, and the 4-year recurrence rates were 11.2% and 8.0%, respectively, for women in the lowest and highest quartiles of soy protein intake. The inverse association was evident among women with either estrogen receptor-positive or -negative breast cancer and was present in both users and nonusers of tamoxifen. CONCLUSION: Among women with breast cancer, soy food consumption was significantly associated with decreased risk of death and recurrence.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19221874
Soy isoflavones consumed at levels comparable to those in Asian populations may reduce the risk of cancer recurrence in women receiving tamoxifen therapy and moreover, appears not to interfere with tamoxifen efficacy. Further confirmation is required in other large prospective studies before recommendations regarding soy intake can be issued to breast cancer survivors.
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There was a lot of talk about Vitamin E and Coconut oil (pages back). I looked at the Vitamin E ingrediens - the first ingredient was Soy Oil. I put it back on the shelf and will go looking for Coconut Oil. It seems Soy Oil is everywhere, even where you least expect it.
I read somewhere, way back, that Soy Oil is beneficial in fighting cancer, if taken life long, but started later in life it has no impact in prevention. Who knows what is really true?
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