Life on aromasin
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April - your story and your commitment to a healthy weight is inspiring...Timbuktu, I also gained weight on chemo and I am now struggling to get if off...my GI system is still not "normal", it's only been 3 months since my last dose and the oncologist said give it 6 - 12 months so I still cannot get back on my low carb diet, which is what I always did to maintain a healthy weight. Now I am also on Aromasin and keeping my fingers crossed that it doesn't cause any additional weight gain or limit my mobility - I need to start walking again for some exercise. Appreciate all the tips and support from those of you also struggling with BC and weight issues...
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Gee, thanks for sharing, everyone. It helps to know that others have experienced the same thing.
I'm feeling 100% better today and I'm not sure why but don't give up hope. When I was wracked with pain I felt so
hopeless and projected 4 more years out, feeling that way. But that feeling went! Life feels good again. I don't feel depressed at all! I'm not sure if the aromasin caused the depression or the aromasin caused the pain which caused the depression. It's all so mixed up. But at the moment I'm happy and not in terrible pain and what a relief!
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Definitely experienced depression while on aromasin - not sure if it was bc I couldnt exercise or bc i was in so much pain.....either way, it lifted when i went off of it.
Keep moving - those that are on it -Tim - glad you are 100% better today!! Celebrate life and good health!
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Everyday when I wake up I move one extremity and analyze who much pain there is then move another extremity and report the process till I'm completely out of bed. This process is to determine which pain pill combo will be needed to get the day started. This little routine continues through out the day in order to keep moving until bedtime. Sleep is my best friend because it is the only time I'm not aware of the pain. Excercise is a dream of the past at this time I'm more concerned about pacing myself so I can get through my days with the less amount of pain. I don't think I can blame it on the aromasin as this health issue started years ago but cancer, treatment and the stress that comes with it all has exacerbated the pain to the point that I'm now in constant pain. Thur I go back to the spine and pain doctor and I pray that there is something they can do to improve this situation. I'm too young to stop living, with so much more to do.
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((((seabeal)))) I really hope the doc can help!
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Hi ladies,
I took my first little white pill today. I was on tamoxifen for 2 years
and took a 3 mth break before starting Aromasin. I am very nervous starting this. Keeping my fingers crossed for no SE!!
Kayne0 -
Seabeal...you too? The only difference is that the pain wakes me up at night.
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I take an ambien because of sleeping issues which I have had long before aromasin and a pain pill to cover the pain. Sometimes I have to take another pain pill during the night. If I don't move I don't hurt otherwise it's agonizing just to roll over or get up and go to the bathroom. I look at the pills I take each morning and night and then the ones for pain control and feel like a drug addict
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I hear ya! I finally broke down and took an Aleve just now. I hate pills but like you I have a long line of them.
Here's to a better day!
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Id be worried about taking sleeping pill and a pain pill - but hey, id worry just about taking the sleeping piill on its own......I have an Rx that I never filled for Ambien. Now Im finding doing yoga every day is helping me sleep more deeply than i ever have - but I still wake up at 4am.
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Use the Ambien myself most of the time. Camillegal, I hear you!
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Kayne that first pill u have to stare at, it's like OK here we go. and wait. LOL Let us know how it goes.
I was supposed to go out to lunch today, but pain to difficult to do. So when I take my pain pills now they make me tired and the other day I said I've been sleeping good ha last nite was a mess. And I went on the comp. for a little bit but my cat came in and was meowing at me-meaning close up I want to cddle so I did and she laid on me so comfortable and her purring, well it got me back to sleep so it's like they know.
It's still cold here and I'm all layered up to keep snuggly.and I feel like crap so I'll close for now.
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OK, I am starting Lexapro tomorrow- starting with 5 mg (Half the 10 prescribed) for a week to see if it is OK.
I just can't feel like this anymore. Is it just from Aromasin? or? well, the smallet thing upsets me terribly.
And I am even taking a mindfulness meditation class- but I can't keep just waiting for a glass of wine or an Ativan. Unless my doctor suggests something different tomorrow.
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Lisa are u worried for some reason. Cuz 5mg might not do to much if they told u to take 10mg??? It interacts with all the meds u are taking and it might just help u in these dark days that u r hving. Why should u suffer? If u don't hava to. it might take a few days or a little time to see if it works but u'r the one that will know. It won't hurt and after all is said and done u might be able to not take them anymore or maybe u'll take them for a while--u'r body will adjust to it and it might just make u feel better. (chances are it will) and if it doesn't there are others. So I say take that water and swallow it now and in a short time u'll start tinking brighter---it won't hurt--This of course is just my opinion--it's all up to you.
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I am off of the aromasin and the world does look brighter. In every way.
They did prescribe Lexopro for me when I was on arrimidex. I couldn't stop crying, It was weird.
But even the nurse wasn't sure that it wasn't things going on in my life that was making me cry.
Its impossible to sort things out. But the minute I went off of the arrimidex the tears stopped.
I have a pardoxical reaction to Lexopro. I tried it once before, after my parents died. It threw me into a real
depression. I just sat in a chair for 10 days. Nothing gave me pleasure. I lost 10 pounds beause I didnt want to eat. The minute i went off of it I felt so much better, I was happy! No depression! lol
I guess you can file this under "it could always be worse".
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Tim there is no measure for these pills--it's never one size fits all--(I think) we all react differently to our meds some may be good and some bad. and the Drs. always have a back-up cuz in a way we are the guiny pigs for all that we get. ike I do know Lesapro has not worked for everyone and other rave about how much better they feel. I've never taken that particular one, but wht I've taken has done wonders for me I guess that's why I feel like try it and if u don't like it tell the Dr. Cuz I know ther is a drug somewhere that would help people not to be so sad, Being depressed is awful an there are reasons u get depressed going thru this crap. But I agree with u if it doesn't work it can be scary cuz u expect it to.
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What is it that you are taking?
My husband has been on Lexopro for years. It helped him a lot.
I don't know too many people who are not on something!
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Ur right Tim--I'm on paxel because this one is mainly for anxiety and what a difference it has made. I started a while back when my dgtr got really sick and just stayed on them so it's been yrs. and it was upped one time so I take 40 mgs a day. And it finei
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I am feeling like this IS from aromasin, plus maybe more estrogen depletion. Wake up with heart racing as I did in menopause. (Why is taking an Ativan 3-4 times a week considered bad? At least it doesn't change your chemical self.I know this is getting worse. I have SIL on Paxil, niece on Prozac. I guess I feel so on edge that the idea of SEs from Lexapro or it not helping makes me more worried. What if I feel worse?? I saw somewhere that the most complaints about anxiety from aromasin was around 5-6 mos. right where I am. Def feel the last month it has been increasing. Before it was just aches and pains and sleep disturbances. Now my spirit feels tied in knots. Bleak. Like I do good things (see friends, hike, etcn) to push it away. Work us good, distracts me. Ugh, ugh.
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I was only on this drug a few weeks when I began to have aniety and cried all the time! My blood pressure also began to climb. Currently, I am off the drug for 2 weeks to see if these symptoms go away! It's been pretty trying!
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Tim so glad you are off of it and feeling good again! Every week that goes by, I feel better and better - physically and emotionally.
Lisa - I was taken off aromasin bc my heart was racing and i was having palipitations. SEs listed for Aromasin are heart failure/heart attack/stroke.......make sure your Onc knows about that.
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Same here. One of the SEs I experienced was an increase in my Afibs. That was scary--
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U know i really don't get it, with every wonder drug--there are so many things it does to u'r body in so many ways --WHY, in this day and age does it have to be so complicated and if u'r taking more meds--which most of us are there are mor side effects from all the good it's supoosed to do. These drug companies can't put a mix tgether that has a few non-threatening SE's --This just screws with my head--they've had years upon years to make these drugs and sometimes u have to take another drug for the SE--maybe that's why, It just aggrevates me. My rant is over.
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Well said camillegal - I'm currently experiencing my own little Aromasin side effect episode@#$%^&*!!!
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However I must say I have been sleeping better on Aromasin, and I have had sleep issues for 7 years since menopause.
Heart racing bad ? Besides being unpleasant and exhausting? I will check with doc.0 -
I guess just taking estrogen away, as anyone who has been through menopause knows, will have a big effect.
I used to suffer terribly from PMS too so I kind of know what hormonal imbalances can do. But these other side effects!
I guess, bottom line, I would love to know why they are there. What is causing them? They are so strong. Some of them are familiar from menopause, the racing heart for instance. But the pain? Why should taking away estrogen cause such pain?
Or is something else causing it? A dr once told me that every medicine is a little bit poison. Was he ever right!
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Time I had a full hyst. about 15 yrs ago and the Drs. didn't give me any estogen (it was a time wharn they thought that was right????
So thought my body was used to no estrogen, or whatever u call it--then this came along it's like starting all over only worse every bone hurts. And I do believe that every pill is some kind of poison but we shouldn't think about it look at all the chemo and meds that we;ve taken we are a walking poison factory. LOL
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Estrogen is in our bodies for a reason. Slowly as we age, we have less and less.....resulting in the bone/heart/skin issues we face in our 70s-80s-90s. Depleting estrogen all at once,speeds that process. Slippery slope to take meds to counteract the meds - we do what we have to. I think they will find that BALANCING the estrogen levels is what is a better option to prevent recurrence. Just my thought ~ my body rejected the total depletion of estrogen~ it was telling me something.
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Shayne, my body did the same thing. And we just have to hope that not staying with an AI was the right decision. My internist told me that people are not meant to live past 50 and that is why we all have so many illnesses. He also said mammograms are useless and obesity is the main cause of breast cancer. Well, I was normal weight both times when I got cancer----
I really have to change doctors! He spends the precious 15 minutes he gives each patient by telling us his opinions about everything ---He poo-pooed the idea that I needed an ENT for my dizziness; would not give me any medication for it. I have made an appt anyway because why look for zebras when you hear hoofbeats? (as the saying goes) If the ENT does not find anything then, and only then, will I have an MRI. My cardio agrees, but tells me to do SOMETHING soon and not let it go.
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I agree with the balancing of estrogen level. It is not natural to suddenly deprive our bodies of anything - moderation is always the key. Too much or too little causes havoc. I really believe this because I'm unfortunately an "all or nothing" type of person so either go all out or do nothing. That is def. not healthy and our bodies are talking to us all the time and we just don't listen. I've been eating too many cookies and all that sugar is giving me diarrhea, mood swings, and maybe dizziness too. Who knows? I know better - but am using sugar to combat anxiety. Probably would make more sense to just take another pill!
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