For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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Thanks, Ruth
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I have been on Arimidex since July. I was on Tamoxifen from May 2007- May 2012. Between May 2012 and July 2013 I lost 35 of the 50 pounds I gained since beginning my treatment with chemo in 2006. I've already gained back 7 lbs. Is there any way to be on Arimidex and not gain weight? Is there a viable natural alternative? What kind of doctor would I see if I wanted to try a more natural approach?
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having nothing to do with the AL but a pal of mine recently went to a nuitritionist for help lowering her cholesteral. She was given a very sound sounding diet, got cholesteral numbers down 30 points in 30 days and she also lost 12 pounds!
maybe try that approach? my pal could not handle statin meds and had failed on all her diet attempts so maybe?
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proudtospin-the raisins help with joint pain..arthiritis pain
Paula- I wish I knew what to do about the weight gain issue.. I was following nutrisystem and doing ok until about the 4th week of this medicine -now its been 2 months and I can't lose and am slowly gaining -mostly in my stomach.. its driving me nuts!
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thanks Nancy, I do not seem to have joint or muscles aches, but I do a heck of a lot stretching when I do get an ache and so far guess I am lucky
although the raisins do sound tasty!
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Did the ride....but not quite my age as was 60 miles. I am good on that as Day 1 of the Seattle-to-Portland was 112 miles, and Day 2 was 93. This ride kicks butt, and mine was talking to me big time by Mile 20. Hurts to sit down now, and this is after a bath.
I didn't quite make it up all the hills, but did all the ones in Bellevue for the first time. My time was a lot faster too..... ~one hour shorter than last year. So I really am stronger.
Keeping weight off......well guess what I was doing today. The other thing I try to remember is eat enough protein early in the day. We still need more long after active treatment is over, and not getting enough is one pattern I see with women on the boards. Enough protein keeps you from doing things such as eating three mini pastries and two salted caramels which I did post ride. Fine to do after cycling 60 miles, but you get the drift that daily may not be the best idea.
Catching up on everything....including a tasty dinner and early night later. Suspect I shall sleep just fine
- Claire0 -
My weight is staying pretty stable even with taking a 6-week post-exchange break from working out and not being very vigilant with my diet during that time (a whole bag of Kraft caramel baking bits gone in 2 days, anyone??). While I haven't gained weight, I am getting very SOFT
! And yes, I should have at least been walking miles and miles because I certainly have had the ability to do that. And I should have been doing crunches and lunges and squats, but having permission from my doctor to be a slug for 6 weeks was apparently just too tempting......I have been a Slug with a capital 'S'!! Hoping for the all-clear to resume my normal group class and jogging when I see my PS this week.0 -
Ruth, do the raisins and gin have to be in fridge while during the 7-10 days? or just after the gin is soaked into them? I think i will try this and also a friend of mine wants to try them. Thanks in advance.
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My mom & aunt always kept theirs in the fridge from the start, but when I looked up the 'official' recipe it doesn't sound like they need to be for the soaking period.
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Well, I gave up after 3 AIs(all of them) after 13 mos of feeling like I was 100 for the first 3 hours of the day, waking up in pain 4 out of seven nights, and getting trigger thumb.coming down the stairs holding the railing and wall, one step at a time, every morning. So my MO is switching me to tamoxifen. I pray that I can tolerate it better. However, none of them made me lose my any of my thick mop of growing-in curls! ;-)
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Tamoxifin has been brought up to me but my main onco thinks it's not for me.
I just saw "The Butler". At the very end, when he is an old man, he walks the way I walk now.
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I get it, Timbuktu! Same here
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Timbuk did you have chemo? Saw my Onc last week and was told the tingling in my hand and feet was probably neuropathy from the chemo...Oh and did you do that bike ride? I might go buy a new bike - one that I ( 5'1") can touch ground with so I won't fall and break a bone...Any suggestions of what type?
Went to Dick's with DH but didn't get my new gels - will go back when I have more time..
I am in Cape May NJ today and am going to get dressed and go take a walk on the boardwalk - did 1.5 mile last time - nothing compaired to our cheerleader Claire but it works for me. Practicing for the "Making Strides" walk in Ocean City next month....
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5LuvBug: Have a look at the Biria bicycles. They are hard to find and pricey ($500) but I love mine. The frame is designed for very easy on and off and so you will feel very safe. Not a good bike design if you will be going over a lot of speed bumps or up over curbing, but for routine flat surface riding, its a best bet for a starter bike.
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when I bought my last bike (Cannondale hybrid) I tested many dif bikes at dif stores. When I got on the Cannondale, I just knew it was right for me
do some testing is my thought so you get one that fits you
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Yes, luvbugs I had chemo but I did not experience the numbness and tingling until recently.
Who knows what's causing what? We had a dowpour so I could not get out on my bike.
Went to the movies instead.
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Agree on testing. I remember when I upgraded to my first road bike, that I couldn't ride the Specialized at all, but that the Bianchi was just wonderful. One thing was the different shifters....I have Campagnolo, and the rest of the world has Shimano. Mine fit my hands. A major important point.
Bicycles come in different sizes and designs, even among those that look almost identical.
Unless you have a road bike, I recommend Kevlar tires. You may need to use what comes with a new bicycle, but Kevlar ones are worth the extra $ in that almost puncture proof. Not important with a mountain bike, but important with anything that doesn't have a thick tread. Changing tires is the pits, and getting stranded is even worse. (Even if I do have a couple of good stories.)
I am just a bit sore today. Lower back muscles are a bit stiff, and butt still sore. So are the seat contact points. But I feel great. I may do one more event.....Tour de Kitsap, if I have the time and the weather is good. I haven't done the lower peninsula in many years, and it's a gorgeous ride. It's in 2 weeks. I will do the 42 mile loop which will leave me trained and fit.
Now....on to a very busy week. - Claire
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Hello everyone,
I'm back for an update on my ongoing back pain. Home today, using a vacation day. Ha, some day off can hardly move. To bring you all up to speed, starting having low back pain in late August. Assumed I had just overdone it doing some gardening and pain would lesson, subside over a few days. It did not. Seemed to worse and localize on my left hip with dull aching pain radiating randomly down left leg. So assuming I had strained myself pretty seriously and was experiencing sciatic nerve pain, saw my family doctor. While I had mentioned the SE of anastrozole with regard to hip/back pain, he agreed it was most likely just a sprain type reaction and prescribed an anti-inflamatory, hydrocodone for pain as needed, and referred me to physical therapist. Saw physical therapist which seemed to aggrevate pain level. Returned to family doctor upon completion of 10 days of the anti-inflamatory meds with no relief. He then sent me for Xrays to rule out any spinal damage and prescribed a 10-day regiment of prednisone. Xrays revealed mild lumbar spine spondylosis, which for my age-57- is not uncommon. I am about to complete the final 3 days dosage of the prednisone, and the pain remains the same. The pain is dull ache in left hip with dull ache down left leg randomly, but not sharp like sciatic nerve. As I am coming up on completion of year 1 of anastrozole, I am wondereing if the pain is in fact a SE of this drug.
My question obviously would be: Should I now return to onc for his advice regarding the hip pain? Obviously having undergone the above with family doctor and having no relief I would assume I am suffering from SE. My next appointment with onc isn't until 10/24, but I can't wait that long. I'm also due for bone density scan on 9/17, so would like to see these results as well as I am osteopenic in spine and neck.
Appreciate any and all advice from the group as to what options have worked for them in similar circumstances. I will be getting appointment with onc as soon as I can get in.
Appreciate your responses. Thanks everyone!
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Yes, get an earlier appointment.
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I used to have loads of hip pain, still do occasionally but there are tons of stretches that help hip pain hugely
yoga and lots of others so maybe try them? can't hurt and may help
my right hip was achie on Thursday so I did my stretch, knee up on the desk so really cute~~ then did my usual stuff at the gym over weekend, no pain now
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Sherry--i just returned from the health club where i sat in the whirlpool for about half an hour to treat my dull lower back pain, which had been dx'd as both sciatica and a mild hip bursitis. By all means see your oncologist earlier than October if for no other reason than to get peace of mind. Other than applying heat, doing stretches and other physical therapy routines, i've gotten a lot of relief from taking gabapentin, 300 mg tid, until pain subsides. As for anastrozole, i only took it for a short time before intense joint pain and fatigue got so overwhelming that i had to discontinue. (This episode of sciatica was triggered by a new, hard leather bicycle seat that hasn't yet been broken in!) Hope you find relief and that the cause is something simple and mechanical!!
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Timbuktu - had to laugh when I read your post about "The Butler"...
There is an elderly gentleman in our neighborhood who walks his little dog every day. Each time I see him, I think "There's something so familiar about him...."
Well, I figured it out this weekend when I met him at the communal mailbox - he walks all hunched over exactly like I do!!!!
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Hi everyone, I have a question-I am two weeks out from finishing radiation. The first week I was totally drained, last week I caught the flu and was still feeling drained. This week flu symptoms about gone, just have some leftover congestion and a little cough still, but feeling better.
Concerned about when to start the hormone therapy, I called the MO office and the nurse said to wait until I felt better from the flu, which I knew, but I had really called to ask about Arimidex versus Anastrozole, because the Dr wrote the Rx for Arimidex but stated that the substitution was acceptable. Nurse stated to try the Anastrozole first, and if I had too many SE, then I could switch to Arimidex. I can take her suggestion, or fill the prescription for Arimidex. Any advice would be appreciated.
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Claire, there's NO Cellulite on Your butt or thighs -
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Try the Anastrozole first. It is generic and cheaper. Once it was available, I switched from Arimidex to it and didn't notice any difference at all.
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Sherry
Get into see your onc, then find a Good pain management doc. I know you don't want another doc in your phone book, but a good PM is gold! S/he can assess the pain, recommend treatment and meds that a PCP won't.0 -
Joan, that's encouraging.
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Rachel if your insurance will cover it, tell the pharmacist you want the Brand name Arimidex not generic... I am finding less hot flashes and less "grumpy" with the brand - I do still have joint issues (ankles, shoulders,elbows, knees, toes, fingers_ and hip) but I also have arthritis so I don't know what's from what... Aleve helps .... some people say it's the fillers used in the drug, an others like Ruth didn't notice a difference so I guess it's an individual thing...
Feel Better girl....
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Trisha~~Did you ever start taking Claritin with your arimidex? I don't get hot flashes, but I didn't get them with menopause either. I'm stiff on rising from my bed or chair, but walking through the house takes care of that. No real joint pain yet, and I do have degenerative joint disease, but so far Tylenol takes care of that.
Paula0 -
Luvbugs, My insurance does not cover Arimidex but I am considering the Arimidex Direct online company that charges $40 per month unless I hear negative things about this company.
Thanks for your suggestion
Rachel
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