how to take zoladex

[DoggyDays]

hi everyone, I’m just a little anxious as I had my first Zoladex injection recently and my GP did not fill me with much confidence, he looked at my notes to find out the dosage and gave me the injection in my arm. I queried this as everything I’ve read said it went in the abdomen. He read the instruction leaflet and said it says arm, thigh or abdomen so he’ll do the arm as it’s less painful but it was only afterwards when I asked how long it might take to help with the pain that he asked why I was having it. I’m on the every 28 day dose, is it okay to have it in your arm?

[MrsPaddingtonBear]

Hello

No!!! Always the abdomen and never near the belly button. I had this treatment 3 times over many years. I had it alternate sides of my abdomen. Yes it’s painful but you can request an injection of lidocaine to numb the area first, I did, even though my surgery said they don’t usually, they still did it at my request. I personally wouldn’t see that doctor again it sounds like he doesn’t know what he’s doing. Good luck.

[G3miniStar]

I would personally check with a qualified nurse or nurse practitioner at your GP surgery, they know way more about these than the GPs do I've found. I can almost guarantee you won't be the only patient at your surgery on Zoladex as it's also used for cancer treatments. But nurses are the experts and it can be cut out if that doctor has done it wrong (not pleasant for you but might be necessary).

I've never heard of it going into the arm, stomach yes, thigh I think rarely, usually for self-injecting diabetics who will have years of scar tissue. But could be he is right and there's nothing to worry about, fingers crossed x

[Sunset-lady]

Honestly some doctors are useless. I can imagine you are worried as it should go into your stomach. I had mine on Friday. The first injection is usually given by a consultant at the hospital. Often you then get the others at your doctors- my hospital insist on you returning to the hospital clinic for them. When I asked why he said it's for monitoring purposes. If your arm begins to hurt or swell or you get a rash, then I would go to A&E and ask to see the on-call consultant from gynaecology. I would also get back in touch with your surgery and inform them about this twit of a doctor. Someone else mentioned he might keep doing it this way to other women. Zoladex has enough side effects to begin with, without you having to worry about this. Be proactive - if it feels odd, and is worrying you then go to the hospital. Sending hugs x

[Churchie93]

I always had it in my abdomen. I had a nurse at my gp do it every time.

[DoggyDays]

thank you everyone, I’m going to contact my gynaecologist who recommended the injections to clarify how it should be administered then I will ask to see the nurse practitioner next time.

[Sunset-lady in reply to DoggyDays]

How did you get on?

[DoggyDays in reply to Sunset-lady]

Thank you for asking, I’ve actually found out now that my GP gave me Prostap not Zoladex which is why he did it in my arm (but didn’t tell me) My gynaecologist said that was okay but he would prefer I was on Zoladex as he thinks that will be better for my situation which is why he had requested it so I’m going to see him next week and he’ll write to my GP to confirm.