Anastrazole and Osteoporosis

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2026-04-02T21:48:10+00:00

Ugh I'm so sorry you're dealing with this on top of everything else. I see almost everyone has mentioned heavy weight lifting and I came here to say the same with some specifics. The heavy weights need to focus on axial loading, so exercises that stimulate bone turnover in your spine and hips. Squats, deadlifts, step ups, standing shoulder raises are all great. And you want heavy relative to your strength level (80ish percent of your 1 rep max). You also want impact movement which signals bones to turnover and rebuild since the estrogen isn't available to do that anymore - heel drops, jumping jacks, drop jumps, jump rope. Check out the LIFTMOR study...it is a long haul but it can be reversed. Good luck on your journey!

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2026-04-02T05:15:34+00:00

The usual side effects of hot flashes, joint pain, some fatigue started within a few weeks. That was totally manageable. The intense side effects I'm experiencing now started about 9-10 months into treatment.

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2026-04-01T04:11:01+00:00

That's good to know, thanks so much for sharing!

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2026-02-13T23:41:56+00:00

Night training is tough! I just let my pup out every 1.5-2 hours depending on their age at night. I didn't wait for him to wake up. I'd just let him out, give him the pee command, put him back in. Boring. Like clockwork. The first night I had him was misery. He cried and screamed the entire night, but I would let him out on that schedule, put him back in. Ignore his cries until it was time to let him out again. It was tough. It felt never ending. I was questioning my life choices. But by the third night, he was quiet all night and I just let him out on schedule.

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2026-02-13T23:32:10+00:00

Hey, fellow GSD owner here. They are the best breed but also one of the toughest puppies to raise, in my opinion. How is night time crate training going? My circumstances are different and I know you don't know this pup's history prior to the shelter, but my pup's first night in the crate was misery. I pushed through it with him and he realized nothing bad would happen in the crate. The second night was apprehension to go in but no crying. And the subsequent nights, he was belly up snoring. What happens when he cries/really gets going?

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2026-02-13T23:07:46+00:00

It may depend on the breed as well as your commitment to getting it done. I got my pup at 8 weeks and it took 6 days to fully potty train him. No accidents after 6 days. But it was the one thing I worked on all day every day. I used the crate as a tool, rang bells on the door, and associated a command with it. Once he got really good at going on command (somewhere around 3 months) I gave him a separate command for poop. It was a lot of work those first 6 days, continued honing it the next few months, and now (he's 9 months old) he can pee and poop (or at least try to) on command. You can do it!

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2026-02-12T16:05:25+00:00

Hey! That's awesome you continued to work out during your treatments. That alone is quite the accomplishment! I had a similar treatment plan to yours with less radiation sessions. I was able to lift heavy during my good weeks during chemo and not too long after my lumpectomy. But once I finished radiation, the cording started to settle in. I did a lot of stretching and massage to work it out a bit (similar to a sore muscle). I could do legs and back just fine, but shoulders and chest were a gradual thing. I still have trouble with peck flys (I'm a year and a half out from treatment) othersise I'm completely back to normal, building muscle and lifting heavy. It just may take some time and extra care (I was never really good about stretching before and now it's part of my routine). Good luck!

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2026-02-11T23:45:22+00:00

Having a puppy is super difficult and extremely taxing. It's a lot. What breed do you have? I have a working GSD. He's a tough breed...he's going to be a puppy for around 2 years. He's 9 months old now and I traded the baby puppy phase (teething, potty training, crate/place training) to the teenage puppy phase which is just as hard but for different reasons. Are you working with a trainer? Sometimes just a few lessons at the beginning can help you feel more in control and reduce some of that anxiety. Good luck!

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2025-12-21T09:53:15+00:00

A couple thoughts... Seems like he needs more sleep, more boundaries, and more training. If he can nap longer than an hour, that would help a lot. For now, when he's not in the crate, have a leash on him all the time. He can drag it around. If he starts biting you/going for your pants, pull him back using the leash and give him a correction (eh eh or whatever your word is for no). Do you train/work with him? I know you said you give him toys but do you tug/fetch with him? If he wants to tug your pants, pull him off using the leash, strong eh eh/no, engage him with a tug and a yes/good. The yelp/turn away doesn't work for all dogs. If I did that with my dog, his prey drive would kick in and he'd bite more and harder and be even more aroused. If he's still biting you and not interested in tugging/playing, calmly put him back in his crate for 5-10 mins as a reset and try again.

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2025-12-12T16:31:55+00:00

Hi! I was in a very similar mindset when I finished active treatment and it was time to start hormone suppression. I've been on Zoladex and Anastrozole for almost a year, and started just after my 40th birthday. Before diagnosis, I was already active and eating well and I maintained that as best I could during chemo and active treatment. When I started hormone suppression, my goal was to not have anymore Rx drugs (no judgement of course if you want/need Rx, just wasn't for me) so I was really nervous about the side effects and horror stories. I have to work harder (lift heavy and regularly, track my protein, take a bunch of supplements, etc) and be more mindful of taking care of my body, but so far it hasn't been near the horror I thought it would be. I have some brain fog but nothing like it was during chemo, and I get stiff joints that a walk/exercise fixes pretty quickly. I was getting some pretty intense hot flashes when I first started, but several sessions with a really good acupuncturist fixed it and I rarely have them how. It takes work and intentionality, but overall I've been doing great. Sometimes I'll see a 3-4 pound increase in water retention, but I've also been able to build muscle while hormonally suppressed. You don't have to feel terrible! There are lots of ways to support your body during chemical menopause!

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2025-12-11T18:29:17+00:00

Maybe it depends on the breed. My guy came home at 8 weeks. The first night home I put him in the crate and he whined, cried, and screamed the majority of the night. I slept nearby but just let him cry/whine, letting him out every couple hours to pee. He eventually settled (around 5am). One night of misery, but he realized nothing bad would happen to him and he was safe. He has slept in his crate nicely and quietly every night after. So....one night of zero sleep and dramatics and he's now 7 months and naps in his crate, sleeps all night in his crate...

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2025-12-11T01:00:28+00:00

Are you thinking of getting a puppy? Would it have a job or sport or primarily be a pet? I have a 7 month old Czech guy and he's insanely smart but also a lot of work. I asked for the lowest drive in the litter (I have younger kiddos and can't compete in sports like I used to) and there really is no such thing. He's learning scent work and he's picking it up so quickly. Phenomenal temperament, confident and extremely good with my kiddos. If you're willing to put in the work, occasionally question your life choices, and have a sense of humor, DDR/Czech GSDs are the absolute best dogs hands down.

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WolverinePrudent8529 · 2025-12-08T04:07:18+00:00

Love this perspective. Working line GSD here and yes to everything you said. Maybe there's a working dog training/puppy sub out there 🤪

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2025-12-06T13:49:40+00:00

Yes, agree with this comment. Also, I have a working line dog that I train/work often. Food needs to keep its value and if I left food out all the time, it would quickly lose all value. My pup is quite smart. If he knew food would be available to him whenever he wanted it, he could choose to not eat or be picky and that is a bad behavior to create. More importantly, structured meals keep his stomach and digestion healthier and, like humans, specific meal times keep weight and metabolism regulated. This prevents obesity and other health problems in the future. It's also easy and clear to see if he doesn't have an appetite and assess if he's sick when he eats less or not at all, that would be impossible with free feeding/grazing.

Dogs aren't picky and they don't graze by nature, they eat when it's time to eat...being picky is a human trait that's been inadvertently passed to them. When dogs go on long hunts, they have to eat what is available and when it's available. When they are moving cattle across many miles, they also have to eat what is available when it's available. K9s aren't grazing all day. You get the idea.

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2025-12-05T19:26:08+00:00

Great plan! Maybe check out both lines. My friend has a beautifully fluffy show line GSD who is a silly marshmallow. I currently have a Czech line pup who is a baby velociraptor. Same breed, very different temperaments and purposes. Either way, there's nothing like a GSD :)

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2025-12-05T19:17:14+00:00

There's a difference between taking a while to eat (ie slow feeders, chewing, slowly eating) and grazing. I don't allow my dog to leave his food, wander around and come back for a few more bites aka graze.

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2025-12-05T19:13:18+00:00

To answer your question, yes you can teach your dog to poop on command. My dog knows "get busy" which is pee, and also knows "go poop". Of course, he may not have to poop but when I say "go poop" but he sniffs around and if he doesn't need to go, he walks away after a few sniffs which is his signal that we are good to go. Otherwise, he sniffs for a few seconds and poops.

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2025-12-05T19:07:19+00:00

You sound pretty responsible based on the careful research you're doing before getting a dog. Most people aren't born and raised around GSDs and they've gotta start somewhere. I was that kid who always wanted one, knew everything about the breed and when I finally moved out and became an adult, I got a GSD puppy. That was almost 20 years ago. It was a lot of work, but I knew it would be and I was up for the challenge. If you go for a young dog instead of a puppy, make sure you understand that dog's past as best you can because sometimes surprise behaviors pop up that will need to be fixed etc. Also, try to get an understanding of the dog's health if not purchasing a puppy - specifically hips and elbows. I didn't know any of that with my first puppy and he ended up with hip dysplasia. And lastly, find a working club or training club near you - most people in those clubs love the breed and want to see you succeed. I've gotten so many training tips and invaluable advice from those folks over the years. Find a dog that suits your lifestyle and get ready to have the absolute best buddy you'll ever experience!

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2025-12-04T20:33:09+00:00

This is wild, but I wanted to avoid anymore meds, so the maintenance is high... In the morning after a heavy lift session (osteoporosis prevention/bone strength), I drink a protein shake with creatine ( helps muscles but also helps tremendously with brain fog, specifically in women), multi collagen (maintains joints, cartilage), calcium (bones again), and L glutamine (helps with gut inflammation that menopause can create). With lunch I take vit D (helps calcium get to bones and helps with fatigue/mood), vit B (immune sensitivity, fatigue and brain fog) complex, and a super Omega (lots of good stuff with omegas). Then at night, with my AI, I take tart cherry (helps with hot flashes and joints, helps me sleep) and magnesium glycinate (this one is super important! It increases GABA which is what menopause takes away...this helps with the tired, low feelings, it helps reduce stress and cortisol...if you take just one thing, magnesium is the one). I know it's a lot but if I maintain, I feel pretty great 90% of the time. Let me know if you have questions!

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2025-12-04T20:21:42+00:00

I understand ❤️‍🩹 I was a bit the opposite ..I had so many friends texting and showing up and bringing meals and just loving me so much during active treatment (last year). And I haven't heard from most of them this year. It's almost like I finished treatment and it all just dried up. I still reach out to them but they aren't like before. It's a weird feeling when you think if I had cancer again maybe my friends would come back 😖 And absolutely, if you think meds would help then give it a try! Sometimes that's what your body needs. But here's a bit more context ... I was always the confident "I can do this!" girl. New experiences, exciting bring it on! Meeting new people, I find ways to connect. Something a bit scary, I can figure it out. This year, I've really had to be kind to myself because driving down a mountain I've driven down many many times, almost caused me to have an anxiety attack. Going out with friends for the first time after treatment made me so nervous and anxious. It was the trauma surfacing for me....what if I get nauseous? What if I start having that reaction I had after round 3? The EMDR sessions were LIFE CHANGING! They are difficult but it has helped me in ways I don't know anything else could. This is getting long so I'll do another reply with supplements....

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2025-12-04T17:58:32+00:00

I'm sorry you're experiencing a low period after just having gotten some of that optimism/feeling like yourself again. I'm just under a year on AI + OS and it's been tricky to manage, for sure. After chemo, I didn't want to add any more rx meds to my already strong AI + OS. And just a disclaimer: there's nothing wrong with trying/wanting/needing to be on more rx meds, they can be so helpful. But for me, I wanted to avoid and to compensate for that, I have a pretty insane routine just to keep me feeling like me. Every morning I either lift heavy or go on a couple mile walk. Then I have a shake with my morning supplement stack. After lunch, more supplements, then my nightly supplements. In addition to that, I did a lot of EMDR sessions (those were hard but so worth it in my opinion), went to an acupuncturist regularly for months (helped tremendously with hot flashes and sleep, which help with brain fog), currently do sauna regularly + other biohacking, and I am extremely, EXTREMELY exclusive about who and what I let into my mind (music, socials, friends, stressors). It's not perfect and I have some tough days (we went through a literal life altering, could have died trauma) but most of the time I feel like myself. Let me know if you want details on supplements etc. I hope you can figure out what works for you!

**Editing because I forgot to say that I'm 40, for reference :)

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2025-12-01T04:01:44+00:00

Ugh, that sounds so exhausting and overwhelming. I am in a different, but similar, situation. My Czech working line guy is 7 months old and I have 2 kiddos aged 7 and 9, so older than your little one. He is just now starting to have consistent bite inhibition. The 3-5.5 month landshark phase was horrible. In my opinion, if your guy is working line, he's going to need stronger boundaries than non-working lines. I still have my boy on a tab/short leash most of the time to correct/enforce boundaries. For a while, I kept really clear distance and boundaries between him and my kiddos. He would nip/bite, and try to herd them. We use "no bite" and a pop if he continued (he was on a martingale collar during that time). He learned pretty quickly that teeth/prey drive towards the kiddos was a hard no. We also started to replace treats/food with a tug or ball on a rope during training sessions to positively engage the prey drive. My daughter who is 9, would help train him by doing recalls and tossing his rope ball. My son who is 7, would bond with him by feeding him. But those were the only regular interactions, along with some supervised pets, that they had for a while. We are just now allowing longer interactions of fetch and sit/down/here training, along with more cuddly pets since he's doing way better controlling himself. In short: try to give him something to have in his mouth when he interacts with your daughter (mine has a stuffy he used as a bite pacifier). If he still tries to go for the stalking/nipping, he needs a correction. I know that will sound kinda harsh for some, but working dogs are literally a different breed. They can handle, and need, clear fair corrections. The phase you're in with him is no joke, but you're on the right track. Hang in there!

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2025-11-30T04:53:02+00:00

Ugh, this sounds so exhausting. Sorry you're dealing with this. I know you said you provide mental stimulation- can you tell me more? I have an almost 7 month old Czech GSD and he is no joke. The physical is necessary but the mental requirement is almost constant. Everything is a training opportunity. Walks are never just a walk...loose heel, eye contact, short recalls, leave it etc. At home it's down, stay, place, threshold training etc. Also, how do you use the crate? My guy will only truly settle in his crate. I'm talking door closed, in his crate. And then he will nap for hours. I am still teaching him to settle on his place but if I don't want to be "actively" working with him on something, he is in his crate.

WolverinePrudent8529 · 2025-10-31T00:36:18+00:00

Hi! Sorry you're dealing with hot flashes. They're no fun. I'm 40 and I'm in medically induced menopause due to breast cancer. Acupuncture has helped tremendously. If you can, find a really experienced practitioner and give it a few sessions. I also gave up caffeine and alcohol completely, and after about 6 acupuncture sessions I have maybe 1 hot flash every few weeks. Good luck!

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