Starting Prostap next week: Afternoon... - Endometriosis UK

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Starting Prostap next week

Leenie0811 profile image
13 Replies

Afternoon ladies,

I’ve had a confirmation I’ll be seeing my gynae next week (Monday) to start prostap injections and tibolone (HRT) can anyone share their experience with these medications? I’m 29 and needing to have this in the run up to my surgery which could be anytime up to 2 years. Gynae thought it was best to stop all periods to prevent more endo issues as they can’t help the wait time for surgery due to backlog from Covid. Super worried about this next step but know it needs to happen for some kind of relief, the endo is debilitating me daily!

Any tips or a heads up for side effects would help so much!

Leenie x

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Leenie0811
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13 Replies
LivWilliams27 profile image
LivWilliams27ModeratorEndometriosis UK

Hi Leenie0811,

So sorry to hear about your struggles and the long wait time for surgery you are currently experiencing. I really hope you get a date soon!

The link below has some information about GnRH treatments including prostap. Within the pdf, the information is on page 5 and includes general information on how the drugs work and their side effects.

endometriosis-uk.org/sites/...

I hope this helps and wishing you all the best,

Olivia xxx

Leenie0811 profile image
Leenie0811 in reply to LivWilliams27

Thank you so much for the information! xx

Lofty1589 profile image
Lofty1589

Honestly? It was awful for me. Didn’t stop my pain, I bled randomly and erratically. Dealt with weight gain, hot flushes, low moods, aching joints, migraines and more. However, some people find it really helps and it’s a miracle drug for them. But I think it’s important to get multiple perspectives

Leenie0811 profile image
Leenie0811 in reply to Lofty1589

Thank you for sharing your experience, I agree to get others' perspectives on it. Sorry you had such a bad time on it.

Menopausal7 profile image
Menopausal7

Hi

I’ve been on prostap 7 months for heavy periods caused by 20cm fibroid. I was flooding every hour and had debilitating pain.

It’s stopped my periods entirely and the pain settled within about 2 months. I had pretty bad headaches to begin with but these are now infrequent. Have hot flushes (no sweats) disturbed sleep (waking 2-3 times a night) some joint pain, shedding more hair, (was thinning anyway due to perimenopause) Saw gynae for follow up, staying on prostap til end of the year because it’s working to shrink the fibroid. I told her I’d rather have these symptoms than the awful pain I’ve had and bleeding. I feel my quality of life has improved because I’m not planning around periods anymore.

She’s wanting me to start on a low dose HRT as an add back to protect joints , heart , brain. I’m trying to help myself with lots of supplements though. I read some major horror stories about prostap but I really think it’s down to you to try it and see how you go.

Leenie0811 profile image
Leenie0811 in reply to Menopausal7

Thank you for sharing your experience, I know what you mean with all the horror stories I was worrying about them so much! I had mine a week ago and still getting used to it, the main issue for me is joint pain.

Menopausal7 profile image
Menopausal7 in reply to Leenie0811

Hope that eases for you soon joint pain is awful

gillb10 profile image
gillb10

Im currently on Prostap. I had a bleed a couple of weeks after my first injection that lasted longer than my normal period which I wasn’t expecting. This is quite normal. After that I’ve had a reduction in pain and no periods. I’m taking hrt as well. Hopefully it will give you some relief whilst waiting for surgery.

Petitechili profile image
Petitechili

Hello, I've been on prostap for 5months. I did have a few bad headaches to begin and I did get hot flushes, but I decided not to have the hrt because I was only temporarily put on prostap to manage my symptoms before I began ivf. I had no bleeds whilst on prostap which I hope is reassuring. But I do know everyone is different. Good luck and I hope your surgery is sooner than expected. X

TinyRoo profile image
TinyRoo

Hi, I have been on for a month now Prostrap. Start HRT when I have my third injection although I'm a bit confused why we out oestrogen back in our systems with regard to endometriosis. No bleeding so far, pain hasn't decreased completely, but it is slightly better than being on medroxyprogesterone alone. My mood and concentration have been quite rubbishy some days. I think the worst side effect initially for me was bone pain in my ankles. The side effects seem to come in waves rather than being there all the time. I hope this helps. Try not to worry about it, though I understand because I was nervous and put off for a year having it.

Leenie0811 profile image
Leenie0811 in reply to TinyRoo

I have been on the depo injection before this but my bleeding was not going away and I have loads of pain every month so they hope this will help. At the moment I have a lot of joint pain but also sickness and bowel issues. I don't know if that is common when you first take it but my back really hurts! I don't understand the HRT but my nan got breast cancer from it when she went into menopause so I want to stay off that until I absolutely have to go onto it. Unless my side effects get a lot worse I'll do the 6 months without it.

TinyRoo profile image
TinyRoo

Hi,

Yes it sounds like a side effect or your endo flaring up. Mine did that but hopefully yours will resolve a bit after a couple of weeks. The patient leaflet for the drug tells you the possible common side effects medicines.org.uk/emc/files/...

Yeah, maybe its a small constant dose of an oestrogen like chemical so perhaps shouldn't affect endo as much. I will have to check this.

I know, my grandma had breast cancer so I am a little reluctant, but at the same time I worry about my bone mineral density being affected, so I will trial it for the 6 months.

Hope you feel better soon!

Leenie0811 profile image
Leenie0811 in reply to TinyRoo

Yeah me too just try and see if I can cope with the side effects for the 6 months before doing HRT but if it is this bad going forward I think I will start it earlier. Thank you for sending the information over too! Hope you are doing okay lovely x

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