Oestrogen blocker

I was like that, my GP Prescribed Melatonin. It's bad enough at this age but sleep deprivation is a nightmare. I'll write more tomorrow, try not to use the phone at this time. X

Me me me 

Me   !! Giving myself a break off letrozole for a few weeks   My doctor won’t give sleeping tablets said they are addictive !!  I take thyroid medication aspirin beta blockers etc for heart condition   And all I want is a good nights sleep.  My joints ache my feet hurt I’m so bloody sick of it all. I am 64   Been on letrozole just over two years I have tried Anastrozole and tamoxifen. I was worse    Doctors really don’t understand how we feel xx 

Hi NanaB  I know how you feel, I’m on tamoxifen & my sleep was awful initially, like you only sleeping a few hours at a time. I spoke to my oncologist and she sent me a link to a sleep app that’s free for MacMillan patients and it’s really helped me I now sleep a good 7 hours a night, only waking a couple of times but going back to sleep quite quickly. Might be worth speaking to your BCN. It’s called Sleepio

I hope you get some sleep soon! 

My GP has given me Zolpidem, which are addictive but I only take them when necessary up to three time each week. The Government have agreed to GPS prescribing Melatonin for the over 55s. I have been an insomniac for many years even before this. I purchased some from Amazon then the Go prescribed them. 

Things set me off that are upsetting, for me my son having a seizure. I have felt rubbish energy wise and mood wise at times, due to these tabs. Switched from Letrozole to Tamoxifen. There was a study done about taking a lower dose, if I continue to feel crap I'm going to ask them about it. Woolly head, memory not as good, mega hot flushes, joints flare up more . I looked into changing again recently but due to osteoporosis it's not a good idea. 

I️m on statins and Bisphosphonates as well, I think the worry of having this diagnosis in itself adds to anxiety. I hope you manage to get something sorted, not easy to get an appt if you work full time. I think you are entitled to go to medical appts by law though? Keep phoning and asking BC nurse or Gp. I think it's appalling they just say it's addictive and offer nothing. Xx

Hi NanaB , I’m on Anastrozole and would love to be positive about it…. I will say that I’m grateful to be on a drug that is hopefully keeping the beast at bay, I’m just coming up to 5 years on it and so far so good in as much as no evidence of disease. But side effects wise….. I never managed to get back to work full time. Tried a phased return and was supported well by my school but could never face working consecutive days. Too exhausted/ anxious/ stressed, which I blame on that little tablet, as I’d never felt like that before. In the end I retired earlier than planned, at 61, as ultimately I just couldn’t cope with work at all. It was a horrible long drawn out process but the right decision. And I was lucky that it was possible. Being retired, I can take my time when feeling bleh, focus on myself, get out walking as that’s become my sanity saver, develop new hobbies (mainly exercise related, which help with the aches and pains) at my own pace. And if necessary, just do nothing! The relief when I finally knew I wouldn’t be going back to work, though mixed with feelings of guilt and loss, was immense. Sorry if this is not very helpful as I assume that retirement is not possible for you atm. It really felt like the only option for me in the end. 
Love and hugs, HFxx

Gosh. Diagnosed yesterday, taking my first letrozole today. I already suffer from sleep deprivation  and exhaustion due to digestive pain/reflux issues and a very long work commute. My memory is poor since menopause and I've lost 3/4 of my hair thickness due to androgenic and sebhorric dermatitis hair loss, which also keep me awake due to itching.  I've had a dvt in my leg, the damage from which causes me  leg pain if not careful, and my joints are periodicalky painful and stiff, especially  my feet which seem to collapse. I'm dreading the letrozole side effects, reading this forum  I don't think it's yet sunk in that life will never be the same again, I may never feel well again, and I may have to give up work. All the consultant advised is I may get another mini menopause. 

Ah please don’t take it as read that you’ll feel rotten on letrozole. For all of us who get side effects, there are likely to be many more who don’t. Those that don’t are obviously much less likely to share that experience because it’s not an issue! So I’d hate for you to assume that it will be difficult. Just as our responses to and experiences of cancer are all different, so are our responses and experiences of treatments different. There are people here who have worked through chemo, radiotherapy and then on hormone blockers for up to 10 years without major problems. So try to approach your letrozole with an open mind and see how it goes. Love and hugs, HFxx 

Every decision is hard, I retired at 60 because my Mother was becoming as liability. Glad I did, I only had 2 more years with her. 

All hormone blockers are probably the same in some ways, stealing energy and mood plus other things. I think I better stay on Tamoxifen. I might ask about reducing the dose in Feb. I saw a study of some such thing. If the cancer came back because of it I would be gutted having avoided chemo so far. Onwards and flatwards as someone else says. 

Hi Oestrogen blocker

Welcome to the forum and I am sorry to hear that you were diagnosed with breast cancer.  Like HappyFeet I'm on Anastrozole which I started three weeks ago and so far I haven't had any problems with it.

Wishing you the best of luck with it.

Best wishes

Daisy53