For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing
Comments
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well can give you positive results of taking the AL for 5 years but holy crap, I did not know UTIs can be a side effect! I have chronic UTIs and almost constantly running to my urologist office for antibiotics
crap crap crap will I be having a celebration in Dec when my time is ended
when onco says how are you doing, it never occured to me to talk about UTI junk
so the urologist sure did not think on it either
but then again, better a nasty UTI than the dreaded C stuff back
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you bet! Maybe it was a blessing not knowing that the uti's were from the Ai's! You might have been tempted to stop,!
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Cloud, I have had my first hot flash. Holy Mother of Pearl, how do you guys deal with them? I went through natural menopause without them at all, no symptoms of any kind. I am sort of horrified by them, but so far, there has only been 1.
Anyone have suggestions for sweat-proof make up? I use Mac smudge pots for eyeshadow, and that survived...time to start dressing in layers
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Tim,you are right, good that I did not know of the UTI as side effect.....got my current stash of anti and hope not to need it in the next.....4 months
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I feel for those of you suffering the se's of Arimidex. I was on it for 14 months and it was pure hell. Couldn't sleep, my brain stopped working (it was like having constant chemo brain) and walked like a 90 year old woman.
I started to get very bad pain in my lower back, and of course everyone thought the worst. Had a bone scan and it showed arthritis in my back and most of my joints. A bone scan 12 months previously hadn't shown any arthritis. My onc gave me a 2 month holiday off Arimidex and within a week, my brain came back and I was able to sleep much better.
I'm now on Aromasin - and have been for just over 12 months. Almost no se's, I get an occasional night where I can't sleep very well, and I'm still a bit stiff and sore - mainly when I've been sitting for too long. One of the best things is I've lost over 30lbs!
I'm just posting this to let you know that if Arimidex is unbearable - there are alternatives, and some AI's suit us better than others. It's worth trying a different one if you can't tolerate Arimidex.
I could stay on Aromasin for 10 years if I had to and it continues to treat me as well as it is now.
Sending you all ((((hugs))) I know how hard it is for you.
Trish0 -
actually I am on aromasin not arimdex so all the same to me
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I'm so embarassed! When I was on aromasin and kept gaining weight I told everyone it's because it's a steroid! And you lost 30 pounds! No excuses left!
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Oh geeze. UTIs are a SE?? Why??? How???
After getting my blood sugar in control, hasn't had any for years. Now I've had 2 in the past 2 months. NO FAIR!!!!!0 -
lol @ Timbuktu - well the drugs affect us differently - maybe for you Aromasin made you put weight on, don't beat yourself up lol.
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UTIs are common after menopause too. I used to get them in my 20's but this asshole MD fixed that. Never had another one. Problem was he didn't really warn me about what he was going to do. Yikes. Dilated my urethra. Peeing was hell for a week.
I used to drink cranberry juice to prevent them though.
jsrose14 I was slightly osteopenic before chemo. Went into chemo-pause instantly (last period was 2 weeks before chemo). I was already perimenopausal. Given my age at the time (49) and my mom/sister's history my onc felt my ovaries were done. Tested for 5 months. She started me on Anastrozole after chemo. My next bone densisty scan showed loss but still osteopenic. That makes sense given I went into chemo-pause. The following year the loss was barely noticeable. Due for another test in September.
I did give up diet soda (bad for bones) when I started chemo. I also power walk and strength train (nothing major just use body weight and 8-10lb weights). I think that has helped me with my bones… but I have a family history of Osteoporosis (mom) I'm Caucasian, small framed and used to smoke (quit 8 years ago. Not heavy smoker) and drank diet soda every morning since I was 18 so all that contributes to the osteopenia. I'm still on anastrozole.
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I simply can't stand the stuff!! Too many carbs, the diet stuff is nastier. Plus, it's on the no no list for Coumadin. I have enough problems staying in range with that pill.
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Coumadin, really PITA but it does save lives. My dad is on it and he hates it.
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It does make life interesting. Not!!!
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My weight stayed the same on first arimidex, then anastrozole. I've had no problem on either losing the extra chemo or normal winter weight gain I typically have. I'm at a healthy BMI.
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I started on Anastrozole about 2 months after mx, that lasted for 6 months (started on this thread on p. 82), had huge food cravings, especially late at night, no surprise I gained 20 pounds quickly and can't take any of it off. I have been off about 6-8 weeks, no cravings and weight loss of 5 pounds in the last couple weeks (and activity has been relatively low since revision surgery beginning of July). I go back to MO on Monday, have my list of questions but I feel like I'm stepping into the unknown. Where have you others gone after taken off of Anastrozole and what are some of the SE's? Also, what are some of the questions I should ask that I'm not aware of yet? Thanks so much, really appreciate all your insights and advice!
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I went off of Arrimidex on July 14. The dr wanted me to see what problems were coming from the pills. I am feeling sooo much better! The joint pains are about 90% better. I am able to read and focus again, even enjoy reading again. I have so much more energy. But you brought up something I had not registered yet. I am not constantly starving! I've lost about 10 pounds. i think from both lack of cravings and the ability to excercize again. I dread going back on something but it's too risky not to.
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Timbuktu, funny my MO said my cravings had nothing to do with Anastrozole but we both know he's wrong, huh? Never had cravings before (not even pregnancy) and not now. Hmmm.
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My onco said the same thing, I was imagining it. It reminds me of when I was having my first child. As I was being wheeled into the delivery room and the pain became unbearable and I was telling my husband I could not tolerate it, I needed some help, the dr told my husband "It doesn't hurt, she's just afraid." I almost jumped off of the gurney and strangled him! lol If it didn't hurt, what was I afraid of?
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Thank you for all your responses. Been a little over 3 wks since my hysterectomy, feeling pretty good. This surgery was a piece of cake compared to all the others. Think i lifted or bent over weird a few days ago, my right side is hurting a bit. Taking it easy today. Talked to my doctor about feeling sad and joint pain. She let me refill a prescription for Lorazepam to take as needed. Didn't want to go back to taking a "happy pill" every day. As for the joint pain, we just have to live with it. IT SUCKS!!! And my trigger finger, just my thumb, is getting worse. We are ALL in this together, we will make it!!!
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Just returned from the vascular dr. He said I do have varicose veins in the leg that hurts but he doesn't know if that is what is causing all of the pain. Sigh... Compression stockings for 3 months and then we'll see. I never had varicose veins before Arrimidex but he says it doesn't cause them. His physician assistant said it does cause spider veins.
Drs!
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Nancy, I told my trainer about the cancer and the anastrazole and my leg muscle and joint pain and he has helped me design specific exercises to deal with my back and hip (had that before--degenerative disk disease) and the joint and muscle pain that the anastrazole is causing. I am amazed at how much it is already helping. I started with him on August 1st (three training sessions, workout every other day) and already I can usually (most days) walk up my flight of steep stairs outside my house without help...could only get to step 9 or 10 before, then Jim had to help me the rest of the way. I can also walk to the back of the Costco store and back up front without feeling that I won't make it back! (one time I couldn't) My left leg hurt so bad that I was afraid to try to walk anywhere without support but now I can do it.
I'm just saying you might want to work with a trainer for a few sessions and tell them what your issues are so that they can help you design specific exercises to address those joints and muscles...at least it has worked for me and I am so grateful. I just can't afford to not take the medication...too afraid of recurrence, you know? He has been so patient with me and has done his research so he knows what I am up against and what to recommend to help me and the difference has been remarkable in just that short time. It was worth every penny to me...(and they are expensive!)
PS: Anyone who has Humana Gold Plus (and maybe other plans) Insurance, check to see if you have the Silver Sneakers Program...the exercise programs at a lot of gyms are free if you have that...Its a great program!
Timbuktu & Others:
I just LOVE IT when they say it is all in our heads...I'd like to show them "what's in my head" when they say stuff like that!!!!!...However, I think assaulting your oncologist is highly frowned on!
Patti
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Oh, yes...I am going to include the cost of my trainer in my health care expenses deductibles on my income taxes also! That is allowable.
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Easydancer, I completed agree with the benefits of having a trainer help you! and yeap you do need to tell them your issues. Mine has been a huge help to me with my balance issues. But he has also major help to me on my hip achies. He has me stretching almost 15 minutes every session. I do it before I meet with him so he can concentrate on my other junk.
love a non pill solution!
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Gosh, yes. Exercise helps so much! I stretch a bit and move all my joints around before I get out of bed, and even that little bit takes away about half of the hit-the-floor pain. I'm in the middle of PT for back pain and she's got that about under control. I'm not sure which costs more/less--personal trainer or physical therapist, but for anyone with arimidex pain, I sure do recommend looking into one or the other. My insurance also has a personal trainer I can talk with over the phone on a fairly regular basis. He's not exactly targeted to my needs, but just the fact that he's there helps me stay committed to doing something for half and hour (nearly) every day.
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VERY interesting! Thanks for the reports. I told the dr today that i did a half hour on the treadmill and when i got off the pain was gone. He said that would not work for varicose veins. when i told the physician assistant the same thing, she said that excercize helps. Ahhhh!
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My insurance is the pits but I did find out that if I send proof of membership in my gym (and that I have actually gone to the gym) then I can get $200 back every 6 months!
got my check today and it ends up covering th4e gym membership
suggest all check there ins plans
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Easydancer: Glad you like and utilize the Silver Sneakers. That's what I do for a living. I love Silver Sneakers program and promote it to all my clients.
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My employer provides my gym membership free - so thankful for that! And my gym is very close to my house.
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Karen, seriously, it is the greatest. That is one of the major reasons I signed up for Humana...had a really hard time making a decision when it was time to do the Medicare thing, but chose Humana 'cause I thought I might want SS one day...that was 3 years ago. Now, that I really do need it, I am soooooo grateful that I have it....wonderful, wonderful. I tell all my friends about it...you keep up the good work, it is a great program...great for seniors!
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Question: What kind of calcium are you girls taking (carbonate - citrate? ) is one better than the other and how much Vitamin D. I am on 1200 calcium carbonate and 50,000 Units D 1x week for 4 weeks, then back to 5,000 units D daily - can't believe I'm that low in D and I go outside in the sun so I guess it's not getting absorbed - so scared I will end up like my 91 year old mom who is bent over and bedridden because of severe bone loss....I haven't started Prolia because of 2 root canals now I have to wait for 6 months but I don't want to get the shots anyway due to jaw issues. Oh well, just another dilemma
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