For Arimidex (Anastrozole) users, new, past, and ongoing

Timbuktu

Luv, you sound so good!  Very encouraging about the brand name Arrimidex and I will get it.

kjiberty

HI Ladies. Haven't posted in a while. I, too, take the TEVA, from Israel. I am NOT going to change. My S/E's mainly included joint pain in my knees and hot flashes. I no longer have joint pain and the hot flashes are far and few between. Definitely manageable. I think exercise is key as others have indicated. I lift weights 2x's a week as well as aerobic activity 2x a week minimal and do yoga 2x's a week. The stretching has really helped.

Lago: My hair is still curly 18 months PFC.

ChickaD

Thanks so much to all of you who personally checked on me since I have not posted for 8-9 days.....it really touched my heart♥

So recently I was able to get AmaWaterways to sponsor 2 autumn river cruises in Europe .....for every booking they will donate $500 to breast cancer research, prevention and treatment.

I started a NEW post in the fund raising section.....

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/63/topic/815789?page=1#idx_1

PLEASE bookmark it as one of your favorites to maybe join me on one of the cruises or at least to "bump" the post as soon as I have all the info!

Thank you for your help!  xoxo

FemTenor

I have been taking anastrozole for nearly twenty months, and for most of that time I have experienced hip pain so bad that I could not walk normally. I also had gained about ten pounds.

This week I weighed myself for the first time in several weeks and I had somehow lost nine pounds. Moreover, for the last three days, I have not experienced the usual joint pain.

I did refill my prescription recently. I feel so much better, I'm beginning to think the anastrozole I am taking now is fake. My spouse scoffs at the idea.

Has anyone else experienced anything like this?

Spookiesmom

I'm still here, feel fine, but in denial. Will do EKG tomorrow.

Timbuktu

Denial is greatly underrated!

ChickaD

Oops...here is what I wanted to share with all of you...

http://community.breastcancer.org/forum/63/topic/815789?page=1#idx_1

Gracers55

5LuvBugs,

Good to hear about the hair. I can't wait to need a haircut. I feel like we all should get one of those certificates that they give babies. "Baby's First Haircut"... My sisters would get a hoot out of that...

I will check out Wen 6/13.

Gracers

ruthbru

Fem, I doubt that it's fake, but your pharmacy may be getting their meds from a new company, which might use different fillers. Sometimes people have SEs from fillers, not the actual drug itself.

Spookiesmom

I've had 3 hair cuts on this thin wispy stuff. I had short hair before. I keep trying to make the chemo curls ON ONE SIDE ONLY disappear. Not working. Looks sooooo stupid. Grrrr

I started Biotein about 2 weeks ago. Now my hands itch. SE? Or something else I'm not sure I want to know about?

proudtospin

if you are itching, try asking your rad center as mine gave me bunches of samples of "anti itch" cream or then again, I have often used Cortizone 10 and that worked for my shingles a while back

lago

kjiberty You'll eventually get there. In the meantime:

Spookiesmom

Whew! Had EKG today, compared to last month, was NOT a heart attack. Had been on 'roids for bronchitis, with a shot. This episode was extremely low blood sugar, probably around 8 or 9. I was lucky, and stupid at the same time. Should have called 911..

Timbuktu

So glad to hear that Spookie.  You know how they say 99% of what you worry about never happens?

Anonymous

spookiesmom my son who's a Type I diabetic (about 5 years ago) had taken his insulin, but waited too long to eat. He had a seizure and was completely unresponsive when a friend found him. When EMTs arrived his blood sugar was 14. It took a spinal tap to get him to respond at all, but he was in La La Land for a couple days. They had a student nurse sit with him around the clock so he wouldn't pull out his IVs. That's serious stuff!

They said, " There's no life in 14."

Paula

Spookiesmom

It had been a long time since food. I'm T2, but on an insulin pump. I couldn't function well enough to get to my meter. Just so happy it wasn't a heart attack.

sweetandspecial

spookiesmom - so glad it wasn't something more serious......take care.

ruthbru

Glad you got to the bottom of it & the heart is OK!

Gracers55

nancyjac,

I'd love to hear from you. Hope you are well and the joint issues are better. Best, Gracers

proudtospin

spookie--I as well am glad that your issue was not a heart attack and that you know the cause, stay well now girl!

Spookiesmom

Oh darn, that means I have to eat. Bummer! LOL

Pawprint

My gosh spookiesmom....that is the lowest blood sugar I ever heard of. But what a cool cure you MUST eat to get better! Enjoy your feast

Paula, that is such a scary story about your son. So thankful his friend found him, and the student nurse stayed with him around the clock. My mom is diabetic and sometimes blood sugar spikes in the 500 range. She loves carbs and sweets. She is a breast cancer survivor over 20 years, but her diabetes is out of control.

ClaudiaMetz

I haven't been on( the message board for some time.  Just had my one year mammogram and everything looks okay.  Had a bone density and it is borderline (I have been that way for years).  Next month one year on Arimidex.  Nothing too bad I guess.  I do have a question if anyone has an answer.  I was put on Methotrexate (low dose) due to my auto immune skin condition.  I have just recently gotten a bladder infection.  I have never had a bladder infection.  I was looking online any was told it could be Methotrexate could cause bacteria in bladder.  Didn't know if anyone took this chemo drug.  Also if Arimidex is causing the problem.  I am trying to be positive but my mom had bacteria in the lining of her bladder and they couldn't get it out and she has had problems for years.  When you have more than one problem you get "ask your doctor" and I am not sure who that is.

proudtospin

Hi Claudia and nice to see you.  Congrats on a clear mamo!  celebrate for sure.  My suggestion is a mani, pedi or facial or all!

I have had terrible UTIs for long time...I would go to the docs for a sinus infection, get an antibiotic and it would clear but then I would get a UTI! cran juice and yogart did not help.  Then lo and behold...my wholestic primary care doc said to take probiotics!  Miracle!  had bunches of antibiotics this summer and do infections!  Worth a try as I just bought the probiotic at old Walmart!

208sandy

Yup, let's hear it for probiotics!!!  It makes taking anti-biotics a whole lot better - don't forget to take them for about a week after you finish anti-biotic treatment - also they should be taken about 8-12 hours after your anti-biotic as they may work against the treatment.

ClaudiaMetz

Can Arimidex cause the bladder infection?

proudtospin

do not know on that but do think we all end up with compromised immune systems after all the junk....but do not believe we should blame the ALs for stuff without really checking it out

I had leg pains at first after starting my Al and only after about 18 months realized it was caused by my statin...switched statin and no more leg pain (as in over night)

lago

They say the trick to preventing urinary infections is to drink more water.

proudtospin

wish I could say that gulping water helped me but not!  the probiotics did the trick so try all the thoughts!

ClaudiaMetz

I went online and one medical site said a common side effect of Arimidex is UTI's.

Here is the link:  http://breast-cancer.emedtv.com/arimidex/arimidex-side-effects.html

I have always drank a lot of water and due to moving my office was a little lax recently.