NEW s.e 2 1/2 years after starting arimidex

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maria26
maria26 Member Posts: 44
edited December 2015 in Hormonal Therapy - Before, During, and After

Hi all,

Is it possible to get a different s.e. after years on arimidex.  I restarted it after a 3 week break in august 3 weeks ago I started to feel lightheaded all the time, not just spells but when I move  my head etc.  It is not severe not vertigo not loss of balance but an awful wozzy feeling.  I do have neck problems from arthritis etc and  bone spur but have never felt this continuous sensation  before.  Dr said before I could even ask it is not a brain tumour but I am very anxious since dx and it is not getting better.  Have had a very thorough eye exam from a consultant optomologist who dilated eye etc.  All clear.  As I have posted  before have had all organs lung, liver , etc scanned this year  mri lumbar spine ct abdo chest pelvis all thank the lord clear. Of course I have been told keep getting tests is not the answer and I know that and dont want and could not cope with the stress of  anymore as I go into meltdown.

So what I am asking is has anyone had new ses appear on arimidex or any of the als really.  I just worry why now why not on day one but as I said I had a  break and then restarted.  My commonsense is saying it is your neck but that little voice is saying but what it.  You ladies on here have been there and I know it helps so much.

I just wonder if i will ever get that happy woman back I thought I coped so well with dx but 4 months after starting als ses started and the anxiety tests escalated.  Desperate at the  minute as dont know how to stop feeling scared

Thank you

Maria

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  • SallyS70
    SallyS70 Member Posts: 947
    edited December 2015

    Maria, I don't have an answer for you, but I hope someone who does will be along soon. I have heard that more people are on BCO during the week. If you don't get responses today, add a note to this post later in the week

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  • Spookiesmom
    Spookiesmom Member Posts: 9,568
    edited December 2015

    Have you seen an orthopedic dr and an ear, nose throat doc

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  • ChiSandy
    ChiSandy Member Posts: 12,133
    edited December 2015

    Have you had an echocardiogram to check for any heart valve problems? A few years ago I began getting the same thing and my PCP diagnosed it as intermittent mitral valve prolapse--using just his stethoscope after a full battery of fancy heart tests failed to find anything. Also, sometimes cervical spine arthritis can cause dizziness, as can dehydration and hypoglycemia.

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  • aussieched
    aussieched Member Posts: 244
    edited December 2015

    Hi Maria26,

    Thought I should reply to your post. Yes you can get different symptoms from Femara even after 3-4 years. At about the 4th year I developed vertigo really bad. Just came on all of a sudden, had to lie down for days as everything was spinning.

    I went to ear/nose/throat specialist, went and had brain MRI and neck MRI etc etc, eye specialist etc, but all came back negative. I kept saying the docs that I thought it was from the Femara, so finally the oncologist conceded that very occasionally it can have this side affect.

    I went off Femara for 6 weeks, and at end of 6 weeks, felt a little better, but got scared so went back on it. The problem/symptoms worsened, so I then had another 9 weeks off Femara, and at the end of 9 weeks my head started to clear, so I started Femara again.

    Occasionally I start to feel the familiar spinning again, but it doesn't last too long and certainly wasn't like I had it about 3 years ago, I continue to take Femara.

    Hope this helps you.

    regards Ched


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  • maria26
    maria26 Member Posts: 44
    edited December 2015

    Thank you Ched for replying.  Nice to hear from someone in oz.  I am in the u.k. and things work differently here than in u.s. where I think they are better monitored.  I am on arimidex not femara but I guess ses are similar.  I too have had a few short breaks not more than a month usually 2 weeks which is not long enough I think.

    I want to continue on as I feel it is my safety net.  It has helped getting yours and the other ladies replies.  I know this type of lightheaded is not easy to dx.  Am seeing my breast surgeon in Jan and will talk to her.  We dont get to see the onc again after rads are finished unless we have a problem.  She signed me off 2 months after I finished treatment which was 15 sessions rads. It takes 3 weeks to see a g.p. here and we see breast surgeon once a year until 5 years are up. Still it is all free of charge and I have no, problem getting astra zeneca brand arimidex even though it is much more costly than anastrozole, so I cannot complain too much

    Regards

    Maria

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  • aussieched
    aussieched Member Posts: 244
    edited December 2015

    Hi again Maria, Yes it works differently here in Australia also. Unfortunately when I was diagnosed my GP insisted I should go to Sydney where she felt I would have access to specialists who deal with breast cancer every day, as I live in the country.

    So I am up to about my 50th trip to Sydney which is a 850 klms round trip, so I have really clocked up some kilometres back and forth over the years and a lot of expense also. The doctors I see are not on our free Medicare system so I have to part pay for any visits and I also have to pay for all testing, so I would estimate my treatment has cost me over $65,000 at this stage, and continuing, however I can't complain, at least I am still here.

    Best of luck finding out what is causing your lightheaded feeling, but don't discount the medication. It is a powerful drug and can upset our system.

    regards Ched

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