11 days after 1st Lupron jab-no side effects

It's been 11 days since my first Lupron jab, (1-month dosage) and I am not feeling a single side effect. Not only that, I didn't feel the injection in my hip, nor any soreness afterwards. Nothing. No Casodex. No flare. When I went for the jab my PSA was 10.6 and my T-level was 354. I'm wondering if this is normal.

[mrscruffy]

I didn't feel any SE's for a few months

[OldVTGuy]

The side effects took a few months to be noticeable for me. Enjoy the holiday before the fun begins.

[Gearhead]

Did you take Casodex for a couple of weeks before the Lupron jab? This is the usual treatment to prevent the so-called flare. As I recall (over 4 years ago), the first significant effect I felt was bed-soaking night sweats. These started in about a month but subsided a few months later. Not to be confused with hot flashes, which don't soak the bed, affect mainly upper body, and happen at random times day or night.

[Hidden in reply to Gearhead]

No Casodex. I'll put that in the original post.

[Hidden in reply to Hidden]

You dont feel the "flare' its just a rise in Testosterone before the drop. You'll get hot flashes when the testosterone drops to its lowest.

[Hidden]

Thanks. I will try to enjoy each and every moment in the present. Difficult at times when you're waiting for the other shoe to drop.

[London441]

Too soon. How much do you exercise and what kind?

[Hidden in reply to London441]

'The wife' here, answering. He is 76 and walks 2.5 miles daily, has done so for years. Also lifts for 10 minutes at the gym, everytime he walks. Neither is very strenuous, as he has Parkinson's, but he is faithful and committed in his routine.

[London441 in reply to Hidden]

That is inspiring to hear. I have friends with Parkinson’s who are about the same.

No one on this forum is more gung-ho about exercise than I, but as he is well aware, co morbidities present particular challenges that vary in severity and type.

It’s easy to vaguely advise ‘more’. This may or may not be practical. That said, most older people don’t exercise as long or as intensely as they should.

We who are dedicated have lots of information and a sixth sense of what we can do, but generally we should always add more if it can be done safely. Add a qualified trainer to his team if you can. 76 is young!

[Pokerplayer]

Start walking and lifting weights read other posts for more information

[fish7days]

Keep 20mg Megace in your back pocket for when the hot flashes start. Works very well.

[dhccpa]

Side effects came gradually. Hot flashes in first month but got better over time. Energy decline came later. Libido loss happened quickly but exceptions occur now and again. That's it for me.

[Professorgary]

I take the one month injections as well. T dropped to 13 with mild hot flashes that last a minute or so. No libido and energy level dropped but that’s about it. I take 2800 mg curcumin to keep bp and blood tests in check.

[SteveTheJ]

Everything is normal; nothing is normal. What a strange way to look at it. Complaining you don't feel bad?

Be grateful for every day you have; be additionally grateful for every good day you have. Everyone is different. It's a long game, nothing is going to change in 11 days or so.

[Hidden in reply to SteveTheJ]

I was/am hoping I'm going to be one of the 'lucky' few who get by with minimal to no side effects. Seeking others who say they've never felt anything at all but a tiny bit of fatigue, 6 months in. I've never had anything like this in my life; never been in the hospital, no surgeries, no diabetes or heart problems. Worst thing ever was needing some stitches in my scalp after walking into a door. So this is entirely new; I've always thought doctors were for sick people, not me.

[SteveTheJ in reply to Hidden]

What a strange attitude. You'd rather have cancer? Stop taking Lupron. Give it a go; if the symptoms are truly onerous, talk to your oncologist; there are bound to be alternatives. But you always have to choice of letting the cancer kill you sooner rather than later.

Doctors are for everybody but if you choose to look at it that way, you're sick now. Deal with it. And best of luck whatever happens.

[Hidden in reply to SteveTheJ]

Not sure why you would think I'm complaining. I have been caught off guard and have never dealt with anything like this before. Hence, my reasons for asking questions of y'all. And of course I'm wondering, is the Lupron even working?

[EdBar]

Just get your T level checked along with your PSA to make sure it’s doing its job. Snuffy Myers always recommended that, I still do it to this day. Goal should be a T of <20. I had bone mets and experienced a flare causing extreme bone pain for 3-4 days afterwards followed by feeling awesome as my testosterone level increased before shutting down - “the flare”. I didn’t take Casodex for a couple of weeks before my first shot. I was anxious to get the treatment started.

Ed

[Hidden]

@EdBar and others - how frequently should I get my PSA and T levels checked? I did get baseline readings as well as a Dexa scan for possible bone loss.

[Mgtd]

Hi and welcome. You might want to complete your bio. It really helps when you ask questions so guys can be specific based on your data.

For example, what is your plan going forward? Are you seeing a urologist and medical oncologist? What is your stage? Gleason score?Diagnosis?

I had the identical question way back when. Here is what I did. Four weeks after the first shot I requested blood work - PSA and testosterone. I did this because I was having no real side effects and like you I was wondering if it was working.

However, two months prior to the first Lupron shot and the start of radiation, I had started a dedicated resistance training and increased my cardio effort and changed my diet. I continue to do all three.

I was also on Casodex prior to the start of Lupron to stop the flare and help with cancer suppression. That first test showed PSA <1 and testosterone less then 7. So the Lupron was working. I have experience minimal side effects which I attribute to my diet and training regimen.

Every time I get a PSA test I get a testosterone check also. I have completed radiation now and will come out of the effects of Lupron on Oct 19. No idea when it will actually leave my system.

I already have the lab slips for my January appointment with my radiation and my medical oncologists. They coordinated appointments and share lab results. That really saves a lot of time and effort. They ordered a complete blood panel, PSA and testosterone tests.

I no longer see the urologist as his job is done after diagnosis and my decision to do radiation instead of surgery. He really does not have any thing now to enhance my treatment plan.

Hope that helps.

[Hidden in reply to Mgtd]

Thanks for the in-depth answer. It's been a challenge for me/us here, because I have only a local PCP (who knows zilch about prostate cancer) and a local urologist, who, after doing the biopsy, turned me over to a distant urology center (30 miles) with an RO, there was no MO. Then I heard about proton therapy, and I transitioning to a Proton Therapy Institute 300 miles away. Linking everyone together has been a challenge, to say the least.

Having never had any health problems nor been through the medical system, I have no idea how things work. It's only been the last couple of years that I've even had an annual physical, at my wife's prompting. Before that I avoided the medical community like the plague, pun intended, because I never thought I was one of those 'sick people', I was always a hale and hearty man. Now I realize my own frailties, and it has cut me down a few notches, to be honest.

Reading all these posts and seeking opinions, advice, and support is new to me.

I'll fill in my profile.

[Mgtd in reply to Hidden]

After reading your response the only thing I might stress is the importance of having both a RO and MO on your team.

Do not hesitate to use this forum! The guys on here are warriors of the prostate battle facing you. Good luck and keep us posted.

[j-o-h-n]

Eliza...doo........ just think of it as "just a little bit"..............

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Monday 09/04/2023 1:31 PM DST

[GumpaD28]

Be happy been 3yrs since i been getting the shot. Some months are different then others. You build it they'll come.

[epfj3333]

Don't get too excited. The hot flashes are coming.