Life on aromasin
Comments
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GottaloveNED - you just stated exactly how I feel. I think it's lack of estrogen caused by the AI doing the job! It's a Catch22 - I want the AI to work but I want to be more like me. My MO was very understanding and very willing to prescribe. It's my first time ever on anti-depressants but I will sing it from the rooftops if it works and I get my motivation back. It's supposed to take three weeks for the Paxil to 'get in my system' and I realize effects.
I think part of my tiredness today may be that I just over did everything with a very full day.
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Over the years of taking aromasin, I have tried taking it different times. I have found that taking it right after breakfast is the best for me!!! I found that I sleep much better at night, if I take it in the morning!!! Have a great day, everyone!!!
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I took Arimidex from Jan 2010 until August 2012...All the regular se's: joint pain (went gluten free - NO more pain), had word and name loss, hot flashes (take gabapentin) fear of stroke (take a 81mg aspirin every day), insomnia (take a benadryl and I'm off to sleep in an hour) 2400 mg calcium for the bone loss as well as fosamax every other week but the worst was the loss of libido...After discussing this at length with my very understanding onc, she prescribed aromasin. Can see a difference in libido, but, the insomnia is a bit worse...Will wait to see what else changes in the next 6 months...I think that's a good amount of time to evaluate this drug...Not sure what level my ER+ was...Never thought to look at that until I read this thread...thanks for all the good tips...And yes, exercise makes a WORLD of difference in joint pain and insomnia...
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After two years on AI's, I was tired of always feeling like I was five minutes away from crying, tired of the hot flashes, tired of not getting anything done, tired of not enjoying life, just... TIRED. OF. IT. ALL.
So I finally stopped arguing with my onc about taking an anti-depressant -- she had been encouraging me to take one since my first diagnosis in 2007 but I had always turned it down. But the third Sunday afternoon in a row that I found myself sitting in my car at the park alone having a big cry, I decided something had to give.
I started taking Lexapro, and to my surprise within a week I felt like the sun was coming out again -- I started to feel like myself again, started tackling projects, laughing, and planning outings with my family, cooking nice meals... being ME. And the hot flashes STOPPED. Incredible.
I am so thankful to have this help. Cancer is a big, scary deal. If you need help living with it, by all means-- go for it. Like my onc said to me, "You need to LIVE."
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Oh Lulubee, I am so glad you listened to your onc, and your body, and finally started to take the antidepressant that you so desperately needed! You will be so surprised how much better and better you are going to feel! The first week is just the beginning! A word of advice -- don't stop taking them just because you feel better. So many people start to think "well I feel better, I don't need them any more, so they stop taking them". My doctor advised me many years ago, to just stay on them at a low maintenance dose and that way they are in your system and then if they need to be adjusted/increased at some point, they are already in your system. It doesn't take as long to get results, as it does if you are not on them at all. You are lucky to see results so quickly actually as it usually does take much longer to see the beautiful lights of day and feel like living and doing things with family and friends again! That is so wonderful! I am truly so happy for you! Cheers to Living Life!
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Lulubee: So happy to read your encouraging news that you are having some pain relief on the Aromasin / Afinitor after 6 months! Wonderful news!
I am also on the same therapy and my MO told me that the pain would lessen with time, but so nice to hear it from someone "living it"!!! Apparently our bodies adjust to the Aromasin. But you described my pain so accurately ... the wooden feet, the clenched hands...when I get up in the morning! My fingers lock into positions that have to be undone with the other hand at night - not during the day. The body aches and pains are all over and are just so hard to deal with, and get ahead of. I had bone mets pain, but had radiation that took care of that thankfully and I am free of that. But this other pain, I feel is from the Aromasin and is just more than I can handle at times, forcing me to bed on the weekends at times with no other choice. Since I work full time, so far it hasn't happened during the week yet, but nearly every weekend. I have been taking this therapy for 5 weeks so far. I am just thrilled that I haven't had s/e's that are serious enough that I can't continue taking these drugs, in that my only issues have been the fatigue and the pains/aches I described. Wishing everyone else good luck on the Aromasin/Afinitor Therapy!
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Hi, Lulubee, I am so glad that you are feeling better!! I took Lexapro for years and it did help tremendously. I just decided because I had been on it for such a long time to go off of it and fortunately I just don't need it any more. May you have beautiful days ahead. I do have one question for you all: Do you take your aromasin with other meds at the same time. I just thought of this as I taking it this morning. I take my aromasin with my vitamin D. Is it OK to do that??? Thanks so much!!!! Kathy
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LuLu I'm so happy u feel better anything that helps now u shouldn't fight--Just go with it.
Kathy no one has told me not to, but I take all my morning pills at the same time, cuz I take so many I just throw them down and drink alot. And thruout the day I take the rest and spread them out cuz those are the directions. But don't take my word for it. LOL
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The problem that my surgeon pointed out was to not take your calcium or vitiminD with your fish oil or other supplements that are oily because then the calcium and vit D won't be adsorbed. She may be right I was taking them all together and my vit D level dropped. Now I space things out which is a hassle.
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Oh I don't take my vitamons at the same time and I don't know why, I just never did---I meant all the other stupod pills
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I'm the same way Camille. Just felt that the Aromasin should be digested with no possible interference from other drugs or vitamins. I take my Effexor when I have breakfast. Two hours later I take my Aromasin, and then, again after two hours, I spread out the numerous vitamins I take through the day. It's a pain because Calcium really does need to be taken alone as other vitamins can bind to it and reduce its effectiveness.
Kathy, just wanted to add that I have never been told to take Aromasin alone, so what you're doing is undoubtedly ok. I'm probably just over vigilant.
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Thank you, Camille and Yorkiemom. I never thought about it before when I took it, but now that I have restarted taking it, it crossed my mind. I like the idea of spreading it out, I will do that. Thanks again and have a great day!!!!
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I used to be amazed at how many pills and vitamins my parents took daily. I really could not imagine living from pill to pill like they did. And now, welcome to my world.
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Yep, I take my aromasin riight after dinner. an hour or two later I take my supplements. My calcium and glucosamine I take early morning and mid afternoon at least two hours away from everything else. Hopefully my system is getting everything the way it should.
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Yorkiemom That's funny the last couple of yrs my Mom was alive she took meds and Vit. and she's have them all next to her and take them thru out the day and break the Potassium pill. Now I do the same and I break the pill, it's huge to me--but before she got sick they never took any vitamins ever--So I never thought about it--My dad was 96, my mom 88 (with a cancer type of blood disease) but before they just ate what they wanted. Just dunny how some people really take care of themselves and others don't. My aunt who was like my 2nd mom was a goofy person (Ha that's who I take after) well her husband dies many years before her with heart problems and had all these meds to take
and we assumed (stupid) that she took the meds back to the pharmacy (she was in her early 60's at the time) Ten we found out she took all the pills??? she said she paid for them and they weren't oing to waster, never took a vitamin in her life. She too lived to 88.And died in her sleep? So I tend not to believe there's a big secret to living older--it is what it is--Oh and my Dad drank everyday LOL
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Camille, my mom died at 84 of congestive heart failure. She was a long time smoker, who only quit for good in her 60's. My dad died at 93 of pancreatic cancer. He quit smoking in his 40's due to a false cancer scare. I think they ate pretty poorly all their lives (high fat, fairly low fiber), but both lived average to long lives. Go figure!
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My dad died at 93. He smoked a pipe and cigars his whole life and also had wine every night with dinner. He had no health problems until his last year.
Mom mom died at 88. She swore by vitamin c and look it by the handful. She had breast cancer in her 70s; had a mastectomy, but no further treatment. She died of pneumonia.
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OMG Our parents lived a good life for not freakin' out about everything Oh and my mom had both breast removed when she was in her 40's with no chemo or anything. And she was fine. M aunt had colon cancer no chemo or anything--dies from a heart attack at 88.??? I don't get it.
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Like my surgeon said.......its (cancer) mostly environmental
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My onc said the same thing, cancer caused by environmental influences. Scary, and we don't have alot of control over this. We just do what we can.
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I agree. It just has to be the environment and that includes all the additives in the food we eat. I feel so much better after cooking "mostly" from scratch and doing without any animal products. But even if we don't avoid animal products; just by avoiding all the ready-eat stuff will help. Just look at the list of ingredients on a frozen dinner!
Our parents ate much healthier because we didn't have factory farming then. It is a challenge and it is expensive to eat healthy these days.
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Probably right, cuz yrs. ago everyone had ardens and canned stuff for the winter and we didn't eat meat much most foods were vegie based--It was the cheepest and went a long way. LOL We never ate out either. My mom worked too but somehow she still made homemade bread.
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Yes, never eating out and only desserts on Sunday and special occasions. Lots of fish, but no meat. Veggie sandwiches; such a cucumber, radish, tomato. And of course cheese. Didn't food taste better in those days? Or maybe when we were kids our tastebuds worked better!
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dogs food tasted great then, I took it for granted. LOL I forgot dessert were a rareity maybe an apple or banana or some fruit in season. LOL
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Oh yes, fruit! That was always available: apples, pears, rhubarb, cherries ( my grandmother had a huge tree) and berries. I love gooseberries. Can't get them in this area though. Maybe they need a colder climate?
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Now all our produce is sprayed......the air quality is bad......plastics......i could go on and on....
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Dogs and Jogs , Camillegal and Shayne! you all make me want to eat better!!!!! Thank you!! I just went for a walk to help digest my Five Guys cheeseburger!!!! He,he,he! That darn aromasin makes me hungry!!!!
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Yes it does!! It helps if I am super busy, too busy to look for things in my daughters snack drawer to eat! But have to be honest......sometimes im a v bad girl!
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Okay I take Aromasin, Vit. D and MVI all at once and based on what you ladies are saying I should take the Vitamin and Calcium separate from my Aromasin. Why doesn't anyone tell you this stuff! Can I take the Vitamin and Calcium together?
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