Arimidex - Coping with the SE's

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited June 2011

    I found that after about 6 months the night sweats pretty much went away. And keep moving, moving, moving to keep the bones good and minimize any creakiness you may feel.

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  • Claire_in_Seattle
    Claire_in_Seattle Member Posts: 4,570
    edited June 2011

    I work on the theory that with enough exercise I will be sore enough EVERYWHERE so I don't notice any creakiness.

    Suspect that I will be feeling the 65 miles of the Flying Wheels big time by the time I finish on Saturday.  They don't make any bicycle seat padding that good.  Not YET.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2012

    Claire,

    re: bicycle seats - I have a dear friend who wears the "adult pampers" for the PADDING when she's racing ;)  Also know a woman who wore them when learning to horseback ride!

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited June 2011

    (lame joke that I can't resist ahead)

    Question: Should one wear adult pampers while biking?

    Answer: DEPENDS......

    Tongue out

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  • shells43
    shells43 Member Posts: 1,022
    edited June 2011

    Ha Ha!!!

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  • TinaT
    TinaT Member Posts: 2,300
    edited June 2011
    ruthbru:  (groan) Wink
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  • otter
    otter Member Posts: 6,099
    edited June 2011

    Yay!  In response to appeals from some of us, the Mods have created a new forum called "Bone Health and Bone Loss -- Talk with others about bone density, osteopenia and osteoporosis, and ways to keep your bones strong."  It's in the "Day to Day Matters" section of the boards, right at the top of the list.

    otter

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  • jancie
    jancie Member Posts: 2,631
    edited June 2011
    Ruth - love Ambien!  My dh can't take it nor can some other people I know but dang if it doesn't work for me Laughing  I was the worst insomniac for over 20 years and it took me getting cancer to get access to Ambien - go figure!  But I am not complaining at least now I can sleep when I want to and not lay awake for hours on end.  My mind races at night which prevents me from sleeping especially if I am stressed out.  Now it doesn't matter at all - I just go nighty night in 20 minutes and wake up refreshed every morning.
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2012

    ruthbru...tee, hee...the best!

    I SWEAR my women friends recommend them when they're teaching adult women horseback riding. And one used when in a huge bike race.

    As the lazy member of this group, I only used them during chemotherapy ( until the Immodium started working!)

    Off to the Bone Health thread - main thing my oncologist told me was this is an area where GENETICS really matters.

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  • Sereena
    Sereena Member Posts: 99
    edited June 2011

    Ambien is like a dream.....I have been able to get my best sleep when I take one.  I was prescribed 10mg and cut them in half. They are wonderful!!!

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited June 2011

    Now that you mention it, I know many people who do better with a half dose of amibien than a full dose--always something to try!

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  • shells43
    shells43 Member Posts: 1,022
    edited June 2011

    Geesh I had to take two Ambien last night, but after two bad nights I really wanted to sleep. My prescription labels says take one or two, so I think is ok.

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited June 2011

    You can get a prescription for a 6.25 dose; which I did after I read on the bigger dose 'do not cut in half'. Still works great for me.

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited June 2011

    If the label says one or two, then either is OK! 

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  • Gingerbrew
    Gingerbrew Member Posts: 2,859
    edited June 2011

    I missed my vitamins and meds this AM. By 6PM my knees were hurting so so bad. I took my vitamins and meds then and hope buy tomorrow it is cleared up. Sometimes I don't even realize a med is working until I miss it!   

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited June 2011

    I bought one those daily pill dispensers and put my pills in it. Otherwise I can not even remember IF I've taken my pills or not!

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  • walley
    walley Member Posts: 231
    edited June 2011

    Hi Ladies,

    Finished rads 2 weeks ago. I am feeling better everyday.Moving on to this thread.I start my pills on Monday.Wish me luck.Everyone have a great weekend.Cool

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  • NativeMainer
    NativeMainer Member Posts: 10,462
    edited June 2011

    Welcome Walley!

    Ruthbru--me, too.  AND I use the pill box to remind me what day it is!  

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  • walley
    walley Member Posts: 231
    edited June 2011

    Good idea about the pill box.Will add my pill in with my vitamins:)Thanks!

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  • ruthbru
    ruthbru Member Posts: 57,235
    edited June 2011
    Of all the things I've ever lost, I miss my mind the most Tongue out.
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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2012

    Hi, fellow A Team members,

    Just want to again PRAISE the value of my Acupuncture treatments.  On the table yesterday laughing at looking at my knees looking like Porcupines - really.  My right knee was so "iinflammed" it hurt when a few of the needles went in - and we're talking the skinniest little needles you can imagine.  WOW!  This morning I got out of bed, thinking something "felt" different - and of course my mind, like Ruthbru's is long gone, so it took me several steps to realize - MY KNEES DIDN'T HURT.

    I positively can NOT wrap my mind around why this makes such a difference for me, but it does.  I have spoken to several women at my  Cancer Support Group - and many are now seeing an acupuncturist & reporting the same relief from SE's of an AI.

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  • jancie
    jancie Member Posts: 2,631
    edited June 2011

    Ruth - I had to laugh.  I ended up calling Poison Control TWICE because I couldn't remember if I took my pills twice and didn't know if I was going to OD or not.  I was on so much medication at the time and my dh was out of town on one of those occassions I made the phone call. 

    It was hilarious because they want to know your name and number immediately before they will talk to you - I guess they worry if they lose the connection they can call 911 and send someone over.  I felt so stupid and told them I had chemo brain and was a blonde to boot.  They guy that was answering my call ended up laughing with me and then he called me back hours later to make sure I was ok since my dh was out of town.

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  • marybast
    marybast Member Posts: 138
    edited June 2011
    Thanks for your story Jancie... at least I've never had to call poison control but I do have to use TWO pillboxes. One with two daily compartments--AM for anastrozole and PM for amitriptylin (for joint pain)--I keep next to my bed; the other with four daily compartments (breakfast, lunch, dinner, bedtime) I keep on the dining table for all the supplements I'm taking. Tongue out
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  • TokyoSing
    TokyoSing Member Posts: 140
    edited June 2011

    Sunflowers-Caerus,  I too should sing the praises of my acupuncturist.  I just realized I have not had to take a single Aleve for more than a week now.  I am still a little stiff when I get up in the morning but I can easily carry my 7 lb yoga mat and walk down steps in the Tokyo subway (where to conserve electricity, all down escalators are turned off). Those little needles are awesome, are they not?

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  • burley
    burley Member Posts: 631
    edited June 2011

    Well after being on Arimidex since March 7th, my Onc decided to take me off of it for two weeks to see if the bone/joint pain goes away.  I just couldn't stand it any longer and called his office late Thursday.  My left hand and arm hurt so bad it keeps me up at night.  And my knees in the morning?  Holy cow.  If the pain goes away, he'll switch me to Femara (which probably has a whole new set of side effects.)  If not?  I'm not sure then...a med for pain to add to my regime, I assume.

    So far I'm surviving without a pill box.  But I definitely see one in my future!  My meds and vitamins already take up a full shelf in my kitchen cabinet.

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  • slousha
    slousha Member Posts: 312
    edited June 2011

    Hi Burley

    Being on Femara since 04/8/2010 I'm having all SE's the ladies are complaining about on the AI sites (for hormonal therapy) My Onco thinks it's normal, I should have a little patience. I don't know how long I will be capable to sustain. So I'm taking daily ibuprofen, asking me why should I be taking pain killers being only in stage II.

    Best Usha

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  • Dianeinil
    Dianeinil Member Posts: 39
    edited June 2011

    My arimidex obviously kicked in . I am in so much pain from knees to legs now hands and arms. Also carpel tunnel is flaring bad in both arms . Does this go away ? If so how long. I really can't take this :(

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  • lago
    lago Member Posts: 17,186
    edited June 2011

    I think I might finally be having some SE. My fingers/toes are a bit stiff in the morning. I also feel like my legs stiffen up a bit when sitting for a long time. I'm not sure if this is happening to my legs because I have started to really work out and walk a lot more (now that my 5 week bout with shingles are gone). My legs seem more like muscle than bone so I'm hoping it's just the extra exercise kicking in. Still the hot flashes are gone… no complaints there.

    What is weird is for the first 3 months I was using the brand from India. My pharmacy now sells the Tivo brand. I started to have the SE when taking the Tivo brand. 

    Does it usually take 3 months for SE to show up?

    Usha be careful taking ibuprofen for long periods of time. I know when I was taking them for my shingles my LE MD was concerned I could get stomach ulcers.

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  • Anonymous
    Anonymous Member Posts: 1,376
    edited August 2012

    Diane, Burley, Slousha

    I know this is a long thread - but if you start at the beginning - you'll find lots of suggestions on how to deal with these SE's and what has helped many people.  good luck

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  • slousha
    slousha Member Posts: 312
    edited June 2011

    Hi Lago,

    For me was taking two months to get SE's from Femara. Answering to my onco last year I have no SE's he seemed unsatisfied, later when I reported I have it said: "Good, it works".!

    I know the matter on ibuprofen, I tried without almost one year, but now I'm taking a dose of 400mg after the meal, sometimes with milk.

    Best Usha

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