Hey all ! Apologies it’s a long post & a moan but interested to see if anyone else has same & any other tips to combat etc …..
I’m 50 , My treatment (chemo & radio) finished in Apr 2020. (Left full mastectomy & lymph node clearance in 2019 - no reconstruction ) & after going on to Tamoxifen tablets for 1 year I swapped to Examastene due to joint pain . I have a long list of niggling after effects & wondered if anyone has had similar ? & how long it goes on for & will I ever get back to pre-diagnosis times ? I’d like to go back to work at some point but I’ve just had to give up what I do (dog day care/boarding) as I can’t cope with the walking or dogs jumping up due to bruising anymore
I had a bone density scan last year which came out as not osteoporosis as below T5 but to take Calci-D tablets.
However 3 years post treatment I am still suffering with , pins needles in toes, sore heels, sore balls of feet which used to feel like walking on a stony beach but has eased off so now feels sore like I’ve been on a hike in slippers, sore joints & general leg ache , I can’t stand for too long. I wear runners socks & arch fit trainers mostly . I had list of excercises from hospital last year for legs/feet but not helped much . Stiff swollen knuckles in morning & my fingers once straight now have a distinct curve to them. Getting up out of bed takes ages can hardly walk as legs so stiff , hot flushes overnight & insomnia , was prescribed Ameltryptolene to help sleep & neuropathy pain by GP but it made getting up worse & felt like functioning in a fog most of the day so stopped taking these. Even still now getting up in morning takes a while to function.
I have a Prostap injection every 3 months which makes me tired for a couple of days . (To clear remaining oestrogen)
I also get a weird tightening pain on my left side of lower neck to under my collar bone down to my scar I put on a suitable cream a.m pm to help skin & try to rid of the tight feeling.
Walking & shopping I’m slow due to aching feet /legs & can only manage 2 hours max so go out multiple times in week rather than 1 shopping day like I used to do etc. also means family days out need to be short lots of breaks etc. driving I’m ok as have auto car.
consultant has ok’d me to take Evening primrose, fish oil , turmeric & magnesium tablets. I’ve put on 1.5 stone through the treatment (I’m 11st now ) I had EC & Paclitaxel (& Tranzumelab ? sorry can’t remember spelling)
I’m fed up of aching , feeling tired , arm ache etc have to sleep with an extra pillow under left arm side - typing on keyboard & phones also causes stiff fingers :( - I try to keep active - walking my own dogs , house cleaning etc but tbh I’m fed up of this all now .
Anyone else have same or similar ? Can I expect all the above to go anytime soon or advice for any other remedies to help ??
Thanks all x
Hi TheDogMomma
Oh gosh, you really have gone through /still going through it haven't you? I'm sorry to read you are having such a hard time.
I'm also sorry that I can't offer any advice as I didn't have chemo nor any side effects (that were anything too much to worry about) to my Anastrozole tablets.
I'm answering as you post has slipped to the 2nd page and by answering it will 'bump' it back to the first page and hopefully someone else will be around now who can help.
In the meantime, I've always been an advocate of drinking fluids - I always have a pint of squash first thing in the morning as I do feel it 'flushes the system and I personally bought a rowing machine for home as it's supposed to be the all round good exercise for your body - however, as I say I didn't suffer any effects to treatment and it might be that you wouldn't be able to manage rowing.
I do hope someone can help you with some more useful advice.
Kindest wishes, Lesley
No probs thank you for answering & yes I’ve thought of a rowing machine as did used to like this in the gym back in the day - good for the arm area too ! 
It’s hubby’s task to find me one lol .
Hope you are doing ok now then - we all cope/manage with our treatments differently I suppose, great news you havnt had too much after issues.
Hi TheDogMomma
If it's any help to hubby, I got an Opti rowing machine from Argos and I've found it very good. It's similar to the Opti magnetic one on their website, but I got mine ages ago, so it's slightly different with the display area.
I'm post 5 years now and was very lucky not to have side effects with the tablets I do know, as many, many ladies do. Plus, not having chemotherapy probably made a huge difference to not suffering like you have done. I was 51 on diagnosis and wouldn't class myself as particularly fit (no gyms or particular exercise pre diagnosis) - especially as a long time smoker too, so I don't understand why some people are affected so much more by the tablets than others - seems very unfair, especially as you seem to have been pretty active.
I do hope things improve for you, I really do!
Kindest wishes, Lesley
