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Life on aromasin

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Comments

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited July 2014

    Lonnie, I took mine in the morning.  Never really had any side effects.

  • Galsal
    Galsal Member Posts: 754
    edited July 2014

    I now take mine in the morning.  Otherwise, I forget to take bedtime meds.

  • lonnie713
    lonnie713 Member Posts: 131
    edited July 2014

    thanks all.  If I find that my lack of sleep worsens, I'll switch to mornings.  I took it last night and didn't notice any real difference. I'll give it a few days.

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited July 2014

    Arimidex gave me insomnia, but my first month or so on Aromasin I was taking it at night and slept through. I forgot to take it one night, and took it the next morning, and it made me so tired I could hardly get through the day. I switched back to night time and slept well.

    I've been on it for a couple of years now, and I'm back to taking it in the morning, and don't have any problems with tiredness, so that particular se wore off for me.

    I am starting to get more and more joint pain with it though. I'm hoping that exercise will keep it at bay.

  • Galsal
    Galsal Member Posts: 754
    edited July 2014

    Arimidex didn't give me joint pain.  It did though give me several bad headaches daily.  I kept both Tylenol and Aspirin at home, work, in my car, and purse.  That's how bad it was. 

  • rmlulu
    rmlulu Member Posts: 1,501
    edited July 2014

    Question? 

        PCP did blood work and everything was good EXCEPT Cholesterol!  Anyone else see their cholesterol jump from normal range to over 200?  If so, what are you doing?

    See MO tomorrow to discuss...1yr of AI...yikes. Checked my diet and exercise ...I'm good...so SE :(. Don't want to add another drug...but strokes&heart attacks run on both sides. 

    Guess results from bone scan will not be such a big deal...at least my good cholesterol is high but this is crazy.

    Thanks for input!

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited July 2014

    my cholesterol has been hi for ever so hard to say if it was affected but, since ending my BP is down down!  doc has me watching to see if I feel faint or such and I did stop the 2nd bp pill

  • rmlulu
    rmlulu Member Posts: 1,501
    edited July 2014

    Proudtospin - ugh:( sorry. Yeah, done with AI. Best wishes on the control of fainting.

    My BP is in the low range 110/67 so AI only seems to have changes cholesterol.

    Thanks

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited July 2014

    RMI--no fainting yet but do feel dif than before, just glad to be off the PILL

    I do take my own BP at home and can see the dif, it is definitely down

  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 1,983
    edited July 2014

    I have my yearly physical with PCP in September so will see if my previously wonderful cholesterol levels go up or not. My BP went sky high (for me) and I was put on a BP medication for the first time in my life. Not happy about that at all but it is better than going around with high BP! I used to be 110/62 or around there and now am  145/95! Yikes! BP meds put me at around 120/80 so that is good at least. Sorry your cholesterol spiked Cindy.

    Happy Independence Day! Stay safe. We are a soggy mess here in CT due to the southern hurricane coming up the coast. Supposed to dry out and be gorgeous for the weekend though so at least not all is lost.

  • Kindergarten
    Kindergarten Member Posts: 2,883
    edited July 2014

    I was put on BP meds, the first year of starting Aromasin!! I went off the meds by the 3 rd year!! I started walking a lot and that seemed to help! I am going into my 10 th year of aromasin, and my BP is 120/82. I am still overweight, and the only way I can lose weight is eating a very low carb diet! I have lost as much as 30 lbs, but then I gain some of it back! I think the aromasin, being steroidal in effect, causes the high blood pressure and weight gain! It is a lot of work to stay healthy while on aromasin!! I have started drinking a green protein shake every morning, and this definitely helps curb my appetite!! And I continue to walk and exercise !! I drink lots of water as well! Happy 4th of July to everyone!!!

  • rmlulu
    rmlulu Member Posts: 1,501
    edited July 2014

    Hi y'all

    Well MO announced that on my 1 yr anniversary of Aromasin...a significant loss of bone mass in spine&hips...what???  Scheduled infusion of Zometa for late next week :(  

    Yikes, thought Aromasin was a gulp...non event...little did I know...no weight gain, already had hot flashes...but the high cholesterol and bone loss ugh. MRI was good so I will celebrate no c!

    Will continue to walk, dance, and move...eat vegan...but really a jolt. Thanks April...yes the devil we know.

    How are your BC teams monitoring you? Anyone else taking additional meds to off set SEs.

    Happy 4th!

    Cindy

  • corky60
    corky60 Member Posts: 453
    edited July 2014

    Unfortunately bone loss is a known SE of AIs.  Those of us with a family history are susceptible to begin with.  RMlulu, why start with Zometa and not Fosamax?  My MO had mentioned that if I had bone loss I would take Fosamax.  Happy 4th to you too!--Corky

  • Crazywabbit
    Crazywabbit Member Posts: 54
    edited July 2014

    study out of the San Antonio breast meeting end of last year suggested that zometa, given early on every 6 months may decrease the long term risks of bony mets. Not shown by the oral  bisphosphonates but the IV forms. I just had my  DEXA dome and my lowest Tscore was -1.6, osteopenia.  Actually better the 8 -10 years ago when my lowest was -2. I found my vit D level was very low after that (11) and now it is at 72 and along with more exercise, calcium I have improved.  I am getting the zometa for the 2 years to try to stave off the bone loss from the Aromasin and hopefully reduce bone metsi the future at the same time.  First dose is scheduled for the end of this monh, that is if my insurance approves it. 

  • rmlulu
    rmlulu Member Posts: 1,501
    edited July 2014

    Corky - MO thought Zometa would be more advantageous for my situation...micromets   The SA study was discussed...so here I go.

    Crazywabbit - yes, I hear you.  MO said if I was on Medicare could have received 1st infusion  right there right then...so waiting for insurance to say go...schedule for 7/11.  Fingers&toes crossed for us!

  • WaveWhisperer
    WaveWhisperer Member Posts: 557
    edited July 2014

    Check out breaking news at top of this page. They're finally recognizing depression, fatigue and neuropathy as legit issues for cancer survivors!

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 15,711
    edited July 2014

    There are so many things  they didn't know about just a few yrs. back Chemo brain being one of them, when I was saying I was all fogged and thinking strangely I LOLed and called it chemo brain and I was told it was just something u might have that strange feeling during chemo, cuz it affects people differently along the way there was an articall about it and it was recognized from Mayo clinic, then another, then another and the last one said now they knew it can last years and years. Of course I had to say I told u so--cuz I had never read about it before or heard of it yet I called it chemo brain and as usual I was laughed at. Even simple spelling  (as u can see) is difficult for me and I was the one everyone called to spell difficult words And this didn't come with time it happened so quickly it was like  thunderbolt and I'm still off the wall. Ok in all fairness I was always off the wall, but now it's really bad.

  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 1,983
    edited July 2014

    Read an article that says "chemobrain" is more likely due to AI's than to actual chemo! I read it on here somewhere on the articles BCO posts. Makes sense to me. I can't find words sometimes and I was NEVER like that! I feel like a dummy sometimes and I am far from that and actually have a pretty high IQ but not anymore. Now I am just a puddle of goo on somedays....sigh. BUT, the best defense against recurrence for ER+ BC is this crap so I keep taking it!

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited July 2014

    camillegal I remember the chemo nurse telling me day one there is no such thing as chemo-brain. Granted I don't have it and I am on the AI too. But we all get our special gifts 
    SillyHeart

  • rmlulu
    rmlulu Member Posts: 1,501
    edited July 2014

    Had Zometa infusion Friday at 11.  Procedure took about 45 minutes, felt fine.  RN said to take Tylenol for a few days.  Saturday night ran fever chills achy for about 12 hours then it all past away.  So relieved not "like crap for 3-5 days" as MO said.  Fingers&toes crossed does the job.

    So Corky & Crazywabbit hope you get your insurance approval and get it done.  Refiguring my supplements, added prunes...and will keep pounding my bones:)

    Best Wishes to you. 

  • corky60
    corky60 Member Posts: 453
    edited July 2014

    Thanks, I am hoping that zometa is way down the road, if ever.  My MO said that if Aromasin caused bone loss then I would take Fosamax.  I lasted 5 months on Aromasin and 4 months on tamoxifen.  Maybe the tamoxifen rebuilt the bone that Aromasin removed?  I can hope.  Anyway, was osteopenic to begin with, next DEXA scan in late Fall. 

  • Crazywabbit
    Crazywabbit Member Posts: 54
    edited July 2014

    RMlulu- glad the zometa went ok, I have not heard one way or the other from insurance, I am due for it July 30 th.  I was told it is very important to be very well hydrated before and after the infusion.  I think I will just start ibuprofen every 8 hours as a preventative after the infusion. I was told the Worst reaction is the first dose. 

    Corky60. Just had  my DEXA last week. Lowest Tscore was -1.6 and improvement from 3 years ago, was -1.8 then. I am getting the zometa for both osteoporosis prevention on the AIs and to reduce the risk of bone mets in the future, per a recent study. 

  • corky60
    corky60 Member Posts: 453
    edited July 2014

    I wonder why my MO mentioned Fosamax and not Zometa?  I don't see her again until January so I'll have to remember to ask her then.  Thanks for the information.--Corky

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited July 2014

    I think Fosamax is the first line of junk~~

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited July 2014

    corky60 typically insurance will want you to try one of the pill forms before it will approve one of the injectables. Fosamax is the oldest pill bisphosphonate for that works well for most folks. Being older they know what the SE are and how it works.

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited July 2014

    and of course, it is available as a generic which the insurance folks like

  • wisperfair
    wisperfair Member Posts: 5
    edited July 2014

    my arms hurt all the time an my legs . Can't find anything to syop yhr pain. Changing my quality of life vey much,

  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 11,653
    edited July 2014

    wisperfair how long have you been on it? For some of us exercise keeps the soreness at bay. 

  • proudtospin
    proudtospin Member Posts: 4,671
    edited July 2014

    I have found that if I do too much weight training with too heavy a weight (even though same as prior to diagnosis) that I end up with achie arms.  Lucky for me, my trainer is a mind reader and he seems to know what I mess up.  He backed off on weights, then slowly upped them but I still hold lo on the weights and never do them 2 days in a row.

    dumbo me thought more was better

  • Kindergarten
    Kindergarten Member Posts: 2,883
    edited July 2014

    Does any know if taking a proton pump inhibitor with aromasin causes more joint pain??

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