Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
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Musical - lifting weights is considered weight bearing. I have PN too and know exactly what you describe...it is finally getting slightly better after almost 4 mos out of chemo. I still walk, but I pay for it. This last week I took a vacation from walking and I noticed my feet were feeling better...thought they were healing, but alas, took my 1:20 hour walk today and they are back to burning like they did before the "vacation."
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Mostly Sew, thankyou for your response. As you can see I don't know much about all the gizmo's that people use at the gym or purchase themselves to help with fitness in general. I'm going to look into elliptical trainers. Ive also been thinking of a treadmill too, but it seems the decent ones are so expensive. Oh yes, ice is my friend. I have special icepacks I keep in the freezer. Sometimes I'll spend a lot of time with my feet in a cold bath when I've overdone it.
Kam170, "but I pay for it." Exactly the story of my life with my feet as well. I'm sorry you are having to put up with ugly malady too and I hope yours gets better and finally disappears. For me, the bigger the supermarket the more allergic I am, same with busy bustling shopping days and anywhere else where I'm on my feet for too long. Consequently the perpetual hope is that anything I do in town, is as soon as the shops open then I'm outta there. NO window shopping for me. My PN is pre BCancer. Ive had nerve conduction tests etc, and so I'm told there is no cure for it. Reckon Chemo made it a tad worse. Amitriptyline was wonderful, BUT the side effects eventually made me quit it. It is my understanding that chemo induced neuropathies can get better over time. So long as my BC doesnt come back, PN is FAAAR FAAAR worse than all this BC stuff along with the surgery, the chemo, the RT and even dare I say it, LE. If I didn't have this cursed PN I could handle Arimidex so much easier. I HATE it with a passion.
PN UTTERLY SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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ruth...did you experience hair loss at any time on Arimidex? If so, does it level off or does it continue the whole time?
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Glad to know that you are faithfully taking Arimidex
May I know if your Breast cancer cell type is ER positive?
Arimidex is for those with ER and PR positive ladies!
If yours is Her+, then the relapse is within 6 months after chemotherapy because HER+ is very aggressive!0 -
Hi Ritajean
For numbness of fingers is common especially I used Handphone to google search and is replying now!
After a night's rest, the numbness disappear!
Your friend may take Kordel glucosamine with chondroitin and msm as this supplement will fight joint pain!
Calcium with vitamin D3 will fight bone pain!
Prayer will help too!
May Jesus Christ visit all of you!0 -
Schatzi - no hair loss for me, but I know several women who have thinning with AI's. Don't know if it's leveled off or not.
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LindaKR...I guess it's just my dumb luck...and my age ...after I hear all the pain and suffering some of our friends have with Al's, I guess I should just suck it up and try to work around it. Kinda hard tho' when you always had thick hair. Mine is still thick on the sides and back. it's just the crown. Makes it hard to style!
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That hair loss is the same way my hair left and came back during chemo - and the women that I've seen that have thinning from the treatment have the thinness on top and thicker around the sides. Kind of weird. Even the women that I've met whose hair hasn't grown back after chemo very well (no anti-hormonals) have the same pattern.
Now, I need to rant - I was scheduled for my first follow up Dexa scan this morning and forgot that I wasn't supposed to take calcium supplements for 3 days prior - damn, damn, damn..... and I was so proud of my self for remembering to finally take them for several days in a row - I even wrote it on the calendar to stop them
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schatzi - RE: thinning Hair - I was on another website and found this info - I thought maybe some of these ideas will help those that have it because of AI's - http://www.youbeauty.com/hair/galleries/thinning-hair
As I understand it - most of the SE's from the AI's are caused because of the loss of estrogen. Alot of these SE's are common with aging, but our bodies slowly decrease the amount of estrogen and even after menopause our bodies still produce estrogen from other sources. So we are put on AI's and WHAMMM not only do we have post menopausal symptoms, but we totally (or almost) stop our bodies from producing any estrogen - so it's like instant aging and menopause on steroids. So it would make sense that some of these natural things people do to help with aging symptoms, theoretically, could help use with our side effect - right? Just so they don't produce estrogen or try to stop estrogen loss. So maybe they are worth a try.
:-)
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When I first started on this site, Biotene was suggested by several people for thinning hair.
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No hair loss.
Don't worry about the calcium before the DEXA.
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Rescheduled my Dexa to Friday - I was really happy to get in (again) so fast. I can't remember to take a vitamin even a few times a week, but this last week, I remembered all the supplements every day
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I had terrible joint pain, even before starting the arimidex, the joint pain is a symptom of menopause actualy, the low estrogen, not the arimidex itself (this is what I have been told) so I was scared to get on the arimidex for fear that my joint pain would get worse, but since it is due to low estrogen, the arimidex was not going to contribute further. My pcp put me on wellbutrin and my life changed in about 10 days, no more joint pain, vitually no SE's at all. I would reccomend wellbutrin to any woman on arimidex or going through menopause.
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Linda...was never told not to take calcium before a DEXA...good to know...thanks for the site
I was just googling Biotin and it says there is no proof that it helps against hair thinning. One less pill for me to take. I am looking into Nioxin hair products to at least make the hair seem thicker.
I am just so sick of this all....two steps ahead...one back...never ending. Sorry I am not usually such a downer but my router went nuts today so needed a new one...now I am a happy camper having my laptop again. I am sure lost without it. How sad is that??
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It's amazing to think about how 'computerized' we all are.....and that in nothing compared to the next generation. Not sure if that is good or bad.
Nioxin is what my hair dresser told me to use during and after chemo. I did and my hair came back very nice.
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I just switched to morning dose of Arimidex. The night time was waking me with joint and bone pain. Aagh, those frozen fingers and shuffling my feet cause my ankles hurt was so bad. Mornings are my busiest times around here so I needed the switch. I think my sleep will improve as well, we'll see it takes a few nights.
what pain meds do you take? I'm on Mobic 15mg daily.
Best of luck,
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I've been taking oxycodone and effexor for the side effects of the AI (and some residuals from the chemo). Maybe I'll talk to my PCP about trying wellbutrin instead. Just changed back to oxy because the last pain meds made me feel awful-er. The effexor is for the hot flashes and neuropathy, but I'm not sure how much it's really working - I think I have less, but still have too much.
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ruth...I am a computer illiterate compared to my daughter and granddaughter. They never speak...they text. I am not that far advanced...just emails for me. LOL
What type of Nioxin products do you use? Shampoo and ????
Linda...I take no pain products other than the occasional 222 for my herniated discs. I have no real pain from the Arimidex other than bone and joint pain in the beginning...I took Claritin for that and it finally eased, so I quit taking it.
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My hairdresser had me use the nioxin shampoo, conditioner and a scalp treatment product (can't remember what it is called) for chemically treated hair during chemo (because my hair (folicles, anyway) were being chemically treated from the inside out), and I switched to the regular shampoo & conditioner after chemo until my hair was all nicely grown back, then just went back to my regular products.
Back to technology: a few years ago I was taking a workshop where we were doing all sorts of things on the computer, and another lady my age and I were in the back struggling along, and I said, "Look at all the young people just zipping through this." And she replied, "Yes, but you must remember, they're natives, we're immigrants."
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No noticeable hair loss on A and I was 3 years on the med this Sept.
Was never told not to take calcium before Dexa. My bones are still normal but I've taken glucosamine/chondroitin for about 15 years, long before bc. Also walk for exercise and do hand weights. Take calcium and D3.
A return of plantar fasciitis has temporarily put a stop to my walking. And the stairclimber. The podiatrist recommended exercise on the recumbent bike for a while. I don't have access to heated pool exercise.
Weight control is my major complaint on Arimidex but aging is probably a big component. Have dropped 10 lbs on WW with smaller portions and tracking everything I put into my mouth. The new ActiveLink gadget on WW is fun. Similar to Fitbit electronic gadget.
Hang in there! Our bc drs. seem to believe in the benefits of A.
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ruth...well said LOL
re: hair loss...it is actually a misnomer to say "loss". I don't notice any hair loss actually, it just never grew back in to its original thickness in the crown. When I just had fuzz, I could see it was really thin at the crown. I hoped as it grew it would thicken but it didn't, just longer.
I will be forced to finally decide how to have it cut to hide or disguise the thinning. I just don't want to have to use a lot of product just to make it look fuller. There has to be an answer. Maybe it's time to colour it again, don't really want to. I tried on my wig the other day to remind myself how I looked as a brunette as opposed to an older lady look with the gray hair....it made me chuckle.
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Musical...I for sure will post in April and let you know if I notice any difference off arimidex. As far as side effects ,,fatigue and hot flashes as many as 15 a day ..bad ones ,,were my nemisis..THose two did ease up with time..After being on the drug for a couple of years I experienced my blood pressure not being controlled by the one pill I was on prior to BC. I had to double that one and after that was not controlling it I had to start a beta blocker.I called the astrazenica company and it is considered a side effect of this drug..I figure the more those of us who experience this should report it to the company..My general practitioner who is also my cousin Nancy a DO..strongly agrees it is a side effect...I am anxious to see when I am off it if it gets low enough to be able to decrease these added drugs ...Might have to wait 3 months like ruthbru...TY ruth for your empathy about my fall. This is the longest I have ever been in pain but grateful it is not at nite anymore..I awoke this a.m. and said to my guy that I love just lying there and feel no discomfort.till I move ha!.. Blessing and peace to all of US!!!
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Oh lakewoman, you sound like you have a wonderful attitude about all your terrible suffering. Yes that fall you descibed must of been horrendous!!! Im so sorry and all the BP issues. I hope that you have a speedy recovery and continue to totally heal. Indeed His peace passes all understanding! I'm just soooo grateful for all the ladies in this thread who post about all their things they are going through, wheether it's relevant to my situation or not, it may be to someone elses. We are all in this Arimidex boat together thats for sure. It's really neat to hear about those who do have good things that happen, like Side effects dissappearring when they finish.I do have a little bit of a language barrier with the meds you ladies have, but thats only some things.
I did 2years on Tamox, and I've done about 11 months on A. 2/5th of the way through!
Well I'll post something good for once instead of all my rants. This a.m. I went walking earlier and my feet were sooo much better. Instead of the ususal 7.45 a.m I went about 6.15a.m and did a good 2 Ks. Its the first time for ages I was actually pain free for part of the distance anyway. As for the hot flashes, I do tend to get a few now and then, but I find my internal temperature gage has a very narrow tolerance. I get hot extremely easy and cold extremely easy.
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I went to layers and sweaters with open fronts so I could take them off/put them on/take them off quickly....also ditched the turtlenecks.
Good for you for walking, Musical!
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LOL ruthbru I rmember using a cardy when I had masts. Man it was handy, oh, plus a button up shirt. turtle necks have always made me dry retch so I never wear them. Just real sensitive in that area. ...but yea you sure get sick of the on again off again syndrome. I'm still going to look into the elliptical thingee.
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When I go to bed, I put my sweater on bacwards, like a snuggie, so I can take it off easily, and put it back on that way because I do that a couple of times a night.
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Hello all - I wondered if anyone had taken an "Arimidex holiday"?
I have been taking it for exactly 4 years and have had many ups and downs with SEs. The past 2 months or so have been very hard going and my general health has deteriorated enormously. The fatigue has become so debilitating I can hardly get through the day.
So I have decided to have a month off - I want to complete the final year but I feel that I need to give my body a break. And I need to reassure myself that there is a normal me waiting at the end of all of this. I really want to feel fit and strong, I want to exercise fully again and I cannot take control of my own body whilst taking this drug. I am beginning to feel that, after 4 years, it may be doing more harm than good.
Anyone else felt this way?
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Greenfrog-I am so sorry you are suffering. Before you take some time off you may want to discuss it with your doctor. I have a friend who was completeing her 4th year on Arim and asked her doctor what difference studies showed between 4 and 5 years-he told her studies specific to AI (not tamox) showed after 2 years the benefits were insignificant. Many studies are based on Tamox and they are lumped in with AI, but they are different.
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Spunky--when I researched AI's that is exactly what I found--2 years most signficant. Unfortunately the majority of studies compare AI's to Tamox and always use the 5 year marker. It will be interesting years from now to see what changes with AI's. Many researchers admit they don't know the toxity level of AIs....
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I've been on Arimidex for two months now and have started to get numbing of the fingers and hands during the day now. I could tolerate it at night but this is too much. Is it causing nerve damage?? My Onc took me off for a week and going for an appointment next week to talk to her. It will be interesting to see what's the next plan.
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