Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
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Kam170, no did not do chemo but did do Rads exactly one year ago...
Prayrv, VERY worried now.. I did the blood work one month ago and she didnt call me about it. I asked for the results today, since I was there and so this.. made me crazy worried. Haha.. Dr. Google, exactly what Im doing and its making me even more crazy! I have always been anemic, but now Im scared something is wrong with my liver, my bone marrow, etc... Thank you Trish, you did make me feel a bit better.. glad yours turned out good!
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B123,
My counts are still low - the hemotologist thinks it's a auto-immune issue of some kind but nothing serious as to warrant a blood marrow biopsy/aspiration. When I have my yearly pcp doctor physical in March, I'll have an interim cbc and then another with my onc visit in July. I'm on the yearly plan now! If they drop, then we'll see about doing a biopsy. If not, it'll be my new normal.
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B123,
My WBC and RBC have also gone low. I got a strange rash episode either as a drug reaction or a virus. No one knows. That did prompt a CBC however and they found this. A month later it is still low, although the WBC is going up very slowly. My MO is also a hematologist and he was most worried about my NEU, which is Back up to the bottom of normal. The rest he isn't worried about and will do a follow up some day. So, I'd gather from your tests and from Prayrv's test, this must be some what normal. I did read that rads can cause this. I didn't have chemo either. So....hopefully this will help allay some of your fears.0 -
what is NEU?
Mena
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Mena....I've no clue....think it also shows as neutrophils on the blood tests. Don't know what it really means, just know my MO was most interested in it.....
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Anybody have mouth sores with A? I've never had canker sores, but I have 3 sores inside my mouth.
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I've always had "cold sores" on my mouth and even on the skin between my mouth and nose. It's a type of herpes. Had this before A and still have it. There's a med for it that I can take when the sores first appear. Eating acidic foods seem to stimulate the herpes.
I hate to rush passage of time at my age, but I am interested in finding out if weight control will be as difficult after I stop taking A.
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Mostlysew, so maybe it is from Rads and maybe a combo of the A1 and rads?? I dont know... my MO is also a hemotologist and she does not seem worried? However in one year my AST and ALT doubled! I have only been on the A1 for about 4 months and Fareston prior for about 4 months. My PLT also dropped which makes me very nervous??? Maybe your right, this could just be a new norm? Thank you so much for chiming in and trying to relieve my fears!
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Did you know that a deficiency in vitamin A can make you more susceptible to mouth sores? I know that arimidex and chemo can cause thrush, but getting enough A can help to protect the mouth, that doesn't mean you won't get sores, but it might be less.
Blessings
Paula0 -
Spunkyboobs,
I get canker/mouth sores from eating walnuts (go figure) and from some breads. The last time I had one, I was at the dentist and asked him about them. They have a very long name, and can be brought on by stress, acidic food (good call Carole) and there really isn't a cure, just the 10 days it takes to heal. My husband swears rinsing with Listerine helps, but it doesn't help me. Good luck
B123 ... Hmmm, I don't know what ALT and AST are and don't see them on my reports. I do see that my platelets go up and down within a 2 week time frame for no reason I can discern. Maybe we should go back to school? Anyway, I've decided to concentrate on eating a balanced diet, and lots of protein and get some exercise and see what the next test in 4 months shows. I do hope you feel well.0 -
ALT & AST are liver enzymes that usually increase when you take a statin medication and or possibly with Arimidex!
For me even though they have always been normal, since I have been taking red yeast rice for my high cholesterol on my last CBC they were elevated! Now I am waiting to see how the arimidex is going to affect them!0 -
NEUT are white blood cells that fight infection in the body. Sometimes a lower level can depend on some kind of bacteria or as a results of chemo treatments!
Now what puzzles me is that my levels are always low yet I never had chemo or any other infection That I can think of!
Also it seems that if the NEUT level is low the LYMPH % is high!
MENA0 -
Mena, thanks for the info....
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Mena, so the Arimidex makes the ALT higher then previous?? Maybe that is why my MO is not worried? However why the change in the WBC and the high Cholesterol?? Especially now that we have changed our eating habits so much more for the better and healthier? It doesnt make sense?
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I wonder how many of us are slightly anemic? My RBC's are consistenly 3.8-4.0.
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Lee7
Have you asked your DR about feosol spansule ?
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I have started getting mouth sores too! I have 2 in the last 3 weeks. I don't eat tomatoes even though I like them because they used to trigger them. I can't remember the last time I had a mouth sore now 2! I was wondering if it was the A but I hate to blame everything on the A. I have my 1st 6 month app with my oncologist next week so I will definitely be adding this to the list and asking her.
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There is a salt water rinse they recommend during chemo. Could that help with your mouth sores? Or biotin mouthwash works too.
I have been a bit anemic since tx too. But only needed blood tx during chemo. However. I run low on magnesium all the time. They keep increasing my oral magnesium. Fun! LOL
I hope all your counts come.up to where they should be. Geesh, who needs that. Much love.0 -
Does it ever get to a point where your hair STOPS thinning on this Arimidex? It's been 9 months! Could it be a lack of some vitamin or mineral?
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Shatzi, that is my concern too! I have so many concerns, that I am losing sleep all over again! I was told that Arimidex and Lupron together are stronger then Chemo alone, it kills any radical cells that may have gotten loose because it starves it. I am very much counting on that and am so afraid of the what ifs.. I have headaches in the same spot almost everyday since the Arimidex, I worry that its more, back pain, I worry that its more? I have noticed my hair slightly coming out and I hope to god that it is a phase and stops!! Maybe it is a lack of vitamins or minerals we are missing? I take Bioten everyday and I thought it was helping?
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B123...please pardon my ignorance but what is Lupron and why are you taking it? I googled it and it says it indirectly affects hair follicles. I can see a double whammy here! Forgive me if I am being too personal.
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I also notice that since I have been on arimidex ( Started Sept 20) everywhere I look, my pillow, the sink or clothes, there is a lot more hair than I care to see.
It's so ironic because the main reason I prayed for no chemo,was my fear of losing my hair, and now it is also falling out! Hopefully it will stop soon!
B123 Arimidex artificially raises our cholesterol levels and that is why our liver enzymes are out of range. The way I see it, healthy eating does not change this.
Mena
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I don't notice any particular loss of hair...ie: sink or pillow or hairbrush...just that it is so thin in the front.
I started Arimidex one month PFC so maybe it just never grew back to the thickness it was. Also I guess aging doesn't help!
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Moonflwr-I like the new picture!
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Ok. I've been good. 3 yrs and 10 mos. on Arimidex but my bone scans are worsening. And, I hurt so much that i really can't face exercise. I've gained 20# since diagnosis 4-1/2 years ago. My belly is now ridiculous. :-/ My feet and hips are killing me. Taking care now of my mom (who broke her hip bc of osteoporosis) and Im working and pushing hard. I'm tired - and tired of treatment but scared to quit. Im beginnining now to think: how can the SE's of this be good at this point? I'm almost 65. I want to be me again and yet not ungrateful for the opportunity to keep this at bay.
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Spunky, Thx! I like it too. But, you can see its so thin, its prob the A keeping it from growing in, just like schatzi. Oh well at least there is a bit of curl, but not tight curls, so I have some volume.
Bethany, how often do you get scans?
Mena, I didn't know A raises cholestrol. Sucks.0 -
Bone scans once a year. 2 so far. Next one in early December.
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I did 5 years of Lupron and Arimidex. My hair thinned at times, about once a year or so. I have thick hair anyway so it's hard to see if it came back, but now, at 2 months after finishing both my hair seems to be the same as it was before diagnosis. My energy level is so much better now than during treatment. My arthritis is better. I don't have the stiff knees and hips like I did on treatment. Even my depression is better and I may be able to start decreasing my antidepressant next spring.
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I had mouth sores for the entire time on Arimidex and had very sensitive mouth. Some say this is a menapausal symptom.
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Dear NativeMa... and all, I too just finished 5 years of Arimidex. So glad saw your post. I am just one week off. My onc states it takes 3 months for it to completely leave the system.
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