Zoladex

[Joannavh]

Hi all

I am due to start zoladex within the next couple of weeks. I was just wondering what happens after the treatment (I'm due to have a three month course) as in if it helps the endo pain, what would be the next steps, if it doesn't help what would be the next steps?

[kayjayne]

I am having my 2nd injection today, the first month I have seen np benefit at all, I had a horrendous period and the pains where quite bad and I have horrendous headaches everyday .... I figure it takes a while to get into your system to work properly so I am going to see how this 2nd one goes.

I have to have the coil after my treatment, however I will be waiting as I want to try and start a family which my doctor says is ok.

[Hidden]

Hi I had my last injection in Feb. I began them in Dec. I bled whilst on the injections from Dec continuously until Feb. However since early Feb I have been free of any pain and bleeding completely 😃. All of my period related symptoms went completely monthly migraines etc

I understood they use them to diagnose or prepare you for surgery in my case it has been both to shrink some fibroids.

They normally wear off after 8 weeks and mine have exactly and I have just started a period and it is where it should be in the month so I have stayed in sync. So far it is way less painful and not as heavy. Hopefully my ablation and fibroid surgery will happen pretty soon

I am also having my Fallopian tubes removed as part of the surgery as a cancer prevention and sterilisation method due to the ablation

[Lunas]

I stopped zoladex last September and it's taken 6 months for my period to come back. The menopause has ended so I have no hot flushes anymore. I have no bad side effects if anything is great to be back to what I was before the zoladex treatment which lasted three years. My body has deflated and I'm feeling great! The period is very much like when I was on my twenties, stomach pain and feeling exhausted for a couple of days but bearable. I took zoladex after being diagnosed with breast cancer which was removed. I'm still taking tamoxiphen. Hope this helps.

[Joannavh]

Thank you for all your responses! I hope you all have speedy recoveries xxx

[Cathrd]

Hi, the day after my surgery I was given a prostap injection (which I'm told is the same as zoladex). This lasted three months and then I had a further injection for another three months. After that I was told I'd have to try the mirena coil.

I was very apprehensive as I didn't want the side effects especially to put weight on, but I must say it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be with the injections. Yes, I put on 10lb but I had no periods at all and was completely pain free.

I had hot flushes throughout the summer but nothing I couldn't handle. The other side effect was feeling very tired about two weeks after every injection.

Now I have the mirena coil inserted and have not stopped bleeding. A lot of my pain has also returned and I am constantly bloated. So for me, even though I was dreading it, the prostap injections were a better experience than my mirena which I am thinking of having removed after five months. I will stick with it for another month to see if I improve.

I wish you all the best and hope you have a positive experience. It's not easy making these choices I know xx

[Chrissy83]

I have just had my last injection, I have stage 4 endometriosis and it has worked really well no pain, got back to my crossfit training so would recommend it. I'm nervous about what happens next as I had the injections for 6 months and I'm going on holidays at end of the month and not sure what the next step is. How long does it usually take to wear off and symptoms to return?

[Starry]

It depends on your individual case but i am in month 2 as of Monday and have been told you can stay on it only for up to 6 months. Make sure you request a bone density scan baseline scan before you start as it can affect your bones. I had mine today a month too late, even though i have a family history no one told me.

Take paracetamol and ibuprofen before the jab. It is uncomfortable.

I've been told that if successful i could be referred for ovary removal surgery instead of ( worst case in addition to) a risky bowel excision op.

Tbh i am struggling with the side effects but it may be a point in time thing (most of these hormone treatment seem to give you a month of hell at the start) or because my symptoms aren't typical for endo and it isn't gonna work for my body.

I've heard plenty other success stories though, so fingers crossed for you x x x

[Tryx]

I had an awful experience with the zoladex for three months and last month was my final one. Unfortunately it hasn't helped me one bit so I'm having another excision surgery soon hopefully