Advice please as I am confused.

[aabb]

I am 42 years old. I have had endo for 10 years now. I have had Pills, laser and injections over the years. At present I am now on my 1st "chemical menopause" injection, I am due my 2nd 3mth injection at the end of June. My gyno doc said that I cah be on these injections for years but I know they only give you them for 6mths. He also said that he wont give me them unless I take the HRT as I am too young. I have tried HRT before and can put up with the side effects of the menopause better than the side effects of the HRT. Can anyone help please?

One confused lady.

[Vicky31]

Hi

I'm 31 and have just had my second prosap injection on Thursday (I'm guess this is what you mean when you say 'chemical menopause') I've been on them before about 2 and a bit years ago for 6 months but that time I had zoldex.

I've never had the HRT and never been offered it by my specialist. Apart from the hot flushes and a few other menopause symptoms, all of which I can deal with.

I do know that you can't be on it for years as the chances of you getting especially ostoprosis increases dramatically. I'm already in the high catergoy of getting that because of another condition I have yet my specialist has decided to give me this next round of prosap as it was over 2 years since the last lot so it should be fine.

I'd ask him why its important you have the HRT because your young what benifits will it have for you.

That way you can make your own mind up weighing the pros and cons.

As I said I've never been told that and I think my specialist is amazing and is very upto date on things. This confidence in him has come from him working his butt off trying to keep my agressive stage 3 endo at bay.

I'm sure there's other lady's on here that will know more but I hope this has helped.

You've got to decided what's right for you as an individual as only you know your body and your life. It might be this doctors standard practice to always give his pacients both treatments cause he thinks that's the best.

But one type fits all care doesn't always work for everyone as were not all the same.

Try not to get worried by it just ask your questions, get your facts from him then make your decision for you.

Its your body.

Good luck. Thinking of you xx

[aabb in reply to Vicky31]

Thank you for getting back to me. The gyno doc said the reason he wont give me the injection without the HRT is because of the bone problems. I am getting so many different opinions that I think I am going mad! He also said if I refuse to take the HRT then he wont give me injection. My other choices are to try more laser AGAIN ( although thats what he tried in February and said it was too dangerous to laser because it is in sac of douglas) or "live with it".

Mrs Confused.

[Pepper1]

I agree you can not stay on the injections for,years, and you shouldn't be on the injections and HRT together it defeats the object of the injection.

i had zoladex for,6 months I'm 41 then had a full hysto and bowel resection due to endo, I can't take HRT orally due to DVT but. I can use a gel its a very low does and being a gel,doesn't enter the blood,stream like a pill. I didn't want to at first, but my doc who's is also very good with endo, said the pros out weigh the cons at my age, HRT stops you prematurely ageing ,as well as stopping hot sweats, osteoporosis ,mood swings ,skin drying out, tiredness, eyes deteriorating and generally getting old before you need to, and now I have been on it a year, and I can honestly say I'm better for it!

Hope this help

Nikki

[aabb in reply to Pepper1]

Thank you for getting back to me. As I said in my comments before I am at a loss as of what to do. I would prefer just injection without HRT. I hope when I go to get my 2nd injection at the end of June, that I can get it even although I havent started the HRT. He wont be happy! I am feeling ok so why would I want to take something else that gives me horrible side effects.

Mrs Confused

[Chrissie66]

Generally speaking, although a 6 month treatment regimen is recommended you can take the injections for as long as your doctor is happy to give them to you provided you are monitored for bone thinning and other problems that Zoladex can cause. There are ladies on here who have been on them for years.

I was offered HRT with my very first course and like you it was worse than the injection itself. Since then I haven't taken HRT at all when I've needed a course of Zoladex.

However, everybody reacts differently to different things, and it may be that your gynae has a specific reason for saying what he has. As has been mentioned above, I would ask him why he feels you need the HRT, given you had a bad reaction last time.

C x

[aabb in reply to Chrissie66]

Thank you for getting back to me. As I said he thinks I am too young, that I would have bone problems. But then I have horrible side effects from the HRT. One of my other concerns is that my mum had breast cancer at 65yrs of age. thankfully she is now a fit 72 year old. Its hard deciding whats best. If we could only have a look into the future and see how the treatment will work for us eh!

Mrs Confused

[Chrissie66 in reply to aabb]

The cancer thing definitely adds another side to the story. Does your gynae know about your family history?

As for being too young...I think I had my first Zoladex injections when I was in my late 20s. It's a standard endo treatment, and yes, one of the risks is definitely bone thinning which is why they give you the add back HRT and only like to give it for 6 months max, but as long as you are monitored it doesn't need to be a problem.

I think you need to go back and have another chat with him, explain about your mum and ask him whether the risks will really outweigh the possible benefits

Bloody endo!!!

C xxx