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

naiviv

Pbrain,

Nice to see you here, How have you been?

V

kamm

So far so good for me! Just some warm flashes mostly at night. Hope it stays this way!

annieb4

I love that "duckwalk" in the morning. If my house ever started on fire and I had to rush out I would be in trouble..My daughter saw me walk like that one morning and thought what the heck..yea fun times..kinda like walking after you have just put on toenail polish..only it hurts..

My hands are also a little stiff in the morning but that goes away quickly. I have learned the more I exercise and stretch the better I am during the day.

I have also learned to wear layers..cuz all day long, it is off and on and off and on and off and on..ect...

Thimble, if you have ?? on the Diep flap, go to the Diep Flap 2014 board..you will learn so much.

DonnaD57

Well since I "know" that scratchy throat and cough are SE's of Anastrozole - I let my cough get to the point of no return until I finally emailed my onc and he sent me for a chest x ray.

Well imagine my surprise when he called me late this morning to tell me that I have pneumonia!

Wow - didn't see that one coming!!

ruthbru

Yikes! Anytime you have something unusual going on, especially if the symptoms are severe, get it checked out! Don't assume that it is a SE of your anti-hormonal.

proudtospin

Donna, at this stage your immune system is the pits!  so best advise is to call the doc for any and all issues....eat as healthy as you can and do try to rest

me, I got shingles 6 months after starting my aromasin....so be strong

Slappy-Squirrel

proudtospin. 

Did you have chicken pox as a child or did you get the vaccine? I am curious because they tried to talk me into a shingles vaccine while I was in the hospital this month. I'm not sure I want to stress out my immune system even more. I start Anastrozole later this month.

Shirley 

proudtospin

Shirley do the vaccine!  I had chicken pox as a kid, blame my big brother for that one!

My PCD wanted me to do the vaccine but I was 59 and insurance did not cover it then so smartie here, figured I would wait till 60 and insurance would cover it.  But I came down with the shingles 6 months after ending the rads.

It is not fun!  course I was on vacation at the time, far away from docs!
I did do the vaccine after all over and MO cleared me as I sure do not want it again.

If you can and your docs are suggesting it, DO IT!  I would think it more of a stress to your system if you get shingles than if you get the shot

ruthbru

Get the shot for sure

IamNancy

Is there anyway to know if you've had chicken pox? I really do not know and there isn't anyone to ask..

ruthbru

I don't know about that....probably have to ask your doctor. You sure wouldn't want to get chicken pox at this late date either!

proudtospin

I have a couple of small scars from picking at scabs and if I have doubts, I look there

I would ask your doc about any suggestions and explain your concern

Anonymous

I am nancy. They can do a blood test to see if you have immunities in your system. That is all you need to know. They ran a test on my daughter before she went to Thailand for three months. It was a last minute thought.

Sure enough she landed in NYC for 24 hours with a message that said no immunities. She had to find the international travellers office and get a vaccine before she left and then the booster when she got back.

3rdtimenow

Has anyone here been doing anything to counter the hair thinning issue, I just started today so no effects yet, but I was on it for a short time 3 years ago and that was the first SE I encountered. Someone on another thread mentioned taking biotin. Thanks, Stephanie

Anonymous

I also don't know if I had chicken pox as a kid.  My primary last week recommended that I get the shingles shot.  Is there any risk in getting it whether you have or have not had chicken pox?  I broke down a couple months ago during a hospital visit and finally had the pneumonia shot although the visit had nothing to do with my lungs.  Still holding out on the flu shot.  I've never had the flu, ever.

naiviv

Ask for a Varicella titer test

lago

Shirley I got a serious case of shingles 3 months PFC. I never took any pain meds after my BMX or other surgeries.  Shingles I was tried to take 1/2 a norco but it made me nauseous. Ended up taking Advil 24/7 to at least take the edge off. It sucked. My PCP now wants me to get the shot. I couldn't afford it last year but now I can… and at my age insurance doesn't cover it.

3rdtimenow my hair started to recede several years before chemo (in my early/mid 40's). I've been taking biotin and using generic Minoxidil. Just part of my routine. 

Patoo I've been doing the flu shot every year since chemo started. My onc ordered when I did chemo. Now my PCP gives it to me.

Bren58

I wish I would have gotten the shot. I had planned to talk to my MO about it at my October appt. That plan didn't work. I got shingles last month and am just getting over them. 

As far as the hair thinning I am taking biotin and using Minoxidil. Too soon to tell if is working.

Anonymous

I take biotin, but not minoxidil yet. I bought this Lift Wand thing to see if it will electrocute the wrinkles out of my face. It has a part for a hair stimulation that I haven't tried yet. I'm just getting the other part down. I'll give it a shot soon.

ruthbru

After I did chemo, my GP had me get a pneumonia shot & the shingles shot (even though I was a little 'young' for them at the time). He explained that when your immune system has been compromised (through chemo & probably through rads too), you are more susceptible to things like shingles, pneumonia etc. I imagine (but am not sure) that would go for the flu too. I have gotten the flu shot ever since I once got a case of the real flu (which was so terrible that I absolutely can see how it could kill people). I am for as much prevention as possible!

TinaT

My hair hasn't thinned since starting anastrazole, but my nails have really suffered.  Very dry, brittle, and splitting.  Not a single smooth nail, all look like corrugated cardboard and totally covered with ridges.  It has been progressively getting worse.  My dermatologist recommended 2.5 mg (2500 mcg) of biotin per day.  I didn't want to start until I confirm that it's not contraindicated with my other meds and supplements. 

Has anyone's doc recommended a different dose?

lago

My onc required all her chemo patients get the flu shot. I did see several refuse though.

proudtospin

Bren, when I had shingles, initially until I got to my doc, I used OTC cortisone 10 cream,  Dang if it did not work better than the bed they gave me as relieve for the itch.  Pain part, that was dif .  I think it is good to understand the symptoms so you can get to the doc quickly.

Spookiesmom

Very interesting about the flu shots. I asked my MO about getting one, he said NO!! So I missed it that year, but have always had them before and after chemo. 

birdlady222

My onco said NO!  too. I trust him with my life, so if he says NO, then I won't get one.

ruthbru

If you are currently in treatment, that is a different story and, of course, you should follow your doctor's recommendations!
.

Spookiesmom

Yes, I was in treatment. 

annieb4

How weird that we get different answers. My Oncologist told me yes to the flu shot..

I also had a very small bout of shingles. I used my lotion I had gotten to use after radiation and seemed to help.

Tina, my nails also took a beating. My radiologist put me Pentoxifylline for my skin and my nails are fabulous. 

proudtospin

we are all in such dif shape and stages so it is logical that dif MOs would have dif opinions on this sort of stuff. 

We have to remember we chose our MOs (hopefully) because we believed in them so we need to trust them on the details

checkers

My onc told me it was my choice whether I not I got a flu shot. He did say though, if I got one I was to get it before I started treatment.  He never said anything about the shingles or pneumonia vaccines.