Arimidex verses Tamoxifen who wins?

hi KIm & ha smoking a joint would be so much easier ;) but no im not a dope smoker I did however take arimidex for 1 yr i commenced it as soon as i finished chemo but still had another 8 months of herceptin treatment to go. My opinion was i was happier on arimidex but i was post menopausal(&from all that i had read & been told by my oncologist & Professor) although all the hot flushes etc came back when chemo started. I became aware that all my bones & joints were just not stopping from being painful but were getting worse this included swelling in the joints etc & my weight gain went through the roof i gained 25kilos & for a 'skinny' person i thought the weight gain was adding to the bone pain. I continually told all my health care team (chemo dr, chemo nurses gp oncologist & prof)& felt like a winger but it got so bad i really could not walk no one put it down to the arimidex so i got a referral back to my rheumatologist (other health issue but not arthritis related)As soon as i walked in the door he said ur on arimidex arent you! his advice was to get off it but go back to oncologist & discuss the options.I also didnt mention arimidex totally dried out my whole body no tears, no watery eyes no runny noses etc etc i also had really bad stomach pains every time i ate(this was investigated but everything is normal)& is an undiagnosed problem i even tried the FODMAP diet but that was also undetermined.My oncologist said usually the sideeffects happen imediately so that was why he didnt really think arimidex was the problem although i/ we had been joking about the dryness on the prior visits. So i commenced tamoxifen & have been on that for almost 1yr it does make me "hot flush" more but hey u just get on with it. I have 8 more yrs to go on it, i was going to be on the arimidex for ten yrs as well. From what i understand TEN YEARS on it gives a better statistical outcome. I lost 20kilos in the first 5 weeks off the arimidex with the combination of the FODMAP diet. I was very relieved about that plus i had to have the rest of my breast recon surgery which was so good having the weight off prior to the surgery (all my ducks lined up in a row ;)). My oncologist was quiet surprised as well. My blood levels all became normal in an eight week period after ceasing the arimidex too(i forgot to mention my iron levels were non existent i was also as tired as i was dry & had horrendous bruising all over me)The iron depletion was ??because of the arimidex but they were uncertain i have not had any iron issues since.
  I have spoken to a few woman who have not had any trouble on arimidex at all & they have been on it for a period of yrs. The Verve company that make/supply arimidex have a support line & a really great magazine called Verve (supporting woman on Arimidex)so subscribe u have to keep the tab tops from your empty Arimidex boxes, but make contact im sure they will send you a magazine prior ph 1800889860 (8.00 to 5.30pm aest).I loved the magazine highly recomend it!!
  To sum up i would have preferred to be on arimidex but it was not for me unfortunately (i think we need to try these things but give yourself maybe a 4 month time span & review how you feel within yourself & make your decision of "oh it seems fine" or "i'm not sure might give it a bit more time" but dont let it go on for 12 months like i did all that kind of pain & discomfort are not normal.(i still worry that i should be back on it)
  Yes you need to take all those supplements!! I have to have bondart infusion once a yr (part of chemo side effect)Liquid fish oil (cant stand it so take capsules) VitD with calcium plus i take vitc & magnesium the later 2 of my own choosing. Some doctors say we over supplement i know but the magnesium helps in all kinds of ways i reckon but do ur own research!
  I was diagnosed in Feb2014 age 52 stage3 grade 3 ductal & lobular 3 lumps (1 benign)plus 4 lymph nodes. Post surgery pathology showed i did not have clear margins so i was very happy to have a mastectomy.
So im not quiet the same senario as u being post menopausal but maybe you will feel more confident giving it a go especially as you are active get the Verve mag give it a try remember some people react to tamoxifen the way i did to arimidex everything has side effects (if you are on tamoxifen you have to make sure you get your eyes checked once a year plus you also have to have a pap smear once a year, 2 very important things to know & remember)
wishing you well goodluck with your sailing are you in this yrs Sydney to Hobart i love watching them come up the Derwent!!;)