Life on aromasin
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Hi, Everyone, I took aromasin for 6 1/2 years. The first year was tough, depression, weight gain and joint issues. After the first year, things settled down. i think I just got used to the side effects. The depression definitely got better with exercise and keeping busier. My onc in Chicago said I could stop taking it , so I did in November of 2011. I actually felt worse going off of it. Depression and anxiety returned. Crazy!!!!! My new onc in CA wants me to start taking it again, so I will, for at least 3 more years. Since I had one darn positive lymph node, she believes it is good protection from the cancer coming back. I start it next week. I hope the side effects are minimal, but I will get used to them again as I did before. I hope everyone here adjusts to these side effects!!!! I know it is hard, we just want to feel better and get on with our lives. Kathy
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all i heard from my Onc was 40% have some SEs from light to severe. That number seemed very high to me. 60% have no SEs.....why does that number seem low? ANyway, I went in to it thinking Ill give it a try, maybe Ill be one of the lucky ones.... Still kinda holding my breath.......but still chugging along, feeling pretty much nothing. I read somewhere in an article on Tamoxifen, that no SEs meant the drug was NOT working......hmmm.......not sure about that
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My theory is that older women (60 plus) have more SE's due the fact that they have so little estrogen left in their bodies and this very potent drug (which only comes in one strength!) is much too hard on our bodies.
Don't know this for sure as most of the people who post don't mention their ages. I'm 76.
But I still don't understand why there aren't different strengths. Neither does my NP. We just discussed this yesterday.
Maybe somone on here has the answer? I think I'll try to google and see what comes up.
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I'm 63 and have not had serious SEs. Shayne, that theory that the more SEs you have means the medicine is working, is false. The medicine does what it does. Some people just react more to it.
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Kayb: Thanks for the explanation.
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So maybe I could take a half a dose for a while, adapt, adjust and possibly stop this horrible depression, then increase? I am 5'2" ( and shrinking) and weigh about 135. A half dose would be 12.5, possibly within therapeutic range. My mood and sleep are just awful. I wake up over and over all night, and have trouble falling asleep, then am tired all day.
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I was having horrible nausea, calf muscle aching in both legs, fingers swelling, arms aching, wrists, elbows and knees hurting. I changed my generic aromasin to the Greenstone manufacterer and they have decreased quite abit. I get my meds through my husbands work and it is mail order. They had to get approval but when I told the pharmacist what side effects I was having with the other there was no problem. It is worth looking into for those taking the generic to see if it is Greenstone or not
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All of u know and understand so much (I know I keep saying that) but it's true. All I know is what I feel like---crap most of the time LOL And of course I hear Hmm this is unusual, or this rarely happens--or my favorite is I haven't seen this since med school--actually that was my favorite--akes me feel better right hahaha--The funny things is my sister and I remember that Drs. used to say that about my Dad the number of times he was supposed to die--that nite--but he did live for 96 yrs. so maybe it's a good thing. My numbers are gradually etting better but some are more stubborn and I'm not even making a point, am I. ??? I just went blank-another little thing. I honestly started with a point to make, and I' not going to delete this cuz this is me. ALOT
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I see people that I have worked with for a couple years, then haven't seen for a year, and can't remember their names. I work with students and now that we are back to work, I can't remember any of the names of the kids on my caseload (i'm a social worker in a school district). My memory, motivation and energy are pretty low. BTW - I did try Arimidex and had debilitating headaches. I was hospitalized for them. I am taking the Greenstone. I wish I had more answers, fewer questions.
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Mybee, Im taking greenstone too--I checked it out last time, I forgot and having headaches for a SE like that is horrible
I told u y sister still works-Stae IV, she's tough, but her memory is hystericsl--She's head of PR and proofreads everything that oes out---she so thankful she can still do these things well, but she's worked with most of the same people for years and she call them different names all rhe time.
She concentrates so much on what she needs to do that everything else left her memory. And when we do e-mail I told her to stop correcting me or I would never answer her again===but she does remember to tell ALL of our friends and family how rotten I type but she doesn't correct me anymore---I'm a nitemare to her in e-mails--Now I wish her memory would go on that thing. LOL
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Memory is funny. Names are gone.........but I am still great at my job. I just can't always remember exactly what happened, but if I keep good notes, save emails and it comes back. I feel like I'm still 'tricking' people. I am awful with names (I know I said this already) but it is so embarrassing sometimes.
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It is 4:10. I have slept so fitfully that I don't know if I have slept at all. This makes accomplishing anything pretty tough.
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http://www.askapatient.com/viewrating.asp?drug=20753&name=AROMASIN#top
I found this very informative - lots of women posting ---interesting to read all the side effects -I can relate to most of them.
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So sorry Mybee - I slept unusually well last night. Most of the time I wake up 3 or 4 times and never feel rested in the mornings. But since I'm retired I can nap during the day if I have to.
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dogs - So glad you slept better last night. That is good. I have the day off from work today as the school yr. hasn't fully started do was able to sleep a bit from about.........7-10. the summer after my hysterectomy this saved me. Once back at school I hope I can keep it together. I see my MO, I think this week. I guess I better tell her everything that is going on but her answer last visit was to go and see a psychiatrist. I know of another MO that works with my breast surgeon. Wonder if I should get another opinion. We'll see, I guess how this next appt. goes.
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Best of luck with the visit Mybee! Keep us updated.
I just finished chatting with a woman outside - we were both walking our dogs. I had never really talked to her, just to say hi, but today she told she had a double mastectomy in March and is now getting chemo due to one node having cancer in it. They told her it was only "1 cancer cell" so she doesn't really think she needs chemo.
She was so upbeat about the whole thing. I was inspired!
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It's weird that if you do a search on this drug, it comes up more in body building forums than it does anywhere else. Apparently it is quite the testosterone booster in men.
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What I am not liking is I think it has caused some weight gain! But my Plastic Surgeons nurse asked if I had lost weight when she saw me on Tuesday? So why is the scale showing 4 extra pounds!
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Weight gain is a SE of Aromasin. It was listed on the insert that came with my pills.
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Kayb almost all drugs contradict the side effects--it always make me laugh---Constipation/diarrehea (sp).. no sleep/tired and on and on---So they cover everything meaning (to me) whatever happens don't say we didn't warn u.
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I am waiting for the package insert of SE to read.......weight loss, muscle tone, cellulite decrease, taut facial and neck skin, increased libido, thickening of hair (head hair only), increased libido, whiter teeth, a butt like Beyonces', peace and clarity of the mind and soul. Why can't those be the SE? Just asking!
***did I list increased libido twice, oops
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Survivor---Love it--it's about time for that SE.
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Trigger Thumb! now thats a new thing for me
cortizone shot, OUCH!
Ginger
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I have to say - I am getting tired of feeling this way.
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Oh wow, I had a cortisone shot after my Moh's surgery on my nose. The surgeon said: Are you ready?" Huh? what? -----then I found out. OMG was that painful.
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Dear Mybee, I just started aromasin again this morning, after being off of it 6 months. Am I crazy or what? Hang in there!!! When I was on it before(took it for 6 1/2 years), the first year was a little rough, but it did get better. My new onc here in CA feels I should be on it for awhile longer as a safety net. I will admit that I was a little scared when my other onc said it was O.K. to go off it. I really hope that each day on it for you improves, or that you can find another AI that is gentler. Don't give up. Kathy
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Dogs--I never had a cortisone shot I really didn't know they were that painful--OUCH
Mybee--it;s funny NOT I was just thinking the exact same thing thing this ornin--I had an OK day yesterday and was busy. Then I started with my diarrhea--so there goes my day.--but it weird cuz I felt like does this ever stop. reading what u wrote I didn;t feel so alone, cuz really no one understands actually and I feel so so bad for u feelin not good--u'r young and it makes me mad and sad for u, It really sucks
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I am glad you didn't feel so alone, but also wish we didn't have to feel this way. I am sad that you are Stage iv. I don't feel I have a choice, but I know too that you truly don't have a choice for these meds. I ache all over. I think I could deal with that if I could get my mood and sleep to improve. I am tentatively trying the 1/2 dose; if my estrogen levels go up I'll know pretty soon because I will get night sweats and some hot flashes; that happens with me with any change in estrogen levels, up or down. I'll know to go back to the full dose. I feel like I'm 90 right now.
Kindergarten - I have heard elsewhere that things improve sometimes after the first year, so I am hoping that is the case. I really do feel I need this medication. I have heard too that the 5 year limit is really beginning to be looked at as more flexible. I know my prev. onc. talked about longer than 5 yrs. right out of the gate.
I find it is better to take each day, one by one, try to be mindful of the positives around me and look at blessings. It is not easy to do when you are feeling down; it is my own thoughts I fight the most. I isolate myself from others too; I don't have much energy to socialize and truly have a lot of my time taken up with responsibilities. But I think too - who really wants to hear about this (no one) or be around someone who is chronically depressed. So.......I shared with you all here, this morning.
Peace and love to my sisters and thanks for understanding.
Molly
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MOLLY--there's u'r name I never knew it--it's adorable --I'm calling u Molly now.
And I agree about our feelings and being able to come here. Some of my friends have said not to go to these boards cuz it'll make me sad---well of course it does, but it also gives me comfort so often and I really feel like there is caring here and it's not that my friends dn't care it's just I'm not going to share all my stuff--it's boring and the same old stuf--Hospitals, Drs. tests. meds---we all understand and give some good info. too
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Thank you for the compliment on my name. I've liked it
And you are right about sharing 'our' stuff. I just don't do it. I guess I don't want people to look at me in a certain way......if you know what I mean. It just feels, for the most part, except with a friend or two, much too private.0
