Arimidex - Coping with the SE's

Hi Iago,

 Sorry to hear about your shingles - they sound nasty! you are always so helpful and positive to others on these boards. I am sure that you will make it through this too, but it can't be any fun. I hope that you are feeling better soon!

Honkittle,

Hang in there. If you read through this post, you will see that I was one of the folks who was really down and out from weeks 3-6 when I started on Arimidex (had numerous side effects including insomnia and some blahs, borderline depression). I am now doing much better, even though I still feel arthritic and stiff as a board. I also have a lot of neck pain from 3 herniated disks in my neck - Arimidex has really caused everything to flare up. Make sure that you take not only vit D but calcium. My onc (and lots of folks here) recommended that I take 1000 iu Vit D and 1200 Calcium daily. I think it has helped.

Also, be sure to treat the mental health side of the equation if needed. Estrogen deprivation can definitely mess up your mental module. I hope that you are one of the lucky ones that skates through, but make sure you get help if needed.  

Best, Beau 

Usha Sorry you are in so much pain. I would ask MO more questions regarding no D3/calcium during sunny weather. If you have low vitamin D then it shouldn't matter. If you have osteopenia or osteoporosis then it shouldn't matter about the Calcium either. Only way they would know about either is a blood test for the D and a bone density scan for the later.

But they should give you something for the pain no matter how old you are. BTW sometimes these side effects can go away or reduce after being on the drug for 3 months. Some can go away if you take a month break from the drug then try again. I would discuss this with your MO as well.

I have strange dreams but I had them before bc.  I take a benedryl knockoff at night as a sleep aid and this type of med can cause strange dreams and even nightmares.  I didn't realize this until a dermatologist prescribed an antihistamine for my mother to help with rashes and cautioned her that the med could cause nightmares.  My mother had this reaction and stopped the med.  Melatonin can also cause bizarre dreams and nightmares.  What puzzles me is that my bizarre dreams seldom have any basis in reality.  I can't figure out why such scenarios and places should exist in my subconscious.

I've been taking celebrex for bursitis in my right shoulder.  The pain had disappeared.  This morning I got up and the pain was back.  It's not intense but it's there.  Very odd.

I agree that all of us with bc have been shocked into a realization of our mortality.  In my case, this realization has affected my weight.  I tend to indulge myself when I eat out.  Consequently I'm about 8 to 10 lbs higher than my goal weight and seen to lack the discipline to drop these extra lbs.

Happy Sunday to all.

I posted this on the after rads forum but then came to this one and some of you ladies seem to have the same problem I am now experiencing.

Not doing so good today, had a terrible night with deep dark thoughts.  DH stayed awake almost all night because of me.  It's two weeks since I started the Arimidex and I know depression is a side effect but I have been so positive all through the last six months the horrible thoughts just came out of the blue.  I am going to take the pill lunchtime instead of morning and then tomorrow at night and see if that helps.  I'm not giving up this easy.  Have a good Sunday ladies.

Emell, Enjoyful,

I think MASSAGE is the activity that gives me the most LASTING relief from joint & muscle pain.

Also Acupuncture - I do both once a month.  The effect is cumulative - and really long lasting.  As for the fatigue - when Arimidex was brand - the company listed the side effects - starting with

ASTHENIA - I had to google it - and googled and giggled when I read the Wikipedia definition ;-))

See what you think - after you've looked up ASTHENIA

Isn't Asthenia Greek for "feels like crap"?

Hi lago, beau and other dear ladies,

Sorry, I was so down, as I wrote my last post

My PDr. gave me ibuprofen and zaldiar and said I should take till 8 tablets a day. I'm afraid doing this for a longer time because of stomach issues. I'm asking why to take so much painkillers being in stage II. I should understand this if I would be in stage IV. Meaning, why to take toxins to bear other toxins??

After my abdominal cancer surgery stage I - two years ago - I got thrombosis and cannot go with tamoxifen.  I have to stay with AI.  Above a year I'm coping with SE's, doing all suggested matters, mostly efficiently, but sometimes....

thank you

Usha

Since we have been talking about shingles; there was something really interesting about the shingles vaccine in a medical advice column in the paper this week. The columnist, Dr. Gott says that anyone who has been treated with drugs that affect the immune system (ie radiation or chemotherapy)  should NOT get the vaccine because it is formulated with live viruses. He listed many sources for his recommendation including the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Food & Drug Administration, the Mayo Clinic etc. something to keep in mind anyway.

Which forum is the shingles thread in? I will see if I can find this article online, if I can find it, I will copy it over. It sounds like one should NEVER get the vaccine in it's present (live virus) form.

OK, I found the article and posted it there.

Nancy, no wet hair, but that's because I crank my AC as low as it will go.  I am hot ALL the time.    And I live in the tropics, too.    I wish I was a** deep in snow right now.

People with depressed immune systems need to be careful around children, too.  The MMR vaccine is a live virus vaccine and the Flu Mist nasal spay flu vaccine is a live virus vaccine, too.  Need to stay away from people after these vaccines for 21 days minimum.  I find it odd that I was told to avoid children having had the flu mist vaccine, but the same doc told me it was ok for me to take the flu mist vaccine after I refused to get the shot due to needle phobia. 

I have more trouble with hot flashes when I'm in a very warm or very humid place.  I have a ceiling fan in the bedroom that runs year round no matter how cold the room is.  If I can't feel air moving, I will have a hot flash.  Very annoying.  

I had a round of horrible dreams when I started taking Prozac many years ago.  That tapered off, then I started having nightmares again about the time I was diagnosed and all through treatment, but they all had to do with needles and pain.  Those tapered off, but over the last couple of weeks they've started up again.  Not sure why, no changes in meds, no procedures or anything coming up.  Hope it stops soon.  

I think it's criminal how insurance companies dictate what we can and cannot do and take.  The people making these decisions often are not medically trained at all, they look only at the $$ end of things.  It really makes me mad, especially when there is no way to get around it other than to pay out of pocket;  Sometimes it's not worth it to have insurance.  

TokyoSing

Gluten light - great description.  I went "whole hog" gluten free, also in hope of getting rid of some of this excess weight!  Now dairy free too - and my body feels so much better lighter, no matter what the scale says.  I have strong Spring ( tree pollen) allergies - and the lessening of mucus in my body since going dairy free feels like a real gift.  Not even a sniffle!  YEAH!!!!

Re: Shingles Vaccine.  I was told ( by my docs at Dana Farber)) that it was safe to take it after waiting 6 months after chemptherapy.  That was about 3 ish years ago - have felt fine.

Don't want to "jinx" myself - bu also get Flu Vaccine - and haven't been sick since chemptherapy.

Well, except for Asthenia....Enjoyful, you really made me laugh!!!!  So much WORSE than "crap"  I've described it as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome ( which I've never had) times a zillion!  And the weirdest part for me, is, some mornings I wake up feeling FINE - and have no idea why, what I did differently? Just strange...

LowRider, You will always be a super woman to me. You have always given such good advice with such a great attitude. Now put all that energy towards staying stable and enjoying your life, you deserve it.

I agree with kira1234!  LowRider, you have helped more people than you will ever realize with your sound advice, sence of humor, and "glass half full" attitude.  Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy, and stay stable so we can all "hang out" for years to come. You are a super woman.