Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
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ditto
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mena- no "flashes" after my hysterectomy including ooph (1999) and no flashes now but only on arimidex a few weeks.oh- i don't know my ER/PR numbers either.
i had a dexa scan in 2003 and it was good- am scheduled for one in december this year --my "issue" is taht i had gastric bypass and do not absorb calcium and other vits like others so i have to be quite mindful.
youga was suggested to me- dunno where to start
as for exercise procratination-yea! i'm here on this board instead of outside raking leaves! i can't even get myself to walk anymore and i know that i need to do something!
this week i am dropping things and wondering is that is from the arimidex?not good-
joint pain is minor and i can't do claritin ( i did with neulasta shots and it helped !!!) because i am now taking 240 mg allegra daily for allergies...so i'm doing tylenol and hoping i don't kill my liver!
well- the leaves need raked....
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lumpynme, please watch the tylenol carefully. I never took over two or three extra strength tylenol a day when I had my broken wrist but just taking several doses over a few weeks sent my liver enzymes climbing. Now I try to avoid any pain relievers which at times sucks. Pretty much rely on heat,ice and movement.
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annie3310-I've been on Anastrozole since April 1 and have gained over 5 lbs. Like you, I lost about 20lb after diagnosis and continue to watch what I eat and exercise. I am really disappointed with this weight gain
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Spunky and all others who have gained weight. I have gained 5 lbs too since Arimidex. Ugh! Am lifting weights and now doing hot yoga (trying to burn off the fat--LOL) once a week. I really will have to cut down on my caloric intake, which will be hard, especially with the holidays coming up.
MostlySew and nwest125: thanks for the input. I had the shot in my stomach. She said less nerve endings. And since I had the flu shot two days before in my one arm available, I shot the stomach. There's plenty of fat there!
I have the Wii walking game as well as Wii fit and yoga. However, my Wii quit on me. I need to see if I can find a cheap one (maybe e-bay?). I know there's a new Wii coming out in the near future that doesn't use controls so I don't want to spend $ on a new system.
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mena927: There can be other factors with hot flashes, specifically, sugar and alcohol (which produces sugar in your system). I was premenopausal when I went through chemo and had a handful of flashes and some flushes. On tamoxifen, I was a soaking wet hot flashing mess. I quickly learned that any sugar or alcohol triggered a hot flash, and that was all I needed to remove those from my diet. Well, the occasional glass of wine, but halfway through the wine I wouldn't care if I had a hot flash...
After 1.5 years on tamox, I went through a very intense, awful three-week period which turned out to be my menopause...and went on anastrazole. Other than the initial bone/joint pain, which I realized Claritin would cure, I've had no SEs other than a need to be slightly more active in order to keep weight down. The only flushes I have are associated with sugar and/or a glass of wine. I have not flashes otherwise (and I'd characterize everything on anastrazole as a flush, not a flash).
I think the menopause/hot flash/bc link is *fascinating*. Can anyone direct me to any of the research on this? I'd love to read the papers. Maybe I'll do a PubMed search tomorrow.
Cheers,
Susan0 -
Hi Susan, sugar is the only thing I indulge in especially lately, yet I am still so cold! LOL!
I guess it's not a trigger for me!
Google " Hot flashes lower breast cancer risk"!
If I knew how to post the link I would do. Can I cut and paste?
Mena0 -
Hello Everyone! I have gained 30 pounds after starting Arimidex in August. I have pain in my feet that make it so hard to get up and move after sitting for any length of time. I was in Indiana for the birth of my first grandchildren for the month of October. I am hoping the weight gain is from sitting, eating and visiting during October. Does anyone else experience swollen ankles, pain in the feet and knees? I am taking Claritin but it doesn't seem to help much. I need some relief! Our home has wood floors so I thought some it was from that.
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Is it normal to have back pain and neck pain from being on the Arimidex and Lupron??
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B123-I have neck pain, but no back pain (so far-fingers crossed)
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Thats great no back pain for you Spunky, I have always had it but seems worse as time goes by, but my neck is painful, especially at night and finding a good pillow to support it. I hope its not the bones getting thinner??
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Bethu77 I have swollen ankles. They started with the chemo, towards the end I was on fluid pills. Now unless I have my feet elevated all day they swell, at least they don't hurt but my knees do. I tried Claritin but couldn't feel any difference. Oncologist appt is Wednesday and my list is long!
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I have had back pain sporadically since being on arimidex (started 7/25/12)
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Occasional Hot Flashes during menopause
Mega Hot Flashes with AI (I'm now on exemestane - Aromasin)
Major pain with all three AI's, the least with Aromasin, still need pain meds though.
Fatigue and headaches too!
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After assessing all my pains and aches I realized that I have had these basically all my life. At one point I thought I had Fybromialgia. Something new I noticed besides feeling cold all the time, is how my MEMORY is deteriorating day by day, more and more! It is such an awful feeling! Somehow I feel I can live with everything but the memory issue causes me a lot of concern!
Mena
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Hi everyone,
While I have lurked I decided I would not post until the Arimidex perscription was written for me and today it that day. As I start this next boxing match with any potential cancer cells I have a few questions. Having read so much good info from you all, I asked MO today about Clariten. Both her and the resident both sort of shrugged and said whatever works. Shall I take this at the onset of starting Arimidex or wait for any symptoms first? Also, MO said I should also take a baby aspirin a day to also help prevent recurrence. I do not recall seeing that on BCO befrore. Is that something you are aware of doing? Also calcium, I bought a supplement with magnesium and vit D3 and am taking 2000 Vit D3 as well. I'll get Vit D checked in Feb with PCP. I also asked for a Dexa scan so I can have a baseline since I never had one before. Hope I covered all the bases. I am also free and clear now after finishing rads 2 weeks ago to exercise, even swim (all those excuses now gone..LOL) I owe alot of being informed on these things to you here! Thanks for any input!!
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Hi everyone,
While I have lurked, I decided I would not post until the Arimidex perscription was written for me and today is that day. As I start this next boxing match with any potential cancer cells I have a few questions. Having read so much good info from you all, I asked MO today about Clariten. Both her and the resident both sort of shrugged and said whatever works. Shall I take this at the onset of starting Arimidex or wait for any symptoms first? Also, MO said I should also take a baby aspirin a day to also help prevent recurrence. I do not recall seeing that on BCO befrore. Is that something you are aware of doing? Also calcium, I bought a supplement with magnesium and vit D3 and am taking 2000 Vit D3 as well. I'll get Vit D checked in Feb with PCP. I also asked for a Dexa scan so I can have a baseline since I never had one before. Hope I covered all the initial bases. I am also free and clear now after finishing rads 2 weeks ago to exercise, even swim (all those excuses now gone..LOL) I owe alot of being informed on these things to you here! Thanks for any input!!
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Hi Aruba,
I was on Aridimex for 2 years and I am currently taking Tamoxifen. Five years on it. I'm am about to wean myself off. Make sure that you eat well, exercise if you can take care of yourself. So many women with this disease. I wish you well on your journey and God Bless you and keep you well.
Judith Harvey
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Aridimex does cause bone pain. So it is normal to experience it. Life is a rollercoaster and we are here for the ride. We can either go with the flow or opt out. I'm so tired all the time. I look forward to a life where I used to feel like the old me. Seven years on hormones is a long time, so I have made the decision myself to go off them. I was due to come off in January, so I guess 2 months is not going to make a difference. I hope I get the old me back. Fight the fight and you'll win the battle. Laughter is such good therapy as well.
Judith Harvey
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Aruba, yes (with the doctor's OK) take a daily aspirin. Here are some other things to do to lower your risk of recurrence, increase your quality of life, and get through the time on Arimidex in the best shape possible.
* get down and stay at a appropriate weight (which, among all the other health benefits, lowers your estrogen and puts less weight on your joints)
* exercise religiously (overall health, helps with weight management, lubricates the joints, lowers cholestroel, elevates the mood, makes you look and feel better, lowers recurrence risk more than any other none drug thing you can do)
* get that baseline DEXA, and I got them yearly while on Armidex, so had there been a problem we could have addressed it immediately
* Definitely get your vitamin D checked and take action if it is low. Drink milk, eat yogart, and take a daily calicum plus vitamin D suppliment (your levels will determine how much you should take, you want to get and keep the D up!
* prunes are a great source of calcium (a serving a day), and also great for colon health
* 1-2 ounces of at least 70% dark chocolate every day is good to help keep blood pressure low
* a serving of oatmeal every day is good to keep cholestroel in check
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Ruth, thanks for the great tips, and good to see a posting from you again. I've missed your presence.
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I am doing good. I have not felt any different now that I'm done with Armidex, but have been keeping up with all the suggestions I listed above. When I had my first post-armidex annual physical yesterday, I was thrilled tp find that my vitamin D had gone from a respectable 54 to 72, my cholesterol (which had been going up but was still in the 'OK' range) had dropped 30 points, and my doctor said that my bone density (which was still in the 'normal' range but was dropping some), should show a bump next time we do a DEXA. (He really stressed that exercise, exercise, exercise is THE key!) So for all you ladies on anti-hormonals, it is well worth doing the exercises, diet etc., as a healthy lifestyle now will keep you in the game, and give you a big payoff later when you are done!
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ruthbru..thanks for all the tips! I plan to get going on them. What about the Clairtin gang? Do I start that with first pill or wait for any side effects first?
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With the claritanyou can wait. You might not need it. It's not like nuelasta where the first one is the most painful. It takes time for the antihormonal to build up in your system. Much love.
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ruth...did you mean PRUNES? You are such an advocate for 8 to 10 prunes a day. Is there a new study with dates?
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Aruba...I took Claritin (24 hr. with NO decongestant) when the bone and joint pain started. It may not happen for you. When the pain eased, I stopped the C...if it starts again, I will start the Claritin again.
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Thanks Moonflwr and schatzi, I won't take Clairitin yet..but I have it at the ready.
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aruba...I hope you never need to use it
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Yes, I did mean prunes. I'll go back and edit. I wonder if the prune industry is looking to hire a spokeswoman?
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ruth, what exercises do you recommend for a COUCH POTATO like ME!!!
Mena
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