Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
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Ruth: YOU GOT IT!!!! Yep, totally post-menopausal according to labs past 2 1/2 years at least. No periods since taxol/Oct. 2006--hot flashes/night sweats daily since then. Tamoxifen 2/2007 after radiation. Since showing menopausal, switch to Aromasin 9/2010. Period starts up Xmas Day, a 'regular' 5-day period, heavy bleeding first 2 days. Call Oncologist, says to see Gyn. I say YEP, BUTTTTTTT....I'm on a medication that this should NOT be happening...they call me back, GO OFF THE Aromasin...I see Gyn. Wed. this week....I do not feel she will have a clue what's going on. I feel that I should've stayed on Tamoxifen a bit longer (perhaps the full 5 years, instead of 3 1/2, but what do I know?). So, agreeeeeeeed with you Ruth...this SHOULD NOT BE happening!!! ARRRRRRRRRRRRRRGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH...VERY frustrating, and disturbing to ME to be OFF any anti-cancer med only not even 4 years after end of rads. Hopefully we can get to bottom of all this in next couple weeks (Onco appt. next week, all bloodwork will be done then thru my lovely port, which I will keep forever if I can -- very teeny tiny veins, takes 2 hours in a lab just to draw blood, will take the port anyday, and lab requested my onco replace my port-a-cath that developed a sheath that I had implanted for chemo 2006, power-port implanted 4/2010). LOTS of info I'm giving, I know...but this is just ridiculous to me...and confusing, there's NO info I can find on this. My onco said NO WAYYY should the AI be causing a period after menopause so many years, so STOP the Aromasin. I was writing here to see if anyone else had similar experience...I see the other post, but no reply back to mine.
Can you feel my extreme frustration???? NO hot flashes either since 12/24/10. NOT good.
Thanks for listening, I know there's nothing anyone can do, just gotta run it thru the docs...thx. I'm not an idiot, I keep all my medical records, and there's the consistency of lab reports for 2 1/2 years as to post-menopause, hence the switch to the AI. And, no I don't go right to the ovarian cancer thing...but sure enough, I am releasing estrogen once again...yep, estrogen-fed tumor.
~juli
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CAERUS: As evidenced by my last posts, I also have NO nurturing feeling left at all. I absolutely have NO patience anymore, when I was THE most patient person ever, I was a great 'listener', now I DON'T CARE...I sound just awful! It's how I feel....awful. I apologize if I am offending anyone, but yeppppppper, no nurturing feelings here. I stay 'upbeat' for my BF and my family, they have no clue I feel this way (maybe, lol). We're all different! ~juli
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Take up kickboxing or get a punching bag. It is quite refreshing to hit and kick at things!!!
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Is anyone experiencing heart palpitations from lack of hormones? I have been on Arimidex for 3.3 years and I'm beginning to have many of the side effects that you all talk about. I also have a PFO which was discovered when my heart was checked prior to Chemo. so an incidental find. I did have these palpitations very infrequently prior to BC and treatment but nothing like I do now. I have an appointment to see my PCP in a few weeks but I have been wondering if any of you have seen an increase since becoming hormone deprived? Katiejane
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Ruth, I think I would destroy anything in my path at this point! (No people will be harmed ;)Thx...juli
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Use the energy for vigorous areobic exercise! (Like you could come and shovel my driveway
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LOL Ruth, if only my daily migraines would allow any kind of exercise at all (let's not get into THAT one!)...this will all pass as soon as we figure it all out. AND no furnace today! 15 degrees, ready to start a mega-snow 'event', luckily have a gas stove in living room, heats up whole house. BF will have to check it when home at 7pm (yep, he's the one I hardly ever see). Good gosh, got me-self going again, didn't I??? I SO apologize to all...but Ruth you've always been very very kind, I always appreciate your optimism, some days I'm just not as chipper (I used to always be, not since BC...truly).
~juli0 -
Well, that is the good thing about this place; you can be chipper or NOT chipper at all, and we get it. Hang in there! Ruth
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Very true, Ruth, thank you! You are always so kind, I'm so glad you are here. Hangin' in for sure, waiting for Gyn. appt. tomorrow, then onco next week. (I still bet it has to do with either the tamoxifen-going off too early-or the Aromasin itself) We shall see. ~juli
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Jul - I think you and I are neighbors - I am in Albany, NY - you too?
This doesnt relate to the current topic but I run a few programs in Albany you may be interested in - pm me your email addy!
MAry
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Hi Mary~~PM on its way, thank you! Yep, good ole Albany. Originally from Syracuse and don't miss that lake effect (tho yes, we're predicted for tons of snow later today & tomorrow here, don't ya love it?? NOT!
) Are you originally from Albany? We are not, BF is from Canajoharie (west of albany). THX! ~juli0 -
Juli-no need to be chipper, here. You can be however you need to be.
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Thanks susgul, yeah, if you guys really knew how I truly felt...I used to be like some others, that BC is 'no big deal', one does what one has to to get thru it all, yada-yada-yada...right now I just feel like I could care less about any of it, and just have to deal with what's going on right now best I can, as usual. THX all...juli
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Juli,
this is a "come as you are" thread - no fake smiles ever. I am so sorry to hear you've got to deal with migraines - I turn into a vegatable with just a simple ole headache. I don't know if you've thought of it - but being without estrogen as we are on AI's can easily lead to depression. Not caring, anger are often signs of depression - I hope you'll at least mention it to your doctor, an ask about taking a small dose of an anti-depressat, to see if that helps. There are many different ones that can be taken with an AI. Unlike Tamoxifen, where the choice is very limited.
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Caerus: I have had migraines daily for 30+ years, and most meds (98%) make the head pain worse, including anti-depressants (one of the first lines of treatment). No, I just have the right to finally let myself be ANGRY, I never have yet. Too much all at once, is all, it will pass. Thank you, now see, you ARE nurturing!!!
~juli0 -
Juli: I may have asked you this in the past, but have you ever tried Botox for the migraines? I know someone who it works for, and it's covered by her insurance.
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wenweb: Yep, had botox twice, no wrinkles~~~but head pain the same, there is nothing to be done, sorry I mentioned it. It usually gets people started on 'have you tried ________'....lol. (yes, 30+ years, been-there-done-it). I'll stick with BC topics! THX~~~juli
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Juli: Sorry to get you going, and sorry that you have to deal with almost constant headaches. I get them myself and can not image doing it on a daily basis.
wendy
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HI Katie Jayne- I have heart palpitations too and a rapid heart rate, also a PFO. I am also taking effexor. The Onco said the rapid heart rate is from the effexor not the arimidex. Are you by anychance taking effexor or something like it to combat hotflashes. I think Onco is going to try the Effexor normal, not the XR ( extended release) to see if that helps.
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enjoyful,
Thanks for the link. It was great. Lucky you, having a NHL team so close. Saw "Ollie the Goalie" at the grocery store last week end. Could not speak...he recognized me from different meetings and said hi,at least I think he recognized me or he felt sorry for the crazy woman foaming at the mouth with her tongue hanging out. He is one handsome man. I do appreciate beauty.
Hope all of you are tolerating all the crazy weather and staying warm and safe. I am really looking forward to spring
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Spring, spring - did someone mention spring. Yea, only 2 more months (yeah, I know we can still get snow in March/April). Can't wait. (do you think I just came in from shovelling for an hour). Now off to work. Have a great day all.
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I cannot imagine having to shovel snow to get out to work! Bless your heart!! Move to Florida!!!
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Thanks PJ - that's the plan actually. The Villages by July 2012. (sooner if I can swing it!)
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Have friends of friends who live in The Villages. They love it! That part of Florida ends to be hotter in the summer and colder in the winter than nearer the coasts. But great central location and not so near the hugely touristy (read "crime") parts of the state. You'll love it!
Pam
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Can we come and visit (hint, hint)?
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You certainly can!
Hotter in the summer but they have 50+ pools and I absolutely love water aerobics. Cooler in the winter - cooler than NJ - nope! And when it does dip to the 20's it stays for, what, a few days? Okay, getting excited - wonder if I can move next week!
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wenweb: My apologies, you did NOT get me going!! I was already there...:) ~juli
(If there is something one has worked on for decades and cannot change at all, acceptance/adaptation is the only way to go--in my own opinion, can't keep fighting what can't be prevented...just treat pain daily and do the best one can)
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Lovely powdery snow, lots of it, in western MA. Looks like sand dunes all around my cabin, and yes, I love, LOVE, love it -having the full 4 seasons is one of the reasons I moved back to New England.
Also learned, again, from my acpuncturist, how much I ADORE Tiger Balm, the red one, rubbed on my lower back, then flannel, then heating pad. Heaven. All pain gone, zap, away! YEAH!
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Ruth: I found your post very interesting since I have been on Arimidex for 7 years. My gyn has advised me I do not need pap smears since I had a partial hysterectomy in my late 30's (many years ago) and the one ovary that was left has shriviled up over the years so there is basically nothing left in there for me to be concerned about. I don't know if this means that I have a cervice or not. I have lived a celibrate marital life for over 30 years (due to DP problems he refused to take care of) and was not concerned about this until the "vaginal atrophy" issue turned up. I don't know how bad off I am but I will discuss this with my gyn if I return to see her this year. I was using Replens every 4-5 days but stopped for a while. I may return to it after reading your post to get some moisture in that area.
BTW, what do "nuns" do who may get bc who have to live celibrate lives due to their church vows?? I always wanted to be a nun but had no idea when taking my vows with Bozo, I was going to become one any way! Life is full of surprises!
Thanks for sharing your very informative post!
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Caerus: Western MA, yep, you get this 'stuff' too! I also love the 4 seasons, especially Fall (cars run better in the cooler air, lol). Glad you can use the Tiger Balm (the smell I cannot) and the 'ritual' that makes your back feel better~!
Luckily BF's son is here clearing off the pickup and driveway for me for later appt. with gyn. specialist. (Hoping they don't call to cancel, it's an OB place too, so preggers go there...they may cancel just out of courtesy to them...but hope not, I need to get this figured out). Enjoy the snow...(tried to say non-sarcastically, 
) ~juli0
