Starting Lupron/Arimidex next week - questions!

elise24601

I'm 32 so am NOT looking forward to instant menopause. My biggest fear is that I will suffer so much with it that I will quit treatment and have a recurrence - which I have read happens to young women!

So, I am looking for ways to make this as tolerable as possible:

1. Should I apply heat or ice to the injection site, or is there anything else I can do to make the shot hurt less? I have a low pain tolerance and needle-phobia (I clearly should not have gotten cancer).

2. When should I expect symptoms (hot flashes, facial hair, insomnia, mood swings, weight gain, dryness, low libido, etc) to begin after my first injection and dose of Arimidex? Days, weeks, months?

3. Is there anyone here who can give me hope that I might NOT experience all of the menopausal symptoms? For instance, did anyone luck out and not get sexual/vaginal problems? Did anyone lose weight or remain at a stable weight? If you had an easy-ish time with this treatment, PLEASE share to give me hope, especially if you are in your 30s!

dtad

elise...I'm so sorry you are dealing with this complicated disease at such a young age. Just not fair! I'm also sorry that you think you have to chose between poor QOL and recurrence. Its not tat simple. Hopefully you will be able to tolerate the Arimidex well and not have to make that decision. We really need to speak up for better treatment options! I've been saying that someone should really start a thread for those who do well on anti hormone therapy. IMO you should be aware of possible SEs but not expect them. Good luck. We are all here for you.

ChemicalWorld

Hi Elise.  I am currently on a Tamoxifen / Lupron combo but likely to be switching to Arimidex soon.  I was already on Tamoxifen (which I mostly tolerated well), when I started the Lupron shots a couple of years ago.

I find that sometimes the needles hurt, sometimes they don't, I think it depends on the person administering them and whether they hit a tender spot to begin with.  The nurses who give mine vary, but they do switch hips each month which helps a little. I don't know if you can use emla cream/patch or something? 

There is no way around it, the needle rig is big and looks complicated.  This is not to say it will hurt more, but in case you have not yet picked it up, just mentioning so you won't be surprised in office.  I have had nurses comment on it. 

I would do yourself a favor and take it easy the first day or so after the first injection until you know how you'll react.  I had a big reaction to my first dose (like a major hot flash type of reaction-heart racing, hot, flushing and feeling anxious). This happened a few hours after the injection. I had, however, tempted fate by going out to dinner, having wine, and being somewhere too hot at the time. I was still producing LOTS of estrogen up until that first shot, so it was a big change to my body.

I get flu-like symptoms after my dose, i.e. body aches, tiredness for about a week after a shot.  Ibuprofen helps.  I tend to feel it in the areas that Taxotere really hit me the hardest.

I am losing weight right now with the help of a healthy diet and exercise, but find I really have to watch it since I went on these meds.

I'm not in my 30's but was 40 at diagnosis, pre-menopausal etc.  I felt pretty good on Tamoxifen alone so I can't comment on the Arimidex, and the Lupron is a necessary evil.  I've remained on it though, for a couple of years now, so there's that !  Feel free to PM me any time

Falconer

Hi- bumping this thread- wondering if anyone had to take antibiotics while on Lupron. Any concerns about that?