Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
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~ I am telling you girls give a product called Reumofan plus a try. I don't have the swollen painful joints anymore. It actually has a cancer fighting agent in it too! It is all natural. I thought I was just being hopeful but everyday I feel better. Google it!!
Love & Peace
Balsie
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I went and looked at the ingredients, I take several of them already such as glucosamine, chondroitin, calcium, magnesium, E, C, and others. I don't know what the more exotic ingredients are? I shall look them up later on. Thanks for the information.
Ginger
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I took Arimidex between surgery and rads, then stopped for rads (7 weeks). When I first took it, I had hot flashes ( well 1 or 2 each evening after taking the med after dinner), my brain was mush, sort of, although I didn't have chemo. When I went back on the Arimidex, the hot flashes are gone and my brain is definitely cleared. Course, I've only been back on for 7 weeks but my MO says the body adjusts to it.
Ginger, fingers crossed that this is the case with you and the SE's don't come back.....0 -
Hi All! Back from my food-filled holiday. I am all swollen up...but it is not from arimidex!! I am contemplating throwing all the leftover goodies in the garbage and covering them with kitty litter so that I can't dig them back out!
bad me!!Sandee, you have such an unusual medical situation; and who knows when you have to take such a variety of medications, how they will all interact? Each of us needs to work with a knowlegable medical team whom we really trust and weigh the pros and cons of any options with them. I am an 100% 'if you are eligible, try an anti-hormonal with an open mind and try to stick to it if you at all can' person.... but sometimes it doesn't work out, and then you plan from there. We are all scared and emotional because we are talking about our very lives. Big Hugs to Everyone!!!
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Gingerbrew: I'm on Anastrazole too (generic for Arimidex) & my Onc told me that they've found that someone on Arimidex who can't handle the se's then they can be switched to Femara (there's generic for that too) and they do better. Vice versa also works. However, if we can tolerate one of them then she suggested we stay on that one because the other could be worse. I seem to tolerate mine bur the wt. gain is awful. I'm going to do more exercise & cut down on sugar ontake and see if that helps. My hair isn't as thick as it used to be but as long as I do have hair I can't complain because I remember too well what it was like without it.
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I agree. I started out on Femara and has extreme pain in my knees until I felt like crying by night time. I got a two break and then started the arimidex. I do have trigger finger in both middle fingers and now starting in both thumbs. However the knee pain is manageable on this drug. So if the break doesn't work ask about changing to another drug.
I have been awful on my diet too. I am not home yet so I can't just throw it away. lol It's not mine and I just couldn't resist eating some ham with my supper last night. A major no no with Lymphedema.
At least I will start Monday with being wrapped for my leg. I don't think I updated here but I do have LE in my calf. Stage 2 so not good...my arm was only a stage one. I still wonder if the arimidex is not causing some of it. LE is listed as a side effect. The PT thinks chemo, and my surgeries are the cuplrit. I don't know but I will get through it too.
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I'm just starting to have joint pain - hips mostly. The plan is less sugar and more moving. The hot flashes seem just as intense - I'm just thankful that it's winter!
Hot creaky purrs,
Jenn
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Kitty dog, so glad you mentioned knee pain! My left knee sort of went out last night for no reason. Now I know and Armidex works even if you don't have adrenal glands. My fingers are already having that familiar stiffness at night too. I have only been on it about a month.
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I keep mistaking the drug I am on/was/will be again for another. It is Anastrozole the generic for Arimidex, not the other A hormonal therapy drug. Maybe I just don't like spelling out Anastrozole.
I just went and read some of the anti h ormonal studies here on BCO and I read one that states that if you have new joint pain and/or new hot flashes by three months on the drug that it indicates the anti hormonals are working. Kind of cool to read that.
Laters Ginger
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OK its is now a year since I started Arimidex.. I am so glad I read these posts because it help me to know to move..My SE's are just barely there now.. yea I get sore knees but they are so much better now that I am working out. Last year I was wondering how I would be able to deal with all the pain. but it is really true that more you move the less you are in pain. So glad its winter the hot flash's are barely there too. All of you that are just starting , it gets better.. thank you to ruthbru and lago. and the rest of you on this forum that helped me get through this past year!.. Have a wonderful Holiday season and Happy New Year!
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Thank you, KIMBERLY, for changing the offensive part of your post. We all had a bad day. GG
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Ruth - I'm with you too! Puffiness could be more from too many treats that the Arim. I feel like a bloated pig! Time to get back to eating healthy! But, the treats have been soooo worth it! Ha ha!
Hope you all had a blessed holiday - whatever you celebrate!
Vicky
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Happy Holidays to everyone. My nails have started to break and peel so badly that they hurt. The breaks are going down rather than sideways. I bought some finger covers at the drug store but find they are way too tight and cut off the circulation and I have LE so tht's not going to work. Has anyone found anything to help with this? So far I've tried super glue and that does help but I would like to find something else. Any ideas anyone?
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I have 1 fingernail that turned color and I am losing it , I didn't smash it or anything, Its not sore . Is this a SE from Arimidex?
Nancy
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Did you do chemo? That sounds more like a chemo or vitamin deficiency thing to me. ??
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As much as I would love to blame everything on Arimidex/anastrozole, I have to agree with ruthbru. I've been on Arimidex/anastrozole for 3-1/2 years, and my fingernails and toenails are stronger than they've ever been.
OTOH, chemo (Taxotere/Cytoxan) was hard on them -- I didn't lose any nails, but they developed the usual white lines (one for each chemo tx) and became really brittle and flaky. It took awhile, but as soon as the last of those white lines grew out, my nails were fine.
Sometimes weak fingernails can indicate dietary problems -- how about protein?
otter
ETA: Sorry -- I wasn't reading very carefully. One single fingernail that looks bruised and is lifting off probably was bruised, or at least developed some bleeding in one of the tiny blood vessels beneath the nail. I'm not a doctor, though, and I haven't stayed in a Holiday Inn Express for at least a year; so it might be a good idea to check with a doc.
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Sandee - There was no excuse for my behaviror or statements. I heartily apologize. Christmas and cancer and bald had me meaner than a hornet. I am so sorry I stung out at you.
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Otter, are you saying that my bad diet, alcohol consumption and love of chocolate could be considered a bad diet and that's what's causing my fingernail problem? hmmmmm I'll have to think about that but I think there are so many potential side effects we could have from Arimidex that we all respond differently. My complaints with SE's from Arimidex are very small and I tolerate it very well so far but I'm reading on this forum that sometimes the bad SE's show up at 6 months or so. I guess I'll just keep glueing the nails for now and hope they get stronger in time. As for joint problems, when I'm at home I can grunt and groan when I get up but so far I remember when I'm out to keep my mouth shut when I get up from sitting. I figure the Arimidex is working and I feel pretty good.
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We went to a children's farm today and I realized I was walking like I was 90 years old. I must do better than this or "they" won't be taking me anywhere with them. Just kidding, but seriously I was groaning my way along the trail. I used to be told I had a spring in my step, and I did.
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Regarding nails - I lost 2 and have several lift very badly from chemo, but with Arimidex my nails have been stronger than ever in my life (I also have thyroid issues that cause nail problems). Just keep them polished to protect them as much as possible.
Good luck!
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My nails have been fine on Arimidex but I did loose all my nail and toe nails on chemo. I didn't loose my toenails though until six months after stopping chemo. So it is possible that it could still be a SE from your Chemo. I still have ridges in my thumb nails. I found a loose bandaid to be the best help. Once they loosen up I would cut as much as I could off. It felt better that way. Good Luck!
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I miss sleep. ;(
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perky I agree. My son suggested melatonin. I think I might try it! I am just so tired all the time.
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Taking 75 of Effexor, metatonin at night, have chill pads for the hot flashes and extra blankets for the cold flashes and I am also seeing an acupuncturist as well but it is way too soon to tell on that. All of it helps but I am still awake grabbing the pad or the blanket and taking another melatonin constantly. I'm just tired, I am sure a lot of the other things that are bothering me would dissapear if I could get a good night's sleep. Ugh.
Edited to add. The drugstore sells something called Midnight. It's metatonin and camomille and it melts in your mouth so you don't need water. Very handy to have on your nightstand.
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My nails are strongere than EVER - don't know if it's the AI, or al the Vitamin D3, and calcium, and other supplements - but strong and growing SO fast...
We won't talk about the toenails - will soon need to be shod!
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I'm starting arimidex on Monday. I was wondering if anyone has a preference for the time of day they take it. I take my blood pressure med at night before bed but thought I might take the arimidex in the morning. Any thoughts? Thank you...
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Barb I take mine right before bed b/c I take thyroid meds first thing in the am. Don't know if it makes a difference ... I have hot flashes all day long LOL
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Barb--I take mine in the am with my morning pills. I started out taking that way and have never changed. I do have hot flashes day and night, so I'm not sure it would make any difference for me. Many others have found taking it at bedtime is easier. There's no predicting, so pick a time and go with it for a few weeks, if you have issues try the other time and see if it makes a difference for you.
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Hi Sande;
Thaknk you for your response on vit D, for those of you ion arimidex and having joint pain should try Vit D as it has been proven in a St. Loius University study to help with joint pain. I still take flax and when I see my oncologist I will ask her again for an estrogen panel to be sure its in check.I am noticing in my yoga I cannot do strenous exercise as well as I used to - muscle tone is not there I get charley horses at night too. I have servere arthritis in my neck and concerned it may worsen over time due to armidex. I began a vegan diet after I was done with treatment and hoping that better nutritoin will prevent recurrance too. Have you all seen the fim Forks over Knives? It shows a stage IV breast cancer survivor who used only diet and survived her disease 30 plus years. Check out the film. It is a documentay on the China study which links meat and dairy to cancer growth- as well the research is done by a doc from the Cleveland Clinic.
take care and be well'
Marcia
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Thanks everyone for your nail suggestions. I did try having manicures but because my nails are so bad they have to put a temporary fill on top of the bad nails and that just makes them thinner when they grow out. I guess they have their standards for doing manis and mine are way to low to operate on as is. lol Kitty, I tried the bandaids too but they get so dirty that I was getting comments. I'm like a child in mud. Don't know where it comes from.
I take my Arimidex in the am with my other pills. My onc said to take it the same time of day whenever I take it. Mam, I take 2000 units of Vit. D but my onc said no calcium for me other than what I get in food. I think my level in blood tests is too high, maybe that's part of the problem.
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