Whose coping on Letrozole and what brand ? Any tips?

Interesting topic and very helpful. I started Letrozole by Femara beginning of May last year.  Saw my oncologist  in Nov  The differences I noticed was stiff hands first thing in the morning. Several months of lower back pain. My husband would have to massage and pummel the lower back area for about 5 mins and then I'd be heaps better.. I could barely get dressed. I have a bit of arthritis and tendonitis there also. The onc thought Letrozole was aggravating it. The worst was having very sudden onset migraines, very painful lasting up to 10 hours and vomiting. They came on like a light switch. Missed some very important events laid up with that.. Because of that she changed me over to Anastrozle Sandoz, which is a sister to Letrozole. She thought that the Letrozole could be causing the symptoms. Going back in the morning to see oncologist after 6 weeks on new meds. Have to say my hands are not sore anymore. I did have a whopper migraine 3 days after starting new meds but I wouldn't say they were to blame  Also had a 4 hour headache which was an ache and not the pain of a migraine. The annoying part is that painkillers do absolutely nothing for it. I went to my GP who had prescribed me Panadeine Forte  luckily not needed so far. I did have another episode for a couple of weeks with my back but at the moment it's settled down. So all in all, I think the Anastrozle is suiting me better.. I often wondered how others went on Letrozole. We are all individuals and will react differently to medications but interesting to see that there are common symptoms.. I look at it as the price we have to pay for this extra insurance. After my 2 hour trip to work on the train I have to tell myself as I get out of my seat that I'm 16, not 68 and to not walk like I'm 94  because that's how I feel sometimes lol.

Best not to rely on Atlantic Salmon only as the 'S' (as in FRESH Australian net raised Atlantic salmon from Tassie or similar) as they are fed all sorts of man made rubbish to make their flesh appear 'red' when in reality it should be the same colour as most fish - white .... it is not good for us.  Fresh LOCAL fish is best - or even tinned salmon.

I love putting anchovies on my home made pizzas - and usually only eat fish I catch my self  xx

Hi there @Romla, the senior dietician at the large Sydney teaching hospital I attend advised me to remember SMASH for fish containing the good oils as well as tiny soft bones for calcium. Salmon..Mackerel..Anchovy..Sardine..Herring. I love and eat them all, especially anchovies on hame made pizza (from scratch including yeast base).

@kezmusc Many years ago I tried a diet program part of which was eating fish 3 times per week. I liked tinned tuna and found after a couple of weeks a noticeable improvement in my concentration.I know it sounds weird but you might like to give it a go - I prefer Sirena in oil these days - it must be plain unflavoured tuna however as the flavoured tuna doesn’t seem to work as well.Worth a shot for a couple of weeks and time for me to put it into practice too - maybe it’s brain food idk but has worked well over the years for me.

Walking chemist shops we turn into! My lack of need for glasses (apart from reading) unfortunately has nothing to do with medication, chemo or anything related - when getting my cataracts fixed (no, I don't think chemo or femara caused that), they automatically correct your sight (which of course was news to me!). It's still a bit weird not needing them (65 years with!) but nice weird. 

@Romla, I had a significant reduction in vision after about 2 months on Tamoxifen.  The optometerist rolled her eyes as soon as I told her what I was taking and said well that would explain the sudden decrease.  No glasses prior to taking the drug.  Can't read anything without them now.

 @Afraser I pretty much live on Berocca and the brahmi, ginko tablets I take has vitamin B in it as well.  I am fairly certain it helps a lot with the brain fog and memory.  I tend to get a bit lax taking these things occasionally and there is a noticeable difference.  Does nothing for my spelling and stringing a sentence (I had to look that one up just now,  seriously) together. 

But no fog and I can mostly get through my days without forgetting my name or why I went to the supermarket LOL.  Magnesium/glucosomine, fish oil etc has done bugger all for any joint pains though. Grumble grumble grumble.

Will do me @Afraser

I have taken Vitamin B for years - started to offset some peripheral neuropathy symptoms and just kept it up. Was also recommended to take magnesium by one of my heart medicos - not for any femara related problems, but as I have always taken both at the same time, who knows, if may have a helpful effect. 

I am ok now @ Deanne as I can see the forest not just the trees.I can tolerate physical side effects but low mood and memory issues I had had trouble dealing with.

Be careful re thumb as carpal tunnel can be an issue with AI esp exemestane it seemsalthough I hope  is just too much gardening and rest brings things back to normal.

Have heard many good things re Magnesium since I joined - will do some research on the Herbs app about it .My energy level will improve markedly when our current heatwave ends ! I have started to take a bit of multiB as has helped in past when things get stressful.Discovered the other day you can search on Herbs app not only by vitamin/ mineral / herb etc. but by medical issue.My eldest son is a gym fanatic was taking a lot of protein to build himself up and ended up with major cramps in his leg corrected swiftly by our GP who corrected the imbalance he had caused with a magnesium supplement. - worked a treat and son now more cautious with protein shakes.

Take care.xo

Further to my comment above, it seems as though the thumb is an injury (from overdoing the gardening and whipper snipping before Christmas  :|). It is getting better slowly with rest and nurofen. I do feel as though tendon injury or inflammation happens way more easily to me on Femara but maybe I am just getting older too!

I have started back on Magnesium also in the last week. I have noticed an almost immediate improvement in energy. I have taken magnesium most of the time that I have been on Tamoxifen and Femara. It seems to help me with aches and pains, energy and reducing hot flushes. For memory I find reducing stress helps a bit but that is not always easy! 

Hope you are feeling better, @Romla. xxx