A few questions

Re:Need some advice (smarti)

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 19:24:45 GMT

Okay quick question, I have gotten use to most of the se's of tamoxifen, except for the numbness and tingling in my left arm and left leg. Is this a normal se or.....feel like I'm constantly calling my onco with questions.

Re:Need some advice (SusieT)

Sat, 18 Feb 2012 10:45:59 GMT

Smarti - glad you are hanging in there and congrats on getting the energy back and getting ready for surgery!!!

Newport - :hugs: So sorry you are experiencing this. I take the generic Femara and have asthma and arthritis (not rheumatoid, osteoarthritis). So far I don't see a relationship with asthma and the Femara (Letrazole), but I have HUGE joint, bone, and muscle pain and sometimes move like a 80 year old woman. Movement gets better with exercise like walking and Tai Chi, but the pain worsens.

I haven't had blood work done. But I found that cutting out all wheat/grains/gluten and switching to lowcarb (SouthBeach - phase I) has really helped me with the inflammation I experience. It's not perfect, but I can sooo tell the difference. It has also helped my asthma too!

Hope this info helps! :gentle hugs:

Re:Need some advice (Jean Southward)

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:01:57 GMT

Personnally I would hang tough with the Arimidex. I too have a form of arthritis and initially I struggled with pain. Now that really doesn't seem to bother. What pain I have is typical to the arthritis and not any different than it ever was. I too find it hard to work thru the different doctors saying do this and do that but I found prioritizing my own concerns helped. For me top of the list is keeping the cancer beast at bay. I will stay on whatever meds for however long based on my onc's advise. Maybe if you made your own list of priorities that would help you? Good luck!

Re:Need some advice (Newport CB)

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 08:23:17 GMT

It is 6 months after surgery, 3 months since radiation ended and 2 months on Arimidex. Hot flashes are intense and frequent (can actually live with this), joint and bones hurt. I began getting a flare up of my rheumatoid arthritis mid-way through radiation. Fatigue and loss of ability to focus are concerns as well.
Does anyone have experience with RA/Asthma and Arimidex?
My oncologist feels strongly about Arimidex; Rheumatologist says RA blood work does not support stiffness and joint pain and suggest coming off Arimidex.
Which doctor/specialist should be in charge here? Who do I listen to? I'm finding myself slipping into depression and losing hope.....It seems from a medical team-standpoint, I'm on my own.
Any suggestions?

Re:A few questions (Jean Southward)

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 09:10:13 GMT

Smarti, wish you well. I just had to comment on your pup in the picture. What a cute dog!!

Re:A few questions (smarti)

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 20:33:00 GMT

EWright-what you wrote is truly inspirational. I read it my husband who said "you should print that out and post it to remember why". You expressed everything perfectly!!!!!!!

Re:A few questions (EWright)

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:55:14 GMT

Hello Smarti, I'm sorry you are having to deal with this disease and all that goes with it. I have been taking tamoxifen 11 months. I have had side effects, but the worst was nausea and hot flashes. It took a couple of months for my body to adjust and the nausea to stop. I don't get sick any more, but I still have frequent hot flashes and sometimes have stomach pain, cramps in my feet and legs, sore, stiff joints, swelling in my feet and lower legs, and headaches. These are not constant, just intermitten and aggravating. At first I thought I wouldn't be able to take the drug because of the nausea. I couldn't function, but it happened less and less and finally subsided. I fear the drug and it's possible side effects, but I fear cancer more. I think it's horrible women have to take a drug that may cause uterine cancer, glacoma, blood clots/strokes, and liver problems, along with the side effects we already mentioned above in the hope it keeps our breast cancer at bay. What a trade off. Surely researchers can create a safer drug for us to take. When I'm suffering a side effect I tell myself it's the drug working to block the cancer from returning. I try to make it a positive. I had trouble sleeping during and after chemo. It took me several months to get back to my normal sleep pattern. I couldn't get to sleep then when I did I would wake up after a couple of hours and not be able to get back to sleep. I blamed it on the chemo instead of the tamoxifen because it started before I began taking the tamox.The bottom line is, give the drug a chance. I think your body will adjust. You may still have some SEs, but they should be tolerable. The research supports taking Tamox to help deter BC recurrence, so I plan to stick it out unless I develop one of the critical SEs. Good luck to you. I hope the SEs get better for you so you can continue the drug.

Re:A few questions (Tricia Keegan)

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:09:02 GMT

You'll keep improving Sherry and sooner rather than later will be back to yourself:)

Re:A few questions (smarti)

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 14:24:09 GMT

yes ma'am it is just in time for the second part of the surgery! The se's are getting better, slight metal taste but every thing still taste like crap (good diet) and I find when I sit I get the tingles/numbness in the arms and legs, find it helps to move the toes ankles and fingers and wrist around. Had blood test for upcoming surgery low potassium AGAIN!! Wish I liked bananas!!

Re:A few questions (Tricia Keegan)

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 04:19:41 GMT

What a great feeling that is Smarti and it sounds like your stamina is recovering from chemo finally!!