For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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Well, add me in with the painful tootsies group. "Seriously discouraged" really sums it up! Once upon another lifetime, I loved to walk... distances/exercise/hiking/everywhere... and now I have almost an elderly approach to a tentative placement of each step. aaagh!!
Jazzy... is there yoga directed toward feet that you don't have to have a teacher/mentor for? I'm waaay out in the country, and after work am ready to collapse... (So glad you're so active. Wish I had your determination. I need to work on my attitude.)
hugs0 -
Skittle-yes, there are some things you can do that don't require a yoga teacher that you can do daily. Let me PM you tomorrow when I am working from home and have more time with some things that may help you. Off to the med onc this am!0 -
Well today I go to the MO before my last H infusion. I guess I will find out how upset he is going to be that I am only doing 1/2 doses of Arimidex.0 -
TinaT Yes those drugs for long period of time will make your bones brittle. That's why I'm so upset about going on it. I'm only 52! My mom was well into her 60's when she got osteo, also wasn't as active, didn't strength train etc as I do. Pisses me off!
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Skittle, you brought up something that I had not put into words, The uncertain step. When I was on chemo I fell flat on my face on the sidewalk. Broke my two front teeth, luckily not down to the nerve. But ever since I'm just a little bit afraid to walk and definitely afraid to ride my bike. I know I should be excercizing but I just feel a little bit off, Now that I think about it, the treadmill may be the solution. But it's not as much fun. I also used to love to walk. And when I'm speaking to my husband I like to walk with him as I can hang on to his arm and feel secure. I have never admitted this before. I appreciate your bringing it up.0 -
I started feeling unbalanced about a year ago, I asked my trainer to help me with my balance, he was great and changed our time together to emphasis my balance. I can really tell a dif, still a bit unbalanced but not like before. I plan on keeping up with his suggestions0 -
Thanks Nancy for the thoughts on the facial hair, electric shaver here I come!0 -
Timbuktu - I have a balance disorder, and after a spectacular fall off my mountain bike, I never got on it again. Then DH got me a Miami Sun adult trike - I LOVE it. I can fly down the bike path without any fear of falling. Plus, we can pack all sorts of crap in the back basket.
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Thanks blessings. I have thought about those trikes but have a few reservations. l. price? 2. weight, is must take more effort to pedal? 3. Narrow streets and bike paths. I imagine not having enough room, Falling off curbs, etc. But apparently it's working for you, which is encouraging. It does look as though you could go shopping in it, which would be lovely. I have bad knees and nothing works for them like biking!0 -
Hello, can someone tell me if Arimidex can increase AC1 levels? I googled and it says that it can.
However I would really love to hear from people first hand and not from statistics.
thank you so much,
Mena0 -
Diabetes? I developed it after being on Anastrazole but my onco swears up and down it had nothing to do with it.
My A1C went from the 6s to 7.8. And I'm on metformin for the breast cancer!0 -
Great bike Blessings!
Well the MO was not as upset with me taking only a 1/2 pill of Arimidex as I thought he would be. Actually he said I could continue with the half pill until March. Why March? Because then we will be heading onto spring and since I already tend to have SADD issues during the winter months anyway, and felt like I was heading into depression on the whole pill, he didn't have a problem with it. He is actually the one who suggested it! He thinks that a few months on the half pill will help my body adjust to the decrease in estrogen and hopefully I will not have the issues I previously had. Only time will tell
My white count was down to 3.1 though. Not sure what is going on with that.0 -
Bren, glad you got support from dr. It's always intimidating (for me) to have an appt and not know what will be said...
Tim, sorry you had such a serious fall. I find myself cranky with pain issues, and you have such a good attitude.
Blessings, wow. What a bike. Looks like fun.
Jazzy, I look forward to your ideas, but know you're super busy. (At the moment I'm feeling encouraged with some success with athletic taping. It has only been a day or two, and it already seems to make a difference.) AND--just changed drug insurance (went with dh plan instead of mine) and poof! It arrives in the mail and is Arimidex... not generic. I am almost giddy in seeing if there's a real se difference! (hope, hope.)
Best wishes to all. Thank you for all advice.0 -
Mena, my A1c hasn't varied but .1 either way.0 -
I have my first meeting at the YMCA for the LIVESTRONG program on Wednsday. If you aren't familiar with the program, it's a FREE 12 week membership for cancer survivors. They are trained to work against lymphedema too, and to give each person individualized training.
I told her, I'm an X-large gal, who walks with a cane, and my goal is to get stronger, have more balance, and get rid of the cane.
Paula0 -
Mena - my AIC levels skyrocketed on Arimidex as did my blood pressure - my oncs wouldn't admit it until I went off the Arimidex and the levels dropped right down to where they should be - that is one of the many reasons I had to give up on the AIs - they are not common se's but they ARE se's.
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Sometimes it seems that each dr is so focused on his specialty that they forget that we are whole people. My father's dr was a cardiologist and when he suffered from terrible chest pains he just did ekg's and wrote it off. Turned out he had a huge ulcer and basically bled to death.
Now, with the bc, it seems the oncos deny that anything else can go wrong. I know that they believe that the bc is the biggest threat, and they are probably right, but they don't know what we're feeling. They seem to discount the se's in an attempt to prevent the recurrence. I suppose if we die of diabetes or a heart attack they will feel successful? I know I read somewhere that all around survival is not increased by the AI's but I asked my onco and he denied that. Anyone else hear that? These are VERY new drugs. Who knows what will come out in another decade or so?0 -
Hello everyone!
I went to see my MO today and am going to be taking an "anastrazole holiday" as I finish the last few pills of this script. We talked about the pain in my feet and he said it is okay to take a break, to see if that improves, and then try it again. So I am going to go off this for a bit, retry it in December and if the foot pain returns, we are switching to Aromosin.
Mena- my A1C hit the borderline definition during my last blood test in Sept. It was elevated last year before BC, but shot way up and my PCP put me on a lower dose (500 mg vs. the normal 1000) of metformin to stabilize the spikes that must be occurring. My fasting blood sugar has been fine each time we have done it. She believes this is related to the A1 drugs, although I have excess pounds and have diabetes in the family so I was maybe heading that direction anyways. I did not talk to my MO about this today, but will when I see him again in a few months. I read somewhere something like 30% of women who have gone through bc treatment end up with diabetes somewhere down the line.
My PCP also put me on a carb restricted diet to help and to loose weight. I started loosing weight, like 8 pounds almost right away, then it went up, now it is coming down again. I know loosing weight after menopause is tough, but the AIs make it even harder. I will be curious to see with my new modified diet and coming off the AIs if the weight starts coming off again.0 -
I have found weight loss to be incredibly difficult on the anastrazole. Of course I'm not excercizing much either, since everything hurts, and that doesn't help the situation. But truly, I can't believe how slowly the weight comes off and how hungry I am.0 -
if you're hungry, munch on non carby things. Pickles, almonds, nuts, olives, veggies with hummus, string cheese. Turkey or chicken wraps. Keep your carbs to 45 or less par meal, 15 for snack. Met will not make you crash.0 -
Spookiesmom if I munched on stuff like pickles, olives, nuts (unless unsalted), cheese etc. I would put on 4+ lbs. Anastrozole had me retaining fluid. I only take two drugs. Anastrozole and a fluid pill. Soon they will have me on a bone building drug thanks again to Anastrozole. (Fluid retention on this drug is not common but is listed as a SE. My PCP told me that).
Air popped popcorn is good. I use a brown lunch back and cover the bottom with loose popcorn. Tape it shut and microwave on high for about 2 minutes. When it doesn't pop much its done. You don't want to burn it. I don't like the regular microwave popcorn because it has all that artificial stuff in it as well as salt. For popcorn recipes with flavor:
Peanut butter popcorn: http://www.thekitchn.com/fall-snacking-p-14558
Spicy chili popcorn: http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-10-05/features/sc-food-0930-tailgate-snacks-20111005_1_popcorn-chili-powder-drizzle
Don't add salt if you have fluid retention issues. I would also not use as much sugar in the peanut butter recipe. I would replace by processing a banana instead.0 -
You could try one of these, I bought mine on Amazon,(Pic is NOT me)....
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Lago...what fluid pill do you take, my calves and ankles really swell to the point of aching.0 -
Paula, good for you! I hope you have a great trainer and can one day lose the cane!0 -
My mom is debating on whether to start Arimidex. She doesn't want to be in pain all the time and deal with bad SE. Is anyone doing the 1/2 dose or only a few days a week dosing vs. the full dose? I am wondering if your OC thought it would still be helpful. I think my mom may go this route if she is advised to take it.
She is taking it for microscopic DCIS. The other cancer was IDC which was Tneg.
Any thoughts?0 -
Loral my PCP had me on a very small dose of Triamterene/HCTZ. Most of the time I take a 1/2 pill. My swelling is in my calves and when it's real bad mostly in my middle. My onc put me on it first but then deferred to my PCP after Herceptin was done. Seems she doesn't want to treat the SE from the drug she is giving me. (Need to see someone else for osteoporosis developed on this damn drug). She always sends me to a (female) specialist.0 -
dobby, just curious, how did they find a microscopic DCIS?0 -
Does metformin make you crash? It's supposed to help you lose weight but it sure doesn't work that way for me.
Good reminder about protein snacks. I'm like Lago and very salt sensitive. Always have been. The dr put me on spironolactone, a diuretic, to help lower my blood pressure. But I do try to stay away from salt as much as possible.0 -
No, metformin works in the liver to control how much glucose is released. The pancreas pushers, glyburide, glipazide , etc byetta, can make you crash. Been down to 35 with those, NO fun.
Met can help you drop weight, I couldn't handle it. It is known for GI issues, then you feel too crummy to eat.
Have you seen a dietician? You shouldn't be hungry with diabetes. You need to space meals and snacks so your glucose stays steady. A Registered Dietician can help, and the sodium issue too.0 -
On the topic of balance. I do crunches on an exercise ball to keep my waist trim etc. But it also helps with balance. It takes a bit of getting used to, but exercise balls are cheap and you can do the exercises at home. If you fall off, it's not far to the floor.
Some people get walking poles to help with this when outside.
My feet were terribly sore at the end of AC. I wore my hiking boots.
Since I have managed to walk, hike, ski, and cycle throughout treatment, I was unaware that I had lost some of my balance (other than some trouble hiking on slick surfaces but that is due to an ankle injury from cycling). I found this out when I started running earlier this year. I am still a terrible runner, but the other benefits have been enormous.
I didn't do the Livestrong program, but have heard great things about it. I think anything we can do to strengthen our muscles and skeleton helps in all sorts of ways.
I am a bit of a fanatic about exercise, walking the 1.5 miles each way to a lecture on Translational Research at Fred Hutchinson last night. I could have parked there and driven home, but I drove home from work and walked each way.
The final thing I will mention is that for me, exercise needs to be something I love to do. Well, I do have my weights and crunches routine that I do weekdays. But I love being outdoors and the exercise I do gets me there. I actually feel most alive when skiing.
Good luck everyone! - Claire0
