For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
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A big part of my walking is by necessity...1 of my students has to be escorted at all times so since my Para has a broken foot I get to walk her around and listen to her grumble....She is a smart kid with a good heart but home sucks.
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exercise_guru, picked up mine last year Black Friday on sale at Brookstone. If you have one nearby they have several in the store to try out from the whole chair, or back only, to ones that do just the neck/shoulders. Mine you place on a chair. A few different functions from rolling 'fingers' up and down your back that you can stop in any area if you want, widen the area, etc.. Use with heat or without. It was prob around $160. but on sale for about $69. Great investment!
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May have to try that!
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I stated my Arimidex 'vacation' 2 days ago....everything still hurts. My hands have been so crampy and weak since Halloween.
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maxdog, sorry you are having problems. It may take time for symptoms to subside but definitely keep your MO in the loop and maybe between both of you the culprit will become apparent.
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This is a very active board, had a lot to read since my post. I'm hoping that my walking/running everyday will help keep the aches and pains to a minimum. The bottom of my feet still hurt, well most parts of me hurt during the night, but once I'm up and moving its not so bad. Just don't know if it's the meds or lingering effects from the chemo and rads.
Thanks Pontiacpeggy for the explaination, that was very helpful. And good to know many of us do ok with this. I'm stil having a lot of hot flashes and night sweats, I just entered post menopause. The onc didn't want to give me tamoxifen because I had a blood clot from the port. So, this was really the best option for me. Between the clot and nodes, both arms are acting poorly, and it's taking me awhile to get use to not having the strength I had.
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BikerBabe, It IS hard to figure out where your problems are coming from and probably never will be able to pin down the culprit. Chemo can certainly wreak havoc with your body as well as all the other stuff we need to take. Welcome to menopause! Hopefully all those SEs will go away quickly.
Maybe now that you are done with chemo and rads you can start getting your strength back and find the new you. We all are changed by our BC experience. Some of us have minor changes and others major. But none of us are as we were prior to BC.
Feel well!
HUGS!
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What is your timing of taking Claritin? Twice I I have woken up in the middle of the night with pain in my right leg and took both Claritin and ibuprofen. I want to use the Claritin regularly instead of so much ibuprofen. Do you take it with your anastrozole?
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Molly when I was taking Claritin (trying it for allergies), I took it at night since that's when I wanted it to work best. Seemed I was a little less creaky in the morning. I take my Anastrozole in the morning. I don't think it matters when you take it or if you take both at the same time. BTW, I found Claritin didn't help with my allergies; I like Benadryl much much better. Wonder if I can take both??
HUGS!
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Thank you, Peggy. I bet you can ask a pharmacist if you can use both. I take my anastrozole at night. Since most of my pain is at night it's probably the best choice.
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An FYI, I have taken Claritin for allergies for years. The one thing the allergist always reminded me of is that all though Claritin works relatively quickly is also has a cumulative effect so I was to try and take it the same time everyday. I don't know if this is the same for the anastrozole side effects but it is something to consider. I have been taking it daily for the itching I have from the radiation and it took about 2 days to get relief. I tried stopping but the itching came back. So far I have not had any noticeable side effects from anastorzole. Still dealing with issues from radiation. I am one week out and still fatigued and no appetite. This all started around week 3 of accelerated rads and before anastorzole
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BrutersMom, According to the articles I've read recently, the fatigue from all the treatments we get for BC can last for a year or more. Really encouraging, isn't it? However, I found it reassuring to know I was normal (well, at least in this regard!). Sorry that you've had SEs from the rads. Are you using something like Aquaphor as well? Hope the itchiness goes away ASAP!!!
HUGS!
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My skin tanned. I am slightly pink in the boost area. The third week I developed an itchy rash.Flat pink rash. I actually stopped using Aquaphor since rads are done and only use cortisone. It is lessening. I can't do benadryl because after the initial sleepiness it am wide awake for hours. At least Claritin and cortisone cream reduce the itching. Yep I did not like hearing how long it could last. Hoping that since I am in over all good health and physical condition I will overcome the fatigue in a reasonable period of time.
By the way Pegg what is normal? I have never figured it out.
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B--if benedryl does not work for you (and it doesn't for me either) then you may want to be careful with some other meds as well, I am sensitive to all or mostly all NSAIDS, it started with a simple reaction to I think it was aleve really but over the years has grown and now well, includes all the normal things. I am fine with Claritin, there are dif strengths and some are 24 hours and some only 12.
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BrutersMom, no clue what "normal" is. I think I have had a distant relationship with it for many decades
HUGS!
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Iris, I think the fact that I can take Benadryl every 4 hours is one of the reasons I like it. Actually, I really prefer the antihistamine I took for 60 years that they quit making. It worked the best for me. I seem to do better on "old" stuff and old-time remedies. Can't do most antibiotics either. Makes life fun when you can't use medications because they all seem to contain stuff you're allergic to.
HUGS!
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Buttersmom--some of my spring rads 2014 group indicated they had a rash sensitivity to Aquaphor---it was sthe petrolatum in it and also to a lessor extent in the other crème that contains it. My fatigue lasted only a fefw weeks, but I didn't do the boosts because of another condition I have.
I'd like to know if anyone has been prescribed Prednisone for something else and had horrible joint pain as a result. I have acute bronchitis, they put me on 40 MG a day (split dose) and after taking the dose last night with my anastrazole, I have so much pain in my knees and ankles and feet I can't hardly function today.
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Redhead 1. I have done prednisone for allergic reactions. I hate the stuff. Never had joint pain from it but I did have mood swings and was an emotional wreck. I usually don't react to petroleum jelly. I use Vaseline a lot in the winter. It is possible that some of the other stuff in the product made me itch. The itching has gotten better since I stopped.
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My surgery was March 25, I was done with chemo 7/13 and did reconstruction 8/12. I did teach 4 day weeks the first month of the school year but now at the end of the day I am tired but not exhausted. By Friday I am very tired but not a lot different then other years, it depends on "my kids'" needs. So I am hoping the 6-12 month estimate is just a guess. As for SE I am stiff when I first get out of bed but it quickly goes away. I take an Aleve 1-2 times a week. I am not looking forward to the cold, that tends to be when my hands throb. But that is from arthritis from old injuries..dog bite and volleyball. I have my bone scan and treatment on Thursday. A little nervous, I haven't been to the Cancer Center since my 3 week post chemo check when she prescribed Arimidex.
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TJH , sounds like you are doing pretty good. 6-12 months is an estimate of course and your mileage may vary (surprised?). At least the stiffness goes away once you get moving. I find that to be the case too. BTW, I was creaky before Arimidex.
HUGS!
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I have to say so far so good on the teva brand anastrozole. I asked specifically for this band thanks to all the advise on this board, yes I've been lurking for long time. I started the first of September, I know 2 months isn't long. I'm a little slow for about 5 minutes in the morning, but all's good by the time the coffee is brewed.
I have some bone a few days out of ever Herceptin cycle but that should hit this weekend just take pain meds and keep on moving and my last one is the 19th I made it the entire year.
I agree I was looking for the worst since we seem to tune into those. My positive thinking got me through Chemo and a year of Herceptin so I'm going with that.
Good luck and gently huge to all.
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OutdoorsWoman, way to go completely the year of Herceptin on the 19th. That's wonderful. It's been a long year for you. Like you, I believe a positive attitude helps us cope with all this stuff. I don't know how old you are but, at 70 I've been creaky in the morning (and especially the middle of the night) for years. Nothing has changed because of the Arimidex. I was glad to find out about the Teva brand. My thinking is let's eliminate as many likely causes of problems as possible (i.e. fillers) and so far seems to true. Glad the end is in sight for you.
HUGS!!
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Jerseygirl927 I do have some slight neuropathy in my left foot. I swear it was a little worse on Anastrozole. Seemed to get a little better one Exemestane but it could also be just time and healing. It also gets a little worse depending on the the weather.
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The only s/e I have to note after 6 weeks on Arimidex is a sore thumb joint. Maybe a bit more achy but I have been more active and it feels like a " good " muscle soreness if there is such a thing.
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LOL - I had a thumb pain too. Went to a Hand Specialist who diagnosed arthritis in my right thumb. He prescribed a hand brace which I got and maybe wore at home that first day. Then I hung it on a chair in the dining room and looked at it from time-to-time. My thumb doesn't hurt anymore!
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Bone scan was great...oncologist said I don't need bone drugs at this time....I have to increase my calcium by 600 mg, drink me water, and she said to walk at least 3 miles a day...I just laughed at that. I was very afraid to go back to Imaging Center...same place I had my biopsy....but all is well.....
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congrats on a good report!
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YAY!!!!
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I love good news!
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I just joined this thread as my MO will start me on an AI when I complete my Herceptin!! Only 3 left. My question is why is the TEVA brand of anastrozole a better brand?
Thank you!
PMR53
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