For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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Ouch sorry to hear that. Feel better soon.
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Are any of you taking Claritin for the bone pain?
Paula0 -
That is amazing! Thanks for sharing that...about the blood sugar. It's odd because doesn't diabetes increase recurrence? But Arrimidex lowers recurrence. Honestly i feel as though my head is swimming with facts or pseudo-facts. My doctor is very definite in the things he says. Very sure. But I don't know...seems to me that not everything is cut and dry and everyone is different anyway.
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I don't have jaw pain. But did anyone mention that stress may be making you grind harder than usual?
I think the Arrimidex definitely makes me depressed. If you are grinding more than usual you will get jaw pain and cracked teeth...I've had so many. I'm missing several teeth, even after having the root canals, the caps, etc. The teeth broke had had to be pulled anyway. They want to give me implants now and it's hard for me to chew but the thought of more oral surgery is daunting. I'm kind of glad NOT to have the teeth there. As long as the front teeth are there no one can tell.
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Timbuktu is it that diabetes increases recurrance or is it being overweight that increases recurrence considering many diabetics are overweight?
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I had no blood sugar problems and by the way was reading the stage 3 survivor page and decided my little break is over. Seven days ,made a big difference in the way I feel. Now I can really blame the pains on the little pill. When I get down I come to this site to read the good stuff and feel alot better. I can see that 10 years on Armidex is going to happen which is fine beats bc unless they find a total cure for us and I read alot of good stuff. I can still hit the buttons at the casino so guess I dont need thumbs. My typing sucs but still manage .Bugs you are lucky my dr acts like I am a druggie if I ask for vicondin. My last script lasted over a year. One question they are doing studies on Metformin, isnt that for high blood sugar so it seems that dibetics should have less bc. Little mixed up here lol
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Timbuck - NO IMPLANTS!!!! You will probably have so much jaw pain because of the implants and the meds combined... My dentist was going to recommend implants and I asked my onc = he said no implants because I would have to wait to take Prolia for 2 years (or something like that). Well this Arimidex has caused enough pain in my mouth - now I have to stop it for at least 2 weeks to see if the pain goes away. It is 4 am and I am sitting here with painful elbows, painful knees and wrists and my jaw/teeth still hurt - just took that Vicodin and hopefully the pain will go away....Now I'm really sorry I got that root canal!!!!! It wasn't the problem to begin with....
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I'm no expert but, it's not the metformin but keeping your BG below the normal range, unless metformin has other qualities to fight BC. I am a diabetic and take 2000mg a day. Fasting BG is still 135+. I don't think the Metformin is helping to keep me from recurance unless I can manage to keep the level low. I am thin, and always have been, 5'2" 110lbs on a 'fat' day. Many people can reverse diabetes by losing wieght. Sugar IS the enemy. When a PET scan is done your injected with sugar to light up the CA. Cancer feeds on the sugar.
The daily limit for Metformin is 2500mg a day. I am hoping to up my dose to get my BG at least to normal. That is not good enough. When a non diabetic takes metformin BG levels drop, hence less food for the CA. imho.
Just my uneducated guess.xox
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Paula - I take claritin every day for allergies - and don't have any bone pain.
I am not diabetic -or at least I wasn't, but twice this week I had a shaky feeling and sorta dizzy and had to eat some carbs quickly to calm it down.. not sure what that was about but it was an uncomfortable situation..
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Good point! Not sure. They are probably trying to research that with the metformin study. I think I read somewhere that it was having too much insulin, which is a growth hormone, that increases recurrence. A dr at Northwestern said that they think the cause is inflammation. Inflammation creates cytakines. I'm groping here to remember. But she said that's why they think excercize works to prevent recurrence, it reduces inflammation. Gosh, my head is filled with facts and partial facts so I'm really not sure. Seems an aspirin would help if inflammation is the probelm, but I'm not sure that I've heard that theory. I don't think. What amazes me is how it all comes down to the same thing, heart disease, cancer, etc. it's all coorelated with inflammation and the inflammation is coorelated with bad lifestyle. OTH, There are so many fit, athletic, skinny people who get it. With statistics, it's never black and white. That's why I was careful to say coorelated wtih, no caused by. I don't think they know the "cause" yet.
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5 luv, I'm so sorry to hear what you are going through! Thank you for sharing. Intuitively I knew I didnt' want implants. It just seemed like more trouble to me. Thanks for helping me reason it out although I sure wish you weren't going through this.
On my recent chemisties my calcium was a little high. I asked the dr why and he said it was only one point high so that didn't count. I asked "but why?" He didn't answer. Has anyone else had that? Does it mean the calcium is leaching from my bones? I wonder why he didn't tell me.
Gosh, a toothache is such an awful thing to have. I'm sending you a virtual hug and hope it's gone by now. And thanks again, I will stand firm against implants now. Each dr seems to think only of his expertise (and salary?) but they forget I'm a whole person. Sometimes it feels like dominoes, after one thing happens, things follow.
But you tooth situation will be resolved soon and that should be one less thing.
The dr told me to take a month off because that's the only way to know what is causing all of the pain.
I think I know. Tomorrow will be a week.
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IamNancy,
It does sound like low blood sugar. If the carbs work on the shaky feeling it proberbly is. I love the drop in BG so I can have a guilt free cookie or two, or three. I'm bad. Hypoglycimia is just as hard to deal with as hyperG. Talk with your dr if it happens alot. Not fun.
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Timbuktu I too have read reducing inflammation is thought to help and there is are some studies going on regarding aspirin. My onc doesn't recommend that at this point but it is being studied.
chef127 did not mean to imply ALL diabetics have a weight problem. Just a large majority do and in many cases that is what caused the disease to appear.
Speaking of exercise I'm off to do my power walk. I got up late this morning.
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Lago,
I know you are too smart to imply that. I was just clearifying that many diabetics can 'cure' it by loosing weight. I wish I could..................xox
Maybe if I joined you at the gym it would help.
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I think type 2 diabetes is usually caused by excess weight but type one is not. Do you have type one or two?
I think it makes a difference because type 2 diabetics have tons of insulin but the body just can't use it.
Type one diabetics can't make insulin. So if insulin is the culprit...seems only type 2 diabetics would have a highter incidence of recurrence. If blood glucose is the culprit, both types one and two should have a higher rate of recurrence.
And I should be be getting out there and excercizing too rather than sitting here on line!!!!
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I am type 2. I started to take Insulin about a year ago but my BG is still high. Is it the pasta, candy, fruit, cake and cookies?? I don't really over do it but appearantly a little is tooooooo much. I have MS and became disabled 4 years ago after working like a horse all of my adult life and I loved it. I was pissed off and kicked myself by eating ALOT of shit. Then BC. I believe my uncontrolled BG had a lot to do with the severity of my dx, but not the only factor. I have a better diet now and take a lot of supps, try to excersize, blah blah blah.
It is controlable, but so hard for me to give up that sweet tooth, a lifetime of poor choices. My friends say I need to get laid..........HMMMM maybe they're on to something?
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First of all, on teeth. Just expensive misery. I did get an implant for my back tooth. But I have good bones, and I don't take any bone building drugs. I will take breast surgery over the implant any day pain-wise. However, very glad I did it.
I don't think the blood sugar stuff is as likely to be Arimidex as the fact that chemo depletes your energy reserves. This takes some time to recover from. I still use more energy stuff for long rides, but particularly that first year. Remember, I do endurance events, and normally I can cycle about 25 miles before my body depletes its energy stores. So I need instant energy or I bonk. It was so much worse during and after chemo. No energy to draw from. It gets better over time as your body rebuilds.
(My body is still rebuilding following last weekend's 200 mile ride to Portland. So not just chemo that causes these things.)
As for food, I don't do guilt. I cycle enough so I can eat whatever I want. Life is much more fun that way.
I am off to do a relatively easy group ride that starts and ends at a brew pub. People I know so should be fun.
You never know for sure if exercise will prevent a recurrence. I do know for sure that it sharpens my brain, keeps the weight off, builds curves vs flab, makes me strong, keeps my mood positive, helps me sleep, and keeps my body working the way it should. That is more than enough to keep me out there. I feel grumpy and sluggish if I don't get enough.
Need to eat some breakfast and get moving!!! It's chilly this AM so hoping the fog burns off. Again, much more fun this way. - Claire
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Metformin is being used to treat POCS. It works in the liver to help the body use the glucose in the blood, keep it steady. It is also used for weight loss.
T2, CANNOT be cured. It can go into remission.
T1 is an autoimmune disorder.
It's true a lot of T2s are overweight but there are a lot of thin ones also. More and more children are being dx'd with it. It can be genetic.
Suggest going to the American Diabetes Assn site for further information. I am not connected with them.0 -
I recently did a chart for myself of certain items on all my bloodwork that were flagged as High or Low. Since I have been on Arimidex, my RDW and MCV levels have risen. The high levels indicate anemia. Need B12 and folic acid. I did a ton of searching and found that one of the side effects of Arimidex is ANEMIA.
My onc never mentioned this fact or the fact that I was slowling creeping upward toward high levels of anemia or that I should be taking supplemental B12 and folic acid to mitigate this. Oh no, just let it keep climbing until I have another medical condition that requires drugs!! or that might do other damage.
Also I had an increase in calcium levels - not dangerously high but creeping up. Turns out that reading a lot of posts here that taking calcium supplements can raise your blood calcium levels. Blood test taken this month I stopped all supplements one week before and did it on a fast. calcium level dropped a llittle, still showing high normal RDW and MCV.
I don't know how much B12 or folic acid to take but I am going to try at least the max daily allowance and see what the next test results show. I am truly annoyed that we must find these things out for ourselves.
Oh yeah, the gift that keeps on giving - Arimidex - turns out that it also causes cataracts. I have had one eye done and this coming week will have the other done.
Any input on the anemia problem would be greatly appreciated.
Kathy
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That is a terrific idea, charting your chemistries. Each dr visit is what 15-30 minutes? It's going to get worse if Obamacare goes through. I know how you feel. I don't think they give us much thought at all. It's all routine.
Yesterday he told me my pain could be from varicose veins. I told him I'd never had them before. They came suddenly, only in one leg, about 6-8 months ago. My thigh is painful to the touch too. It seems so odd to me. He said "you're getting older". I couldn't believe it! But who knows? Maybe he's right. I have an app with a vascular guy and an arthritis guy. I dread all the tests I will have. I just don't feel that any one dr feels responsible for me. In the end you have to do it yourself. And when you get too old to do it...you die. lol
Anyway, I am going to chart my chemistries too. Seems to me that even if you take calcium supplements you body should be able to excrete it so that your blood levels stay normal.
I'm going to the movies!
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gee I thought we were supposed to take calcium suppliments~~
I sort of think the PCP is the one to follow all this junk, my onco only worries about the cancer coming back. When I end the aromasin in Dec, sort of think my visits to her will lesson also, not really sure
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If you have more than one medical issue going on and stress (my life is spelled STRESS) it is hard to tell what is what. I didn't want to take something that was hard to go off of so I talked to my oncologist who did give me some klonopin .5 mil. One a day with 2 refills. She suggested I go see a psychiatrist and I said okay. She looked at my list from my insurance company and I called one of the groups (they make up most of the doctors). I was told by the lady who answered "none of our doctors are taking new patients". I have a few more to call but I am about at the stage to say "who cares". I am trying to stay positive but my insurance company is making it hard.
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Yes I too thought we had to take calcium and vitamin D on Arimidex. However, it turns out (Mayo Clinic) that too much D anc calcium in combo not good. In fact, if you live in a climate where you are getting at least 20 minutes of sunlight on your bod each day you don't need supplemental D. I live in Los Angeles and I get at least that much daily because I do a lot of gardening.
There were some other ladies on posts about Arimidex and calcium that also had higher levels while taking supplements whose levels declined back to normal when the ceased the supplements.
I am going to be my own science experiment for a change instead of being the medical community's science experiment. I will continue to chart my blood work and see what happens with no more calcium supplements or D and getting these things naturally and through food. I have a good healthy diet, no junk food, organic meats, eggs, vege etc. don't smoke and drink red wine mostly. I will take the B's and folic acid since that seems to be where I need some extra stuff.
Timbuctu - you get 15minutes? Wow. I'm lucky if I get 5. Everything gets done by the assistants and then the onc comes in to look at me and say OK see you next time.
Kathy
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Bren, I started my second month of Arimidex this week and so far, nuthin. No side effects that I can see. I did have a horrible headache for about 4 days so I stopped the AI for 3 days and it went away. I don't know if it was caused by them, but I'm beginning to doubt it or it would be back by now.
You might just be one of those people with no issues :-)
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Hi everyone! Enjoying the informative posts and the encouragement offered through this community. I've been taking arimidex for about three weeks and noticing weird energy cycles throughout the day. I can feel fine and be energetic and then just crash in a few hours. Trying to sort out trends based on timing of the pill, when it peaks and the half-life, cumulative effects, etc...trying to find a self help answer to moderate the roller coaster. I have been diligently exercising and that helps, but it's strange. I hate being so fatigued and that it's oddly sporadic too.. Ideas!? If this is common( haven't read too many comments about fatigue here), does it regulate at some point? I have a CT scan on Tuesday, and having declined the recommended chemo, I'm a little apprehensive. It's been said more eloquently by many others here, but real simply, Cancer Sucks!!
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I have been incredibly fatigued. I can't get through a day without a nap. But I just found out that I have diabetes so that may have something to do with it. Good luck!
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Those energy peaks and valleys (the valleys, anyway) could also be from rads. Some of us experience that sort of thing for several months after treatment is completed.
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Catching up on postings, I was on vacation and not checking in so much. So many posts to respond to, I will just give general responses.
Magnolia57, you are right, CANCER SUCKS! People don't understand because you can't really "see" anything. I have actually become closer with some people that I did not know well because they are also battling different cancers and it makes it kind of a "secret club."
Red wine is good.....for cholesterol, for heart disease, to go with chocolate, to go with cheese!
Back to the posts from a few days ago about the hymns and God is good. I need to share my own personal story with someone.......time got away from me and I did not have a mammogram for three years. Job troubles, job change with lot of on-call time and a boss who would not let me take time off, then my hubby had a serious illness last summer, then another new job (with a boss who is fabulous!). So this spring I developed nipple discharge which prompted me to schedule the mammogram (I had that in the past and it was nothing, but it made me think about getting the mammo). Had to do a diagnostic mammo because of the discharge......radiologist did an ultrasound, and pointed out areas of "concern." Went back the next week for the biopsies....radiologist said the area on the left was not concerning but the areas on the right were. The morning of the biopsy I saw a cardinal on my deck (it's a long story but cardinals always make me think of my dearly departed dad who I was very close with). Driving in for the biopsies I saw a rainbow (and it wasn't raining). Made me all of a sudden think of my mother who has been gone since 1979. That night after the biopsies I took my dog out and saw the strangest cloud...it was shaped just like an open heart. Made me think of God...and I am not a religious person. I am spiritual but not religious if that makes any sense. But I had an immensely comforting feeling that everything will be okay. Unfortunately all the biopsies turned out positive...some for DCIS and some for IDC. When I told the surgeon that I went for the mammo because of the discharge, she said that was very serindipitous.....the discharge was probably a benign process but that's what got me there. And I will thank God! A friend gave me a prayer shawl that was made by a group of women at her church, and I am going to start going with her.
That's my story and I'm sticking to it!
Martha
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I began Anastrozole about 2 1/2 months ago: last week I started to feel dizziness and then Headaches. Friday saw my PCP. My BP generally is 100/60, 120/80 at tops: I had a blood vessel burst in my left eye, so my PCP took my BP both arms 170/100. Then she ran to get a mechanical BP machine which read 175/125. I was began BP meds last
night and headache gone, and
dizziness dissipating. Side effects of elevating BP not mentioned on medication info sheet. Has anyone else had this side effect occur?
I was a Stage 1A right breast, infiltrating lobular carcinoma .05 cm, sentinel node neg, Pet Scan neg for
Mets. I'm 63 1/2, LPN and chose Bilateral Mastectomies. No chemo or radiation ordered. I believe the BP elevation is from Anastrozole.0 -
Martha, another great 'God is Good!' story! The 3-year lapse sounds a lot like my situation (only I didn't have job problems or a sick husband, I was just lazy and procrastinated).
Magnolia: I started Arimidex in early December and noticed fatigue within a couple of months. I've always taken my pill first thing in the morning, never tried different timing for that. But I can tell you that about 4-6 weeks ago the serious fatigue just kind of disappeared. Yes, I still get fatigued, but it's not the bone-tired, 'if I sit down after I get home from work I'll fall asleep' kind of fatigue. I haven't slept well for years (good ole menopause process) and I attribute my normal level of fatigue to occasional accumulated sleep deprivation.
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