Doing Well on Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs)
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I'll take the shot recipe!
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all very interesting... give me what you got! My hubby also suffers from gout so he can also use it.
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Here you go!
Hot Flash Shots
2 cups vanilla almond milk or coconut milk
1 Tblsp virgin coconut oil
1 Tblsp honey
2 tsp ground turmeric
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2" fresh ginger root thinly sliced
1/4 tsp black peppercorns
Mix all ingredients together in a small saucepan and bring to a low boil stirring often. Simmer gently 10 minutes stirring occasionally. Allow to cool to a drinkable temperature. Strain the mixture and dispose of the ginger and peppercorns. Measure liquid out into 2oz portions. Refrigerate any unused portions. Reheat each 2oz portion in microwave for 20-25 seconds as they are needed. Drink 2oz each night about 10-20 minutes before bed.
* Cinnamon can becreduced to only 1/4-1/2 tsp if you're not a big cinnamon fan or find it too strong
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I had been healthy as a horse, until BAM breast cancer. I've worked out 5x a week for the past 7-8 years, ate well, tracked food intake to meet protein and fiber on My Fitness Pal.
Anestrozole started every other day on 3/1, every day on 4/14. Two plus months full time of daily pills. I've gained weight. My lifestyle hasn't changed, other than down times for surgeries back in November. I've even added walking nightly for 1.5 miles, which I'll increase over time; in addition to cross fit/boot camp 5x a week.
I think just turning 59, BC behind me but on the AI, my body is going to change. Additional weight hasn't hurt my BMI, blood pressure, or cholesterol. It's my new normal.
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About the weight loss ... a good 10 pounds was cut off, LOL!
DH and I cut carbs. He lost 85 pounds. I will tell you we were fat and unhealthy until BC. What a wake up call!
Thank you Miranda and happy you are doing well.
About the Prolia shot ... the worse part for me is the bandaid my center uses! It hurts so much to take it off that I am bringing my own one next time. I can not even tell that I had the shot. I do up my calcium at least a week before and a week after. I heard / read that somewhere. I asked my MO and he was OK with it. Ask yours before doing it.
Got to run and get going. We are volunteering this week at our church. We are doing a cooking class for rising 3rd graders thru 6 graders.
Have a wonderful cancer-free and alive day everyone!
Vicky
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Okay, I've been on letrozole for six full months now and am still doing well: no joint pain, hair loss, skin issues, or severe hot flashes (just "mini" ones that last for a few seconds). Granted, I am insanely active -- running is legit one of my fandoms, right along with all my weird TV shows, heh.
I am struggling with losing weight. I joined Weight Watchers and lost nearly five pounds in the first two weeks; now, for the second week in a row, I've remained the same. Still, the diet itself is making me feel better. I am less fatigued and get fewer mini hot flashes. I think if I keep it up, the weight will ultimately come off. I need it to come off!
The worst side effects I've had are related to sexual dysfunction. I bought some cream and suppositories recommended over on the Sex & Relationships board, and I am seeing improvement.
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2FUN - thanks for sharing your experience! I agree - if one eats mindlessly and emotionally one can't help but gain. Keeping my head in the game, tracking, and making wise choices (plus working out every day) - hoping that keeps me fit!
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Very new to AIs--just started 5 days ago. Interesting thing was that I had awful menopause--was miserable for 3 years before my GYN finally agreed to hormonal therapy after they re-evaluated the women's health studies and determined that increased breast cancer was not as serious concern as previously thought (of course, they re-evaluated again and found that ALL BC wasn't affected, but ILC did increase, and that's what I have). Anyway, as soon as I had my diagnosis, I stopped all the hormones, and didn't have any hot flashes or insomnia, palpitations, shortness of breath, all the things that happened with menopause. I felt fine. I was certain that when I started anastrozole, I'd be back in full-blown menopausal symptoms, but haven't been. I would say my hands are achy, but exercise has really, really helped that. I do pilates every day (I'm a runner, but because of a traumatic biopsy and large hematoma, I can't run now). Also, I had trouble sleeping when I took it right before bed, but when I backed it up to about 4:00 pm, I didn't have the sleep problems, and the hands seem to feel better, too.
I'm taking high dose vitamin D, fish oil, flax seed oil, calcium, magnesium, Vit K2, curcurmin and any other supplement that strikes my fancy!
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Update on the trigger fingers ...
My PT ended and I am on home maintenance for my hands.
I saw a Pain Specialist (MD) yesterday. He has prescribed a low dose of Gabapentin for the limited pain that I have. I will take this at bedtime as it can cause drowsiness. Like my Breast Surgeon, he was 100% against hand surgery as long as I am on Arimidex. There is just not enough information on how (and if) Arimidex affects a surgically altered tendon.
Let's see how this goes!
Vicky
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Hello All. I'm sure this has been asked and answered somewhere in this blog but I can't find it. I am curious what your MO does when you go for checkups. My MO primarily just asks and answers questions. She does blood work (no estrodiol but I am going to ask why not on my next visit) and does a quick breast exam. No physical. Do your MO's act more like an internist and give you a though exam? Or should I be expecting that from my primary. He is a family practitioner and I am thinking I need an internist to oversee everything instead. I'm curious what everyone's experiences have been with their MO and if perhaps I haven't found the right one.
I'm currently on aromasin. I was switched from anastrozole due to issues with diarrhea.
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Blood work & breast exam is all I get from the MO. GP for everything else.
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Samewith me from MO: blood work and breast exam.
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Same with me from the MO: blood work and breast exam.
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Doofuscat,
I just saw my MO yesterday. We talked about my current health, how I'm feeling, discussed probable side-effects, she answered my list of questions, I told her my final plastic surgery plans, etc. Then she shined a light in my mouth, felt my neck, checked lungs and heart with the stethoscope and did a breast exam on the natural breast (took a cursory look at the reconstructed one). Confirmed that I was on the calendar for a mammogram, ordered blood work because I hadn't had any done since November, and ordered a CT (one of my questions was about monitoring for recurrence). The answer to the monitoring was blood work and mammograms because insurance doesn't like to cover a lot of scans. We felt we had enough diagnosis codes due to side effects to get a scan covered - I'll find out Friday since it's scheduled for Saturday. My last upper body CT was in 2016 and lower in 2017.
I see my PCP for paps, etc. Both my MO and PCP are very responsive in their patient portal email systems.
Since you might be wondering about other doctors, I don't see my breast surgeon or my radiation oncologist. I'm still seeing the plastic surgeon but after my next surgery and recovery, I will stop seeing him too. I've been seeing my MO every three months; we're dropping to every 6 months ( I will see my pcp in 3 months anyway) and if i feel the need to see her more often, I can. But as I said, email works well and doesn't cost me a co-pay or a couple of hours out of the office.
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Coachvicky - A belated *thank you* for your encouragement re maintaining weight loss while on Arimidex. You are an inspiration!
I've been vigilant about my daily PT exercises and do at least 2 miles of (brisk) walking each day to get to/from transit. That, combined with watching what I eat, has been working so far.
I had a few days of severe intestinal gas/bloating after I started the Glucosamine, so cut back the dosage and things seem to be improving. Hoping it is that, which is easily omitted if need be, and not the Arimidex or the Effexor....
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My MO doesn't even do a breast exam! But I am still seeing BS every 6 months and she or her PA do a very through one. MO has monitored all tests I may need, i.e., blood work, dex scan, chest Xray, echo, mammogram etc. I saw her every 3 months after I finished the herceptin. Now to 6 months. She and PA also pay attention to my mental health. I was particularly impressed when PA asked me how I was doing with the stress of the holidays and the first anniversary of diagnosis.
I had my port out in out patient surgery.
I have enough other stuff going, including age, that I see my internist about every 6 months too.
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found this interesting article re: anti-inflamatory herbs/alternatives
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Me too!
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2Fun- I loved that link, even shared it on another forum. I see my MO on 7/26 and will ask which one I can add to my daily intake. Thanks!
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Hi Ladies.
I just got my first infusion of Zomada yesterday and will continue with that for 3 years every 3 months. I will also start Anastrozole Monday. Anyone out there doing this regiment. How are ya feeling? Any advice is very welcomed!
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Just about the same question as LIFE1963: I am on anastrozole and will be getting a Zometa infusion Wednesday, a little concerned about its effects. Read something today that said "osteopenia" is a pharmaceutical company invention and that biophosphonates actually cause more fractures? Now not sure what to trust.
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Hello:
I am happy to report almost 30 days into Anastrozole and I feel fine. No side effects. I found that any sweats/hot flashes I have are caused by food or red wine. As soon as I have one, I remove whatever I just had from my diet and whoop! Gone!
I have a list a weight bearing and other exercises that I am working into my life as well as walking everyday. Even though my T scores are showing osteoporosis I am hoping my MO will let me forgo the bone shot. I go back in Aug. and we talked about this at my last appt. Maybe a Dexa scan next year and if no change she will continue to agree? We'll see. I want to be on the least amount of medication as possible. Current supplements are 1000mg Vit. C and 1500mg straight Glucosamine. Scripts are obviously the Anastrozole, 10mg rostavassin daily, and 50,000Vit D 1x per week.
Stay well folks!
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ctmbsikia: My dexascan 2 years ago (while on arimidex) showed that I'd lost 25% of the bone in my arms. I'd been focused on walking and doing the leg weight machines, and forgot I have bones in my arms too and had gotten lax at doing my arm weights. My onc wanted to start me on Prolia injections but I was able to negotiate with her to hold off if I promised to get back to my arm weight lifting. It's now been 2 years, I recently had my follow up dexascan (had to pay an extra $150 to have the arm included since Medicare doesn't cover doing the arm), But it was worth it to find out my arm density had improved 4.1% and I don't have to start the Prolia injections. So, remember you have bones in your arms and do those bicep and tricep exercises with weights!
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Thank you Puffin. That's great advice and I'm so happy to see someone with improvement WITHOUT medication. I knew it could be done!!!
My sister who also had BC (w/BMX) told me take the shot. I realize I may have too eventually, just rather wait until it's absolutely necessary and the only way to know is these DEXA scores. We'll see.
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Aug 24, 2017 09:26PM Icietla wrote:
[...]
A few months ago one of my toenails fell out. I noticed that it was tipped over sideways, and then when I handled it, it came out easily and painlessly. Before long, the leading edge of a new toenail showed up there. Non-problem. In fact, the loss of that toenail has been convenient. It was a littlest toenail. [Anyone else recall Roseanne Roseannadanna aptly comparing clippings of the littlest toenails to boomerangs?]
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Icietla writes:
Heh. That same toe has lost its toenail again, the same way as before. [Thank you, Letrozole!]
Two MO appointments ago, I learned of the finding (from my then-recent follow-up DEXA scan) that my bone density was reduced. I started on Prolia that day. It was painless. And I switched right away to Calcium-Vitamin D tablets having twice as much Vitamin D component as what I had been taking. And I have also since been more conscientious about using my rollators. I expect to get new flooring out of this development. [Thank you, Letrozole!]
I am so thankful for having my Letrozole treatment.
There were no such treatments available for my Grandmother, may she rest in peace. She lived twenty-three months from the time of her breast cancer surgery and diagnosis.
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"Never blame the rainbows for the rain."
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Hi everyone, I'm new to this thread, just found it. I really enjoy reading all your posts. I've been on Anastrozole since January. After radiation my MO talked with me about taking it and my main concern was weight gain. I eventually agreed to take it. I met with a dietitian and started eating better, tracking my food using the myfitnesspal app and exercising 3 times a week. Since January I have lost 28 pounds and I'd love to lose 5-10 more. I was overweight before breast cancer struck and I actually feel that getting that diagnosis was the kick in the butt I needed to get healthy.The only SEs I have, and they are tolerable, are hot flashes, dry eyes in the morning and not falling asleep easily. But, I can deal with all of that because I now feel healthy. I can't wait to see all my drs. over the next few weeks because they don't know about the weight loss. I'm anxious to see all my test results, especially my cholesterol since I've been taking meds for that for many many years. Last week I had my DEXA scan and they said everything looked good.
Puffin - I'm so glad you mentioned the bones in our arms. I'm going to have to add more lifting type exercises for my arms. Thanks!!
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Ellyn27
That is GREAT about being 28 pounds down. Your story is an inspiration to those who worry if an AI will cause weight gain.
Yes, this is a very positive and realistic thread. I was on another one and left it because the posts about side effects were disturbing. I know some women have a horrid time on AI and I certainly feel for them. I just could not continue to hear about it.
Coach Vicky
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I'm asking for some advise...I took letrozole and aromasin with difficulty, so I am trying arimidex. I am wanting to make this work! I've not had the horrible joint pain, so I was really thinking this would be my AI f I r the next 5 years. I started with bit of trigger finger in one hand, and now I have it in both, with my dominant hand being the worst. I am scheduled to return to work in Sept, and it this rate I will not be able to do my job. Questions: did anyone have treatment for trigger finger and we're the results successful ? Did you stay on an AI, of take a break? Next question, anyone switch from an AI to tamoxifen? I was DX with primary endometrial cancer around the time I was dx with BC. Some of my med team say the tamoxifen could stimulate endometrial cancer cells to grow, and others say it isn't likely. I'd like to get some perspectives. Thx
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2FUN
I have trigger fingers. I am pretty sure Arimidex has effected this but did not cause this. My Ortho Surgron wants to do surgery. Breast Surgeon said no way as long as I am on Arimidex as its effect on a surgically altered tendon is unknown.
I did physical therapy for my hands. It worked. My fingers are not catching as long as I do my daily exercises. I still have trigger fingers but I can do most anything that I want to do.
Coach Vicky
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thanks coach vicky. I'm trying to decide if I should stay on the AI while I get treated, or stop the AI to accelerate the healing. Glad to know therapy helped
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