Whats it all about
Whats it all about No one ever died from thinning hair!! but I am getting really fed up now as I am losing my hair yet again as I am taking Letrozole/femara. This is a perculiar drug, I seem to be having many side effects.
Here is my list of side effects;-
Thinning greasy hair, sore dry vagina, no sex life, pain in my hands/feet. when I get up in the mornings it is like walking on blocks of wood. fingers that are swollen and ache and bend independently? creaking aching knees, stiff joints. feeling knackered. intense hot flushes. night/day sweats.
I am taking hoemopathic stuff to try to conteract all these things, but when will it ever end? after 2ops,chemo,rads.5 years tamoxifen, now 5 years of femara. 4 stone overweight, 2 dodgy looking boobs of different shapes/sizes, massive bra’s, bloated face. big double chin, 2 operations for carpal tunnel which I am convinced letrozole contributed to this. lymphodema in hand/arm, which is inconvenient when needing to wash hands use loo etc. stares from people who I am convinced think that I have a plastic hand/arm when wearing my glove/sleeve. (such an attractive fashion garment)
Oddly enough though, I really don’t care that much, sometimes I look in the mirror, and I don’t really know who I am any more, when I look at my old photos pre cancer days way back in 1999, I wonder what happened to that girl/me. I am not really depressed, just slightly puzzled as to where my life has gone?
Some people might think that I am “lucky” to be alive, I do on some days, others I don’t even think about cancer. I guess I am in a whimsical mood at the moment, and just wondering what my life would have been like if I had not had breast cancer. And so I shall continue to take my medicine, and any new drug that becomes available, in order to survive, its a basic instinct I suppose to stay alive.
Plus the fact that one of my friends has got herself 2 lovers and I am so jealous!! I couldn’t even manage one! the mind is willing but the body ain’t. Does anyone else share these thoughts?
Love Bunty x x
HI BUNTY,
DONT POST THAT MUCH ON HERE BUT I HAVE JUST READ YOUR POST AND IT REALLY SANK HOME I COULD HAVE NOT WROTE IT BETTER MYSELF , IT EVEN MADE ME CHUCKLE , I HAVE BEEN ON LETROZOLE FOR NEARLY TWO YEARS NOW AND YES I AGREE IT IS A STRANGE DRUG AND MY DESIRE FOR THE OPPOSITE SEX HAS DIMINISHED BIG TIME , REALLY WISH I COULD GET THE OLD ME BACK, DONT KNOW WHERE SHE HAS GONE ?
I HAVE NOT HAD THINNING HAIR, BUT MANY ACHES AND PAINS AND THE WEIRD FEET THAT WONT WALK SOME TIMES AND THE VAGINAL DRYNESS IS A NIGHT MARE , THAT NEVER SEEMED TO BE AS BAD WHEN ON THE TAMOXIFEN, BUT NOW ITS AWFUL
AND YES LIKE YOU I WILL KEEP TAKING THE PILLS AND ANYTHING ELSE THEY THROW AT ME TO SURVIVE,
LOVE LUCYX
I wonder about this too… Hello Bunty,
I just wanted to thank you for the post, I could have not put it better myself, I have all the symptoms and complaints.
I am not on the drugs but just feel the same, would love to have two lovers as your friend, but my body has so many problems and gone through so many changes, I’ll wait-I have not got the energy anyway.
Some people make me sick, we are lucky to be here, but what right do they have to comment.
My collegue has just written to me to say that I have been seen out. I was having coffee with a friend ,they wanted to know if my health has taken a turn for the better? Yeah treatment finished ALL better, stupid sod, do they have any idea what we go through!!!
I wish you well and hope you can cope with all the unpleasant effects of this horrid disease.
My best wishes to you and everyone
Rosiexx
Hi Hi Bunty,
I read your post and thought that could have been me. I was on Arimidex for about 2 months. The joint pain was horrendous and I was totally brain dead. My hubby wouldn’t let me drive because I couldn’t always remember what I should be doing.
I was taken off the Arimidex by my GP and by the time I saw the oncologist, I felt great. I have decided not to take any medication and to enjoy my life while I can.
I don’t think this is right for every one – but as I’m 58 and having fun again it’s right for me.
I know this can all change –though of course I don’t expect it to.
Best wishes Glo