Gnrh? Any advice please?

Posted , 4 users are following.

i am having these injections soon and was told only that it would be for three months. I don't know if the injections are weekly, monthly, one off or what. And side effects - all I was told was that it would start menopause. Anyone had these? Tia x

0 likes, 12 replies

12 Replies

  • Posted

    No, did you ask the doctor what is in the injections? I don't know anything about injections starting menopause. I think I would look into it a bit more before taking something you are not sure about. Good luck.

    Annie

    • Posted

      I thin I lost my reply! Blinkin ipad!! The doctor told me about it when I was not long out of general anaesthetic so i wasnt really in a state to askquestions. They gave me way too much! Took hours to come round. All I know is that it stopseverything working but I think all goes back to normal when you are not on the injections.

      thanksAnnie

    • Posted

      Sandy,

      You have parts of your history missing. Why were you under general anethesia? Did you have a hysterectomy? Or something else?

      Annie x

    • Posted

      I had a laparoscopy to try to find out why I am getting so much pan. I had had ovariancysts for a while, but they had one by the time they eventually did it. If these injections stop my pain, then it is advised I have a hysterectomy, as it is likely the fibroid is causing it. The injections stop everything working, ovaries etc and fibroid will shrink, periods stop and sweats start, but i am already suffering with bad head sweats anyway x
    • Posted

      Sorry to take so long getting back with you Sandy. I used to have an issue with ovarian cysts and fibroids and considered getting a hysterectomy. Due to a family member falling ill I cancelled the surgery. That was several years ago. I did speak with several friends who had hysterectomies and majority were more than pleased they did. I'm past the need for the surgery now and things have settled down. 

      I googled gnrh and realize you are referring to Lupron and yes I am familiar with it, we use with infertility patients to cleaned the slate, so to speak. I don't have first hand knowledge, but honestly if you are able to speak with the nurse on your next visit, perhaps she can help you decide whether to move forward or not with the gnrh. It's a temporary fix, but may relieve you of this unnecessary pain you are feeling. I know I had way too much estrogen in ratio to progesterone that was fueling my fibroids and ovarian cysts. Once I got on progesterone (cream 1st then now micronized pills) it really leveled of things quickly.

      We are all different and what works for one may not for another. Just sharing an idea that may also work for you if your doctor/nurse is willing to run the appropriate tests to see if that might be the case. They combine blood work results with symptoms and in my case were spot on.

      I hope you are able to get the help you need as this is way too long for you to be suffering. Wishing you the best!

      And I'll second that suggestion from jennifer regarding hystersisters, excellent site as well!

      Annie xx

    • Posted

      Thank you Annie, I think I must try them as I am barely moving from my bed at the moment, let alone getting out of the house. I have nothing else to try so at least if these take away the pain I will know more then and maybe the hysterectomy will be the best option then.

      thank you for advice xx

  • Posted

    Hi Sandy,

    I don't have experience with this, but I took a quick look through the internet. I think the GnRH shots are once in 3 months, or once every month. (Doctor decides). 

    The treatment doesn't start menopause, but it turns off your hormones for a while, so you are in the same condition as you would be in menopause. 

    I am wondering how old you are?? Are you thinking about having another child? And do you have endometriosis?

    It does look like a hysterectomy might be in your future. Everyone I've talked to who had a hysterectomy is pretty happy with it, so I wouldn't worry too much if that is the case. 

    The GnRH shots seem very successsful in relieving pain.

    Sandy, it sounds like things have been hard for a long time, and I want to extend my sympathy with you in your dealing with pain every month. It must be pretty bad. 

    I had bad menstrual pain, but it is relieved with the Pill only. I am lucky in that regard. 

    • Posted

      Hi Jennifer and thanks for the reply. i am47 and was sterilised may years ago, my children are grown up now. My pain is evry day unfortunately, this is why this has been suggested. I was due to have a hysterectomy about 18 months ago but consultant then talked me out of it cos I have fibromyagia and rheumatoid arthritis. I was told i had endimetriosis by one doc then not by another! Its so confusing.

      i just want rid of my womb now, I have had problems for years, I have put up with clots the size of my hand but this everyday pain around my ovaries is smething else and if its the fibroid causing it then it will have to be done.  I do hope these injections work so that at least I will know the cause, as it has been suggested the pain could be to do with something else but I dont think so. Certainly the clots are caused by fibroids and I do keep getting ovarian cysts which get extremely painful. Ah well, I guess I will know soon enough. Due to aee nurse in two weeks, just not sure if the injections are monthly or what and whether they cause any other side effects. Doc just said they effectively bring you straight into menopase but things go back once  you have stopped them. Night sweating is something I have put up with a long time anyway, especially my head! It feels like  their are eels crawling all over my head, withthe sweat pouring onto my pillow, horrible! I do get flushes too, so I think itsdefinitely worth trying. I think someone said they experienced headaches somewherebut I cat find it now.

    • Posted

      Hi sandy,

      I had a friend who had pain due to an ovarian cyst.  It went away quite quickly, and there was no problem. Constantly dealing with them, or with endometriosis causing pain in the ovaries . . . that's really hard.

      Clots, oh I hear you! And passing them is quite painful. 

      I also hear you about the doctors not really agreeing with their diagnoses, or one diagnosing one thing and another another thing. I do think the images they see from the scopes are pretty hard to read, and then they have their egos! Don't want to say the three words 'I don't know'. But then maybe many patients don't want to hear those words.

      I guess you just will have to wait and see about the injections. 

      I have been considering a hysterectomy. I think it is a difficult decision to make, on both the doctor's side and the patient's side. The surgeons can nick other organs by mistake, although it's rare. It seems that your tummy tends to swell up afterwards for up to a year and you have gas. It used to be that hysterectomies were done right and left, and now they are more avoided. I read that about 20 percent of women end up having one, though. My mother had one. And you have to consider whether to have your ovaries out or not, and then the HRT afterwards.

      In the end, you have to balance the pain and the effect it's having on your life with the risks of the operation. I don't think the risks are that high. At your time of life (and mine - I am 51), it's a waiting game, see what will arrive first, the end of your patience or menopause! I think you've got maybe five or six years to go with menopause. And I am not really in favor of suffering, too much of it makes your life not worth living. 

      So good luck with your injections, I hope they get rid of the pain.

      And there is a website called hystersisters you might take a look at, a friend told me about it.

       

    • Posted

      Thank you Jennifer. People I have spoken to who have had hysterectomy's have said it was the best thing they did. I do remember them being quite big though! I wonder whether that happens, i am already struggling with weight i dont  want my belly to look even more swollen, but the pain has to be dealt with foremost so......

      i will look at that website thank you.

  • Posted

    Hey, I'm 20 years old and I've been on the injections for 6 months. With great difficulty but if you think positive and talk to the people around you you should be fine. I get mines monthly. I'm on this due to a septum in my womb which I have to get surgery to be removed and odenmyoisis which is there the lining of my uturs is melting into my muscle wall and they have to slice it open or something. I have been through so many different hey to try get them to help. But the best thing I am say is. Talk about it no matter how dumb it might be over xx
    • Posted

      Gosh you are very young to be going through all that! My daughter, also Shannon, is 18 and has pcos so I am hoping she doesnt have too many problems. She has thyroid disease too. I hope you get everything sorted soon xx

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