What Is this pain

[Patb]

Hi all
I know I will get an answer here if there is one. I have been on Herceptin
since November and Arimidex since November. Some aches and stiffness but it seems to be getting worse about one week after Herceptin treatment. I tried to get out of bed about three am. in the morning to
go to the bathroom and could not move until I did all kinds of stretches
and excercises to loosen up. I don't want to stop either drug and hesitate to mention it to the Dr. but it is life changing in what I am able to do and can do. Anyone experience this or have any ideas. I do take
fish oil but really do not want to take pain pills. Thanks all for your input.
patb

[Becky]

Dear Pat

A change in AI might be in order (to Femara or Aromosin) but try Iceland Health Joint Relief. It is fish oil (DHA and EPA) but it also has Glucosamine, Chorondrolin and hyaluronic acid. I did not have the pain you had when on Herceptin/Arimidex but once the neuropathy from Taxol abated (just this past winter), I began to run again and THAT started some joint problems. I used to enjoy running so much and really liked restarting. A friend swore by this product (which is just omega 3s with common joint supplements). Since it has the omega 3s as well, I cut back on the amount I take that are just plain omega 3s. It takes a month to get results but I am pain free. The bottle says take 2 per day but I took 2 twice a day for the first week. Then I took 3 per day (2 at breakfast and 1 at dinner) for the second week. Then I took the 2 per day. I swear by it and (if not for the heat of summer) I could run forever. It is alittle costly but try it. You can only get it online at www.Icelandhealth.com (http://www.Icelandhealth.com)

If this or a similar product doesn't help, you might need to switch AIs which isn't a big deal. Stay on Herceptin though for your year unless your muga changes!!!

[Ginagce]

I had no problems with taxol treatment and pain but once I started the Arimidex, the pain started and continually got worse. No supplements I took seemed to help at all and did wind up on pain meds.

Finally after 20 months of constant, sometimes debilitating pain, I had to give up the arimidex and switch to tamoxifen. I'm much rather take the ai but the quality of life issue was too strong to ignore.

Good luck to you. The one thing I did find helped was exercise.

Ginagce

[Esther]

Pat, I had the same reaction to Arimidex. Celebrex helped, ask your onc for suggestions in coping with the pains.