I started a new dosage schedule of Ibrance 100mg last week- 7 days on, 7 days off. Day 5 was horrendous with aching all over and just wanting to curl up, pain in my ribs and chest - day 6 was bad but not as bad and day 7 was bad. Then the aching ibun my joints, especially my lower back, hips, legs, ankles woke me up around midnight and has kept me up each night, gradually getting worse. What do you all do to relieve it? I can't take pain meds, they cause all kinds of gastro issues that take weeks to heal. I've tried a hot bath, BC powders help take the edge off for a few hours, I drink a "tea" made with ginger, turmeric, cinnamon and honey, CBD pills help but again, gastro issues. Just exhausted from sitting up all night, every night! I also have RA and wondering if it's the Exemestane. 25 mg. triggering this in combination with the Ibrance.
Aching so bad I can't sleep - SHARE Metastatic ...
Aching so bad I can't sleep
There are pain meds that come in a patch so that would bypass your tummy. I take Vimovo which has a built in stomach pill and hydromorphone for my bone Mets. Ask your doc about a patch. There are also prescription lotions but that would be difficult when it is your whole body. I’m so sorry you are in pain. You shouldn’t be suffering. Call your doctor.
Hi,
The pain you are experiencing sounds very extreme. You need to be able to sleep and function properly, so please do not hesitate to contact your doctor. You need immediate relief from the terrible pain you have described. There must be something they can prescribe that will not aggravate your stomach. How about asking if there is a topical drug or cream that might work for you?
Take care,
Sophie
Could be your RA Meds. It seems most women on here don't have that pain from the Ibrance/Letrozole combo. Yes, gastro issues with that and diarrhea/cramping, but I can LIVE with that. I also added generic Zantac for the heartburn that was causing so much distress. I saw a lot of women on here take omeprazole.
I hope you can figure it out and get some relief !
My issue is just the opposite. I can take one pain pill and be constipated for a week. I mean seriously. I had hernia surgery 2 years ago and that area burns and aches with the issue. I've tried every kind of laxative, upped probiotics, prune juice, prunes, lots of water, I eat greens daily, everything. I swell up, get sick to my stomach and can barely eat! Ugh.
I'm sorry to hear.
I find restoralax every day has really helped my constipation. Mine has been severe and painful but it has become better. I also take a prebiotic every night.
I'm so sorry to hear you're in such pain. You mentioned that you started a new dosage schedule of your treatment; might it be possible to revert to the [prior dosage if that was more bearable? Either way, this sounds like something to inform your medical team about so that you can get some relief.
Below from my book, "The Insider's Guide to Metastatic Breast Cancer," is an excerpt about obtaining palliative care to reduce symptoms and side effects. The book and a complimentary .pdf are available; for more information, please visit insidersguidembc.com
All too often, MBC patients silently struggle with side effects such as pain, fatigue, nausea, insomnia, and more. To alleviate that distress, palliative care is recommended. Palliative care is meant to help anyone with a serious illness by maximizing their comfort level as much as possible. It differs from hospice care in that the patient does not need to be near end of life, and they can continue to receive standard treatment while on palliative care.
Palliative care can reduce symptoms such as pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, constipation, nausea, loss of appetite and difficulty sleeping. It addresses the whole person and helps them to carry on with daily life. It can improve one’s ability to go through medical treatments and help the patient to better understand their condition and choices for medical care. In short, it enhances the patient’s Quality Of Life (QOL) and also may extend life. As per Cure Magazine’s winter 2019 publication, a study of 2,307 records of advanced cancer patients determined that patients who received outpatient palliative care survived 4.5 months longer than those who did not.
Interestingly, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) has updated their guidelines to state, “in-patients and outpatients with advanced cancer should receive dedicated palliative care services, early in the disease course, concurrent with active treatment. Referral of patients to an interdisciplinary palliative care team is optimal, and services may complement existing programs. Providers may refer family and friend caregivers of patients with early or advanced cancer to palliative care services.” From: asco.org/practice-guideline...
Most insurance plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, cover all or part of palliative care treatment. Palliative care is generally available in a number of places including hospitals, outpatient clinics, long-term-care facilities, hospices, or home. Usually a team of specialists, including palliative care doctors, nurses and social workers, provide this type of care in conjunction with the patient’s doctor. Massage therapists, pharmacists, nutritionists and others might also be part of the team. To obtain palliative care in order to manage cancer or treatment side effects, the patient should speak with her or his doctor or nurse. Alternatively, patients can look up Palliative Care providers in their area at: getpalliativecare.org/provi...
Thank you for all the information!
Hi
You shouldn’t have to suffer pain...you can get tablets to stop gastric irritation from pain meds...I have them as I live on ibuprofen and codeine...I also take a small dose of amitriptyline at night...helps nerve pain and helps me sleep
I think all the anti oestrogen drugs cause pain to a greater or lesser degree ..horrible
Barb xx
My team told me to stop the inhibitor fir 3-4 days and see if that is the problem. Tho I was told all the inhibitors will cause this reaction with my RA and I'll need to decide if it's worth continuing and damaging my joints. And living with pain. Hummmm. Just need a cancer cure!
So sorry you are in such pain. A patch may help and if you have RA, the meds may be aggravating your condition. I would call the doc!
I'm not on ibrance yet and experiencing a lot of arthritis type pain in my back, hips and leg where I had the titanium rod put in. Before diagnosis, I thought I was getting arthritic, and now I know I have a mixture of bone cancer AND arthritis. I think that is excellent advice from Sarcie, to get the pain patch and bypass the tummy! I am lucky in that I take aspirin every 4 hours when I'm hurting alot and it really helps. My mother was told to do that years ago by her ortho, he called it aspirin therapy. Now I am taking 3 grams of ginger root a day and I read it is a blood thinner, like aspirin, so I will let you know if that helps with the pain or not in a little while because I'm afraid to take both as both blood thinners.I I have never hurt this bad and been so stiff from the arthritis, so I believe alot of the pain is from the letrozole. Sometimes I walk like a 100 year old woman. I have pain meds at my disposal too, but when I take them I'm all weepy and emotional the next day. I pray you find relief and that Jesus will touch and heal your body as you read this, and I ask this in His mighty name and I plead His shed blood that atoned for our sins and by His stripes we ARE HEALED, amen. <3
Palliative care at Roswell prescribed Cymbalta for the neuropathy. It took a few weeks, but it really works. I also got medical marijuana for sleep. It’s a godsend.
My Oncologist team told me to get off the inhibitor for 3-4 days, then report back to them. So none yesterday and no aches last night. Obviously it's the inhibitor! Now to decide what to do. All the inhibitors will most likely cause the same reaction. My husband wants me to either quit it or take sparingly. He sees every day how much it makes me hurt.
Perhaps you should get a palliative care consult their whole focus is your comfort. I hope you get relief.
Update: I finally received my new bottle of Frankincense oil and my "other" oil. I used it last night after a long day of pain, slept like a baby and woke up this morning with less pain than I've had in weeks!
How do you apply Frankincense oil and what is the other—CBD?
I take one drop of Frankincense in a capsule daily, put straight oil (takes just a drop or 2) on my chest and ribs. Other oil is CBD but also Phoenix Tears.
A friend of my always took a Claritin every morning and said it stops her pain from the Letozole/Aromasin etc
Ibrance and bruising
The Artist 
Zometa - Issues mouth & jaw
1st Post - Any good alternative non-opiod pain relief meds out there?
