true confession struggling with hormone therapy

beau

Hi Jen,

Let us know how the journey goes. Mild heart failure is probably depressing in and of itself, and on top of chemo, radiation etc, you have a lot to deal with. My close friend, who had breast cancer before me, really encouraged me to treat the psychological dimensions of cancer as carefully as the physical. It is tough to compartmentalize this disease and get on with your life. Don't suffer if you are depressed as it only adds to the stress of everything.

Anyway, this is not an easy journey. Do have someone you can turn to who can be your buddy and help make decisions with you? I know these boards are great and very helpful. I did lean on my friend who had bc before me and that also helped me, especially when I was trying to figure out next steps, etc

Wishing you the best, Beau

jen1

thank you beau for your words of encouragement

doxie

Jen,

I agree with the others that you should fire your MO and find someone more compassionate.

Before you totally give up on antihormonals, I'd find help to get your depression under control. Before BC when I've suffered from bouts of depression, I've had severe pain that was only depression related. I'd have pain for weeks or months in my hands or back or feet or chest pain or, the worst, my teeth. All related to the depression, no other condition.

I'm on my 4 th year on AIs and have gone through a variety of SEs that caused me to want to quit. After the last that required trigger thumb surgery, things have really settled done. Without the successful surgery, I'd have quit over QOL issues, extreme pain in my dominant hand.

So throughout BC treatment, my first priority was to keep my depression under control since I knew it would effect my sleep and pain tolerance.

No matter what you decide to do, please do not feel guilty. You are doing the best you can under the situation.

jen1

Thank you Doxie.

tarry

i was on femara for three years and then took a short break which has so far lasted 10.5 months. I can't bear the idea of going back on it. I became a spectator on life who couldn't join in

fizzdon52

Hi everyone. I was put on Tamoxifen because Letrozole/Femara affected me to badly, it played around with my heart and I had to go on all sorts of medication. So the Oncologist suggested I try Tamoxifen. I am tolerating it a lot better but just wondered if anyone else had the symptoms I am getting? Really sore feet/ankles, it feels like my skin is going to split and when I get up in the morning I am walking like an old lady. My doctor hasn't been very helpful so I am waiting to see my Oncologist in December. My doctor has prescribed water retention tablets to see if that helps. Just wondered if I am alone in this?

grammakathy

I also had problems on Arimidex - joint pain, sleeplessness, capilaritis in my legs. After a year of struggling with those side effects, my MO switched me to Tamoxifen. I am sleeping again and have no side effects. He felt that the gain in bone density was a benefit that warranted a little loss of hormone protection.

jen1

Hi ladies I wanted to give you all an update. First let me say how much I appreciated all of your comments and suggestions. Well I called my mo I was not able to speak to him but I gave earful to triage nurse. I told her I have not been feeling well. I said I feel dismissed I told her about the struggles with exemestane. I told her I need some help what can I do. I then said I want to be heard. She listened and was not dismissive. She said they would let my mo know. Another nurse I believe one of the NP called. I told her the same thing plus telling her I feel like I have been kicked to curb. She was very attentive an apologetic. She said to stop taking the exemestance . they want it all out of my system and then have me try aramadix. I told her there all the same. She said I might feel better on this one and they will help me. She said for me to call back in 2 weeks or before if I need too. She said the mo might call back or she will. I wish he would call back. She seemed very attentive and listened. I am thinking of giving this med a try and then I know I tried my best if this one does not work out. Thank you ladies for encouraging me. What do you ladies think?

marijen

I think they aren't all the same

maxdog

I am starting a 2 week Arimidex holiday due to the debilitating se's. Then I get to follow up with MO and see what one he wants me to try next. I was stiff and uncomfortable the first month on it. This.past.month I have been close to crippled with pain-mostly bone and joint. Surgery was a breeze compared to all this!

Holeinone

Hi Jen, I think if you can survive the horrific A/C you can give Arimidex a 2-3 month trial run. I posted on the last page, I do not like taking Arimidex......but, I think with my dx, I need to stay on it.

Lots of ladies switch meds & report back that the new med is tolerable. No reason not to give it a try, it's cheap & you can always quit. I get mine from a online pharmacy that does not go through insurance, but is Arimidex, not the generic. I do not really think it makes any difference, but when I started on the drug, I was in a panic about drugs from India. ( fillers ) now, I am calmer, I could get the generic.

jen1

1. Thank you Holeinone.

bccancer44

jen1 I feel the same way. I'm also on it and is trying to switch or just drop it all together. I'm 44 and feel like I'm much much older. you are in control! If you don't like something change it. make them hear you! and if they don't find someone that will. this is your life and body