FEMARA

I used to get leg cramps before BC and started taking magnesium...I no longer get them.

I get calf cramps too. It was pretty bad right after starting tamoxifen. But I read the magnesium was supposed to help, and I started taking that, and it has diminished dramatically. I talked to my oncologist about it and she said that was the exact right thing to take, and told me 400mg daily is the recommended amount. Good luck!

Life lover....I think that is a pretty standard inquiry for a dexa scan.

"Please note: We need you to remove any navel piercings and avoid wearing under wear with buttons or metal/sparkly decorations."

Hope everything turns out ok, Life lover. Sorry, my last reply probably didn't make any sense because I was replying to a post on the previous page.

I am pretty sure that DEXA's can, but they have to be pretty large..

I am the one who mentioned "ramping up" by starting with 1/4 then 1/2 then a whole pill. As I have been thinking about it, it makes sense that since these meds drop our estrogen levels, the side effects will be worse in the beginning. Ramping up gradually may have meant the initial drop in estrogen was more gradual- who knows. I am going to ask my oncologist when I see her.

But ask your doctor about doing this. If you are starting late it could delay the onset of effective treatment. I had no choice: I could not tolerate the full dose right away.

So far, my side effects have been- in chronological order- pins and needles in arms and a buzzy anxious feeling, hot flashes, then joint pains, and all of these subsided after a couple of weeks for each symptom. My tinnitus is changing to less frequent from constant and hoping that is changing too whether it is from Femara or not.

We are all different. I am wondering if it helps if we are already well past menopause, meaning that the drop in estrogen would be less severe.

I already had osteoporosis after my drop in estrogen after menopause 10 year ago. I am hoping the drop from Femara doesn't do the same thing-once is enough!

to whomever it was talking about the tops of their feet hurting.  Mine do as well.  I've been on letrozole for 3 years 6 mos now.  I do notice that if I am VERY careful about my diet, the pain both in my feet as well as my thighs and hips is greatly reduced.  Oddly enough, my hands seem to hurt no matter what I do (or don't do).  The hand pain started about 3 months ago.

Deventi

One of the SEs of femara (letrozole) is hot flashes. Similar to when a gal goes through menopause. I had them for a while when I was in my late 40's then again for a few weeks after MO started me on Letrozole (I was late 60s at the time).

Vickie

To be honest, I really don't remember how long the hot flashes lasted

Vickie

gardengumby have you tried magnesium?

I was taking magnesium for awhile, but I have a real problem with (ahem) loose stools (caused, I believe by the letrozole, as I never used to have an issue).  The magnesium made it worse, so I quit taking it.  I do take baths regularly and use magnesium salts, but to be honest haven't noticed a real difference with the hot flashes.  All that said, though, I've never really cared about the hot flashes, as I really like being warm. 

It's weird when a HF starts - its like a switch goes off, I can tell it is coming. Sometimes I time them.

Anyone else have "burning heel syndrome" . This is a new one for me. Doesn't really hurt, just kind of interesting.

It's wierd but was never bothered my those warm flushes on The 5 years I was on Femara. I've been off for 2 years and now they start...what is up with that at 66 years old. Ugh

What is happening is our estrogen is coming back up slightly and it is the fluctuation in hormone levels that causes the hot flash.  I went thu surgical menopause and I could always tell w hen one was about to happen. 

I don't get them with my AI (anastrazole now) but I do have night sweats--wake up drenched.

The hot/cold thing is a bother for me too. I seem to experience this for short periods throughout the day and night. I take magnesium and have tried V E too. Would love a remedy for relief