Early Days on Letrozole
So, I started taking Letrozole on the 1/6/18. My oncologist says I have to be on it for 10 years as several ongoing studies are indicating cancer preventing benefits beyond the seven year mark. It's a watching brief though, so I'm prepared that the advice might change in this time. Three days after starting it my ankles started to ache. A lot. It got worse and started to wake me up at night. Whether I exercised or not didn't make any difference. I took some osteo-panadol for when it was really painful but I didn't fancy living on that, so on the advice of many people here, and my oncologist, I started taking krill oil. Within a few days the pain was down to a manageable level. Hooray! Three weeks later though the ache ramped up. At exactly the same time my hot flushes, which had subsided to a bearable level after chemo, suddenly got a lot worse. Longer, stronger and now with extra bonus sweat! I persisted with the krill oil for another week but there was no change. So in my personal clinical trial, I came off the krill oil for a (painful) week, and then started magnesium. Again on the anecdotal evidence from the good folk here, many of whom say it helps. I also had a foot, ankle and lower leg massage at one of those mall massage joints on the same day as I started magnesium. It was utter bliss having my aching ankles worked on! Something changed, because again the ankle pain subsided to a bearable level. Now whether this was something to do with the massage, or the magnesium, a combination of both, or my body simply adjusting to the rapid withdrawal of oestrogen, I simply don't know. My oncologist says no evidence that magnesium works on anything other than cramps. However I'll keep taking it for a couole more weeks and then stop. I'll observe what happens and then, if the pain returns, I'll move on to the next thing in my 'clinical trial', which is curcumin. The onc says her patients have reported success with that. There'll be a magnesium spray test at some point as well! My ankles still ache but it's at a lower level at the moment. All our bodies are different, der, but I thought I'd share my experiments in managing Letrozole side effects. It might be useful to someone! K xox
Beating the blues without antidepressants
Just wanted to share with others feeling down and depressed as a result of menopause or post treatment.... My GP had prescribed an antidepressant for my hot flashes and low mood. Crying a lot and constantly anxious. Anyway stubborn me didn't want to take antidepressants as I live with a husband who has bipolar and I needed to keep my mind clear even with the tears. I've been taking NeuroCalm for months. 1 tab at night to help sleep. My naturopath suggested I take 2 or 3 per day to help with anxiety. Up the dose a week ago and I feel like a new woman. No more crying over spilt milk. Actually feeling rather chilled and don't give a shit about much. 🙄 Still have hot flashes but not as bad. Hope this helps someone xx
Tamoxifen, Bone aches, brain fog and poor memory. Any one else experiencing these?
Hi all, I tried to put this in the tests and treaments category but for some reason it won't let me. So I'm on week nine of taking Tamoxifen and having some serious concerns. Apart from the ever popular hot flushes, my back and hips are aching constantly. Not too bad through the day when I'm moving around a lot, but quite painful at night in bed or sitting. This one is the more worriesome to me at the moment. Very poor short term memory I have to write notes and set alarms for everything at the moment. I am struggling at work when it gets busy. Poor concentration. I am going from the middle of one task to another instead of finishing the first. If it's super busy i.e paperwork, phone ringing, people asking questions, making appointments all happening at once it's like my brain shuts down into this cloud of fog and I have to walk away for 10 minutes so I can think again. I have trouble remembering words during conversation. Occasional light headed, dizziness. Just generally feeling like a bit of a space cadet at the moment. :) So much so, that I asked my GP to schedule a brain scan! So I decided to stop taking the Tamoxifen for a few days and guess what? Within 48 hours I was clear headed. This isn't constant some days my brain works fine LOL, Just wondering if anyone else is experiencing any thing like this.Letrozole side effects
Last monday at the age of 52 i started my daily dose of Letrozole. Fast forward 7 days and i feel like ive aged 30 years. Every bone & joint hurts, even bones in my face hurt ! My Oncologist said she was concerned i may not do well on letrozole given my pain in recent months (none of which i had before BC). Should I stop? Will it get better or worse. Cant sit on the loo without screeching from pain in my knees. I want my old self back and i want it now 😡
Hot flushes
Hi there - for the last two years during and after menopause I have had the worst hot flushes at night. Cover on cover off all night, even to having a towel with me. BUT since the two DCIS's have been removed - nothing! zippo. Even my brain has had the fog lift, no PMS'y feelings. Has anyone else noticed that? have looked it up but couldn't find anything, if at all its been the other way. Julie.
First chemo!
Hi everyone! I had my first chemo session today, starting with AC. Though I was warned and given a strong anti-nausea tablet before they started, I was absolutely not prepared for the crippling nausea that has ensued! I was fine throughout the treatment but on the way home it got worse and I've had waves that have had me over the toilet, sweating and gagging (but no actual vomit yet!). I have taken emexlon which seems to work for about 5 minutes and then the relief wears off. If it continues I will of course bring it up with my team but in the meantime, does anybody have any home remedies that have helped keep the nausea at bay? Stay strong team! XPost Chemo Life
This is my first week clear of the three week chemo cycle. I am officially finished. Next up for me is a bi-lateral mastectomy and reconstruction in three weeks Everyday this week I have felt my anxiety increasing. I can't identify any specific reason. It's really interfering in my day to day life, sucking out the enjoyment of activities that have previously been pleasurable. It's colouring every waking minute. I don't sleep well at all. It's over four months since I had a decent night's sleep. I'm almost looking forward to the 8 - 10 hours on the operating table because I'll be 'asleep' for more than 3 - 4 hours straight. My eyes have been twitching for weeks and weeks. I've just noticed tonight that three more fingernails have started to discolour. My nails and fingertips are so sore, doing basic household chores hurt. I have to wear gloves to do a lot of them. Folding laundry is like rubbing my hands on sandpaper. Some of my fingertips are starting to feel a bit numb. Several of my toes are turning dark brown and are sore as well. The chemo induced menopause is awful. My skin is terribly dry. Over the last few days my knees have started to ache when I move them after I've been still for a while. Is that menopause? Could the anxiety be menopause related? The f*****g hot flushes are making me miserable. Mostly I have them for 12 hours a day, from about 8pm to 8am, but today, all day as well. It's bloody distressing. And I hate the freezing chills that often follow. I am never a comfortable temperature anymore. I used to love going to bed. Now I enter my bedroom and look at my bed like it's a battlefield. And now that chemo is over, I've had to return to 'normal duties' and find my brain is comprehensively unable to process the multi-tentacled beast that is my seven person two dog household. I am making mistakes. This is basically a big whinge, sorry. I suppose I just have to pull up my big girl undies to the armpits and get on with it. I've treated my BC to give me the best chance of a long life, and these side effects are the price I have to pay. My oncologist is sympathetic but disinterested. Do I work with my GP to try to manage these issues? I am seeing a counsellor for the emotion stuff, I hope that starts helping soon. I'm interested to hear how other's immediate post chemo weeks were. Reassurance I suppose!
Pillow Talk
Having had my trusty Denton's Low Profile pillow for 7 years it is beginning to suffer the results of hot flushes etc and I am in a bad place with sleeping. I have had the same pillow since they came on the market about 18 (?) years ago and have had no complaints. Went to buy a new one but find they have changed the design of that particular pillow. I am mostly a side sleeper but know I do go to my tummy occasionally to relieve my arthritic hips and knees. Can anyone advise the pillow they find comfortable ? Thanks in advance. Summer :)
Premature menopause: Hot flushes and night sweats
Please share your tips, tricks, and most effective methods for managing persistent hot flushes and night sweats? I've taken to rinsing my (thankfully bald) head under cold water, fanning myself for a minute, and re-rinsing. While I have no problem rushing to the sink or shower while at home it unfortunately isn't something I can do on the go. The hot flushes are so overwhelming that I'm anxious about leaving the house in case one causes me to faint. The heat consumes from the thighs up, with focus in the head and chest. They are causing my vision to lapse, my head to spin, nausea, and not only a layer of sweat to coat me but also form beads that will drip from me. The night sweats are so intense they wake me and my routine has become a matter of sleep when I drop and hope I get a few hours in. I've read the Menopause and Breast Cancer BCNA information booklet and am following their tips for managing these things. It's been almost a month since they started and I have taken the tips; wearing loose clothing in layers, carrying a fan, sipping water, cutting out caffeine, and I exercise for as long as the aftermath of chemo pain and stiffness will allow. But nothing seems to be working to lessen the intensity. Any and all help is greatly appreciated.