I’ve been taking arimidex for just over a year and apart from the usual, aches and pains in morning, I’ve done OK on it really but recently I’ve started having plummeting blood sugars, going all shaky, finding it hard to concentrate, mushy head, but the shakes are the worse… food takes ages to take it off. Don’t know whether to go back to docs as I just read on a website that tumours can cause low blood sugar and now I’ve gone and scared myself and am thinking the worse. all my blood tests in jan were fine but… doesn’t stop the mind going into overdrive. Does anyone think it can be arimidex and if so, why wait a year before this starts happening??
I’m sure users will be along to help you soon but in the meantime you may find it useful to email our nursing team. I have added the link below. breastcancercare.org.uk/digital/atn.php
Also our Helpline is available on 0808 800 6000 Mon-Fri 09.00 - 5.00 and Sat 09.00 - 2.00.
Both services are free of charge.
Thank you for the suggestion that speak to one of your nurses. A nurse telephoned me just now and took quite a disapproving tone that I was somehow self diagnosing, when I was merely using the term ‘low blood sugar’ phrase to describe how I was feeling when I was going all shaky. I didn’t find the call back remotely useful and in fact found it quite upsetting.
Interesting, as I had a similar experience months ago when I phoned to check up on a couple of phrases in my pathology report. The person to whom I spoke said that she had never heard of one of the phrases and it wasn’t a standard one, and didn’t answer my other queries saying that if it was important my surgeon would have discussed it with me! I thought she was extremely patronising, although I wasn’t upset and just wrote her off as one of those people who feel threatened by people who ask questions.
I was just being lazy in phoning really, so I then did my own research and not only found the “non-standard” term defined but also a photo! The rest I worked out as fortunately the medical profession like Greek and Latin phrases and I had a classical education! I then checked my thoughts with my bcn when I next saw her at our support group. She was much more supportive and completely understood why I would want to know.
I’m really sorry to hear that you didn’t have a good experience when you used our services. We will be looking into this further and it would help me to get some more details from you if you don’t mind. I’ve sent you both private messages.
I hope this won’t stop you or others from using the helpline and ATN in the future if you need any information or support.