Arimidex - Coping with the SE's

serenity-I too have tho buddha belly and I eat clean and exercise almost everyday.  I don't know if it's the anastrozle or being thrown into menopause after my oopherectomy in March. I don't like it either, but it beats dealing with cancer again. I don't see my MO until September, but I'll ask then.

cowgal, if the swelling is "severe" to the point where you are uncomfortable, I think it's definitely something you need to have your doctor SEE, it can be a symptom of many things.

I have "some" swelling in my fingers, stays about the same since I started Arimidex 5 years ago.  Notice ankles swell if I have too much SALT - any kind of shell food, really anything with a lot of salt, and I notice my ankles swell.  It is a SE of all the AI's - but not as severe as I think you're describing.  Whatever the undelying cause, the AI is probably a contributing factor.  Good luck.

Sunflowers, my feet and ankles have seemed swollen pretty much to some degree most of the time.  Saturday when I woke up, they were swollen up like I had sprained both ankles!  I have been taking the over the counter water pills since then and it has come down quite a bit but still swollen.  My knees get swollen too.  I will see my doctor tomorrow.  I am going to cover the joint pain with him as well.  My MO has not done a bone density test on me and I have been on Arimidex for a year.  When do most others have this done?  I am only 48 but I am pretty concerned that my pain and swelling may be from something relating to bone loss.

cowgirl

I had a BASELINE bone density test jsut before I started Arimidex.  That seems to be the SOC for Dana Farber, Boston, MA, but I don't know about other places.  I now have one every two years.

Hope your doc has a good way to deal with swelling.  It is so uncomfortable.  Never heard of it as a relation to any kind of bone loss. We can get lymphedema any place in body - hoping it's not that.

In hindsight, I can see how my SE's changed over the years - I'd say now the first year was the hardest.  Seems to have gotten easier.  

My feet and legs (well, anything below the waist) ache like crazy in the morning.  Sometimes, the pain subsides as the day goes on, but usually not.  I try to exercise as much as possible, with no better results.

 I have heard a lot of people take a "break" from Arimidex.  I am 1/2 way through now, and feel like an old woman.

Has anybody just stopped taking the Arimidex for a few weeks, without a doc's permission?

ginger -- don't think that! Come on -- positive thinking, law of attraction and all that! Along that line of thinking, has anyone heard of Abraham-Hicks?

MOT - just saying, I work in a place that houses seniors so I've seen my share of the no estrogen club. LOL

Nope never heard of Abraham-Hicks

GirlPower...my hip and joint pain didn't start until well into the 4th month of Arimidex...I am trying Claritin but doesn't seem to help like it did with Neulasta...was just a hope!

My MO has me on it even tho I am only 1.5% ER+ and PR-...go figger. If this pain continues he said to see him and we will take it from there. Tamoxifen is not an option for me because of the possible SEs of blood clots. One day at a time.

Hi All,

 I hope everyone is well! I just wanted to mention that after a year and a half on Arimidex (with lots of side effects that I worked through one by one), I decided to try Aromasin to see if I would have less arthritis on it. I am over a month in and happy to report that I am much more mobile. Still have sore feet, and stiff neck  (3 herniated disks), but generally much more confortable. Some insomnia but I had that on Arimidex too. Also take some Claratin or Benedryl most days because it seems to help with overall joint pain. 

Just throught I would throw that out there for folks who get too discouraged on one AI - there is always another that might work better for you.

Best, Beau 

After almost 5 months on Arimidex, I am starting to get hip and shin pain. After 15 years of not being able to sleep on my side (herniated discs also) I have been able to sleep on my side and now this! I have always had sporadic pain in my right hip and now it's in my left as well. Am trying not to sleep on my side to see if that will help but then the neck hurts...can't win! I am also taking Claritin altho my MO said it likely won't help.

If this continues, I will see about changing the drug to Aromasin or ?  It's just so frustrating that after all this to be in pain is crazy! I had hoped I would be one of the lucky ones with no SEs.....pfffffffft       Enough of the whining already!!

YEAH!

Good news about your heart, cowgirl.  Perhaps swimming will help with the swelling.  The cool water and movement may work and cool water actually acts as a diuretic because it increases circulation.

Back in the dark ages I used to be a PADI scuba instructor.  The cool ocean water (85`F of the tropics) caused me to lose two pounds with every dive.  Of course it was only temporary, but still.

I have 13 more days left. I went to Ireland about 5 years ago and started Arimidex when I returned home and now it is almost over. My doc gave me another 1 month after that but I am not going to take it. I am moving back to the USA in July and I will be Arimdex free.  Maybe my ears will continue to buzz, maybe my knees will continue to hurt when I walk, but my diet keeps my BP very low and my weight just right. I have changed my life because of my cancer diagnosis. It is o.k. I love my life. More than I could have ever imagined. Hold firm to the program all those of you out there. It goes by quickly. Not easy, but know how special you all are.

 Hey gals......

I've tried Femara.....joint pain.  Switched to Aromasin......WORSE PAIN and NEUROPATHY especially in hands and wrists. Literally, debilitating.  I've now been off of Aromasin for almost two weeks......still lots of pain in my wrists and joints.  And when I say pain.....I mean P A I N.

Now, I'm going to go on Arimidex.

Has ANYONE had any experience with these SEs at least leveling off?  Honestly I'm no sissie....but do these SEs ever get better? I felt better on the chemo.  This is now becoming a quality of life issue for me.

I wear wrist guards about 99 percent of the time now.

thanks all,

michele 

Hi, vivirasselena

You are a trooper! I have been on arimidex a year. I thought the SE's would get better as time went on but unfortunately they have gotten worse. My Onc has taken me off for six weeks for a break. Good luck to you. Everyone is different.