Is this SEs from Aromasin? Or something else?
My 3 month onc visit is July 13. I've been having some issues and would like to be prepared when I go and see him.
First, on the good side.. About a month ago my PT did some work on my back and was able to break up some scar tissue which was around a nerve running along my shoulder blade and down my lat. It made a huge, huge difference in my range of motion and got rid of the pain in my elbow and upper arm when I reached in certain positions. I guess the point of my saying this is that I've been in PT since late Jan for my left (cancer side) shoulder -- it's been a battle and would bring down my attitude at times. But I'm seeing the end of those appointments in the near future.
Then, for about a month, I was getting tingling in both feet. I could never associate it when anything specific. I wore different sneakers thinking that it might be my favorite shoes. I thought it might be from sitting too long but I'd also get it when I woke up in the monring. For some reason it hasn't bothered me for about 3 weeks.
But what has taken place in the meantime is that my hands and feet have been hurting. In the begginning it was feeling like my hands were swollen when I woke up in the morning. Sometimes one, sometimes both. Then it started happening during the day and, now, almost every morning it feels that way in both hands. But they look fine. No swelling around my ring, no lymphedema, the watch fits fine.
My feet also started hurting in the morning. I'd get up to walk on them and it felt like they were tender on the bottoms. Now it almost feels like the tendons are tight and they want to be slightly curled. Which is similiar to what my hands feel like.
The last thing is that I'm getting headaches more often. Most of them have been pretty mild, just a kind of pressure on the sides towards the top of the skull. Yesterday, though, I got a nastier one that was just on the left side, also towards the top of the skull. But a lot of times it feels like if I could just "crack" my neck then maybe the headache would clear. Either I can't crack my neck or if I do it doesn't get rid of the headache. A couple of time a week I wake up with the mild headache.
For the most part I've been able to ignore it first thing in the morning because I'm busy getting ready for work. But once at work it will often soak through to my conscious thoughts that I'm uncomfortable -- it may be from my hands, feet, headache or all of them. So then I take a Vicodin and about an hour later I'm feeling much better. Attitude is good and I can concentrate. No problems for hours. Occasionally I need to take a second Vicodin late afternoon or evening. I tried 2 extra strength Tylenol a couple of times but that does not give me relief.
Part of me doesn't want to tell the onc. I don't want any more unnecessary scans. But something isn't right. So I'm looking for advice. I don't want to go unprepared.
Thoughts?
Comments
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I definitely think that the hand/foot thing is from Aromisin. I have about three or four steps every time I get up in the morning or if I have been sitting for a while that are a bit hobbly. Then I am good to go. That is from Arimidex.
Not sure about the headaches, but because it is spring, is there any chance it could be allergies?? Or sinus pain?
I hate how worried this cancer thing makes us. I'd wait and see how things progress between now and July before worrying about telling you Onc. If things are getting worse it might be a good idea.
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Yeah,,,When Iwake up I have to CLING to the staircase as I get to the bottom...By the time I reach the bottom I am good.
The headaches almost sound like your sleeping wrong, pillow maybe? Could you be dehayrated? Have you tried uping the amount of water your drinking?
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I have big-time feet, leg, and hand stiffness in the morning. My feet hurt all day long. This started a few months after beginning arimidex. I didn't have these problems on tamoxifen. I told my onc last May, and she didn't seemed concerned that it was cancer. I think what you have going on is just side effects from the drug.
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I am the same way, feet killing me and my hands and arms hurt so much in the morning it hurts to pull my covers up. I am on Fermara, I have a onc appt. today and was going to ask to change to Aromison. I live on Alive and Ibuprofen. When I was on Tomoxifen I was fine.
I think these a common SE of ALs, but definitely know how you feel about being scanned, I feel the same way. Maybe your headaches are also a SE. Talk to your onc about your symptoms and maybe they can change your AL. Good Luck.
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OK - you guys are making me feel better. You're describing the same thing as I've been experiencing!
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The foot thing, yes! Hurts like hell first thing in the morning. I have lymphodema and neuropathy so my hands are always a bit wacky. Headaches can't say because I get them from Herceptin. Hope this helps!
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I'm on Aromasin and have the same hand/foot thing going on. I try to sit on the side of my bed for a couple minutes and that seems to help the foot thing not be as bad but if I jump up and start walking it hurts a lot. Not sure about the headaches as much, I was having them but thought it must be allergies because it would come and go and was in the frontal sinuses. I would take a Claritin-D and be right as rain and they seem to be better lately. I hope this calms some fears & I hope your appt. goes great.
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Christy....tendonitis is a side effect of the AI's...I had CTS on Arimidex and deQuervanes tendonitis in both wrists on Aromasin....since you feel better (somewhat) after you've been moving a bit, it sounds like the AI is the culprit....as far as headaches go....I got awful headaches on AI's....still get frequent headaches that are very sinusy (and I've been off AI's for 15 months)...I take ibuprofen for the sinus as well as mucinex and it helps a bit.....nothing seemed to help the joint pain, but I still took ibuprofen....probably take way too much of it!!! i would definitely tell your onc and see what he/she has to say....you don't have to do any scans that you don't want....I had a brain MRI that my pcp ordered (I thought it was just for sinus) when my headaches were so bad and it came back pretty much normal...so I have that to hang my hat on!!!! Good luck with your onc appt next month....
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Karen - I'm familiar with CTS but what is deQuervanes tendonitis like?
And after everyone's comments I'm just going to keep taking the 1 Vicodin and not feel guilty like I was. Feeling like I'm a closet drug addict. But the truth is that it's the difference between sitting like a lump thinking about how lousy I feel and moving around thinking how wonderful life is. And yes, sometimes I have to take one in the evening, also. There. I admitted it.
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"Why Christy you drug addict you" (said in a southern accent)
Hey, whatever it takes to get through each day I say...I try not take so many but there isn't but so much pain a person can take so why walk around suffering when we don't have to.
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The deQuervanes tendon is on the ourside of the wrist....my wrist hur writing, hurt lifting more than one dinner plate.. the spling help stabilize the thumb as well as the wrist...for me the surgery made all the difference in the world...2 cortisone shots did not do anything....its been 2 1/2 years since the surgery and my wrists are pretty good...every once in a while they bother me, especially if I've done too much, but it was immediate relief after the surgery...Karen
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Thanks Karen. I'm not there but it's always nice to be warned about something. It sure feels like tendons are involved but so far it's not bad enough for me to do more than just report it to the onc.
And as for you, Jenny! I got a kick out of that. It reminded me of my 4 years in Houston -- many of my co-workers were from Alabama and Mississippi. I found out how even nasty comments could sound so sweet with those drawls!
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I had arthritis in my feet before bc (thanks to previous injuries), and all you describe, other than the headaches, could be attributed to osteoarthritis. We all know that with lower estrogen, our ability to counter osteoarthritis is lowered, so it should be no surprise to find our joints are more achy.
Headaches are a different animal, but just as susceptible to lower/changing hormones. They can be caused by so many things...everything from a subliminal dread of going to work to something easily handled like dehydration. Make sure in this warmer season that you are getting enough fluids, and if they continue through to your appt with your onc, make him give you a thorough work-up and referral for a scan.
(Just as an aside, the last time I had recurring and wake-up headaches it turned out I had mononucleosis. So it could also be symptom of something more innoccous.) -
Haha...well, Christy I am from NC and have that drawl for sure, even a "bless your heart" can be nasty.
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