CancerCompass message board discussion started by Barb57 on 9/21/2007 http://www.cancercompass.com/message-board/message/all,16388,0.htm Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT Sat, 06 Sep 2008 00:00:00 GMT http://backend.userland.com/rss RSS.NET: http://www.rssdotnet.com/ I'am also taking Aromasin and have the same side effects-feet hurting, hands hurting, fingers stiff and knees. I was on Arimidex and my doctor changed it after four months because I could hardly use my hands.  I have some improvement but still have pain. The morning is the worst. Those first steps are painful.  Also after sitting for a while I stiffen up and it gets better after I move around some.  I just found this site and it was good to see what other women had to say about these drugs.  I also wound up having a knee surgery last Nov. I think it had to do with the drugs. The knee surgeon said my knee looked like someone 80 yrs. old. I'am 57 and never had a problem until then.  Take care everyone.   Barb Barb57 Fri, 21 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 9/21/2007 Barb57 wrote:I'am also taking Aromasin and have the same side effects-feet hurting, hands hurting, fingers stiff and knees. I was on Arimidex and my doctor changed it after four months because I could hardly use my hands.  I have some improvement but still have pain. The morning is the worst. Those first steps are painful.  Also after sitting for a while I stiffen up and it gets better after I move around some.  I just found this site and it was good to see what other women had to say about these drugs.  I also wound up having a knee surgery last Nov. I think it had to do with the drugs. The knee surgeon said my knee looked like someone 80 yrs. old. I'am 57 and never had a problem until then.  Take care everyone.   BarbI just started on aromasin .... my feet are stiff in the morning when I wake up. The kind of feel like stumps.  Knees are stiff .... moving does seem to help accupucture seems to help with the feet.  I was on Tamoxifin for alittle over two years before I switched.... I was stiff and sore with that also.  Afraid to stay on the stuff and afraid to stop taking it.... I used to be pretty active I am 52 feeling like 72.  It is nice to know I am not the only one experiancing this, I wonder if there is any hope for a kinder gentler drug.   THERESE L Wed, 26 Sep 2007 00:00:00 GMT  On 9/26/2007 THERESE L wrote: On 9/21/2007 Barb57 wrote:I'am also taking Aromasin and have the same side effects-feet hurting, hands hurting, fingers stiff and knees. I was on Arimidex and my doctor changed it after four months because I could hardly use my hands.  I have some improvement but still have pain. The morning is the worst. Those first steps are painful.  Also after sitting for a while I stiffen up and it gets better after I move around some.  I just found this site and it was good to see what other women had to say about these drugs.  I also wound up having a knee surgery last Nov. I think it had to do with the drugs. The knee surgeon said my knee looked like someone 80 yrs. old. I'am 57 and never had a problem until then.  Take care everyone.   BarbI just started on aromasin .... my feet are stiff in the morning when I wake up. The kind of feel like stumps.  Knees are stiff .... moving does seem to help accupucture seems to help with the feet.  I was on Tamoxifin for alittle over two years before I switched.... I was stiff and sore with that also.  Afraid to stay on the stuff and afraid to stop taking it.... I used to be pretty active I am 52 feeling like 72.  It is nice to know I am not the only one experiancing this, I wonder if there is any hope for a kinder gentler drug.    Blonde Sat, 06 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT I wonder, did all your conditions start with Aromasin, or while you were on Temoxofen and got worse on Aromasin?  I am on Temoxofen 10 months now and have the same symptoms... feet (some pretty bad stabbing pain in the toes), knees, fingertips, stiffness in whole body, slow to move, unsteady balance.  I will be going on Aromasin in another year. Jody1 Sat, 13 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT Better.....After a soaking , sleepless  nite  i  called my oncologst to say i was going to take aromasin every other night to see if my side effects would improve.  To my surprise she told me to try it..   And they did....i still have hot flashes but not as frequent altho they are still heavy and leave me feeling weak  for ten minut4es or so.....also my nueropathy in my hands is not as bad... I hope this does not make my cancer return but i feel this is the right thing for me to do...my hair is still thin and leaving hair on my brush but i think (maybe my imagination) not as much hair .I saw a program on tv about meditation and how monks controlled brain function using this method.  Of course it would probably take me 10 minutes or more  at least to get in this meditative state and then the hot flash would be over!   Maybe this is being studied...i just wish someone would  do something!!    Love & best wishes. ........ Blonde  Blonde Sat, 27 Oct 2007 00:00:00 GMT I was dx'd in 2004.  After mastectomy I had chemo for about 3-4 months.  I started having symptoms of pain and stiffness in joints (feet, hands, knees, legs) after that, along with the menopausal symptoms of hot flashes, insomnia, memory loss, etc.  I then started on Tamoxifen and all those symptoms were more severe...but mostly the flashes and sleeplessness.  Also weight gain!  After 2 1/2 years of Tamoxifen, I was switched to Aromasin this past May.  The flashes have subsided (YAY!), I'm sleeping better, but the pain was much, much worse!  There were days I thought I wouldn't be able to move.I started taking a liquid form of glucosamine and chondroitin with MSM and collagen (brand name - Joint Care by Drinkables) and I feel sooooooooo much better!  I also find that if I avoid coffee and chocolate, I'm even more pain-free (...IF I avoid them).  I've been able to exercise and take walks, and I get through the whole day at work without even thinking about it.I've tried pill forms of glucosamine/chondroitin, and didn't have any real effect.  This particular product works well for me. Hope this is helpful...I'm no doctor, but this works for me!     left1gone1good1left Sun, 11 Nov 2007 00:00:00 GMT I have been on Aromasin for about 4 months - after a couple of weeks my hands also became still and swollen and my knees  hurt all the time.  My feet hurt in the morning.  But after a couple of months, these symptoms are gone, so hang in there!Epiphany epiphany Tue, 29 Jan 2008 00:00:00 GMT I was on femara and had to change the side effects were so bad.now i have lag ad back pain on aromasin. Does anyone have back pain? My legs and back feel like I ran a marathon sallybouls Sun, 03 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT Hi!I have info that may help some people & hope that someone has one for me.I was dx with breast cancer 2 years ago. I did chemo, rads, herceptin & tamoxifen. I'm now on aromasin after pain in hands from arimidex. My hands are better while up, but stiff as boards during the night. ***My onc suggested fish oil, but I'm allergic to all seafood. He didn't think flaxseed oil would work.I also can't take glucosamine/chrondroitin for the same reason. I would kiss the ground anyone walked on if there was something that would help me. My sleep is horrible due to the pain, therefore hard for me to function at times.I hope everyone is feeling good.Eileen  pearlee Sun, 17 Feb 2008 00:00:00 GMT  On 2/17/2008 pearlee wrote:Hi!I have info that may help some people & hope that someone has one for me.I was dx with breast cancer 2 years ago. I did chemo, rads, herceptin & tamoxifen. I'm now on aromasin after pain in hands from arimidex. My hands are better while up, but stiff as boards during the night. ***My onc suggested fish oil, but I'm allergic to all seafood. He didn't think flaxseed oil would work.I also can't take glucosamine/chrondroitin for the same reason. I would kiss the ground anyone walked on if there was something that would help me. My sleep is horrible due to the pain, therefore hard for me to function at times.I hope everyone is feeling good.Eileen Is anyone experiencing high blood pressure during Aromasin therapy?  Mine is creeping up every month.  My hurt - stiff and swollen fingers daily, can't wear rings or lift heavy objects like I used to - I'm only 45!Thanks epiphany Thu, 13 Mar 2008 00:00:00 GMT Pearlee,I hope you are still looking at this board or anyone else having side effects of an aromatase inhibitor for those of us who were hormone receptor positive.  I was on tamoxifin for around 3 yrs then arimidex (6 mos and 50% of my hair fell out) and then aromasin and now counting the days till i can get off all of this stuff for good!!  Flax seed oil is a phytoestrogen and should not be taken during adjuvant therapy for hormone receptor positive individuals.  Glucosamine Chondroitan has done NO good for me with the bone and joint issues I have had with all 3 meds, but just MSM has, so see if that is something you can take.  You should be taking COQ10 to protect your heart if nothing else.  The newest side effect I was hoping to find some advice on is severe edema in my feet and mildly through the rest of my body and hands.  This started mildly about a year ago when I started the arimidex and has just gotten progressively worsen while now on Aromasin.  Aromasin has also taken my eyesight from 20/20 to where I cannot see the TV from 6 ft away.  I rue the day i ever asked to get off of tamoxifan!  I would have much rather stayed on it and had those side effects then all of the ones i am having on the various aromatase inhibitors.  Unfortunately, I think we all just have to stick it out, use a lot of ice packs, epson salt baths, ibuprofen, and gritted teeth.........  the ice packs and epson salt baths do help too!On 3/13/2008 epiphany wrote: On 2/17/2008 pearlee wrote:Hi!I have info that may help some people & hope that someone has one for me.I was dx with breast cancer 2 years ago. I did chemo, rads, herceptin & tamoxifen. I'm now on aromasin after pain in hands from arimidex. My hands are better while up, but stiff as boards during the night. ***My onc suggested fish oil, but I'm allergic to all seafood. He didn't think flaxseed oil would work.I also can't take glucosamine/chrondroitin for the same reason. I would kiss the ground anyone walked on if there was something that would help me. My sleep is horrible due to the pain, therefore hard for me to function at times.I hope everyone is feeling good.Eileen Is anyone experiencing high blood pressure during Aromasin therapy?  Mine is creeping up every month.  My hurt - stiff and swollen fingers daily, can't wear rings or lift heavy objects like I used to - I'm only 45!Thanks  Bec5yrs8/08 Mon, 04 Aug 2008 00:00:00 GMT