Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
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Yes, they need to be golden, the sulfur is one of the three reasons why it works. Here's the run down:
1. Golden raisins- the ONLY type of raisins worthy of the recipe- require sulfur or sulfides in their processing to make them golden. Sulfur is an active ingredient in 2 effective natural arthritis supplenents: glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. Golden raisins come from sultana grapes and are cultivated under the name Thompson seedless grapes in the U.S.
2. Sultana grapes contain proanthocyanidins which are thought to help fight infections and reduce inflammation. Grapes also contain resveratrol, a powerfrul anti oxidant that is being studied for many of it’s disease fighting properties.
3. Gin is flavored with juniper berries and juniper berries contain Terpinen. Terpinen has anti inflammatory properties. The essential oil that is in juniper berries contains more than 100 compounds including myrcene (an anti oxidant), catechins (anti oxidant), and flavanoids (anti oxidant). Test tube studies have shown that juniper berries can inhibit prostaglandin synthesis. Prostaglandins help mediate an inflammatory response and increase the sensitivity of nerve endings to pain. By inhibiting their production, a reduction in pain can occur.
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May I ask? Anybody with chronic diarrhea from this med? I can't seem to get a handle on it. I stopped it last Thursday. Thanks women................
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Patti, I have a lot of trouble from D but I never thought of A being the cause. I take magnesium and am on abx and have IBS as well. Now I can add A to my list of crap. (LITERALLY) Sigh.
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One side effect I had was urethral caruncle..too little estrogen!
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I just read that the Army of Women is looking for participants for a study about the effectiveness of accupuncture for joint pain relating to hormone therapy in women with early-stage breast cancer. Perhaps some free accupuncture if you are dealing with skeletal issues on Arimidex and you happen to live near one of the participating clinics?
http://www.armyofwomen.org/current/view?grant_id=717
The Army of Women is an organization affiliated with the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundaiton. It looks for volunteers for many studies being done by many different organizations. Some require physical participation, but some are surveys you can fill out at home. All the studies have requirements specific to the study being done.
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I am part of this clinical trial. Ended up in the control group. However, I get my certificates for free acupuncture next month! Sure hope it helps!
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I had acupunture when I was on tamoxifen and arimidex.. mostly for neuropathy which seemed to get worse . The acupunture helped some. The acupunturist was also a MD pathologist. She seemed to think it really helped with the circulation into my feet..the pain a little less...
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After about a year on arimidex I have excrutiating pain in my achilles tendons. Not sure if it's AI related though-anyone else have this pain? thanks!
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I also had acupuncture for hip pain that flared up within a year of being on Arimidex (before it went generic). Acupuncturist was also MD (internist) who finally gave up and referred me to orthopedist. That and fact I've less than a year left on A means I don't qualify for that trial. But thanks for posting it.
I have about 6-7 months left and yesterday starting getting pain in left ring finger. Getting worse - I'm thinking trigger finger. Had it in another finger about 2 years in and needed cortisone shot. I will be glad to finish and then can attribute issues to aging.
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So, looks like no one with muscle tightness/pain. Maybe it's just me being really out of shape.
I did sign up for the trial. See if I qualify when I get in touch with them. I qualify from the web page. Maybe since the Vitamin D has helped so much, they might not want me. Although, I am still stiff. Just not like before.
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To pattithenurse - I haven't had any problems from diarrhea since being on Arimidex.
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I was interested in the acupuncture study and did some further digging. This is off a facebook page - found by putting in the exact title of research project. The Army of Women page only says "multiple sites".
WHERE?
The study is being conducted at multiple sites throughout the United States. Participating clinics are located in the following cities:
• Columbia University, New York, NY
• Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA
• Grand Rapids Community Cancer Program, Grand Rapids, MI
• Greenville Community Cancer Program, Greenville, SC
• Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, UT
• Kaiser Permanente, Vallejo, Walnut Creek, and San Francisco, CA
• Lahey Hospital and Medical Center, Burlington, MA
• Good Samaritan Hospital, Portland, OR
• St. Luke’s Mountain States, Boise, IDMust be able to travel to site 2x/week for 6 weeks, then weekly for 6 weeks. Does this sound right BayouBabe? Darn it nothing anywhere close to North Texas.
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That sounds right. On top of the visits to the clinical site, I also answer a series of phone questions regularly. I give blood and urine. I do hand strength tests and a simple standing/walking test. Pretty easy to participate. The questionnaires each time are a bit lengthy, but not too bad (same ones as over the phone).
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Goats, thanks for posting. I went through the short web questionnaire....I qualified, and then found out the nearest site is NY. I live in Philly....not far but not convenient for twice a week visits for first 6 weeks. Plus, like any study, the control part means you are only half as likely to get the actual accupunture. I wish my insurance paid for accu....it seems to help some with joint pain.
Patti and Spunky....I had tibular tendonitis (under instep and up calf) that started the first 2 months on AI. I was off AI 2 months for surgery/recovery, and the pain worsened. I thought maybe it was from when in hospital my legs were constrained by the device that helps prevent blood clots? By the time I could walk again, the tendonitis was horrible. Eventually got a "boot" for it. It has gone.
So I believe the AIs impact the tendons and muscles as well as the bones.
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patty-well,I visited with a GI doc,gave some samples,had some blood drawn,and got 2 calls today wanting to talk to me. I just hope this disease hasn't spread to the colon or liver. Geesh...I just want to get back to living. I stopped the med 2 weeks ago,but they want me to keep taking it. I don't know if I'm coming or going anymore!! Vent,vent.......thanks for listening women!
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pattithenurse - Don't worry about things until you definitely have something to worry about. Could just be you have IBS or something. I know how easy it is to jump the gun on stuff like this. But, we can't let it all control us.
When do you see them? Please keep us posted as to what it's all about.
Hang in there. You're in my prayers.
Patty
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So I believe the AIs impact the tendons and muscles as well as the bones. - from Chris13
It hit me this week, people have commented on having problems with trigger finger. The problem I'm having with my leg seems to be the same type of issue. My leg curls up like the fingers in trigger finger. So, I really wonder if maybe it does affect the tendons and hasn't been identified as a definite SE from this med. Hmmm...
Patty
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patty9999 - at least with trigger thumb I could still do most of what I needed to do. If you've got trigger leg it sure must put a hitch in yer git-a-long!
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Here are some interesting facts I just read about WATER! Especially note numbers 6 & 7 (while I go drink a glass of water
).WATER
1. 75% of Americans are chronically dehydrated.
2. In 37% of Americans, the thirst mechanism is so weak that it is often mistaken for hunger.
3. Even MILD dehydration will slow down one’s metabolism as much as 30%.
4. One glass of water will shut down midnight hunger pangs for almost 100% of the dieters studied in a University of Washington study.
5. Lack of water, the #1 trigger of daytime fatigue.
6. Preliminary research indicates that 8-10 glasses of water a day could significantly ease back and joint pain for up to 80% of sufferers.
7. A mere 2% drop in body water can trigger fuzzy short-term memory, trouble with basic math, and difficulty focusing on the computer screen or on a printed page.0 -
It sure does "put a hitch in yer git-a-long!" I never know each time I go to stand up if I'm going to have two legs to stand on or one. Carrying a cane with me at all times now. And, sometimes it's so bad I am in such pain I cannot stand at all. It's make it hard with my busy life. Work full time and weeks like this week, I've got an activity going on every night after work. The pt and my pcp say it might take months to get over this. I sure hope they're right that this will get better.
I signed up for that trial for the acupuncture. I'm not sure if my having this and/or already doing pt will knock me out of the trial. Won't find out for about a month it sounds like.
So, has anyone else had issues with other tendon areas besides the finger being an issue? Maybe this is a relatively unknown SE. Wonder what it is that arimidex might do to the tendons.
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Patty, yes tendons can be affected. I have been on Arimidex for three years and have had trigger thumbs (one requiring surgery to correct), plantar fasciitis, and chronic tennis elbow. Sadly for me, the pain in these areas has never diminished despite physical therapy. I do exercise which helps some. I know other ladies that get pain from an AI, but it eventually goes away. I am not one of those fortunate ones, but I will continue to stay on the drug as long as it keeps the beast away. It's easier to deal with side effects from an AI than the side effects of cancer in my humble opinion. I hope all the best for you and relief from pain.
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Patty - you should still be fine for the trial. I am currently in the control group of that trial. I was in PT when I started, as well as have other degenerative disc/arthritis issues. You should be fine. Good luck! I have not had any actual acupuncture yet - get my certificates this month - hope it helps me.
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Yes, after I posted I did some searches online for arimidex and tendonitis, etc. Found lots of links with info showing it's an issue. I printed one thing out to bring to the pt. Not sure what good it will do. As she said she'll continue doing stuff until I get better. I just wonder if it will ever get better after reading all this stuff. And, I did have a bad bout of plantar facitis right before I went back to work. I guess that got better. And, knock on wood, it doesn't come back.
I feel the same way, don't want to stop the meds. My husband saw me in the start of an episode last weekend and recommended I stop the meds. At the time I didn't realize that's what's causing it and told him so. But, will tell him now that I'm reading it can be. But, he also doesn't want the cancer back either. But, I really need to lose some weight and can't get anywhere on that will all these pains going on either. I've been "stuck" since late yesterday with not being able to easily walk right now. Hoping it gets better as I have a very busy week ahead.
Glad to hear about the trial. I did write the person today that had contacted me about it. Told her my situation. They won't be starting for about a month. I just don't want it to get into snow flying time or I may not be able to do it. It's already going to be a good hour drive for me each way each time.
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I would like to know how soon after completing surgery/chemo did you start on Arimidex?
It has been 4 weeks since my last infusion of TC and I am about to start on Arimidex but wonder if enough time has lapsed to "clear" my system before introducing this new drug? Some lingering SEs are still with me. Thanks! Nisa0 -
I started on Arimidex 26 days after finishing chemo, the week I started radiation. I was just fine. Although you are still healing, most of the chemo is out of your system by then. My take was the sooner I started, the sooner I would be done at the other end.
A couple of weeks later, I was headed somewhere on foot, and noticed I was power walking! Good luck with all this. - Claire
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I started one day after I was done with rads....and I started rads as soon as they let me after chemo (can't remember the exact timeline), but like Claire, I wanted to get it all over with ASAP.
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I started Arimidex two weeks after final chemo and when I began rads. My joint pain didn't start until about three months after beginning Arimidex.
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I started it 3 weeks after chemo. Much love.
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Hello everyone,
just wondering if anyone can tell me if it's possible for new SX to start after and old ones to come back after being on Arimidex for one year?
Right now I am very concerned with my elevated BP! Since my BP has usually been on the low side, I noticed in the last few days that it stays pretty much at around 138 / 90
This is making me very concerned to the point of just making an appoitment with my PC for this thurs.
One other thing that is bothering me is how since starting A my liver enzymes and billiruben are elevated. My Oncologist has not made an issue of it but I am.
Pains in my knees, ankles, under my feet, numbness in fingers during the night, hair falling out, are SX that had stopped and now all of a sudden have come back.
I have been under extreme stress for the last 4 mo and I am wondering if this could have caused the flare up of all the SX old and new!
Can anyone else relate to this?
Thak you,
Mena
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Mena, I can relate to all of that. I have had a LOT of SE from AI. My liver enzymes give me a fit, especially the Alk Phos. It's usually elevated, but only by about 20 pts., so my onc told me it was a SE from the AI. My cholesterol went through the roof at 280 and used to be 180. I eat very little animal protein so I'm not getting cholesterol from my mostly vegetable diet. My PCP put me on Pravastatin (low dose), and it came back down to the normal range. I think it's good you are getting your BP checked. Mine has never been elevated, even on an AI. Other than that, I can safely say that over the three and a half years since being on Arimidex, I have had All of your other symptoms, come and go. Try not to worry. I know, easier said than done.
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