Is prostap likely to start helping after 6 weeks? Side effects but no pain relief. What's your expeience?

[_hope]

[hayls]

Hi

For me I had no pain relief until about 7-8 weeks, but after that it was amazing! I found it hard waiting for the benefits to kick in, full on side effects on top of bad endo pain was not much fun but I had decided I would stick it out for at least 8 weeks and am very glad I did. Once it started working it transformed my day-to-day life, when I went on prostap I was in a complete state and couldn't really leave the house, was regularly passing out in pain etc, but once it kicked in all that changed. I did struggle quite a bit with the side effects but was almost 100% endo pain free from 8 weeks so I was willing to accept it. I had 11 doses in the end, tried HRT at 6 mths for about 4 weeks but it caused breakthrough bleeding so gynae agreed I could stop it. For me it was well worth sticking with it, I have no idea whether it has made any difference after I stopped it as had extensive surgery for endo in the last few months of prostap so that's probably helped more after the prostap but whilst I was on the prostap it worked brilliantly, and 5 months on I have no lasting side effects and periods have returned x

[_hope]

thank you so much for your reply, I am getting no relief from it at all and not sure if I can face third injection in 2 weeks time. My only ray of hope is to not have it and at least get rid of side effects which may be the hrt or the prostap, it's hard to tell. I can cope with the physical pain better than I can with the emotional pain. I have reduced my food intake to help stop weight gain but am going up slightly every week and finding it distressing - especially since pain remains same.

[hayls in reply to _hope]

Hi

Weight gain was a big problem for me as well, some of it was the prostap but HRT made a huge impact - I gained 1.5 stone in the 4 weeks I was on it! I had already been gaining weight on the prostap over the previous 6 months but not at that rate and there wasn't anything else that could have caused it. You don't need to be taking the HRT at the same time before 6 months, my gynae and GP really stressed to me that it was better if I could try to cope with the side effects of the prostap without taking HRT for the first 6 mths as it would reduce the benefit, just something else to think about. Also whilst I was taking the HRT the prostap wasn't as effective, not only did it cause breakthrough bleeding but familiar old endo pains felt like they were starting to come back, they stopped again as soon as I stopped the HRT. I really don't rate HRT too highly, it's necessary if you are taking prostap long term once you get to 6 months, but I wasn't happy with it contradicting the prostap, it felt like I was taking 2 drugs which cancelled each other out so what was the point in taking either of them and thankfully my gynae agreed and was willing to let me have prostap without it as I only had a few months left on it, although he said it would have been a bit different if I was over 40 (I was 29 at the time). Maybe something worth taking to your doctors about? x

[powerpuffgirl79]

Hi all!

I started on Prostap 3 weeks ago (I'm due to have my second injection on Friday) and I've been really suffering with the side effects too - bleeding for the last 10 days, horrendous headaches, indigestion, bad stomach cramps and mood swings...! I feel like throwing myself under a bus sometimes or I just cry at the slightest thing at the moment, and I'm not normally like this! I'm not currently taking HRT but am thinking of phoning my doctor to ask about it...I don't know what to do because I hear bad things about that as well! confused...!

I am hopeful after reading some of your comments that things might improve soon...this was meant to be giving me 'a break' from all my symptoms, before trying to get pregnant (I'm 34) but I actually feel worse!! It was 'sold' to me by my consultant as 6 months respite...! Yeah right!

I realise I probably haven't made you feel any better, but I wanted you to know that at least you're not the only one having a horrendous time!

Hope things improve for you soon!

xx

[jayneeb3]

Hi, took me 6 weeks minimum before it kicked in and really felt more myself. Had the worse period ever in the first month and headaches and flu symptoms. I was on it for 3 months, but now on it long term with Livial as my womb and bowel are too stuck to have a hysterectomy. Stick with it, l lost weight as l didn't have the bloating x

[_hope]

Powerpuffgirl - please stay away from buses! It's awful at times but

You'll get through it - sounds like hrt might be of help although I found the emotional side effects settled down at about 3 weeks.... I was really agitated and tearful but it passed.

Hope you find the same, it's horrible when you don't feel like yourself.

[powerpuffgirl79 in reply to _hope]

lol! i will, dont worry

[_hope]

Thanks for your reply Jayneeb, think I'll give it a bit longer, looks like I should wait for 3rd injection to give it a proper go.

Hope youre ok, situation sounds tough.

[vcooper3]

hi

i had my fouth injection two weeks ago and it wasnt until third injection that i noticed a slight difference in that it was helping with pain. ive been told this is, on average, when it starts to help but there is a lot of variation between patients. i dont think they give HRT until after 6 months (that is when i am starting it anyway) but i could be wrong! from what i've been told its licensed for 6 months and HRT is given after that for the side effect bone defeciencies. i also felt miserable after the first injection but things settled down fairly quickly and generally i am happier now.

vicki x

[_hope]

I was put on hrt three days before first injection but that might be related to the fact I'm older. Coming on this site makes me feel old! Also feel grateful, not having had trouble when I was younger; some of you have a really rough time.