Lupron and fear

Hello Everyone,

First I would like to address those who had terrible reactions to the drug. My heart goes out to you and please don't be offended when I tell you this: Life is a risk and when it comes to science there are never guaranties. With anything you will have a side effect good or bad. You will be a Guinea pig no matter who you are or what drug you take, because everyone reacts differently. Some good and Some Bad.

Second, to those of you who are looking into this for a cure, sorry unfortunately like cancer this is a reoccurring disease. The drug is to help calm your system down and to give your body a rest. I would have to say Lupron saved my life. After all the years of pain and suffering, and hospital visits that occurred due to the severe pain. After having surgery to remove these areas and the doctor who recommended this drug to me was a life saver. I was on it for a year and was put on the NuvaRing afterwards and had mood swings and hot flashes, BUT Ladies...No PERIODS and NO MORE PAIN!! Yeah I gained a little weight, but that was water weight, you can go to your local health food store to buy herbal diuretics and exercise...excercise. I agree Lupron isn't for everyone, but either is another drug out there. You take a chance with any chemical you put in your body. It is HOPE that encourages us to try these medications. I have to say 10 years later I had a beautiful little boy and yes they say even pregnancy gives you relief, but unfortunately for me I had a C-section. Causing me more scar tissue and a reoccurred of severe endometriosis. Due to funds and no insurance I have had to be put on a sister drug called Depo-Provera. It is similar side effects, but ladies take my advice. Lupron isn't for everyone, but I think if you are a good candidate for the drug, try it. It might make a difference in your life...I pray it is positive!!

I am in my fifth injection and I feel: hot flashes, night sweats, back and shoulder pain, vaginal dryness, diminished libido, memory loss, diminished concentration, depression. My doctor wants that I take Aygestin but I have fear because I read that can cause blood clots.

My Lupron experience has been mixed.

I had 3 Lupron injections--7 months worth of the drug--before my November 2003 myomectomy for a grapefruit-sized fibroid. I consulted 4 doctors (including a family member) before taking the Lupron plunge, and opted not to read too many scare stories online. I'm 32 and I want very much to have children, and everyone told me that my surgery would be most effective if we could use Lupron to cut the blood flow to the fibroid. The good news is that it seems Lupron (and a very good surgeon) did the trick--my surgery was without complications and declared a success. (Now we just have to get me pregnant!)

Now I'm just waiting for the effects of Lupron to go away. I had my last (3 month dose) shot in September 2003, and my most severe symptoms were in the weeks after that shot--especially severe and frequent hot flashes, night sweats, the works. For the entirety of the injection, my libido was utterly shot. For me, these were all annoying, but not unbearable. I figure it's just a taste of what's to come when the real menopause happens in another decade or so.

Post-Lupron recovery:
The hot flashes finally went away about 5.5 months after my last shot, and I've been gradually feeling more and more normal, though my libido is still not back to normal. Most worryingly, and this is why I'm writing today, is what happened to me this last week. Noone ever seems to write about the hormonal hell that your body goes through when it's trying to return to it's pre-menopausal state. I'm 90% sure that my symptoms are in fact attributable to these hormonal fluxes, and not to something worse (like abdominal adhesions from my surgery).

Three evenings ago, I got extremely dizzy and nearly passed out. It took me over 20 minutes to get back to my office, since I was so dizzy (loss of vision, balance, and nauseaI had to sit down three times in the couple dozen yards. I also had a pain in my abdomen. I barely made it the final steps to my office, where it took me at least 45 mintues to get to the point where I could make it to the car to go home. I had strong stomach pain, tingling hands, and gradually decreasing dizzyness. At this time I also noticed that my entire abdomen was very swollen. While the other symptoms have not returned, I have continued to have a very swollen abdomen, which has been very tender to the touch. I have been unable to walk at my usual vigorous pace, and have spent much of the last 3.5 days sitting quietly or lying down. The whole experience has been very frightening--and NOTHING like any PMS I have ever had before. But then again, I've never been menopausal for a year before!

So, I'm writing this post so that others might be aware that the hormonal changes the body goes through while getting OFF Lupron can be even more severe and frightening than the ones you experience going ON the drug.

I AM SO GLAD {YET DISTURBED}TO SEE THAT IM NOT GOING CRAZY THE SIDE EFFECTS ARE REAL.I HAVE FELT SO ALONE IN THIS TREATMENT AND I FEAR MY FIANCE MY LEAVE ME {mood swing!} I AM SET FOR MY 2ND INJECTION IN TWO DAYS AND IM SO SCARED MY SIDE EFFECTS WILL BE WORSE. IVE HAD JUST LIKE THE REST THE HOT FLASHES, UNBAREABLE MOOD SWINGS AND IVE PUT ON 10 POUNDS. I DEFINATELY NEED A FRIEND FOR SUPPORT!