After a break, Letrozole, continued...

I never thought of it before @Romla  but what you said is so true about hormone therapy attacking weak spots.  I have always had problems with a rotor cuff injury with my shoulder and it has definitely got a lot worse.  Have been on Letrozole since November and the last two weeks have just noticed my finger joints starting to ache and get stiff.   I thought I had escaped that one don't know why it has only just started now.  grrrr.    xo

Thank you @Artferret, that at least gives me hope that they may abate or possibly cease. I'll take hope over a definite 10 years of them. K xox

I have to agree with you @Romla that the hormone therapy does exacerbate existing aches and pains as well as adding new ones!
@kmakm Kate my flushes weren't that bad during menopause but when i started on letrozole they ramped up considerably esp at night time. It took about a year for them to almost disappear. 

I think hormone therapy @arpie attacks weak spots in our bodies - your hands were already arthritic and my osteoporosis was worst in the spine so I had back pain. I’m not sure what  I can offer re advice other than the things above that have helped me as I guess we are all different and need to find our own ways of coping.I do agree that there is an adjustment phase with Letrozole and think the extent of active treatment eg chemo effects it as well as our general health at the outset.I’m so glad to have the blog and know it’s not just me.

Funny how so many millions of women have been thru it - but clam up about it (even mothers & siblings!!)  NOT US  ;)

I have just realised today, @Romla that many of my Hormone Inhibitor side effects have eased off - except for my hands ..... (tho I am still a bit stiff & wobbly on my pins!) so maybe I am finally 'settling down' (or just getting used to it?)  Not sure which!!  Even the hands don't seem to be 'as sore' as they have been - but definitely still very achy, stiff, not grippable etc - and the left thumb, if I bend it, won't straighten out again with physically forcing it to ..... only time will tell I guess!

I noticed yesterday that it is definitely affecting my fishing tho - there are some casts that I just can't do. They rely on having total control of your thumb & the general 'ache/pain' just won't let me do those backhand casts - as the rod/reel rests upon the base of the thumb & pressure is exerted on it in the cast ...  :(   grrr

I agree @arpie what helped me the most was finding a book with stories from other women as I felt so lost.I struggled on until 46 when I had menopause twins to the medical community here’s astonishment.I went back into menopause for 6 months after their birth and then a small burst of hot flushes every now and then from Letrozole.Its important to know you’re normal and it did pass for me but took time. But yes was very hard for a year or so.

I had all your symptoms plus some, @Romla  (except the car driving - that would have driven me MAD (so to speak! LOL) 

My hot flushes lasted years, sadly, as well as intense depression, aches & pains all over, brain fog, insomnia, extreme vaginal atrophy that came on almost overnight .... talk about razor blades!!  Even now - having a speculum inserted for my pap smear is extremely painful (even the kiddie sized one!) 

Oprah Winfrey had intense side effects from Menopause (including hear palpitations - she thought she was having a heart attack & spent thousands trying to get diagnosed) and it was only after reading Christiane Northrup's book The Wisdom of Menopause that she fully understood what was happening to her body.  You can buy it as an ebook or get the real book (I bought a copy but loaned it to someone & it never came back!  :(  )  

The very first page described my symptoms to a 'T'!  (Especially the ANGRY bit!  I was angry with EVERYTHING and everybody - but blaming them, of course!)

Here is a google link to her other books too.
the wisdom of menopause

There maybe a herbal tea that is tolerable as a drink to reduce your caffeine content.I don’t mind Twinings spearmint/ camomile .I also like a slice of root ginger in boiling water.To help with sleep I don’t mind Celestial Seasonings Sleepy Time tea.That said I’m a big Yorkshire tea fan which does contain caffeine.

Onething I have noted is a lot of women drink water after a coffee .

@Blossom1961 I agree caffeine made things worse for me but I mainlined it too .
@"Kiwi Angel"The baby is now 25 and doing well.At the time the hardest was no one including GPs would talk about it - the older women going thru saw it as a secret to be endured privately and the doctors just wanted to supply antidepressants .It has changed now but the symptoms of sudden  onset menopause have not.

If it helps at all I can say it eases but takes quite a while.Exercise may help too eg swimming/ hydrotherapy.

@Blossom1961 there is no way I could give up coffee (currently having my second of the morning). 

@Romla I always check stuff on iherb before I get it. I was gonna get some dandelion stuff for my bloating but found out I couldn’t have that with hormone sensitive breast cancers so got a probiotic and some kraut instead.