Post by nccoffeebean on Jun 2, 2015 12:22:34 GMT -5
I had Lupron 8 years Ago:
This post is very late in sending, as I received Lupron about 8 years ago. It was a terrible time in my life and I had searched this very site to understand if this was the best course of action for me. In some ways, maybe this will be helpful as I can give a post experience of how it has impacted me down the road. Forgive me if my facts are not spot on-I'm only going by memory and the suggested course of treatment may have changed since then.
My basic history is disabling menstrual cramping from my mid teens through to 40. Never on a schedule. Could go 30 days or 65 days for all of my adult life, I could never track when to expect my period, except
I had a baby at 22 and another at 24. Both pregnancies were very difficult. In retrospect, my doctors have told me I was probably infertile shortly after that and was a miracle I could conceive at all. I was told my pain would probably improve after having children. This never happened. I had laproscopic surgery for endo when I was 26 yrs old. Nothing helped. I have and still have ovarian cysts that come and go.
So...I managed, like my mother had before me. The only thing that helped was 5 Aleve tablets at onset of my period and 3 tablets every 2 hrs for the next 48 hrs in order to function. Like many of you, a heating pad and lying prone were my only source of comfort.
So in 2007, on the advice of my physician, I decided Lupron was my only chance. My doctor had recommended this drug treatment to buy as much time as possible before doing a hysterectomy. After much debate and very good advisement from a woman physician who is a great friend, I decided my quality of life was more important than the potential long term ramifications of taking this drug. A hysterectomy was so permanent, and of course has it's own potentials for major side effects-ones I couldn't reverse.
I seem to remember being told it was monthly shots for 6 months. In the end, I was only able to complete 4. The side effects were just too terrible.
What I really didn't get was that your body is put completely into menopause...but instead of it happening over a few years, it happens in a month. The worst symptoms for me were the hot flashes, not sleeping and trembling and shakiness. I felt like I was carrying a heavy backpack everywhere I went. I couldn't concentrate and I cried all the time (not me at all). It was debilitating.
So I completed 4 of the 6 treatments and felt defeated I couldn't tough it out.
Once I discontinued the Lupron, I returned to normal...and still had menstrual cramps. But then, somehow, they were a little bit more manageable. And then more manageable again...
So fast forward 8 years....at 48 years old, my periods have been "regular" for the last 5-6 years (every 28-35 days) I had been told Lupron had a lifespan of about 3-5 years of assisting with the pain.
In my case, I would say I am pain free. There are many months that I don't take anything at all. Every 3-4 months, I'll feel a "twinge" and take 3 Aleve and then I'm fine. It's quite remarkable when I look back and realize how much management it would take to accomodate my cycles. I still have ovarian cysts and still ovulate and have occasional discomfort then. It passes. I can honestly say it's like being a different person. For me, the results have continued on long past the timeframe I had been told.
Of course, I don't know if there will be long term ramifications from receiving this treatment. All I can say, is that for me, in spite of the rabid side effects, it was DEFINITELY worth doing. My life is 100% better and I'm grateful. I hope that helps. Remember, you have to make the best educated decision for YOU.
This post is very late in sending, as I received Lupron about 8 years ago. It was a terrible time in my life and I had searched this very site to understand if this was the best course of action for me. In some ways, maybe this will be helpful as I can give a post experience of how it has impacted me down the road. Forgive me if my facts are not spot on-I'm only going by memory and the suggested course of treatment may have changed since then.
My basic history is disabling menstrual cramping from my mid teens through to 40. Never on a schedule. Could go 30 days or 65 days for all of my adult life, I could never track when to expect my period, except
I had a baby at 22 and another at 24. Both pregnancies were very difficult. In retrospect, my doctors have told me I was probably infertile shortly after that and was a miracle I could conceive at all. I was told my pain would probably improve after having children. This never happened. I had laproscopic surgery for endo when I was 26 yrs old. Nothing helped. I have and still have ovarian cysts that come and go.
So...I managed, like my mother had before me. The only thing that helped was 5 Aleve tablets at onset of my period and 3 tablets every 2 hrs for the next 48 hrs in order to function. Like many of you, a heating pad and lying prone were my only source of comfort.
So in 2007, on the advice of my physician, I decided Lupron was my only chance. My doctor had recommended this drug treatment to buy as much time as possible before doing a hysterectomy. After much debate and very good advisement from a woman physician who is a great friend, I decided my quality of life was more important than the potential long term ramifications of taking this drug. A hysterectomy was so permanent, and of course has it's own potentials for major side effects-ones I couldn't reverse.
I seem to remember being told it was monthly shots for 6 months. In the end, I was only able to complete 4. The side effects were just too terrible.
What I really didn't get was that your body is put completely into menopause...but instead of it happening over a few years, it happens in a month. The worst symptoms for me were the hot flashes, not sleeping and trembling and shakiness. I felt like I was carrying a heavy backpack everywhere I went. I couldn't concentrate and I cried all the time (not me at all). It was debilitating.
So I completed 4 of the 6 treatments and felt defeated I couldn't tough it out.
Once I discontinued the Lupron, I returned to normal...and still had menstrual cramps. But then, somehow, they were a little bit more manageable. And then more manageable again...
So fast forward 8 years....at 48 years old, my periods have been "regular" for the last 5-6 years (every 28-35 days) I had been told Lupron had a lifespan of about 3-5 years of assisting with the pain.
In my case, I would say I am pain free. There are many months that I don't take anything at all. Every 3-4 months, I'll feel a "twinge" and take 3 Aleve and then I'm fine. It's quite remarkable when I look back and realize how much management it would take to accomodate my cycles. I still have ovarian cysts and still ovulate and have occasional discomfort then. It passes. I can honestly say it's like being a different person. For me, the results have continued on long past the timeframe I had been told.
Of course, I don't know if there will be long term ramifications from receiving this treatment. All I can say, is that for me, in spite of the rabid side effects, it was DEFINITELY worth doing. My life is 100% better and I'm grateful. I hope that helps. Remember, you have to make the best educated decision for YOU.