Weight Gain On Arimidex

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Pixie Dust
Pixie Dust Member Posts: 424 Member
in Breast Cancer #1

I am starting arimidex in a few days. I have heard alot of women gaining alot of weight. I am already overweight and cannot stand the thought of gaining more. Does Arimidex make you have an appetite where you stay hungry and want to eat all the time or does it just make you gain weight automaticly, (spelled wrong). I would appreciate all the responses I can get. Thank You !!!!!

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  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #2
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    Not for me.  I gained weight

    Not for me.  I gained weight on tamoxifen but none at all on arimidex.  My sisters were also on drugs in the same family (one on aromasin and one on femara) and they did not gain weight.  In fact, although I know any med can make some gain weight, I have not heard many complain about that.  My younger sister has lost quite a bit of weight, but she also began exercising with her son.

    I will say that the med can make you tired so I switched from taking it in the morning to taking it at bedtime and that really helped me. 

    Also, it really can increase joint pain which could make you not want to exercise as much and increase weight.

    However, the very best defense against the joint pain is staying active.  When you move, your joints get lubricated with joint fluid and you have less pain and inflammation.  A simple walk around the block can really help with this.  Also,  have your primary check your vitamin d level as low levels may make the pain worse.

    Keep your eye on the main goal: beating cancer.  Help this goal by becoming gradually more active and you may lose some weight and you will definitely feel better.  Good luck and good health!

  • Pixie Dust
    Pixie Dust Member Posts: 424 Member
    #3
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    CypressCynthia said:

    Not for me.  I gained weight

    Not for me.  I gained weight on tamoxifen but none at all on arimidex.  My sisters were also on drugs in the same family (one on aromasin and one on femara) and they did not gain weight.  In fact, although I know any med can make some gain weight, I have not heard many complain about that.  My younger sister has lost quite a bit of weight, but she also began exercising with her son.

    I will say that the med can make you tired so I switched from taking it in the morning to taking it at bedtime and that really helped me. 

    Also, it really can increase joint pain which could make you not want to exercise as much and increase weight.

    However, the very best defense against the joint pain is staying active.  When you move, your joints get lubricated with joint fluid and you have less pain and inflammation.  A simple walk around the block can really help with this.  Also,  have your primary check your vitamin d level as low levels may make the pain worse.

    Keep your eye on the main goal: beating cancer.  Help this goal by becoming gradually more active and you may lose some weight and you will definitely feel better.  Good luck and good health!

    Thank You

    Thank you very much for responding. I am new at this website and just now learning to tackle the process of do's and dont's. I regestered for this website in February and just got  back on here last night and tried to figure what to do. I had forgot my password and even had to change it. When I finally got on here I did a lot of reading different post and learned alot about  different people and the inspirition I got from everyone is unbelieveable. It amazes me with all the encouragent and ideas that you give everyone. I hope that your cancer is being kicked in the butt and that we can become friends together doing so.

  • SIROD
    SIROD Member Posts: 2,194 Member
    #4
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    Weight Gain

    I gained weight on Tamoxifen but did not gain weight on Arimidex.  I also walked 2 miles daily at that time.

    Best of luck,

    Doris

  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #5
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    Pixie Dust said:

    Thank You

    Thank you very much for responding. I am new at this website and just now learning to tackle the process of do's and dont's. I regestered for this website in February and just got  back on here last night and tried to figure what to do. I had forgot my password and even had to change it. When I finally got on here I did a lot of reading different post and learned alot about  different people and the inspirition I got from everyone is unbelieveable. It amazes me with all the encouragent and ideas that you give everyone. I hope that your cancer is being kicked in the butt and that we can become friends together doing so.

    Weight gain/loss/age and Arimidex

     I hope this is some encouragement.  I just turned 67.  When I finished chemo, I had lost weight (about 25 lbs.) and told myself I would not gain it back.   I too worried about Arimidex and I took it for 2 years before switching to Tamoxifen.  I gained most of my weight back within 3 years.  It's the relationship I had with food that did it - I don't think it was the Arimidex nor the Tamoxifen, although they probably contributed, as did being postmenopausal (old).  I love to eat!  Since treatment I did exercise, just inconsistently - maybe 3 days a week one week, skip a week, 2 days a week, an occasional 4-day week, 30 minutes here and there, etc.   Considered myself an exerciser, but I really wasn't .  Nov. 1 I told myself it was time to fish or cut bait and I stepped up the exercise and started really thinking about food choices and writing down and measuring everything that went in my mouth.  Since Nov. 1 I have been to the gym 5 days a week, missing only an occasional day here and there (maybe a total of 5).   I have been consistent.  I allow myself to fall off the wagon if I feel like it on the eating, but I have changed my eating habits consistently and I maintain the exercise routine 5 days a week.  It has been a slow and painful process.  In fact, I have been convinced on several occasions that there must be something wrong with me because I used to be able to lose weight at the drop of a hat and this has been soooo slow given the amount of exercise and food I'm consuming.   I am actually running (on the treadmill and in spurts), and eating the most nutritious, delicious foods and feeling like a million bucks.   It has been particularly hard for me, because my husband adamantly refuses to eat just about anything healthy, so there are chips, cookies and other goodies in the house.   I'll cook what I want to eat and he's welcome to eat it, but he'd rather have what he likes, so he cooks for himself (and continues to gain weight).   I know that doesn't work for everyone (the husband thing), but it does here.  If he wants to eat fried foods on a regular basis, he's on his own.  I'm not cooking it and I'm not eating it.  I don't know what changed in my little brain, but something did and I've stuck to it and have lost 28 lbs. in the past 7 1/2 months.  That averages a little less than a pound a week.  I want to lose 12 more and I know it will happen - as long as I keep doing what I'm doing.  It might take me 4 more months to lose those 12 lbs., but I feel wonderful and can do things I couldn't do before - like I can sit down in the middle of the floor and get up without needing leverage.  I don't feel like an old woman any more.  This choice has been the best thing I've ever done for me. 

    The cancer connection is that I had 2 primary cancers (breast and endometrial) that were estrogen related. My blood pressure was sort of creeping up and my pcp was frowning at me and threating more meds.  I also developed osteoporosis.   Being hypertensive and being overweight are known risk factors and they are both things I can try to control.  The last time I took my blood pressure, it was 117/70.   I don't ever want to develop another cancer so, at least for now, I will do what I can to prevent that.  Enjoying what I'm doing is an added bonus. 

    Suzanne

  • Pixie Dust
    Pixie Dust Member Posts: 424 Member
    #6
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    Double Whammy said:

    Weight gain/loss/age and Arimidex

     I hope this is some encouragement.  I just turned 67.  When I finished chemo, I had lost weight (about 25 lbs.) and told myself I would not gain it back.   I too worried about Arimidex and I took it for 2 years before switching to Tamoxifen.  I gained most of my weight back within 3 years.  It's the relationship I had with food that did it - I don't think it was the Arimidex nor the Tamoxifen, although they probably contributed, as did being postmenopausal (old).  I love to eat!  Since treatment I did exercise, just inconsistently - maybe 3 days a week one week, skip a week, 2 days a week, an occasional 4-day week, 30 minutes here and there, etc.   Considered myself an exerciser, but I really wasn't .  Nov. 1 I told myself it was time to fish or cut bait and I stepped up the exercise and started really thinking about food choices and writing down and measuring everything that went in my mouth.  Since Nov. 1 I have been to the gym 5 days a week, missing only an occasional day here and there (maybe a total of 5).   I have been consistent.  I allow myself to fall off the wagon if I feel like it on the eating, but I have changed my eating habits consistently and I maintain the exercise routine 5 days a week.  It has been a slow and painful process.  In fact, I have been convinced on several occasions that there must be something wrong with me because I used to be able to lose weight at the drop of a hat and this has been soooo slow given the amount of exercise and food I'm consuming.   I am actually running (on the treadmill and in spurts), and eating the most nutritious, delicious foods and feeling like a million bucks.   It has been particularly hard for me, because my husband adamantly refuses to eat just about anything healthy, so there are chips, cookies and other goodies in the house.   I'll cook what I want to eat and he's welcome to eat it, but he'd rather have what he likes, so he cooks for himself (and continues to gain weight).   I know that doesn't work for everyone (the husband thing), but it does here.  If he wants to eat fried foods on a regular basis, he's on his own.  I'm not cooking it and I'm not eating it.  I don't know what changed in my little brain, but something did and I've stuck to it and have lost 28 lbs. in the past 7 1/2 months.  That averages a little less than a pound a week.  I want to lose 12 more and I know it will happen - as long as I keep doing what I'm doing.  It might take me 4 more months to lose those 12 lbs., but I feel wonderful and can do things I couldn't do before - like I can sit down in the middle of the floor and get up without needing leverage.  I don't feel like an old woman any more.  This choice has been the best thing I've ever done for me. 

    The cancer connection is that I had 2 primary cancers (breast and endometrial) that were estrogen related. My blood pressure was sort of creeping up and my pcp was frowning at me and threating more meds.  I also developed osteoporosis.   Being hypertensive and being overweight are known risk factors and they are both things I can try to control.  The last time I took my blood pressure, it was 117/70.   I don't ever want to develop another cancer so, at least for now, I will do what I can to prevent that.  Enjoying what I'm doing is an added bonus. 

    Suzanne

    Weight gain on Arimidex

    Suzanne, thank you so much for your response. I know I am going to have to change my eating habits because I am already obese. The only bad thing with me is I have had 2 rotatorcuff surgeries on my right shoulder, 1 on my left shoulder, 1 knee surgery, and a small surgery on my right angle. I started going to Curves a couple years ago and lasted for about 2 weeks and could not use the machines anymore because severe joint pain. I even started out slow knowing that this would happen. I have know idea how to work it out just by doing any kind of exercise. I would just to love to walk but my knee bothers be just walking. Any Suggestions? Well , I will start on my arimides in a few days and see what happens. I hope I do not blow up like a balloon.LOL. But I know I have to take this for BC. Thank you and hope you well in the days ahead.  Donna                                                                                                                                                                                                        

  • Pixie Dust
    Pixie Dust Member Posts: 424 Member
    #7
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    SIROD said:

    Weight Gain

    I gained weight on Tamoxifen but did not gain weight on Arimidex.  I also walked 2 miles daily at that time.

    Best of luck,

    Doris

    Weight Gain on Arimidex

    Doris. thanks for your reply. I hope I am like you and not gain weight like you did while taking Arimidex. I would love to walk but have a bad knee. Read above my reply to Suzanne and you will know my situation. Any advice you could give me would really help. Thank you and may you beat this cancer in the butt like we all want to do.    Donna

  • Pixie Dust
    Pixie Dust Member Posts: 424 Member
    #8
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    CypressCynthia said:

    Not for me.  I gained weight

    Not for me.  I gained weight on tamoxifen but none at all on arimidex.  My sisters were also on drugs in the same family (one on aromasin and one on femara) and they did not gain weight.  In fact, although I know any med can make some gain weight, I have not heard many complain about that.  My younger sister has lost quite a bit of weight, but she also began exercising with her son.

    I will say that the med can make you tired so I switched from taking it in the morning to taking it at bedtime and that really helped me. 

    Also, it really can increase joint pain which could make you not want to exercise as much and increase weight.

    However, the very best defense against the joint pain is staying active.  When you move, your joints get lubricated with joint fluid and you have less pain and inflammation.  A simple walk around the block can really help with this.  Also,  have your primary check your vitamin d level as low levels may make the pain worse.

    Keep your eye on the main goal: beating cancer.  Help this goal by becoming gradually more active and you may lose some weight and you will definitely feel better.  Good luck and good health!

    Weight gain on Arimidex

    Cynthia, I replied to your response but not knowing exactly what to do I did it wrong so you can go back and read it. I will know better the next time I hope. Still learning.   Donna

  • CypressCynthia
    CypressCynthia Member Posts: 4,014 Member
    #9
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    Pixie Dust said:

    Weight gain on Arimidex

    Cynthia, I replied to your response but not knowing exactly what to do I did it wrong so you can go back and read it. I will know better the next time I hope. Still learning.   Donna

    You did fine!  Welcome

    You did fine!  Welcome aboard!  My scans are negative (yay) but I am Stage 4, so I am on chemo indefinitely.  I am definitely kicking cancer's butt!!!  You kick some too!!!

  • Double Whammy
    Double Whammy Member Posts: 2,832 Member
    #10
    Options
    Pixie Dust said:

    Weight gain on Arimidex

    Suzanne, thank you so much for your response. I know I am going to have to change my eating habits because I am already obese. The only bad thing with me is I have had 2 rotatorcuff surgeries on my right shoulder, 1 on my left shoulder, 1 knee surgery, and a small surgery on my right angle. I started going to Curves a couple years ago and lasted for about 2 weeks and could not use the machines anymore because severe joint pain. I even started out slow knowing that this would happen. I have know idea how to work it out just by doing any kind of exercise. I would just to love to walk but my knee bothers be just walking. Any Suggestions? Well , I will start on my arimides in a few days and see what happens. I hope I do not blow up like a balloon.LOL. But I know I have to take this for BC. Thank you and hope you well in the days ahead.  Donna                                                                                                                                                                                                        

    Exercise

    I think you could use a stationary bike (or maybe eliptical) and there are yoga classes for people with arthritis.  Maybe your doc could refer you to physical therapy for a while or a trainer at a gym could work with you on what you can do and how to do it right to increase strength and avoid pain and injury.   Some physical therapy places will let you work out there for a monthly fee after they're finished with their sessions with you.

    Don't beat yourself up about your weight.  Also don't beat yourself up about things you "should" be doing.  It's not worth it. Live your life to the fullest - one day at a time.  Do what give you joy.  If that's a donut, go for it.  Let yourself recover from your treatments.   I wanted to share my experience as encouragement that it can be done, but for me to achieve results, it has definitely taken a lot of work.  Back in the day those 28 lbs. would have been gone in 3 months with little effort!  Actually, they would never have been there in the first place.  This is downright hard work (for me) but it can be done, Arimidex and all. 

    Hugs,

    Suzanne

  • lynn1950
    lynn1950 Member Posts: 2,570
    #11
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    Six years on Arimidex

    It will be seven years in October!  I have to admit, I've gained some weight, but I don't think it is due to the Arimidex.  I am now, like Suzanne, consciously and conscientiously losing it.  I think it is important to do all we can to fight the cancer and Arimidex seems to be a powerful weapon.  It does make me sleepy, so like CC, I take it at night.  I also now have osteoporosis, so I take calcium, vitamin D, and Boniva.  It's important to be aware of your bone density if you are taking an aromatase inhibitor like Arimidex.  Like the others, I experience some joint pain, but as long as I keep moving, it doesn't stop me from doing what I want.  

    You won't know until you try it how it will affect you!  So give it a try.  xoxoxo Lynn

     

  • Pixie Dust
    Pixie Dust Member Posts: 424 Member
    #12
    Options
    lynn1950 said:

    Six years on Arimidex

    It will be seven years in October!  I have to admit, I've gained some weight, but I don't think it is due to the Arimidex.  I am now, like Suzanne, consciously and conscientiously losing it.  I think it is important to do all we can to fight the cancer and Arimidex seems to be a powerful weapon.  It does make me sleepy, so like CC, I take it at night.  I also now have osteoporosis, so I take calcium, vitamin D, and Boniva.  It's important to be aware of your bone density if you are taking an aromatase inhibitor like Arimidex.  Like the others, I experience some joint pain, but as long as I keep moving, it doesn't stop me from doing what I want.  

    You won't know until you try it how it will affect you!  So give it a try.  xoxoxo Lynn

     

    Taking Arimidex

    lynn, Thank you so much for your response. Taking this med for almost 7 yrs. is incredible. Almost everyone that I have chatted with has had terrible

    SE with this. I am so happy for you. I know I will probably have the Joint and body pain with this because everybody does. I am going to write this down now what you are taking to help your bones and show it to my ONC, because he has not mentioned anything to me about this and I  have arthritis anyway. Hope everything is going well with you. Hugs, Donna

  • nhalfpap
    nhalfpap Member Posts: 1
    #13
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    Double Whammy said:

    Weight gain/loss/age and Arimidex

     I hope this is some encouragement.  I just turned 67.  When I finished chemo, I had lost weight (about 25 lbs.) and told myself I would not gain it back.   I too worried about Arimidex and I took it for 2 years before switching to Tamoxifen.  I gained most of my weight back within 3 years.  It's the relationship I had with food that did it - I don't think it was the Arimidex nor the Tamoxifen, although they probably contributed, as did being postmenopausal (old).  I love to eat!  Since treatment I did exercise, just inconsistently - maybe 3 days a week one week, skip a week, 2 days a week, an occasional 4-day week, 30 minutes here and there, etc.   Considered myself an exerciser, but I really wasn't .  Nov. 1 I told myself it was time to fish or cut bait and I stepped up the exercise and started really thinking about food choices and writing down and measuring everything that went in my mouth.  Since Nov. 1 I have been to the gym 5 days a week, missing only an occasional day here and there (maybe a total of 5).   I have been consistent.  I allow myself to fall off the wagon if I feel like it on the eating, but I have changed my eating habits consistently and I maintain the exercise routine 5 days a week.  It has been a slow and painful process.  In fact, I have been convinced on several occasions that there must be something wrong with me because I used to be able to lose weight at the drop of a hat and this has been soooo slow given the amount of exercise and food I'm consuming.   I am actually running (on the treadmill and in spurts), and eating the most nutritious, delicious foods and feeling like a million bucks.   It has been particularly hard for me, because my husband adamantly refuses to eat just about anything healthy, so there are chips, cookies and other goodies in the house.   I'll cook what I want to eat and he's welcome to eat it, but he'd rather have what he likes, so he cooks for himself (and continues to gain weight).   I know that doesn't work for everyone (the husband thing), but it does here.  If he wants to eat fried foods on a regular basis, he's on his own.  I'm not cooking it and I'm not eating it.  I don't know what changed in my little brain, but something did and I've stuck to it and have lost 28 lbs. in the past 7 1/2 months.  That averages a little less than a pound a week.  I want to lose 12 more and I know it will happen - as long as I keep doing what I'm doing.  It might take me 4 more months to lose those 12 lbs., but I feel wonderful and can do things I couldn't do before - like I can sit down in the middle of the floor and get up without needing leverage.  I don't feel like an old woman any more.  This choice has been the best thing I've ever done for me. 

    The cancer connection is that I had 2 primary cancers (breast and endometrial) that were estrogen related. My blood pressure was sort of creeping up and my pcp was frowning at me and threating more meds.  I also developed osteoporosis.   Being hypertensive and being overweight are known risk factors and they are both things I can try to control.  The last time I took my blood pressure, it was 117/70.   I don't ever want to develop another cancer so, at least for now, I will do what I can to prevent that.  Enjoying what I'm doing is an added bonus. 

    Suzanne

    Hi Suzanne~~~~you are an

    Hi Suzanne~~~~you are an inspriation!  I was dx with stage 2, multifocal DCIS, HER2+ and estrogen positive 6.5 cm mass

    in February.  I had two lumpectomies to get clear margin~~I have several multifocal tumors outside of the duct.  No lymph node 

    involvement.  I had 4 weeks of radiation.  I have been on Arimidex for 2 months.  Extremely moody with bone and joint pain. I have 

    hard time controlling my bladder, and memory is definitely been affected along with mild hot flashes.  I have gained 8 pounds.  I did find

    out the Armidex is only increasing my chances of survival by 4 precent.  I have researched on how important estrogen is for our brains also.

    I donot like the fact it can cause bone fractures along with blood clots.  Is it worth it do this to our bodies for a 4 percent increase~~~they like to tell you

    this doubles your survival but if you you push them on the stats its only from 2 to 4 percent!   I was wondering what your thoughts are on the hormone 

    therapy~~~~~

     

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