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 eveye62's Cancer BlogJuly 28, 2008
Woke up this morning with the same swollen, tingling feeling in my hands. It seems like I’ll have to deal with side effects forever. Went to my plastic surgeon on Thursday and he can’t figure out why my chest wound won’t close. He won’t operate until it’s completly healed. I’ve had this hole in my chest since November of last year and when I finished my chemo treatments I was attached to a wound vac that has closed the hole except for a tiny tiny opening. My cute doctor sent a tissue sample to the lab to find out why it won’t heal. I’m going back this week to get the results and maybe then we will schedule the surgery for the tram flap. I’m feeling impatient, but the doctor told me it’s a big operation and he doesn’t want to start off with the posibility of infection. I agree, but I still can’t help feeling like I want to look somewhat normal again. My hair is starting to grow back and I have little stubs for eyelashes. When I look at my body I can’t believe I have so many scars. Battle scars. The tissue expander I have in my right breast is leaking and starting to deflate. My doc told me he will leave it in until the operation. No use creating another open wound. It just feels so foreign in my body, that’s why I’ve decided to go with the bilateral tram flap. Has anyone had a tram flap done? Are you happy with the results? What was your experience with the recovery? Meanwhile, I wait till thursday for the results and some answers from my doc. Evelyn 
July 11, 2008
I woke up today with tingling hands and swollen fingers. My fingers feel like sausages. In May I had a complete hysterectomy and my oncologist started me on Arimedex. I was told there would be some side effects such as joint pain, depression and hot flashes. I bought a hand held fan to deal with the hot flashes, which by the way appear at the weirdest times. I get weird looks when people see this bald, one breasted woman suddenly break out in a full sweat. This new side effect won’t go away with my trusty friend Percoset. I try shaking my hands and stretching my fingers by opening and closing my hands, but the relief doesn’t last long. Is anyone also taking Arimedex and having these side effects? Please let me know of any remedies that have worked for you. Thanks Evelyn, http://www.arthritis-treatment-and-relief.com/arimidex-joint-pain.html Evelyn, I also found the following report dealing with treatment options for joint pain due to the drug http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2140182 It is a medical article but with a little patience even us lay people can get the point. The most appropriate intervention for pain management in ai-associated arthralgia may be a combination of lifestyle changes, such as introducing weight-bearing exercise, abstaining from smoking, being moderate in alcohol consumption, and taking dietary calcium supplements and vitamin D for bone protection in conjunction with pharmacologic approaches. Figure 2 contains a proposed algorithm for the management of musculoskeletal symptoms in patients taking an ai 32. Best of look and again Welcome. Cheers, EyeCandy (paul) Evelyn, Sorry that should have read: I have to say I look a bit more comfortable bald than you do. but I have 10 years experience before cancer….... Evelyn, I just pulled this also the is the medication options to go alond with the lifestyle changes. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=2140182&rendertype=table&id=tIII-co14_s1p011 good night
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Posted on 
Posted on 
08.22.08 - 
Thanks for your support -
Hi, Evelyn: I don’t have any advice to help you, but I want to say thanks for mentioning the Arimedex side effects. I have been taking it for about three months and I have joint pain in my fingers——-I didn’t even recognize that it’s probably from the Arimedex until you mentioned it. I’m also having hot flashes and am a little depressed, but didn’t know depression was a side effect. I was diagnosed with invasive ductal carcinoma, like you. My hair started coming back in February VERY SLOWLY. Now it’s about an inch long and curly——-pretty strange looking. But, I was tired of the caps so I’m happy!
Sounds like you are having a rough go of it,but hang in there. I think some of the side effects of Arimedex are supposed to go away….