After a break, Letrozole, continued...

Great links, @Flaneuse - many thanks!!  It pretty well proves that AIs either induce arthritis or make existing arthritis WAY WORSE - specially the ncbi report (specifically Exemestane!)

I'm managing my arthritic pain not too badly with Voltaren gel for the hands, ankles, left "tail-bone". Knee still a problem. Here are a couple of links I found about Letrozole-induced rheumatoid arthritis.

https://rmdopen.bmj.com/content/3/2/e000523

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1856055/

All I can say is that, nearly seven weeks after stopping it - in the past couple of weeks, each day I feel stronger, happier, less tired, more positive and more motivated to do things. I'm glad I made the decision to stop. I feel that I can actually DO something with however many years I have left. 

@pammiesyd If you feel so inclined, you could post some photos in On Our Walks. I'd love to see some!

Thank you for your response. Tamoxifen is my oncologist's fallback position as well. K xox

@pammiesyd 
Woo hoo!  Happy travels!

Stay safe and take care

Unfortunately, the thing about even about natural menopause, is that they just don't know.  So I don't think they have a clue about menopause from AIs.  It's been a women's unimportant issue and not acknowledged - after all, who cares about old women?  So, symptoms can be mild or non-existent, or they can be severe and go on for years but as there's so little research been done, the best you can do is ask older female relatives how they have coped.  What Letrozole adds to the mix, who knows?  I officially finished menopause a couple of weeks before I started chemo.  I had night sweats for a few months during the previous year.  I have had minor hot flushes since going on the AI and can get too warm in bed during the night.  The worst symptom for me is the headaches.  I don't have female rellies to ask but I do remember my Mum complaining about bad headaches in her mid-50s so I guess that's what it was.

As for Letrozole attacking weak spots, I'm guessing that's right.  I had arthritis showing on my scan before surgery in the same areas that I'm now struggling with joint pain.  My onc asked me last visit if I had had any problems with those areas before treatment and the answer was no, except for some neck issues.  So I'm guessing that the Letrozole has brought on the arthritis much more quickly than it would have developed if I wasn't on it.  I don't know, but strongly suspect, that it's here now for good.

I was on first letrozole then anastrazole for about 14 months. The side effects were awful: hot flushes, joint pain, insomnia. My BS suggested to my once that I change to tamoxifen. It has side effects too, but they are more bearable than the AIs. I had had severe hot flushes from menopause, so was treated with HRT. This gave me 10 years of no menopause symptoms. I had to go off HRT as my cancer was ER positive. The hot flushes came back with a vengeance. I was prescribed Efexor and then Lyrica also, and this has helped greatly with reducing the flushes. It is no fun having to take so many drugs (and supplements) but at least I am alive and enjoying life! We are at present at the Matterhorn in Italy for hubby to ski, and going on a cruise around India next.

@kitJust a suggestion .Ihave tennis elbow which is coming goodafter physio  and am being taught  stretches now which I think helps a lot to improve it.

Thanks @Romla I have included the link below to About Herbs, Botanicals & Other Products by Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Centre which states

'Do not take Black Cohosh (Remifemin) if you are taking Tamoxifen', see link below

https://www.mskcc.org/cancer-care/integrative-medicine/herbs/black-cohosh#field-herb-drug-interactions

regards Giovanna

@Zoffiel From where I sit now, no, I don't think it does.

The latest addition to the random pain menu is an aching groin. This started a while ago and coincided with a podiatrist selling me othotics. Then it went away. Then it came back. Now it's really bugging me, it's an identical pain to the ligament damage in my knee and just as debilitating.

I started using a topical hormone cream on my shrivelled bits a month or so ago, now I'm stressing that my efforts to improve the condition of my nether regions has sparked some sort of diabolical fanny attack.

 No amount of common sense is helping with this. If a thing was a thing before the second thing came along it's a thing in its own right. Surely? Anyway, who needs an aching box? Really? Does this shit never stop