north
New Member
Posts: 14
|
Post by north on Dec 21, 2009 10:32:46 GMT -5
hello friends - I am new to the message board but would love some feedback.
I was taking lupron (after many other options were exhausted) for 4 months - the pain and spotting continued and I was switched to trelstar.
is anyone taking trelstar? and is it working for you?
I seem to be having the same results as lupron - consistent spotting and pain throughout. somewhat less intense pain compared with no treatment.. but still consistent
I am confused as to why neither of these treatments have induced menopause as was explained to me that they would.
anyone else taking trelstar??
thanks for reading - jennifer
|
|
|
Post by JC on Dec 21, 2009 21:10:30 GMT -5
I am not taking trelstar but from what I understand it's very similar to lupron. I wish I could be more help!
|
|
north
New Member
Posts: 14
|
Post by north on Dec 22, 2009 21:09:55 GMT -5
that is ok.. sometimes it is just nice to know that others are (or have been) frustrated and discouraged along the way. I am getting another injection of this stuff tomorrow - still waiting for the day I wake up and it works!
I will certainly keep you posted! but honestly.. I feel better already for having reached out on here.
happy holidays. thanks for listening and supporting.
|
|
|
Post by JC on Dec 23, 2009 8:37:55 GMT -5
I'm searching through my research data base at school and I can find it under the chemical name "Triptorelin."
I found a research article that took seventy patients suffering from endometriosis, adenomyoma and fibromyoma were divided into two groups: extended-interval dosing (group E) and conventional dosing (group C). Group E was given the injections every 6 weeks, and group C was given it every 4 weeks. To compare the results they used improvement of symptoms, size of uterus and volume of tumors, as well as in serum levels of 17beta-estradiol, luteinizing hormone (LH), and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).
To give you a little background: GnRh:Gonadotropin-releasing hormone is secreted from the hypothalamus in your brain to start the cascade of hormones that are responsible for normal gonadal function. And GnRh "agonist" blocks this hormone and stops the cascade of all the other hormones like LH and FSH from being produced. LH and FSH: gonadotropins luteinizing hormone and follicle stimulating hormone, to put it simply are both responsible for gonadal function. Ovulation of mature follicles on the ovary is induced by a large burst of LH, and FSH stimulates the maturation of ovarian follicles.
Triptorelin (Trelstar)is a gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRH agonist). By causing constant stimulation of the pituitary, it decreases pituitary secretion of gonadotropins luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH).
So now that you have a little background in all those hormone terms, here were the results of the study:
In each group, symptoms and tumor growth significantly improved after treatment. For the patients of both groups E and C, the levels of gonadotropins and gonadal steroids were reduced throughout the treatment period and up to 8 - 10 weeks after the injection of the last dose.
Conclusion: Gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist is effective in the treatment of endometriosis and adenomyoma through reducing the serum levels (blood test levels) of follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone(LH) and 17beta-estradiol.
Here is the source of the study: [Effect of triptorelin and an extended-interval dosing regimen in the treatment of patients with endometriosis and adenomyoma] by Liu DY, Gu MJ, Shu JZ, Shi YX, Wang CY, Han ZQ. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Tongji Hospital of Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
|
|
|
Post by JC on Dec 23, 2009 8:41:02 GMT -5
|
|
north
New Member
Posts: 14
|
Post by north on Dec 23, 2009 20:56:48 GMT -5
wow thank you so much - that is helpful and detailed information. I so appreciate your research!
I am mostly concerned about the spotting and pain I am still experiencing; wondering if this means the injections are not working? the pain is more manageable, but in no way 'gone' as they promised it would be.
I am also taking prometrium and estrace daily to protect against bone loss. I'm going to read through some more of the threads and consider my options. my dr is quite willing to perform a hysterectomy at this point, but I so wish I could be pain-free long enough to adequately assess whether or not I want to try for my child. right now the pain just drives me away from the possibility.
I also had my injection administered today by a dr in my hometown as I am here on holidays - what a fiasco that was. they treated me like such a bizarre case. how very frustrating! and how many women in these small towns are going undiagnosed (as I was for many years) or mismanaged. *sighs
again.. thank you for your concern and information! that is the exact injection I am receiving. it is slightly disheartening to read about the effectiveness when it sure doesn't seem that way for me. I wonder why some women continue to spot/experience pain?
what a wonderful sounding board this is turning out to be!! *hugs
merry eve of christmas eve.
|
|
|
Post by JC on Dec 24, 2009 8:18:21 GMT -5
Geez I can't believe they're so quick to jump on that hysterectomy crap. That's not fair! I'm sorry if you posted it somewhere else but what stage of endo are you at and where is it? You know what angers me is that these doctors remove the uterus and usually it's a healthy organ! Why remove a healthy organ? Remove the disease not a healthy organ! It just makes no sense to me. Is there an option to find a better skilled surgeon to look at your case? I really wonder how far you are from the hysterectomy option especially if you want children.
|
|
|
Post by JC on Dec 24, 2009 8:21:43 GMT -5
About having a child, most doctors advise you to get pregnant because sometimes it's an effective treatment for endometriosis. If you read around the board, you'll probably see some women who had relief during pregnancy and some who didn't. Each person has their own experience. If you are ready for children then maybe that's something to consider as long as your body is healthy enough to carry a pregnancy too.
|
|
north
New Member
Posts: 14
|
Post by north on Dec 24, 2009 20:55:35 GMT -5
hi again! merry christmas eve!
you have really inspired me to chat with my gynecologist again about other options and a potential 3rd opinion.
I am feeling scared due to the increased risk of ectopic pregnancy (my tubes are stuck against my pelvic wall) .... that is the scariest factor for me.
and the trelstar doesn't seem to be effective.. so that has been discouraging as well. I think I will probe through the pregnancy board on here as well.
my dr did not provide a stage, but after reading through everything online, I would say stage 3? that seems to depict almost the exact note the dr left after my surgery:
I have switched dr's since my lap, and am wondering if my new dr would be willing to go in and re-evaluate things now that I have been on various hormone injections for several months. and he may be able to give me a better prognosis for potential pregnancy.
do you know if spotting/pain while on these types of hormones = ineffectiveness of treatment??
|
|