Prostap

[mama1]

Hi

How long after the injection do the side effects kick in?

[Lotsi]

Is this different from Zoladex?

xoxo

[Impatient in reply to Lotsi]

Different brand of the same type of product. They both act the same way.

1st side effects happen when the n you hit the 'flare stage' which varies from 1-3 weeks after the initial dose, and is when the body is flooded with hormones making the endo flare up.

Bleeds are heavier cramps are stronger etc. This lasts a week or two and then stops when the pituitary gland in the skull has been flooded to the point where it shuts down production of the body's own hormones - but that is a lot of different hormones and without those your body soon runs out and that is when the true side effects develop as your body struggles to cope without the hormones it is used to.

Hormones that regulate heart, blood pressure, temperature, digestion, kidney function, thyroid function and of course your ovaries too among many many body functions.

Because each of us will cope in our own way, there isno knowing in advance how your own body reacts to the lack of hormones. It can be quite easy to get through for some patients but on the flip side as with all chemo it can be a brutal experience for some patients too.

What side effects you get, how intense they will be, how many hit you at the same time is all pot luck and you don't know from one moment to the next what you will experience.

If you are in employment do inform your employer you are on chemo as with cancer patients on the same drug - if you need any time off to cope with the side effects you are entitled to that without risking disciplinary proceedings for taking a break - whether that's an hour or two, or a few days, or several weeks or months where you can't work. No two cases are the same.

Taking HRT can offset some of those side effects but doesn't replace all the missing hormones so you will still experience some even with HRT.

Very best of good luck- you will need it. It can be very very hard going. Just make sure you read the lists of side effects so you know what to expect and aren't caught out and have a panic attack, as some will not be side effects you may ever have experienced before.

I listed some of the hormones and their known side effects on a previous post

healthunlocked.com/endometr...

[mama1 in reply to Impatient]

Thank you, I got my monthly injection this morning, the injection sight is extremely sore. Does it still take a few weeks to display side effects.

[Impatient in reply to mama1]

a week or two to begin with the flare stage.

The injection site is only sore for a day or two. If you rub it then it causes a bruise which can take a while to calm down, so don't rub it - just leave it be and take a painkiller or two.

I called those dose dates bee sting days - as that's what it felt like afterwards.

[mama1]

Sorry forgot to ask will I get a bleed, haven't had a period since last august as I had an ablation done, and haven't had anything not even spotting.

[Amyjadecook]

I had my second injection last Friday. I am suffering badly with the effects and have had to cut one of my days in work due to it. The tiredness,headaches,mood swings and hot flushes are just horrendous. I'm trying to think of the positives but there isn't any as they don't want to do a op after my 4 months are up anyway due to were the endo is situated which means il be back to square one in pain.

Hopefully there will be light at the end of the tunnel at some point!

Keep your head up, it's always good to have people to speak too xxx

[mama1]

Aw what a shame, I'm hoping I can try and cope with the side effects, how long was it after the injection that U started to feel the side effects? I was told that I cam go to my doctor and get hurt, if I'm finding the side effects unbearable.

I'm on prostap for 6 months and then if it helps, plan is hysterectomy.

The specialist doesn't want to do another lap as my bladder was badly damaged during my last lap as I had Endo on my bladder.

Hope things get better for you.