For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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Hot sweats= another reason to take it in the morning, another darn SE of Anastrozole...there is one SE for everyone! LOL
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I never take any medication on an empty stomach unless the directions specify. I have IBS and at times can get heartburn so I'm a bit proactive when it comes to digestive stuff.
I take it in the morning. My NP recommended that. I do get the occasional warm flash between 2-5am but that's it. My flashes were never hot and sweaty even going through chemo-pause.
Remember exercise is great but the true key to losing weight is some muscle building to boost metabolism, what your eat and PORTION CONTROL. My problem is portion control. Just need to eat a little less.
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Oh, marianelizabeth - sounds like you got the triple whammy: chemo, surgery, then an immediate AI.
My MO let me get through the first few months after BMX without taking the Anastrozole, so I could resolve those pain issues first. Then, when I was better, I started a weight loss program (liquid fast) and she gave me another reprieve. So I didn't start the AI until 9 months after my BMX. So far, so good.
Hope you feel better soon!
~~~
Hortense - ditto on the "My Fitness Pal!" The ladies at the Kaiser Weight Management program took an unofficial poll, and "My Fitness Pal" won hands-down over other programs like "Lose It!" I REALLY like the bar-code scanner on my iPhone...it enters all the data automatically!
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Agreed! I love the barcode scanner and the ability to muti- add foods for each meal. It makes keeping track so easy and actually a bit fun.
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I have been on anastrazole since July. S/E's are minimal. Joint pain (I exercise and do yoga, and it DOES help). Hot flashes every now and then. Insominia has always been an issue, so I can't blame it on the drug. I am currently doing neurofeedback for sleep issues and no longer have to take any drugs for sleep. It's very liberating.
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Mariane....I never experienced nor heard that AIs caused nausea, and believe me many meds make me sick. After my surgery last year I was so sick from the strong antibiotic that DH finally convinced the PS nurse to prescribe one of the meds people take during chemo.
So I can't say for sure the AI caused your nausea, but I would be more likely to point the finger at antibiotics and strong pain killers, especially the combo.
Hang in there....
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Nausea is the only side effect I've had from anastrozole, except for some mild fatigue that might just be from having cancer. My first MO mentioned it and I boasted about having a cast-iron stomach, only to upchuck my first dose. It settled down pretty quickly and now I just have mild queasiness when I first wake up that goes away as soon as I nibble on a cracker.
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I'm new to this Arimidex site although I've been reading it since I started Arimidex on Feb. 1. My main se is hot flashes. But, I had a bone scan yesterday and found out today that I have osteoporosis in my hip. I have an appt to see my primary care doc next week. It seems like this never ends....always something. Any one else have osteoporosis?
Thanks
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fqm I started with osteopenia prior to chemo. Chemo-pause + chemo there was a drop. I continue to drop. My spine is -2.3. It looks like in a year I too will have osteoporosis. Have a family history of it too as well as small frame. I eat right work out (strength training and walk calcium, D3 but Anastrozole and age is still getting my bones. I'm too young for this but what can you do. Your PCP should be able to discuss this in detail.
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Thanks for answering Iago. Before chemo I had osteopenia in my spine but my hips were fine. I see you're in Chicago. I'm in La Grange.
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fgm...yep I am osteopenic but not sure what my density was before Anastrozole...my last DX was 15 years ago. I am not taking any meds for it but will see after my next test in 2 years. I am taking calcium/magnesium and D3. MY count was -1.9 but not sure where. I have the results but can't read them. Will take the results to my MO next week.
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BTW -2.5 is osteoporosis. -1.9 isn't too bad. Bone loss doesn't happen as fast as you think.
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Bone loss....not that fast I hope. I have osteo in the neck and osteopenia in the spine/hips...DX before starting the AI. I'm trying to do the right things, but am assuming it's progressing. I did refuse a DEXA scan this Jan...a year after the first. I'm not in favor of the bone building meds...with their SEs and questionability about their efficacy as far as only building the outside of the bones.
I'll bite the bullet for a 2-year scan however, and see what's happening then.
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Chris...I feel the same!
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My DPX in January showed lumbar spine within normal and right femoral neck osteopenic. Still waiting to see once I stop other post surgery drugs how the anastrozole is really affecting me. I finished the antibiotics today and slowly tapering off pain meds. I still think it causes nausea though. I see PS and MO next week~~MO ordered blood work for Monday before I see her. I hope my Hg has gone up after it fell to 103 after surgery. Was 111 just before.
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Hi everyone,
Looking for advice and support. Been on anastrozole since 10/1/12 with minor se, some joint pain, hot flashes, some awakening at night, but overall not bad.
Recently experienced hip pain, mostly left, some right, when sleeping as I'm a side sleeper. After about a week pain stopped. This hip pain I understand is common se of anastrozole. Now I seem to have dull ache pain in my buttocks, mostly left cheek as well as some minor discomfort in low back area. I can't help but be concerned this may be bone mets? Frankly, I'm freaking out. Hip pain started last week of Feb and ended beginning of March, but this buttocks pain has started soon after and remains..going on third week. Bone density scan 9/17/12 confirmed I am osteopenic in spine and neck. Could this new pain just be symptomatic of anastrozole and osteopenic condition? I am scheduled to see onc 4/18. Should I get in sooner? Am I over reacting?
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sherryh...I think you need not to worry...I have the same thing off and on....I feel it for sure the odd time I am able to sleep on my side. The fact that you had it on both sides makes me think it's not serious. If you are that concerned, by all means call your MO and see if your appt can be bumped up.
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Hi, sherryh16 - the doctors have a saying: "When you hear hoofbeats, think horses, not zebras."
In other words, when you have a symptom that could have a hundred causes, start with the simplest explanation, and work your way up. Don't automatically assume that every ache and pain is due to mets, or even AI SEs.
I get that butt cheek pain quite frequently. I have lots of degenerative disk disease in my lower spine, along with some spinal stenosis. (Butt cheek pain can also be indicative of irritation of the sciatic nerve.)
Whenever I get too enthusiastic about yard work, or cleaning out closets, or carrying boxes of books, I can pretty much guarantee that I will develop muscle spasms in my piriformis muscles (which run under the butt cheek, from the sacrum to the hip joint), and feel quite disabled by back pain.
Trigger point therapy, myofascial release therapy, heat, anti-inflammatories, rest, gentle stretching...all of those have helped.
I have osteopenia, and have been on Anastrozole for six months. I may feel more achiness and stiffness these days, but I can live with it.
However, since this pain is new to you, I would recommend that you see your doc for further examination..if only for a possible treatment, and peace of mind.
Hope you feel better soon!
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Sherryh16 I am going through the same fears really badly. I have had a pain in my left arm, which was also my cancer side, for days now. It's freaking me out. I know the femara can do this but it's such a isolated pain and I had pretty much been done with the joint pains other than the lower back. Now suddenly I have this pain in my arm and a bit in my ankles and wrist. But pain between my shoulder and my elbow only on my left arm is so scary. I hate this feeling so much! I called the doctor and the nurse of course says " Well I don't know why the pains have returned but it is common with your medication". Grrrrrrr so so upsetting and NO HELP! I'm so worried but I know breast cancer has taken a huge toll on me emotionally. I don't know what to do. :'-(
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Hi ladies- I have not started my medication yet (waiting to get a bit more space from my last rad treatment), but will say I have all kinds of weird pains in my body all the time. I wonder the same things, did something move, do I have mets forming somewhere? I remind myself I am still healing from two surgery last fall and two seperate internal rad treatments (including one that just completed about two weeks ago) and my body is going to talk to me.
My bones were very achey last weekend, and then I came down with the stomach flu and now they are gone. That was most likely the source. But I have had pains come and go all the time, but so far nothing that persists. My mind also goes to the mets question anytime I have a cough, feel any pains in my side where the liver is, I get a headache, or my bones bother me. Everything is still so new for me, that I am never sure what is normal or not?
I am going to start keeping a journal so I can keep better track of things on this going forward. I want to know if any pain or change seems unusually troublesome or is lingering. I think if you are worried, you should move your apt up too.Wishing you all a good day and Happy St Patty's day too.
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After reading the last few posts, I am feeling better about my hip and butt pain. I have several issues including slight scoliosis, degenerating disc. I do bookkeeping and sitting really irritates my back. I have been going to chiropractor for a year before I found out about the breast cancer. He had me in pretty good shape until the surgery. Trying to get back to that place again. It does seem to be worse since taking Arimidex. I go back oncologist in April. I will talk to her about it. One of the problems I have had and it has gotten worse since starting Arimidex is sleeping. My doctor wants me to take Trazodone. I started a week ago and for the last two nights I found I am not sleeping much, having bad dreams when I do sleep and wake up feeling tired. My doctor doesn't like Ambien, etc. If Trazodone helps people, then they must not have a bad sleeping problem. Any suggestions? Had to tell when you have other medical issues.
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Jazzy and Claudia...I see both of you have your rads listed as internal. I am confused...most of us having rads had them externally. Was there another problem? Hope I am not being too nosy, just curious.
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I LOVED Ambein! I would have dropped dead from exhaustion if I hadn't taken it for awhile. Once everything settles down, you can go for more natural sleep aides, relaxation techniques etc. but if you need more help right now, don't hesitate to try a prescription sleep aid.
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I had internal because mine was small and low grade. I do have an autoimmune condition that causes skin rashes. It is called Dermatomyositis. My chest is usually a mess due to the rash. They felt like internal would not cause me to have the problems with external. Even with the internal, my chest on the side of the radiation got pretty bad but I could only imagine what it would be like with full breast radiation.
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schatzi14, MichyLL, Blessings20,
After reading all your posts, I feel better about my butt pain. On one hand I find comfort that others are experiencing the same issues, but also feel sorry we all have to endure these pains and scares.
I've been trying to figure out what I might have done to cause my pain and have come up with nothing. Only thing that comes to mind is that when I had the couple nights of hip pain, I was switching back and forth from side to side in bed and sleeping sometimes on my back--which I never do. I guess all that unusual movement and positions may have tweaked my back and resulted in the sciatic nerve butt pains. I have noticed it is most painful when I sit for long periods. Don't really feel any pain when up and moving or in bed sleeping. I would assume if really bone mets the pain would not go away but would be there regardless of what one does.
I hate to worry about each little pain but I feel I've never been a lucky person and if the bad happens it happens to me. Always been that way.
Trying to stay positive and live one day at a time. Coming up on my one year cancer free anniversary 4/23--date of my surgery. Hard to believe its been a year already.
Thanks to everyone for their posts and words of encouragement. I can't express how much having this site to exchange posts means to me. THANK YOU!
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Although I haven't been on Arimidex very long, I am glad to have it if it keeps the cancer from coming back. I do take one day at a time with the medicine. It is hard for me to tell if any of my back pain is related since I have had back problems before. I told my husband this morning that I felt the turning from side to side may be making my back worse. I too have been sleeping on my back when the pain gets to me and I wake up. If I get up and walk and then come back to bed a lay down on my back the back pain gets better. The one thing that concerns me is that the pain when sitting and standing has started getting worse. That had been under control after going to chiropractor before surgery.
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Claudia...thanks so much for sharing with me....I found ANOTHER thing I didn't know. LOL
I can see why internal would be beneficial for you in your circumstances. I guess internal or external, it does the trick. I have no clue how they do internal though...do they seed it?
Also about your hip/butt pain, I find when I sit too long (and that is a lot of the day as I am retired) I have the same thing. I have 3 herniated discs in my neck and slight scoliosis as well.
Twice last week I went for a 45 minute walk and barely made it home. When I sat down tho, the pain (lower back and hip) was gone. I just need to remind myself to get off this darn laptop and get up and moving around. Maybe using the vacuum would kill two birds with one stone.
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Schatzi14- I did have internal radiation, which is much less common than external, but it is recommended in specific circumstances. As mentioned by Claudia, it is for very early bc in most cases, where there is no node involvement. Also, since my bc is bilateral, and I am also large breasted, there was a concern about too much rad and damage to the skin and also too much exposure of rad around the chest wall. So internal radiation was recommended.
There are a couple ways they do this, but mine was called interstitial brachytherapy. They place a series of tubes in your breast (25-26 in my case) and do treatments around the tumor bed and 2cm outward with radioactive seeds. You go in 2X a day for about 20 minutes per session. The big issues for me were that I had to go out of state for it, had to live with/sleep with the catheters for 9 days, and could not shower the whole time (sponge baths only). There is some fatigue too, some of that comes with just not being comfortable at night and sleeping that great. But it was very do-able compared to other things I have gone through. We we did the invasive side 6 weeks after my surgery and the other side six weeks after that. I am just a couple weeks past having the second side done, but doing well.
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