Arimidex - Coping with the SE's

Finally completed my 5 years of Arimidex.  I believe that I had every side effect of Arimidex and of menopause which included but was not limited to: hot flashes every night for 5 years especially after 7 PM, real bone, joint and muscle pain, anxiety, acne, dizziness, vaginal dryness and vaginal atrophy, decreased libido, frozen shoulders (Both), decrease in collagen (skin thinning as in looking like you are 90 instead of 50 years old) and decreased bone density.  I just wish that the oncologists would acknowledge the side effects.  The AIs are rough stuff.  Maybe one day there will be a test to see if they work for every one and if it is worth it.

To all who are still on the AIs, one way that I got through the treatment was to say "I am going to take it just one more week"  usually the symptom du jour was then gone and I continued the AI. 

Good luck to all of you! Just saying that the SEs are real but you can make it.

PS. Before anyone sends the at least you are alive statement, yes, I am so happy that there is a medication to help us decrease the risk of recurrence.  Love to all of you.

Aug242007 - Congrats!!!!

Paula, the usual procedure is to take it AFTER chemo. Have you been consulting with an oncologist? Surgeons don't usually know that much about anything but surgery.

Hi Aug242007,

Congratulations and many thanks for truly described tormenting issues when healing with AI! I too was saying to me at the beginning: try to endure for two years only, now I decided for three, let me see in advance. Awaiting to pass these five years and living in everyday fear of recurrence. On the hormonal sites  ones more the same story: ladies at the start complaining and despairing, helping each other with suggestions, reconciling, acclimatizing….Deeply mowed about  ladies from Forum Stage 4 with no complains. Getting older is a heavy experience for every woman – for hormonal ladies multiply. Thinking in thirty years – or sooner yet it will be said: “Oh, what were they doing with these poor women”

Sorry English isn’t my native language!

Greetings from Europe and best wishes to all hormonal sisters!

Usha

me too!!! even if I do ache all over.

Hello all! I started Arimidex on Sept 20 and all seems ok so far. I do have a question about hands going numb in the middle of the night. I wake up at least 2 to 3 times because of the numbness in my fingers. Oc said it could be a result of chemo but I wonder if it is the Arimidex. Any comments?? Thanks

Hey Januryice - Yorkiemom has mentioned this too.  As you might remember (as we did chemo around the same time period), I had and still have neuropathy in my feet and some in my fingertips.  I started generic Aromasin mid August and recently found myself waking up with a numb left hand.  This is over and above the numbness caused by chemo.  It is totally different as it is the kind of numbness that goes away when you start moving your hand...whereas the chemo numbness is permanent (well, atleast, hopefully, until it goes away).  I had this sort of numbness - which is more like carpal tunnel, about 5-6 years ago and wore wrist braces (can purchase at any drug store).  This really helped, as well as draping your hand over a pillow at night.  For some reason, the hormone blockers have caused this "carpal tunnel" stuff to reappear.  Yorkiemom has also gotten relief from the wrist braces.  For sure, I think the AI drugs (not chemo) and this numbness ARE connected.

Carpal tunnel syndrome is a known side effect of the AIs like arimidex.

Thanks for the info!! Yes, Kam170, you're right on again! That's way I valued our connection during our chemo. Hope all is going great for you. I agree that this is not the same as the neuropathy that I had during chemo ( I still have some in my right foot, 95% back to normal) I can also feel the difference when I try to wear any type of heel. I wore flip flops all during chemo and they worked for me. I still feel very unsteady on my feet.

Will we ever get back to normal????

Hello, everyone. I'm new to Arimidex and new to this group. I started the med about 10 days ago and there's only one change I've noticed that may be a side effect - I have anxiety that's making me climb the walls. Has anyone else experienced this? I know that the drop in estrogen can cause depression in some women, and I suppose it can cause anxiety as well. I would gladly take a hot flash in exchange for this unremitting feeling of nervousness.

Annie

Thanks, notself. I just went out to get some B-100, which certainly falls in the 'it can't hurt to try,' category. Maybe I'll have the same good results you did. If not, I have a call in to my shrink . . . 

Good pick up, slousha. I was diagnosed as triple negative at the beginning of the year. After my lumpectomy in late June, pathology determined that I was 3% estrogen positive, enough, in the doctors' opinions, to make taking Armidex worthwhile. I won't get the same positive effects as most estrogen positive women, but something is better than nothing. So far, other than this anxiety, I haven't had noticeably side effects.

I hope it works for you. 

Januaryice,  My birthday is Sept. 27 !  LOL!  Actually the other thing that is bothering me is that I AM ALWAYS COLD!!!During the day, my hands , expecially the top part feels like ice.. Being on Arimidex ,  I was expecting hot flashes NOT cold! During the night is the only time that I feel some warmth in my body!  Strange.....

Mena

Hi annie3310,

I read patients with high ER have much more SE's as low ones!

Good luck for you!

Usha