FEMARA

I've been on femara since April and I'm having intense hot flashes again.  The weird thing is that they had seemed to die down a bit back in Aug/Sept and now they seem to be back in full force!  What's up with that?

lulubee -- Your onc probably had no good reason for telling you to take it in the morning!  I take it in the evening after dinner, but you need to experiment with it and find the right time for YOU!  Best of luck,

Linda

cindy and weety - hang in there - it should get better.  My hot flashes really revved up for the first year on Femara - even had some night sweats which I had never had before - but now 18 months on they have settled to a few mild ones during the day - just have to take a layer off for a few minutes and they abate - but in bed at night I still wake up 3 or 4 times overheated. 

I'm live in the Long Beach area.

I'm going to try taking the pill at night.  I'll see if that helps any.  I wake up at night drenched in sweat sometimes.  It's really getting old!

I've been taking Femara since the end of August.  I take it at night but it doesn't help me sleep.  I've got a good prescription sleeping pill for that problem, which I use a couple times a week.  I haven't noticed any significant side effects.  I'm a decade past menopause and have experienced hot flashes during that entire time.  They are no better/no worse than before.  I also have osteoarthritis in my knees and my hands, so I already take anti-inflammatories.  And I don't feel like anything is worse, which is good.   I had a bone density scan in September and my bones are perfect, so I'm hoping that I escape the osteoporosis side effect.  I have upped my VIt D so I am taking 2200 ius a day.  My test in August came back at 45.  I'd like to be closer to 70, but it's getting chilly and darker now.  So I won't have many hours of sunshine to help.

Things could be worse for me, for sure. 

Michelle

Hi Jan and welcome.  We're glad you found us so you do know that you are definately not alone.  There are many lovely ladies here to give support in any way that you may need it.  Come visit often.

Peace, strength, love n hugs.   chrissyb

I've been on Femera for 8 months (preceded by Tamoxifin) - original S/E of joint pain and hot flashes has gotten better (no pain reliever involved)...I still have an odd heel pain, but overwhelmingly better than the first 3 months when I resembled a 87 yr old.  My main frustration is the ongoing weight gain.  Onco tells me to keep working out, because my body benefits - but the weight gain is mentally a major problem.  I didn't gain on tamoxifin - then had my recon surgery which added 20 lbs, started femera, and have just keep going up.  Going on anti depressant will add pounds - and I'm not ok with that approach...any thoughts?

Well I started Femara 2 days ago. I'm already finding my neuropathy is acting up. Does anyone have any advice, it kept me up most of the night last night. After looking at this thread, I'm thinking it will be a month or two before I really know how I'm going to react.

lindasa, I will give it a try. For me it is in my hands and me feet and legs. It was a very unpleasant feeling.

I have been on Femara since Feb and I have had bone and joint pain I am seeing a pain management dr next month.  any advise about Femara would be great

Sue Ann  

Hi Nana,

 I purchased Calcium with Vitamin D softgels from Puritan's Pride [check their website].  While they are still quite large, being a softgel makes them go down a bit easier.  Hope this helps.

Well, it's day 5 for me. I'm taking the L-glutamin at night, so more numb hands and feet. The only problemI have is a feeling of fullness, which has resulted in a 3 pound weight gain. Boy I hope that resolves itself, I know weight can contribute to cancer, anad I have enough trouble with my weight already.

Chrissy, glad you're feeling better on the little yellow pill and hope it continues. I take mine at night too.

Interestingly, but probably coincidentally, since implant removal on Oct. 26th, my aches and pains are about 50% better. I have a routine appointment with my onc tomorrow and will see what he thinks about this.  

Someone suggested oat bran to help with the feeling of fullness, so I've been adding a couple of TBSPs of fine oat bran to my morning cereal and it really has helped me.

kira -- Among the many possible SEs of Femara is mild depression.  In my case it comes and goes (although lately it's been staying awhile...).

You mentioned that you're taking L-Glutamine but I don't understand your second-to-last post.  Do you mean that it's helping or not?  Hope it is!!

Last week I underwent breast reduction surgery (surgery in conjunction with upcoming breast reconstruction surgery due to my mastectomy).  The doctor had taken me off of ALL pain meds 2 weeks before this surgery.  I had been taking Aleve for joint/bone pain from Femara side effects.  Three days of being off this medication - I felt like an arthritic old lady (I'm 57).  The pain was intense and my whole body ached.  I had no idea how much the Aleve had been helping with my pain.  Well, long story short - I made the decision to go off my Femara until at least after the surgery or until I was able to go back on the Aleve.  I have been off the Femara for almost 3 weeks now and I can't tell you how wonderful I feel - this is one week after the surgery!  I feel human again!  In February, it would have been two years of either on Femara or Arimidex.  I have decided - I'm done!  I know my oncologist is going to kick and scream at me - but I've reached the decision that I want ME back!  I'm done dealing with this little yellow pill ruining my quality of life.  I just had a breast reduction surgery in my "good" breast - no cancer found.  I'm having breast reconstruction surgery (Tram Flap) in a couple months and I will finally have a "chest" again.  I look forward to being able to buy a regular bra - no prosthesis!  I'm on the road to getting ME back!  If the Big C does enter my life again - I will deal with it at that time.  NO ONE has shown me WHY we have to stay on this lousy little pill for a full 5 years.  There are NO studies of it ALONE for 5 years showing true results.  I'm counting on my time served on this pill as being enough. I'm also a no-nodules involved survivor - if I wasn't - maybe I'd be thinking different.  I applaude all of you for your determination & stamina,   Best wishes to each and every one of you now and those to come that have to deal with this horrible life-changing disease!  Hugs!