Aromatase Inhibitors

I was diagnosed with breast cancer the day after Thanksgiving 2007.  Had a lumpecotomy in December, had drug interaction with the wonderful blue dye, breast had to be lanced and it took 5 months to heal enough so I could have radiation treatments.  In February my insurance got changed and I had to find a whole to medical group of doctors to help me deal with the ongoing issues.  I am doing fairly well now, but has anyone out there ever had problems taking the aromatase inhibitors?  They tried Femara first and after two months I could barely walk, my joints hurt all over and my hands were almost useless.   I was also taking 3600 mgs of motrin a day to try to control the pain, but it just made me feel worn out, doped up and I still hurt alot.  Next we tried Aromasin and that lasted about 3 weeks with the same issues showing up, not quite as severe, but was still in extreme pain, still tried the motrin with the same results.  So now we are down to Arimidex.  That lasted about 10 days with an increase in the pain and no relief in site.  The oncologist took me off all of them.  He wanted to try Tomoxafen but my family heart history ruled that out.  It has been almost a year since I started the Femara.  I have had to see a rhuemtologist, get cortizone shots in my hands, wrists, fingers and knees.  I can finally use my hands again and slowly gaining strength back in them.  I have to take paquinil to reduce my immune system and feldene for the pain.  The Rhuemtologist is talking possible surgery for my knees.  I had none of these issues before taking the inhibitors.  Has anyone else had this king of problem????

[japdip]

Usually with the side effects from these medications things return to normal when they are stopped. You were on them for a very short time to have caused such severe reactions. I'm not really aware of anyone else who has experienced what you describe. Has the Rheumatologist told you that your problems are actually a result of the drugs you mention ? Tamoxifen is used only for Premenopausal women as a rule.   Kindest regards ....