Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
Comments
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I also have had more headaches on this pill. They even did a CT and found nothing. Great but heacahes or not easy to live with.
I have a pollen one for the last two days otter...feel your pain. rain please. Three more days till I get my thumbs checked.
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Thank you for mentioning Buspar for anxiety. I am an anxious person anyway, but after being on arimidex for almost six months, I find my anxiety level has increased. I have been on Celexa for over four years. Perhaps it is time for me to try something else.
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Otter I am glad to hear you have some handle on this. I take Ergomar, an ergot medicine to stop migraines dead in their tracks. Now I am told it is not being manifactured any longer. I am really fearful of having to hunt around for what will work for me.If I am not under unusual stress I get migraines only a few times a year. My migraines begin with everything looking really pretty, then an area where I cannot see, it is a hole in my left field of vision. Then squiggle lines, my ability to think starts to go,I can't read, then my ability to form words or even understand how to get help or use a telephone goes. I asked the neurologist how do I know I haven't had a stroke? He told me I will know when the migraine ends! Migraine is a a real and serious medical problem. I rarely ever have any real pain because I get to the Ergomar before it gets to that stage. The times I have gone to the pain level I have needed to go to the hospital. I feel so bad for people who have unusual symptoms because it takes longer to be diagnosed. I most often get migraine when I have been under extreme stress and the stress ends. Then I get a migraine. Also if I sleep too long, whamo.
Otter take good care of yourself.
Hugs Ginger
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I try not to be superstitious but I have been reluctant to come tell you all I seem to be doing better on Aromasin than the generic Arimidex. I do get a mild headache every day but my other symptoms are much milder than before I went on my break. I sure hope it stays this way.
Hugs to everyone
GInger
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Yeah, Ginger!
Great news. I still have a few months b4 the 5 year mark on Arimidex - and wondering what will be next. Good to hear about Aromsin - hope it continues to work for you!
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FYI....They took me off armidex about 2 weeks ago because I started my period. I have had a total relief of all symptoms. I need to start on tamoxofen soon. I am loving this medicine break. I feel so good!
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Hello - I started Arimidex less than a week ago and I am experiencing fatigue. Everything I do is an effort. I have looked through numerous posts for this thread and I am not seeing where this was addressed. Can anyone out there tell me how they dealt with this SE if they experienced it?
Thank you!!
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I have. I haven't been the same since I began the program but I have adapted to it because life is beautiful and I want to be here. I am 3 months from finishing. My son has gotten married and graduated from college. My parents have both died. I am retiring from being a librarian. I am going home to the USA. I am packing up and getting ready to do something different. I have had a hysterectomy and that was my last hospital stay. I take my pills religiously, daily. I have taken loads of vitamins, changed to a vegan, walked until my knee gave out, enjoyed myself and kept one foot in front of the next. I just turned 65. I love being here so I will do whatever I must. Five years goes quickly. I promise.
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kathylyon
exercise, good nutrition, more exercise, and there are times when ASTHENIA ( what the company calls the SE we call fatigue) is just a part of the process. Seems to come & go, but it is DEFINITELY an SE that many women experiene. I've just learned to live with it, and like most of us, appreciate we have this EFFECTIVE medication to keep BC away ( we all hope)
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SunflowersMA, glad you said that because that was my first thought - EXERCISE. Good nutrition, yes, but that is different for some as some are vegan, some are organic/natural, some are gluten-free. You have to find what works for you but EXERCISE is extremely important. I believe it makes many SE's, if they don't go away, become manageable. Granted, not everyone will get the same relief and some won't get any relief and have to change but EXERCISE is a must on this journey.
Gingerbrew, I'm not sure why you were reluctant to post your change to aromasin. All ideas are welcome here as different things work for all of us. Please don't hesitate to let us know how you are doing as we are thrilled when you post about a success.
kathylyon, I know you feel fatigue and I'm not downplaying it but if you can take even a short daily walk you may find your fatigue gets better. Hard to make youself do it, I know, but give it a try. You may find you walk a little further each day and the endorphins help alleviate the fatigue.
mcgaffey - love your post. Attitude also plays a big part in this journey.
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I second patoo's exercise advice. If there is a magic bullet; exercise is it. And for many reasons: it helps minimize the SEs of anti-hormonals, is the biggest thing you can do for yourself to reduce your recurrence risk, it lowers your risk of tons of other health problems, it makes you look and feel better...the list is endless.
I echo mcgaffey's sentiments. I also have also taken my pills religiously. So many wonderful and interesting things have happened in my life during the last five years, and I am profoundly grateful that I have been around to enjoy them.
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To all you wrote in reply to my concerns about fatigue - thank you so much. All positive thinkers. I do walk at least once a day but after reading Mcgaffey's and Sunflowers posts, I got off my butt and went for another wall and felt alot better. Today I do not feel the fatigue like I did yesterday. I was surprised ( and depressed) that for only being on the medicine for 6 days that I could already feel that SE. I like to exercise anyway but this will give me the added incentive that I need. Thank you again to you all - what a great support team.
Mcgaffey - Congrats on only 3 more months and for moving back to the US.
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Kathy, thank you. You will be fine. Keep walking and being positive. Take the knocks and make them o.k. It is a powerful drug you are taking and it is working a miracle for all its faults. Let's pray for better drugs in the future for all our daughters. But we are lucky, actually. My best.
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patoo - sucha good point about thr different ways of eating we all have - reminds me to say again how being GLUTEN -FREE was the 'final key" to ending all the joint pain. Amazing - within a few weeks, I went from taking about 10 ibeprofen a day to NONE. Nada, zilch! And all by stopping all gluten - no wheat, whole wheat - WATCH OUT FOR SOY SAUCE, and licorice, oh, my favorite candy - who knew? WHEAT! I'm not celiac - and join the growing numbers of women taking an AI who are feeling SO MUCH BETTER being gluten free.
Lots of good gluten free pasta products.
Also, I'm dairy free - except when I am any place and there is a lump of cheese ;-))))
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Can anyone list the good gluten free pasta products please?
Thank you Ginger
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ah, gingerbrew - there was a link to a website - will ahve to go look in the pantry for the product name ;-)
www.quinoa.net
I also use corn pasta from www.deboles.com
Both are stocked at my health food co-op.
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I am wondering if Arnica gel would help anyone suffering from joint pain. I got some last night as wiped out cycling on Sunday. (Don't ask: white out hail plus RR tracks.)
Anyway, my ankle is much better. I could barely walk on it yesterday. This is the same ankle I injured last June, so was really worried. But think it will be just fine.
I thought black storm clouds were a bad sign. Now I know that white angry clouds are even worse. They mean serious HAIL could be headed your way, and you can't always beat the storm back.
(Good news is that I got rescued by a guy, or rather by his wife and daughter. He called for them to pick us up. I wonder if he has heard the end of "picking up strange women on the Interurban Trail"! I was so grateful for their help.)
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Claire-cute story and glad to hear you're ok. Where do you get Amica gel? I have a lot of shoulder trouble (one's frozen, the other aches) and perhpas this would help. Thanks.
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Claire - after my back surgery, my sugeon recommended massage with ARNICA GEL. Have used it for years - just the best for IMMEDIATE injury.
AND, learned from my acupunturist, that after the initial injury ( R, I, C, E: rest, ice, compression, elevation) that the TIGER BALM patches - HUGE, easily cover the ankle - and stay on for about 24 hours - are FABULOUS. I use Tiger Balm, but of course it comes off on all fabrics - well, this PATCH of TIGER BALM stays on, no staining, under socks - pefect. So healing.
Glad you're okay. BTW, I get my Arnica Gel at Whole Foods - their 365 "generic" brand is a pretty good price. Most good health food store, even some pharmacies now will sell it. Homeopathic, so you want to keep it away from anything menthol, or minty.
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SunflowersMA, no licorice - say it ain't so! I am not trying to go gluten free but am cutting it out where it is easy like checking labels and choosing gluten-free over another. I did find I felt better when I fasted in January and had absolutely no dairy so may try and get back there. I'm due to hit Whole Foods this weekend so will look for the Arnica Gel. Maybe it will help my ankle where the swelling won't go away. (Hmmm, wonder if that has anything to do with going out after work tonight for a walk/run?)
Claire_I_S - sorry about your fall. Funny about his wife coming to the rescue. Would have loved to be a fly on that bedroom wall that evening.
I contribute my lack of joint pain to the Vit D3. Seems when I started to supplement with 5000 IUs/day the joint pain went away. Funny how different things work for each of us.
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sorry to say, patoo, it's true - licorice made with wheat! Aaaughhh...I was SO unhappy when I looked at the ingredients - and this was really GOOD licorice, Trader Joes Kookabora, from Australia, I LOVE IT.
I was taking 5,000ius of D3 & still having joint pain - until I went gluten free. Relaly think it's the combination of many things for many of us...now I'm afraid to change ANYTHING cuz I feel pretty good
Still that $#^%@$ fatigue ( asthenia?) but it's still doable. 0 -
Phooey! (about the licorice)
You're right about it probably being a combination rather than any one thing. I'm certain exercise is part of the combo.
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I agree Bogie,here we were just happy & healthy and this stupid
Bc swoops down on us like a little chicken being eaten by an eagle. I did have headache really bad and nausea after a wk on Arimi but most stuff gone sometimes tired and got horrid hot flashes but rest of side effects mostly gone.Thank goodness Patoo,no blood clot those can get serious!
best wishes to all for a happy and healthy week,we need to make sure the beast of cancer never darkens our door again! Oh yeah,see if your doc will get you some Tyl with codeine #3 and Flexeril, I prefer Valium but they dont like to give it out,they say its addictive.
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Ouch Claire, ice and elevate!
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Okay saw the ortho Dr. this morning. Surgery it is in about two weeks. Right hand first. LOL because he said he had never herd any correlation of medicine causing trigger finger. I said it was mighty funny then that so many of us develop it after starting on this pill. He did say it is more common in woman. gee so we just are all so lucky to get it right after starting this darn pill.
Oh and of course my thumb that was hurting so bad and made me finally make that appointment was unlocked today and it wouldn't lock for him. Of course as soon as I got to the car and cranked it up..yep it locked. grrr. He could see how sore it still was to touch.
So who has had surgery and what can I expect. He will be doing the thumb and the middle finger. on my LE side first.
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YIKES - KITTYDOG - I hope you're getting a second opinion before going thru with surgery.
CTS, TRIGGER FINGER is a VERY COMMON SE of all the AI's - mine went away with treatment, stopping Arimidex for 6 weeks
Surgery seems SO drastic - I know we each have to make our own choices, decisions, but SO SURPRISED a doc woldn't know correlation with AI's - and these hand symptoms....
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KittyDog, I had trigger thumb in my left hand five years ago long before I had BC. I saw an orthopedist who tried cortisone injections twice and they relieved the trigger thumb action for a few months, but the problem always returned. Finally, the orthopedist decided to do the trigger thumb release surgery. I had to keep my hand wrapped in a large bandage for two days so the hand was basically unusable then. I had to wait 11 days for the stitches to come out and that was not a pleasant time. As soon as the stitches came out though, my hand was almost back to normal and the trigger action was gone. After a few weeks, everything was fine. About a year later, there was not even a noticeable scar. I wish you the same good luck.
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Thank You Elizabeth. He said had I done something six months ago when it started the shots may have helped but they lock now to the point I have to pry them open. Make me angry my Oncologist didn't send me when I started complaining. grrrr. The thumb that was moving this morning fine is now locked again and I can't get it to move. The other hand is just as bad. I can't stretch my fingers out as in spread them all apart with out the thumb locking in the up position...I am a little double jointed in my fingers. That might makes things worse.
I did do a month break in 2010 and a two week break from Femara to this last June-July. I can't quite remember when I started it now. The knee pain got better just not the fingers.
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This is my first posting, researching ways to deal with arimidex, and now deciding I need to get off effexor. Glad to see all the info on trigger finger... THAT has been a challenge! A couple non-surgical methods have helped. I use calcium citrate plus
two in the am, two in the pm. Has helped immeasurably with muscle cramps. But, the trigger finger did not quite resolve, and with using my hands alot, trigger thumb was quite bad. Thank God for the internet. I tried using a thumb splint (sort of like a 1/2 glove that immobilizes thumb and keeps it flexed). Within a few hours the pain was greatly reduced. In less than 2 weeks, have been able to go for long stretches of time without wearing it (handy when cooking, canning, gardening, farming, sewing, typing, etc.). I wish KittyDog much luck!0 -
Hi Mary Carol
Welcome aboard to the club no one wants to join.
I was on Arimidex generic for about 6 months and severe side effects. I was on a 6 week break and now on Aromasin. I have very few side effects now and none of the pain I had. I have taken Effexor all along. I take 150 mg of Effexor every day. I have no side effects from Effexor and am glad to take it at this time because I sure don't want depression creeping back up on me.
I do have neuropathy since chemo and it is not getting worse, just not improving. During the use of Arimidex I had severe pain in both hands, knees, back and more. I felt to defeated that I would need to stop the meds or live like an invalid. I am so releived that the Aromasin is not causing me the SE's. If this medicine works as well as it is claimed then I sure want to be able to use it too.
Good luck to you, there is lots of great info on this message board. Make this topic a favorite and you will be able to find us easily. I lost several topics when OI first started because the board moves fast.
Laters, Ginger
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