Emotions and Femara

For Benefit Medicines make a number of generics, including letrozole. They are a not for profit organization and give to a cancer research organisation and bcna. There are many people who cope with generics, not me, nor my husband, and you say it affects you too, Afraser and Iserbrown. That they give to support others (and us here) is great and I'd happily support them if I could, but in this instance there was just too much pain. I have not tried again.

Yes Thelma I have. After 2 months on femara I found the knee pain has mostly gone, as well as a regularly stiff neck and one sided pelvic joint pain I had. I was on letrozole too. I looked on a few ca help sites like this and a few women found femara not as hard on the body in that regard. So I tried that and overnight my knee pain was 50-60% better  and the neck stiffnes gone. The pain had started within 2 weeks of being on letrozole and rapidly getting worse. I was limping badly and pain killers were not effective. I was so glad I found and tried Femara, a different brand of the same active ingredient. I don't know what others have found. The medical oncologist was happy for me to swap, but did not think it would work. I feel it did. And I've had other bad experiences with generic madication, must be a sensitive flower. Hoping you can work something out, good luck, 

I have some aches and pains from Letrozole, however this weekend the pain in my knees was so bad I could hardly walk, I was frightened walking downstairs that my knees would collapse and I would fall. I spent all day yesterday in the recliner. Today I can walk much better, has anyone else experienced this?
The pain was so bad yesterday, I thought seriously about giving treatment away. I had a double mastectomy end of November last year and started the Letrozole late January, so it's only early days yet, has anyone else had the same?

Thanks girls. My family don't really get that I can't be "positive". I tell them I'm as realistic as I can be, and some days I'll be down or sad or accepting of what is or mad as can be about it. NO ONE knows what the future wil be and I'll  handle it as best I can, get what help I feel I need to face whatever it is. Being positive is akin to putting my head in the sand, (  and in that position my rear is a huge target and I really am vulnerable, not comforted).  Hugs to all out there struggling, this ain't easy.

Hey! I totally agree! there are times it doesnt matter what you do you are sad and teary and a range of emotions. Its not a matter of being positive it has nothing to do with it, and makes me MAD when people say that to you...you are entitled to every single emotion you feel at any given time. This is about YOU it doesnt impact anyone else the same way it does you and I think its healthy because thats the only way we move through those sad hard times and find a better day maybe not tomorrow but it comes and we are on an even keel again. Its a process. So just be YOU! we are all here!! Hugs Melinda xo

I'm glad you have an appointment. I agree  about the quote. In the middle of it you can't just choose to be happy. That comes later. It's like saying to someone to just snap out of depression (or get over the loss of a loved one).   It is a process that you have to work through and eventually, hopefully you can see a future, have hope again and happiness.

I think I am there now, but not everyday. I guess some people can just pretend to be happy but whether it is truly there is another thing. But it is something to strive for that us a certainty. 

Hope all goes well. Kath x

Hi to melclarity, Momma4 and iserbrown, thanks as always for your support. The Gp would mostly agree with you, despite it being on the list of possible side effects. I had to turn to him, not a bad thing, as the bcn would not return my calls. Seems the place is runing with a half time staff member instead of 2.  I'm sure the newly diagnosed and those starting this journey are the priority, and rightly so. I well remember how desperate I was to talk to one in the beginning of all of this. And I do have other avenues.
 So the appointment is made for the 8th of March, not too far away. 
As for choosing happiness, that is the decision but somehow, at times, not the reality I find myself in. It should be that simple but it aint. So I hope to find some clues as to how to make that a reality again and how to come to terms with my situation. Funnily enough I didn't think I was doing that badly. Self analysis is risky!
Good luck with your search for support Momma4. I think acknowledging we need support is a very good first step to some emotional healing. The medical stuff is mostly done and possibly that regular visit/care/treatment time left one tired, the body and mind needing repairing. As you said now we are almost alone, vulnerable and wondering what the next assault will be.
A hug to you all and thankyou, Linda

Hi Now curly - I realised that I had put up a discussion within this post but not to you that started the post. 
I do hope that you are settling into taking Femara.  The side effects or odd things as you referred to them are just that, odd and difficult to comprehend.  It may not necessarily be Femara but a combination of where you are at now! 
It takes awhile for the emotional side to line up with the physical and when we are fatigued the physical dominates our thoughts and drives us nutty (or should I say drives me nutty). 
All the things you mention like tears for no reason, incredible sadness, a dislike and upset about family members.  Don't get too perturbed by that as some of us experience similar emotions at different times.  Family and or friends are just not on our wave length.  They think you've had treatment so you should be right when there is a lot more to it than this appointment and that appointment........ We are, we understand!  Please come on here and rant and we won't judge!

This image I saved from a post long ago and I hope it gives you a feeling of being in charge!
Sending you a virtual hug
Take care xx