Arimidex - Coping with the SE's

Very good advice from Ruthbru.

I had a i phone case made because hubby noticed that I was a bit "snarky" after BC.

You are welcome! Love the stretches. 

Ruth you are so right! I am starting my 3rd week of Amiridex. But I am only 1.5 weeks post rads. So I am just hanging in there for awhile until I can sort out what is going on with me. I am doing PT for congested lymph and trying to prevent lymphedema. I am also adding some other PT like or yoga positions. Due to a bone spur I had to stop my tread mill which bums me. I appreciate the suggestions. Thanks to all

Thanks for the yoga poses.  Love bunnies.  Maybe it'll inspire me to do something.  Am still having problems with my back/foot.  Have had two injections now.  Am better than after the first one, but still have problems with foot swelling and muscles (or something) aching in foot.   They keep telling me it's associated with my back.

Bexter, I swear dealing with these estrogen things is like taking care of a puppy--always something new, and always have to keep your eye on it.   I took a delightful one-month arimidex holiday, then switched to exemestane, which is the generic of anasterole, I think.  Joint pain is often less with this AI.  My onc said if this isn't doable, then he can switch me to tamoxofen, or add a short course of steroids to address the pains, which I guess have something to do with inflammation, and actually had one or two additional suggestions.  I was griping so much he ordered a bone scan which (thank God!) showed no mets, but did show arthritis basically everywhere that does not  hurt.  I'm now in the middle of PT for bursitis (who'd have guessed it?) in both hips (no arthritis, just walking-on-knives pain).  In other words, please ask you onc to help you identify the basis of the pain--perhaps it's not just the arimidex--and also ask him to discuss alternatives, including maybe an eventual return to tamoxofen, if that was more tolerable.

As for the brainfog/stupor, this very morning I decided I had had enough and retried ritalin.  You are probably aware that this drug calms down ADHD kids, but acts as an upper with adults.  My RO had prescribed this when I couldn't get beyond the rads fatigue, and, after a while, I decided I didn't need it.  Well, I've been less and less productive at work, and finally decided to dig out that bottle.  It's only one morning, but I think it's made a difference. 

I am absolutely convinced that the bulk of our oncs' time is spent helping us navigate our way through all the side effects and anxiety, meds and treatments, information and misinformation, we have to deal with, and, come to think of it, most of us probably greatly underestimate their ability to help us with the everyday stuff. 

sweetrose8,

Check out the topic Hair Loss and Arimidex (generic) in the forum Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After. 

Joint pain and hair thinning and hot flashes as well as carpal tunnel syndrome are all well known side effects of arimidex/anastrozole.  I have been taking it for a little over a month.  I started out with the shoulder pain (I have already had both shoulders replaced) and carpal tunnel syndrome in my right hand.  I had carpal tunnel surgery the day before my biopsy.  Now my carpal tunnel is worse - although the chemo may have had something to do with that.  Now I am having pain in my ankle.  I also have carpal tunnel syndrome in my left hand which was only minimally impacted before the chemo.  It is my understanding that five years of an aromatase inhibitor in post menopausal women is the standard of care.  Yet I am reading posts from a number of women who have been taking it for much longer.  What's up with that?

All that being said, I now believe that the state of breast cancer treatment is primitive at best.  I was treated with doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, and paclitaxel.  The cyclophosphamide is older than I am (I am 71).  The other two are more than 50 years old each.  All have been in continuous use for more than 30 years.  The cyclophosphamide is derived from nerve gas.  Doxorubicin is a bacteria found in the soil in Italy (thus it's name, Adriamycin).  Paclitaxel is bark scrapings from the Pacific yew.  These bark scrapings are not soluble in water, so it comes in a suspension of polyethoxylated  (sp?) castor oil.  Every part of the castor plant is poisonous.  They have to give you steroids before infusions of this stuff so you will be able to tolerate the infusion itself. 

After all this time, with all the money infusion into cancer research, is that all there is?  Really?  I don't know whether I am more dumbfounded or angry.

Sinsin--Arimidex is doable. I had arthritis before I started it, and it didn't help, but keeping moving and taking non-drowsy claritin helped a huge amount. Also, it does have an and. And, unlike chemo and radiation, you KNOW it will be helping!

For those starting Arimidex, the following thread is very active with lots of info. If you haven't checked it out, you might get more answers to your questions there.

https://community.breastcancer.org/forum/78/topic/790338?page=245#idx_7349

I agree with you, Holeinone...for awhile I couldn't tell if the pain was from menopause or SE of medication. I started Arimedex in July of this year ( after 3 years of Tamoxifen)and the two things I have noticed most was insomnia and joint/ muscle pain in my upper leg and knees. I started taking Aleve first, but switched to a prescription strength of ibuprofen in the last week. It helps some, but as others have said, the mornings are rough. Feels like I ran a marathon the day before. Has anyone found anything else that helps with the leg pain? I know exercise is crucial, but anything else? I'm 60 and also have varicose veins.

Another thought is to go gluten free for a while to see if that helps. I've cut way back on gluten, sometimes going a week or two w/o it. That may help also. Seems to work for me.

thanks for the suggestions, ladies...even though I am a non drinker and don't like raisins, I'm uncomfortable enough to try it. A good friend had to go gluten free, so I'll get support and ideas from her. Glad I've already had thanksgiving goodies! Will post the results later.

Hi All - Just found you! I've been on Arimidex almost 2 years and was doing OK - shoulder pain - thought from Radiation - went away pretty much after some acupuncture. Almost immediately the pain found a new home in my knees!?!???? So I am now 57 but feel like 87

So - now what? I am not a big excerciser - but have to do something.... looking forward to hearing from you-

Marilyn

'Drunken Raisins'- a natural arthritis remedy.

To prepare gin-soaked raisin, first empty one box of dried white raisin in a shallow container. Only white or golden raisin should be used for this recipe. Then pour enough gin into the container to cover the raisins.

Cover the container ( but not with plastic, a kitchen towel is good) and keep it covered for 7 – 10 days on the  to allow the raisin to steep in the gin (sitting out, not in fridge).

Allow all the gin to evaporate to leave gin-soaked raisins in the container. These raisins keep well when refrigerated. The popular advice is to take nine of these "drunken raisins" every day. Most users report improvements in arthritis symptoms between 1 – 8 weeks of using this remedy.

Why it works:

1.  Golden raisins- the ONLY type of raisins worthy of the  recipe- require sulfur or sulfides in their processing to make them golden. Sulfur is an active ingredient in 2 effective natural arthritis supplenents: glucosamine sulfate and chondroitin sulfate. Golden raisins come from sultana grapes and are cultivated under the name Thompson seedless grapes in the United States.

2.  Sultana grapes contain proanthocyanidins which are  thought to help fight infections and reduce inflammation. Grapes also contain resveratrol, a powerful  anti-oxidant that is being studied for many of it's disease fighting properties.

3.  Gin is flavored with juniper berries and juniper berries contain Terpinen. Terpinen has anti inflammatory properties. The essential oil that is in juniper berries contains more than 100 compounds including myrcene (an anti oxidant), catechins (anti-oxidant),  and flavanoids (anti oxidant). Test tube studies have shown that juniper berries can inhibit prostaglandin synthesis.  Prostaglandins help mediate an inflammatory response and increase the sensitivity of nerve endings to pain. By inhibiting their production, a reduction in pain can occur.