Aromatase Inhibitors: Did you decide to go on them or not?

Posted by nanato6 @nanato6, Oct 12, 2018

Nanaloves: I’m about to start arimidex and just feel that the contraindications , bone issues etc. are overwhelming. I’m 70 years old, dodged a bullet I feel with zero stage DCIS but the follow up is pretty much no different then if it was more aggressive. I’ve just done 33 treatments of radiation and now they advise arimidex as a preventative. I’m not sure with the beginnings of arthritis and lower back. sensitivity already that I should take it. Anyone not take it and not have a recurrence within the 5 years.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Breast Cancer Support Group.

@jeaniebean

I always take it whenever my legs cramp, at night. There is a product called Calm that I love. There isnt any sleeping formula in it but I always fall asleep shortly after. I get a lot of cramping as I have phlebitis. It stops right away. Sometimes you just need more.

Jump to this post

What is in "Calm"? Maybe I should get a bottle of just magnesium.

REPLY
@sparklegram

What is in "Calm"? Maybe I should get a bottle of just magnesium.

Jump to this post

CALM comes in powder which you dissolve in water & drink, or gummies. I have tried both. The powder is 325 mg in 2 teaspoons. It's also a laxative (just FYI). I also bought the CALM for sleep (as insomnia is one bad side effect I have from Exemestane) and it has melatonin added as well as magnesium. 2 gummies of the Sleep formula is 50 mg magnesium, 3 mg melatonin and 50 mg of L-Theanine (an amino acid) that helps relax you. The Calm Sleep really helps me.

REPLY
@sparklegram

What is in "Calm"? Maybe I should get a bottle of just magnesium.

Jump to this post

I also take 2,000 units of D3 Oil daily - for my bones. And a 1 a Day for 50+ and it has 50 mg of magnesium, which it says is only 12% of daily recommendations. If you eat red meat - that also has a lot of magnesium.

REPLY
@sparklegram

What is in "Calm"? Maybe I should get a bottle of just magnesium.

Jump to this post

It's a powder you put in water! Good stuff

REPLY
@sparklegram

@jeaniebean, thank you for your reply. I do take a daily supplement of Calcium, Magnesium, Zinc, Vitamin D3. 5 MCG of D3, 333 mg of calcium, magnesium oxide 133mg, zinc 5 mg. Is that enough magnesium?

Jump to this post

@sparklegram
Like others, I get occasional leg/foot cramps at night as well and I take 100mg of magnesium and 250mg of calcium citrate-malate, both twice a day for it. It seems to help.

REPLY
@elizm

@sparklegram
Like others, I get occasional leg/foot cramps at night as well and I take 100mg of magnesium and 250mg of calcium citrate-malate, both twice a day for it. It seems to help.

Jump to this post

Eliz, do you take these daily or just when you are having problems with leg cramps?

REPLY
@kathyomaha55

CALM comes in powder which you dissolve in water & drink, or gummies. I have tried both. The powder is 325 mg in 2 teaspoons. It's also a laxative (just FYI). I also bought the CALM for sleep (as insomnia is one bad side effect I have from Exemestane) and it has melatonin added as well as magnesium. 2 gummies of the Sleep formula is 50 mg magnesium, 3 mg melatonin and 50 mg of L-Theanine (an amino acid) that helps relax you. The Calm Sleep really helps me.

Jump to this post

@kathyomaha55 The insomnia from Exemestane was relentless for me (plus swollen feet) so I gave up on it about a month or so ago, but its effect on my sleep is still evident. Only Valerian Root plus melatonin gives me a good night's sleep now. In a few weeks, I'll start Evista (its a SERM like tamoxifen) which also is known to give one insomnia. It'll be interesting to see what happens.... (ugh)

REPLY
@sparklegram

Eliz, do you take these daily or just when you are having problems with leg cramps?

Jump to this post

@spaklegram I take them daily. For me, that's the max. of magnesium which I can tolerate without a laxative effect. (You may want to ease into that amount and see how your body reacts?) My PCP suggested adding the calcium as it, too, helps with cramping.

REPLY
@elizm

@kathyomaha55 The insomnia from Exemestane was relentless for me (plus swollen feet) so I gave up on it about a month or so ago, but its effect on my sleep is still evident. Only Valerian Root plus melatonin gives me a good night's sleep now. In a few weeks, I'll start Evista (its a SERM like tamoxifen) which also is known to give one insomnia. It'll be interesting to see what happens.... (ugh)

Jump to this post

My oncologist suggested benadryl for the insomnia - but it makes me really groggy the next day. My regular doctor suggested CALM, after she initially discounted the Exemestane as causing the insomnia. It was relentless for me too. The Calm for sleep really does the trick for me & I take it every night. Wishing you all the best.

REPLY

I’ve been taking Exemestane for a little over a year now, and it seems better for me than Anastrozole. I also take a magnesium supplement called “Magtein” for brain focus and leg/foot cramps. It seems to really help me. I get the Magtein online from Amazon, as that has been the easiest method to just have it delivered via UPS during this Covid quarantine.

REPLY
Please sign in or register to post a reply.