Life on aromasin
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I am 12.5 and 7 years out from 2 separate primary BC diagnoses. Have been on Aromasin for 6.5 years and still remain NED! I no longer have any acute side effects from the Aromasin. My body pretty much adjusted after 18 months.
Linda
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Hi Linda - that is awesome news! I changed from Letrizole to Aromasin six weeks ago and so far I am very pleased with how it is going. The joint aches are not there, and hope they don't kick up their nasty heels as time goes on. I can't recall how long it took for the se's of Letrizole to kick in, but after 1.5 years on it, was enough to quit. Hoping I can say my stats like you after 6.5 years on Aromasin! I'm 8 yrs from 1st dx and almost 3 years from the mets dx (had chemo then too) and have been stable for over a year now. Ended up getting my right breast prophy mx, along with my ovaries removed not long before that and feel that has contributed to my feeling better about not worrying of things recurring. Life is as good as it gets right now! Hugs from Canada to all, Patti
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Patti that is great! I hope Aromasin does the trick for you! I found it much more tolerable than Femara or Arimidex. I did go through a period of sore, stiff hands and fingers early on but it eventually went away and I have not had any problems taking it for several years now.
I'm glad you are feeling better!
Linda
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Hi Linda,
I did find I was super anxious the first few weeks on Aromasin, just feeling overwhelmed. So I started taking a Lorazapam/Ativan (1 mg) after taking Arom in the morning. I used to take the Ativan at night, thinking it would calm me down to sleep. But I feel this works so much better and of course, without the joint aches, life is so much better! Hugs, Patti
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I' so glad u'r tolerating it well. I still have my problems but I know it's not all Aromasin. But all my Drs. always ask if I get short of breath, I don't exactly know what tat's about--I've been on it I think 1.5 yrs. now but I still get headaches and still have alot of Diarrhea--6 Drs. can't figure out why so I assume it's Aromasin.??? who knows what anything is from anymore--I get Dizzy but every med I take in big letters say dizziness so again who knows.
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Linda and everyone, I love hearing positive stories about aromasin. I took a respite from it for about six months, bit altogether I have been on it for 7 years!! My onc said that she wants to keep me on it for 3 more years, the report from the San Antonio conference said possibly 10 years is better than 5 with tamoxifen, so she is thinking the same may be true with aromasin, as long as my side effects stay minimal. My deca scan has remained normal!! Have a great day!!
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I am now 3 weeks on aromasin oafter 3 mos Arimedex. My digestion and mood seem better but my hands and especially feet are an issue. I almost wonder if I was better in Arimedex. On both my back and hips hurt, but on this new one the soles of my feet have me hobbling by the end of the day, even in sneakers. I woke up with tingling abd numbness in lega and hands last night I see my onc in thurs. do you think SEs wane as you body gets used to it?
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Yes, Lisa! I think for many the side effects do wane, as your body adjusts to the aromasin!! Like Linda, I find aromasin very tolerable!! Hope it works well for you !!!
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I have been on for just over eleven months. I find it pretty tolerable. Yes, I am very stiff when I wake up but moving around and range of motion exercises help.
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I've been on aromasin a little over two weeks. Had been on arimidex for 6 months and had to quit because of a rare and serious eye SE. The doctors are all hoping it is specific to that drug and not low estrogen for me.
After one week on aromasin I had intense pain and swelling in three joints in my left foot and ankle. In my teens and 20s I had a couple really bad sprains in that ankle. This weekend I bought some really supportive $$$$ ankle boots and inserts to keep my foot and ankle stable. I don't want to give up long walks and running. Seem to be able to do this w/o too much pain as long as my footwear is very supportive. Basically the pain is the same as it was in my left hand on arimidex, but I don't walk on my hands. Why only the left side???
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Doxie, my left shoulder bothers me often. It pops painfully when I move it in certain directions. It's odd because the right shoulder, my bc side, is fine. To my knowledge I've never injured the left shoulder. I think at my age I've got arthritis going on and the medicine just aggravates it. I am creaky and stiff in the morning, but like you can work through it.
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Man, I don't know what to think. For the third night in 8 I woke up on pain/2:40, and 1;30 etc. could not sleep. Lower back, hips, calves, arms. This time I moved to my lazyboy around 4 am. If I take ambien I guess I sleep through it. The other night I'd tried to just sleep, woke up at -:30 took Advil and ambien. During the day I am the usual, sore in morning ok as the day wears on. I have to tell my onc. This seems worse than Arimedex!! Sorry for whining I am just tired and discouraged.
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OMH Lisa don't be sorry--all of us get odd things some pass and some don't--we're all learning what to be able to lve with--It all sucks
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Don't feel bad - we have all been there. I had every SE in the book (and did not look them up beforehand so that I would not be influenced) most of mine were on the left side too - wonder why that is?
I had to quit. but lots of women get over them eventually--
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doxie and dogs and djogs - my pain has been worse on my right side, BC side is the left. I do have more arthritis type issues on the right though, but the AI pain isn't in the same joints that had issues before, at least at first, but it's now starting to bother the old injury joints too.
lisa2012 - a lot of days my pain is worse at night, I end up in the recliner too. Glad the Abien is working for you, it gave me nightmares every night that I tried it - yuck.
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not sure if my pain is in the joints.....but definitely harder at night....esp when Im not getting regular exercise. Mine feels more like body aches when you have the flu. Its only started the past month or so..... Hoping by the 6mos mark this will pass. How long have you ladies been on it??
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I've been on for about 1-1/2 yrs--I think and not much of SE have stopped, but that's just me.
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Hello Ladies,
I have had a migraine headache for three days straight. Not one for pain meds, any suggestions?
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Oh I'm so sorry---I've never had a migraine so I don't know, but someone sill come along to maybe help u. Did u call ur dr.?
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I've been on it for a year. SEs wax and wane.
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Camillegal,
I took Imitrex when I was in my twenties. My Doctor ofIered it again but I was hoping for some type of natural remedy.
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After Arrimidex and Femara I have been on Aromisin for 4 days and so far so good.
Of course I'm full of pains but I don't remember what it was like not having pains!
My left hand is always the worst and I'm wondering if it might be because I use my right hand so much more?
My big question is what is causing all of this? That's what bothers me most of all. Pain is a sign that something is not right. My onco said it's just that the nerves get ultra sensitive but I just don't believe that. Why do I have a trigger finger?
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I've been on on AI's for two years, my SE seem to change, like the trigger finger - 3 of them for several months, really painful, annoying, and then Poof! one day they are gone, but something else pops up. It is weird - my pain hasn't gotten any better, sometimes it's worse, all my joints hurt and some have even disintegrated, but my blood tests show no sign of inflammation, one day my knee will feel fine, then the next day I can hardly stand on that leg (eye roll inserted here) From everything I've read, they don't understand why it causes pain, and other issues, and why it does for some and not others. I've read articles that say if you're a higher stage then you're more likely to have pain ???? Is it true???? And the pain is hard to control, what works for one, may not for another. Maybe it is the nerves being ultra sensitive, kind of like fibromyalgia??? I just hope it keeps the cancer away after all the pain it's causing me.
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Dear LindaKR, I have experienced almost every side effect you have stated!!!! But being on it for almost 7 years, the side effects have gotten so much better!! Hang in there!! The best side effect is that it does keep the cancer away. Good luck and I hope each day finds you tolerating the aromasin better. Kathy
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I've only been on Aromasin for almost 5 months, but I'm still pretty much se free yippee!
It does make me tired, but taking it at night helps. The pain I had on Arimidex has all but disappeared.
Trish
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Dear Srb62, I have had headaches on and off while taking aromasin,however not migraines!! I would check in with your onc. I hope you feel better!!!
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I'm sorry u guys are eperiencing pain---but I'm relieed too---My pain is every day, some days worse than others-I take pain meds and of course my D--cuz they don't know why I have it. What gets me is when people think Oh u'r done with chemo and rads--u'r fine--well not everyone--wish it was tru.
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Saw my Onc today, now 4 weeks on Aromasin. Sounds like if I can manage it by taking ibuprofen at bedtime and as needed in the day, and ambien as needed, I'll see how I can do. I am going to work and pumping out 10 hours of work, doing well,with twinges and aches worse in morning and evening . Why? My sister had no SEs pretty much. As someone above said, I didn't realize that I would be dealing with treatment SEs AFTER surgeries and chemo. Well see how long I last. Been 4 mos.yeah, pretty wimpy short time, already on AI#2.
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Lisa2012,
I feel the same way. I just knew I would be back to normal by now. I had chemo 6-10, surgery 01-11, radiation ended around 4-11. I am only 50 and feel like I am 80 years old with all that's going on with the AL's. I had to switch from Arimidex to Aromasin.
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I too take pain meds, and effexor for the SE's - I've been on Aromasin for 2 years, 21/2+ years out from DX. I thought I would get better, just like you get over a cold, flu, or other surgeries. I was recently granted SSDI because of my inablity to go back to work. So - Cancer has really changed my life. I was 54 at DX and am 57 now, and feel about 100 most days. It is a consolation to know that others are having the same issues, just because it makes me think that I'm not crazy, a hypochondriac.... I'm very lucky to have health care providers that believe me and work with me to live the best life that I can with the issues I had.
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