Arimidex

As I'm reading alll the notes my fellow ancer patients send I just see myself...reflected on every little word you'll write....yes...I'm from Texas...but even when I'm going thru so much joint and bone pain I think that this is a very small price to pay in return to what you will be getting back: your life, the oportunity to see your grandkids grow a little more, to see your children developing into better and more responsible parents... yes I'm havin really bad problems from depression, but I'm off depression medications at this time...My Insurance was canceled and I'm wating on some public health care help.... I have found a new faith in the Lord...and this is helping more that any medication. I'm not a religious fanatic or anything like that...but faith and hope are keeping me going.Keep trying,,,,

Yes I am also on Arimidex but the bone pain and headaches is really bad. I just started on it a few days ago and already it's making me bleed with Ulcerative Colitis,which was in remission for yrs. until I took this drugs. I may as well die from cancer as bleed to death with UC. My husband died 9/11/2007 and it is lonely without him. I will ask my Onc. to put me on Tamoxifen which doesn't hurt you bones.I live in Maryland and I'm not close to any grandchildren.

Yes I also believe in God and put my trust and Faith in him. He has always seen me through the hard times and he will see me through this. I am ready to go if he wants now. I am 69 yrs. old now and hope the pain would stop.

Hugs Shirley

 

On 3/26/2008 marielena1950 wrote:

As I'm reading alll the notes my fellow ancer patients send I just see myself...reflected on every little word you'll write....yes...I'm from Texas...but even when I'm going thru so much joint and bone pain I think that this is a very small price to pay in return to what you will be getting back: your life, the oportunity to see your grandkids grow a little more, to see your children developing into better and more responsible parents... yes I'm havin really bad problems from depression, but I'm off depression medications at this time...My Insurance was canceled and I'm wating on some public health care help.... I have found a new faith in the Lord...and this is helping more that any medication. I'm not a religious fanatic or anything like that...but faith and hope are keeping me going.Keep trying,,,,

 

I do not know what stage your cancer was but evidently is waas estrogen positive like mine was.  I had a quite large mass in my right breast so had it removed along with the left breast (so maybe it would not pop up there in a year or two).  I was on Arimidex for one month and the depression was terrible and  I was crying all the time (and I NEVER cry usually) also as you mentioned the joint and bone pain was terrific.  I could not even lay in my bed at night ( and I have a pillow top bed)  I am not taking any meds now ( I am in my third year after surgery) but I am taking an over the counter estrogen blocker called Brevail which I buy at Mother's food Store but it can be gotten online and also on line they will tell you where it can be bought.  I am not suggesting you try this as you must make your own decsiions and also based on your specific case.  But I am now just eating the proper foods (all antioxidants) and taking pomgranate and other supplements from my vitamin company and drinking V8 Fusion with the Pomgrnate/Blueberry flavor which is a great antioxidant.  .  Supposedly Pomegrante is the # 1 antoxidant and blueberry is  # 2 -- also broccoli ( I eat a lot if it.)  I am allergic to so many meds that I   have to do something else.  If a med has ten side effects I get all eleven of them .  If you are a computer person please go on  line and find out all the other alternatives there are except meds. and check into it -- I am not encouraging you to take them as I am as it is a very personal decision but at least check into it. Toni R

I have read many complaints on various blogs about joint and bone pain
and sleeplessness in those who take Arimidex. For those suffering joint
and bone pain from taking Arimidex, I have some news. My doctor(s)
recommend calcium and vitamin D supplements which have helped me
greatly and will probably help you. It seems Arimidex may inhibit your
ability to absorb Vitamin D and thus inhibits your body’s ability to
absorb calcium(?) Anyway, get your blood D levels tested and don’t be
surprised if they are low. Ask your doctor how much calcium and vitamin
D are right for you. Also, a moderate exercise program (swimming is
great) will help with sleep and muscle pain. I have been taking a
calcium supplement and about 200 percent of daily recommended D for
about 3 weeks and I already notice a big difference. If you are taking
an aromatase inhibitor, it would be a bad idea to stop without talking
to your doctor about the vitamin D/calcium connection first.

My Onc. gives me a prescription for calcium + D whenever I get my Arimidex refilled so I have been trying to take calcium and D religiously..... I was told it is to supplement bone loss from the lack of estrogen though. I also do not have the joint pain reported, although my weight gain has been extremely difficult to control. I gained about 20 lbs after chemo and have never been able to drop even 5 lbs! oh well...

 Until I started reading BC blogs I never realized there were any side effects from Arimidex! I just assumed that my sluggishness and weight gain came from being thrown into menopause early. I am trying not to get asymptomatic pain from reading the other horror stories tho!

I also recommend exercise, stretching like yoga, and frequent hot tubs to relax muscles.