Arimidex - Coping with the SE's

Anonymous · May 2012

soaked in lime juice, I sometimes add a little water, and heat in microwave, but been TOO HOT here lately for that. ALSO, if I wasn't back to eating some cheese ( hard cheddar) the prunes would be a real problem for me too. I keep a supply of Immodium, like most folks keep Advil in their medicine chests ;-)

Speaking of meds, I'm still trying to decide if I can take my THYROID medication ( generic synthroid) at night at the same time I take my Arimidex? Confuzzled by what I'm reading on line. Not unusual, I'm easily confused lately ;-)

GirlPowerDebbie · May 2012

Just going on record here ... I quit taking my Arimidex a week ago and I feel so much better. It is temporary - I am having surgery tomorrow (ovaries & tubes) and I had a bunch of stuff to do outside and I needed to feel good! It has been great. After surgery I will go back on it (lawn work is done!) and then when I see my onc in early June I will ask her to switch to Femara, & give that a try.

Re the calcium, I take supplements plus eat a couple tums every day. I had a bone density test 2 years ago with minor thinning in my left hip & femur, so I can never take my eye off that ball.

Debbie

Anonymous · May 2012

GirlPower

Tumes are NOT A GOOD SOURCE OF CALCIUM - according to a really good doctor I've known for years, who really is very knowledgeable about supplements -it's like taking the white chalk used to mark lines on a football field - not the Calcium we really need in our bodies. Much better sources for you, check with your local health food store - there is a great selection.

ruthbru · May 2012

Hi Barb, DH is from Britton and has a bunch of relatives in Aberdeen. So I often cross over the border Smile

.

ginger_mea · May 2012

Putting the same question over here on this board, has anyone experienced high liver functions on their blood work up since on the A.I.?

Ginger

ruthbru · May 2012

not me

Linda1966 · May 2012

Rocket, an old family favorite with prunes is to wrap one with a little strip of bacon (ham as an alternative) secure with a toothpick and pop under a moderate grill for 4 mins till golden brown and crisp. You can also add cream cheese and chives, mustard or whatever is tasty into the pitted area if you want to be fancy. Personally I find they taste vastly different when made into the skewers. Perhaps try eating them them this way and see if you like the taste. Can't remember what we used to call them but they are delic and we often used them as finger food when having bbq's back in the day.

spunkyboobster · May 2012

Caltrate has a chewable version-like Tums, but calcium. My onc told me to get Caltrate-I picked up the chewable by mistake, but thy're not bad.

Chris13 · May 2012

Soaking my raisins as I write. Do I get to drink the juice?

otter · May 2012

Chris, I hope so...

Re: TUMS. Tums contain calcium carbonate, the same form of calcium that's in Caltrate and in Viactiv calcium chews. Sure, the Tums website does say the calcium carbonate in Tums comes from limestone (http://www.tums.com/FAQs.html), but we're dealing with basic chemistry. Calcium carbonate (CaCO3) is exactly the same thing, whether it comes from ground limestone, oyster shells, egg shells, or hard water (http://www.livestrong.com/article/427363-natural-source-of-calcium-carbonate/). Oh, and the form of calcium in Rolaids is calcium carbonate, too.

Now, whether calcium carbonate is the best form of calcium for us, and whether we should be getting most of our calcium from dietary supplements, are more interesting questions (IMHO).

otter

dogsandjogs · May 2012

Can't remember the reason, but I was told to take Calcium Citrate, not the Carbonate.

TinaT · May 2012

I also have been told by several docs to take Calcium Citrate. Here's a blurb from NIH:

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007477.htm

MamaV · May 2012

Any "older" ladies on here? My MIL had a single masectomy last week (she's 82). She is not in good health anyway - emphysema, bad heart, so no chemo nor radiation. But she will start arimidex next week. I have my own set of SE from it, but wondered if the SE are different for the "older" gals.

ruthbru · May 2012

Maybe they won't be bad since she will already be way low on estrogen anyway. ??

dogsandjogs · May 2012

http://www.pdrhealth.com/drugs/arimidex

Here is some info. on Arimidex

Anonymous · May 2012

Ditto on the calcium= almost ANY form but carbonate

Giving an AI to an 82 yr old??? Hope she's getting a second opinion. On top of her other health problems, total estrogen deprivation unless she has a terribly aggressive form of BC...feels like "ouch" = how active can our adrenal glands be by age 82???

Wishing you well, and really, REALLY hope you'll get a second opinion on all of that....

ginger_mea · May 2012

SunflowersM - I agree...

Wren44 · May 2012

MamaV, I'm 71 and have had minimal symptoms. Other women in their 70's have been hit hard with SEs, so I don't think age gives you a pass. Arimidex can be hard on the heart. I'd ask her cardiologist about taking it. It cuts the recurrence rate in half, but a recent study said that women didn't live longer, and they thought it was due to heart problems.

spunkyboobster · May 2012

Really interesting point, Wren44. thanks.

dogsandjogs · June 2012

http://health.usnews.com/health-news/family-health/cancer/articles/2011/08/31/some-older-breast-cancer-patients-can-skip-hormone-therapy-study

You and your Mom might want to read this before you make a decision

ruthbru · June 2012

Good advice in the article. Try it, but re-evaluate after three months if there are problems. Just my opinion, but at the age of 82, quality of life right now would be my top priority.

MamaV · June 2012

Thanks all! I totally agree. My MIL didn't even want the MX. She said why do this - I'm 82??? Now they say she has a gallstone so they want to take her gallbladder out! DH and I say quality of life. My SIL says do everything you can to keep her here longer. Totally dysfunctional. Thanks again I will interject when I can but my words often get over spoken by my SIL!

Rocket · June 2012

Ginger, yes my alk phos has been running high for some time now, and my MO was concerned it might be bone mets, so I have had three bone scans since and my alk phos continues to be high, but no mets. It isn't super high though. The other liver tests have been normal. My cholesterol is another matter however. It has skyrocketed to 253 from 180, and I eat very little meat, eggs, or animal products.

TinaT · June 2012

Rocket - Which cholesterol number jumped - total cholesterol or ????

GirlPowerDebbie · June 2012

thanks for the feedback re the Tums ... I was just following my onc's suggestion! Will research it further.

Anonymous · June 2012

Rocket

if you don't have a problem with blood glucose levels, you could try Niacin. Think it was Ruthbru who first posted about it - using SloNiacin - FANTASTIC at lowering LDL & raising HDL. Took my cholesterol down from 233 to 186. Alas, it also sent my blood glucose levels soaring - I'm one of the ones who probably would have had the same problem taking a statin.

Now, I'm taking garlic ( non smelling pills), grape see extract, alpha lipoic, can't remember all the ones - also cinnamon for lowering blood glucose, and the real hard worker for me to lower bs, is bitter melon ( pills, and I use the veggie intself in stir frys, delicious!) if you like tart tastes...

WaveWhisperer · June 2012

Has anyone had a severe reaction to Niacin? My husband started it and about the 2nd night, I heard him hit the floor as he returned from the bathroom. "Something's very wrong," he said. I called 911 and the paramedics came, took him to the ER. Discovered it was a strong reaction to Niacin, which his PCP had FAILED to warn him about. When my PCP suggested it, I said, "No way." But now that I'm on Arimidex, we'll see what my numbers look like. I'm already on another cholesterol med.

spunkyboobster · June 2012

The joint pain is at an all time high today-may have something to do with cold weather that's settled in Chicago.

ananda8 · June 2012

After over 4 years, I just switched from Arimidex to Exemestane. My muscle and bone pain has disappeared. Both drugs have the same side effects but for some reason switching helps. Thank goodness I only have eight months to go. My Onc says that early research indicate that women should stay on the drugs because there appears to be an increase in recurrence after 7-8 years but I intend to take at least two years off. I think my over all health has been affected by this stuff and I want to have a normal period of time.

dobie · June 2012

Greetings sisters,

I starting taking Arimidix yesterday and spent a couple hours skimming through the 175 pages of posts. What a bright, articulate group you are. I love the mix of natural remedies, respect for evidence/ research based practices and humor. Obviously, it's a bit early for me to report any SE, however, now I feel prepared if I do have any. Let me introduce myself. I hope to continue to benefit and contribute to this conversation. I was originally dx 5 years ago with a very small ILC and chose not to take endocrine therapy because of concern about QOL which concerned me more than reoccurrence. Well, now I have had a reoccurance. It just cost me my right breast. My daughter ( who is engaged to be married June 2013) and my DH have convinced me to give this a try. I do still struggle to see the point if it does not, in fact, improve my survival rate. But the way I have come to look at it is this. Statistics are very funny things. They really dont have anything to do with each individual case. I have dodged the bullet twice, only suffering flesh wounds. Next time might be the bullseye. I will try the %#*& Arimidix. Cancer sucks.

Arimidex - Coping with the SE's

Comments

Categories