For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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MarieK - yep, vaginal atrophy can hurt even without sex.
For me, the pain didn't appear until I'd been on Anastrozole for over a year. Then the SEs just increased a gazillion percent. I knew I had significant vaginal atrophy, because I had spotting from torn fragile tissues... just from walking, according to the OB/GYN.
You do want to rule out other causes... AIs are famous for increasing the odds of bladder and yeast infections. In my case, though, no infection.... just burning, searing pain. Not fun at all.
If it happens again, see your doc to make sure it's not an infection, then check with your MO to see what you can take in the way of lubricants to reduce inflammation. Some of us are allowed to use a small amount of estrogen cream, locally applied. Others have used different creams and ointments.
My MO suggested something called V-Magic, by Medicine Mama's Apothecary. She told me that even if you're not having sex, you need to keep those tissues lubricated.
Hope it was just a flukey thing, and doesn't bother you any more!0 -
Timbukto, you crack me up. Fake hips = no possible hip mets. Like your attitude. Always see the positive! Thanks to everyone for your support. Hugs to all and have a good week!0 -
Cross posted, new study:
A self-directed walking program shows promise in easing joint stiffness in older women who experienced these symptoms while taking aromatase inhibitor therapy for breast cancer, according to research presented this week at the American College of Rheumatology Annual Meeting in San Dieg0 -
hi ladies, I am new here, first post. I had a lumpectomy and three nodes taken out in August and in Sept 2013 had Brachy therapy internal radiation. My Onchotype came back 10% risk of cancer returning if I follow protocol. No Chemo for me , Thank God !
I started on Arimidex (generic) about three weeks ago.
I am hot a lot and have the hot flashes but my main complaint is a lot of headaches and feeling cranky, easily agitated and easily angered.
It seems that I am more sensitive to caffeine now , has anybody else found this ? I mean it makes me feel hyper alert and gives me a hot flash especially if I have a second cup.
Do I have to stop drinking coffee now ?
I tried to skim over this thread but it is very long, so sorry if these are old questions.
Do the SEs sometimes mellow out in time ?
This is my first long term med ever and I am not happy about it but don't want to hear the C word again so I
Am willing to follow protocol .0 -
Welcome Carlanna, you will fit in here just fine--you're having some of the same SE as many of us. The AI is my first long term med as well--don't have the coffee sensitivity but everything else you said is soooooooooo familiar. Sounds like your numbers are great. Welcome aboard and do share what your experience is as the months go by.
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I just got back from my onco check up. I told him that this, the third go round with Anastrazole, the symptoms are not the same. Not as severe.
He said that sometimes just going off and then going on again makes the SE's better. the body adjusts, just as it adjusts to menopause, eventually. and in the meantime, the days, weeks and months are ticking off and before you know it, it will be 5 years. So hang in there. I think I see a light at the end of the tunnel. And most of all, as you say, we never want to hear the "C" word ever again! That's the most important thing!0 -
Never thought about it before but this is my first long-term med too. I continue to have hot flashes and insomnia problems but I was already experiencing those issues due to menopause for a few years prior to BC diagnosis. The only SE that I think I can tie directly to Anastrazole right now is my feet being stiff and sore after inactivity. Walking around clears it up.0 -
Tim, glad you have a solution! lordie but happy it is working now0 -
Coffee would give me a hot flash, but since I absolutely HAD to have a cup to start the day, I bought a small tower fan and turned it on while I drank the essential cup....
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Thank you all for your replies.
Boy , I love my coffee but have decided to try to get by with just that one cup in the morning. I'm not writing it in stone though......just gonna try , besides I'm sure it is not good for my bones anyway.
I already had trouble sleeping before BC so maybe cutting back on the the coffee will help a little there especially if I cut out the afternoon cup.
My AC broke yesterday and service techs weren't able to fix it so they r coming back today........not a good time for the AC to break. LOL I live in South Florida, the high is 90 today !
2 days so far without headaches.....hope it's a trend !0 -
Carlanna.....hoping you get that AC fixed soon!!! That sounds brutal.
I know I'm a broken record here, but exercise is part of the sleep equation. Can you walk in the early AM??? When I lived north of NYC, it helped me with summer heat too. We didn't have AC either.
90 degrees reminds me not to complain of the days of fog we have had here.....wonderful sleeping weather. - Claire0 -
Hi Claire
Well I hate walking in the heat but have been trying to get to the Gym a minimum of 3 days a week now and am going to increase that to at least five days a week.
I've had trouble sleeping for years so I usually take a natural sleep supplement and a half pill of an over the counter sleeping medication.0 -
Anybody get restless leg syndrome on Arimidex? I'm getting woken up by some strange thing with wiggly legs...
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Pbrain (love your user name btw.....it's exactly how I feel many days!) - there has just recently been some talk of RLS on either this thread of the other Arimidex SE thread I follow.0 -
It's 'Topic: Arimidex - Coping with the SE's'0 -
I used to get restless leg, no sure but it seems to have stopped. I know I do a lot more stretching of my legs and I have been attributing that as why it stopped.
stopped as strangely as it came on but never connected it to the meds0 -
So, what do you think of my curly, bushy , colored reddish brown hair??? It's growing like a weed - sooner or later I'll get it cut...
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5LuvBugs, your hair color is beautiful and what wonderful thick hair to work with. I am really behind you in growth since I completed chemo in June. Do have hair growth and it is brown with a little gray. My husband loves the color but I am not so sure. I have always been blonde. Hair sure is important to us gals.0 -
I had RLS before the AI. Some say it's caused by neuropathy. Had that too before chemo.0 -
LuvBug - I seriously love your hair..you look wonderful!0 -
It looks great! So thick! I wish my hair was that thick!0 -
5luvbugs - you look awesome. I'm in awe of everyone who had to deal with hair loss due to chemo. Makes me feel a bit like a wimp since I didn't have to deal with that trauma. When I think about the possibility of losing my hair I realize how utterly vain I really am (I miss the emoticons!).0 -
pbrain, I have some kind of RLS or something at least once a week. I just fidget and can't seem to stay still or get comfortable until the wee hours of the morning (like 3am)
5luvbugs, wow you are way ahead of me in the hair regrowth department. It looks great! Mine is only about an inch and a half long and dark. I used to be a blond so this is a change for me. I was really hoping to get "grown up" hair out this whole process, but it came in just as fine and thin as it always has been, just much darker.0 -
Girls I went on my 2nd Making Strides for Breast Cancer walk on Saturday, it felt sooooo awesome to do the Survivor Walk. No Arimidex side effects were going to stop me .We then walked on the boardwalk at the Atlantic ocean in Ocean City NJ - as you can see, my whole family .except my son who was working, walked with me - it was so uplifting and I am so happy to be a 1 year survivor - Love you girls and Keep smiling!!!
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beautiful famiily! So the boardwalk has been restored? I was there for the first time last year, just before the hurricaine.0 -
Timbuk Only a small portion of the Ocean City boardwalk was destroyed - North Jersey got it really bad...
Bren your hair will grow, remember I finished chemo last January and didn't start growing hair until summer - about 6 months, it's now 10 months later....
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Great picture! (cool emoticon)
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Great family picture! and really you look great! Since I live so close, I should have walked too.. maybe next year.0 -
Great picture luvbugs. Glad you had so much support on your walk!0 -
It's true lovebug. To have that many people in your family turn out ...you are a lovebug!0
