After a break, Letrozole, continued...

Bloody side effects list just keeps growing.  Mine went kaput through chemo.  Never was very good after having twins anyway.  I agree wtih @Flaneuse.  The pelvic floor exercises do help.  Lots and lots of them which also helps with a couple of other more fun things if you so desire. LOL.   

@kmakm What a bugger.  I understand how disappointing it is. I too used to have a super-bladder: could trek all day without needing to go behind a tree. Do you do your pelvic floor exercises regularly or has that fallen by the wayside with all the shite you've had to deal with?  Because of my cervical and bladder prolapse, I've had no choice but to be very diligent in doing the exercise regime the pelvic floor physio gave me, and I'm amazed and thrilled that last week she said I've pulled my cervix up by 3 cm and my bladder is almost normal again. I didn't think it would be possible at my age.

On another issue: My GP said the other day that lots of people are having sodium deficiency at the moment because of the heat - sweating more, drinking more water, diluting the sodium. Causes weakness and tiredness.
xox

Good grief @kmakm you’re copping the lot!! 

Unfortunately I seem to be experiencing another Letrozole side effect. As the list puts it:  "Needing to urinate more often"...

I have always had a bladder of steel and am finding this new problem very irritating, and bloody disappointing. And of course it's yet another thing contributing to my poor quality of sleep. I know oestrogen plays a role in bladder function so presumably having "less oestrogen than an eighty year old" is what's causing this.

Apart from cutting down fluid in the hours before bed - which is torture when you're supposed to be replacing the fluids you're sweating out in hot flushes, which are worse at night, advised to drink cold water to alleviate hot flushes, am a thirsty person to start with, and living through one of the hottest summers on record - is there anything I can do? Or is this yet another thing I am condemned to suffer through for the duration of the AI, and maybe beyond...

@primek Thanks for that tip about the flaxseed oil; I'll follow it up.
@arpie I hope you get enough relief to be able to really enjoy the BMs festival this weekend.
I've been to my GP this afternoon and brought him up to date about my decisions and rationale for everything. He was understanding and supportive. He said that just from physical examination of my hands and feet my arthritis is getting worse - which would have increased the pain on Letrozole.

@Flaneuse I too am noticing dry eye (mainly the left!) as well ... it is really weird - just discomfort, not REALLY dry!   GP just said to use eye drops - but I find just blinking a heap more will lubricate them up OK

I feel for you with the hands .... I've just started taking a round of Prednisone for the week leading up to the Blue Mountains Ukulele Festival this weekend as I hate what the meds are doing to them.  They are my tools & I need them every day ..... so that I can form the chords properly & not drop the bloody uke!  My thumbs are a real shocker and it feels like every 'pad' on my fingers are badly bruised/tender (as if bashed by a bit of wood!)  It make holding ANYTHING a real hit & miss affair!  

Thanks @primek. I'm back to taking Letrozole in the mornings now so I'm not so bothered by it.

My sister has suffered dry eye since menopause. Her ophthalmologist recommended she take flaxseed oil after months of using liquifilm drops (which did help and there is a thicker version for overnight ). The flaxseed  has been tremendous in resolving the  issues. 

@kmakm I hadn't realised that the Letrozole caused dryness in eyes. I've always had dry eye syndrome anyway, and also have severe allergies to dust mites and just about every grass and pollen on earth.I've been waking with red, dry eyes and thought it was just a bit worse than usual. I've also had a dry anal and labial issue - Lucas pawpaw ointment to the rescue. 

I think I might have mentioned elsewhere that I decided about nine days ago to stop taking it. The stiffness and pain in my hands was horrendous. I've been dropping things, can barely hold my coffee cup in the mornings, and kept awake by femur pain, ankles and toes as well. I phoned the oncol nurse and told her. I'll see oncol on 11 Feb. I can't believe that the advantage provided by it is worth such a reduced quality of life. Just in the past couple of days, the pains have been reduced slightly, though they've still been bad in my upper arms. I've been keeping a detailed journal to discuss with oncol.

It's in my elbows now, for the first time. Fortunately I only feel it first thing in the morning. Once I start moving it goes away after five minutes.