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Life on aromasin

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Comments

  • april485
    april485 Member Posts: 1,983
    edited February 2013

    Camillegal, never thought you called me chubby..lol. But, I am a little bit (22 lbs until I hit my goal weight!) so it fits with Garfield :) I love cats too and have one myself. His name is Simon and he is all black. He was an older rescue kitty and we love him to pieces! He knew I had BC before I did as he constantly parked himself on that boob and always pointed his face to it when he would lie down on me. He never did that two years ago...interesting, no?

    Thanks for the tip about the Biotin Yorkiemom!

  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 1,032
    edited February 2013

    No problem april! I'm really thinking that chemo might have a lot to do with the hair loss and maybe other SEs too. Not saying there are no SEs on Aromasin, cause I've experienced them. But I wonder if people who get them bad have also had chemo and that exacerbates things. I never had chemo, and my SEs have been mild and transient. But I'm not sure if Shayne had chemo or not. Hey, Shayne, you there girl? ;-)

  • Timbuktu
    Timbuktu Member Posts: 1,423
    edited February 2013

    i CAN'T BELIEVE THAT!  i HAVE TO GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS!  THANKS FOR LETTING ME KNOW.  123 A MONTH IS A LOT OF MONEY!

  • shayne
    shayne Member Posts: 524
    edited February 2013

    all my labs, ekg - all normal.  Well, my ekg showed my heart beats slower than normal.....hmmm

    SEs are calming down a little every day, but some days its hard to tell...insomnia, fatigue, joint and muscle pain still persist.....  

  • GottaloveNED
    GottaloveNED Member Posts: 60
    edited February 2013

    Shayne... $ 6.00 a month? Is that a co-pay? I pay $ 167.00 a month right now for my exemestane. I know that's more expensive than a lot of places, but I'm supporting my neighborhood pharmacy. Even directly from my provider, express scripts, it was around $150 ( which is what it was at Walmart & Walgreens, my other options in my small town.) Costco is not anywhere near me, closest is 3.5 hours away, but it may be worth traveling to get a membership if I could save that much.

  • GottaloveNED
    GottaloveNED Member Posts: 60
    edited February 2013

    Shayne... $ 6.00 a month? Is that a co-pay? I pay $ 167.00 a month right now for my exemestane. I know that's more expensive than a lot of places, but I'm supporting my neighborhood pharmacy. Even directly from my provider, express scripts, it was around $150 ( which is what it was at Walmart & Walgreens, my other options in my small town.) Costco is not anywhere near me, closest is 3.5 hours away, but it may be worth traveling to get a membership if I could save that much.

  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 1,032
    edited February 2013

    I pay about $70.00 a month, also at our neighborhood pharmacy. 

  • shayne
    shayne Member Posts: 524
    edited February 2013

    yikes - I have Aetna......thats what it costs me.  Well, Im off of it now.  Anyone want an almost full bottle?

  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 1,032
    edited February 2013

    Oops, I need to clarify, it is $70.00 for THREE months. So that's not so bad. Don't know how I could have left that out. Oh yeah, Aromasin brain! Tongue Out

  • Timbuktu
    Timbuktu Member Posts: 1,423
    edited February 2013

    yorkie, between chemo and aromasin we have excuses to last a lifetime!  I'd better check out my own prescription now!

  • pupmom
    pupmom Member Posts: 1,032
    edited February 2013

    Ain't it true! Laughing

  • GottaloveNED
    GottaloveNED Member Posts: 60
    edited February 2013

    Mine is not a co-pay. I am on an HSA so I have to pay full costs for the first $2,500 and then I'm covered at 100% after that. The good news is I usually reach the maximum by Sept. so the last 4 months are "free". The bad news: Jan-Aug are expensive months!!!

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 15,711
    edited February 2013

    Befor I go to the next psge April My cat was doing thst on my boob too and I finally felt the lump, it was underside. OMG I really be our furbabies know more about us then we think, cuz I used to call theat my cat scan.or pet scan to the Drs. She would go under and knead that area. Wow

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 15,711
    edited February 2013

    Shayne 6.00 is amazing--the first time I paid 120.00 then when I went to extreasine (whatever-generic) I now pay 32.00--I get generics in anything I can and it all totals about 200, a month but the 32.00 is the most expensive most are like 11, 5, 17. all lower than 32.00 but 6.00 at Costco U must have great insurance. 

  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 677
    edited February 2013

    I've had palpitations for about 3 years. I have atrial fibrillation which is common in people over 60 (I'm 77) I take a blood thinner, a drug to keep my HR under 150 and a drug to help with the palpitations (that one is pretty useless though)  I have gotten used to this, but it is difficult as your brain is telling you that you are dying, you feel lightheaded because the blood is going where it is supposed to go; I can't drive when it happens.  

    So when I had worsening afibs on Aromasin I was really scared, but it was one of the SEs that scared me the most. I could get an ablation, but they often don't work; the palps come back. When I have an episode it is usually at least several hours, but sometimes they last all night. I can manage to get to sleep and they are gone by 5 a.m.

    By the way, this months is the 2nd anniversary of my lumpectomy. No rads, No AIs, just trying to live a healthy, active lifestyle.  All my SE's from the Aromasin (except the aching toes) have gone away---I have been of it for a year now.

  • shayne
    shayne Member Posts: 524
    edited February 2013

    thanks for sharing.  The Oncs nurse reacted like it was the first time she heard of this SE from Aromasin.  Im 54, so yes, it was really scary, Ive never had any heart issues...ever.  Im really happy to be off of it - and every day gets a bit better.  The heart palps have stopped thank god.  Joint/muscle pain continue, as well as the fatigue, but slowly i hope to get to where I was before I started..... thx for sharing your story.  It helps to hear from others, just so i know Im not crazy!

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 15,711
    edited February 2013

    Dgs those palpatations have ro be horrible--I'm so sorry u have to put up with them. Isn't there somthing else they can try? I mean there are so many things to help people now. It's strange how somethings scare us more than other things. I was never in fear of cancer, but when my heart got inolved I was freakin' out Then my B/P too I was a basket case--well those things so far are under control--Now I have more tests due to some suspected cancer and I said as long as it's not my heart. I am very weird. So when u tell about that I really feel bad for u having that.I'm sure u did the nuclear heart test and the ultra sound one. Tell them the meds aren't working maybe there are better ones. Sorry if I got so involved but I cant hep it for this.(((HUGS)))

  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 677
    edited February 2013

    Thanks Camille!  There is another drug, but it sounds so scary I'm afraid to try it.  Since nobody really knows what causes afibs I don't think the cardios are that concerned.  It won't kill you, mine tells me, at least not now, but you CAN get a stroke. So that's why I'm on a blood thinner.

    I had a stress/echo last summer and everything was fine so it isn't the heart itself it is just a rhythm problem.

    However, I may need another test soon because I've been getting some swelling in my feet while jogging.  I'm trying not to worry. I'm like you, I worry much more about my heart than the cancer. I had my first cancer in 1982 and did enough worry about that one to last a lifetime.

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 15,711
    edited February 2013

    Dogs I know u know all this but do u drink alot of water and have the Drs. felt u'r swollen feet/ankles?  Cuz i didn't know there were 2 types of swelling and one has nothing to do with the heart--but I forgot what the other is from. U probavly know all this-but I was just learning this so I'm just saying it... Sorry

  • shayne
    shayne Member Posts: 524
    edited February 2013

    Known SE of Aromasin is heart failure and stroke......yea, I was scared.......

  • Timbuktu
    Timbuktu Member Posts: 1,423
    edited February 2013

    Yikes!  I didn't know that!  My heart has been fluttering all day.  And strokes run in my family.

  • dogsandjogs
    dogsandjogs Member Posts: 677
    edited February 2013

    Camille: No, I don't know anything about feet swelling. Have been looking it up on the Internet in preparation for my doctor visit on Wednesday. I do try to drink lots of water and the feet and ankles don't look puffy; my shoes get tight when I'm jogging though---

    It seems there are a lot of causes - could also be a kidney problem. 

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 15,711
    edited February 2013

    Dogs there are simple things too---gosh I reslly can't think right now or today I guess--cuz I've had it and when the Dr. felt me (:)) I remembr saying about my heart and she said no there's a complt differnce and explained it--but I forgot and it wasn't the kidney eithr--it was simple stuff.

    Timbuktu OMG u sound like me when someone says something I get it automatically.One time (not long ago) I was talking to my brother on the phone and he told me he had a bladder infection and he never had one before so we talked a bit about it. about 3 days later I got one , went to the Dr, and said I caught this from my brother (which sounded really bad) but my Drs. know how I am--and of course he said he had to ask how and I said over the phone. and he did say u would too. So I truly understand that feeling--they used to call it nerves, now it's got a more classy name lik anxiety.
    So take deep breaths and drink warm milk--u could put a little something in it and relax with u'r feet up. U'll be fine. BTW everything u've gone thru affects everything else so it's tough.

  • Timbuktu
    Timbuktu Member Posts: 1,423
    edited February 2013

    Actually, I realized that I'd forgotten to take my bp meds.  I took them and the feeling went away!

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 15,711
    edited February 2013


    Sorry hahahahshha

  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 700
    edited February 2013

    camillegal, Getting a bladder infection from your brother via a phone call!  You are too much!  Your docs must love it when they open the door and see you waiting for them.  Like we do your posts.  I can't wait for the next zinger from you.  

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 15,711
    edited February 2013

    Footnote--My DD said I pay more than 300.00 a month for meds--they take it out of my money--what the hell do I know what goes on???

    And Doxie hold on to u'r seat the next couple of weeks are going to be bumpy roads being that one Dr. found cncer, now I'll get other opinoins--my back no less--so I will definitely bleep the words that are not useable so there might be whole sentences bleeped so read between the lines. LOL

  • doxie
    doxie Member Posts: 700
    edited February 2013

    Oh, camillegal, let's hope that dr is wrong, just jumping the gun reading the scans.  

  • camillegal
    camillegal Member Posts: 15,711
    edited February 2013

    Doxie I'm really fine--not worried at all--I'm very weird that way never worried about cancer, just my bladder infection and B/P. That's why my Docs think I' a little off- Theythink I should have more emotion about it, but say my b/p is a little high and I go balistic. And I really don't understand why they are so calm about it--this is important. So I'm fine.

  • Trisha-Anne
    Trisha-Anne Member Posts: 1,661
    edited February 2013

    Here in Australia we pay $35 for Aromasin.  The Government pays the rest.  Everyone who earns an income pays 1.5% of their income towards Medicare and most things are covered.  If I go to the GP I pay about half his fees and Medicare pays the rest.  I see my onc through the public system (which is very, very good) and I don't pay him at all, it's all covered by Medicare.

    We also have private health insurance which costs me around $180 per month for the two of us.  That will cover private hospital accommodation, theatre fees and some of the specialist's fees.  Medicare still pays for some of the specialist's fees as well.  If I had higher cover, I'd receive rebates on dental, glasses etc.

    Most of our medicines are covered by our system.  Some we pay $35 towards each rx, some are completely free - like Herceptin.  Govt paid the whole cost.

    I guess that's why they call Australia the "lucky" country lol.

    Sorry to hear that so many of you are still suffering from Aromasin se's. I'm just coming into my 8th month and feeling wonderful.  I wish it could be like that for all of you.


    Trish

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