Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
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Interesting on the full moon and hot flashes. I had never heard of that before. Have others noticed that, too? I don't generally (or didn't think) have the hot flashes with this. Although, periodically I'll wake up in the middle of the night with my hair soaked. I just figured it was because of our room being hot. (A/c not on, husband wrapped around me, my polar fleece headset for my meditation on, etc.) But, this week I noticed that I woke up two nights in a row soaked and remembered someone at work saying it was a full moon week.
I am buying the new headband for running since it's not made of fleece. If anyone is looking for headphones for sleeping, these are the best - http://www.sleepphones.com/ When I was first diagnosed my stepson sent me an ipod and some relaxation tapes. Three years later, I still use them. They are what got me through all my tests, surgeries, chemo treatments, everything. I had problems at first as the earbuds of most headsets were stabbing me in the ear. These were the perfect answer.
Patty
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I never had hot flashes during menopause.........buy.........I HAVE THEM NOW!!!!!!!
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Excuse me...........that is supposed to be "but".
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My experience is similar to Patti's -- had few and mild hot flashes during menopause but now, on an AI, have a dozen or more a day, and occasionally night sweats. About a year into Arimidex, I developed trigger fingers and have had joint stiffness throughout. It makes me feel old, but I still think it's my best defense.
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Why does Claritin help joint and muscle pain? I thought it was an antihistamine?
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You're right, it is an antihistamine. Not even doctors know why it seems to help some women with joint pain, during chemo or while on one of the AI's. But the anecdotal evidence is there, so doctors will often recommend that women try it. My MO said she had heard positive stories from so many women that she was once considering a clinical trial with it. It helped me a lot when getting Neulasta shots after chemo' not quite as mich with Aromasin.
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I bought some claritin the other day. Have not yet opened the box, but my joint pain seems to have lessened! Maybe it's the prunes? Anyway, I do want to try the claritin when things start hurting again, as I am sure they will. My question is this: Do we just take it regularly, according to the dosage on the box, or take it occasionally as the joints indicate?
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That's a good question Brookside. I'm only 2 1/2 weeks into this med and I've got some "clicking" and pain at the base of my thumb. boo-hoo. If it works,I'll take it. I don't want to lose my mobility. Take care women.
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PATTY9999...A woman's body is like well over 90 percent water and if the moon pulls on tides and it takes ten lunar months to have a baby and our OB was crowded during the full moons..I am sticking to my story re. flashes...ha!
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Makes sense to me when you put it that way.
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Patti, I'm noticing some "clicking" and fleeting pain in the joints of my big toes! Not sure if it's related, but it's not a major problem at this point. Had a bunionectomy on one years ago, so there's some arthritis there already.
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Annie-I'm happy that you haven't felt anything in your hands. I looked up some exercises for trigger fingers and I plan on doing them faithfully! Wishing all of you a healthy tomorrow.
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Just to let you know there is life after arimidex..I finished up with it seven years ago now. Most of the side effects slowly get better.But I must admit I get a hot flash every dsy between 4&5pm.Go figure..I turn 71 in a couple of months
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I would take the Claritin every day...
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I have been taking "Instaflex" supplements and I just realized the other day that I think that they are helping. I was having terrible joint and muscle pain in my legs (I also have back and hip issues) but they seem to have gotten better except for the occasional day or days (2 or so). I want to check with my MO to make absolutely sure they are okay, but they do seem to help.
Have been on Anastrazole for 3 mos. now...at first joint pain was terrible and had hot flashes all day every day, but had just quit HRT when I found out I had BC Dec. 24 after 23 years. (Long story there...no doctor ever told me it was dangerous--to stop taking it!!!) so don't know which was causing it. Hot flashes have diminished significantly now...am going to start the raisin therapy right away. How long do you let them soak?
Any other suggestions?...I will not stop taking the Anastrazole...too much depends on it.
PS: The medical literature says that women who have the joint pain are more likely to get increased benefit from the AI's in terms of non-recurrence of BC...that is enough motivation for me to endure to the ends of the earth!!!
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Let them soak two weeks. I was on HRT too....I had my worst hotflashes when I was doing chemo.....mostly I think because my body was getting nailed with the chemo drugs AND the sudden drop off of hormones.....by the time I hit Arimidex (after chemo and rads) most of the adjusting had already been done.
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Hello Ladies! I hope I can jump in here....I am starting Arimidex again tonight. To make a 3yr long story short, I was on tamoxifen and then on arimidex and back on tamoxifen. Now going back on Armidex after being on nothing for 3 months. I'm so anxious about going back on it. The last two months were the best two months in three years! My hair is finally growing at a good rate, my skin looks better and I sleep 5 hours straight without night sweats. Most of all, I don't feel like I'm carrying a cement block all day long. Dare I say I feel like my old self sorta? I really don't want to go back to the crappiness of it all. I'm 43 and chemo put me into menopause at 41. I don't want to feel older than I need to (cancer and chemo did a good job of that)!
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I've been on arimidex 5 weeks now and am thankful that it hasn't impacted my ability to keep up with my high energy, high maintenance, but delightful grandchildren while they're visiting from Iowa this week.
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Could someone explain to me why Claritin helps joint and bone pain? I've seen several mentions of this and wonder why an antihistamine does anything for pain.
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Easydancer and Ruth, I, too, had been on HRT for 15 years -- and loving it --- when I had to stop cold-turkey that day in2011 whenI got my BC DX. Think that abrupt change, plus now Aromasin ( just switched fromArimidex 3 weeks ago) has made the hot flashes so much more severe. My skin aged quickly and now the joint issues...
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I think these are symptoms we would have had with natural menopause, they are just more severe because we went from artifically high estrogen to artifically low.....BAM.
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Just got off the phone with my pcp's office-after a year on anastrozole my cholesterol has shot up 50 points!
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spunky boobs - I haven't been on this thread for a long time. Expect ruthbru will be on to suggest Slo-Niacin, as it really DOES help reduce the "bad" cholesteral. It's amazing - serves the same function as the statins which can be prescribed.
One word of caution if you have any genetic tendency toward Type II Diabetes ( which I did) - while the cholesteral reading went wa-a-a-a-y down - I was "thrown" into borderline Type II Diabetes. When I stopped the Slo-Niacin, sure enuf - cholesteral went u-u-u-p and blood glucose went down.
Raising cholesteral levels is a KNOWN SE of taking an aromotase inhibitor. Estrogen is a regulating factor in cholesteral in our bodies.
SO, exercise, low animal fats, extra virgin olive oil, Vitamin D3, and raw almonds are usually suggested. All seem to help.
Good luck. I can tell you there IS "light at the end of the tunnel of 5 years ( and it's not a train coming the other way) - my cholesteral and blood glucose levels have returned to what they were pre Arimidex. More energy, no joint pain.
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Sunflower, great, just what I needed, sigh. I am type 2. Had a h*ll of a time during tx due to steroids raising my glucose level up in the 500's. On a statin now, cholesterol is around 80. So I can expect that to jump? D*mm it, I hate f*cling cancer! The gift that keeps on giving. Well, 1 year PFC, and my glocuse is under control, but I hurt a lot. Whew, are we having fun yet? LOL
As to menopause, yes I think if you are thrown into chemopause, it is harder, I was post menopausal by two years, and I get hot flashes now, but not as often, I can handle this. I am sorry it is so hard for you.
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Thanks, Moonflower.
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Spunky: Wow. I haven't had mine tested yet, as I just "celebrated" my one year on AI. Interesting info Sunflower...
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make sure to keep your bone density scans done every 18 months
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First B/W shows elevated Ferritin, Cholesterol and LDL Cholesterol. None seem to be highly elevated but are considered abnormal. I see my GP Wed. to go over the results.
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My MO recommends one every 24 months. And I have osteoporsis
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Have been off of Femara for almost a month & it has been heaven (in comparison) but have to start something new Aug. 12th...maybe Arimidex is the answer. Femara side effects were terrible.
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