Thanks for the advice @Jess_1 I’ve had trouble on different brand with Letrozole, so I will be keeping an eye on these.
What time of day do you take yours? It says to take with or after food so I’m taking after my evening meal. But I’ve found I’m getting very sleepy around 9pm. Could it be the drugs?
I take mine in the evening too, with dinner so about 6-7pm. I find I am tired by 9pm but I’m also on Ribociclib, so assumed that was causing most of the tiredness! I don’t mind going to bed early to be honest 
x
Thanks. I know what you mean about going to bed early. I need all the sleep I can get as I still get quite fatigued and hot flushes a couple of times a night.
@naughty_boob good to hear you are doing better. I am doing very well thank you.
At least I don’t have to take ongoing medication like you and @Jess_1 - I am glad your annual test was positive. I know what you mean about ‘bringing it all back’.
Going back to the same department and waiting for results is likely to do this.
How come you had a breast MRI? Did you pay for it?
I only had mammogram and then they called me back for a US scan to check everything was ok.
Anyway stay well both and everyone else that reads this.
Hopefully we can keep ourselves well and out of trouble 
Hey @Dhillman , I don’t pay for the breast MRI but the only reason I have it each year (for 5 years) is because I was diagnosed before 40 and have very dense breasts, so the mammogram can’t show them much! Hope you are well x
Hello @Jess_1 @Dhillman and @naughty_boob. It’s great to hear from all. It has been a while…I started Letrozole 2 months ago and I’m now getting sore muscles and joint pain. I hope it wont get worse. I had a recurrence on the same breast in June 2024 so I had to restart all the process which I just finished 
So pleased your treatment has finished. I had been on Letrozole for a year but was told to continue for at least 3 months after Herceptin finished to decide if the side effects were Letrozole or just older age aches /menopausal. I have just finished a 6 week break and the side effects definitely lessened. I had been taking 4 different medications to offset the side effects of it. I have now been on Exmestane for 2 weeks and it’s not too bad compared to Letrozole. I’m sleeping better, aches and pains are less, brain fog much better and I’ve been on vaginal oestrogen since last June. Very low dose prescribed by a menopause specialist in consultation with my team.
There are many threads on Letrozole which suggest some brands are better than others and taking at different times of the day. I had 3 different brands and Accord was the best a worst bunch and changed times from bedtime to an hour earlier each day to dinner time and then lunch time. No change in hot flushes or aches and pains at night so my sleep was quite disrupted, which is why I started taking earlier in the day.
I will keep my fingers crossed that your side effects with subside or are manageable. 
Take care
Thank you for the tips. I’ve tried Sun and Accord. I don’t need painkillers but I feel like I’m 80 until I start walking, then it starts to get better
Yes I have found movement and exercise helps. I always need to stretch before getting out of bed but I still hobble a bit. And I also feel like I’m 80.
I’ve read so many posts where Breast Care nurses have told people that the reduction in oestrogen with AI’s can make you feel like an 80/90 year old but you have to get on with life, work, kids etc.
I am enjoying my post redundancy time and doing what is right for me every day. I would really struggle to get up for work on a day to day basis but I’ll get there eventually.
Hello - how are you all doing? I’m just coming up to my 2nd annual mammogram. Time passes. Still some side effects linger but I’m off all meds. They did find two fractures in my back - thin bones so now have to start bone strengthening infusions every six months.
Hugs to you all and hope you’re doing ok in this weird world xxxx
So nothing nasty in your back? I remember you commented on another thread.
The bone strengthening, is that Zoledronic acid/Zometa? I have them 6 monthly infusions for 3 years, I’ve just had my 3rd, so I’m halfway. I have flu like symptom several days, rest and paracetamol and then feel back to ‘normal’. Hope it’s ok for you.
Let us know how your mammogram goes.
Turned out not to be breast cancer!!
Feeling good and hopefully mammogram goes well. It will be my second since the op so fingers crossed.
How are you doing ? Xxx
Hey Rachel, lovely to hear from you and so glad to hear that good news aswell. Healing doesn’t feel very linear for me at the moment, lots of ups and downs, but I’m still on quite a few meds and just trying to be patient and kind with myself. Just a note about the bone infusions, I found the first one I felt a headache/slightly flu-ey for a couple of days afterwards but the second and third ones I felt completely normal. Sending a big hug x
Hi Jess - so good to hear from you. So sorry its a bit mixed. It’s alot to heal physically and mentally. Sometimes we don’t want to be told how strong we are - which we are - but we want it to stop.
Deep breaths and nature are my tricks to stay strong. I put my hand on the bark of an old tree - and I was never the tree hugging type!!!
You’ll get through it in your way.
I’ve been warned about first infusion - yikes. Hopefully mild and quick! At least its better for others. I’ve got osteoporosis so have to see someone about that.
On we go. Big hug and lovely we are all still checking in.
Xxx
I’m so pleased it wasn’t breast cancer, what a relief.
I have aches and pains and wonder when I should ask to have a scan just to check, or do I just assume it’s getting older. I probably had something there before all the treatments and it’s just highlighted it more.
I’m doing ok, each day feels better than before. I think I’m definitely more sensitive to people’s behaviour and comments now and just don’t want negativity in my life.
@Jess_1 sorry to hear you are having ups and downs. Being younger must be hard to have to adapt to life after cancer, it’s not easy at any age. My children are 27 and 30 and can’t imagine what it would be like for them. I’m sure your peers don’t ‘get’ your situation. I have spoken to a few young women at Penny Brohn Wellbeing days and they have said that their friends just don’t get it. Especially those that have moved on to have children etc. Are you part of the BCN Younger Women Together section?
As @rachel60 says it’s so nice that some of us are still keeping in touch, my actual chemo group was September 2023 and no one comments anymore😌 Please keep in touch and share when you feel you need support.
Hello All,
Hope you all had a good Easter?
@naughty_boob @Jess_1 yes I agree that’s it’s great we are still in touch. As long as someone writes, I will continue to respond
@naughty_boob good to hear about your updates but the not so great side effects from ongoing treatment. I will suggest get checked with symptoms if you have any concerns. Yes exercise movement is great - I am keeping up with mine. Glad you are enjoying post redundancy. I feel like retiring but what will I do.
I also feel like an 80 year old some days and not sure whether is age, gym or menopause!
I also feel you about not wanting negativity in life. Cancer is definitely a leveller and we need to stop sapping our energy with things and people that do not have our best interest at heart. I have retired from ‘chasing people/friends’ that can’t make a decision to meet up/catch up although they keep saying they want to.
@Jess_1 I get it about the MRI now. I am doing well, thanks.
@Guida I don’t think I knew about your recurrence, sorry to hear that and the need to repeat treatment - glad it’s over.
How did you cope with a recurrence?
@rachel60 sorry about the mini fractures and the need for Zometa - but glad nothing sinister! Fingers crossed 
for your mammo x
Well I am doing well - working, exercising, trying to live life the best I can. I do feel the disease and experience has made me feel vulnerable and aged me. Some health confidence has been lost sadly. I also fear planning too far into the future.
I just finished the moving forward course and met some nice people. I also still attend my hospital support group once a month. Mostly I hope to help others who are early on their journey.
I have been listening to Zoe podcast, cancer and menopause podcast and Liz o’riordan podcast. There has been some interesting episodes on diet, exercise and myth busting on all of them recently so I have been listening and taking note.
Let’s face it we are never going to get straight forward advice from our treating practitioners about prevention, management or if we do, they are outdated do these podcasts, opens up the world of information for us.
Take care all and happy weekend, spring etc
And keep well xx
Hello! Pleased you are doing ok. Finding good podcasts is great as there is so much weird stuff put there too!
@Guida I didn’t see your reoccurrence. Not the news I wanted to read about any of us. Hope you are doing ok. Thinking of you and sounds like you are through the treatment now.
It changes so much of our lives yet so much seems familiar but not the same. Not sure that makes sense
Take care everyone! Xxx