Doing Well on Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs)
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I'd try another AI. They all do the same thing but in slightly different ways so why not see if another AI will have less SEs for you.
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Bella - I hope you are as lucky as I have been with an MO who listens. I do not think one drug fits all of us and I have other medications where the doctor said I should not take a generic. I did arimedex for 6 months (Teva). Initially I almost always woke with a headache but it would go away quickly. By about month 5, the headaches were bad and all day affairs. MO suggested I try femora and I am having fewer migraines (and other headaches too) than I had before BC. Still some joint pain but I am 72 and have had arthritic issues for years. I have increased my exercising and really pay attention to drinking lots of water. My goal is to get to a stretch and flex class at least twice a week and to play 9 holes of golf at least twice a week. Also reactivated by fitbit and have definitely upped my walking. I know many have made diet changes during their cancer journey but that wasn't for me. Have dropped a few pounds anyway and feel I will be ready for a summer vacation that will include lots of walking.
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Can we take benadryl while taking Anastrozole? I knew I couldn't on Tamoxifen but forgot to ask about the Anastrozole. Benadryl gives me a head start with my allergies. Everything is blooming and it' absolutely beautiful but I feel a sinus infection starting to brewing.
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I have been on generic letrozole for 2 and 1/2 months and SE so far are minor. Some soreness in my fingers and I don't sleep well but I have not slept well since my dx so can't really say that is the letrozone. I am happy so far because the SE sheet that comes with my prescription says SE are worse for older patients and I am 73 and expected hard times. I walk 3 times a day exercising my dogs on hilly pasture. I garden as well. Have been able to keep my weight stable so far. Have fingers crossed. My MO will change med or brand of med if I have problems so I keep that in mind.
What I like to remember is the line of Isak Denesen (played by Meryl Streep) in Out of Africa when she is taking arsenic for syphilis contacted from her husband and she learns that there is a 50% chance the arsenic will kill rather than cure her but the VD will kill her for sure without the arsenic: "Arsenic is my ally against an enemy I can not see." (paraphrased; and she did recover). And so letrozole is for me -- a dreaded ally against a worse enemy. Polly
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I have been on Anastrozole for two months. So far no side effects at all.
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Vargadoll- I haven't been told no Benedryl. But err on side of caution, give your pharmacy a call.
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Thanks CindyNY. I will ask my pharmacist. The ladies on this thread are usually easier to ask...lol
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yes, you can take Benedryl
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Thank you Ruth! I almost sent you a PM because I thought you would know ♡♡♡
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Thanks for those words of wisdom, Polly. I will be 72 next month and a year on AI's. Had trouble with aridemix but am doing fine with fermora. My goal is 9 holes of golf twice a week and 2 sessions of stretch and flex. Have started wearing my fitbit again. It is already getting hot here in Phoenix so dog wants shorter walks though. Sadly, I think it's true that we hurt so we don't move so we hurt. I feel as if I have broken that cycle.
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Hello Bella and Doofuscat! I haven't been around for a while, so I did not see your posts until today.
I live on the Westside of Jax and had all of my surgeries at Memorial. My radiation and medical oncos are at 21st Century Oncology.
I am still doing well on the letrozole, other than struggling with weight loss and the preexisting plantar fasciitis, which I am sure is being aggravated by the extra weight.
My MO told me the weight loss difficulties may have more to do with the hysterectomy than the letrozole.
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Remember that most of the people who do well, naturally aren't posting about that fact. They are just out living their lives.
Exactly. That's why I haven't been around much. I haven't been having any issues.
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I've been on anastrozole for 3 months now. I do have some issues (achey, joint pain, sooo dry all over) but really I am able to deal with these knowing that I am starving any potential loose cancer cells in my body.
I am execising regularly, got a vari-desk so I can stand and sit at my desk so I'm not in the same position constantly, going to PT for my hips and drinking a lot of water plus a lot of lotions, etc. For me now, the difficulty with sex has been the worst part but the forum on getting your mojo back has been helpful and we are figuring it out.
Sometimes it's fun to be creative... lolI am wondering if anyone else has this feeling I've been having lately. My breast and underarm have been numb for the most part since the surgery but lately I'm getting tingly or random shoots of pain (more like pinches than pain). I was thinking maybe I'm getting feeling back?
Oh another good thing happening? I will go for hours and realize I didn't think about the cancer in my life at all. I love that! Also, heading to the beach for a week with my adult kids and grandson. Very thankful, every day.
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Glad you are doing so well! I like creativity also, LOL. As with everything on a cancer journey it just takes time.
As for the "tingly or random shoots of pain," I use a coffee scrub for the back of my arms and underarms where this happens. I use a gentle facial scrub on my breast avoiding the tattoos. My incisions are completely healed yet I still finish with plain Dial soap.
Coach Vicky
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The tingling is the nerves growing back and lasts, at random times, for a really long time (think years).
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I'm four years out from my mx and I still get the tingling periodically.
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I also have these sensations and even a year out I sometimes can’t sleep on my stomach. Celebrating one year kid Arimidex yesterday!
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Been on Letrozole, Ibrance, Lupron and zometa since Jan 2017. Mostly minimal SE worthy of discussion here. Struggling a bit to calibrate diet to match heavy activity level and maintain muscle mass--need lots of protein--trying not to gain more weight. Male Stage IV.
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Hi all,
So glad this thread exists. Just started arimidex two days ago, with great trepidation due to horror stories I've read about SEs. It's encouraging to know that many women have minimal side effects and that they are manageable. I have already increased my exercise, am doing yoga and really determined to do well on the AI. This thread will be my lifeline.
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Miranda - try not to anticipate the worst withArimidex. I just made the year mark with manageable side effects. Yoga really helps so try to keep moving. Warm baths with mineral salts is good for the aches and pains. Gentle hugs
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If you want some exercise buddies, check out the Lets Post Our Daily Exercise thread on the Fitness Forum. A great group of ladies at every stage of treatment (and fitness level) and beyond.
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Thanks, Butterfly12 and ruthbru. Good advice; I will check in with the Daily Exercise thread too.
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topdubu ... I can understand the muscle mass. I think I have some that will never be firm again.
Hang in there!
Coach Vicky
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Good Morning all. I appreciate this thread so much. I will begin my journey on AI's in less than a month. As a nurse for 35 years you would think I would want to know every side effect of these meds but to be honest I don't want to know. I know a few of the most common and choose to deal with them IF or WHEN they arrive. From what I hear I can switch if needed. For me, worrying about each one would play a mind game that I personally choose not to play. We all respond differently and threads like these offer so much insight. Butterfly, i miss my yoga class so much ( avoiding close quarters and exhaling due to chemo) and cant wait to start back. Warm bath with mineral salts sound like a great idea. I appreciate the positive and uplifting energy of this forum and look forward to participating☺
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DebAl - until you can get back to yoga try going on YouTube and downloading a “yoga" tutorial. I sometimes do this when I can't get to class.
Also, before I stared taking Arimidex, I swear I had so many SEs that I would have attributed to the med and I hadn't even started it yet! So I stopped reading about the possible SEs.
I'm not at all minimizing the severe SEs this drug may cause. I know many of our sisters are auffering. I say a prayer every morning and night that my SEs don't get any worse. The thing is, that as long as I'm on this med, there's no way to know what I would be experiencing in ways of aches and pains etc. if I weren't on the drug. So I try and take it one pill and one day at a time. Some days are worse than others
Those mineral baths do help a lot!
Sending love and hugs to all.
Does anyone get really tired of reading new research and findings? One day I’m super encouraged and the next day the news is discouraging. I just have to shut it all out for a while or I’ll drive myself nuts. OK just venting whew!
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Butterfly, I may try the tutorials, thank u. I do some yoga at home but can't wait to get back to my awesome yoga instructor! Join pain comes with aging and I have a tad bit now so you never really know what would happen if i wasn't on the med. I'm walking/ jogging 3-4 miles daily even thru chemo , lift light weights, and getting back to yoga should help. Hoping for minimal side effects but will deal with what comes. And yes, we all need to give ourselves breaks from researching!
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Agree with the need to give ourselves a break! The research that is most meaningful to me are the studies that show the clear effectiveness of AIs in preventing recurrence. I'm very watchful about SEs since starting Arimidex this week, but so far just a bit of nausea that eventually goes away and, I think, some dry eye that I am using drops to counteract.
Seems to me the keys are exercise and a positive mindset. Hoping things continue uneventfully, for all of us.
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Miranda you are my kinda gal! I just walked/ jogged 3 miles 2 hours after my 3rd chemo. Why not if I can do it, there may be times when my body says no. I tend to have dry eyes anyway so I will start using drops on a regular basis. If u have a link to a research article or 2 handy please forward if u don't mind. My last chemo is 3 weeks from today and I will start on arimidex so it will be nice to know someone starting around the same time 🙂 thank you!
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Hi Everyone! I had dry eyes during chemo and was told to get eye drops with lipids. After trying a few brands, the one that worked the best was Refresh Optive Advanced Lubricant Eye Drops. I bought it CVS/RiteAide, and I've seen it at Walmart, Target, and even grocery stores. It seems the side effects we never thought about such as dry eyes turn out to be quite annoying. When our eyes are dry, they start watering to compensate, which then makes our nose run. It's a cascading series of small things that can make us miserable for days. Welcome to Spring ;-)
Meg
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