For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
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Sorry I've been MIA. Out of town and trying to catch up.
Timbuktu as far as your surgeon. I believe at one time and in most cases even today your surgeon was correct. But things change. I know my insurance pays more for what they call preventative meds but didn't consider Anastrozole preventative when I was first prescribed. It was more costly to go through them than buy them at Costco off insurance. This year the insurance changed. The out of pocket price (before I met my deductible) went from $95 to $15 a month! Granted I know my insurance will not pay for the name brand if there's a generic available.
I think the change in both cases is insurance is realizing that it's cheaper to keep people on this drug then treat them for metastatic cancer. They also realize that it's been tough to keep all of us on it for 5 years so what ever they can do to keep us on it and not get mets is a cost benefit to them. (They really don't care about OUR health just their pockets).
BTW have we met? I can't keep keep tract of screen names and real names. You know I live in Lincoln Park.
OK so now I"m past page 99. 3 more pages to go.
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I think all the ALs are now generic and that is a huge difference in cost
however, I am currently dealing with an allergy med that went generic and it stopped working for me! Easy to tell on an allergy med but sort of hard to tell in advance on an AL if the generic is still working
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I take Claritin with my morning arimidex. Being a little short on money this week, I bought the Walmart brand of Loratidine. I'm hoping it works as well for me as Claritin does.
Anyone have experience with this?
Paula0 -
Paula...thanks for sharing all the things you do which help to alleviate pain and other assorted miseries. I have learned so much from you. Hope you are doing well. I will be put on Arimidex at some time post radiation later during this year.
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Well joining the ranks of anastrozole users. Got the generic just now and start tomorrow. As my siggy shows, been there few things in last 2 months, oncotpye score of a crazy 2, so no chemo. Having bone density test on Friday for a baseline, and going to genetic counselor Oct 1. Hope all goes well, and few SE
Been kind of reading this thread awhile- any basic suggestions for me starting out? Sounds like joint pain and hot flashes are the main things. I take low dose Zoloft already for hot flashes, and half a zzquil dose and melatonin to help with sleeping.
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Keep moving, keep moving, keep moving!
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Well today I treated myself to my first hair cut and color since I lost it all last November!! So glad it's back....
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Thanks Ruth! The MO said excercise, and weight resistance especially is good. I try to walk/jog, and I have to start lifting my teeny weights again. Start PT for LE avoidance and ROM on Thursday so Ill see what exercises she has me do too. Started the anastrazole this morning. 6 hrs in- I feel fine
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I just read that the Army of Women is looking for participants for a study about the effectiveness of accupuncture for joint pain relating to hormone therapy in women with early-stage breast cancer. Perhaps some free accupuncture if you are dealing with skeletal issues on Arimidex and you happen to live near one of the participating clinics?
http://www.armyofwomen.org/current/view?grant_id=717
The Army of Women is an organization affiliated with the Dr. Susan Love Research Foundaiton. It looks for volunteers for many studies being done by many different organizations. Some require physical participation, but some are surveys you can fill out at home. All the studies have requirements specific to the study being done.
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If you want an exercise support group; check out the Fitness Forum. There is a 'Getting Back into Exercise' thread, and a 'Lets Post Our Daily Exercise' thread (the one I use). Both with fun, active women in all stages of treatment and beyond.
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You look great 5LuvBugs! What a milestone for you
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LuvBug - you look so attractive.. I can't wait till I have enough hair to have bangs!
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5luvbugs, that is awesome! I have an appt to get my first cut the week before Thanksgiving. It should be long enough by then.
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5LuvBugs I've always thought you were a cutie with or without hair.
aviva5675 Just had to say "hi" to a local gal. Have you checked out the Illinois ladies thread?
I agree with Ruth, keep moving. I too do strength training and power walking. I started with cans (kidney beans in my case). They weight 1lb each. I now use 7 & 10 lbs. I have minor LE in my left arm. The walking keeps the fluids going too and that's good for LE. Be sure to listen to your physical therapist though. You don't want to overdue. I worked up slowly.
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I've been dealing with fatigue for some months now. When I saw my MO in June she said that my declining hemoglobin MIGHT be a factor in the fatigue, but she didn't follow up on it. Now she has retired and I had my first appointment with my new MO, who is a hemotologist as well as an oncologist. She has started me on iron supplements and I'm going back in on Friday to review the other results of my additional blood work that she ordered. She is concerned about possible internal bleeding and wants to figure out where to look first for the problem. I feel like I'm in good hands now.
I got her to order a new Vitamin D test. I started on the 50,000 units of Vitamin D once a week 6 months ago. My D levels rose from 30 to 55 in the first 3 months, and now have stayed at 54 with the weekly D supplement. I'm wondering if a higher blood level would be better and how to get there.
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virginiab,
I got my vit D level up to 96 by taking 4,000 iu per day plus what ever was also in my calcium supplement and food. Needless to say I cut down to 2,000 iu for summer. My lowest Vit D level before BC DX was 30.
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I am annoyed to say the least! I have another UTI, the 3rd since starting this devil pill. Does anybody know if there is a connection? I think so, my PCP doesn't. This has to stop.
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Spookie, sorry and I totally understand the recuring UTIs
I get so many my head spins, I have discovered that most antibiotics given for other things (like a sinus infection) will trigger a UTI! go figure that out! I do see a urologist and have asked her WHY? she did once give me a lo dose antibiotic for 90 days and that seemed to keep me good for almost a year. That is major for me!
course right now, I have a sinus thing going on and trying to deal with out an antibiotic~
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I haven't had ab's for almost a year. My glucose is in control. PCP said if this keeps up he'd send me for u/s of kidneys. That would be a waste of time and $.
He's not the one running to throne, leaking and hurting. Grrrrr0 -
Have you tried taking a probiotic - once a day for a week or so - when I get anti-biotics (very rarely) I take probiotics along with them (actually 8 hours after) - haven't had any problems since I started that regimen - not sure the probiotic will work now but can't hurt. Good Luck!
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Sandy~~I do something similar. When on antibiotics I take acidophilus. I also took it during chemo to avoid thrush of the mouth. My mouth was fine all through chemo.
Paula0 -
Hi Iago or is it lago? Been on the Illinois board, saved to my favs!
Happy to be here and not having to peruse the chemo boards.
Still dont sleep well, not from uncomfortable from surgery but hot flashes, etc...
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Spookiesmom - I just had a UTI a couple of weeks ago but it's my first since starting the big A in DEcember 2012. Prior to that I only had three in my entire life. One in my 20s, one late 40s and one in August 2012. I've read that UTIs can become more frequent after menopause, too, so that could be part of the reason for my last two.
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Spookiesmom - UTIs are a documented side effect of Anastrozole.
The drug itself does not cause the bacteria to form; but since the AI causes significant vaginal tissue atrophy, the tissues lining your bladder and urethra also become thin and dry, leaving them more susceptible to infection.
The AI can also cause UTI-like symptoms: frequent urination, burning sensations, and incontinence, without any indication of bacteria in a urinalysis.
The answer, unfortunately, is to stay hydrated and keep the urine clear (not so great when ya gotta go suddenly) or to use a small amount of estrogen cream topically if your MO will allow it. Many do, as topical creams do not enter the bloodstream like an oral estrogen would.
Hope you feel better soon!
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Thank you Blessings! I knew somebody would know. He did the dipstick said there was lots of white cells.
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Drink tons of cranberry juice if you think you are getting UTI. Drink tons of fluids all the time (Yes, I live in the bathroom!).
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Hi Ladies!
I'll be joining your group soon. MO is taking me off Tamoxifen and switching me to Arimidex (just noticed it's the generic).
I started the Tamoxifen June 2010 (although chemo put me into meno fall 2009). I thought I would stay on it for 5 years like everyone else but last fall stuff starting happening and after a bunch of tests and scans it was discovered that I had a "lesion" (3cm) at the top of my femur.
I didn't have any pain - just a mild ache in my knee and hip from time to time - but it was biopsied and for sure a met from my BC.
I had 10 rounds of radiation the beginning of July - all the while still taking the Tamoxifen - and was expecting just a follow up visit today with MO and possibly a scan to see if rads worked.
I was caught off guard when MO suggested I switch and even asked me which AI I'd like to try. I had no idea so I'm starting with this one and we'll see how it goes.
With the Tamoxifen I had headaches, vision problems, ear aches, hearing loss, excess fluid (everywhere ears, nose, vag-jay-jay), bone aches (jaw, knees, feet, hands, ribs), insomnia and dizziness. Not all at once but ongoing over the 3 years. It seems like a lot but I continued taking it so I guess I kind of got used to it!
I'll be off everything for a week to "reboot" my system and I'm curious to see if the SE's go away before I start the Arimidex.
I was not expecting to hear about UTI's (I hate them!!!) but I guess I should read the drug insert and see what else is in store for me!
Thanks for all the tips and advice!
Marie
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Most people (not all, of course) I know who have switched from tamoxifin to an Al have lots less, and lots less severe SEs, on the Als. You hopefully will be one of them!
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Thanks Ruth! I will continue to follow this group for advice and suggestions....
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aviva5675 it's lago with a small "L" I get asked that a lot on these boards. I'm literate enough to think of Iago
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