Life on aromasin
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When i went off them - the pain and other SEs increased for a week or two! It was really scary, as well as a bit dibilitating. Maybe that was bc i was on them for so long?
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Mine took a good six months to go away. And I still have the sore toes on my left foot. But maybe that is arthritis which coincidentally appeared at the same time I began the Aromasin.
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When I went off of the arrimidex I felt the difference very quickly too. The dr said that the joints and bones respond within a week or so but the emotional effects take longer to go away. Wait, i think i have that backwards. lol But I feel different already and this is just the second day off. Maybe it's the weather or my mind but I don't care! I can walk! It still hurts a bit. Actually, i haven't been as active the last two days. Hmmm, and i did have salmon yesterday so that may help. Who knows? I'm just glad I feel better!
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wow 6 months! thats a long time to feel better.......
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Hi everyone... . I forgot to say that months 3 and 4 were the worst for the pain. I'm going on 6 months since starting Aromasin and the SE's are not nearly as bad now. Still have them from time to,time but Aleve knocks the pain right out. So sorry some of you are having such a horrible time with the pain
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Thanks for that info. Now that I'm feeling a little bit better I'm getting nervous about the original problem. I think I'll try taking it every other day this week. See if that works. I haven't tried aleve but I'll try that too. Does anyone know why it hurts so much? I'd love to know what it is actually doing to my body! Pain generally is not a good sign!
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taking the estrogen out of your body effects bone, heart, hair, skin and other organs. Thats why they usually do a bone density scan before you start an AI to check for bone loss, osteoporosis.
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Timbuktu - I've been on Aromsin for 2 years now and am actually on SSDI because of the pain and fatigue. I work with my PCP on pain management, and just started to see a pain management specialist, she feels that I may have a fibromyalgia type thing going on that was induced by the AI. I got a chance to just visit with a MO that works at a research hospital here in Oregon. He said that though about 30 % of women on AI's have moderate to severe pain issues from them, he really encourages them to find a way to stay on the AI. He said that the studies coming out show that it is significantly better than Tamoxifen and says that the AI's are making a huge difference in recurrence rates. So, I'm plugging on along dealing with the pain and fatigue. My pain is in my hands, wrists, knees, legs, feet, arms - well pretty much everywhere.
Just be sure to watch for new, consistent pain - that you would need to talk to your MO about - a pain that doesn't go away, stays in the same place, and slowly gets worse.
Good luck,
Linda
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Shayne, but is that why it hurts? Actually the onco told me that on arrimidex it makes your nerves ultra sensitive. He said that no damage was being done to the joints, it was just the nerves. But think about that. Why are the nerves o sensitive? And your brain is one big nerve! Maybe it doesn't get into the brain? But then why do we get depressed and cry so much? Sigh...
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Thanks Linda. I know I have to find a way to stay on it. I suppose we should be happy that there are such drugs
I just wish we could enjoy the time it buys us!
I never understood fibromyalgia but when this started I did think of that. It's similar to the way they describe it.
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Hi evrryone--My theory--which of course is based on nothing, nor has been agreed upon by no one---LOL---I've said this before Aromasin is part of the complet BC cancer regime tha most of us follw-plus the other drugs--figuring whar they are meant to do--keeping cancer at by they have to develope side effects that has to be hurting--some what like chemo--cancer isn't a cold in the system it's a dirt sneaky disease so in fact all that we gwt has to be super tough on our bodies in one way or another. Let's face it, all these meds actually destrou other parts of the ody but no cancer so maybe that's where they have to work the hardest. My theory is just as good as any theory--IMHO LOL
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lol i get it cami. As I start to feel better off of the pills I start to get anxious because I imagine the very thing that is making me feel better (estrogen?) is feeding the cancer. You kind of can't win can you? I'm one year down on these drugs. Four to go!
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My Onc told me the stat is 40% of women have SEs on Aromasin. And there are several women who get dx with 2nd cancers while taking AIs. So there is no guarantee. For me, I didnt want to get on the rollercoaster of taking pain pills and other drugs to counteract the SE - and the quality of my life. Not being able to exercise or sleep, brought on depression. I cant tell you how it great it feels to feel BETTER and not be in pain anymore. I just couldnt live that way.
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Shayne I can certainly understand u'r feeling about this. There are no guartantees under any circumstances so why should u continue in such pain-I'm glad u'r feeling better--it makes a differences,
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I started my aromasin in the week following the end of rads. Doc had told me to take it after the holidays (my rads ended the Fri before Xmas) so I gave myself a NYEve gift...
but I am now counting the months till my 5 years are up, Side effects? I have ackie hips and times my back but find that exercise helps a lot. Friend of mine on a dif AL says it took about a month after ending the meds for her side effects to end so hoping....
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When recurrence rates while on Als are reported I wonder if researchers factor in the degree of ER+. Many women are just barely ER+, and others, like me, are 100%. Stands to reason that an Al, or Tamoxifen for that matter, would be more effective the more ER+ one is. If one is, say, 80% positive, then 20 of those suckers are feeding on something else and can grow.
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Good point Yorkie. I'm 90% myself so I assume the other 10% won't be stopped by this. It's been a year and half since diagnosis and I am still figuring out all of these details. It's endless, isn't it?
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Timbuktu, yes it is! I think we should all we awarded honorary doctorates in breast cancer!
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Shayne: I guess the pills stay in your system for quite a while.
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Yes they do - Ive heard from other ladies on this board 3 months. Im at month 2-starting to feel like myself.....some joint/muscle pain remains......and insomnia......but at least im off the couch!
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That is sooo wonderful Shayne. I remember how you were suffering so! There is just so much we can endure in the name of health! lol What a relief to hear you are feeling better. Nothing like stopping a medication and then feeling well! ;-)An easy cure!
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Shayne I agree with Timbuktu and so glad u'r starting to feel better--It's wonderful.
You all know about my back trouble and the Dr. just told me since my scan 2 months ago it's worse the vertabrae is deteriating and my 2 discs are much worse. OK here's my thought all this crap did it. LOL I mean so fast, come on--My theories are all made by me and no one backs them up in studies--But I think all this stuff just ages our bodies someway. I'm kind of in a bad mood, can u tell---I had to go to the Dr. today (not planned) so I had to get moving around and my pain is so bad but she again offered me stronger meds--no I take the regular ones that I just started--I do notice I'm sleeping better LOL or should I say i'm knocked out better--not up--out.
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It's impossible to be in a good mood when you are in pain! So sorry Cami. We're really between a rock and a hard place. Hope you feel better...and soon!
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Of course it ages you. The SEs are similar to menopause and lack of estrogen in older women correlates to the bone loss, heart issues, hair thinning, etc etc......
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Carmillegal - I agree that this disease and the tx that goes comes with it does age us. I use to pride myself for looking so much younger then my age but I have aged so much I hate to look in the mirror. I've had sciatic nerve pain over the past 10 yrs or so but it would come and go and since my dx I'm in constant pain which becomes harder to control (control meaning keeping to a level that I can walk in an upright position). Before this disease I was physically active and now too many days its just an accomplishment to get up out of bed.
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Seabeal I know what ut mean--it doesn't seem so long ago when I worked I could stand on my feet 12 hrs. at a time and work right along side the other women that were younger and I was a supervisor so I worked in all areas and just did it. Up early every morning and did the normal shower thing and make-up and always in a good mood for work. Nowmy moods vary, I couldn;'t stand more than 5 minutes, never bother with makeup unless I'm really gooing somewhere--and getting up earlyis usually a can't sleep kind of thing, I'm not energized ever.My sister and I think of our mom at our ages and if the weather was bad, she'd move the furniture around , bake keep so busy and when the weather was good she's and my aunt (older than her) would spend the day just walking the malls and coming home to cook. I think we assumed that ran in our family--how illy we were. And seabeal u'r right it is an accomplishment to do the snall things now. I feel bad cuz i know there are so many people so much worse off than me, and I still complain. It's all a mixed bag of emotions too.
Well I hope everyone has a better or just plain good day today and I think the weather is supposed to be good??? I hope
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Seabeal I know what ut mean--it doesn't seem so long ago when I worked I could stand on my feet 12 hrs. at a time and work right along side the other women that were younger and I was a supervisor so I worked in all areas and just did it. Up early every morning and did the normal shower thing and make-up and always in a good mood for work. Nowmy moods vary, I couldn;'t stand more than 5 minutes, never bother with makeup unless I'm really gooing somewhere--and getting up earlyis usually a can't sleep kind of thing, I'm not energized ever.My sister and I think of our mom at our ages and if the weather was bad, she'd move the furniture around , bake keep so busy and when the weather was good she's and my aunt (older than her) would spend the day just walking the malls and coming home to cook. I think we assumed that ran in our family--how illy we were. And seabeal u'r right it is an accomplishment to do the snall things now. I feel bad cuz i know there are so many people so much worse off than me, and I still complain. It's all a mixed bag of emotions too.
Well I hope everyone has a better or just plain good day today and I think the weather is supposed to be good??? I hope
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It's nice to have this place where we can all just let it hang out and tell the truth. No one else want s to hear it.
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Yes it is nice!! I dont know what Id do without this place......go crazy i guess......
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Hello everyone! I'm new here and I would like to ask a question. My mother-in-law was recently prescribed with aromasin immediatly after surgery, and I read that aromasin is recommended mostly after a few years of taking tamoxifen. My mother-in-law's oncologist is apparently a very good one but a very non-empathetic one that didn't explain her absolutely nothing, she just sent her the prescription through a nurse. I saw that some of you got aromasin as a first hormonal treatment too so maybe you would know why your doctor prescribed you this. Is it because it has fewer side effects?
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