Life on aromasin
Comments
-
Thank you for the information. It could be something else too I guess.
0 -
Trish have you tried minoxidil? I'm using it. It's been working well for me
0 -
I just started on it a couple weeks ago after being on arimidex for 3 months. So far not too bad.
0 -
Lago - no haven't tried that yet, have been using biotin, both as a shampoo and taking a capsule everyday. It seems to be slowing it down. If I end up staying off Aromasin and going onto Femera, will see how that affects my hair loss.
0 -
Just started taking exemastane yesterday, even though I knew better because of what I've read in these forums I took it right after stopping arimidex with no break in between because my oncologist did not say anything. Yesterday and today I've been feeling sluggish which could be to a further drop in estrogen but also since my father passed away just over a week ago it could also be due to depression, I'm already taking Cymbalta for pain and as a antidepressant but I might go to my PCP to up it if things don't get better soon.
Aurora
0 -
Very sorry to hear about your loss. You have every right to be depressed. I used to be "anti-pill," but since having BC, I take anything and everything I can to make me feel better, sleep better and be less depressed.
0 -
auroaya, sometimes life hands us a pile of chit all at once. I am so very sorry about your father. Hopefully the SE's from aromasin are manageable for you. Brain fog stinks and that is my biggest complaint but joint pain runs a close second for sure.
I hope all of those that are new to exemestane do well on it. I am gonna hang with it until I can't do it anymore and then switch to femara. Ugh!
BC - the gift that keeps on giving!
0 -
hi all,
My oncologist told me I'll be doing Zoladex plus Aromasin for my hormone therapy... This forum has been so helpful.
I'm still waiting for my oncotype so not starting on the hormone therapy anytime soon but will report back SE's too.
0 -
it's been almost 2 years since I have taken aromasin. I had to stop after 7 months, due to severe side effects. The first 3 months, I had no side effects. Then they kicked in, and got worse, then severe. Please, write down any side effects you have, no matter how minor they may seem. I didnt realize how bad the depression, joint pain, fatigue,weight gain, insomnia had gotten until I felt so bad I started to make a list of them for my naturopath, to find something to alleviate them. Then the heart palpitations kicked in. and wouldnt stop. NOw, over 2 years later, Im only now starting to feel like myself. I had so many repercussions from this drug. Lack of estrogen in my body not only led to these side effects......but others that showed up later. Painful frozen shoulder that went on and on for 18months, melasma on my face that wont go away, i could go on and on. So please, keep a log of how you are feeling, even if its good, even if it seems unrelated. My oncologist would not attribute anything to aromasin, because then she would have to report them. So I had to go to the FDA site myself and log in my side effects. I wish you luck in your journey, and that you dont go thru what I have.
0 -
Shayne,
So sorry to hear that you had to stop the Aromasin. I, too, have been paying attention to my body. That's good advice to write it down. Same story here: depression, insomnia, fatigue, memory loss, etc. But I'm attributing it to the side effects of having had cancer. I'm learning a lot about cancer-related fatigue. I'm getting help for all of these very real conditions through a cancer rehabilitation program. I think it's time the medical establishment start paying attention to these problems. THere are going to be a lot of survivors out there in the world and we want to work and live rich, full lives and function just like everyone else. But we need specialized services to help us after treatments and surgeries are over and while we struggle to maintain on hormonal therapies. This lack of support and awareness has become a passion of mine. I've had to hunt down providers that are scattered over a 100 mile radius from my home. Help is out there but it isn't easy to find. It isn't fair that we should have to re-invent the wheel each time when there are known SE's from AI's, chemo, rads, and just from having had cancer. I hope this changes sometime in the near future. Meanwhile, we are all struggling - each in our own ways. This needs to change!
Good luck to you!
0 -
Well ladies, it looks like I'll be joining you in a few weeks. I had my MO order blood work to check my hormone levels last week. My post menopausal SEs seemed to have disappeared. The results did come back showing I was premenopausal again. *sigh* I will have my dexa scan Monday and will get my shot the following week.
I'm currently taking a multi vit, D3, and will add calcium. I exercise 5-7 days a week. Is there anything else anyone recommends? I think the only SE that I've read about on here that worries me is the hair thinning. My hair is still growing back slowly. I sure would hate to have it fall out!! I'm also hoping for the weight loss, not weight gain. A girl can dream, right??
0 -
Mommato if you are premenopausal you won't be taking Aromasin unless your ovaries are being supressed.
0 -
Started aromasin this morning. My anxiety about not taking it finally trumped my anxiety about starting it. We'll see if I can distinguish the se's from the aches, pains and hot flashes that seem to go along w being 57.
0 -
nottoday -- welcome to the Aromasin club. I've been on it a few weeks and haven't really noticed much. Last week, I had a little vaginal dryness but that cleared up on its own. This week, I've been a little moody, but it's been manageable. I do get warm flushes, but they aren't the sweaty hot flashes some get. Of course, some users say they didn't get bad SEs until later, so I can't say I'm out of the woods yet.
0 -
Lago, I know I'll need to do OS. I have my dexa scheduled for Monday then I get my first shot the following Wednesday. I'm hoping the OS isn't any worse than the first time I was thrown into chemopause.
0 -
Hi everyone. I love having someplace to go where women understand this journey we are on. I started aromasin 3 weeks ago. I was on arimidex but the se got to bad. I am having some of the finger /hand stiffness like before, but not as bad so far. I was wondering if anyone had stiff toes and the bottom of my feet hurt like I've been on them all day, when I haven't. I am having the wt. gain also.
0 -
I made the switch and lost the 10 lbs I gained on Anastrozole. Also my stiffness is almost non existent. My feet can get sore but only when I work 4-5 hour shifts on feet) and don't have enough padding in the shoe. Hope it gets better for you.
0 -
Hi Iago, I never thought of putting padding in my shoes. I am going to try that one, thanks!:)
cwayman, I have been on for about seven months now. Painful side effects are gone(hands, fingers wrists stiffness and numbness) but get stiff after sitting - takes a few minutes to limber up! No weight gain(ok, maybe a few pounds).
0 -
Actually I think I had more foot issues on anastrazole, or it was the loss of estrogen. Bought good shoes and Superfeet inserts. One for flats and one for heals. Also bought super supportive running shoes. Took about a year or so for my feet to get better while on exemestane.
I've had problems with aching hands and trigger thumbs throughout both meds. Joints act like I might have RM and I'll ask to be tested at next PCP appointment. Just started using generic aspercreme on my hands. Amazing relief! Don't have to take so much NSAID, which cause nausea of too many.
0 -
The more you move the less that will happen. I know even on Anastrozole, after a year I wasn't as stiff. Now I'm just a little stiff in the morning.
0 -
Same here. When I wake up in the morning my joints hurt. As soon as I move and get up, it stops.
0 -
Does anybody know why Exemestane costs so much more than the other two AI? I was quoted $153 for a 90 day supply then it should drop after I hit the $75 deductible. The other two will only cost me $20. Is it worth it for me to pay the higher amount? Are the SE easier?
0 -
Mammato It's newer. Also supply and demand. I wish mine would be only $150 for 90 days before my deductible. Hope my new insurance is better.
0 -
When I was on a arimidex I got super foggy brain and memory problems. I'm really worried it will come back on the aromasin. My friends and family told me but I never realized how bad it was till I got off the arimidex.
0 -
I haven't had an issue but you don't know until you try. At least you'll know what to look out foar
0 -
every insurance plan has what is called a formulary that is a list of their recommened meds, meaning the ones at the best price. On Medicare, a big book of the names of meds is sent each year. You should be able to find out the formulary for any plan. And if you want you can chose your med based on it. My long time BP is not on the formulary for Medicare Part D for the AARP plan which is what I use. I have chosen to stay with it after talking to my doc about alternatives
0 -
Well girls, I'm leaving the Aromasin Club. After three years of almost trouble free Aromasin, the last few months everything started piling on top of each other. I could live with the hair loss/thinning, the aches and pains (not too bad, but not great), but I couldn't live with the loss of cognitive function, dizzy spells and headaches.
So I've now started on Femara. I'm hoping I can get a few years out of it. My onc tells me he'd like me to stay on something if I possibly can longer than five years. I'm four years down now having started on Arimidex.
Keeping my fingers crossed that Femara will cause me few ses for a while to come.
Good luck on Aromasin everyone, I hope it is as gentle as possible on you all.Trish
0 -
Trish-Anne - good luck to you, too! On the up side, isn't it great that there are at least 3 drugs that we can choose from? If one isn't working, try another .... how awesome is that?
I think that's interesting that you report the loss of cognitive function. I feel like I literally don't have a brain! Oh and yes, the hair seems to be thinning quite a bit. I didn't have much to begin with, so it really sucks. Oh well....
Drop us a line after you've been on it for awhile and let us know how you're doing!
0 -
My memory was much worse on arimidex. But I was still recovering from chemo and rads. Went on aromasin after a two month break and it seemed to brighten me mentally. I also slept better at night for the first time in years.
0 -
Trisha-Anne, good luck with Femara. Don't forget us. Come back and let us know how you're doing. I was on Arimdex for more than a year and now am on Aromasin, like you, struggling with hair thinning and some cognitive loss. As someone said, we are fortunate to have three choices. I'd like to hear about your experience on Femara, in case I have to switch again.
0
