Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
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AnnieLane, how go the rads and how many altogether? I had 28 and finished a week ago and so far so good. Have been on the AI since end of April so many years and months to go.
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ruthbru...adding gin soaked raisins is my next try at alleviating finger pain. Dunno if it is caused by arthritis or SEs from Anastrozole but it's sure worth a try.
Had to ease up on the prunes tho..but taking Actonel DR in lieu of...preferred the prunes but at least the meds don't make my PCP shake his head in disbelief. LOL
I kept suggesting he google prunes and bone loss but he never admitted if he did or not. Being an Asian Dr., I would think he would go the natural route instead of meds. Oh well!
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Hi All~ I'm new here - but apreciate all the information you give on Arimidex
I've been on it since the end of January - and have A LOT of leg pain. Plus lately I notice I feel tired soooo much. And then there's the slight weight gain - is this all common? I had lost some weight and now it's just creeping back - whaaaahhhhh. I'm wondering if the tiredness has to do with getting to the finish line. I'm having my very last Herceptin treatment in about 2 weeks. So there's that feeling of getting to the end.Hope you weekend has been good.
Marilyn
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ruthbru-love the new picture.
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cvmarilyn, I have only been on it since end of March and have some stiffness especially when I literally roll out of bed and night sweats (not every night oddly enough) but the weight gain you mention is interesting. I have gained 4 k since the AI and though I needed to do that I find it odd that I did not change my eating habits that much. I will be watching this possible S/E. Also I have upped my usual exercise but my son says it must be the muscles~~how nice of him to say that!
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Thanks Spunky. The remarkable thing about the picture is the fact that I was able to get it on my computer, cropped and then posted on BCO without the help of a 10 year old!!
I think some of the tiredness comes from getting to the end of a long, hard ordeal. A person is pretty beat up (both emotionally & physically) by the time they even start an anti-hormonal.
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Annie-thanks for asking about me. Well,tomorrow I begin my last week of radiation. It will be boost time. I formally finish up on July 2nd. I really don't have any skn issues. I just wish I didn't have to take Armidex. I sincerely hope I don't gain weight. I'll see a NP on Tuesday to talk about helping with bone loss. Now I need to go soak those raisins before I forget! How are you doing Annie? Going good? Hope so! Hope everybody is doing good!
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And I need to put gin on my list since I already have the raisins.
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Patti, glad to hear that rads hasn't been too hard on your skin. Hope the last week of boosts won't change that.
Patti & Marianeliza, thanks for asking. I've had 15 of 25 radiation treatments so far. My lumpectomy incision and the scar tissue underneath are beginning to get tender as is my nipple, but nothing unbearable. The farther out I get from chemo, the better I feel overall.
I'll be seeing my MO this week and should learn more about my five year medication plan. I've been assuming I'll be going on Arimidex, which is why I'm trying to learn about it here. My MO ordered the CYP2D6 blood test and I came back in the 10% who can't metabolize Tamoxifen and would likely have worse than average side effects with very little if any benefit. I know some studies have indicated that this test isn't a good indicator of who should take Tamoxifen and who shouldn't, but others indicate the opposite. My MO takes the test results seriously and he's somewhat renowned and I trust and respect him.
Patti, I have the same concern about bone density with the AI's. I was diagnosed with osteopenia not quite two years ago and have been on Fosamax (actually a generic) since then. I have not had any side effects from the Fosamax and plan to continue it if I go on an AI. My mom had osteoporosis and Fosamax restored her bone density.
As I understand it, all the other AI's except Arimidex are only prescribed after you've taken Tamoxifen for a couple of years, so I'm assuming Arimidex is my only option. Going into this BC experience I was peri-menopausal, although the chemo may have pushed me over the edge. I'm assuming blood work will be done to determine that and if need be, I'll have my ovaries removed or shut down with medication before taking Arimidex.
Obviously, I'm assuming a lot based on my own research
and my MO may set me straight on Tuesday! 
He ordered the CYP2D6 test before I started chemo, but we haven't yet talked about my post rads game plan.0 -
Ok. Finally picked up some gin. Hubby had gotten raisins last week at the grocery store. Questions - I put in a pyrex glass container with a plastic cover. Assuming that's okay. Also, does it need to be refrigerated? I put this together yesterday and it's been sitting on the counter. And, just want to confirm - needs to sit for two weeks before I can start it? I'm hoping this takes the last away.
I was put on 50,000 units of Vit D three months ago when I asked her to test my Vit D and magnesium levels. She had said I was in normal range and didn't need to do anything. Had a score of 34. But, I asked if she'd give me the Vit D anyway. She agreed to. It has definitely helped. Now only my arthritic joints ache. Not every joint in my body!!!
Oh, that's another question - she prescribed it for me 1 tablet a week with a prescription for the whole year. I didn't think you were on this long term. Any thoughts on that? I'm going to ask her tomorrow. But, if it's working I hate to stop taking if I'm going to go back to a score of 34 and ache all over again.
I really need to start exercising more. But my right foot just hurts all the time. Like it's bruised on top. Planning on asking my PCP tomorrow when I see her. Although, she'll probably just tell me if I'd exercise more it would stop hurting. But, it seems like the more I walk, the more it hurts.
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patty-i'm patti. I put the raisins in a cake pan,poured gin over it,put it upstairs and covered it with a cloth. i don't think it needs to be refrigerated. Two weeks and then let the healing begin.
Annie-I'm seeing a NP on Tuesday and she is trying to reassure me there is regimens for osteoporosis and bone loss. It has something to do with vit K. I can certainly share when I know something. I sincerely hope I don't experience alot of weight gain. That would really depress me more. Take care everyone. Gotta hop back on the healing journey train!
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Everybody-seems like I'm repeating myself tonight! My apology!
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I don't know if it needs to be; but my mom and aunt always put the gin/raisins in the fridge.
Although 34 is considered in the normal range for vitamin D, you will want to get it higher than that. I have an old post on it that I will try to find.
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Here is a post I wrote in 2011 about vitamins:
I went to a very interesting speaker the other day. She is a doctor, nutrition specialist, and an eleven year breast cancer survivor. Here are some of her tips for staying healthy:
1. We all know we should eat more fruits & veggies, whole grains, less red meat, processed food etc. so I am not going to go into any of that.
2. EVERYONE should be taking a multi-vitamin. Make sure it says ‘Complete' on the label. Make sure it contains iodine, Vitamin K, selenium and folic acid along with all the other good stuff. Interesting facts about why multi-vitamins are important:
* older women with the lowest levels of vitamin B-12 were at the greatest risk for breast cancer
* taking acid-blocking medications make you less able to absorb B-12
* she recommends 400 mcg of folic acid a day. It works with the B-12 (studies have found that folates may help to make chemo more effective and decrease side effects)
* B 6 is important in lowering the risk of breast and colon cancer
* she recommends 90 mg of vitamin C
* 30 iu of E
3. Omega 3.....either eat oily fish twice a week or use fish-oil supplements (make sure it says EPA and DHA approved) 1000 mg a day. It's associated with decreased risk of cancer, heart disease, inflammatory disease, depression and more.
4. Vitamin D....a big deal.....she recommends getting it tested (should be between 40-50 ng/dL). She recommends 2000 iu a day to maintain a good level. Many, many conditions are associated with low vitamin D; heart attack, cancers, rheumatoid arthritis, muscle weakness, asthma, diabetics, multiple sclerosis etc. etc. etc. There are over 200 different body tissues that have been identified so far that have receptors for the vitamin D hormone and they need it to work properly.
* adequate Vitamin D levels has been shown to reduce the side effects of taxol based chemotherapy
* Adequate Vitamin D has shown to reduce the side effects of aromatase inhibitors
* start with a multi-vitamin, drink milk, eat yogurt (check and make sure it has vitamin D added), and most people will also need a supplement to keep that high of levels
5. Vitamin K, should get 100 mcg a day. Check your multi-vitamin, not all of them have it added. Inadequacy leads to an increased risk of various cancers, heart disease, osteoporosis and kidney problems.
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Thank you so much Ruthbru, for re-posting about vitamins
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That is very helpful, Ruth - Thanks!
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Ladies, a query before I talk with my MO tomorrow:
Have any of you been on Femara before Arimidex? Any idea how the two compare?
Are you all taking generic anastrazole or name brand Arimidex? Has anyone taken both the name brand and the generic to have an idea how they compare?
Thanks for any input you have.
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Annie Lane....took both and the only difference I found was a fatter wallet. Only anastrazole, as I tolerate it just fine.
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I began with the generic Arimidex and have stayed with it. My onc asked if price was a factor and I said yes, of course.
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Thank you Ladies, that helps!
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They only had the name brand when I started (very expensive....some ladies were forced to take Tamoxifin, not because it was a better match for them but because they couldn't afford it!). But I was worried when the generic came out and asked my pharmacist. He said that since it is a 'serious drug', the drug formula itself has to be exactly the same...just the fillers can be messed with....so the effectiveness of a generic is equal to the brand name. I didn't notice any change with the generic (except, like Claire, having more money in the wallet).
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anastrozole is what is paid for here at our cancer agency not armidex. Last week my MO said anastrozole and letrozole (femara, right?) are like sisters, work exactly the same and said that she prescribes either or depending on what salesman she saw last. Not exactly perfectly reassuring but they do seem to do exactly the same thing and have the same S/E.
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Well, Arimidex (actually generic Anastrazole) it is. Filled my presricption on the way home and just popped my first little white pill. Thanks for your feedback, Ladies.
My MO strongly recommends D3 and low dose aspirin also.
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Thank you for the raisin input. I went ahead and put them in the fridge, just to get them off the counter. Hope this works.
I saw my PCP Monday. Told her my joint aches (except right knee) were much better. Asked her about staying on 365, she said yes. She'll test me at end of year and see what my levels are.
Is also sending me to PT for my knee joint pain. I had arthritis in that knee before this all started. Offered me wait and see if gets better, send to orthopedic surgeon for cortisone shot or go to PT. I opted for PT.
Patty
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Hmmm. Interesting that they are both the same. I'm on anastrozole for 2 1/2 years now. My coworker just started letrozole six months ago. She is not having any joint pain or any other side effects. I had been thinking of asking my MO about switching when I see her in August.
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I guess you try a med and if the SE are bad try something else. The biggest issue I seem to be having with Arimidex is feeling like I am PMS type problems. When I had PMS I was so irritable and I seem to be having that problem again. I had trouble with sleeping before but it seems to be worse. Go see my oncologist next week and going to try to get something for anxiety. You never know what they will give you and I don't want something that I have to take all the time. I really don't like having to take something else all the time and then having trouble getting off the anxiety medication.
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Just took my 2nd little white pill. So far I'm noticing some dry mouth and shoulder pain, but I think I need to get farther out from chemo and build up a track record with the arimidex before I blame it for anything. I think I will keep a diary of my symptoms as my RO suggested. He's a chatty guy, so we talk about other things than just rads.
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It's hard to know which SE is caused by what...those of us that are fresh out of treatment (1yr or less), many of our SEs could be from our bodies trying to purge the chemo out of our cells.
I chatted with my MO today and some of my SEs are from the chemo and some are from the Arimidex. She wants me to give the arimidex a full year before we make any changes.
Fun times! lol0 -
So where are you all finding the white raisins? All I find close is golden.
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golden & white are the same thing
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