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Post by scarlet on Oct 1, 2006 21:50:04 GMT -5
I just recently (Aug. 25th) had laparoscopic surgery to get rid of my endo. My doctor tells me he was only able to get eliminate 50-60% of it, and wants to treat the rest of it with a new drug? called Letrozole? I am wondering if anyone has heard of it, taken it, and what were your side effects? Im really nervous about taking this, as he wants me to be on it for 3 months. I have been told by him that it will throw my body into pre-menopause state to try to reverse the effects of the endo. And side effects having been described to me as hot flashes, night sweats, possible weight loss, depression and or mood swings, decreased libido..etc. Can anyone confirm this? And did the drug help you? Any feedback would be greatly appreciated as I need to get this prescription filled asap, but want answers before I take it. Thanks Ann
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Post by scarletmoon on Oct 2, 2006 18:25:20 GMT -5
I just got this prescription filled today....Letrozole is the generic for Femara. Side effects dont seem to worry me near as much as the other drug Im supposed to take along with it. Aygestin, or Norethindrone. They seem to be much worse. I know I need to try to do more for getting rid of this disease, but I have been relatively healthy all my life, and am scared to death of the side effects, and really just taking a daily med all together. This is my first real period since my surgery. And to be quite honest, the cramps and back pain, and blood flow seem all too familiar. Im sort of dissapointed in the results, I dont really feel I got the miracle I was looking for.
Ann
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Post by erzulie on Oct 2, 2006 21:43:42 GMT -5
I know how you feel. I was really expecting to feel better after my surgery and I didn't! Nothing changed! I have not taken any drugs for the disease and it's not because i don't want to work to get rid of it (though that might be what my doctor thinks). I am working to treat it, but I chose to use natural remedies because the side effects from the drugs didn't seem worth it to me, especially since I have only heard from a few people who said any of the drugs actually helped significantly! I say if you don't feel comfortable with something then don't do it, you always have other options even if you have to find them yourself instead of consulting a dcotor.
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Post by ouchy on Oct 2, 2006 21:50:23 GMT -5
Hi, Ann. Sorry you haven't found any relief from your surgery. Sadly, not feeling relief is all too common. I agree w/ erzulie. If you don't feel comfortable taking the drugs, don't! Also, even if you do happen to find relief from endo--along w/ the other not-so-desirable side effects, the relief is likely to be short-lived, as most endo comes back right after whatever kind of treatment you have. If you'd like more info on Letrozole/Femara, try reading this thread on our forum entitled, "Femara." cjlevett.proboards33.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=pain&thread=1148435185&page=1Good luck w/ everything. Let us know what you decide. ~Ouchy
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apple
Full Member
Posts: 214
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Post by apple on Oct 3, 2006 9:06:56 GMT -5
Yes I agree with erzulie and ouchy, my personal experience was that when my doctor suggested zoladex after my lap I totally trusted him and allowed him to make the decision for me. In my personal experience that was not a good choice since the side effects were awful and I do not believe I got any relived. I learned my lesson and as I said before and try to be informed before making any decision, especially with these drugs.
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Post by scarletmoon on Oct 3, 2006 17:42:43 GMT -5
Well being that even with insurance, I paid almost $100 to get all these things filled yesterday, I feel that I have to try it now. Yesterday, when I got out of the shower I was in such a state that I knew I would finally have to do something. The cramps and bleeding were so bad that I went straight to the pharmacy and got these things filled after having the prescription for almost a month! Im still not sure....but just want some relief even if its just for a little while. I took the first med this morning....so far so good. Ive not really felt anything...but the second one tonight, the aygestin...is the one Im more worried about now. It seems to have the most side effects. Ive told myself that Ill try it for a few weeks...and see what happens. If I dont like it, then Ill quit and see what I can do herbally. Im not ready to give up yet...But what gets me is...my sister had this surgery done 7 years ago bye a fertility surgeon, and he told her she was the worst case he had ever seen. She was relatively pain free for years and got pregnant twice! Mine wasnt as bad as hers...but my doctor says it was severe, and I was close to the worst ones he had done. And Ive not even gotten through the first month. Really dissapointing. Last night the pain and bleeding was so bad it made me throw up...thats how it was even before the surgery. I feel like it was a waste in a way. Sorry for ranting...Im just so glad I found this message board.
Ann
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Post by denna on Oct 3, 2006 21:06:11 GMT -5
Hi ann,
i'm notvery sure you throw up because of the med or because of endo. if endo then i think it's severe = 4th stage. i do feel nauseat at times but i never throw up. mine was 3rd stage. ive jsut stop my zoladex- it supposed to be a 6 shots but i cut it down to 3.i'm into chinese herbs. so far so good.if you decided to stop, do find other alternatives. wish you the best
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Post by scarletmoon on Oct 3, 2006 22:08:13 GMT -5
I wasnt throwing up because of the meds...I hadnt started taking them yet. I was sick because the pain was so bad last night, that it made me sick to my stomach. I am feeling much better tonight, only the bleeding is still heavy, but controllable at the moment.
Ann
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Post by ouchy on Oct 3, 2006 22:19:09 GMT -5
Last night the pain and bleeding was so bad it made me throw up...thats how it was even before the surgery. I have had that happen to me a couple times!!! I'll copy/paste a post from another thread so you won't have to read the entire thread it came from. It's kinda' humorous, so you might get a laugh out of it while still identifying with it! Copied from: cjlevett.proboards33.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=introductions&thread=1156612790&page=1 Post #7. "...One of the worst was my freshman year of college. I lived in the dorms, and we had community bathrooms... Well, I got my period after about 3 months without one, and needless to say, the cramps were from HELL! I decided I needed a shower. While in the shower I became so nauseated and dizzy that I thought I was going to pass out. I really didn't want to, but I had to sit down on the shower floor so I wouldn't faint. While sitting down did prevent me from fainting, I then needed to throw up! Wouldn't you know it--all 3 bathroom stalls were full! Rather than throw up in the shower or the trash can, I jumped out of the shower stall naked, busted into a stall (no one locked the stall doors), and pulled a chick off of the pot! I threw up right then and there! I guess I was too out of it to go for the trashcan! I'm sure that's how that girl will always remember me...and I don't even know who she was I was in such a panic mode!"
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Post by scarletmoon on Oct 4, 2006 22:05:22 GMT -5
Ouchy that is too funny about that girl....sad but funny. I tell ya...I think monday I should have been the one playing Carrie in the girls shower scene! Only I think I would have welcomed all the tampons being thrown at me! lol...
With that said, I have made it through my first full day of these meds. I felt a little loopy today and super relaxed at the same time. But so far so good...my pain has finally diminished...Im hoping to be done with my period finally by the end of the week. I have been on since last friday...and have been off and on since my surgery Aug. 25th....Im really looking forward to some time off.
Ann
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Post by ouchy on Oct 4, 2006 22:49:51 GMT -5
I tell ya...I think monday I should have been the one playing Carrie in the girls shower scene! Sorry, I don't understand what that means. Well, glad I made you laugh! Hope you have a good experience w/ your new treatments. Hope they work for you!
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Post by erzulie on Oct 5, 2006 9:40:55 GMT -5
lol, I get it. It's from a movie. I haven't seen very many movies so it's funny that I'm actually getting a pop culture reference. Usually those things go right over my head.
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Post by scarletmoon on Oct 5, 2006 19:48:48 GMT -5
I think monday I should have been the one playing Carrie in the girls shower scene! Only I think I would have welcomed all the tampons being thrown at me! lol...
lol, I get it.
Oh thank god...I was beginning to feel really stupid just then...lol. So far so good with the meds...I will say that last night I woke up feeling very hot. Not just hot from no air conditioning...but almost like I had fever? Is this the beginning of my night sweats and hot flashes??
Ann
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Post by ouchy on Oct 5, 2006 21:49:03 GMT -5
someone explain the joke to me!!!!
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Post by erzulie on Oct 6, 2006 17:04:10 GMT -5
Well I haven't seen the movie since I was a little kid (too young to be watching it, but I don't think it really scared me so I guess it was ok) so I don't really remember too well and i don't think I fully understood at the time. It's a movie called Carrie, based on a book by Steven King. It's about a teenage girl named Carrie that everyone is mean to, especially her demented mother, and I think she made things happen with her mind. As I recall it, the opening scene showed her in the shower in her high shcool locker room, starting her first period a bit late in life, and everyone was making fun of her. Perhaps someone else can explain it a bit better.
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