About-to-Start-Hormones Group

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  • Makratz
    Makratz Posts: 12,678
    edited January 2009

    good luck Redheadace!, let us know how it goes!

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  • Springtime
    Springtime Posts: 5,355
    edited January 2009

    You GO redheadace! Report back!

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  • plakatakr
    plakatakr Posts: 188
    edited January 2009

    I started Arimidex on Friday night and am waiting for the SE's.

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  • fairy49
    fairy49 Posts: 1,245
    edited January 2009

    Good luck redheadace! let us know how you do!!

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  • KAK
    KAK Posts: 1,679
    edited January 2009

    Hi, everyone.  Have been down with a mini-flu, then dealing with the totally awful weather here --  ice, snow, windy, floods, it's like the end of the world.  I keep wondering if we'll have a plague of locusts next.

    Ace, how goes it so far?

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  • mzmiller99
    mzmiller99 Posts: 894
    edited January 2009

    Kak - If the locusts come, they better be wearing their winter woolies!!  I just deleted a long whine about lack of sleep, stupid insurance companies, no energy...guess I'm in the wrong forum.Cry

    Ace - hope you're able to stick with the tamox.

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  • bluegems
    bluegems Posts: 733
    edited January 2009

    We are blowing away here! I haven't seen wind like this (aside from hurricanes) since living in the plains.

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  • mzmiller99
    mzmiller99 Posts: 894
    edited January 2009
    Oh rats, bluegems -it's probably coming North!!Surprised What a cutie patootie in your picture!
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  • NancyD
    NancyD Posts: 3,562
    edited January 2009

    Hey, Susan, I passed through your neck of the woods last week. I spent New Years in Saranac and Lake Placid. That was the coldest I've been in some time (-4° air temp; -21° wind chill). But it was a great holiday.

    Stay warm! 

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  • mzmiller99
    mzmiller99 Posts: 894
    edited January 2009

    NancyD - good for you!  It's beautifully chilly up there, isn't it?  Good place to spend the holidays.  Were the "Smucker's Stars on Ice" performing?  I had a thought that they were up that way recently.  Maybe not...?

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  • Northstar
    Northstar Posts: 89
    edited January 2009

    I just finished radiation last Wed. and was soo, sooo, happy!   I hugged my techs and they were so sweet in wishing me well.   Now I'll see my med. onc. on the 29th and will start tamoxifen that will last for 2 years--I'm 66.  After that another several years on Aromasin.    I am finally getting back to my pottery studio (it takes a lot out of the day to travel for radiation AND work) and really enjoying it.  

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  • plakatakr
    plakatakr Posts: 188
    edited January 2009

    I saw my internist yesterday for my first blood work since I started Arimidex. My cholesterol has gone through the roof. I guess that's 1 more SE to add to the long list of BC  SE's.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2009

    Hello Ladies,

    As you know I'm not going the drug way - going alternative- changing eating habits, supplements, exercise etc. I go for a followup mammo later this month.

    KAK - hope you are feeling better soon, Burr NancyD ! -4 - I can't complain about these teen temperatures then - ha!

    Have a Good Weekend everyone!! Hugs!!

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  • Makratz
    Makratz Posts: 12,678
    edited January 2009

    Rose47,

    Please let us know how that works out for you.  What exactly are you doing.  I have changed my eating habits for the better too, although they were pretty good anyway.  I also started eating milled flax seed.  What are you doing?

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  • mzmiller99
    mzmiller99 Posts: 894
    edited January 2009

    Plakatakr - my cholesterol wasn't great to begin with, and it went up to 265 after I started Arimidex!  My pc doc put me on a statin, and OMG, after only 3 weeks, it's down to 175!! 

    I've had no SEs from the drug, except maybe an upset tummy. I don't need to add a stroke or heart attack to the bc! 

    When I get my buns back to working out, I can go off it, I hope.  But, high cholesterol runs in the family, so we'll see.

    Susan

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  • mzmiller99
    mzmiller99 Posts: 894
    edited January 2009

    Northstar - Woo Hoo to you!!  How cool that you do pottery.  I've always been interested  - years ago my aunt had a wheel and was making stuff, but I was too busy with babies and teenagers (at the same timeFrown) and never got to try.

    I'm curious about why you are going on tamox first.  I wonder if it works better to be on two different drugs.  Suppose I should read up on it!

    Anyway, congrats on being done with rads. 

    Susan 

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  • elisabeth
    elisabeth Posts: 255
    edited January 2009

    Hi Northstar and Susan.  Yes, I, too, would like to know why you are staring on Tamoxifen. I am trying to decide what to do because I hate Arimidex and what it does to me.  

    Susan - I am so glad that you don't have side effects.  I forget, what drug are you taking for bc?

    Thanks. E 

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  • plakatakr
    plakatakr Posts: 188
    edited January 2009

    mzmiller99- my cholesterol was up to 275 but my internist said she would give me a little time to see what I can do now that I finished the chemo. She likes to be conservative and didn't want to possibly add more SE's. Hopefully, now that I can get moving  again, it will drop down but...I have my doubts.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Posts: 1,376
    edited January 2009

    I'll keep everyone up todate!  This decision was so very hard for me - but I had to go with my gut. I can say even if I get a reoccurance I won't regret my decision not to take the drugs. With my change of eating - I'm also experiencing the side effects of lower estrogen.

    Makraz - I send you a private message. 

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  • mzmiller99
    mzmiller99 Posts: 894
    edited January 2009

    Elisabeth - good to hear from you.

      For the bc, I'm on Arimidex...SEs, mostly achy bones and, of course, high cholesterol.

     What does it do to you?

    Susan

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  • elisabeth
    elisabeth Posts: 255
    edited January 2009

    Hi Susan.  Thanks so much.  Sorry about your side effects.  I have very achy joints, especially my hands and my spine.  I also can't sleep (an hour at most) unless I take a sleep aid - which I have never done before.  I am getting a blood test pretty soon to see what it has done to my cholesterol.  My family, too, has high cholesterol and osteopenia (inherited).  My grandmother and aunt had osteoporosis - very severe.  

    Take care. E 

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  • Makratz
    Makratz Posts: 12,678
    edited January 2009

    My cholesterol was 201 at my pre surgery appointment and when it was last checked the end of Dec, it was 160.  It went down and I assume it was the tamox.

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  • mzmiller99
    mzmiller99 Posts: 894
    edited January 2009
    Makraz - wow, that's interesting that yours went down.  I know tamox has different SEs than Arimidex, but now I kinda wish I was on tamox!Frown
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  • Springtime
    Springtime Posts: 5,355
    edited January 2009

    Ladies, I won't be starting until after RADS, but love to read to learn.

    So  Arimidex causes high cholesterol? Not good. Mine runs a tad high anyway! Is it something that can come down? Or is directly caused by the drug and there's no help for it?

    Do other AI's also cause high cholesterol?

    Springtime

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  • mzmiller99
    mzmiller99 Posts: 894
    edited January 2009

    Springtime - I don't know if Arimidex does that to everyone, but it is listed as a SE.  You could check this site for SEs or Google the AI and SEs.

    When do you start rads?

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  • Springtime
    Springtime Posts: 5,355
    edited January 2009

    MZMiller, I am afraid to read the SEs!!! But here I am anyway!!!

    I start rads day after tomorrow I think - so expecting it will go through end of Feb. 

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  • Jo_Ann_K
    Jo_Ann_K Posts: 277
    edited January 2009

    I just started Tamoxifen on Saturday.  Day 3 and no reaction at all.  How long does it take for the problems to kick in?  I'm 54 and still getting 28 day periods so I know this should cut it off, but then again, I was the only person I know who nursed her babies and still got monthly periods during that time.  Go figure....

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  • mzmiller99
    mzmiller99 Posts: 894
    edited January 2009

    Springtime - good luck with your rads.  Don't worry about the AIs yet!  Getting through radiation is your next hurtle! 

    Hugs!

    Susan

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  • Makratz
    Makratz Posts: 12,678
    edited January 2009

    Good luck Springtime!  Keep moisturizing even before you need it!  I used CVS brand pure aloe 2-3 times a day and it was so helpful.  Find something that works for you and use it!

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  • PugMum
    PugMum Posts: 80
    edited January 2009

    HI All,

    I'm sincerely hoping this is the last group I'll have to post on regarding information. Finished rads mid-December and will start Femara as soon as I send in the prescription. I have a couple of questions for those of you on it. First of all, how bad is the joint pain? That was the only SE my oncologist really mentioned. Any others I should be prepared for? I've noticed since I stopped radiation I've been experiencing joint pain.I don't know if it's psychosomatic or related to all my tx's.  Also, I haven't technically gone through menopause. To my surprise ( and horror ) my lab values say my hormones aren't low enough to guarantee I"ve completed menopause. I was told to go in for an injection if I get a period to suppress my ovaries. Has anyone else been in this situation? I mean, the sex without birth control was the only fun part of this whole ordeal! Thanks for any advice. I'm just thrilled to be moving along the road without too many detours.

    Kathy

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