Forum Discussion
Arimidex
I have been reading through the blogs about Arimidex and found them very interesting. I have been on Arimidex for 6 months and up until 4 weeks ago, "side affects free" - until now that is.
I now have what appears to be the usual aches and pains in the legs and numbness in the hands, tiredness and headaches, so I guess I didn't escape at all I am just like all my other Arimidex sisters.
I will have to mention this to my oc next visit, but as so many others have said before at least I am here reading the experiences of others. It does help.
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244 Replies
DearRuth
Thanks foryour message.Iam a firm believer that humity levels and air pressure have lots of different and sometimes. And I can also relate to the insomnia. It frustrates me that I then nod off halfway through the following morning!
I too have been thinking aboutwork, and there's a tempting switchboard/admin job, only 11hrs per fortnight,which I reckon I could handle.I'll give an applicationa go.
Take care
love from Kathleen x
Dear Kathy
Was great to read your message. We're the same age, though I have only just turned 56. Diagnosis ISa big scare, wake up call-changes everything! Interesting your comments about Zoloft-mightt be good for me. I have been on Endep for the 2 years I've had breastcancer: not sure it's "cutting it" now. I do become irritable very easily, and angry too.
Your aches in legs/feet/hands inthe morning are exactly the same that I experience. So I'm not just imagining it. And the mention about humidity-I feel sure it's all related. Thanks again for your post. Sharing our stories helps immensely.
Take care
Love from Kathleen
Hello Nola. Good to hear from you too. I am glad that you are getting some help from the psycho/oncologist. I am struggling to lose weight. I try so hard and the weight doesn't budge. I have sleep apnea and the specialist told me to lose weight because excess weight makes it worse. I am at my wit's end. I also suffer from anxiety, sometimes worse than others, especially if I don't get much sleep. I am glad to be a survivor but Breast Cancer certainly changed my life.
Hi Kathleen. Good to hear from you again. I hope everything goes well for you. It seems such a battle after being diagnosed with cancer. I have to be tested every 6 Months because I have a lump in other breast which has to be monitored for any changes. I am on other medication for blood presseure, thyroid and asthma and I know that all medications have side effects Today, I am having a lot of problems with back pain. The wet weather prbably isn't helping. I am not working and although I would like to be in the workforce I don't know if I would cope. Some days are better than others. My Doctor doesn't want me working. I suffer from insomnia even when I am walking, other times I don't have too bad a sleep. I have to get up to the tiolet at least a couple of times during the night and this disturbs my sleep as well It is hard to remain positive sometimes although I am glad that I am a survivor.
Hi ladies, it's a while since I checked in here but notice that we are all experiencing some sort of side effects from medication. Hopefully one day the Drs will listen and understand what we are saying to them regarding weight gain and joint aches etc. I also suffer unbearably from depression and anxiety and I am seeing the most wonderful Psycho/oncologist. She gives me lots of strategies and help me through the tough times.
It's very challenging at times even reminding myself that I am a survivor. I try not to do the "what ifs" but sometimes it is difficult because having breast cancer certainly changed my life.
Hope you all stay healthy.
Sending love to all, Nola
- Dear Ruth & Yana. I certainly do have the joint pains and fatigue with Arimidex. It also keeps me awake at night a couple of times each week, but I'm willing to admit that part of that is my not being very active, along with anxiety and stress, which is sometimes worse than other times. I remember being told by the medicos and the breast nurse that: "we would expect all the side effects to diminish with time". Whilst I appreciate that positive thinking, regular exercise etc both have their merits, it isn't always the reality for us who are battling the disease. Then unfortunately, with some of the medicos, when one continually complains about the persisting side effects, one constantly feels as though said side effects are in fact imagined. This is very disheartening, & only serves to cause us to turn inward once again. I have been taking arimidex for just over a year, & I can say with confidence (because I keep a journal) that for me, some of the side effects haven't "magically disappeared", & indeed I have different ones at different times. I haven't had a sore throat from it, but I am almost always in pain from one or more joints. I have a hip condition which was present long before my diagnosis with breast cancer in July 2010, and despite having repair surgery performed on it, once I began chemo therapy, the pain was back with a vengeance. I also experience hand and wrist pain (fairly sure it is not carpal tunnel, as was suggested), and really odd pain in the webbing next to both big toes, as well as pain in the toes themselves. Also in the arches of my feet. Again, this could be the result of not regularly exercising, however I'm afraid I am "over" trying to do the gentlest of stretches or walking, when all that's achieved is being drenched in pools of perspiration! Sorry, have turned this into a rant-please forgive! I am grateful, however, for being generally well. I'm about to embark on radiation therapy to the metastases in my back, so we'll see what transpires after that. I am trying to continue monitoring my routine, hoping I can return to something that resembles work-currently I don't feel as though I'd be all that reliable. Love to you all-this is a great forum. Please keep posting about side effects and your day to day struggles:I feel lucky to be able to share with you all! Take care Kind regards Kathleen
Hello Yana. I often have a sore throat but I thought that was due to my asthma. I do suffer from tire dness and aches and pains though. I don't think that you ever get used to them. I have been on arimidex for Years and my Specialist said that I can keep taking it. I have the braca2 gene and although I get symptoms from the arimidex I feel that it is protecting me as I have gone nearly thirteen years since I was diagnosed.
Has anybody experienced a sore throat as an Arimidex side effect? And if yes does it go away over time? After only one week I am also already experiencing tiredness and aches and pains. My Onc wants me to stick it out for 3 to 6 months, does this mean side effects will be getting better or we are just getting used to them?
Has anybody experienced a sore throat as an Arimidex side effect? And if yes does it go away over time? After only one week I am also already experiencing tiredness and aches and pains. My Onc wants me to stick it out for 3 to 6 months, does this mean side effects will be getting better or we are just getting used to them?
Sounds great.
