I have not tried either of those suggestions...for any length of time anyway. I did fail to take it one day and I didn't have a single hot flash that day.
I'll take a break from it for the week and see how that goes. Then I'll consult with my oncologist again next month.
Thanks so much for taking the time to answer.

What do you do if your oncologist never will not tell you what your chances are if you go off the meds. I am on my second oncologist who spends 6 minutes with me and tells me how well I am doing. I have been on three of the meds and have had all the different side effects depending on which one they are. I got rid of the joint pain, but gained the weight gain, depression, hair falling out and melt downs. I just sent my current oncologist a message, however there is no way I can make the decision on whether to stay on this med or not because he won't even tell me if he considers me at high risk or not if I go off. I had a lumpectomy 1 year ago, Onco score was 43. Chemo that nearly killed me. Radiation. Last diagnostic mammo was negative. I was originally stage 1A . No node involvement. MRI negative. Blood work says I have low WBC and platelets after 1 year. I guess thanks to the chemo. Tumor markers within normal range. Recent MRI of my lumbar spine doesn't see any tumors or fractures, however I have osteopenia and tons of bone spurs and narrowing causing horrible sciatica. I too have grandchildren I want to stay alive and active for. I exercise through all the pain. I am normally very stable in the head, however, this is beyond the point of exhaustion. Frankly, if I never see another physician again I am good with that. I can't eat a thing without gaining weight.

After I showed up in my oncologist's office and tried to tell him what the side effects of Anastrozole were, for me, he did not discuss any alternative,. He said, "Don't take it then," got up and walked out. What a guy!