Hi ladies yesterday I went back to see my oncologist to have a chat about taking Arimidex. I have been on arimidex for about 18 months I'm struggling with the hot flushes, joint pain and being tired all the time. The hot flushes are the worst as they are effecting my sleep patterns and my job. This summer has been terrible as it has been so hot, I'm a carer in the community and hot bathrooms, hot day and hot flushes are not a good mix. So after a discussion she has suggested I change to femara, i have just read the info dosen't sound much better. I have gone off the arimdex for 2 weeks and will start femera on the 1st April.So my question is how others are on femera? Good or bad if this dosen't work she is saying that I might just have to go off any medication this terrifies me.She has also referred me to the menopause clinicTo top my week had a sit down with the hubby about not supporting me, lots of tears and his answer was he is.Go figure it must just be my imagination he sits on his but alot while I'm doing the cooking and cleaning. I work fulltime he has dropped back to a 4 day week.Life is CRAP at the moment

You need some good stuff soon. Sorry you are feeling so bad, I hope a change of medication helps. I have been on Femara and apart from knocking my bone density about a bit (known side effect and luckily mine was very good so I have some wiggle room) I have had no side effects that I am aware of. No aches or arthritis like symptoms, no flushes. I switched to Arimidex to see if it would help a hair problem that turned out to be (I hope!) temporary but to be honest I didn't have any side effects on that either. Didn't improve the hair so back on Femara. Good luck with everything.

Hi forgot to ask do you take the brand or the generic brand, asking the question as $5 difference in price

Hi @rowdy, I will be starting Femara on Monday & am not looking forward to the side effects. I bought the brand as heard that sometimes the fillers they throw in the generic brands can cause problems. Don't know if this is true but didn't want to take the risk. Sometimes you have to be firm with those men as they just don't get it. If you are walking around it seems you are in the best of health. I had to have a couple of meltdowns in my house before the men got it! Hope things improve for you!

I take the brand. I realise there is a cost difference but I take what my doctor has prescribed as he knows what else I am taking. Some women have had problems with generics with Tamoxifen as there may be differences in the fillers, so I prefer not to take that risk.

Oh @rowdy, I had to smile. So many of us 'just want to be back to normal'. Congrats, you've made it. You are getting treated exactly the way you would be if there was no BC. And having exactly the same domestic gripes you would have had if there was no BC. Yeah, not helpful, but still, I had to smile. Marg.

femera | BCNA Online Network

16 Replies

rowdy
Member
9 years ago
Thanks ladies I have been on Tamoxafin in the beginning and I suffered terrible anxiety and if you listen to my husband i was a bitch. I did feel better in myself on arimidex. The hot flushes are what is killing the most it is making work harder and my sleep pattern I'm hoping the menopause clinic helps me ou. I have a friend who went and they helped her.
Hope you are all well take care x
Maria333
Member
9 years ago
Hi Rowdy,
I also lasted on the Arimidex for 18 months, hot flushes, but especially the intense bone pain. I couldnt take it any longer so after a talk with my oncologist i was offered a script for Tamoxifen. The comment of 'oh have you ever had a blood clot' had alarm bells going off. I thought to myself, i did not go thru chemo multiply surgeries and radiation to die of a stroke or heart attack. So i chose an alternative of seeing a naturopath and going on the Indol3c. that was in 2011 and 2012. Now in 2017 a new cancer arrived and after a bilateral mastectomy i am on Femara - (oh the hot flushes) I am only day 20 post op and have to agree with you there are not a lot of alternatives. One lady I know changed from Arimedex to tamoxifen and still after 5 years she had another cancer return. In saying all this all i can say is collect all the data you can and do what you feel is going to be best for you and your life. Oh and whip that husband in to shape make some new rules and lifestyle changes - if you dont like it let him know you are not the housekeeper and cook. all the very best.
socoda
Member
9 years ago
Hey @Rowdy, my oncologist gave me a script for Effexor (antidepressant that is also used for hot flushes). Obviously you'd have to check with your oncologist to make sure you were right to take it and time frames etc but it is something to think about. As far as hubby is concerned just make your own dinner etc and when he complains tell him its because you're tired from doing too much and don't have the energy needed to make his!! Would get the point across. Big hug. Xx Cath
Hulos
Member
9 years ago
Hi, I am on Letrozole ( the generic brand), my oncologists saidmthere was no difference between femara, its the same ingredients. I do get hot flushes often and for someone who used to love summer and beaches, well that is no longer the case. Sometimes it does get embrassing just sweating constantly. I also have knee joint ache, not too worried as i just want this BC out of me.. i think it affects everyone slightly different.
Take care
primek
Member
9 years ago
I'm on femera and have only occasional hot flushes but not too much more than I did post menopause anyway. I have found that when I take panadol osteo it is much more noticeable and I presume it is the antipyretic effect of paracetamol that does this. I didn't realise this until I didn't need it very often once I'd recovered from chemo.

I initially had joint stiffness in ankles and wrists in tbe morning and after extended rest but it quickly went away with movement. I found just rotating my feet and hands pre getting up in the morning helped. Now 5 months on I get very few symptoms. I've lost quite a bit if weight so this may have assisted this also.

I am have ostepenia anyway so it's something that will be closely watched but I believe will be managed if necessary rather than not taking the medication.

Goodluck. Kath x
adean
Member
9 years ago
On ocassions l want to strangle my husband he loves going out to eat and honestly l cannot be bothered because lm so tired. Ive realy put my foot down and l say no and he finaly is getting it what do we do?lm lucky it took his heart attack for him to start helping Lol.all my side effects came on letrozole in the first few months and then went.leg pains especialy but l upped my magnesium. My hot flushes are all over the place and worse at night which l suppose is a blessing.l feel for you after all the shit we go through. Big hug. Xxxxx
rowdy
Member
9 years ago
Good morning ladies thank you for your comments. I know my husband would still be annoying if I hadn't gone through bc. I know after being married for 34 years he just expects me to be there. He was so thoughtfull and caring during active treatment now he tells me I have to get over it., anyway enough about him.
Thank you for letting me know how you are on Femera, I'm still not sure it is going to be any better with hot flushes, I'm going to give it a go.
Again thanks for listening and letting me vent.xxxx
Southgirl
Member
9 years ago
I'm the same as @brightspace - I've been on Femara for metastatic bc for six months and virtually no side effects. So I guess everyone is different, I hope it will be ok for you @rowdy
Jane-Altona
Member
9 years ago
Hi, I'm been on femara for 7 months. Some bone ache & stiffness but this goes with excercise. Most days don't have any. I do get daily hot flushes/sweats which can be annoying. I use the fan at night and airconditioning during the day. Must admit I now don't go anywhere that doesn't have air-conditioning! I'm coping, but will be reviewed in July by oncologist.
fairydust
Member
9 years ago
On the topic of men or anyone else helping. I find that being specific helps. I actually have to state clearly what needs doing. I get frustrated when eg The kitchen floor needs washing and it does not get done unless I mention it . Or there are weeds in the garden that need pulling out unless I point and show what needs doing nothing happens.Of course I do stuff but I still get extremely tired