For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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Lago - you're a first-stringer all the way! And you'll always be wanted here - after all, even if you end up switching meds, you've got a valuable 3 years of experience to share! Love you girl!
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Lago - I'm with you about not taking a drug to stop the se's from another drug - it's just all too complicated. I've been off Arimidex for a year but I'm still on here. I just stopped Aromasin/Afinitor today again because of severe se's - I am getting a month off before we try something else but must say that Aromasin wasn't too bad for me but again I was only on it for two months. Hope they find a treatment for you soon. S.
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Cortisone shots: my plastic surgeon is also a hand specialist. I got a cortisone shot after about 6 weeks of trigger thumb. He numbed it up and gave me the shot. I too was dreading it but it didn't hurt at all. Plus it took care of the problem.
I had Arimedex, then Aromasin, then Femara, over 13 mos. My MO changed me to Tamoxifen. I have many of the same stiff, achey SEs but maybe not as bad. good days and bad days, more good. Massage helps!
Who had the shoulder pain? What was it like? I've been struggling with shoulder for over a year.
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I have the shoulder pain but I did have a car accident years ago so I'm assume this drug just aggravates it.
Thanks for all the ♥ everyone!
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Lago, you provide so much experience and info on this thread so you can't leave. Besides, you keep me on track!
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Lago, don't leave!! I spent a year on Anastrozole and my second year on Aromasin, so I read and contribute to both sites, this and "Life on Aromasin." (The ladies there are nice, too.)
I switched AI's because of the severe joint stiffness on Anastrozole and, for about 10 months, experienced almost total relief. "Look," I told my DH, "I can get up from a chair." Over the past few months, though, the stiffness has returned. Ugh!
As for your depression, about 5 months ago, while on Aromasin, I slipped into a deep depression. I had been on anti-depressants during active therapy, chemo and rads, but had stopped after that. This last depression was scary. Whether or not it was related to the Aromasin, I don't know. I chose to continue Aromasin and go on a new anti-depressant. Like many of you, I used to hate taking so many pills and taking one to offset another one's SE. But, for me, it was the right choice. My state of mind is so much better. I look back on those 2 months of depression and feel as if it was lost time. I was in a hole and couldn't climb out, even for my loved ones. It ruined Christmas for me this past year.
Do what feels right for you, but please continue to be active on this site. You add so much to all the sites. (I'm one of the ones who swears by Anastastia brow powder because of you!!!)
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Don't worry I'm not leaving. But when I do land that full-time gig you may not see me as much.
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What anti-depressant is the best? I don't want to take something that takes we forever to go off of when I feel like I can stop taking it. I am really having a bad time right now.
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ClaudiaMetz I know very little about anti-depressents but what's best for one person might not be right for another.
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I take Lexapro and it has helped me a lot. Just about a year now. I was stressing and so down, doing from one Ativan to the next Ativan. Lexapro10 has been great, and I don't care if I take it forever. No side effects except feeling better. I was scared to death to start it, but my therapist recommended I give it a try and so did my GP. They were right, for me at least.
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Claudia - Lago is so right. Lots of different anti-depressants and anti-anxiety. Sometimes the first problem is figuring out which it is. I started an anti-anxiety (Alprazolam) when my husband became very ill and was in hospice. Then an anti-depressant (Citalopram) when he passed. That was four years ago. My PCP prescribed and I've talked with him about whether I should continue. He believes if I'm feeling good and those emotions are under control and no side effects, don't change anything. Both of the meds are the generic and widely used and cheap. Why not start with old and cheap first and move to newer and more expensive if they don't help was his rationale. As a psychologist I knew there was no one size fits all medication for emotions. The anti-anxiety can be used as needed up to three times a day and I just take it before bed to sleep well. I used it 3xs daily during Bill's hospice and again between my diagnosis and end of radiation. But am back to just at bedtime. I only give you this detailed information hoping you can see it is helpful, may not need to worry about addiction, and can be adjusted as needed.
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Claudia, the other ladies are so right. Each anti-depressant has it ups and downs and one may be more appropriate than another for you. It's important to do this in consultation with your doctor. I was on and off Zoloft for years, with few side effects, but I'm now on Lexapro10, just like Lisa. It has worked like a charm. No SE and I feel good. (BTW, Lexapro used to be one of the "new" drugs but now it is out in a generic form...)
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Thanks for all the information. My mom use to take Xanax and it helped her. I went out and checked on some of the other meds. I take Methotrexate for an auto-immune skin condition (dermatomyositis which is rare). I have to be careful what I take but I am now getting to a place that I have to have something. Not only have breast cancer but I lost my mom and another family member in a 1 month period. A lot of stress in my life.
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Depression is one of those conditions that a lot of us suffer from, if not before then certainly now! I had it before, on Paxil, Zoloft, off and on, more recently Cymbalta for the last 3 years. My wonderful friend of 30 years died of met liver cancer and passed in two months this fall. I cried every day from diagnosis to his death and in that time the Cymbalta was increased. It helped a lot. I'm sure there are side effects but I take other meds so I don't know how to tell them apart. I worry about all medications and their interactions. Due to my BC, I reduced the Cymbalta by 30 mg but still take 60. I figure if I am going to have SE from cancer meds then I might as well be in a damn (hope I don't get in trouble over this word)good mood having them!
Note: I was still having a very difficult time and working on this crying thing when I was diagnosed two months later. Shook me up. My focus became ME. I said goodbye to my friend and can actually smile over the memories from long ago. I'm pretty sure he's been right beside me a few times. He's the 3rd person I've lost to cancer. I've one more with lung cancer and he's not doing well.
I have the very best DH in the world, definitely the best I've ever had and I've had more than one! He's a keeper!. Has stood by me every step and is my rock. I wouldn't trade him for anyone. Just thought I should say that with all this "him" talk. Sometimes, when a special person from your past remains a friend and goes on, it is still a painful loss. I think we forget we are just on loan on this place called earth. Just wish cancer wasn't part of the payment plan.
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I feel for you gals dealing with depression. I can't image having to deal with that all the time. I am back to my old happy self not that I'm not on the meds. I can't imaging not having drugs to manage that if it's ongoing!
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Hi ladies. This is my first venture to this topic. I am on anastrazole and zoledex for 5 to 6 months. Cholesterol went up to 200 from 162. PO'd about that. Have some pains but not sure if its really from the medication as I had those after chemo, and I'm not letting them slow me down. I do however have something wrong with my thumb on my right hand. Sore at the base and sore in the joint. I see Doxie and BayouBabe may have had some issues but I don't think I got far enough back in the topic to completely understand? I had my appointment with my MO last week and she said, yes this may be from the medication. I think mine is from using the mouse at work all day long. She suggested I get some kind of ergonomic mouse. I am concerned because my thumb joint doesn't bend back all the way, but I'm hoping if I rest it some it will recover. Not sure when I should see a specialist?
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TwoHobbies - I would ask for a referral to PT or a hand specialist right away. I found the most relief from the splint that I was fitted for. Having it immobile is the best, and you can't do that without a splint. Wish I had tackled the issue sooner, as I am still dealing with pain and loss of strength. Don't put it off; get it evaluated. Could be de Quervain's or trigger finger. Lots of ladies on Arimidex seem to develop these.
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twohobbies I have had stiffness and trigger fingers on my left hand too. Trigger fingers went away for me after about a year (although maybe a little first thing in the morning). I still have some stiffness in my left hand but better since I've been on a Anastrozole vacation. It's only been 2 weeks but it might be a little arthritis. I know my sister seems to have it in her hand too.
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TwoHobbies,
It does sound like how my trigger thumb started. I had pain in both thumb joints on both hands. Only my right has developed trigger thumb. I'm sure that was because it is my dominant hand. Trigger finger refers a finger getting stuck in the position of pulling a trigger, which you could for any finger. It can develop in the toes, too. Trigger toes?
I tried immobilizing it, but I had to keep bending it to sign documents at work. In the end it didn't seem to help. I found the pain so unbearable and the loss of strength and function so concerning, I went to a hand surgeon. He gave me a shot of cortisone, preceded with lidocaine for pain. It was instant relief. Well worth risking my LE to flair. Three weeks later, it still triggers a bit, but no pain. If it returns he will only give one more shot of cortisone, then I'll need minor surgery. Not a good option due to LE.
I waited 5 months before going to the surgeon because I had read it sometimes just goes away. It didn't for me. Hopefully it will for you if you can immobilize it or reduce the stress at work. This is one of the odd things about AIs. Pain comes and goes, seemingly starting and stopping for no reason.
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Thanks, Bayou, Doxie and Lago. I did try to start using it less this last week. The pain is improved, especially after resting it overnight but its concerning that it really doesn't bend fully like the other thumb. I'll get in with my PCP and see if he thinks I need to get some PT or see a specialist or what. Its been three or four weeks I think and pain is one thing but I'd prefer to not have permanent damage. .
What do we say, Cancer, the gift that keeps on giving? Damn medicines anyway.
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TwoHobbies - I developed trigger thumb in both thumbs starting about a month after beginning Anastrozole, first in the right, then in the left. It became painful enough that I would drop the f-bomb if either of them bent while I was pulling on socks, or pulling my pants down or up or whatever other reason, and then another f-bomb when I bent it back straight again. My hand-writing was affected because the thumb wouldn't bend to hold the pen/pencil properly. I'm one of the fortunate ones because mine both resolved on their own within several months of onset, and I have no problems with either thumb any longer.
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I started my anastrazole about a month ago. Lots of aches and pains, but had my baseline DEXA scan a week ago and got the results yesterday......bone density is normal! Good start. So I take my Viactiv chews faithfully (gives me a little chocolate fix, too) and trying to up the calcium in my diet without adding too much fat. Fortunately I like skim milk, so I will try to drink that every day too.
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Rhody, I started out with my AL with a fine dexa scan. now off the dang PILL and due for a scan in the next couple of months (I just turned 65 so my insurance has just changed)
I take my calcium, do weight bearing exercises and try to eat calcium
I eat plain lo fat yogurt that I strain so it is like greek yogurt and use it like it is cream cheese....on toast so hoping!!!
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proudtospin we have started to use plan Greek yogurt in place of mayo and sour cream
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RhodyMMM I have been doing that for quite some time. I also use it instead of cream. Here are a few of my favorites. When making mashed potatoes don't use as much butter/margarine. Add plain Greek yogurt instead.
I also make a tomato mushroom "cream" sauce. Instead of cream I use the plain Greek. Also add sun dried tomatoes. Serve it with cheese raviolis. Yum.
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plain greek yogurt is a required item in my fridge, matter of fact, need to hit the store for a refill!
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I have my Greek every day but I'll admit it's the Cobani low fat peach. Yeah it has some sugar but I'm not perfect. The place I shop sells 4 packs for $4.
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yeah, we all do the best we can. I really do not care for the sweetness of the flavored ones and like the basic better so buy a big quart size thing, think they are about $2 something but I buy the cheapest!
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Hi Ladies, I'm new to this thread and have a question. Does anyone taking the AI's not have any side effects. My MO has recommended I take Arimidex but said I could wait to decide until after my bone density test tomorrow. I am just so worried about the side effects and really struggling with this decision. He said my chance of recurrence is 8% and taking the AI will take it down to 3% at best. Seems like the side effects aren't worth a possible 3% decrease in chance of recurrence. I am 63 and think I might feel differently if I was younger and still had kids at home. I'm just so confused about this. Any thoughts you have would be appreciated. Thank you all.
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Wynne50 most of us were scared of getting side effects. The first year I was stiff and had some very minor hot flashes at night but then the stiffness got better. It wasn't till I got close to year 3 that I was suffering from depression and back pain. I am taking a month break but going back on either Aromasin or possible Tamoxifen. My theory is you can always quit if you are having issues. I found I felt better after 2 days off the drug. So yeah you can recover that fast.
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