Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
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I was put on arimidex on sept 11. Since we were delaying surgery, but when I saw my BS on oct. 9, he said to discontinue it. Then after surgery they started me back on it.
I'm wondering if that was just the hospital, because I was on it previously. My understanding was, I'd start again after chemo. I see the surgeon on Tuesday. I'll ask him then. In the meantime, I don't want to add anything that makes me so stiff, so I'm discontinuing it until I speak to them.
Blessings
Paula0 -
Aug242007 - Congrats!!!!
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Aug242007-congrats! i'm going to use your one-more-week mantra. was so sore last night, couldn't even bend my fingers this morning-but I'll take it one more week...
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Paula, the usual procedure is to take it AFTER chemo. Have you been consulting with an oncologist? Surgeons don't usually know that much about anything but surgery.
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Ruth~when we made plans in August to hold off on surgery, when we thought I'd have insurance, BS sent me upstairs to my Mo to have her put me on arimidex. He did that because of the delay in surgery, he wanted me to at least be doing something. Then when I had my last BS appointment to schedule surgery, they told me to stop everything, especially low dose aspirin, multivitamin, arimidex, and fish oil.
So my assumption was, I would go back on it after treatment, but the hospital put me on it right away, the night of surgery. I'm not going to take it anymore until I speak to my BS on Tuesday. The hospital had a list of all my previous meds, so maybe they thought I was still supposed to be on it.
I can take my Percocet, and flexerall every 4 hours. It's just past 6:30 pm, and I haven't taken it since 5am. Of course, I'll take it if I need to, but I'm glad I don't need it constantly.
Blessings
Paula0 -
Hi Aug242007,
Congratulations and many thanks for truly described tormenting issues when healing with AI! I too was saying to me at the beginning: try to endure for two years only, now I decided for three, let me see in advance. Awaiting to pass these five years and living in everyday fear of recurrence. On the hormonal sites ones more the same story: ladies at the start complaining and despairing, helping each other with suggestions, reconciling, acclimatizing….Deeply mowed about ladies from Forum Stage 4 with no complains. Getting older is a heavy experience for every woman – for hormonal ladies multiply. Thinking in thirty years – or sooner yet it will be said: “Oh, what were they doing with these poor women”
Sorry English isn’t my native language!
Greetings from Europe and best wishes to all hormonal sisters!
Usha
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Yikes, I hope you can get this all straighted out Paula.
I am happy that I am having the opportunity to get older!
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me too!!! even if I do ache all over.
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Aug24: Congrats!
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Hello all! I started Arimidex on Sept 20 and all seems ok so far. I do have a question about hands going numb in the middle of the night. I wake up at least 2 to 3 times because of the numbness in my fingers. Oc said it could be a result of chemo but I wonder if it is the Arimidex. Any comments?? Thanks
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I have that (neuropathy) in my toes....for me it was caused by the Taxol...but mine is ever present.
Does your numbness go away when you get up?
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Hey Januryice - Yorkiemom has mentioned this too. As you might remember (as we did chemo around the same time period), I had and still have neuropathy in my feet and some in my fingertips. I started generic Aromasin mid August and recently found myself waking up with a numb left hand. This is over and above the numbness caused by chemo. It is totally different as it is the kind of numbness that goes away when you start moving your hand...whereas the chemo numbness is permanent (well, atleast, hopefully, until it goes away). I had this sort of numbness - which is more like carpal tunnel, about 5-6 years ago and wore wrist braces (can purchase at any drug store). This really helped, as well as draping your hand over a pillow at night. For some reason, the hormone blockers have caused this "carpal tunnel" stuff to reappear. Yorkiemom has also gotten relief from the wrist braces. For sure, I think the AI drugs (not chemo) and this numbness ARE connected.
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Back to the Vitamin D discusssion, I met with my MO recently, and I told her my biggest complaint with Arimidex was the bone and joint pain, especially shoulder, hips and fingers. She said a study had shown that, for women with LOW levels of Vitamin D, megadoses (30,000 units/week) could help alleviate some of the pain. She tested me and I, surprisingly, was at the high/normal range on "D," so she said just to continue with the vitamin and calcium/D supplement.
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Carpal tunnel syndrome is a known side effect of the AIs like arimidex.
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Hi Januaryice, I also started Arimidex on Sept. 20 ( My 31 wedding anniversary) and I have been having the same problem. My right hand feels numb during the night and also my toes in the same side feel very funny. I am not sure if they feel numb or hot or thingly, all I know it's that it is an uncomfortable feeling that keeps me from falling asleep.
Mena
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Thanks for the info!! Yes, Kam170, you're right on again! That's way I valued our connection during our chemo. Hope all is going great for you. I agree that this is not the same as the neuropathy that I had during chemo ( I still have some in my right foot, 95% back to normal) I can also feel the difference when I try to wear any type of heel. I wore flip flops all during chemo and they worked for me. I still feel very unsteady on my feet.
Will we ever get back to normal????0 -
Mena- I celebrated my 37th on the 27th of Sept. Who would have thought this is where our life would be. I have the exact feeling but not my toes but both sides in my hands. It actually wakes me up as I get them early in the morning.
Did you have chemo? If not that really narrows it down to the Arimidex.0 -
Hello, everyone. I'm new to Arimidex and new to this group. I started the med about 10 days ago and there's only one change I've noticed that may be a side effect - I have anxiety that's making me climb the walls. Has anyone else experienced this? I know that the drop in estrogen can cause depression in some women, and I suppose it can cause anxiety as well. I would gladly take a hot flash in exchange for this unremitting feeling of nervousness.
Annie
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annie,
I had horrible anxiety attacks. I stopped them by taking two B-100 tablets a day for about 5 days. The anxiety went away. I have no idea if Arimidex caused the anxiety or if I was just super low on B vitamins but it worked for me. Normally I don't take a separate B supplement because there is adequate B in my multi-vitamin.
If you decide to try it, you should feel better in less than 24 hours and the anxiety should be gone completely in a few days.
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Thanks, notself. I just went out to get some B-100, which certainly falls in the 'it can't hurt to try,' category. Maybe I'll have the same good results you did. If not, I have a call in to my shrink . . .
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Hi annie 3310,
Are you ER, PR negativ and taking Arimidex?
Best Usha
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Good pick up, slousha. I was diagnosed as triple negative at the beginning of the year. After my lumpectomy in late June, pathology determined that I was 3% estrogen positive, enough, in the doctors' opinions, to make taking Armidex worthwhile. I won't get the same positive effects as most estrogen positive women, but something is better than nothing. So far, other than this anxiety, I haven't had noticeably side effects.
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I take a Super B-Complex vitamin and I wondered what the difference was with the B-100. I found a good explanation of it on the Livestrong site. http://www.livestrong.com/article/315959-what-is-vitamin-b100-used-for/
Thanks Notself, for mentioning the B-100! If it helps relieve anxiety I'm all for trying it.
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I hope it works for you.
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nancy
Sounds like you have a good plan.
As for acupuncture, please be sure you are taking precautions against your lifelong risk of lymphedema.
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Januaryice, My birthday is Sept. 27 ! LOL! Actually the other thing that is bothering me is that I AM ALWAYS COLD!!!During the day, my hands , expecially the top part feels like ice.. Being on Arimidex , I was expecting hot flashes NOT cold! During the night is the only time that I feel some warmth in my body! Strange.....
Mena
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Mena, Hmmmm. I've been so cold that I've worried about thyroid problems. It didn't occur to me that it could be the anastrasole. I have a tendency to react differently to meds. Sleeping pills absolutely wire me and I can't sleep at all.
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Hi annie3310,
I read patients with high ER have much more SE's as low ones!
Good luck for you!
Usha
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I had high Er Pr. My SE's were wicked. Now I am down to muscle pain, fatigue, insomnia and stupidity.
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I had high ER on IHC, but sort of mediocre (but still positive) on Onoctyping. PR low both places. I feel like a 90 year old lady! Hot flashes for the first time in my life (never had it during real menopause). Even a touch of carpal tunnel. I would think, at the least, the pill is working (getting rid of the estrogen) if you have symptoms, but high ER...I'd like to see the study on that.
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