On zoladex, worried HRT reactivated endometriosis ? Anyone had the same?

[Amber83]

I have been on Zoladex for 4-5 months now, it’s helped my ovulation pain massively and the sharp pains I used to get with my period. I started on 1/2 patch of combined HRT 3 months after starting the zoladex but it wasn’t controlling the menopausal symptoms so I was upped to a full patch. Since starting the full patch I’ve got the digestive symptoms back. I’ve got a constant burning ache really low down and low back pain, my stomach feels horrible through the day and then in the evening after my dinner I start getting really noisy bowels and it hurts and gives me stomach ache. I keep having to get up in the night to try and poo sometimes it’s loose and sometimes I can’t go but still have the feeling of needing to go. I used to get these symptoms pre- zoladex. I’m at my wits end as I really thought zoladex would help me which it has to a certain extent but the bowel/digestive symptoms are making me feel rough as hell and I’m now wondering whether to stop the zoladex or whether it’s actually the HRT that’s reactivating the Endo or is it just my stupid body ?!?!?

[Steffers]

hi there, hope having a good day today

I think some hrt can make endo symptoms worse /start up again?

I’ve been on zoladex since April and not had an hrt, interested in any advise on this too for after I have my hysterectomy

Take care

[riddo11]

Hey, I went on Tibolone for my HRT while on zoladex, and I got horrific endo symptoms. I switched to the gel pump and it was much better. So I'd recommend trying a different HRT xx

[Amber83 in reply to riddo11]

Are you on estrogel? How many pumps? And do you take progesterone too? My consultant asked my gp to prescribe estrogel for four weeks then add utrogestan to see if progesterone adding to symptoms, needless to say I’ve been waiting weeks and still haven’t got it x

[riddo11]

Yep estrogel, 2 pumps a day. I have to take one pill a day too, i think its called uterogestan. I went direct to my GP rather than my consultant, they were willing to change it without talking to them as they deal with HRT all the time x

[Amber83]

Fingers crossed when I finally get it, it works better. It’s a nightmare going between consultant and gp, they both take ages and I have to chase everything up. Gp won’t just prescribe without consultants say so and consultant won’t just prescribe direct which I don’t understand x

[Hidden]

Hi, I just came across your post and I really hope things have improved for you in the last few months. I started on Zoladex 3 months ago and started add back HRT via a combined patch a week ago. I’ve got a lot of bowel discomfort and cramp, really similar to how you describe, and not sure whether it’s Zoladex or the HRT patch or just me! (I had really hoped that Zoladex would help get rid of the bowel pain). I wondered if you tried a different HRT and whether it made a difference to your symptoms? x

[Amber83]

Hi, so I changed to estrogel without any progesterone to see if some of my symptoms are due to progesterone. My bowel symptoms haven’t stopped 😩 but after talking to my consultant we think it could be due to the zoladex wearing off before the next one is due so she said I could have it at 24 days instead of 28 days to try to keep the level of zoladex constant and avoid dips that are possibly activating the Endo every month. I’m due my next injection on the 3rd of January but it will be a day late which means symptoms could be even worse. To be honest I really am debating having the next one as I just feel like crap all the time with one thing or another mainly extreme fatigue and bowel problems/pain and I’m not sure what’s causing what. It’s so hard x