Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
Comments
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I just had a fabulous asparagus soup in a fancy restaurant yesterday......of course, it was in a cream base, which no doubt cancelled out any possible health benefits!
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I love cream based soups, too! When I am making my own I use coconut milk instead of cream, get pretty close to the same results, can't tell the difference if I add just a splash of cream, and much fewer calories!
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ruthbru, I started reading from the beginning and saw you were on the original threads (didn't read the whole way through
). I think i'll just have to earmark this page again. There is a new thread going now. Two of us just started taking Arimidex last night! I had to take an Ativan I was so nervous...had achy legs and an upset stomach just thinking about it! I've been through menopause and a hysterectomy so hot flashes wasn't something I was too worried about but today I did have some doozies! Sounds like there is good info going on here...Polly0 -
Mema, most people do just fine, and think how LUCKY we are, as estrogen positive ladies, to have something we can take every day for 5 years (and the preventive effects go on for years beyond that) to really reduce our chance of ever having to go through this again. Most kinds of cancer (including triple negative BC), once you have done your initial medical treatments; well, you either are okay or you aren't....we have the opportunity to do more.
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So true ruthbru. We are very lucky. I think of the women before of us that didn't have anything and here I am whining. I'm okay and it would have been even better but the stench of a cat that got sprayed by a skunk last night had me gagging! He just wouldn't come in and DH would stop checking on him and when he ran in the stink followed. OMG, washing him at 1:00 in the morning with vinegar, no tomato juice here or the skunk odor remover, just put me in a bad mood. Then I found he threw up on my best quilt so I left it all to my DH. It was, afterall, his fault!!! I slept in the guest room and found that I kind of liked it...
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Starting Arimidex on Tuesday...Not looking forward to it and have been putting it off with making up any excuses to not start the durg. Anyway.....I filled the prescription and will start. I am having joint pain already just thinking about it....Hoping for the best...K0 -
I've been on Arimidex for 3 1/2 months, and so far have experienced hot flashes, joint pain, bone aches, trigger thumbs, and insomnia. But I feel it's a small price to pay for such a remarkable drug. These side effects are incredibly annoying at best, but Arimidex is giving me the peace of mind that I needed after the grueling chemo and radiation treatments I went through. Just knowing that there's a possibility of five plus years of a cancer free life helps me get through all the side effects.
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Help. I'm really in need of encouragement.
I've been on Arimidex/Anastrazole for over 2.5 years now, with all the expected (and some unexpected) side effects. I won't bore you with the list. My QOL has really suffered but I have been managing, sort of, until about 6 weeks ago. The measures I have taken to control knee pain aren't working as effectively as they once did and the pain is taking up residence in my feet and my right shoulder too. My short term memory is worse and my stamina is a fraction of what it once was in spite of regular exercise. The overall impression I have is that the toxicity of the med has built up to a whole new level.
I'm now three weeks into a self-given holiday of one month and, to my dismay, I really haven't noticed a lot of improvement. Am I expecting too much too soon? I'm beginning to become very depressed thinking that things won't become better when I'm finished my 5 year sentence. Is it possible there will be permanent damage to my joints?
My plan is to resume taking it (switching back to the name brand) in another week. When I see my onc in October I will insist on a change to Femara or Aromasin if I don't notice any improvement when on the name brand.
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Are you SURE it's the arimidex, or could something else be going on? I would probably get an overall physical.
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Kmpod--before you
change AI or go off early, get checked for arthritis.I had known arthritis BEFORE bc, and it
definitely got worse while on the AI, especially toward the end.X-rays showed it was at least partly due to 5
more years of aging and arthritic progression.About halfway through arimidex my PCP started me on acetaminophen
(Tylenol) and that made a world of difference.Didn't take the pain away completely, but I could walk and move
better.It took almost a year after
being done with the arimidex to get back to the way I was before, or close to.0 -
Kmpod, a few months ago, my hip pain snuck into the unacceptable range. My onc suggested a two-week holiday, but I really didn't see much improvement, and really wasn't happy not taking my security blanket drug. I decided there must be some inflammation, perhaps my "minor" arthritis acting up, and treated it accordingly. I started with three aspirin three times daily. A couple of days later, I moved to two, quickly moved to ,just one, then, just a couple of weeks later, none. I know not everyone can, or should, take aspirin, but most of us can take some nsaid; this one worked for me. Things are getting a bit ouchy again and I'm beginning to think I need to self-medicate again.
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Thanks Ruthbru and NM,
I actually timed this break so that I would see my GP a week after I resumed the AI with the intent of further investigating the joint issue. My MO is useless on side effects. He still insists that my suddenly elevated BP, which was well under control right up until I started the AI, was not related to the medication. I guess he hasn't read the drug insert.
NM, it's a great relief to hear that you have returned (almost) to your pre AI state and that it took almost a year. I can stick with this if there is hope for improvement once the five years are up. My principal worry is that there will be permanent joint damage.
As a side note, one issue that I hadn't related to Arimidex has shown significant improvement in the three week recess. For the past several months I've been irritated by stomatitis, painful cracks at the corners of my mouth, that required the application of Lamasil 2-3 times daily to keep under control. The condition has significantly improved and it feels like it would completely resolve in a few weeks if I didn't resume the med. I've not read of anyone else complaining of this issue but, given that the AI's do affect the mucous membranes I guess it's a logical relationship.
I'm usually a stoic about these things but the cumulative effect of multiple physical aggravations has worn me down.
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I just started Arimidex this week. I'm on other meds for neurological stuff, I had one seizure in 2010 and they loaded me up so I'm always sleepy so that effect wouldn't be new, neither would dizziness or off balance since those are SE of those meds. I've had a little hip pain for a very long time - early arthritis. And I've gained 40 or 50 pounds taking all these meds, plus I have hypothyroidism so it must be the sweets I love and being retired now and not very active (my choice, just like being lazy). So, it's going to be hard for me to determine a SE from Arimidex! I wrote down things that were wrong with me before I started it so maybe that will help me. Oh yeah, getting older really plays into it as well. I'm 6 yrs past menopause so hot flashes I've had but I'm sure these are tougher.I have to thank ruthbru cause she helped me to get over my fear of even starting this drug. My question is, what is it about the Arimidex that causes weight gain?
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Mema,
I have only been on Arimidex for 3 & 1/2 months. I have not gained any weight. I keep thinking I will, as I lost 20 lbs last summer when I was dx & started chemo.
My appetite is getting better, but I am much more careful on what I eat.
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I lost 25 pounds on arimidex. The pill, or maybe rads, left me with a hunger for slenderizing codfish, while my former love, beef (the fattier the better) just didn't taste right. Alas, a year later, my appetite, and my taste buds seem to have recovered and 10 of that 25 have creeped back up.
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I don't think Arimidex itself causes weight gain, I think it maybe has to do with people not feeling good so they don't exercise, are fatigued from all the treatments so don't move around as much, don't sleep well so don't are tired & don't want to exercise, feel sad from the whole thing so eat more comfort food, are happy to have an appetite so eat more food because it tastes good again etc. etc. etc.
Of the local ladies I know who are taking or have taken an anti-hormonal; the ones going in skinny are still skinny, the ones going in plump are still plump & the ones who have to watch the weight.....yep, are still watching the weight.
Mema, since I retired I have had to consciously up the activity level because when I was working, I was automatically getting lots more movement in my daily schedule.
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Hi All!
I'm on here again checking in because I've been having terrible anxiety lately. I started Anastrozole (made in India) in Sept and took it right up until about a month ago when I switched to Arimidex (brand name AstraZeneca).
I thought I was doing ok and most of the side effects I started out with were subsiding - knee, feet and hip bone pain, headaches, dizziness, hair loss etc.
But I never suffered from anxiety before until recently. It is quite terrifying and debilitating.
I feel my chest tighten and my brain fogs. I also cry - sob really - for no real reason except for this sense of loss of control.
This is my 3rd anxiety attack in a week and they all seem to happen in the afternoon (I take my Arimidex in the morning).
Is anyone else experiencing anxiety possibly related to Arimidex?
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MarieK - I do pop the occasional Ativan pill when I'm having a rough patch but I don't think my anxieties are related directly to Anastrozole. One of my SEs is an occasional bout of extended fatigue. When that happens sometimes I get to a day where I have an absolute emotional meltdown, feeling completely overwhelmed by everything, physically and mentally. I let myself have a good sob for a while, then Ativan snaps me outa that and I'm good for several more months. Three anxiety attacks in a week is a lot - you need to talk to your doctor, probably your PCP. Hang in there and keep us posted.
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sweetandspecial - thanks for the reply. I do have some ativan but rather than just self medicate I will take your advice and go see my PCP.
I see my MO in August (after my yearly PET scan) and if this doesn't improve I may ask to switch AI again.
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Kmpod--another thing
to try regarding the cracks in the corner of your mouth is to change to a
non-flouride containing toothpaste and mouthwash.Flouride toxicity can cause these cracks, and
I noticed that I was more sensitive to flouride while I was taking
arimidex.I have well water at home, but
will get the cracks if I drink flouridated water for more than a day or so when
I am traveling or if I'm not careful what I drink when I am at work in
town.MarieK--the anxiety
may not be related directly to the Arimidex, it may be PTSD.Some researchers estimate the rate of PTSD in
women diagnosed with breast cancer as high as 75%.Have you talked with one of your docs about
the anxiety attacks?Anxiety and
depression are closely linked, and an antidepressant med can help anxiety
attacks tremendously, and there are meds just for anxiety that will help.You are definitely not alone, and there is
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My DH says I'm getting a little "snarky" with him!
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meme4, I was getting that way with my husband and daughter too! I talked to my MO's RNP and she put me on Effexor (generic brand). It's a really low dose but it has made a huge difference!
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Checkers, what is Effexor?
Anybody cheating by taking only 1/2 of their pill?
For some reason, I'm sad today and I take Cymbalta on a regular basis. Shoot.
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Don't cheat....if you are taking it, you want it to WORK!!!
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Effexor is an anti-depressant that helps with the mood swings and hot flashes. I've heard some say they changed from Cymbalta to Effexor and it helped.
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ruthbru, I don't get why I am in such a panic over this drug. I have been since day one.
checkers, who made the change for you? was it your MO?
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I think it is because a person wants this whole experience to just be OVER WITH and put behind them, but the pill is kind of like a daily reminder that you can't.....if you can make yourself look at the good thing about it (which is.....because we were estrogen positive we GET TO take something every day for an extended time that will really, really reduce our recurrence risk, which is something that everyone else with other kinds of cancer wishes they COULD do)....then it is easier to cope with (or at least that is my perception).
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Hey Ruth - do I recognize that hoody?
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You should as you have one just like it!
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Thought so!!
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