Endocrine therapy compared to menopause
Hello, this is a question for those ladies who went through menopause before starting on tamoxifen or an aromotase inhibitor. I would be interested to hear if you found your endocrine medication-induc...
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Hi there
I was peri-menopausal when all this began. I am on Letrozole, but also Zoladex to shut down my ovaries (treatment induced menopause).
The first month or so on Letrozle was brutal.
Joint aches, significant fluid retention, headaces, on top of the acceleration of 'menopause symptoms'.
My biggest challenges remain the joint and bone pains, constant headache and insomnia (the reason I started HRT 8 months before). I'm working with the menopause clinic at RNS hospital in Sydney but so far they've only offered more medications, which to date I haven't found helpful.
I'm now taking 5mg of Melatonin before bed to try to at least get to sleep, i've realised a full nights sleep is not something I'm likely to ever return to.
I also have Zometa in my cocktail of meds, and am on the early access program for Kisqali (ribociclib), both of which have their own fun side effects too.
My BC nurse said 'oh yes, joint discomfort is common' when I first let her know.
I had to come back with 'this is not discomfort, this is pain'. I have so far only had 1 day that I haven't taken panadol osteo (as recommended by the med onc).
I'm really trying to not have to take meds to deal with the side effects of the meds - so far at least they're only OTC meds.
As the other voices on this thread have said, see how you go.
We are all so different.
Oh - and it was suggested I change from taking the pills in the morning to at night to see if that makes anything better.
I do that now, but am yet to see significant reduction in side effects.
K
I was peri-menopausal when all this began. I am on Letrozole, but also Zoladex to shut down my ovaries (treatment induced menopause).
The first month or so on Letrozle was brutal.
Joint aches, significant fluid retention, headaces, on top of the acceleration of 'menopause symptoms'.
My biggest challenges remain the joint and bone pains, constant headache and insomnia (the reason I started HRT 8 months before). I'm working with the menopause clinic at RNS hospital in Sydney but so far they've only offered more medications, which to date I haven't found helpful.
I'm now taking 5mg of Melatonin before bed to try to at least get to sleep, i've realised a full nights sleep is not something I'm likely to ever return to.
I also have Zometa in my cocktail of meds, and am on the early access program for Kisqali (ribociclib), both of which have their own fun side effects too.
My BC nurse said 'oh yes, joint discomfort is common' when I first let her know.
I had to come back with 'this is not discomfort, this is pain'. I have so far only had 1 day that I haven't taken panadol osteo (as recommended by the med onc).
I'm really trying to not have to take meds to deal with the side effects of the meds - so far at least they're only OTC meds.
As the other voices on this thread have said, see how you go.
We are all so different.
Oh - and it was suggested I change from taking the pills in the morning to at night to see if that makes anything better.
I do that now, but am yet to see significant reduction in side effects.
K