Anastrozole side effects- does exercise help?

Sobes

I'm almost 65 and I have been on Anastrozole for 2 years and it seems every few months there is a new side effect. The hot flashes are manageable but the joint pain is affecting my quality of life, including my job. I work from home on a computer for a large company . I have now developed trigger thumb and increased numbness in my fingertips.

I read that exercise is helpful and my Oncologist has spoken to me about the importance to exercise, especially since I already have Osteoporosis. But I truly am so tired at the end of my work day, I can't get my butt to leave my apartment to even walk on the the treadmill.

Does anyone have any suggestions to get me moving or has anyone had similar symptoms? Has anyone switched from Anastrozole to a different medication with less side effects?

powerthruit

Exact symptoms. Exercise is a lifesaver. Honestly, you won’t regret it if you can muster up the will to walk on the treadmill for 15 minutes, or just down the block and back. The number of times you do it, is more important than how long you exercise/walk. But heck, whatever you can do, start there! It doesn’t have to be a huge thing.I went the first year on Anastrozole with very little exercise. I was sooooo exhausted on top of the sore feet, joints... One day, I just said to myself, “I am going to break in half if I don’t move my body more.” The difference was night and day for me

Sobes

Thanks so much for the reply. I'll get myself to the treadmill today--I Promise!

Moderators

Sobes, we're sorry you have to be here, but we just wanted to welcome you to Breastcancer.org, and let you know that we're so glad you've found our Community!

Besides the wonderful support and info you'll get from other members here, you may want to take a look at the following article from our main site: Exercise Helps Ease Aromatase Inhibitor Side Effects.

Hope this helps!

The Mods

CBK

Hi there Sobe

I had so many difficulties adjusting to Arimidex and losing my ovaries: Still do... I exercise a ton; yoga, weight train, and cardio! Don’t get me wrong this helps a ton for mental and physical well-being, but the game changer for my hot flashes, achey and snapping joints, anxietyand sleep issues is CBD oil. It’s been amazing for me!

Hope you get some relief soon. Keep fighting! Best Wishes!!

Anonymous

exercise is great I also have trigger thumb now and I get some relief from putting the heating pad on it in the morning and at nigh

powerthruit

I take a small dose of Effexor to help with hot flashes. I wasn't taking anything for about a year and then had to do something. It works OK. They are not eliminated, but I would lose my mind if I didn't. I've decided there's a cumulative effect of hot flashes every 3-4 hours. It really starts to grate on you.

CBK, I'm intrigued about CBD oil now. How do you take it? Gummies? Hope you don't mind me asking, is this all you take? I wonder if it would be additive for me. I go for my 6 mo checkup this week. I'll talk to the doc too.

Thanks in advance.

Sobes

I can deal with the hot flashes (sometimes) but I remember when I first started they were pretty awful. Even now, I sleep with a window open in cold weather and definitely drive with either AC on or windows down.

My son had suggested CBD. I checked with my Oncologist first and tried some CBD tea - a very mild dose- and it didn't seem to help. But, I only tried it for about 1 week.

The trigger thumb is really annoying, though, because I think I'm also developing it in my other thumb. Geez!

I appreciate everyone's input! Glad we are here for each other.

Sobes

I'll try the heating pad! Do you also use NSAIDS?

Sobes

Well, I did go down to the treadmills and they were all in use. So instead, I took the stairs back up my 3rd floor apartment. It's a start.

powerthruit

Great!👏👏

Anonymous

I was taking 2 baby aspirin daily, not for that purpose, but I don't take anything else. I had Motrin 800 for dental work, (stopped the aspirin) but it didn't seem to make much difference with my thumb.

Ingerp

Sobes be gentle to yourself. Start small—one thing I did years ago was tell myself I could take any day off exercise I wanted to but could not take off two days in a row. It was also helpful to me to join a gym. I’m too cheap to pay the money and not utilize it. Besides helping with SEs, you know exercise is the best thing you can do to help prevent recurrence, right?

Sobes

Thanks so much Ingerp. That's a great motivational tool. I know in my brain all of the benefits of regular exercise, but I can't understand why I can't just get started.

To be fair, this week at work has been horrible and I've worked 11-12 hr each day. I actually tried to go down to use the treadmill on Monday and they were all taken. I took the stairs back to my apartment for some exercise.

Tomorrow is another try!

Sobes

Thanks. I'm thinking of purchasing a splint to wear at night to see if that helps. Have you tried that? Have you had trigger thumb or other fingers with this issue?

Anonymous

I finally had to switch from Arimidex to Aromasin. I had so many joint (including trigger finger/thumb) and mood problems, both causing pain to myself (and others, ha ha) that I told my MO I'd have to stop the drug entirely. It was that bad. Other than a sore hip joint from time to time (which I blame Aromasin for), I feel much better.

Sobes

Thanks Claire! I will discuss this with my Oncologist.

kaaadams

claireinaz - I'm finishing chemo soon and am going on Arimidex and the mood changes scare me. I'm not looking forward to the SEs: joint pain, hot flashes (not AGAIN?!?!), but I used to have PMMD (pre menopausal mood dysphoria) and fear the angry mood possibilities most of all. I took Yaz, a mini-pill, that helped so much before, but know I can't do that this time. Exercise sounds like a must for coping and keeping cancer at bay.

SheWra

Hi:

I'm 61 with osteoporosis and 14 months post mastectomy. No radiation, no chemo. I was on Tamoxifen for 9 months and had to stop three months ago. I could not think, could not do my job and constantly felt like I had zero energy. Plus my hair was falling out and I just felt unhealthy. The side effects really hampered my ability to work out and stay healthy. I work on a computer 8 hrs a day and I also developed trigger thumb. Three months later and I feel amazing, I am thinking clearly running again and have no joint pain, or any other horrible symptoms. I just had another surgery for the trigger thumb. I see my oncologist in February and he is going to want to put me on Anastrozole. I gotta tell you, I am not too keen on the idea of messing with my bones, health, energy or brain again. I'm small, thin, no longer taking HRTs (Drs. kept me on for 16 years due to my osteoporosis) and I had a hysterectomy last year. Geez, what to do.....are the symptoms really worth the 10% statistical variance (20% to 10%)? What do we know about the 10% who were helped? Did they have ovaries and uterus? Were they on HRts for years? Did they eat right, exercise and avoid sugar? Plus, If I go on Anastrozole I will have to start taking other drugs for the bones. Currently I am free of all drugs and myself again.

Sobes

Hi SheWra,

Of course each of us has a unique experience with Breast Cancer. I wish you the best when you discuss this with your Oncologist. I know if I stop the Chemo, I will never forgive myself if the cancer comes back. I did switch to Aromasin (Exemestane) at the suggestion of Clairinez and talking with my Onc. It's just been about 3 weeks and so far I can't say there are any noticeable changes, but I'm hopeful!

I have increased my exercise to stretching 1-2 x/ day and treadmill at least 3 days/ week.

Staying optimistic!

Polkadot1

SheWra - I am currently in the same boat with having to stop Tamoxifen after I ended up in the ER. They told me to stop the T right away. I feel absolutely great being off all meds but of course my MO is wanting me to start on Anastrozole. The problem with that is I already have pretty bad osteoporosis so she wants to talk to my endocrinologist first. I would imagine they will want to double treat both at the same time, which is not something I look forward to since I just cannot seem to tolerate any drug. I have tried and I will try again and hope for better results. Have you seen your MO yet and decided what to do? I thought having surgery and radiation was the hard part but this part of the treatment is proving to be much more challenging for me.