Arimidex

Hi ladies, just interested to know if anyone has been given Arianna anastrozole Tablets by their chemist to replace arimidex, my husband picked up my last script from our rural chemist and he was given this it has a sticker on it saying this medicine replaces arimidex???

Hi Nola

As I read your entry I thought to myself: "oh yes.....always helpful!!!" meaning the professor who "hadn't heard of" Arimidex or Tamoxifen.  What a load of....whatsits! Dontcha just love 'em! Not!  I can relate to your frustration.  It's not good when such supposedly high up medical professionals don't know.

I'm hoping my hand problem isn't carpal tunnel - I plan to have "the test" in the near future - going to a neurologist for a vertigo problem. My hand pain occurs at night, after I've been asleep for a while. The trigger fingers and, curiously, the little finger are just agony. Plus I lose feeling in them, whether I have been lying on them or not. Also at night, leading up to bedtime and through the night, I get pain at the top of my arms, on the outside, leading to the shoulder, to the point where, if I've been lying on my back, it is very difficult to lift my arms off the mattress.  Also pain in the arches of each foot.

The hot flushes have calmed down a lot, though perhaps I shouldn't speak too soon, as I don't like the hot weather at all, & that was well before I contracted breast cancer.

Through all of this, I would rather have the side effects than have the metatastes in the bones of my back grow or spread. I tried another - I think it was Femera - and that was even worse - after just 2 tablets I had excruciating cramps in my legs. I am trying to keep my weight down, but it is a struggle. Just would like my energy levels to return, so that I actually feel like exercising!

I would love to hear from anyone who is experiencing the same side effects. They are odd, and I have to say I also don't get a lot of acknowledgement, much less strategies to help. It's not good to be on heavy painkillers, and I'm about to go back to fish oil/krill oil to see if that helps.

Take care Nola! x

Hi Linda, By atrophy, I mean vaginal dryness and shrinking of the vagina.  I know that Replens is an oestrogen-free treatment and I get relief  and that I have to go the Chemist and get some more.  Side affects from Arimidex can be hot flushes and vaginal dryness, joint pain and stiffness, upset stomach, lack of energy difficulty in getting to sleep, thinning of hair and headaches. They can also give you mood changes, decline in libido and forgetfullness  There is the Jean Hailes Foundation www.jeanhailes.org.au phone 1800 151 441 to find more information on menoplausal symptoms.  I don't know if you have enrolled in Verve, the Arimidex patient support programme or not.  If not, the details are in your Arimidex medication box.  It is a free support line where you can talk to trained Nurses in confidence  and they send you out free newsletters.  I have found it quite helpful and they send you out a book "Learning more about breast cancer @ Arimidex.  I hope this helps you and know that you are not alone.:)

Hi Linda, By atrophy, I mean vaginal dryness and shrinking of the vagina.  I know that Replens is an oestrogen-free treatment and I get relief  and that I have to go the Chemist and get some more.  Side affects from Arimidex can be hot flushes and vaginal dryness, joint pain and stiffness, upset stomach, lack of energy difficulty in getting to sleep, thinning of hair and headaches. They can also give you mood changes, decline in libido and forgetfullness  There is the Jean Hailes Foundation www.jeanhailes.org.au phone 1800 151 441 to find more information on menoplausal symptoms.  I don't know if you have enrolled in Verve, the Arimidex patient support programme or not.  If not, the details are in your Arimidex medication box.  It is a free support line where you can talk to trained Nurses in confidence  and they send you out free newsletters.  I have found it quite helpful and they send you out a book "Learning more about breast cancer @ Arimidex.  I hope this helps you and know that you are not alone.:)

HI Girls, interested to hear how you are going.

Am curious, Ruth , what did you mean about the "atrophy"?

I get the "shakes" for no apparant reason.  Startled my daughter, the other day, who wondered why I was shaking.  I told her it was normal. Just another side effect! Yes, I do feel older, but am happy to be here...

As for the discipline, I guess I have a choice to do that to.. Baby steps.

Hi Linda,  I certainly think we are the "lab rats".  I also find the chiropractor works when nothing else does.  But I can't help with the self discipline.  Do you think our medication might have something to do with it?

Hi Bella,  Thanks.  It is great to be able to discuss our problems with like minded People.  I do believe that stress and hereditry play a big part in our developing Cancer.  My Parents both died from it, My oldest Brother has Bowel Cancer and my oldest Sister has Stomach Cancer.  My Daughter and I both tested positive to the Braca 2 gene.  I don't think the Doctors know much about the drugs we take or they don't want us to know.  We are the guinea pigs.  Some days I suffer from arthritis bad and other days I am not so bad.  I find it hard with the hot flushes.  I tend to dress in layers and at night I take the blankets on and off.  I try to keep myself busy and doing the things that I enjoy.  I love this site because we understand where everyone is coming from.

Hi Linda.  I am seeing the Breast Surgeon on Friday and am hoping that he will remove the lump so I am not worrying about it.  About the menoplause......... how long does it take?  I try to have a good attitude, but sometimes its hard because I also suffer from chronic urticaria where I have hives every day and the itching doesn't help the sleep problems.  I am fortunate to have my Faith and good Friends (even though they don't understand what I am going through).  I spend a lot of time gardening and I just love the enjoyment it gives me.I keep busy and enjoy doing what I can while I can.:)

Hi Linda,  You are so right.  There is not enough information about the drugs we are taking.  I guess it's different for everybody, but if we had some guidelines it would make it a lot easier.:)