Initially started on Anastrazole. After about 8 months, the muscle and joint pain and leg cramps were taking its toll - not debilitating but constant, just moved around (today the left ankle tomorrow right hip and thigh). Electrolytes helped with the cramps. Oncologist took me off meds for a month and then started exemestane. Did fine till started 3rd month - then weight gain (10# in 1 week with no dietary or exercise changes), then fatigue set in. Initially not bad - might nod off after lunch or would have to take a nap a couple times a week. At visit 5 months in, he mentioned I “looked tired” and I told him I was - all the time. Asked if I was depressed (don’t really think so). 2 months later, he ran extra tests for fatigue and all was normal but this had progressed almost to an inability to function mid day, multiple “naps” (in quotes because don’t usually go to sleep, just lay there and try to relax - it’s more of a whole body fatigue if that makes sense). Now from 8 - 10 months in, I can’t sleep - lucky to get 3-4 hours a night which makes the fatigue even worse. I do have some muscle cramps but not excessive or severe. Having trouble getting exercise both because now have to talk myself into it and because I get tired and winded halfway through. So I think my side effects are - hot flashes/sweating, extreme fatigue, insomnia, hair loss and weight gain. I think it’s the exemestane but a) none of them do. They just keep pushing anti depressants and b) only thing left is letrazole and it may be worse. Or try Anastrazole again and live on pain meds but maybe without the other side effects.
Like several others here, I’ll continue because don’t feel I’m comfortable with stopping the meds and hope I survive the next 3 1/2 years.