For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
-
wavewhisperer when my eyebrows started to go I started to pain Minoxidil on them too. Got a little growth but I don't think they are shedding anymore. I have always taken biotin, starting several years before diagnosis due to receding hairline.
0 -
Iago, I think it was you who led me to the Anastasia brow duo. I never leave home without it!! Until you don't have them, you don't realize how important brows are! You've always been a great source of advice. Thanks for all you do for us Sisters!!!
0 -
Brookside I too have been dealing with thinning hair. I thought it was thyroid problems but have had a lot of thyroid tests all normal. I had my right thyroid glad removed last year and still all my tests come back within normal ranges. I have no idea if Arimidex has anything to do with it or not, as mine was actaully falling out prior to Arimidex. I know stress can definitely contribute to hair loss and other medications as well. I can't even walk in the kitchen unless my hair is up in a clip or a ponytail. Combing out freshly washed hair is so traumatic I now comb it out in the bedroom on the carpet so I won't see it all in the sink. I was told not to wash it daily. Hard for me but I see the point. I now shampoo it every other day. As much as I lose I seem to still have about the same amount. I also take Biotin twice daily and I know that helps. It grows much faster than it used to.
0 -
Greetings,
As usual, I neglect to stay involved on this site until I start worrying about something. Sorry. I do keep track from time to time to see what the topics are about and usually don't have much to add that hasn't already been discussed. I have now been on arimidex (generic version) for 13 months and was doing what I consider very well with it. But just in the past week I have developed a painful left knee and wonder what is up with that. I had just gone to the doctor for my general yearly physical a week ago and all seemed fine. But that afternoon as I was grocery shopping my knee kinked up on me and has been bothering since. The day before my doctor's appointment I did do some grounds keeping where I live that required going up and down a steep bank, then that night I got on my mountain bike for a short ride, no problems or issues there.
Now I have a brace on my knee and taking ibuprofren which does help. I guess if it keeps bothering I need to see my oncologist as we can't just assume it is a strain or arthritis or the arimidex causing it. Because I feel well overall, I forget that bone pain is something to keep track of. There is one spot in particular that is sore to the touch and that is around the meniscus on the inside of the knee. I am pushing 60 too so it could be age related. But a bit worried just the same. Has anyone experienced knee pain, particularly in one knee? When I first started arimidex I noticed walking downhill that both my knees felt stiff and achey but then that passed. Guess I need to stay off the mountain bike until this issue is resolved. I have read about the thinning hair and I have not had that issue (YET). In fact my hair has come back in quite thick. I have had my 4th month appointment with my oncologist and my general checkup all in the last month, blood work, cholesterol, and all tests were fine. Thanks for any info you might have with regard to knee pain and arimidex.
Gorgeous day in the Northeast here. Enjoy it.
Allagashmaggie
0 -
Janis, I am so glad you still seem to have the same amount of hair, despite all the shedding. I am not sure if I have less hair or not, except that I see it all over the place, but your post gives me hope. I'm going nuts trying to haul the vacuum up and down stairs. I think I need to get one of those lightweight plug in things that are like an overgrown dustbuster. And (thanks for the idea) a hair clip--my stairs are painted white and my hair is dark. Ughhh!
0 -
Allagashmaggie, I'm on aromasin and was initially on anastrozole. On both drugs I often had pain in only one joint. Any intense pain was always on my left side and not the right. Ankle, knee, hand and now hip joints have been involved at different times. I'm fairly active, but am certain the pain is related to AIs.
Yes, bone pain is rather frightening. I'm holding my breath with my recent pain in my hip. My MO wasn't concerned about the other joints. The hip, we'll see if it still hurts by my next appointment and see what he says. That to me is more concerning.
0 -
Allagashmaggie oh we could be twins! Yep left knee. The same exact thing happened to me. I was walking one day and it felt like something slipped in my left knee. It also had a sensitive area that hurt to touch, at about the same exact location. I mentioned it to my pain specialist and after a couple weeks of really bad pain I finally afreed to a cortisone injection. It feels a lot better now, but if I am really busy I can still get some minor pain in the evenings. So far it has not been really bad though. I have no idea how long this injection will last. My MO would be worthless in this situation. He is in denial about any problems caused by rads......
0 -
I had a lot of knee pain last year while on aromasin. Left knee pain caused by light yoga?? Each doc. I saw told me something different as to the cause. Sometimes right knee pain that came and went too.
0 -
Thank you Doxie, Justmejanis, and mybee333 for sharing your experiences with knee and joint problems. I've been nursing the knee with a knee brace, capsacian, ice pack and ibuprofen and I do think it is subsiding. I stay on my feet a lot and keep on the move as much as I can stand. I don't see any swelling. It seems like our pains on arimidex come and go so I hope this one will do the same, go that is. If it persists, I think I will see my general physician first because I live much closer to her than my oncologist.
I truly appreciate
being able to come here to bc.org for support and information sharing. Best to all.0 -
WaveWhisperer If I could only put on one cosmetic it would be my anastacia brow duo. Next eyeliner.
0 -
Brookside - I had been on Anastrozole for about a month when we went on vacation. The resort had these pure white towels.... after I shampooed my hair, they looked like brown mohair towels!!! So much hair came out I had to check to see if I had any bald spots.
At home, I found I needed to sweep my bathroom floor daily, as the hair just piled up whenever I brushed it.
Finally, I started taking Biotin, 1000mg a day. Slowly the massive shedding stopped. My MO said it wasn't uncommon, but most women report that it comes in cycles, not constant.
(I don't wash my hair every day, either.)
0 -
BTW I have noticed more hair shedding but this is not unusual in warmer weather.
0 -
Well, it's been 3 weeks on Arrimidex, for the second go round, and I felt the tears welling up. It helps a bit to know it's the drug causing it but there's always a reason for the tears. I guess we're just a bunch of chemical reactions. So I took a Lexapro. And now I'm nauseous on top of it all. But I DO know that the nausea is a SE of the pill and not an illness and suppose that's reassuring? lol WHAT a merry-go-round!
0 -
Hello again everyone. Been out with phone issues. Just wanted to say ill be on Arimidex for abyear in August. I have a lot of joint pain. But I had that before, and it just getting worse. I need a knee replacement, for both knees, but can't get them due go complications of chemo. Also I am still having effects from chemo, low magnesium and a sensitive colon. Oh joy. Meaning I try to eat prunes and salads cause they are good for me, but they leave me with problems. So I really have to watch what i eat. A friend suggested I try another med, but they all have SEs, and so far I can deal with these. I walk with a cane, and just have to live with it. And Timbuktu, I feel for you not wanting a chair, I have to use one sometimes, but, it is less embarrassing to be pushed, than for them to have stop and wait for me to sit every couple of minutes. Much love to all
0 -
Question: Anyone on the hormone blockers? Have you or your family noticed that you get irritated and even grumpy lately...I am pissed at everyone today!!!! (but not at you girls).... I screamed at everyone this afternoon - little things set me off....
Oh and I'm sick and tired of trying to lose weight - is this a "losing battle" I think I have to accept myself the way I am
0 -
I started Arimidex/Anastaloze generic 3/21/13. I had aches and pains prior so I do not notice anything major. I live alone and no one to get after.....my grandaughter visits and keeps me in a good mood. I am on vacation as of Friday for the summer but did notice the last few weeks at work I was irritable. I have lost a pound, gained a pound and am trying to maintain weight. Basically I am a couple of pounds lighter than when I started all of this in August. I have gained 10 pounds back since January that I lost from chemo so it has all averaged out. I would like to lose about 5 so I started walking early in the morning to avoid Houston humidity. It is a constant struggle!
0 -
I have been on Arimidex since January 15, 2013. I am like schoolmom I have had aches and pains prior to taking and due to auto immune condition still do. That is not the thing that is bothering me. I am also so irritable that I can't hardly stand myself. I have a very stressful life and I can't see that changing soon. I am use to the stress but now I am letting things get to me and my husband is getting the worse part of it. I thought at first it was just my life but now I am not sure. My doctor tried me on an anti-depressant about 6 weeks ago. I had a bad reaction and had to be taken off. I don't even like myself right now and at 65 I want to enjoy my life. If there is one thing this journey has taught me is "take one day at a time". I feel blessed that my cancer was found early and I don't want to be irritated all the time. I don't want to take another medicine that I have to take all the time. I would like to have something just to calm me down when things really get rough. Anybody got any suggestions?
0 -
Yesm yesm and yes, It's the pills
0 -
I use xanax when I can't stand it another minute but it's addictive so I try not to take it often, There is something better, I forget the name.
I get bad reactions to Lexapro but I was so desperate the other day i took one, I got the usual nausea and then I slept the ENTIRE DAY AND NIGHT! It was wonderful, I was calm. I also hate to take more pills. This is my second go-round with arrimidex so at least I recognize the aches and misery are from the pill and I try to reassure myself that way. But it's awful and not exactly "living". My onco said some people have to switch pills and take vacations just to get through the 5 years. I'm one of those, It's been 3 weeks since I'm back on the arrimidex and at least so far the symptoms are not as bad as they were before. But it took time to get bad before so anything can happen. i just keep trying to remind myself that these lousy side effects mean that the pill is working and hopefully starving those nasty little rogue cells if they are there,
0 -
Hi Claudia, we are in the same boat ...Besides being a grumpy old women today
and frustrated with everyone I am getting really short fused and my husband blames it on the meds, I started Arimidex (Anastrazole) April 5 = have a long time to go.....- I say people just make me angry!!!!! I also hate that I feel like a rolly polly. I quit smoking 5 years ago and gained weight and now at 65 I really don't feel like joining the gym again, I use my Total Gym but it makes all my joints ache worse......, I also have the same aches and pains as you, even got an MRI which showed arthritis. My cancer was also found early, so yes, we are blessed. 
0 -
Oh Timbuktu. I'm so glad you mentioned Xanax, I have some that I never took, maybe I'll give them a try (occasionally)....Thanks
0 -
Timbuktu, I'm with you. This is my second go-round with Arimidex, after a one-month vacation. It's been two weeks and, like you, so far the joint pain isn't quite as bad but I'm taking Claritin every morning to see if that helps. And, as you said, it took a while for the bad SE to build up the first time. I can definitely see myself taking vacations from this med in order to get through 5 years. I've got one year of the med -- and 20 years of aging!! -- under my belt.
As for those who posted about irritability, I had been on Zoloft for several years before BC and stayed on it throughout my active treatment. I stopped taking it, and boy, can I tell a difference in my mood swings and irritability. My DH noticed it right away. I'm tired of taking so many pills, so I thought I could live without the Zoloft. Maybe not!!
0 -
5LuvBugs: I have aches, pains and fatigue but no irritability. I did notice last weekend I got really weepy for no apparent reason, but then deduced it was from EXTREME fatigue after pushing a lawn mower for two and a half hours (I was wiped out for a day and a half!). I have some ativan from post-diagnosis, pre-BMX anxiety, took one and it straightened me right out. Ativan might be a good option for kind of a quick fix, you just take it when you need it. It's not like Zoloft and others where you have to take it regularly. Hope you find a solution soon (((((((hugs)))))).
0 -
I can relate to all of the above. I have been on arimidex for over a year now and noticed early on the irritability. I have a much shorter fuse for sure. I didn't notice much for aches and pains beyond the usual before bc but I agree that it seems to accumulate. I have been tending a sore left knee for two weeks nut it does seem to be subsiding. Like sweetandspecial, I asked my doc two weeks ago for a prescription for anxiety. I don't take it often but when I do it has a nice calming effect. I will tough it out until my next appt in August with my oncologist and then if these aches and pains get worse I'll ask to try another drug.
I have read that if the side effects are bad, it means the pill is doing its job. I'll keep that in mind when I douse myself with Ben gay.
Endeavor to persevere all.
Maggie0 -
We have to be careful about what we take. It took years to find out that Tamoxifin didn't work when people took a certain anti depressant. Memory is gone!
When I was on the Arrimidex the first time I could not stop crying. I'm not a crier.
When i was told the diagnosis, I joked about it. But after being on Arrimidex for several months I broke down in the dr office. They just shook their heads and said "It's the Arrimidex". They'd seen it before. It was hard to believe because I had plenty of reason to cry. But darned if it wasn't the Arrimidex. When I stopped taking it it was as though the faucet was turned off.
0 -
Wow, so it seems like it is the meds!!!! That sucks for 2 reasons, I have to take this stuff for 5 years and because the husband is right once again !!!!!
0 -
When I go see my oncologist in July I am going to ask about the Ativan. I took it years ago and it did work. All you have to do is take it when you need it. It seems that people are abusing it and doctors are really picky about giving prescriptions. My PCP doesn't like to give them for an on-going basis; however, if I am going to make it 5 years they are going to have to do something. My husband is one of the most easy going loving men I have ever known. He has been so supportive and I want my years with him to be happy years. On June 30th we will be married 40 years.
0 -
I think the adjustment to having less hormones floating around is definitely challenging, and added to that; one starts an anti-hormonal right at the end of 'active treatment', so you are already pretty beat up both physically and emotionally. And I think some of the anger/sadness/unsettledness comes from that. You have been seeing doctors, having treatments, hopefully having lots of support from family and friends....and then you are pushed out the door with a bottle of pills and a ' Good Luck, see you in three months'.....and everyone else goes back to normal, while there you are saying "WTF just happened here?????"
0 -
Great points, Ruth!!!
0 -
Ruthbru you nailed it.
0
