Arimidex - Coping with the SE's
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Enjoyful
I think black cohosh has some kind of "estrogen" in it - which is why it's in the herbal supplements women who are menopausal and don't want to take hormone replacement use it. There are several B vitamins food for hair growth/strength - biotin is one of them.
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Gluten free is magical - really...and the difference just losing 5 pounds makes is amazing - and all you bread eaters...potato bread is gluten free and quite tasty (not real fond of the rice bread) - it takes very little time to feel the effects too - and feel the aches back if you end up eating out and of course who can resist those warm yummy rolls...
And a big no-no on the black cohosh...effexsor helps with the hot flashes and the depression - you go into it slowly and have to come off of it slowly - you don't want to stop effexsor suddenly. With mets, I will likely never stop taking it or pretty much any of the meds - only the treatment will change.
No longer on the Arimidex but Faslodex in a double shot (just approved in Sept 2010) - it is still an anti-hormonal but suppresses the estrogen differently - pretty similar se's so I keep on the gluten free for the most part - 16 months and 6 days from my initial dx of mets - STABLE! I don't think they have looked at Faslodex for preventative therapy - since they finished the trials with the double dose and it being used now - I know that there are trials going on combining it with other treatments - gentle ones - to see if it enhances the effectiveness of knocking back the crap in stage iv. Since it kinda acts like armor to keep the estrogen from the lesions so the cancer can't feed, it may not be suitable for prevention since there would be no active cancer cells present.
Hugs to All - just stopped by to check in...LowRider
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Lowrider
thanks about the info re: Potato Bread - I'll try it. Have really gotten "leaden" with the Rice bread
But like you, I LOVE LOVE LOVE being gluten free. Lost some weight, but mostly notice I've lost my food cravings! Also have eliminated Dairy - which has helped my allergies - MUCH less sneezing, even when things are dusty (which is often) - amazing what a difference the food we eat makes.
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Hi
I have been on Arimidex for about 6 months, and recently noticed that my blood pressure has gone through the roof! I did have a problem with slightly high blood pressure before Arimidex, but it was being controlled quite well with meds. Now its higher than ever, even with the blood pressure meds. Anyone else have this problem with Arimidex? If so, what did you do to control it? Thanks for your help.
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1-2 ounces of at least 70% cocoa dark chocolate every day for the blood pressure. It is TRUE, I am not making this up just to be popular
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I just started Arimidex today after being on Tamoxifen for 2 years. I had a meeting with my oncologist and was telling him what a biatch I have become and every anti-depressant I have tried has only made me feel worse.
So he said that it would not compromise my position (reoccurence) if I switched to Arimidex and took a monthly shot. I am 51 - went into chemo pause two years ago and haven't had a period since but he wanted to give me the monthly shot (Faslodex?) - not sure of the name of it. But I guess because I wasn't already menopausal when diagnosed, he feels more comfortable switching me to Arimidex if I take that monthly shot in my stomach - OUCH!
I am so hoping that this will make a difference with my mood swings. I don't have the patience to go back 64 pages and read everything - sorry but my brain won't go there.
If anyone has any suggestions for me - please let me know!
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Several people I know had fewer issues once they swtiched from Tamoxifin to Arimidex, and hopefully that is also the experience you will have.
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Thanks Ruth! I was having horrible joint pain on Tamoxifen - I know Arimidex can also give you joint pain but I am hoping it isn't so bad. I do feel a little bit "off" tonight after having that shot in my belly and taking my pill.
I read where women are taking the pill in the morning as it disrupts your sleep. I am not good about taking pills in the morning as far as having a consistent time so I am hoping having ambien to take at night will help me fall asleep.
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I got one of those little weekly pill cases; that way I can LOOK at it to see if I've taken my pill or not (YIKES!). I keep some ambien around for nights I can't sleep (in my opinion, it is great stuff), but I don't think the time of day I take the Arimidex makes any difference in the sleep department for me. Keep moving, I think that does help the body work through the 'creaks'.
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Ruth - I love to move around but 7 fractures last year sidelined me for most of the year and then just when I started healing up I got a nasty sinus infection that put me out for 10 days straight to where I didn't even drive.
But....... I am happy to report that I started riding my horse today and will ride her on Thurs and Sat this week. Now that I am feeling better from the sinus infection I will be walking at night - I typically walk for 40 minutes in the neighborhood which is really hilly so I do get a good work out. I wish I had the energy to do more but I am happy with that for now.
I hope I don't gain any more weight because I switched pills!
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I really do think you will find less SE with arimidex. Tamoxifin has to be (these aren't going to be the right medical terms but this is my understanding) 'stronger' because pre-menopausal women have more estrogen floating around that needs to be supressed. So generally it has more and more severe SE than arimidex.
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I guess that is why my oncologist so wanted me to have that monthly shot - to make sure I stay menopausal so that I am not compromising my treatment by making the switch. I don't care - I can deal with a shot once a month. The hospital is only 12 min from my house and I am not working so it isn't a PITA for me to go there once a month.
OK, I feel so much better about this decision. My oncologist did say that if there were no changes at all as far as SE's then he might switch me back to Tamoxifen but we are going to try this out for 2 months and then make a decision as to whether or not I stay on Arimidex.
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Keep us posted!
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Jancie.....So thrilled you could ride your horse. Both of you will be having a much better summer.
A friend of mine who has done both finds Arimidex much, much easier.
I have not gained weight....oh, a bit because I have been eating with the winter months, but not real weight gain.
Give your horse a hug for me. I am sure she understands. - Claire
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HI Jancie - I didn't gain weight either except for the 4 lbs I put on at the chocaholic buffet! I'm working hard to lose them now though. Hang in there, and if you do experience side effects, they usually will become more manageable with time.
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Some posts back, I was asked where I bought the rubber balls for home exercise to relieve carpal tunnel. I bought the balls from doczac in Blaine, WA. The web site is info@doczac.com. The cost was about $25 for 3 balls with rubber attachments to fit over the fingers. I stopped doing the hand exercises when the carpal tunnel symptoms went away, and the symptoms were so bad that I purchased hand braces. At night I would have hot shooting pains in my right hand that would wake me up. Even when I stopped wearing the hand braces at night, I was more conscious of not bending my wrist.
I take fish oil supplements daily and glucosamine/chondroitin. Also 75 mg Effexor to lessen hot flashes and mood swings. Also try to keep active and walk 3 miles 3 or 4 times a week. Play golf. Do my own housework and some gardening. Must get dressed and go play golf at 9am!
Happy Wed. to all.
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Thanks for that info Carole about the rubber balls. I'll have to look into that.
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FYI--Pristiq has just been approved by the FDA for hot flashes and it's supposed to have less side effects than Effexor. marketing on it won't start until the end of the year.
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Ohhhhh, I was really excited about gluten-free potato bread but, alas, not all are. The one brand I checked in my local supermarket has both wheat flour (first ingredient) and wheat gluten - is that the same as "gluten"? Or are there different types of gluten? So always check the ingredients first. Lowrider, do you have a brand name you can share? Thanks.
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Ladies,
Thanks for letting me intrude as I have not been on this thread until now. I was on Tamox. for 2 years and Sept. 2009 I was switched to Arim. Side effects have been manageable. Except in January this year I started experiencing a low pulse periodically. My normal resting pulse usually 60+ beats/minute. In January at times it was in the low 40 beats/min. Also I was getting over a virus and figured it was all related.
I thought this had passed but then again today I had that strange feeling. Took my pulse and it was 44.
Have any of you experience a low pulse (Bradycardia) while on Arim?
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Hi Friends~ I haven't checked in for a while. I am feeling great and I am even going on a trip to the grand Caymans! I am so excited. I am hoping the warm weather will make me feel better from the Arimidex. I must say the SE have gotten so much better
Hope you are all doing fantabulous!xoxox Balsie
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Grand Caymans - I wanna go! Have a great time.
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I saw my onc last week and asked about effexor for hot flashes. He said it has SE's too and maybe i should try tamox or femara. I was stunned but didn't say anything because i think tamox has MORE SE's, right? I would like to keep on the arimidex as it is generic and the best tx for post menopausal estrogen positive breast cancer patients. I meet with the NP next week and will talk with her. Should I try tamox or switch? Should i give it a few more months? for a few days the hot flashes seemed to decrease but now they seem to be on the increase again and i definately don't want to have to deal with them for the next 5 years. VJSJL - just saw your post on pristiq so i will ask about this too. thanks.
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I've been on generic Arimidex for 10 months with minimal side effects. My doc put me on Effexor a few weeks ago to relieve hot flashes and anxiety. It's working! The first few days were an adjustment (a little nausea, headache), but if I take it with food it's much better. Still doing monthly Zometa too - the SE's from that have disappeared over time too. I feel like I'm getting my life back!
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Zenith, the SE's may subside after awhile, although they also may not - very individual. If you've only been on for a short time maybe give it more time? I know they can be very annoying so you have to do what is best for you.
HUGS to all.
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HI All,
This is my first post on this thread, but I have read most of your posts and am very grateful for your support, experience and knowledge. I was on the September chemo thread and this sure beats chemo! I have a comment as well as a question.
My comment is for Wonderland - please check in with your doctor about your pulse of 44 - that seems pretty low. Are you having any dizziness? It might not be related to the drugs you are on, but it is worth getting checked out. As a point of reference, I took Celebrex once (and once only) because it lowered my pulse so much that I could feel myself waiting for my next breath. It was a very strange sensation and not at all comfortable. Basically, i felt a bit like I was running out of oxygen but had no control over the speed of my inhalations. I never took that drug again, as I figured it wasn't meant for me.
Here is my question: I am 51 and on Arimidex. I recently had my estrogen levels tested and my score was 51. Do folks think that is a reasonable score or should it be lower? So far, my doctor has said that it is still "menopausal" so it acceptable to him. However, I am pondering a Lupron shot or hysterectomy as an additional precaution, but I know such decisions should not be made lightly. What are other folks estrogen levels? How do you think about your number and whether you should help it go lower?
I wish everyone a s/e free day! best, Beau
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beau--do you have a copy of the lab test? There are a few ways to measure estrogen, if you can find out exactly what test you had we can figure things out better.
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I have had crying spells off and on with this bc and chemo. Kinda stopped in Jan but then in Feb I started arimidex and now i'm having them again for no apparent reason. I am hoping to be able to stay on arimidex but now i'm worried it's causing depression as well as hot flashes. maybe another reason to take effexor. Are the se's of effexor worth it?
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Are you exercising? It helps with the sad/mad feelings....walk, punch, kick them off & it also raises your natural endorphins, which elevate your mood naturally. Not that you shouldn't take effexor if you need it, but add the exercise component to your life if you haven't already done so.
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I'm not sure if there are different measurements of estrogen, but when I had mine measured (after hyster/oopher but before I started the AI) it was <12. So yours seems high if it is the same measurement--that makes me think it might be a different one.
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