Life on aromasin
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Galsal I can't differentiate between SE's anymore to what all the chemo and rads did. But My vertabra (lowere) and 2 discs are deteriating so my pain is localized in that area, but I do have LE and a very bad shoulder going on--I had arthritis (some) when I started now they said I'm loaded with it. I have chronic Diarhea which they can't find out why and of course with that in the hospitals for a week at a time to catch up on electrolytes. Now I'm dragging my feet on the newest of 1 Dr. seeing cancer by my bladder, I always have infections, or maybe not--It's been a long road and I don't care for the scenery. LOL But I really figure they'll get it figured out one way or another and it'sll be OK--If there is a glass of wine half full or empty--I'll just drink it and forget about it.
I'm sure u love were u live now--westher is much better and so are most of the views. I live in an unincorporated area and I love it--It's like old fashion where everyone knows everyone and knows the kids. I now live with my dgtr and SIL and my grandson (8) who we adore each other--I am so blessed cuz we a re so close and he's the little guy I never had. I've got 2 DD's and my other dgtr lives in Lombard not far. So it's all good. I just moved in with my DD last year and it's working out fine--My SIL is wonderful to me and we always got along so I'm happy.
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Went to onco today. My symptoms have been reduced by about 70% in less than a month off of the meds. I was sure he was going to say I was ok. He tested my leg and said I have arthritis in that knee that has been bothering me so much. Then he ordered a bone scan! I was shocked. But he said he wanted to be sure he didn't miss anything.
My blood pressure when I entered the office was 225/125! They wanted to send me to the ER but instead my dr said to send me there. My pressure was a bit better there. But still he prescribed more meds.
Never a dull moment!
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Oh Tim that's high now did he tell u to check it at home too., cuz it does go all over the place. Are u on meds now and he just added more-U know u think things are better and wham something else comes up. I'm not trying to sacre u but that's happened to me too. I hope the new meds do their job--try to relax some, if u have anything for that take it or even take warm milk it really dows help. And he sounds like he's being thorough so that's good. OK now more arthritis. I still say this does so much to us. But first things first just relax. Anyway u feel good ding so--we all have different methods so different things work for us so find one. Please
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Thaks Cami. You yourself are like a glass of warm milk. So comforting.
My bp has been known to bounce around and being in the onco office...but still. At home it was 150/85.
He gave me new old drugs. Spiranolactone had helped me a lot in the past. I took one yesterday,
But now I'm really wondering about the leg!
Gosh, every little ache or pain is frightening now.
Thanks again for being so kind.
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Timbuktu,
Hopefully you can keep the stress lowered because the dr is just being super cautious. And you know he is. Maybe the scan will give you peace when it comes out clear.
My pain and hard lumps on my ankle from aromasin freaked out the MO resident, but my MO and I decided to skip any tests until later, if necessary. He was puzzled, but neither of us thought it was cancer. He did a pounding bone exam checking my back and pevic area. If I'd pushed he would have sent me for some kind of test.
This all started with my first zometa infusion. Completely disappeared on the break between anastrazole and aromasin, then returned to stay. Cancer, no, but drug induced, yes.
Now the pain is also in my knee. Ok when I move, but a problem after sitting and in bed. I want to become more active and go back to jogging, so I'm gong to ask my PCP for a referal to a sports med dr or PT to prevent further damage to the joints. I'm sure there will be an X ray taken. 4 or more years on an AI with this inflamation could destroy those joints otherwise. I refuse to give up an active life over these drugs, but still need to take them. My Oncotype was too high to skip them.
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Wow Doxie! The voice of reason!
Thanks! I hate these tests but I guess I'll feel better when it's over. Hopefully I will!
When I was at the dr I told the nurse about everyone on here and how we're all suffering the same kind of thing.
She didn't know what I was talking about. She didn't know this site existed. I don't know what I would do without it!
Excercize is supposed to be the panacea for just about everything. BP, cancer, diabetes, arthritis. I too have vowed to get out there and make it a priority every day.
Just do it! ;-)
BTW, does anyone remember how long it takes to get this stuff out of your system?
I asked the dr and I remember him telling me but I have absolutely no memory of what he said! lol
That happens in dr offices, no?
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Tim I don't remember either, I know it's a little bit of time tho. And yep we all know excercise is good for these aches and pains, but I wouldn't jog at this point, it's much to hard on the joints--they say---and don't ask me who they are cuz I've never figured that out. But wlking is u'r best bet on this whole arthritic thing. And I'm so glad u'r b/p was much better at home--what a relief.
Doxie on u'r ankle? Geeze don't u love it when first seen it freaks someone out. So reassuring. LOL Another strge thing that happens.
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I'm with you girls, I would love to get out there and excercise but that doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon. Last Wed I had my second series of back injection for degenerative disc. This time they injected on both sides of the disc in the bottom 3. It is feeling better but it takes at least 2 weeks to know what it is going to do and during that time I can't lift, do house work or repetative motion. More or less sitting on my duff praying for the best.
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What kind of injection? Cortisone? Epidural?
So many have back problems.
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I think my DH is on the verge of having to deal with this. He has a severely degenerated disc. He tried physical therapy, which worked great for me, and it has failed him. In order to avoid, or leave as the last resort, surgery, he might next get a cortisone shot into the spine. We don't like this, but it is probably going to happen. Next week he meets with his spine doc, so we'll know more then.
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Timbuktu,
I've made a vow to change my ways and try to keep the fear of recurrence as minimal as possible. After I had a freakout over a lump by my SLN scar last fall that the BS said was scar tissue forming around a stitch, I decided to be mellow about any other type of scare. That was too stressful, as was trying to find a solution to my blurred vision problem. I was afraid I'd have to chose between my vision and preventing BC from recurring. So hard lumps on my ankle will be explained away by the most logical and benign reason until proven otherwise. I've had too much drama in my life and I don't want to live with it dominating me that way anymore. Something good has to come out of BC.
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The first one was given just on the side where I was experiencing the most pain. It was cortisone with lidocaine and only had relief for the first 8 hours then the lidocaine wore off. This one also is cortisone/lidocaine? injected between the lumbar disc on both sides. I have tried everything over the past year or so from acupuncture to chiropractor and exercise to any other form of voodoo I could look up on the internet. As a nurse I've always said I would take cripple over back surgery which is real brave until you actually face severe chronic pain every single day. Now I'm just doing the spine "dance" until I find something that works. One of the doctors I worked with had back surgery and he says for the first time in years he is totally pain free. I can only wish!
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A friend of mine had that surgery about 2 years ago. She's 84! She said it was very very hard but now she's happy she had it done. She has more stamina than I do and she's 20 years older.
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Tim, that is good to hear, if he has to go that route.
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Seabeal I'm glad u posted this. I have 2 drg. discs and vertabrae--sounds similar and the pain is not good. I still don't have a back Dr. but Mond I see my onc and I have to get one--she said it got worse the last 3 months, so it doesn't get better and walking is hurtful so I'm glad u posted. What is it about these back things, never had any problem with my back just this last year. An operation really scares me, not the actual operation but being put out--they have a hard time getting me awake and I feel it gets harder and harder with each operation so that bothers me.--It's a mess another Dr. more crap--it doesn't end does it. I'm not concerned about cancer but my whole body is in distress LOL
Oh thanks Seabeal for sharing that I don't feel so weird now.
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I do think the aromasin is aging us like crazy although I've had back pain for years, it seems like overnight after the cancer and treatment it has gotten so much worse. Even my skin is aging at super sonic speed: thinner, wrinkles, fragil, age spots, and it's happening over night
Tim - good to hear your report as well regarding the surgery. Even though it was encouraging to hear it from my doctor friend, it always helps to hear it from another source.
Day 4 and although my back continues to hurt, it's nothing like it was before the injection. Well it will either get better or get worse, only time can tell.
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Woke up today and the leg pain was gone! Now, what to tell the dr????
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I've had lower back issues since I was 18, but they've definitely gotten worse, and included some pretty dibilitating sciatica. I've had injections twice, the first one lasted close to 2 years, the second one I had the same day as my breast biopsy (quite the day), that was 3 years ago. I started having the lower back issues again, bad enough to go to the doctor, (I hate sciatica), and had an MRI on Friday. Hopefully they'll be able to do something as easy as an injection again, hopefully it not bone mets (my first worry of course). Seabeal - I feel the same way that the Aromasin is aging my body really fast - I'm 57 and realize I'm getting older, but I swear I feel more like 80 +.
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Makes sense. They used to give hormone replacement therapy to keep women young. Take away the little bit of estrogen we still have ...we're old!
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Tim - tell him the truth, cause I swear if you tell him nothing it'll be back next week. It's like taking our cars to the mechanic, you've hear that clink everyday then it disappears as soon as you pull into the mechanic and reappears as soon as you leave.
While the rest of the world is looking for the "fountain of youth" we're just looking for something to slow it down a little. Sometimes I've wondered if it's worth it. Even if this nasty little pill keeps the cancer away I'll die of premature old age. Neither are painless.
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seabeal, sometimes i think we're the only people who can possibly understand each other. I totally get what you are saying!
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Tim and seabeal I get it completely--My skin has even changed shades and my eyes darker and I use loads of lotion and it looks so old, not that I'm young but I always had good skin and very soft and clear not anymore--I look at my hands and arms and my mom looked better at 88 than I do now and it happened very quickly too. IDK I use good stuff but not good enough LOL
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Tim - take care of yourself! that mustve been scary! Im 3 months off the meds - and feel almost 100%. Is he going to put you back on Aromasin??
Ive been doing yoga - cant say enough about how great it is and how I feel....its so doable!
take care everyone!
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Gee, 3 months and you're still not 100%. This stuff stays with you. It will be one month for me on the 23. I truly can't believe the difference! I actually walked around a mall today, the first time in a long time. The pains did return but it was nice just to be able to walk again! Is there anything worse than not being able to walk? To go where you want to and do what you want to? Walking is freedom.
I'm going to try some excercize/yoga dvd's. I can see where it could loosen me up. Being so inactive for so long makes everything stiff. I've been going on the excercycle just for a minute here and there and that feels great too.
Glad you are doing so well Shayne. It's like coming back to life!
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IT IS like coming back to life! and the little residual is in my wrists (im probably 95%).....yoga is helping. What i like about the yoga is you work with where you are - always. Its not like going to the gym where you are competing or pushing yourself. I feel good - body, mind and soul. Check out a studio near you - lots will give you a free class to check it out, and have reasonable rates if you are a student or senior (im a student). Its worked wonders for me - and Im also hiking with my dogs, which is really great for the fresh aire . The yoga is also helping my insomnia! Which gives me more energy during the day.
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Tim, Shayne said ALMOST meaning it could be 99% maybe, I know it stays in u'r system for a while but u also had other treatment too. So u are doing better and that's a good thing and u will keep on feeling better, maybe that'll help. (my theory, not printed anywhere but here) Wow I'm so glad u'r both feeling better.
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Tim, you are so right, I don't think anyone else knows what it's like, not our friends or our family. I've had wonderful support but I always feel like I'm hiding my thoughts and emotions so I don't make others uncomfortable, or God forbid have negative thoughts.
I understand the skin care routine. I to have always had good skin until now. I have spent more on skin care products in the past year then I have in my entire life but with little to no results. I've even used some esteroil cream. Research has shown that it doesn't affect your systemic levels when used in small amounts but I'm not sure I really care. Although I haven't had the se like some of you have I just don't know if I can continue watching my life slip through my hands one premature year after another. I've never been that concerned about my looks but found out my husband had been having a relationship with another woman for 2 1/2 years the same time I found out about the cancer. We have been through therapy and worked very hard on our relationship and we are actually a lot closer in a lot of ways then we had been before this happened but when they say you can lose trust in a second which may take a life time to regain, this is so true. I love him and know he loves me but the past can sneak up out of the blue and I hurt so bad I think I could die. One thing for sure it will be a long time before I quite checking up on his activities and he is well aware of this. It doesn't help that his job takes him away from home for long periods of time. I can no longer work with the back issue so as soon as my boob heals up and I don't have to go to the wound clinic anymore and we get a handle on the back pain I plan to travel with him which is what he has always wanted me to do. WOW don't know how I got here but I think it has something to do with premature aging, damn cancer and estogen sucking pills!
I look forward to exercising again. I've missed it so much but just got to a point that even 15 min on stationary bike put me down for 3-4 days. As soon as I get released from the back doctor I'm going to start back up again. Just have to remember to take it slowly. Never was much good with that type of behavior. I use to do yoga years ago and would like to start back up but really think I need to get with someone who is knowledgeable so I don't aggravate my back (if it gets better).
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Shayne, so wondeful to hear! Gives me such hope!
My dr. said that some people have to keep switching meds to get through the 5 years. Last time I saw him he told me to just endure as long as I can. So I've been walking (as much as I could walk) around in agony! I thought I had no choice. But oh how we suffered, eh?
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seabeal, I'm so sorry you had to deal with all of that on top of all of this! Sometimes I wonder why such "crimes" are legal, you know what I mean? Shouldn't he be locked up for that? Boiled in oil? Water boarded? It just makes me so furious! Of course I have my own trust issues with my husband. Not affairs but lies of other kind. And then there's BS. Lots of BS. But that's the norm around here. Men!!!
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Seabeal I'm sorry u had to deal with this t all, let aone when u'r going thru ll of this. I'm not taking up the man's side exactly, but some men get the shit scared out of them and realy can't handle sickness from their partner so seek solace elsewhere, I'm not condoning this behavior but rhe helpless in some situstions and just block it out anyway they can. And u are an amazing woman for going to counseling and trying to repair a trust that was broken. And rebuilding that trust is very hard and at a time u were so vulnerable. Good for u Seabeal and as time goes on u'll be able to travel and like u said have a better relationship and u'll trust him again, it takes time. U went thru an awful lot at one time, that sucks but u also went head on to make it work.
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