Arimidex ( what's your experience)

@melclarity and @iserbrown, thank  you both for your sound advice. This really is an invaluable community of wonderful people.
XO

Hey Jane and Janine,

I'm sure it's making a big difference, @Romla too gets Prolia, so its good to see also no problems with it. The funny thing is, I wouldnt know I was osteoporotic, osteoporosis is silent, it has no symptoms at all obviously only if you broke something or fractured. So its not been a problem as such at all. Strength Training absolutely is what they say to do to combat it, I'm not currently doing that, but I stretch and ride an exercise bike and walk when I can. Its the building of muscle that's important.
Hugs ladies M x

@melclarity gosh you have had a hard time. Even more thankful for your helpful comments and encouragement. I have a GP appointment to discuss what I need to do now re osteoporosis. So hearing your comments and those of @Hopes_and_Dreams are reassuring. Thankyou ladies xoJanine

Hi @Hopes_and_Dreams I too am osteoporotic. I had been fleetingly on bisphosphonate tablets some years ago. If you decide to take them be sure to have full dental check and work done as extractions etc can cause serious problems. I have started Prolia injections which leave system entirely unlike bisphosphonate thus every 6months dental work can be safely done. I saw you live on the Gold Coast and remember reading about the Griffith Uni Bone Clinic program which is having lot of success reversing osteoporosis with weight training .Finally research in US suggesting Prolia further reduces risk of bc recurrence and they are even giving it to women who are not osteoporotic for that reason. I too have had no problems with Prolia. 

Thanks so much for the feedback re Prolia @melclarity.  I’m so glad you are doing well and hope it is making a difference.  I had an X-ray recently to check lumbar compression plus a blood test to measure the rate at which my bones regenerate (or not!!).  I’ll get those results next week and see what he has in mind for me.
Hugs, Jane x

@LMK74
The medical system is about treating us the best they can; focus on what the treatment is doing in fighting cancer cells and not what the side effects maybe doing.  We all struggle with the side effects as it is a huge event that has happened to us and the adjustment in the aftermath is a path that can be daunting.  We don't all suffer the side effects, some none at all (lucky them!)  It is what it is!  No point in worrying about something that may not happen!  Need to roll with it, keep a diary!

 @melclarity has done it tough however she has great advice for you here, so if you find yourself unable to cope look for something that may help, like the Exercise et cetera  Not everyone can run or even walk but it is about movement to help free up the joints! 

Take care and wishing you smooth sailing as you set out on hormone blockers Arimidex.

@Hopes_and_Dreams my bone density post treatment was shocking!!! it caused osteoporosis in my lower lumbar and neck uuugh! and I'm on Prolia injections every 6 months and theyre absolutely fine, no side effects at all. whilst I met all the criteria the only stipulation I didnt meet is I wasnt over 70!!!! to have it on the PBS complete Bull!!! Anyway, In 6 months I'll have another scan done to see if things have changed, that will be 2yrs on that. Ive heard great things so am hoping to see an improve, so maybe they will suggest the same for you..
Hugs Melinda xo

@LMK74 Ohhh so incredibly normal, and it really does get you down! I've worked incredibly hard the past year or so. An Exercise Physiologist has been so pivotal for me and its the stretching exercises more than anything, I dont do anything hard and fast, but I feel good all over. Chemo shrinks the sheath over the muscles, so suffer alot of cramping in my back of all places. I only see her every few weeks or so and am finishing up with her next week. I had an app that would keep me monitored for how I was going. So moving forward I know what to do to manage myself. I cant walk longer than 30 mins due to neuropathy in my feet, so have accepted that, I cannot run lol. Panadol osteo helps ALOT and I recommend on a bad day. I now after 2.5 years am in a great place, Id be lucky to take the panadol osteo once or twice a week now. Thats progress!!! It's been an incredibly long hard journey back from this and I don't think people are told the truth of recovery at all. Some women can work through treatment really well and have minimal side effects, I was a very healthy person and I suffered incredibly. Chemo honestly nearly physically killed me lol, I was so ill and had to give up work. It financially ruined me these past years. I cannot tell you how important magnesium is, I take this in water daily together with Vit D/C.

At my last visit, last week I had the chance to say I dont want to take Aromasin anymore due to side effects...BUT you know what?? Im achey yes, my feet suffer alot, but Ive learnt to work around it all and understand my new limitations. I never thought I could get here where I am, I can now ride 5km on my exercise bike and building, its progress. I eat really well and still indulge in a wine when I feel like it and chocolate! I feel good! and I do all of this because I feel good not because "they say to" in terms of risk of recurrence...I did all the right things and still had a recurrence lol...theyre clutching at straws because they dont know. None of it contributes to Breast Cancer, otherwise there would not be the world over such diversity in all people male and females who get it. My Rehab Program I did post chemo had Specialists all confirming this, unbelievable hmmm? 

So be kind to yourself, believe that it will get better and believe me it will!!! I no longer need an afternoon nap unless I've had a stressful time with work/life balance. Go slowly and this is a time of nurturing YOU back to a reasonable place of comfort for you to enjoy life again.

Biggest of hugs, youve done a fantastic job! You will become more active again in time, the meds won't make you put on weight, chemo for me bore all the symptoms and side effects...more than meds. I also like that together with Aromasin, Prolia injections I have protect me of recurrence..or so they say haha!!! I think it goes deeper than that....its about us as people...so love yourself back to life!

xx Melinda 

Thanks for your replies ladies. @jennyss, hope you do well on it. @JanineG, thanks for the advice. I already have very bad joint pain and stiffness thanks to chemo and zoladex.plus neuropathy that has got worse since chemo finished in July. @Hopes_and_Dreams, thanks. I was pre menopausal prior to chemo, so am on zoladex as well. I'm also on palbociclib as part of the palas trial. @melclarity, I'm going okay but I'm so tired and the fatigue is getting me down. I feel like and old woman with aches in every joint lol. But most of us here can relate. I'm crossing my fingers that I don't get more joint pain or gain copious amounts of weight. 

Hey @LMK74 how are you? 

I was on Arimidex for approximately 15 months, my Oncologist trialled me off it for 6 weeks and kept a diary and it was without a doubt beneficial as it showed the pain I was in on it. Hot flushes came in chemo so nothing to do with the meds at all for me, its purely menopause or thrown in as I was. So I just had achey joints particularly legs, feet being the worst where if you sit down too long and get up its painful to walk but they come good. I put on 6kg through chemo that never came off 2.5yrs later even diet and exercise NOPE! and definitely not due to medication it hasnt altered it at all.

He switched me to Aromasin, same family but no different. Oh well, no big deal really, no other side effects at all. Hugs Melinda xo