Life on aromasin
Comments
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Ginger- I didn't fair well femara. Aromasin is much better for me but not without side effects. The difference is these side effects are tolerable/treatable.
Best wishes to you.0 -
Thanks! I am hoping aromasin is more tolerable. So far I am starting to have hot flashes again. Not sure if it can be from it this soon...am only on day 3 of this pill.
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It could very well be the aromasin causing the hot flashes that quickly. I had IMMEDIATE side effects from this drug. I am still having them. Typing this now hurts my fingers. I get out of bed in the morning hunched over and until I begin moving around (and take a pain killer) I am a hot mess. I feel so....so forlorn is a word I would use to describe it. I have been mildly depressed in my life like most people but it was situational. Lately, I feel like gloom and doom is all around me. The news depresses me so much I stopped watching it and reading about it. I can't describe how crummy I feel and it h as to be this drug. At >95% ER+, I am not too keen on going without it though.
I may have to try something else, but my MO wants me to give this 90 days (am only at the 6 week mark) before doing a switch. She will only give me Tamoxifen as she feels the only AI that works well enough with DCIS is Aromasin so it will be tamoxifen next which I absolutely DON"T want to take due to the risk of stroke and blood clots and cancer. Ugh!
I just want to be in my nightgown on the couch all day these days and since I work full time, I can't really do anything like that although on the weekends I don't do much except the bare minimum. Thank God hubby helps with housework and food shopping. Sex? Forget that. I don't want to anymore. Sad...
Anyway, has anyone else had the side effect of no libido?
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April, I haven't had severe SE's with Aromasin, but I'm guessing the lack of libido is due to depression, which, of course, can be an SE of Aromasin. You might want to consider a low dose anti-depressant, such as Effexor, but those can also lower libido. Anyway, that might be something to talk with your MO about.
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April, I'm sorry you are having such trouble with Aromasin. It has not been problem-free for me but my SE's don't seem quite as bad as yours. The hot flashes started after about 3-4 weeks, but no worse than with what I call menopause #1. (Aromasin feels like menopause #2 to me.) Joint issues started a couple of weeks later. I would wake up stiff and achy all over and it took a while to get moving. The worst though was that every time I would stand up from a chair I would get pains in my knees and hips. When I found myself groaning every time I stood up, I started taking Aleve and that has quieted pretty much all joint issues except the stiffness in the morning. I started walking a lot and that helps both my joints and my mood.
I am having sleep issues. The Aromasin makes me feel antsy and that gives me problems getting to sleep. The fact that I live on the east coast and have to travel every other week to the west coast for work makes sleep issues worse. I have a Rx for Ambien but do not want to take it unless I really need it.
I started on Lexapro a couple of weeks before Aromasin so I have not had the depression issues you mentioned. But I have to say my inner bi**h has been released and I really don't care
.I agree with you on the Tamoxifen. I declined it. I can try another AI if I decide this one is too difficult but I will do without rather than take Tamoxifen.
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Hey April - oh my! Life on Aromasin not going too well ugh:(
Discuss with MO. Could any of this be SEs from the short intense rad protocol that you did?
Also, are you taking a generic...can you try another it could be reaction to the filler or just the real thing no generic.
I've found that exercise...walking dancing weightlifting yoga qi gong have helped. I've minimal SEs and yes at 95% I'm going to do this.
Schedule date night and start with massage...buy some KY lube...just do it. Sounds crazy but yes while it seems like way to much right now...we gotta get our groove back...many ways to enjoy each other...just say yes:). After all we are hot ladies:) just don't squeeze my girl ha!
And don't hate me...we've come too far together April. At worst close your eyes and paint the ceiling beige...life is gonna get better.
(((Hugs)))
Cindy0 -
I have a question for all of you. Has anyone experienced a salty taste in their mouth or on the lips while on aromasin?
Shortly after I went on aromasin I was given another medication and it seemed after the start of this other medication this darn salt taste presented itself. I assumed the taste was a result of the other med but I am now off that drug and I continue to experience this and I began to wonder if it could be the aromasin. It is so annoying - have lost desire for food as it tastes like I have spilled the salt shaker over everything.
Anyone else with this problem?
Marianne
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Mary there are so many side efects from these damn pills--all I want is salt--really bad it's rediculous so I don't know but u can certainly ask u'r Dr.
April u have to kick up some meds--u might be in aftershock and if so it's time to talk to a counselor and get meds that will help--if u'r taking one now it's not working and I hate that u'r feeling so sad all the time--I use the word sad but it's much more than that, I know. Please talk to someone about this and listen to Cindy---it's a bad time for u and u can't do it alone.
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Hello, Im sorry if I may be repeating anything above but I have been on Arimidex for over one year now and I have neropathy bottom of my feet and now my bones hurt everywhere??? I have lower back pain, my wrists and fingers hurt, my knees hurt, I feel like I am witteling away.. is this normal? Not sure if I should change meds to Femera or Fareston? Help?!
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Plus major major HOT flashes every 5 MINUTES!!
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B123, this thread is about Aromasin. Are you on Arimidex? I have heard, from my MO, that Aromasin has less SEs than the other two Als.
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Oh, Im sorry, didnt realize that.. I will read on the Aromasin, if it doesnt effect the bones, maybe I can switch! Thank you
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It would be good to check into that. Unlike many on this thread I have had only very minor issues with Aromasin. Hope you will also, if you switch!
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Hello B123,
I had to switch from Arimidex to Aromasin. The SE's were horrble. But now after a year on Aromasin, I am back in the same boat. I'm not switching anymore. What's the point.0 -
Just a little add on---every bone in my body hurts --I have degenertive disc stuff, scoliosis and severe arthritic pain, neurapathey etc--been on aromasin talked to the Dr. in length and I might as well stay where I am cuz it's not going to resolve--I started PT well tha had to stop my colin started winding towards my liver and is moving my liver into my ribs--so who knows why--no one have to have surgery. I don't have a clue what any of this does to our bodies bt I don't think much of it is good for a lot of us.
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Srbl62, the point is to keep us alive! Of course if one cannot tolerate the SEs then it's a question of quality over quantity of life. That's an individual decision.
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Camillegal - I hate that you are in so much pain. I hope you can find something that will help.
B123 - I switched from arimidex to aromasin because of eye SEs. Didn't make a difference in that, but I did have the joint aches and pain switch locations. On arimidex my pain was mainly in my hands. Very intense and problematic for me. On aromasin the pain is in my ankle and hip. For a short while in my knee. I'm able to control it with aspirin, my preference. My MO would allow me to switch to which ever AI I wished, but I've read that aromasin is the best of the three. I'd rather have pain in my lower body, than my hands, so I'll stay on this one.
Try OTC pain meds. I can take 1 -2 tablets of aspirin a day. Sometimes I don't need any. Just had nipple reconstructive surgery and took time release tylenol and it was great in controling joint pain at full strength, but didn't do much for my nipple pain.
We are on these drugs for so long that trying each one until you find the most tolerable is worthwhile.
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Yorkie I agree all these SE's are worth it if it's going to help, it's just nice to complain sometime--it's good for the soul. LOL
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Of course it is Cami! Even though I don't complain about Aromasin much, you should hear me ranting about other stuff in my life!
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Yorkiemom,
I meant, what's the point of me switching again. I might complain but I will continue to take my meds. I was stage 3C. Every little bit helps. Sorry for the confusion.0 -
I
m sorry, I'm laughing cuz Yorkie I know u so I certainly didn't mean something screwy with it and by now u should know me all I do is complain about this and yet I'm still on it now. hahaha
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(((srbl62 and cami))), we're all in this crazy crap shoot game together!!
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Doxie and SRBl62, seems like Aromosan is favored? I tried Fareston and LOVED it, it was so simple and pain free... but it cost me $150/mo.. ouch! I changed insurances so I want to see if they will pay it? I dont know a whole lot about it but I have heard/read that it replaces Tamoxifen? ( I did terrible on Tamox), so afraid to keep switching??
Thank you ladies, and sorry for all of our pains, but thank god for life!
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B123,
I'm post-meno so AIs are typically prescribed for us. My PR is very low and I have polyps in my uterus, so I want to avoid taking Tamoxifen or any other SERM that is typically prescribed to pre and peri meno women. They would otherwise be tempting to avoid the bone loss associated with AIs.
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Beach walker, you described how aromasin is for me exactly. That one day was great, but today my walk down the stairs was like yours. My MO offered to switch me to Femara and see how it is, but I already had similar side effects on Arimedex and I don't want to get any NEW side effects so I decided to stick with this for now. I wonder why morning is so tough? What does it do in our bodies during the night?
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Lisa I think while we're sleeping it knows so it creeps thru our bodies and atacks whatever it want cuz as we get moving there is more relief. But over time (for me) I think it has done permanent damage or maybe the damage was coming anyway who knows anything anymore. It just seemed like it got worse and worse and with scans they got worse each time and before I never had these problems in any way so again who knows, but I think most are the same to our bodies anyway.
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I just think that killing the estrogen is really bad for us. For our hearts, for our bones and whatever else protects us. That is why after menopause so many women have heart problems - it is due to the lack of estrogen.
I already have severe osteoporosis as you all know by now! 40 percent bone loss and that's for a 77 year old woman not 40 percent for a younger person. When I had my first bone density test the doctor actually laughed. She couldn't believe how bad it was. At the time I was 70 and she said my bones were that of an 85 year old. Great!
So when I had all the other SEs from the Aromasin (including increasing Afibs which as you all know can cause a stroke) I decided to quit. Left a message for the onc. He wanted to discuss it in person. But why pay for another visit when I had made up my mind? I pay 20 percent and the visits were very expensive.
I now have my internist or cardio do my bloodwork and so far have scheduled my own mammograms (not that I trust them as 30 years of them did NOT catch either of my cancers)
Sorry, most of you already know all this, but I'm repeating as there may be newbies here. The lesson is: You MUST check your own breasts on a monthly basis.
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April, I understand about the depression except it seems like so much more. I have had depression all my life and been on meds off and on for more years then I like to count but this has been different, so much worse. I've been off the aromasin for over a month now and I have to say emotionally it is getting better. I'm not waking every morning thinking about how much better I and everyone else would be if I would off myself and not caring if I live or died because of the depression and pain. This is so totally not me as I've always been very active and always looking for a new adventure. Like you I'm ER+ 98% and know (now that I'm thinking clearer) that I need to take this med but quality is a big issue.
I'm certainly not recommending you go off and recommend you see you MO. I've tried to get in to see mine but it seems he is just too busy to see me. They are suppose to contact me this month for my 6 mo appointment and still haven't heard from them. If they forget me again this will be the second time they have and maybe it will be time for me to look for another doctor.
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I know I look like the thread cheerleader for Aromasin, but come on, Als save lives! If you can't take them I totally understand, but for the majority of women SEs are minimal, and statistically prolong their lives. No, of course there are no guarantees, but I, for one, don't like playing Russian roulette (especially since Aromasin is easy on me!). If I were suffering horribly, like most of you dear sisters on this thread, then I might stop taking the drug. I guess I'm putting this out there for newbies, who tend to get very, very scared by horror stories, not just about Als, but radiation and even surgery. I don't want them risking their lives when an Al might not give them any trouble. ((((HUGS)))) to all!
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Well said Yorkiemom!
We newbies need to know that for a large percentage HT- Aromasin will be a non event!
Am more fearful of recurrence and mets than HT.
Ask for a month break from active tx than begin AI ready for success.
My mantra is pound those bones each day...pill&moving go hand in hand walk, lift weights, dance, play, just move...increases our good upbeat endorphins too!
Moving into 3rd month...so 3/36 or 3/60 a step at a time:)))0
