For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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I was just reading how AI's increase the chance of endometrial cancer. Personally, I want my ovaries out and they might as well take my uterus with them! It's really crazy that we take a pill every day to keep cancer away that can cause so many other cancers and horrible side effects. I have been off Arimidex for a week and a half and finally feel somewhat normal. I have almost full range.of motion in my neck and my te's aren't keeping me awake at night. I thought they were just uncomfortable on their own and didn't realize how much worse the pain was while on AI until I stopped it. We will see what med oncology wants me to start on Friday. This is quite an interesting journey!
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Luckily, I do not have trouble sleeping. I take my little pill in the morning. But, I have an app on my phone that I sometimes use if I am anxious or just want to listen to it as I fall asleep. I bought it as an App - cost $1.99. Go to the App Store and look for the app, Just Being. It has several soothing sounds, rain, bubbling brook, ocean waves, etc. There is a woman who says soothing words (if you want that, but you can turn her off) and just listen to the sounds. There are soothing music selections too. You can set it for 5 minutes up to 45 minutes. It goes off automatically......on your phone, iPad or tablet. When I do this, I fall asleep before it is over. Worth trying!
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meezers3, have you tried melatonin?
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maxxdog,
I have been on the new med a few weeks we will see.
Sherry
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meezers I take a .5 xanax at night to get to sleep since the Arimidex (which I take at bedtime also).
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meezers, had lots of se's on arimidex but the worst one was insomnia - took 1/2 an Ativan (prescribed by onc.) - talk to your onc ASAP and get anything to help you sleep - without sleep life can be very difficult - I know!
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Not sleeping is very bad. I had terrible insomnia on Tamoxifen but started sleeping well (almost too much) once I switched to Arimidex. Amazing how differently we each respond to these medicines that keep our cancer at bay.
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I've been off the boards for awhile and trying to catch up! Brookside, I want to hear more about the tendonitis you developed in your hamstring! I think that is exactly what I'm dealing with now. I have pain in the back of my legs. I run competitively and the cramping pain is causing me to be uncomfortable when I run and is hurting my race times. How long did it take your hamstring pain to go away? I'm taking a 2 to 3 week vacation from the anastrozole and then switching to the name brand Arimidex. Hoping things improve as I'm also struggling with stiff hands, trigger fingers, aching at the bases of my thumbs, sore ankles, and anxiety. I did well the few months but the last several have been a bummer. I am seven months in.
Puffin, thanks for sharing the Vitamin K information. I recently learned of the importance of adding K2, especially if you are supplementing with D3. I read you should take an additional 100 - 200 mcg of K2 for every 1000 iu of D3 you taking. Of course, talk to your MO before starting or chaning anything. More info:
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I'm definitely calling my nurse navigator tomorrow to get something to help me sleep. I don't need any more health problems. Maybe some amitriptyline? That may help with the pain due to costochondritis.
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Hmmm.....my glutes have been really sore since I started Arimidex. Just another se
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Mel- the "Charliehorse" calf cramp, and also instep foot cramp is a deficiency of MAGNESIUM, not sure if this is your problem, but we take cal-mag-zinc, the magnesium is the key to runner's cramps, in our experience.
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I second that. Adding magnesium with my calcium cured my calf cramps. If only my poor grandmother had known that. She suffered terribly with leg cramps.
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BTW, if you take Prilosec (generic or brand), it now comes with magnesium. I use Walmart's OTC brand.
HUGS!
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Peggy, Taking Prilosec for a long time can do damage to your body. Have you researched this? Just looking out for you!
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Mysunshine, Yup. Know that and was off it for several years. However, nothing else was helping my acid reflux. Went back on a combination of Prilosec and Pepcid and life has been much much better. And I am taking Fosamax so need something potent. Thank you for mentioning it, though.
HUGS!
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Great tip on the magnesium, Art15 and Doxie. Now that I think of it, the leg pain started shortly after I dropped the multivitamin I was taking. I am probably deficient. Will pick some up today! Thanks!
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omeprazole magnesium is just a salt form it doesn't provide a therapeutic dose of magnesium. You will have to supplement with magnesium oxide, citrate or gluconate 250mg to 500 MG to get enough magnesium to reduce leg cramps or act as laxative (if you go too high.
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Thanks. I probably won't add much magnesium to my supplements. I don't have leg cramps and I certainly do not need a laxative!
HUGS!
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You're right Peggy - my PCP had to hospitalize someone recently who was taking mega doses of mag "for her health" - she was put in an ambulance at PCP's office - I am on a very low dose of the stuff because I get leg cramps no matter what I do - have had them since I was a teenager and the mag works.
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208Sandy, That's scary. Thanks for that heads up!
HUGS!
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I find the magnesium oxide does not help me but the citrate or gluconate do. I take the daily amount in the evening after dinner as I get muscle cramps in my legs, arms, chest and feet at night, if I take the mag in the evening before bed I seldom have the cramps, but those nights I can't get any sleep because of the spasms, are usually the nights I forgot to take the magnesium. I guess it helps to have some calcium with, but haven't noticed that it makes much difference for me.
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Does anyone know about taking/and/or interactions of Cucumin/Tumeric and Arimidex?
Cucumin/Tumeric is supposed to be good to add as a supplement.
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I just want to let everyone know how much I appreciate all the help you all provided me. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with me. I know where to come next time I need help!!!
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roserx, I'm doing 250 mg of magnesium citrate in the liquid softgel form. I've only had three doses and I swear the cramping in the back of my leg has already stopped. It is crazy how fast it kicked in. I am thrilled! Maybe I don't need to continue my Arimidex holiday after all. The leg pain was my biggest complaint.
mysunshine, I just spoke at length with one of my oncology nurses yesterday about taking turmeric with Arimidex. She spoke to a pharmacist and assured me that there is no interaction concerns. I was glad to hear it because I've been taking turmeric for months now and cooking with it more as well.
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Meljo, glad to hear the mag citrate worked. Sorry I didn't look up the turmeric, I do no it doubles INR for those on Coumadin, so it does affect platelets for those on blood thinners. If you experience bleeding or bruising you need to talk to doctor and or back off the turmeric.
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I had bad leg cramps when on Tamoxifen. My MO suggested an old remedy, they used to prescribe quinine for cramps and while they don't do that anymore, there is quinine in tonic water. I drink the diet tonic water but it cured the cramps. I didn't add the gin but would put in a slice of lime sometimes! Worth a try, worked for me. I don't have the leg cramps on Arimidex but still drink the tonic water.
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I also use the tonic water. I don't get leg cramps often but when I use the tonic water I do half fruit juice, half tonic water.
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Thanks for the tonic water tips. PCP and MO both mentioned drinking it, but I still haven't tried it. PCP said to add a little something......but not gin!..... and he laughed. Cramping seems to come and go. I'm trying to figure out what I do differently at times. Thanks!
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The curcurcum/tumeric seems to help me.... if I run out for a while I think the general aches and pains are worse. I do order a version online that is supposed to be more bioavailable... from Life Extension. Unless in food, I think the regular versions are not taken up as well by the body. I believe, however, that people with gall bladder issues should avoid it--so check with your doctor on that.
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My joint and leg pain comes and goes. My biggest factor seems to be the shoes I wear. I wore my Danskos the other day and needed 2 Aleve just to sleep. With my escort duty at school I am walking 5-6 miles a day...I will stick with my Keens.
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