FEMARA

Nana,

I had to go to my GP to renew my blood pressure medicine. I told him that I had a problem with my sleep(I would sleep at night but when I woke up I felt that I had been run over by a train and I had to take a 2-3 hour nap every day.  I also told him what I could not lose weight as this medicine (Femara) had cause me to gain weight. He gave me Nuvigil which helps me with my sleep (I have not had a nap during the day since I have been on this medicine.). I feel like a different person.  I am limited on what I can take due to my blood pressure but this medicine works wonders. I lost 11 lbs in 1 month. The medicine is not cheap (cheaper than Femara). My insurance approved it. 

nuvigil is a sleep aid, but I was wondering about the weight as well.

I have problems with my hand/fingers on my left side (side I had the lumpectomy) tingling--anyone else.

I have been on Femara for 4 yrs now and have had a range of SEs...tendonitis, fatigue, very painful joints, stiff muscles, fuzzy brain, loosing words, I could sleep for days at a time and then have a great stretch when I feel great for a few weeks.

I am afraid to stop it because I do not think I would be able to start up again; its hard enough taking this pill KNOWING what it will do (both good and bad) everyday for who knows how long. 

What has helped the most? light exercise (walking, Curves, swimming, yoga-type stretching, TaiChiGong and others like that) Hot baths or hot tubs/heating pads, lots of fluids, really cutting down to little salt, sugar, processed foods, little caffiene or alcohol, good sleep. Getting rid of as much bad stress as possible.

I wish you all the best, with little pain and much love and happiness!

momand2kids, My onc warnded me about the forgetfulness, so yes it is a side effect, and yes I have it too!  I do not have rhe  lack of emotion though, probably the opposite, I cry at the drop of a hat. I am not on lupron though.  salty

I am so glad to hear others are having this forgetful problem, too.  I get so frustrated because it's the same situation here--I'll do something, or make a decision about something etc and later I can not even remember what I did or said.   It's like the whole episode is just erased from my mind!  I never had problems with memory before, either.  I was one who could remember everything and never had to write things down.  I'm a teacher, and before bc I could tell you scores and specifics about every single one of my kids in the class--now, you'd be lucky if I could remember their last name.  LOL!  It really makes me feel dumb.

mbticsw, why vitamin b12?  Was that recommended by your doc?  Is it for memory?

Which means we won't hold grudges and everyone we meet will be new.  We can read any book, see any movie and it's all a clean slate!! Whoo hoo!

Joni

that is  a great way to look at it--- I can now see a movie and have seen it before and really not remember it.... just came from the bookstore where I bought some new notebooks for work projects--my current system isn't cutting it since it was so dependent on my excellent recall.....I just wonder if it comes back when you go off the drug..... 

momand2kids - re emotional numbness - I have had all the symptoms of the avoidance and emotional numbing type of PTSD (see definition below) since dx but am mostly left with only the emotional numb feeling now. I thought I was depressed but my doctor said no because I was still functioning 'normally' in day to day life and he said it was PTSD.  He said it should resolve itself eventually with time but at nearly 2 years out it is still lingering. I hate it but don't want to pump any more drugs into me so I am just going to wait it out. The following was posted on another thread - thought it might interest you.

Here's a definition of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the Mayo Clinic website (http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/post-traumatic-stress-disorder/ds00246):

"Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a type of anxiety disorder that's triggered by a traumatic event. You can develop post-traumatic stress disorder when you experience or witness an event that causes intense fear, helplessness or horror.

Many people who are involved in traumatic events have a brief period of difficulty adjusting and coping. But with time and healthy coping methods, such traumatic reactions usually get better. In some cases, though, the symptoms can get worse or last for months or even years. Sometimes they may completely disrupt your life. In these cases, you may have post-traumatic stress disorder."

Here's what the site says about the symptoms of PTSD:

"Signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder typically begin within three months of a traumatic event. In a small number of cases, though, PTSD symptoms may not occur until years after the event.   Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms are commonly grouped into three types: intrusive memories, avoidance and numbing, and increased anxiety or emotional arousal (hyperarousal).

Symptoms of intrusive memories may include:
    * Flashbacks, or reliving the traumatic event for minutes or even days at a time
    * Upsetting dreams about the traumatic event

Symptoms of avoidance and emotional numbing may include:
    * Trying to avoid thinking or talking about the traumatic event
    * Feeling emotionally numb
    * Avoiding activities you once enjoyed
    * Hopelessness about the future
    * Memory problems
    * Trouble concentrating
    * Difficulty maintaining close relationships

Symptoms of anxiety and increased emotional arousal may include:
    * Irritability or anger
    * Overwhelming guilt or shame
    * Self-destructive behavior, such as drinking too much
    * Trouble sleeping
    * Being easily startled or frightened
    * Hearing or seeing things that aren't there

Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms can come and go. You may have more post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms during times of higher stress or when you experience reminders of what you went through. You may hear a car backfire and relive combat experiences, for instance. Or you may see a report on the news about a rape, and feel again the horror and fear of your own assault."

fatigue, sleeplessness, forgetfulness, fuzzy brain, power surges, sore joints, hair loss - the SEs hit dramatically after 3 months of starting Femara but I have learned to manage them and 21 months since I started taking it I live a reasonably 'normal' life again.  Sleeplessness had plagued me since dx but revved up once I started Femara but it has eased with time and dealing with the emotions that had been bottled up during active tx, power surges have lessened during the day but still wake me several times a night, hair loss just stopped at about 18 months thank goodness, sore joints were helped by taking glucosamine/chondroitin and fish oil capsules and walking (still have to take painkillers to be able to play tennis and after long days on my feet though) and to combat the forgetfullness and fuzzy brain I make lists and notes and do not multi task anymore - one thing at a time and then I can't forget anything.  Funnily enough I am a librarian and find that my long term memory is still reliable - it is just the short term stuff I have problems with - gulp sounds like Alzheimers - hope not!!

I have not had insomnia lately but that could be due to taking pain med before bed.  Rt leg bothering the heck out of me but could be due to leg operation I had 2 1/2 years ago, cold weather or femara.  All of the above.  I have also experienced some emotionless or lowered emotion state-thought espcially after my last surgery in November to try recon on right side again (had first infection after BiMX and TE on right side had to come out, still have TE on left side). Which did not work.  Have been overly emotional about it and I cry every time I think of doing any recon.  Starting in March, it was one heck of a year, 2010.  Looking for better out come 2011.  I have been taking note from this topic to ask my onco next week when I see him.

Question about hair loss though.  Since I have been taking Femara, my hair has been growing by leaps and bounds since Oct when I started.  When does the hair loss start?  Have a wig but not looking forward to it.

Rae

thanks for this--I am so glad I am not alone....as I mentioned, sometimes this "neutral" feeling is not a bad thing--- but it can be unsettling.  I had not considered PSTD.....

Seven months on Femara - and I am suffering from severe joint pain.  My back - my hip - my knees - one shoulder - and my left hand.  I could not go to sleep last night because my hip made it uncomfortable to get settled in, and I awoke several times.  I finally got up at 3 AM & took some Advil.  I'm also taking fish oil and the glucosamine chondroitin.  Weather has turned bitter cold now so I have not been quite so faithful in getting to the gym to walk, which might help me somewhat.  I don't know if I can continue to take the Femara.  My husband suggested a two-week break to see how I feel.

I see my oncologist again Feb 1 and plan to discuss with her my situation. 

MJBMILLER

IMHO I think your emotions want calm down until you are through radiation and have healed from any burns that it may or may not have caused.  I think I cried daily through my radation treatment and I cried lots the two weeks it took my skin to heal.  It is hard to move on when you are still in active treatment.  Plus we have so little estrogen running through our body that we are hit with a double whammy.  Give yourself time the episodes will get better.  Then when you least expect something will make you cry.  Sorry this happen to me last night.  We have gotten a rare snow-ice storm and they were announcing the closing.  Lexington Oncology came up and said that chemo patients would be called with a new appointment times.  Gee it brought back all those memories from last year. All I could think was I was there in that same spot last year.

As far a Femara.  Having a few warm flashes at night and still having joint pain.  I hope my body can stay on this.  I do think my neuropathy seems to be worse but not sure since that pain comes and goes anyway.  Seems to be worse when I am warm so it might be the warm flashes causing it to act up.  We can do it!  Four years, 10 months and 3 weeks to go!