Life on aromasin
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Ohio, good that you didn't have a repeat of the nausea and pain - and lol I believe your story.
That's a great way of saying it - menopause on steroids! lol
I'm seeing problems with my skin now, along with the thinning hair, my skin is starting to look "crepey" not sure if that's the way you spell it lol, but especially on my arms and my eyelids the skin is sort of wrinkling and looking very thin and fine. I'm 55 and normally would have expected this to start around my 60's. I"ve always had lovely skin, fresh and clear. Now it looks like it belongs on an 80 year old woman.
I know it's from the lack of estrogen, but it's not good for the soul to see your skin aging quicker than you are. I pour moisturiser into it, but that's not really helping.
Wonder what I'll look like at 65, especially if I end up on an AI for 10 years! Maybe like the oldest woman who every lived. I guess it's easier to deal with old looking skin than some of the awful se's you ladies have, I shouldn't complain too much.
Trish
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Ditto with the papery, wrinkly looking skin. I'm 59 - thot is was just my age. But I never looked my age before BC. Guess wrinkly skin will help me when I use the excuse 'I'm old - give me a break!'.
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Me to on the skin. I just turned 63 but have always looked a lot younger (my husband is 4 years younger then me and people who don't know us use to think I was his daughter) I've been on aromasin for 7 months now and except for increased insomia I have not had se until recently but those have been very mild so far, even the hot flashes which have been more like a moderate sweating. I do feel drier both inside and out.
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I just told someone, not 2 hours ago, that this whole thing has aged me 20 years. Most of my friends are in their 70's and have more energy than I do in my 60's.
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I guess I am really lucky, but I want those going on Aromasin to know that the news is not all gloom and doom. I look as good as I did before getting my cancer dx and starting Aromasin. In terms of physical discomfort, it is minimal for me. Just wanted to share that.
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Oops, sorry Lisa!!! Great saying!!!
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Yorkie that's good news.
I'm 67 and I really have ages at least 10 yrs. My skin wwas so sof with no wrinkles now my arms are like alligator skin and I use good body lotion--I feel like I/m wasting my money or how bad it would be if I didn't use it. And my bones are brittle cuz I hear cracking all the time so they're are mostly in pain. But again It's a relief to hear other women say ing the same thing, cuz I always feel like I have Munchhausen's disease so I really never bother the Drs. I'm lucky I haven't fallen (sorry dogs) cuz I fet dizzy for 1 second and I'm on the floor and getting up is a joke cuz I have no strenth in my arms at all. I'm sorry all that everyone is going thru with this too, Maybe I should change my med, I don't know cuz I was told this is the best one for me. So it makes me think. OOOHHH to to many dcisions even now.
Dogs I hope u heal nicely. I'm sorry.
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Cammille, really sorry you're sufferiing so much :-(
Seems that SEs from these Als, like all things cancer, are truly a crap shoot. Sucks.
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Yes, sometimes I feel like a hypochondriac, and then i come on here and I know i'm not.
I've been back on aromasin for over 3 weeks now and my legs and back have been hurting a lot. I try to tough it out and go on a usual. Last week, Thursday, I went to a class that was followed by a movie and wound up sitting from 10 am till 4 pm. The last couple of hours were very painful. And the pain did not go away. But i refused to give in so I kept on keeping on Friday, I could barely walk from the pain. Then Monday, a co worker asked if I'd fallen and hurt myself because she could see I was in agony. I told her about the pills.
Well, last night, my husband looked at the back of that leg and there was a huge black and blue mark! And it was swollen and warm. Just to be sure we went to the ER. The Dr thought it might be a clot so we're going for an ultrasound in a few minutes. They put me on heperin.
I just want to warn everyone that although it's very hard not to, you can't blame everything on the Aromasin.
I'm hoping this is nothing, but it's made me aware that many things are going on at once and we can't just go into denial. although, the pain is gone today! what a crazy roller coaster ride this is.
They say that both cancer and chemo greatly increase the chance of clots. I don't really understand why but they say lots of cancer patients wind up dying from clots, not cancer.
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Dear Timbuktu, hope everything turns out OK!!!
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Timbuktu let us know right away. I think that's why when we go to our Onc. especially they feel everything on our bodies and sometimes to me anyway ask the stranges questions but they watch for anything they can. I'm glad u'r DH noticed it, cuz u didn't.
Let's face itall the chemo we get and the different kinds of chemo if it's strong enough to kill caner cells it's got to leave other parts vulnerable for a long time. My theory only--so no study on it (unless there is a srudy) but I never read studies what good what it do me I just make up things along the way. LOL
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Thanks all! I just got back from the hospital. no clot! hooray!
She said I should still follow up and find out what it is, but i don't much care, it's getting better and
as long as its not a clot, it will go away by itself, I'm pretty sure.
ay you say cami, i feel my body is not my own anymore. It does things on it's own, unexpectedly.
Have to roll with it.
Be well everyone!
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Had my appt today - but they made it with the FNP and not my oncologist. She tried to invalidate every single SE that I had on my list......and tried to convince me they werent real. I left in a huff - feeling really discounted and angry. I should have just rescheduled with the doc, but its an hour and a 1/2 drive..... I dont see the doctor till April. Really feeling frustrated, angry and pissed. I know I shouldnt let this cloud my judgement in making a decision, but right now Im so tired of being a human guinea pig - and just want to get back to feeling healthy and not have to deal with this. Scheduling appt with naturopath tomorrow and looking forward to getting help, instead of being patronized and dismissed. Sorry for the rant......
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Shayne--I'm speechless, how dare anyone tell u it's not real. OMG I am so upset for u right now really--to be dismissed like u are making this up--I would be furious. Everyone is an individual with different SE too and some of us have the same--and u didn't say anything--I would have, but I would have gotten the email account and emailed her all the side effects from meds. I'm sorry this is appalling to me. A few yrs back chemo brain was just an excuse, but a couple of yrs ago they found out it is real and it could las any amount of time so they don't even know yet all that these things do to all of us. Some bodies take it better than others that's it. I'm so sorry this happened to you.
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thx.
im sitting here....not sure I even want to return to the office.
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Shyne I don't blame u.
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Don't let them get you down! Easier said than done. There has not been one thing a dr or nurse has told me that another dr or nurse hasn't told me the opposite! It's really crazy. You know what you're feeling. If they don't listen to you, try to find someone who will. I know it's hard to switch but you are hiring them, not the other way around.
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youre right. You are so right. Unfortuneately i live in a small town. So will have to travel in the opposite direction for another Onc. - but thats what im going to do. The more I think about it, the angrier I get.
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Dear Shayne, I am so sorry that you are going through this. Finding another onc just might be the answer. Please come here always to rant and let out your frustrations. Good thoughts and prayers are coming your way. Don't give up!!!!
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How infuriating! I went through something similar with my Effexor recently. At my last MO appt. I asked her if I should go off the drug, thinking I'm ready. The MO said she didn't feel I should yet as my anxiety might skyrocket and I could get hot flashes. Anyway, two months later I called her nurse to get the drug refilled. I got a grilling about how the MO does not just hand out these meds and was I going to make the next appt! She made me feel like a drug addict. Grrrrrrrrrr. I told her The MO was the one who said I should stay on the drug at my last visit! Still debating whether to complain.
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Yorkiemom, there are idiots everywhere! People in our situation need to be listened to, respected and supported.
That's their job!
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Totally agree Timbuktu! It's not like we asked for any of this!
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Ive had such a bad history with western medicine docs. I could write a book that would make your hair curl. EXCEPT - since my dx - its been the most incredible docs, nurses, personnel.
Ive never been completely in sinc with the Onc - but there isnt anyone in my area - and now looking at a 2hr drive. Wondering if I am off AIs, if i can be followed by a regular MD? Thoughts anyone? And should I bother to tell them why I am leaving?
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Shayne, I would tell them why you're leaving. Maybe, just maybe they will treat their other patients better.
You are so early stage it's hard for me to put myself in your place regarding docs. The advantage to having a MO is that s/he would know exactly what tests to run and how to interpret them. A regular MD might not. But, sincce your chance of recurrence is very remote I'm not sure how necessary that is. Maybe you could have a MO just on consult.
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Thats an idea. Not sure Ill be able to find a doc who will agree to that.....
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Definetly report the situation (note I didn't say complain as that may stonewall any good that may come from reporting it). It's a shame and embarassing to nurses and/or nurse practitioners that act like this and I'm so sorry you had to experience that. However your onc may not be aware that she is exhibiting behavior like this and needs to be made aware of it. If they blow it off then you know its time to change but if it results in change then you may have pervented her from steam rolling another patient. Either way it will change or you can change if you need to.
I love my plastic surgeon but have had a few issues with his nurse mainly related to her lack of experience. Just before Christmas I noted I had some tunneling from nipple reconstruction and called the office. Due to the holidays it took several days for her to reply and then she failed to call back as promised. DH called her and let her have it, since then she calls on a regular basis to check the progress and has referred me to the wound clinic due to a significant area of undermining related to healing issues from radiation. My PS is 1600 miles away from my home but is one of the best for this type of reconstruction. Because of the distance communication is a must!
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Seabeal---1600 miles---Holy Cannoli---of course u u can't be running back and forth. U need to be taken care of right away--good thing u'r DH spoke for u.
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Shayne, I would suggest definitly let the MO know why you leave the practice if that is what you decide to do-in writing and also talk to the MO about your visit with NP.
I had alot of side effects from Tamoxifen then swithced to Aromasin. I did not feel my MO listened to me about the side effects but the NP did. I have warmed up to the MO over the last few years. i really just wanted her to listen and acknowledge the side effects.I have muscle pain in my legs and shoulders. I have nausea off and on but not too bothersome. I have a trigger finger and tendonitis in my foot. She said she sees alot of tendon problems. Aromasin has aged me too. Our bodies are not desgned to function without any estrogen.
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Dang Shayne that sucks - how dare she. How are you doing now? If you want I'll give you my phone number, and I can tell her how real this crap is
Also, my skin is getting a lot thinner and more wrinkles - I'm 57, so should have some, but I can see a difference weekly
I guess it time for the tight pony tail (to pull those wrinkles out) and sunglasses to hid the ones around the eyes 
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Lida I'm 10 yrs older but when I started all this crap I really had nice skin, of course I know I'm aging but I coud actually see it happening my skinwas changing all the time in front of my eyes LOL---that's why I always tell newbies lotion, lotion, lotion, I really didn't use much and I didn't know that. My arms are the worse the skin peels sometime. LOL
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