Chemical menopause- struggling with side effects

[Dogrosie]

Hi I'm quite recently diagnosed with endometriosis requiring a lap. I have a number of adhesions including bowel.

While I wait for surgery I've been given GNHR analogues and HRT. I went to my GP surgery for the 1 month injection this Monday and asked my GP about how I could expect to feel/ any expected side effects? She just said ooh I would hope you don't get any side effects and told me the effect should be immediate.

I woke up the next morning feeling like I'd been hit by a bus. Since then I have had horrific pain, as if I have the worst period, I am utterly wrung out. Partly because I can't sleep - I've had 3-4 hrs sleep the last 2 nights. I've been awake since 2.30am last night. I have some weird bleeding but the pain is crippling and I am finding it distressing.

I've left a message for my surgeon and I'm going to call my GP tomorrow. The only thing that has got me through today is 2 scalding hot baths with Epsom salts, hot drinks, hot water bottle, paracetamol, mefenamic acid and oramorph.

Has anyone else had this experience? I've since done some reading that.suggests I shouldn't take the HRT yet. And that it takes 2 weeks to kick in.

I'd appreciate any advice that people can offer to help me get through this patch.

[Moon_maiden]

It was a couple of weeks before I started the HRT. After the first one I did have a bit of bleeding around period time, none since. I think I may have had more pain leading up to when a period should be, but not really sure as other stuff going on.

It’s still worth checking out with GP and/or gynaecologist to make sure.

Hope you feel better soon.

[Hidden]

I didn’t start HRT until after the first month. The initial side effects were really severe and pretty horrible, but they went after about a week. I got really bad night sweats and sleeplessness after about 3 weeks but the HRT has sorted that out. It took up to about 4-5 months for the pain to really settle down but has been amazing since. I get a bit of a dip with each implant and now have 3 month ones to help with that.

It does settle down but just takes time! Good luck with it x

[slopp]

I've been on the same shots for the past 10 months. At first they always make the symptoms worse because of the release of hormones, it's completely normal. Then everything settles, promise!

[Whoisthis]

Can I ask what is the HRT being used to achieve?

[Dogrosie]

spoke to a GP yesterday and she said "to reduce any side effects". I did ask if she has personally treated anyone with this before and she said no. Not my regular GP to be fair, but i was phoning to ask whether I should stop with the HRT and to get a refill of codeine and oramorph before they are normally due (and bless her, she gave them to me).

I'm really fed up with this. I've pretty much got my normal period now but the pain is the worst it has ever been. Hopefully it will make things better in the long run but I am really sick of this suffering.

[Boys1927]

Hi, I was given HRT by my, GP after my full hysterectomy felt really good at first then the pain started again, same pain as endometriosis, the hospital nurse told me I wasn't suppose to take HRT for the first 6 months after surgery as it can bring back endometriosis type pain.