Do you take anti-hormonals at night?

[sarah]

Hello,
My onc told me to take Femara at night so as to have less side effects or be less disturbed by them, so I did. I did have many of the side effects you mention plus the most worrying for me was bone loss. I was then given Clastoban which improved my bone density.
Personally I was so scared having invasive cancer that I immediately bought several plastic bottles with the days on them so as to be sure I didn't become confused and I certainly didn't want to miss taking any.
It does seem weird that we all take the same pill regardless of what size we are.
I found the hot flashes easier to deal with at night and the hand and foot pain also. The lack of estrogen is a big thing and I know some people went on a mild anti-depressant to combat wild mood swings and some used various vaginal creams for dryness.
Cancer definitely isn't for sissies and I am in awe and inspired by so many of you in the wonderful attitude you maintain all through this struggle.
Again, I wish to express my gratitude for this wonderful site.
Health and Happiness
Sarah

[caya]

Hi Sarah,

I also take my Femara at night. I have been on Effexor 75 gm. for 3 years - I started it when on Tamoxifen and the hot flashes were awful - I mean drenching the sheets at night... Hot flashes down to basically a few/week once on the Effexor, it also helped my anxiety.

As for vaginal dryness, this has been a problem. I had constant UTIs - I was taking an antibiotic daily. I recently stopped this. I say a terrific uro-gyn. who recommended a vaginal probiotic called Probiostat - you use it for 10 days, then 2/week. I am just completing the 10 day course, and so far, so good. I also religiously use 100% virgin organic coconut oil, morning and night. This has also helped. Replens did not do it for me, actually caused more burning.

As for joint/muscular pain, my GP put me on Meloxicam, 7.5 gm. 1pill/day, an anti-inflammatory. This has also helped. Taking a warm bath with Epsom salts or Dead Sea salts a couple of times per week also helps.

Also all the supplements - calcium, Omega 3, curcumin, glucosamin chondroitin,Vitamin D3, Vitamin B 12 shot monthly. Probably a couple of others I can't remember, lol...

Yes, it's always something, ah cancer, the gift that keeps on giving....

all the best
caya

[sarah]

Hello Caya,
Thanks for all of these suggestions. I am now part of a cancer support group for English speakers here in the south of France so these suggestions will come in handy when peole have these problems. I just finished 6 years on Herceptin and will stop Femara soon and then in 3 months, Clastoban so soon I will be drug free and hopefully they've killed the bloody buggers!
yes, have to have a black comedy type of humor to take cancer!
Stay well and keep enjoying life.
Health and Happiness
Sarah

[hutchibk]

I take my Tamoxifen at night. I also used to take my Aromasin at night as well.

I am lucky that I don't have much side effect from it... power surges are about non-existent, moods don't swing but I do have just a touch of extra impatience sometimes, no joint pains, and no extreme probs w/ vaginal dryness. About every 18 mo. I do get a UTI, but it is easily fixed w/ short term anti-biotic.

I haven't tried any of these fixes yet, so I can't recommend any of them, but here is a blog on the subject by a different Brenda, another b/c survivor who I know. It looks to have a lot of good info in it.

http://www.breastcancersisterhood.co...Breast_Cancer/

[Rich66]

Mom started Boswellia (6 GNC tabs /day) in November and immediately felt joint relief...wasn't the purpose, but a welcomed side effect.

[tricia keegan]

I've always taken my arimidex at lunchtime, I began so I'd remember to take it and the habit stuck!
Thankfully other than some joint stiffness I don't have any unmangable side effects and hope to continue on it after my five years are completed.
However, I do find it's become easier to tolerate the longer I've been on it, either that or I've just become used to it and don't remember normal anymore!

[flynny]

I take my tamoxifen at night. I haven't had many SE's since November/December (when my period returned). It concerns me a bit, but I am meeting with my onc this Monday, July 12th to bring up my concerns. My right knee is a bit bothersome, but nothing I can't handle. Sex drive... in the gutter!

[Rich66]

From a vitamin D thread:

Cancer Nurs. 2009 Mar-Apr;32(2):143-50.
Vitamin D insufficiency and musculoskeletal symptoms in breast cancer survivors on aromatase inhibitor therapy.

Waltman NL, Ott CD, Twiss JJ, Gross GJ, Lindsey AM.
College of Nursing, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Lincoln, NE, USA.
Breast cancer survivors (BCSs) on aromatase inhibitor (AI) therapy often experience musculoskeletal symptoms (joint pain and stiffness, bone and muscle pain, and muscle weakness), and these musculoskeletal symptoms may be related to low serum levels of vitamin D. The primary purpose of this pilot exploratory study was to determine whether serum levels of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) concentration were below normal (<30 ng/mL) in 29 BCSs on AI therapy and if musculoskeletal symptoms were related to these low vitamin D levels. The mean (SD) serum 25(OH)D level was 25.62 (4.93) ng/mL; 86% (n = 25) had levels below 30 ng/mL. Patients reported muscle pain in the neck and back, and there was a significant inverse correlation between pain intensity and serum 25(OH)D levels (r = -0.422; P < .05 [2 tailed]). This sample of BCSs taking AIs had below normal levels of serum 25(OH)D despite vitamin D supplements. This is one of the few studies to document a significant relationship between vitamin D levels and muscle pain in BCSs on AI therapy. Findings from this pilot study can be used to inform future studies examining musculoskeletal symptoms in BCSs on AI therapy and relationships with low serum levels of vitamin D.

PMID: 19125120 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

[karen z]

Hi. I take my Femara at night.
I, too, worry about missing pills of various types so have developed a system of moving each bottle of pills "forward" (whether on the counter or now in a nice large space in a kitchen cabinet) once I have taken. By the end of the day all of my pill bottles have been moved forward. The next day I push them all back and start over. Maybe a bit strange but it works well for me.

I have a different question concerning anti-hormonals. I have been taking Arimidex for about 4 1/2 yrs now (following lumpectomy, chemo and rads). I am scheduled for surgery in about a week (hysterectomy) and am wondering if I should stop taking the Arimidex until after the surgery. My gyn said she isn't too familiar with Arimidex but thinks I should continue to take it. I think I'll ask my onc about it Monday but since it's on my mind right now I thought I'd see if anyone here has had any experience with this.

thank you,
Debbie

[Rich66]

My mom was on Arimidex during parathyroid surgery without incident. But might want to look into potential thrombo/clotting issues.
Will you be having general anesthesia?

Yes. It will be general anesthesia. Good to know your mom did okay while on it. I will ask my onc for his opinion tomorrow. I'm not too sure anyone knows a whole lot about Arimidex yet...don't think it's been around long enough. For example, I've had higher than normal liver enzymes for the last year or so. CT scans and bloodwork were neg. I've noticed one or two others on this forum have had high liver enzymes and don't know why either. I wonder if the aromotase inhibitors could be the culprit.
Thank you for responding.
Debbie

[Rich66]

Please have your doc or anesthesiologist consider this:
http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=42074

If they won't do a spinal, ask if you can have some Relistor before and after the surgery.