For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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I have found Nioxin at TJ Max and Marshall's stores. There are different numbers for different hair types. I bought shampoo and conditioner #4 for chemically treated hair that is noticibly thinning. I like it so far, but it's only been about a week and a half.
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Thanks everyone for the suggestions. I know that ignoring it doesn't help. No enviromental changes I can pin point. Call into doctor.
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I was on Minoxidil for almost 3 years and it didn't help at all. My hair is falling out even faster now than it did at the beginning. I'm 3 years into Arimidex and I think I'll be totally bald within 2 years. I'm already at a point where I have to wear a hairpiece - it's devastating. So when I couldn't sleep last night - turned on the tv and The shopping Channel and they were selling a laser comb that is supposed to help prevent hair loss and get it to re-grow. Ridiculously expensive. ($395) They say it works 90% of the time. It was 3:30 a.m. I ordered it. Put it on monthly payments. I'm desperate. But I'm afraid to give up the Arimidex. This sucks.
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hrf- so sorry the minoxidil didn't work for you. It just seems some products work for some and others they don't.
I started reading reviews for both minoxidil and for nioxin on amazon and sure enough...reviews were all mixed. great to awful, so I guess all youcan do is try one and see. 0 -
I ago, I just saw this post and coincidentally I just saw my onco today. He said that the symptoms build and get to be their worst by 6 months. That's where I am now. He said usually by a year they aren't so bad. I didn't realize that and it gives me hope that I can persevere. He also said I should get fish oil. It will relieve the symptoms. No one has mentioned this before. He said it should be a special fish oil that watches for mercury.
When I went to sloan, recently, the dr said to switch to aromasin but that I may not be able to tolerate any anti hormonals. I thouight that was scary so I'm glad to get some new options.
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Anyone have shortness of breath?
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The thinning hair worries me as I have already lost so much. I have only been on Arimidex for 11 months. hrf...like you I worry that I will be bald by the time this is all over. I really do hope the laser comb helps. Something has to!
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I'm going to finish my anastrosal in December. Is it easier to lose weight after going off it?
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yes, sunaimer
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not for me....but could it be the dozen cookies I ate last night, or the pumpkin creme brulee Friday, or the turkey and mashed potatoes/dressing/gravy on Sunday?
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ruthbru.............naaaa it's the prunes! LOL
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My doctor says the overall number doesn't really matter at all (unless it is way out of wack, of course); it's the ratio that matters. If your HDL is high, your trigs are good, and your ratio of HDL to LDL is good; you should be fine, and it is something you probably don't want to mess with.
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So what is a good ratio?
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I've been on the Arimidex now for 4 years. I thought I had gotten used to all the side affects, but this past 6 months have been terrible for me. The sleepless nights and the night sweats are enough to make me dread going to bed. I've tried every sleeping pill from Abian to Trazadone and I just stare at the ceiling. The bone pain has gotten worse, especially in my back. It seems I can't do anything longer than 10 minutes and have to move on to something else. My doctor finally prescribed the hydrocodone, but it barely touches the pain. For the past years, I've been ok with pushing through it all, but lately, I've really considered going off it. When I asked my oncologist, he said he wanted me on it for life as he "didn't want to mess with a good thing." But I don't see the point if my quality of life is at the miserable level. Have any of you gotten to this point?
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Nelia: I feel so badly for you! Such decisions. I can't believe your MO wants you on it for life! I know many are recommending 10 years, instead of 5.
Timbuktu: I hope your MO is right. I have been on it for 3 months and I feel more and more achey. Trying to ignore the symptoms. Don't know about my bloodwork for another couple of weeks when I go for my 3 month checkup.
Yes, I have problems sleeping, but no more than I did before all this mess.
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Hi All--been lurking around this post for awhile. I start the Arimidex on Nov. 10 after my Rads end. I have the drug and have read on the really exciting SE that can occur...but have a lot of questions for those of you with experience!
--did your MO's order any tests before you began? (don't like my MO, but having trouble finding one anyone here likes!)
--what is the claritin for?
--is the hair loss/thinning pretty prevalent and is it to the point of hair loss with chemo and does it stop after you go off the drug?
--is there anyother advice you have for someone just starting?
Thanks!!!
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I would take it just like you take any other pill, and then go out and live your life. Most people do not have bad SEs. It's natural that people who do have problems are the ones talking about it, the rest are just out going about their day.
edited to add that some people take Claritin (not Claritan D) for aches and pains. I never had any problems with my hair once it grow back from chemo. Most people don't.
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Have had a headache almost daily since starting Arimidex at the end of September.
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I have had that also.
Gayle
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can't tell which is giving me the headaches, Lupron or Arimidex since started them within 24 hours of each other.
i'm assuming fatigue is one of the se's too. not even a month on it. of course, it could be from lack of sleep dealing with the headaches I get during the night too as much as during the daytime.
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I just finished 33 days of rad sept 7, had a lumpectomy one month before that, stage 1 ductal invasive, took two lymphs, no lymph node involvement, oncotype score 16. My surgeon started me on Tamoxifen. I can't take it, se's were horrible, bad night sweats (I mean I'd soak the bed every night) and I was more than moody...I became mean inside, bitter, hateful, and couldn't speak because I was afraid of what would come out....so, my surgeon put me on arimidex yesterday...well I hear it raises cholesterol, and he didn't seem to care. My cholesterol was total 300 in december last year, watching my diet I got it down to 276 in april. I can't take statins, because I'm allergic to them, and have tried all bile blocking meds (non statins...) can't take them either. I'm just at a loss. The surgeon just gets upset saying that if I don't take it my cancer has a 20% return rate. Take it, and it falls to 10%. I say there is no guarantee. I have a friend who had the same stage and cancer I had (hormone induced, positive 99.9%), took her 33 days rad, and 5 years of tamoxifen. 5 years after stopping tamoxifen (last month) she had a double mastectomy because of cancer...Is it really worth it putting up with 5 years of not being able to move because of the pain, the sweats, being the bi**ch from hell, and possibly dying of a stroke with high cholesterol in the hopes that my cancer doesn't return? I just can't see the risk paying off here. Doctors just get upset and say take your medicine. I am only 53, 5'5, 120 lbs., a teacher, mother, wife, and I don't want my cancer to come back, but I don't want to die of heart failure or stroke either. What are ya supposed to do?
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NPR, I am so sorry that you are going through all this. Sounds to me that you might want to consider another doctor. Some of them just want to "push pills". I told my oncologist that if I had too many side effects that I would stop taking the anastrozole. So far, (started the 16th of August), I have the so called normal se's of hot flashes, irritability, some weihght gain, some thinning hair, and of course the joint aches! So far nothing I can't handle.
It isn't easy, but I believe that "quality of life is extremely important. I am blessed that I am 66 and retired. My children are grown, but I have grandchildren who I want to be around for. But again, what good is medication if we are unable to function. The doctors cannot really predict if or when the cancer will come back. I think it is an individual decision whether or not it is worth the risks to maybe stay the cancer.
My prayers and lots of hugs are with you. Hang in there.
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Finally someone whom has experienced difficult SE from Arimidex!
My joint bone pain has been so draining. I started January 1st, 2012. It took a month or so but when the bone and joint pain started it hasn't let up. I have the stick joint fingers and can barely walk in the morning! I know what it looks like to my husband! I appear to be in my nineties. I walk and swim in my pool as often as 5 days a week. True for me as the others.....once I'm up and moving I feel better but by 3:00 I'm drained from pushing myself, whe I sit down the stiffness hits me all over again. I take Mobic and occasionLly enjoy prescription pain meds......they offer the most relief.
Blessings to you,
Lorraine0 -
NRP....so sorry you have so many health issues. But you have a supportive group of ladies here to help you through.....no matter what your choices.
IMHO, you could start an AI and see what happens. And switch to a more sympathetic doc, if possible, and get your cholesterol checked frequently, again, if possible (not sure how insurance works on "us" wanting tests, not the insurance policy.) Fortunately you can stop an AI without problems.
There are some natural ways to lower cholesterol, too, even using certain foods like oatmeal and some butter substitutes. You probably know about it already, but can you talk to a nutritionist? They can help with the nondrug ways to control high cholesterol. I do know some people just have it naturally, no matter how well they eat. Sounds like you are knowledgable, so maybe you are doing everything already.
best wishes....
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JO-5 I am on meds for high blood pressure already so the only change has been the Arimidex. If the SE's get worse or become intolerable I can try a different AI.
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nrp - I'm so sorry you are going through all that. I had the exact same talk with my MO when she prescribed Anastrozole. We went around and around....
I had SO many pre-existing conditions, I knew I'd be screwed by the SEs of the AIs.
But I managed to get some of my other conditions under control before starting the Anastrozole (high cholesterol, severe fibromyalgia, joint pain, etc.) and I only agreed to try it as long as she understood that my quality of life was more important to me than the length of it.
We had a very good talk, and since I was willing to try it her way (with meds) to see what happened, she was very willing to say she would be the first to yank me off the drugs if they impacted my QOL that badly.
I started the Anastrozole September 5th.
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Blessibgs, how are you doing with your anastrozole so far? Well, I hope.
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The only test that was ordered for me was a bone density. Since it's more radiation I just haven't gotten around to it yet.
My onco recommends excercize as the cure for all my ills and i'm sure he's right but I'm having a terrible time getting up the energy to fight the pain! I take a nap every day, something i never did before.
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My onco prescribed fish oil capsules. Unfortunately my chemo brain has forgotten to pick them up all week! He said to make sure they are the kind that don't have mercury. He thinks they will help with the pain.
He says the pain is from nerves getting more sensitive, that the joints are not being damaged. I find this really hard to believe.
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I switched to femara and the pain is less but still not great. My onco said arrimidex is the worst.
I read somewhere that people who get a lot of pain have a good prognosis. I have no idea if this is true or not but I'd like to think it is.
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