[swimangel72]

Thank you all for your comments - I find this thread very interesting, especially since after two and a half years on Arimidex the SEs have forced me to ask my onc to let me stop. He said I could have a "vacation" - but he's ordering a PET scan for me (my first one) which will help him decide how to move forward. Today is my second day without Arimidex - and although my bones still hurt, I do feel more energetic and less hungy, yay! I'm hoping my PET scan is totally clear so I can convince my onc to let me have a permanent vacation from Arimidex. For me, the SEs have been cumulative - the first 6 months to a year I didn't notice much of anything - but after 18 months, I really started experiencing problems (achy joints - bad hip - muscle weakness - lack of energy - total lack of libido) I was one who sailed through menopause (early - age 50) - so all these new SEs make me feel as old as my 85 year old mother! I told my onc there's no way I can continue like this for another 2.5 years - he's a sensitive person and good communicator, so I appreciate this vacation.

Edited to add: Hi Jean - we posted at the same time! I agree that swimming really is helpful - but these days, I told my onc it's not helping me anymore. My muscles and joints hurt in the pool and after I swim - nowadays I have a new pain in my chest close to my collar bone. I'm hoping it's due to Arimidex affecting an area I use alot in the pool. I have been trying to increase my speed and distance, but still poop-out after half-a-mile - in my old pre-BC days, I could swim a mile in 42 minutes, now I can only do half that.