Life on aromasin
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Thanks guys. I have kept this to myself except for my best friend who lives 1200 miles from me and sometimes you just need to talk to someone. I haven't wanted to pull our kids into this and have tried to protect him from others. This started 2 1/2 years before my dx but came out after my dx when I realized he was talking to her while I was laying on the table for multiple biopsies and test. When I found out shit hit the fan and I made sure some of it splattered back on her even if it was the fear that I might release all my evidence to her husband. It has been a hell of a row to hoe and to some point continues to be. The one good thing we can bring from this is the fact that cancer probably saved our marriage. Up to this point we were so closed off to each other that we were walking a fine line for divorce with no hope in sight. I feel like I may still need some counciling, not actually I know I do, but right now we can't aford it with all the medical bill and continued medical treatment. I'm sure it will all come out in the wash.
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Seabeal U know u'r safe here there has never been a limit on what we share and we share ourlives and whatever helps unload our problems this is a good place There is a lot that leads to healing and stress is a top priority so whatever u want to share, expecially if it helps then here we are. Rhis has to be difficult for u.
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For those of you with aches and pains - oh, that's all of us, right? I switched from Aleve, which I have taken for years over other NSAIDs, to aspirin. Wow! All my knee and ankle pain has nearly disappeared. Knee pain was waking me at night. I'm only taking two doses per day. Didn't expect this at all. Hope it isn't temporary.
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Thanks Doxie, I'll give it a try. although, I have to say, almost all of the pain is gone now. It's a month today that I've been off of the aromasin. I made an app for a bone scan on May 2, just as the dr told me to. But now it seems sort of silly. Decisions decisions! And all are life and death! But I'm going take an aspirin right now. It's good for so many things.
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New to the discussion boards. I have lurked but did not formally get on till yesterday. There are no support. Groups in my area so I thought I would come to you all:-) I was put on Femara last July, and the pain got so bad my oncologist switched me to aromasin in Feb. I thought I was doing good till recently. Right after I started taking it I had a major surgery where they took a tendon out of my hamstring and grafted it into my left elbow.(long story) Between the recovery from it and therapy my back is out along with hip from favoring the leg they harvested the tendon. Every day my legs ache more. I hate telling my DH as he worries so. 4 more years of the pain is very discouraging. Reading your posts at least make me feel that I am not alone.
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Welcome Ibethewife===OMG u've had some really rough SE's. Are these actual SE from Femara? U poor thing--this must be horrible for you. U HAVE to talk further to u'r onc, this can't keep going on for u. There has to be a better way for u. This sounds like a very painful surgery and I'm sure u'r DH has to worry for u. I mean alot of us have had bad backs, bones, and general pain etc--but not like this. I'm so sorry u have to go thru all this--please come back--there will be more coming on (it seems like a quiet nite) and someone maybe will be able to guide u further.If u find any thread that wil help jump in all are welcome and hope we can help you and support u at least mentally.
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What the heck is this...I'm learning that UHC does not cover Lupron injections. Ummm, Hello? I cannot take Tamoxifen due to blood clot issues. Since the VA Hospital does treatment whether or not it's covered, I didn't know. Getting my benefits person at work on this, since I'll likely need at least it on more time before I can stop taking them.
She's already talking with them since Aromasin's generic is a Tier 2 which makes it pricier than what generic for Arimidex or Femara would be which are Tier 1. Ridiculous!
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Galsal I hate all this insurance crap--there are certain things it won't cover but u have to take and I don't get it. It sucks. My sister has to take a shot every 2 months--I don't know what it is, but it cost almost 1,000.00 out of pocket with ins. so she's checking into how much this med will cost by itself and give herself the shot. They said it would be much cheaper, but that's not the point.
That's why I don't understand (well one of the reason) and I thought VA covered everything--WTF
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The VA does. I began seeing a private Onc. I can't see giving yourself that injection though. MAJOR needle. VA sprays freezing stuff before giving it. Had one a few weeks ago and still have a small lump where it was given.
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Oh I don't blame u about the shot cuz I said the same thing cuz I saw it. No way could I do it myself. But my sister is goffier than me when it comes to medical stuff--Her one dgtr is a nurse so she figured she could learn easily.
So can't u go to the VA just for the shot and see the onc. u want---or doesn't that work that way.
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The elbow surgery was work related. I had a tennis elbow repair in Oct of 2011. 3 weeks later a family member of a patient grabbed the elbow and twisted to get my attention. ( I work in a psych unit in my local hospital) needless to say he wrecked havoc on it. The day I found out I had cancer I also found out workman's comp denied my second surgery on the elbow. It was finally approved through an appeal. The latest surgery is the third on it . Since my diagnosis I have had a total of 5 surgeries two of which were the elbow. It is also the same side the cancer was on so now have mild lymphedema.
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OH ibethewife all on one side--no wonder u got LE, I'm glad it's mild at least. Geeze u'e whole arm must feel horrible===just what u need.
And where u are working has ro be so difficult.
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Well, never the day is the same at work, and it helps to love my job. I was hoping not to have SE from the Aromasin. But now I'm beginning to think some of my pain is from it and not recovering from surgery.
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Ibethewife---sorry if u'r starting to get some SE's but most of us do and notice them as time goes on and some have even changed these meds cuz they can be tough. So just pay attention to what's going on and u can talk to u'r Onc. if u need to.
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so far, looks like I'll have to see both Onc, at the VA and the private one. i'm going to call the cancer center and see how they handle this. insurance did say the Dr could appeal.
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Hello all. I've been on Aromasin since April 12. Prior, I have been on tamoxifen for a year and then Arimidex for two years. Like Ibethewife, I was switched to Aromasin due to really bad pain. I sure hope I can make the next two years on Aromasin. Too early yet to see what my SE will be from Aromasin and figure that it will probably take a couple of months to get most of the Arimidex out as I was switched over immediately so no "vacation" between the two.
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I'm about the same as you cowgal, having been on others already. Tamoxifen for about four months until it had to be changed, then Arimidex (major headaches daily), then to Femara (hands went bad from pain and limitations), now on Aromasin. The pain part is gettign slowly better enough to work easier but still there. Hands still swell. RA reared it's ugly head again after starting the AIs.
I'm quite willling to try different ones to find the one best for me. Can't go back to Tamoxifen and won't go back to Arimidex. I'd take the risks of not taking any over daily and multiple headaches from that one. So we're checking if Aromasin will work better.
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Hi cowgal--I haven't seen u before but glad u joined in.
I've only been on aromasin and hate it but I always think next time I'm going to change and I still hang on but I don't know anymore what SE's are from anything anymore so I just take pain pills when needed and don't work anymore so it is what it is. I guess I'm to chicken to go for more SE's I'm used to these. LOL
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I really believe that it is the depletion of estrogen that is doing us all in. The ladies on the other al's all have the same problems. The common denominator is that we are lacking estrogen now which is needed for so many things but also feeds our cancer. Sucks but I guess we must learn to cope. Exercise does help it seems.
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I have been on Aromasin and Affinitor for about 3 months. I have sensitive skin but a couple weeks ago I used some mousse in my hair that my mom left at my house and it made my scalp, neck, and hair line break out pretty bad and caused bad itching. I used some anti itch shampoo and it stopped itching so I thought that fixed the problem. Well a couple weeks later and I'm still breaking out with those hard, bump like pimples. On my jaw line and my neck and my hair line. I stopped using the mousse obviously and I haven't changed anything in my routine. It's driving me nuts bc they aren't going away and it looks like I'm 15 again! Has anyone else had skin sensitivity or break outs with either Aromasin or Affinitor? Thanks!
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I DE Yes, some of the girls I've talked to have had break out???? What kind of soap do u use on u'r face. U might need a special soap now. It dried my skin terribly and I use Argon oil even on my arms now--I'm old but I always had good skin that runa in the family, now I look 10 yrs older. So I think it can--There are so many SE that come and go and some stay00to many to list--It's so much fun. It sosn't end just cuz it ended. I used to be so nice really nice now I don't know how I kept my friends hahaha they're just used to me being a bitch now---No more filters in my brain. LOL
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I agree with PTdreamers that the depletion of estrogen is what is probably making us all have our side effects. My MO thought that maybe my joint pain might be less on the Aromasin then it has been on the Arimidex. I realize that Femara and Arimidex are chemically very similar and that Aromasin is steroidal while the other two aren't. I guess time will tell because in my case exercise does not help with the joint pain, it makes it worse.
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I already had sensitive skin on the face from Rosacea with Acne Rosacea as well. Rarely do I wear eye makeup since also have Occular Rosacea. No surprise to be recently dx'd again with RA since these are all autoimmune conditions. Btw, when I told the Derm about going on an AI he was like, it's either to make your skin better or worse. Nice.
Between wear smaller and softer braces on my hands and work and stiff/rigid ones for sleeping, along with being off Femara for several weeks and now on Aromasin for 1-2 weeks the hands are slowly beginning to hurt less. The swelling of both still happens whether wear the braces or not. The med for the RA has not yet arrived, so it can not be attributed to that at all.
The jury is still out IMHO but I'm surely willing to give it a go if it helps, even though it means a higher copay for me to be on it.
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Yes to the hip pain when in bed or waking up. Hands hurt, but just in the am. Have shoulder pain (impingement/tendonitis) and my PT thinks the Aromasin makes it hard to get better.
Did start Lexapro to get out of the anxiety/low spirits that seemed to start with this. Helping quite a lot.I was 3 mos on Arimidex,fine the first 2 mos, then switched bc the SEs were hard (stiff, can't bend over, pick things up, etc) mostly in the am. Aromasin was fine the first 2 mos, and now it's probably like the first one but I am just accustomed to it. Now in my 9th month. However, I just read that I am lucky that I am estrogen positive, bc many BRCA1 ladies are not and therefore have a worse prognosis. Sigh.
But it is a beautiful day, my garden looks lovely, my hair is almost 4" long and a curly mess- but attached to my head!!
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I'm curious if this is an SE - constipation if I don't add fiber daily. Has only shown up since on the Aromasin. There's been no other different meds or supps. Oh wait, that's not true. Vyvanse (non-BC related) was added one week after.
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Very nervous. Legs hurt again and I'm having a bone scan Thursday.
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are you still off aromasin Tim?
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Galsal, insert says diarrhea or constipation can be side effects. I take two fiber capsules daily with a full glass of water. One in AM and another late afternoon.
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Yes, Shayne. April 23 was one month off. The pain was letting up so much I thought I was in the clear. But I walked a lot this week end and the pain came back with a vengeance. Every little ache is so frightening.
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Tim maybe the walking did u in. or u'r low on some vitamin--there are a few reasons for legs to hurt without it being aromain so try to concentrate on that. But u'r right everytime pains come it's different mentally than before--everything means something scary to us--that's so normal but it might not be. So oh Thursday see again waiting, we all know thats a stinker.
Galsal---Oh const. and diarhhea are famous with tis so u have to adjust to see what works for u. Things don't just end for us it keeps going and going. LOL
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