Doing Well on Aromatase Inhibitors (AIs)
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most definitely experienced that goofy movement of pain and stiffness
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Laughing,
Try Physical Therapy to deal with where you hurt and build strength. PT has been a blessing for me and I have learned what to do to battle the pain.
Vicky
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LaughingGull
I've been on name brand Arimidex for 15 mos. My experience has been that my aches and pains come and go. It often depends on how much I exercise and even the weather. It's really difficult to know what's from the Arimidex or just normal aging. I find, particularly in colder weather, warm baths with mineral salts help with the aching joints. CVS sells lavender scented which is so relaxing. I also use China Gel which I get from my yoga studio. You can also get it online Exercise and being mobile helps too. Sometimes I’m also sore from exercising. If you can, try to take it one pill and one day at a time.Hope this helps.
Hugs to all.
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hi Ladies. Anyone know if I can drink while on anastrozole. Heading out for vacation and was thinking about have a few whiile I am camping.
Your thoughts?
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Thank you ladies. Took a Tylenol, went to bed for a nap, asked my husband for a massage and I feel much better. Tomorrow, another day, another pill.
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Yes, you can drink if want to (which might not be very much, because alcohol is fat which feeds estrogen....sigh).
I kept moving and found my aches & pains leveled off after about 6 months. I think it took that much time for my body to adjust to the lack of estrogen and to rebound from the lingering after-effects of surgery/chemo/rads.
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Thank you ladies 👌💪❤️
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laughing gull, I started three weeks ago, and I had the same thing happen at first too. Was so strange, how it hopped from place to place. But thankfully for me, it settled and although I still feel it at times it is not all day every where. So hopefully it settles soon for you too!
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Thanks bennybear! Very reassuring. I had way less pains today.. Lets keep in touch. It does feel very strange!
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Hi to all-I have been on Femara for 6 months-doing well with only mild side effects--my feet and sometimes my knees hurt in the am--clears pretty tolerably with advil,tylenol and moving around-I know I need to get back to exercising--and I will- has been tough to get motivated with all the heat and humidity this summer-turns me limp-.I also have some sleep disturbance but that seems to be improving--taking melatonin and remove my 3 dogs's collars so dont get woken up with their tags rattling--and yes I know would sleep better without them on the bed-but that's not going to happen-lol!
I did cold capping so didnt lose my hair ,but am noticing perhaps a tad more shedding the last month when I wash my hair-do not notice any day to day shedding.
so given that antihormonals cut the risk of recurrence by over 40 percent--I will deal with the effects!
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Hey ladies. I was just wanting some suggestions on how to cope or calm down the aching in my hands and wrists during the day while I'm trying to function. First thing in the morning I have to do my finger exercises just to be able to close my hand. I've been on anastrozole for one month.
Anyone else out there struggling with hand cramps and achiness? Anyone out there found any kind of solutions that help?
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Hi LIFE-
I am interested in this too. my hand stiffness and aches started while I was taking tamoxifen. I started exemestane a couple weeks ago, and still have the stiffness/aches. Onc basically said it goes with the territory when taking AIs/ tamoxifen. In addition my knuckles swelled to the point I cannot wear my wedding rings anymore, and some knuckles are knobby/misshapen. Flexing and bending the fingers loosens them up a little, but not much. I would love to hear from anyone who has a solution to this.
edited to add-the good news for me is I feel so much better on exemestane than I did on tamoxifen. Took a month off tamox to clean out before starting the AI. Now I do not have the overwhelming fatigue, loss of energy and overall feeling of crappiness. I hope this continues.
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I did PT for my hands and trigger fingers. My Breast Surgeon said no trigger finger surgery as long as I was on Arimidex b/c we do not know what will happen to a surgically altered tendion once I finish Arimidex.
The exercises from PT work.
I also use the Rx Voltaren Gel (diclofenac sodium topical gel ) 1%.
Best wishes. Vicky
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Hi, all -
I'm now nearly 3 months in on Arimidex. Have some joint stiffness in the mornings - mostly in fingers and ankles, and occasional knuckle swelling. Hot flashes hit me mainly in late afternoon/evening, which is also when I sometimes feel fatigue.
I take Omeprazole, Naproxen, Effexor 25 mg and Claritin in the AM, and find that once I shower and get moving I feel pretty good. I do my PT exercises in the evening and take Melatonin and Ativan along with my Arimidex at bedtime.
Had a couple of days of pain in my right hip joint after sitting at work all day this week, but was able to stretch it out and minimize it quite a bit. I would of course prefer to have no side effects and be taking fewer meds. But it's all manageable, so I still feel I'm doing well.
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Vicky,
Thanks for the information on the topical gel. Will check it out with my doc.
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I am counting my lucky stars re Arimidex because have not skipped a pill since Nov5, 2017.. Almost 10 months checked off out of 120 months. Joint pain is inevitable due to getting older. Yes damned if you do damned if you don't but I ain't going down without a fight. my step counter says 13448 for the day. Find myself needing about 7000 steps a day minimum
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I'm taking a break from anastrozole, and I am noticing WAY more hot flashes now than I have had with any of the other AIs. Does anyone have an insight into this?
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Hi ladies.
I am very thankful so many are sharing their experiences here. This is very useful!
2FUN, I am only two weeks in the anastrozole wagon and I haven’t noticed any increase in hot flashes. I am on vacation in Europe in a really cool (temperature) place and I swim in the (cold) ocean daily ant that has helped with hot flashes a lot. Two weeks into being here and seeing this reduction in hot flashes I started anastrozole and it didn’t make any difference. So for me the strategy for hot flashes going forward will be trying to stay cool. No sweaters indoors. No hoodies. No hats. Some coldish showers maybe.
LaughingGull
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I too am having hair loss issues. Have now been on anastrazole for nine months. Thanks everyone for the ideas. I will talk to my oncologist next month about it as well. I will do what I have to do. It apparently increases my five year survival rate from 75 percent to 90 percent. I prefer those odds.
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It has been 3 weeks since stopping anastrozole. Im going to re-start and see how it goes. We have a FABU local breast Cancer coalition, and they are running free classes on "Surviving and Thriving on AIs" First class is next week, so we will see how it goes.
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JuliaJazz,
A dermatologist who deals with hair loss issues should be able to help you. They are familiar with all the causes, including Anastrazole.
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2Fun-- the class sounds interesting! Please share with us what you take away from it-- Thanks!
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Yes 2FUN please share the tricks!
I am almost three weeks into Arimidex and I had random pains and aches a couple of days the first week but nothing since then. No pains and no more hot flashes than before. Hoping things stay like this. Enjoying life right now!
Cheers ladies! And those of you in the US, enjoy the holiday!
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Laughing that is a good report. What time ofday do you take it? Any sleep issues? (And thanks re: Labor Day! I just need it to cool down a little. We had 90s most of last week and will be in the 90s again this week. Ugh.)
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Five years + on AIs. Minimal side effects like hot flashes and achy joints. However, I am loaded with osteoarthritis, so it is hard to know what is causing the most pain. Best way to manage aches and pains is to keep moving. If normal exercise is difficult try exercising in the water. Anyone living in NE Phila try the water exercise program at the Philadelphia Protestant Home. If you are a senior citizen, it is a Silver Sneakers and. Silver and Fit site. It took me a year of prodding by my Oncologist before I got with an exercise oprogram but it has made a world of difference in living with an MBC diagnosis
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Great news. Got my bone density results after starting Arimidex on 4 April 2017. I have had 2 Prolia injections. The report reads "definite improvement in the mid lumbar and the right femoral neck, and only a slight decrease in the left femoral neck. Overall this reading shows a trend of improvement."
Dancing on my eyelashes.
Coach Vicky
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YAY Vicky!!!! That's awesome news!
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Vicky, that's great news. My MO wants to putme on Prolia injections too. Have you had side effects from the Prolia?
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Congrats Vicky! Why did they put you on Prolia injections so soon? My MO told me they will only check for loss of bone density after two years onto it.
@Ingerp: I take the pill first thing in the morning and while swallowing I give thanks for one more day around my kids.
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Thanks, Laughing. I keep reading about sleeping issues with AIs and want to have a plan in place when I start them. I sleep pretty well for a person of my gender/age/hormonal status and would hate to have that interrupted for 5-10 years. . .
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