Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
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Thanks Ruthbru for the anecdotal example. I've been doing strength training for more years than I can count. I fell off the wagon a little after a shoulder injury and them surgery a year and a half later (took that long to give up PT in favor of surgery) but have been back on for months. I walk because my back keeps me from running and I do some yoga and pilates so I'm doing a lot in the areas that might help with bone strength. I still can't help but worry. I'll see what my next DEXA in February comes out like.
Thanks.
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Well ladies, I went for my first LONG walk in over a year this morning. I had been having lower back pain and shin pain and just couldn't go too far. I have been taking Claritin with the Arimidex and it sure helped...no pain. I stopped the Claritin 3 days ago so I was taking a chance but it's been great!
I hope it doesn't start again tomorrow but if it does, I will start the Claritin again! So far the only SE of the walk was a honking big water blister on my toe. Gotta tell ya, I feel like I finally did something positive for myself. I will have to keep it up!
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Good job! If you want to get some good exercise motivation, check out the 'Lets Post Our Daily Exercise' thread on the Fitness Forum.
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schatzi14: that is excellent! Exercise is one of the great ways to fend off SEs from this stuff. It also helps oxygenate your red blood cells, helps with sleep, and helps fight cancer too. My activity today was my weekly swim in SF Bay; today, besides having beautiful weather, the America's Cup first round heats were going on right behind me. I thought to grab my waterproof camera and got some great shots. Since I knew parking would be crazy, I spent yesterday working on my bike -- so biked there and back. One long hike this evening, and I'll call it a day.
Susan
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Thanks Ruthbru...
seb...you are amazing, such spirit! I have a few aches and pains today so I took another Claritin...my 3 herniated discs in my neck were jarred a tad and revolted a bit but I will keep it up at least 3 days a week for now. Gonna pour here today...FINALLY!
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Schatzi: Hope you feel better soon!
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I restarted arimidex yesterday... wanted to give it a fair chance - Had a little bout of cellulits last week so I didn't start the arimidex because trying new antibiotic... I was allergic to it.. Now that is cleared up I started it.
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kji...thanks, I appreciate it
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well done, schatzi-hope the aches are alleviated with the claritin.
sebm9-what's the water temp in the bay? do you wear a wet suit?
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Good afternoon ladies, I haven't posted in a while - but I have a question, does anyone have pain in their back shoulder blades feels like someone taking their fist and just twisting it in their shoulder? That's my pain right now not so much legs and hips although I grunt and groan when I stand up. I'm just trying to see if there are any exercises or anything to help work the pain out. I am really getting tired of being tired and hurting - got a long way to go looking for a light at the end of the tunnel. OK pity party over! - Hope everyone has a great week and holiday too!
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Takaiser: Yes, I have them sometimes, but they seem to be exercised induced. Like someone punched me in the back in the shoulder blades. Hurts for several days.
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Tskaiser75, well I can identify with the grunting and groaning for sure. I had pain in top of shoulders, but more centralized in the neck area, and right across low back this a.m. This is the second time Ive had it in both these areas. That said I just about get aching everywhere but not all at once.0 -
spunkyboobs (I just love your name!): the water temp in the bay is about 55 degrees; it was about as warm as the air early yesterday morning! I do use a wetsuit. Last year for the Swim Across America event I used a 5mm wetsuit and had no trouble keeping warm; in fact, I was on tamoxifen at the time and had hot flashes as I swam. Not only was it a difficult swim, I was wildly uncomfortable. (I even had a tamoxifen charlie horse in the middle of the swim...the only time I've ever been afraid of being in the water. Very, very scary.) This year I am trying a 3/2 wetsuit; it's thinner overall but especially in the armpits and behind the knees, so it is easier to swim. I definitely notice the cold a little more, but much easier to swim.
I no longer have hot flashes or leg cramps, and seem to have recovered well from all of my exercise yesterday. Today is my day "off" for the week with just a hike with my pup.
I had a very rugged time on tamoxifen - it was hands down the hardest part of my BC treatments. I had every SE in the book, in heavy doses. I went from completely pre-menopausal to completely post-menopausal in a span of about 3 weeks...and am so glad that anastrazol has been relatively easy for me, esp. once I figured out the Claritin trick. I really hope it stays this way, I've only got 2.5 years to go if current research holds.
If you want to see photos from my swim yesterday, here is the link to my facebook album of the swim http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.340428119380668.79082.100002404474878&type=3&l=f4daf265e4
If you want to read more about the Swim Across America swim, there's a link at http://www.swimacrossamerica.org/site/TR/OpenWater/SanFrancisco?px=1141508&pg=personal&fr_id=1531 There are swims all around the country including pool swims and some open-water swims.
And, while I'm at it, if you want to see photos from my Penguin Cold Caps experience during chemo, the link is http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.102992449790904.6332.100002404474878&type=3&l=d97c5ccbfe
If you click on the thumbnails, you should be able to see the captions.
Susan
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Thanks Susan- Good luck with the swim. I look forward to spending time on your links (I often live vicariously through others amazing feats).
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Sebm9 - Wow - You go GIRL!!!
Question: How long before your hot flashes started??? I'm only 3 days in and it is really bad this morning...
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Gma...Did you have hot flashes with menopause too? I didn't have very many nor do I have any with Arimidex. I wonder if they are related perhaps? I am beginning my 7th month on A.
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Schatzl - I had a hysterectomy when I was 28 but doc didn't take my ovaries and yes I used to have hot flashes off and on - the ones this morning seem 10x worse than I remember... my face feels like it is on fire and all the fans go on even though it is a comfortable 65 in the house (4am)..I must be taking the jacket off and on about 20 times this first 2 hours working at my computer job... Oh well, as long as the headache, I got last time I tried, doesn't show up, I guess I can deal...
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Gma...I had headaches for about the first week (nothing unbearable) then it was OK. I had the same things as you at age 38 (vaginal hysterectomy... one ovary was removed 10 years later) and I still didn't have too many hot flashes but when I did they lasted about 20 minutes. I continued to get them rarely before Arimidex.
I take my A first thing in the morning to hopefully avoid insomnia and don't want hot flashes at bedtime either. Whenever you are taking it, perhaps switch to another time and see if that helps.
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Hello all, I am newly diagnosed and will be starting radiation next week and then the doc would like me to take Arimidex/anastrazole for 5 yrs and also zometa IV every 6 months. I was diagnosed with osteopenia 5 yrs ago, at age 50, and recent dexa came back with osteoporosis (Even though I religiously take calcium and vitamin D....and I exercise daily w/yoga...what a bummer.)
Does anyone have any feedback on having taken Arimidex and Zometa?
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Since it's the lack of estrogen that causes the hot flashes i wouldn't be surprised if there is a similar pattern (menopause and AI). I have rarely had a hot flash but with menopause I had, relative to what others relate, mild to moderate night sweats. I wasn't even over the night sweats when I started Arimidex. They got worse for a couple of months but are uncomfortable and annoying but fairly mild now.
It's almost like my body got used to having them at a certain time. I used to go to bed at 9 PM and I always got a night sweat upon going to bed, Now, even if I'm not going to bed at 9 PM, I get a night sweat at 9 PM. I also get them when i wake in the morning. When I get them during the night it's always when I wake to go to the bathroom. I often wonder if I have to get up to pee so I get a night sweat or I get a night sweat and it wakes me up so I figure i may as well get up and go to the bathroom. Anyway...My naturopathic oncologist recommended a cup of sage tea for night sweats and it has made a difference. not a huge one, like i don't get them, but a difference.
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Joan, you might want to get the opinion of an endocrinologist. If you already have osteoporosis, you might want to think of tamoxifen instead (this is what a friend of mine in your same situation was advised to do).
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ruthbru, that's why I haven't mentioned the possibility of a depression/anastrozole connection to my doctor(s); I'm sure they'd just write it off as "you've been through a lot; it can't be the powerful anti-hormonal drug you're taking, it's just your imagination."
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I am in a simliar situation as you, Joan, and did go see an endocrinologist. Osteopenia 5 years ago at 55 and now osteoporosis as I am starting my 5 years on anastrosole. Started June 1. But before I saw the endocrinologist I decided to stay on the aromatase inhibitor (AI). In general, the side effects of Tamoxifen are considered more dangerous for postmenopausal women particularly if you still have your uterus. There is less risk of endometrial cancer and blood clots with an AI. Also some evidence that AI is more effective at preventing reoccurance for post meno women. The Endo guy recommended upping my Vitamin D intake to 5,000 iu daily and increase my calcium intake. Thought I was getting enough in my diet but need to work a little harder at it- 1200-1500 mg per day. Also working harder with weight bearing and strength training exercises. Need to do this anyway just to be fit and keep the weight in control. He also advised Reclast yearly or as needed and I got my first infusion on Monday. No SEs as of yet. My concern about breast cancer, endometrial cancer and blood clots far outweighs my fear of osteoporosis at this point. So that's my plan but of course everyone has to work out what is best and feels right for them. Everyone's situation is unique.
Oh and remember, just having osteoporosis is not the main danger, the main danger is risk of fracture. Unless you have other risk factors, 55 yo. risk of fracture is usually pretty low even with osteoporosis. You may want to goggle FRAX score to get on web site to calculate risk. You will need numbers from your Dexa scan. Even at age 60 my calculated risk is pretty low so my goal is to arrest the progress of my osteoporosis and therefore control my fracture risk as I age.. At this point I think it is worth a shot. In a couple years, if things look different I can change the plan. But there is pretty good evidence that biphoshonates are pretty effective.
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etherize, No matter what may be causing your depression, it is real. Certainly, there are a few here who have had bad emotional reactions to the medication and others who have found their depression triggered by situational, emotional stressors. Any of this can reck havoc on brain chemistry. I would urge you to talk to a professional about it. I believe that depression is a chemical imbalance or malfunction and deserves to be addressed and treated.
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Dobie: Thanks for the good info. PS--Did you get a chance to meet my sister yet?
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I get plenty of hot flashes, but not any predictable time. Sometimes they are so bad I have sweat dripping off my face-this is a problem as I do public speaking for my job. Hoping the onc can recommend something-I'm going to try the sage tea, too.
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Spunky: I hear ya. I had 4 seminars I had to do last week, and I stripped down to my tank during the presentations. I thought i was going to pass out. The hot projector didn't help much either.
PS--WHere do you buy sage tea?
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Mostlysew, I was just trying to figure out how I got those 3-4 days with no hot flashes but still cant figure out what caused it. Its hard being a scientist when I'm not.
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etherize, I agree with dobie. If you feel depressed....you feel depressed, and it should be taken seriously. It is certainly not just your imagination!
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Thanks dobie and ruthbru, I did mention it to my doctor and got a prescription for anti-depressants. I just didn't tell her that I thought it could be caused by anastrozole (this is my PCP, not my MO) as I was pretty sure she'd pooh-pooh the connection.
But I was curious if others had a similar experience with this drug. It makes sense to me that there's a hormonal connection, especially since when we go through menopause that can trigger depression.
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