For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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Ouch, Marie. Hope you are feeling better soon!
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Just wanted to report back to you all about my lightheadedness and anastrozole. I went off drug for a month, had dizzy spells on day 2 and 3, then nothing - so obviously (to me) it was the anastrazole causing my dizzy spells. Just to be safe had a stress echocardiogram - normal. Felt a tad dizzy this past Saturday, then Sunday had a couple of full blown dizzy events, so that is day 28 and 29 of no Anastrazole. So it apparently isn't the drug after all. Started back taking my daily dose yesterday morning. Not sure what to do about my lightheadedness, it just may be one of those things that I could have a million tests for and still not find a cause.
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pat01 have they looked at inner ear problems? First link is to the main site. Second is to symptoms. Dizzy is #1. I know 2 people who have this.
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Also, keep a log of what you are doing/eating etc. and the time of day they happen. Maybe through some detective work, you can find a link to the spells.
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Pat, I had dizziness/vertigo last year, did ton of testing, at one point they said I had had a stroke in the past....for joy! then they said I needed surgery(simple brain surgery
as if there is such a thing as simple brain surgery! It passed but I went to a dif doc for a second opinion. He said no surgery, stop wasting your money. It was likely a virus and we will never know what caused it! Hasn't never come back but sure was dang scarey0 -
Good Grief! Thank God you got a second opinion!!!!
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it was sure not an experience that I want to repeat! But it showed me the value of a second opinion. I have thought for a long time that docs just love to order tests for us survivors and scare the heck out of us!
if you are really dizzy, they gave me a med that was sort of like dramamine but can't remember the name. It helped but is only a short term soluttion
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Other causes of lightheadedness include some antihistamines, dehydration and low blood sugar - any one of which could have been the cause, temporarily, and then cleared up. Brain surgery - yikes!
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Pat, for 2 months I was dizzy, lightheaded and bumping into things. Then I began having tremors. I had a brain MRI, several tests for inner ear problems, blood work and visits to 2 opthamologists, a neurologist, oncologist, ENT specialist and 3 trips to PCP. They NEVER found the cause but it all went away after 2 months. I was scared and miserable. My PCP put me on an antidepressant. Whether or not that contributed to the relief, I don't know. I'd been on Aromasin for 6 months aftwr a year on Arimidex.
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Thank you all for your suggestions and links. My spells are sporadic and usually fleeting, though the one that scared me went on for an hour. I will look into the inner ear thing next, but I suspect that like you Whisperer, this may be one of those things that never get solved.
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BosumBlues depression can be a SE of Anastrozole because of reduced estrogen. I also find the days I don't exercise I am exhausted. Have you discussed this with your PCP? Your MO will look for cancer related issues but this might be something else.
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Bosumblues, I just wanted to chime in and share my experience. I to am very fatigued and have been since finishing chemo. I think it got worse with radiation. I'm having a lot of other side effects also. I found out my thyroid was way off and got my meds adjusted but it didn't make a difference. I stopped my arimidex after a month to see if SE went away. They did not so I will probably go back on it sometime in the future just not now. I hope you start feeling better and if you do find that magic cure please share. I to tried exercise and changing eating habits but it hasn't gone away. I can do things now but not for very long and I'm worn out for the rest of the day. I know its temporary but I just wish it would improve to a better level.
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BosumBlues do I owe you a linky? Let me now and I'll find one.
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BBlues,
You are not depressed, humor fully intack !
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BBlues,
I am completely fatigued also, one month on Arimidex, but I think it is a combo of the drug, and still getting over the brutal chemo & rads. I have a good day with energy, next day wiped out again.
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So you've been talking about me while I was away making & eating dinner. Ha ha. Actually that power walking video has 5 (parts) videos that are all about 1 mile. I do at least 4 but at times to the 5miles if I have time. (I'm bragging). This link should automatically load the next video. Here's the linky
I have always been terrible with names. Now since being diagnosed it's worse because not only do I need to know screen names then I get real names and people like BBlues changes her screen name. I'm in permanent chemo-pause now.
Aren't I entitled to forget who's who?
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I was suppose to go on arimidex March9th,but im really scared to take it.Never had joint pain,the entire time i was on chemo,and radiation.But was very sick with chemo.Now i am so stiff,and sore all over,and hurting.Dont want the arimidex to make me worse.so thats why im scared to take it.Have an appointment with the oncologist Dr. March18th.
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It may have no effect on you what-so-ever. You won't know unless you try it.
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Kayezzy - I've been on it three weeks with no side effects so far. I know that's not long and six months will tell me more. Just wanted you to know so far it's ok.
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Bosumblues, your fatigue is probably not the arimidex, but your body's totally normal process of recovery to chemo and radiation. I'm a year out from treatment (rads only) and just getting to where I can work a full day. Exercise helped, I think, and plain old time. MyRO told me it is perfectly normal to experience fatigue and depression-like symptoms for six months. When six months was up, she told me it was normal for up to a year. She categorized it as something in the PTSD category, and that made perfect sense to me. I don't think arimidex helped any, but I don't think it was the main culprit either. Luckily, I have a pretty flexible schedule, so was able to work, after a fashion. Oh, and she prescribed ritalin to combat the fatigue. This works for many, but did little for me. I also tried celexa for anxiety, and I think it helped for a couple of months, then not so much, so I dropped it.
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They say that for however long you were in treatment, you can expect it to be that long again before you really feel pretty normal. Personally I'd say double that amount of time, because that's what it took before I felt really good. Not that I didn't start to feel better, but you have been through major assaults to the body (and mind), and it takes a long time to put it all back in balance. Arimidex can make it all more challenging because your body is learning to adjust to less estrogen and dealing with the healing process at the same time.
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I have a question for anyone who is using Minoxidil for thinning hair due to Arimidex. I know you are supposed to use it twice a day and the night application is easy, I just put it on before I go to bed. My question is, for the morning application, do you put it on when you get out of the shower and your hair is still wet? Or do you apply it after you dry and style your hair? Just not sure what to do.
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bosumblues - I didn't have chemo or radiation but did experience a period of abnormal fatigue starting around 2 months into Arimidex. It subsided, but it was kind of weird. I got to a point one evening where I had a real meltdown. I was simply exhausted but the lawn needed mowing. DH and a friend of my DS were hauling away debris from a tree we had taken down so I did the mowing. By the time I was done I was nearly in tears while pushing the mower. CAme inside, laid right down on the living room floor and bawled my eyes out. Then I remembered I had some Ativan left from when I was diagnosed. Took one that night and one more in the morning to keep the weepies away. That was the turning point and my fatigue problem cleared right up! Now, I'm having some fatigue issues again currently (about a year later than before), so I'm thinking it could also be partially a seasonal thing. It really was strange how I had a meltdown, took a couple of anxiety pills, and presto-chango, the abnormal fatigue was gone!
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For a couple years, I would get kind of crazy sad/crabby in February (the month that I was diagnosed). I didn't even realize how witchy )change the 'w' to 'b') I was being until DH pointed it out (not in a mean way, he just couldn't figure out what was going on). Once I realized why I was feeling so unsettled, I've been able to watch for it and handle it better. So sometimes 'anniversaries' can subconsciously sneak up and throw you off.
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lago, you didn't tell bosumblues the meaning of life. i don't know about her, but i'm still waiting!
was supposed to see my onco yesterday, but saw his PA instead. i told her about my side effects on arimidex and she told me to stop taking it. i've been on it one year. she said my tumor wasn't too estrogen positive ... uh, it was 98-percent. she said the Herceptin and chemo were the most important, and that arimidex didn't really matter. i asked her about checking my estrogen levels (discussed earlier here) and she said they never do that and if they did, it wouldn't change their treatment plan. now i am so confused. i walked out of there thinking that arimidex is a waste of time and i should just get off. however, that just doesn't make sense to me. what do you guys think??
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sorry for all that but I would insist on seeing the MO themselves! guess I am lucky as I still at 5 years see my Mo
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I know Ruth,my neighbor came over ,and said the same thing..You are so right..Now ive got to talk to my husband.Hes talked to a few people,and they had some bad experiance with it,and he doesnt want me to go through it.I suffered alot with chemo.
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well I just ended my 5 yrs on aromasin, same thing only dif ~~
it was not bad, sure was less than the alternative, my suggestion is to keep those dang muscles moving and do not let your self get still!
I am sure your husband does not want you to reoccur?
talk to the MO, please!
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just relating to all your posts...I am on anastrosole, question for Proudtospin:)... Did you wean off or just quit cold turkey after your 5 years? Thanks in advance....
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