Zoladex experience

[x_b_x]

Hey there 👋

I'm just wondering if anyone has had a negative experience with zoladex? I am due to have my 4th injection next week, was supposed to be yesterday but appointment got cancelled. I'm also on Estradot patches and utrogestan tablets.

I've never felt so shit in all my life and the only thing I can pin it on is the zoladex maybe, I was on Decapeptyl before and also had headaches and chest pains with that. But this zoladex is making me feel awful so far, constant headache, chest pain, pain in breasts, just really sluggish and tired, lower back pain and pelvic pain that is worse. I've also been put on them for my hormone imbalance that affects my PMDD but I feel so though my mood is so low lately, I don't get the more intense emotions but I'm so frigen sad all of the time lately.

I have tried to speak to a GP but they said it's a consultant thing so I tried chasing up my 3 month review which was due in December but his secretary has said he is 10 months behind, she said she would ask the consultant about my concerns and get back to me but never has, so now I'm like what the hell do I do? Do I carry on with the injections in a hope they will get better in time or keep paying for injections and HRT that are making me worse.

Just wondered what other people's experiences were, does it get better, is this normal, should I stop, I have no idea.

[G3miniStar]

Hi b, unfortunately that's pretty much my experience too, Zoladex is awful and has caused all those symptoms for me. I'm so moody at the moment and just feel awful, angry, teary. The headaches are awful. I recently saw my consultant who prescribed an estrogen gel to boost the effects of the HRT, I'm yet to see any effectiveness but it's only been a month so we'll see.

I try to bear in mind that sadly those are the symptoms of menopause, not really a side effect of the drug even though it's the drug that's causing them. I'm potentially only going through what I would later in life.

I would really strongly suggest not stopping them on your own and keep trying for your consultant, phone them regularly for cancellations - it's horrible to have to say it, but I cried down to the phone to the endo nurse at my centre emphasising my struggles, didn't intend to but it just comes out, and she got me an appointment the following week. It shouldn't be like that but it is. Good luck hun, all the best xx

[Sunset-lady]

I'm so sorry you feel so awful. The only thing I can suggest is perhaps swap the patches to the gel. You may not be absorbing the estrogen However, you mention PMDD so perhaps you are actually super sensitive to any hormones. Could you come off the HRT ALTOGETHER. I read a book called Surgical Menopause and several women with PMDD only found relief when their ovaries were shut down and they stopped taking hormones. I would make a nuisance of myself with the consultant and ring and ring. Good luck. Please let us know hiw you get on. Xxx

[x_b_x in reply to Sunset-lady]

Apparently I can't be on the zoladex without the hormones, I dunno. I don't know what to believe anymore when it comes to doctors.

I have been referred to an endocrinologist about my cholesterol so was thinking it might be a great opportunity to talk PMDD and hormonal imbalance with them maybe as well.

I honestly have no idea what to do/believe/trust anymore.

Back when I was 23-24 I used to have a lot of bleeding at one point, I kept going back to the doctor and fobbed off a lot, at one point they referred me to a psycho sexual counsellor. When I got to the session the counsellor was like why the hell have you been referred to us. Came to my first smear test at 25 and I ended up having treatment for cervical cancer cells.

They then convinced me that the depot shot would be best for my moods, worst decision ever, I have literally never been right since.

Got told my whole life that I have just been anxious or depressed, then it turned out I had BPD but there wasn't any funding in the area to offer the right form of therapy and now it turns out it was actually PMDD with possible ADHD.

So my confidence in doctors/NHS isn't great.

[BloomingMarvellous]

Go back to the secretary today and tell her it’s extremely urgent. It’s not okay for you to feel this rubbish. Give her a week to get back to you. If she doesn’t go to PALS and register your difficulties with them and ask them to intervene on your behalf.