Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
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Hello from Boston -
Wow! Happy hour tonight! Love it! Glad to hear that I am not the only moody / down person on this drug. . . . I am starting to believe more and more that exercise is a big bullet...... Keep moving ladies! As much as you can. . .
Started back to work this week and jumped into a biz trip. . . . I must say that I miss my energy and my "old self" ... Sat in meetings today and felt like everyone wanted to check out my chest! Hahahaha...
Hope y'all are having a great week!
Kelleyod0 -
All this talk about prunes reminds me of an old recipe that's still in use here in Maine--the Boston Bomb.
In a juice glass mix 1 ounce of prune juice, 1 ounce of Milk of Magnesia, fill will hot water and chug. Works every time, but don't plan on going anywhere that day. . . .
edited because I can't spell correctly this morning!
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Too funny Mainer! They should let you drink that recipe before a colonoscopy instead of the prep stuff.
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WOW, unusual for MOds to have to delete from this thread, guess I "missed" a "good one."
I use Costco Kirland ( own brand) says "Sunsweet" but don't know if that's a brand name. Like them best with a little fresh lime, or lemon, just too sweet on their own.
Kelleyod- you're NOT seeing Boston at it's best! It has been SO SO SO SO cold, rainy the past week or so, honestly, it feels like the beginning of March was supposd to feel. Almost a frost out here last night. SO strange. Such an early Spring, all plants, fruits weeks early, now SO COLD amost ready to turn on heat. Just weird.. hope you get nicer weather back in FL. Know JUST what you mean about the "lack of energy" - no matter howactive I am, I know it's not just "age" making the difference. Still, appreciate having this medication, and all the good advice of my fellow A Team members.
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The MOds deleted post was a promotion for a webinar having to do with BC research funding or something close to that. So you really didn't miss anything really good. I noticed the same post on several,different threads last night. I also noticed that Dunesleeper started a new thread under advocacy with this info if you are really curious.
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Thank you for remembering that. I was wracking my brain for what it could have been since we generally are quite a pleasant (although estrogen deprived) group!
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ruthbru LOL - how can one be pleasant AND estrogen deprived
but, I do agree with you, that's why I was so surprised...just ate my prunes....yummy.
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As the Avis ad used to say, "We try harder." 0
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I haven't posted for awhile but I have a question. What the heck is with my left ring finger ? It feels like there is a catch in it. And naturally, I am left handed. Plus when I wake up, my left hand is curled up and it takes a bit of work to get it back to normal.
(Boy, wouldn't "normal" be great??
Any tips on coping with the joint pain? I have been on Arimidex for 1 year and 3 months and the side effects just keep on coming. Also (it just might be in my head) I seem to have a very low energy level now. Is it connected?
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tedmom, The problem with your left ring finger sounds like trigger finger, but of course, only a doctor can tell you with certainty. Trigger fingers and thumbs are a side effect of arimidex. I have been taking arimidex for eight months and I started having trigger thumb in my right hand a few months ago. Also, I believe I have deQuervain's tendonitis in my left hand. Like you, my hands are at their worst when I frst awaken in the morning. I had trigger thumb in my left hand five years ago and cortisone injections fixed the problem for a while. Eventually, I needed surgery to fix it. It was simple surgery and my hand recovered completely.
As for the low energy level, what time of the day do you take the arimidex? I used to take mine in the morning and I found I was very tired during the day. My MO suggested that I take the pill at night instead. I still get somewhat tired, but I have more energy now.
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Thanks Elizabeth for letting me know that I'm not alone. And I take the Arimidex in the morning. Plus a lot of calcium, etc. I will try taking in the evening and see if it makes any difference. I miss my energy level. Does your joint pain stay in your fingers? Mine started in a knee and seems to move around my body. But it seems to be stuck in my left hand for now. What does eveyone use for pain?
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Ok, I finally did it. Raisins are soaking. Could not find white raisins - went with golden - will that work? I did cover them . . . .and stuck them in refrigerator. . . . should they be somewhere else?
Two weeks right? hahahaha - I'm laughing at myself for trying this but what the heck?
Tedmom - I'm new to taking the Arimidex but I have these little "knee twinges" of pain that do seem to float around the body. Odd huh? I am not only taking calcium, but vit D3 and some supplements to help inflammation . . .just FYI.
ruthbru - hahahaha - very funny. . . . but sunflowers is right! How CAN we be pleasant?
more later - hope everyone is fighting the good fight!
kelleyod
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MamaV...... I agree. Here's a toast to you, just sitting waiting for the celtics and the heat to play some basketball. We all deserve a break once in a while. (Apple Martini, by the way)
Take care.
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Kelleyod- I'm not the raisin/ gin expert but from what I do know you are on the right track. Golden raisins and white raisins are the same thing, I believe. I have been told 1 week and or 2 weeks. Obviously there is no research on this so take your pick. I'm planning on starting my raisin/ gin therapy tomorrow. Like you said, what the heck. Can't hurt.
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Speaking of no estrogen, here are some quotes I thought we all might enjoy (or relate to anyway
). Next mood swing: 6 minutes.
All stressed out and no one to choke.
How can I miss you if you won't go away?
I'm out of estrogen and I have a gun.
I don't suffer from insanity; I enjoy every minute of it.
I used to have a handle on life, but it broke.
Out of my mind. Back in five minutes.
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Thanks ladies, i needed some chuckles tonight.
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tedmom, Yes, I get joint pain in my knee sometimes, but the main problem is in my hands. More good news - The arimidex appears to be giving me high blood pressure. My PCP will see me again in two months and if the BP is still elevated, I will have to start on BP medication. Another pill!
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tedmom - yes, you are in good company - I think ALL of us have had the "hand" thing sometime playing on the A Team. I went to a physiotherapist for treatment, she gave me exercises to do, and WRIST SPLINTS, WRIST SPLINTS, can't say that one loud enough especially for sleeping - whew, what a difference. Wore tham during the day for several months, but then I had trigger thumbs, both, hand to manually move one with the other, couldn't even move either thumb. Made me understand more deeply the importance of the evolutionary "step" of the opposable thumb
Seriously, my fingers are all FINE now, I'm back to making gemstone jewelry. No pain, yes, swelling, think that's just part of the present & future for a while. Low energy, yup. I do take my meds at night, think that helps.
ACUPUNCTURE -that's me being a broken record, eased, and them eliminated all my joint pain, especially in my knees. Excellent for treating inflammation. Also, think being gluten free was a vitally important step for me too.
Check your Vitamin D3 level. ALSO, have a TSH ( thyroid stimulating hormone) blood test - TSH should be below 2.5
Yes, BP higher, cholesteral higher, FATTER, and STILL HERE, enjoying myself. It's all worth it.
Thanks for the chuckles, ruthbru, love them.
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ruthbru...many a true word................LOL
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My two week break from anastrozole is up. I have felt great and had much more energy, so I dread starting on letrozole tonight! Letrozole is the generic of Femara. I hope my body tolerates it better.
Thanks for the quotes, Ruth. Humor is next to exercise on my list of things that help.
Have a great weekend, everyone. It's summer and the livin' is easy!
Barb
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Thanks, Ruth....sent that to my girls. Great way to start the weekend. Next up....my ginned up raisins. (Which, BTW, is the French word for "grape.")
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My experience with Femara and now Arimidex is that these are the most horrific drugs I've ever taken....My cancer is estrogen fueled so therefore these...I feel as though I'm losing my mind..one minute emotional rollercoaster then Mad and 12 ft tall and fearless. I don't know how long I can take it..I'm fine if I'm alone and away from any stress, but who can do that....I don't want to shorten my percentage of coverage against a recurrence, but what do we do????
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Ruthbru-I resemble many of those...
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sprinkle...why are you taking Arimidex if you are ER-? Is it because of the HER2+?
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HER2 won't have anything to do with it. Did you type in the stats wrong? If you are estrogen negative, you would get no gain by taking an anti-hormonal!
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Sprinkle, if you're not on them, I'd highly recommend antidepressants. I used to be one who didn't like to take a lot of pills, but chemo changed all that, when I was taking up to 15 different pills a day to deal with SE. Since my DX, I've been on a mild antidepressant, and I think it helps with the mood swings.
I'd definitely talk to one of your docs about your issues.
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ruth...I agree...didn't really think it would apply to HER2+ because of the herceptin but not sure.
Perhaps it WAS a typo.
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I switched from Arimidex to Aromasin (generic). Other than fatique is anyone having hand/finger/arm tingling. Is it causing nerve damage? Does it go away in time?
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Bogie,
A while after I wake up, I get pins & needles in my hands, from BACK STIFFNESS, I have to stretch, do "shoulder shrugs" all sorts of movements to loosen up my upper back muscles. Most likely very stiff muscles, body getting used to new medication, but AS ALWAYS - let your oncologist know what's happening.
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