Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
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This isn't even a theory, just an observation. At age 50, I stopped having regular periods, though they didnt completely stop until I was 55. I was dx'd with BC at 58, almost 3 years after my periods stopped. At age 52, two years after my periods became irregular, I experienced many of the symptoms i am currently experiencing on Aromasin (generic). Stiff joints, carpal tunnel syndrome. I also had severe shoulder tendonitis at age 52. After 2 months on Aromasin, I'm feeling the stiff joints, carpal tunnel, etc. and now my shoulders are starting to go bad again. I would like to conclude, the sudden drop in estrogen is causing these symptoms.
The only relief I got at age 52, was physical therapy and Celobrex. I sufferred these symptoms in a severe way for about 2-3 months, in a compromising way for 6-8 months. Finally, they mostly went away, until Aromasin...<<< that would be the hope.
I did a search on tendonitis and hormone change and found quite a few references. Here is one item:
Many women experience an increase in muscle aches and pains during onset of menopause. This is because many of the muscles in the body contain estrogen receptors. This is also responsible for weakening and loss of muscle tone, leg and foot cramps, an increase in tendonitis and also back and shoulder pain as a result of the weakening of the back muscles.....Yoga has also been used successful to keep the body supple.
Maybe this is old news...I think knowing the cause can sometimes find the solution. It makes sense that stretching, which lubricates the joints, could be helpful.0 -
Joan~I take it in the am with Claritin. For some unknown reason, Claritin helps with some of the side effects. I take it early, so maybe that's why I don't get insomnia from it.
I didn't have hot flashes during menopause, and don't have them now either.
Blessings
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I take my A in the morning. Hurt all day, my hot flashes usually hit during the day but the really hurt - feels like hundreds of needles! But am able to go to sleep easier in the evenings, now if I could just stay asleep a little longer.
I hope everyone in the path of "SANDY" is safe!
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This seems unlikely, but has anyone experienced ringing in the ears after they started Arimidex? Mine has gotten very noticeably louder and I think it coincides with starting the med a couple of weeks ago. It's super annoying.
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I never thought about Arimidex being the cause of my ringing in the ears...hummm drives me insane some nights. Then I have times it's not bad at all. The did a brain scan last year to rule out a tumor. I was told maybe another side effect of chemo. RESEARCH This now and see.
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I've often heard of people getting tinnitus as a side effect to drugs. It certainly wouldt surprise me with A.
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what will it do in 3 years!!!???
PRECISELY why I wont take it! I have osteopenia and have broken 3 bones already . I am very close to porosis. There is no doubt arimidex would fly me there in no time. QOL is important too and I alreadyhave health issues that impact that some. I dont need a broken hip on my list.I checked cancermath and it gives me zero advantage.
No thnaks.
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I'm into year four on the little white pill. I take it at night along with a benedryl and a statin drug, and I sleep very well. So well that I actually sleep more hours than I should. During the first year I had carpal tunnel symptoms but bought some rubber balls and did therapy exercises that relieved the symptoms. You can do a search on Google and learn about these simple exercises which can be done while you're watching tv at night.
I'm a walker and kept moving and doing exercise. So far my bone density scans are still very good for my age, 69. My biggest complaint is the weight gain. In three years I gained 15 to 18 lbs while exercising regularly and eating a pretty healthy, reasonable diet. I am currently on WW and am down almost 7 lbs in 3 wks. The age factor is probably part of my problem but in the past I found it fairly easy to control my weight and now it's quite difficult.
I just pray that the medical thinking doesn't change and at the end of 5 years I can stop taking arimidex. Oh, I forgot to include that I take the generic of Effexor (75 mg) to help with the menopausal symptoms like hot flashes.
Good luck to all of you just beginning to take A.
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Joan, I take it at night. When I took it in the morning, I couldn't keep my eyes open all day. It doesn't bother my sleep. I have also had minimal side effects, no hot flashes or nightsweats yet.
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Purple are you saying Zero advantage based on how ER+ you are or are there other things come into play as well?
Carole, I hear you on the weight gain. I'm starting to creep up again. Heard heaps of ladies complain about the midriff. Their complaints are NOT unfounded. Me three. Arggh. Reckon I've got a little room to move by putting less between the teeth though (yeah I know I've said that B4) . I have a little rubber ball that I was given after surgery to help doing hand pumps etc. I guess thats the same type you are meaning. It's great and I use it a lot especially since I have LE. Definitely exercise helps. This a.m. my arch ached all the way up and down the road. I absolutely believe Arim cranks up old injuries. To cap all that off it doesnt help when you have peripheral neuropathy in yur feet which burn like crazy. Arim, has also increasd that, so this lil white pill is making life quite difficult for me.
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Musical
You have to click on the cancermath link to see.
It takes age , tumor size, differntiation status, grade etc etc ... for me it calculated no meds didnt metter.
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Purple, it's not that I would EVER minimize anyones cancer, but yes I see your stats "let you off the hook" quite considerably compared to some of us.
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OK, so it took me a week to pick up my Effexor script and it's been sitting on the counter for 3 days-untouched. This one scares me more than the Anastrozole-
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Right, musical. So, no rads no als, but I am 100% ER pos so definitely recommended. Had LX so rads suggested.
It is my other health issues ( bones, lungs etc ..that made it too much of a challenge for me to risk)
Yes, I would have skipped the LX if I had known the real risk of LE. I believe there are STILL women in this board who do not realize they could still get it.Drs do not tell us enough.
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Purple: I agree with what you are saying. I still worry about LE.
Joan: I take mine A in the am. One of the S/E's is trouble sleeping, and insominia has been a problem for me for over 7 years. Still is...Unfortunately.
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I'm jumping in - been following the posts. I can't take any of the AIs due to SEs. So, they put me on Tamoxifen even though I am post menopausal. I have side effects there but nothing compared to AIs. I saw the rheumatologist who told me women on the anti-estrogen drugs have their osteoarthritis symptoms accentuated......yep, figured that out already. Bone and joint pain....stiff in the morning or after sitting. Just wanted to be sure it wasn't RA. The onc at Mayo gave me a script for 37.5 mg Effexor for hot flashes - they had done a study and it apparently worked for many people without problems. It is such a low dose they said the chances of me having side effects were nil. I wasn't willing to take a chance and have the bottle here still full after 8 months. The hot flashes got better for a period of time. For whatever reason, with the cold weather and the warm air blowing from the heat registers, they are back in FULL force. But I still am not inclined to do more drugs. They don't like me and I usually end up feeling worse.
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LE is a SHOCKER. Theres many many people who just dont get it about LE. Reckon youre right Purple saying doctors and people on this board. DOesn't matter how much you bury your head in the sand on this one, it won't get you anywhere. Education about it is THE KEY. We have a great forum here on it and Binney and Kira and others deserve medals. I would definitely recommend any woman who has had any lypmph nodes at all out, to check it out. It was because of Binney I was able to pass on some great info regarding recent studies saying prophy side is PROVEN to be at risk. Some of my med team have recieved copies, and I'll be passing them on to anyone I can.
Purple, I still havent got to the bottom of why some medical people (including mine) say it doesnt matter how oestrogen + you are the AIs benefit you just the same. I don't understand this so if anyone can enlighten me I'd be grateful.
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kjiberty- don't know if anyone answered you but I have the same SE. Numbness in my fingers usually in the middle of the night. I do sometimes get it even during the day. It will actually wake me up. Definitely I think a SE of the Arimidex. I just started my Arimidex on Sept 20 and hope that this will be the only problem I have on this med.
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In reference to LE, my RO had me go for a consultation before I even started my rads. I had a follow up when I finished my 33 tx.
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Binney and Kira and others deserve medals.
I'll second that , Musical...I know first-hand!0 -
It is great to get back on here and catch up with you ladies. I have been taking the generic of arimidex for a year now, and the biggest side effect I noticed is a stubborn 5 lb weight gain, I cant get rid of, and extra hot flashes. I take it in the morning simply because thats when I take my vitamins. I notice I am really sleepy in the afternoons. I teach and take zumba in the mornings, so that keeps my energy up for a while.
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January: That's about my only SE, except for stiffness in the am and the 5 lbs I have gained like Zumbagirl!
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same here
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Same here.
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I am noticiing that with the Arimidex my hair is shedding a bit more then usual, is this normal? Are there any shampoos that can help stop it? Also, my WBC 3.0 and RBC 3.89 came back a bit low, my MO was not concerned but I am.. any suggestions? Is this the cause of everything I have gone through? I am on Iron pills.. My D was good 53! YAY My PLT (whatever that is) was low too 133???
Thank you to all for your suggestions!!
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I don't notice my hair shedding but it never grew back in as thick as it used to be...I am not too thrilled about this.
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A friend of mine, 2 years ahead of me on BC, is on AI's. She is bald around the crown of her head - like male patterned baldness. Sparse otherwise. Scared me so much, asked my MO and she said that is very rare (the baldness). I think the thinning is normal, unfortuneately.
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Kam170, I took a deep breath as I read your post, scared me.. So sorry for your friend. I think right now, I am more worried about my PLT being low?? Does that mean leukemia? This is awful, one thing after another??
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My friend is so comfortable in her skin that she handles the hair situation very well, surprisingly well. It scared me too as I knew of it well before I would start taking AI's. Did you do chemo B123?
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I have the same issue w/low blood counts & my onc sent me to a hemotologist/oncologist (when my wbc went to 2.8) and they kept an eye on my counts and determined that they seem to be my normal (3.2). My counts were low even before Arimidex. I never had chemo - can't blame my counts on that.
Don't freak out yet - I did (thank you Dr. Google!) and there was nothing for me to worry about.
That said, if you are worried about it, have your onc and your pcp do cbc's every 4 months or so to see if there is a trend. That's what they really look for.
Good luck and breathe.
Trish
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