Re: Unsure whether to have 5th zoladex injection
From: Susan (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu Jun 18 15:43:38 2009
Hi and thanks for the quick reply!
I'm actually in England and thank you for the information.
It's my GP who doesn't seem to know much about it. I have seen a
consultant gynaecologist, who diagnosed me and suggested the zoladex
treatment. However, I emailed and phoned his secretary for advise but
she kept fobbing me off. I appreciate he is busy. I then asked my GP
to write a letter to him to ask for advice. This was about 2.5 weeks
ago and I've not heard anything back.
So the add-back HRT is still encouraging the endo to grow? I wondered
that. If the zoladex implant is wearing off after 3 weeks (as I think
it is due to having periods) the HRT could be the reason I'm feeling the
pain return so quickly? So continuing for another two months might not
really be that beneficial if i'm still taking the HRT! I don't know what
to do for the best.
thank you for your help, it's given me more info!
Sue
At Thu, 18 Jun 2009, E. wrote:
>
>Endometriosis is an extremely complex disease. The first important step
>is to find a doctor who knows how to treat it. If your doctor is being
>honest w/you and telling you she doesn't know enough, she doesn't. It's
>time to find a new doc, one who is familiar with endometriosis.
>
>Zoladex is a strong drug and it can relieve pain, but it's important to
>be aware that all hormonal therapy is only effective when you are on the
>hormone. Once you stop the hormone, the pain often comes back. Since
>your doctor is giving you add back therapy, this can counter the severe
>side effects of the Zoladex (such as bone loss and other menopausal
>symptoms) but it encourages your remaining endo to 'grow', so more than
>likely, you'll start to experience some type of pain again.
>
>If your goal is to get pregnant, and you have tried Zoladex and it isn't
>working, then the next step may be surgery.
>
>This is why it's important to have a doctor who knows about endo,
>because if the doctor doesn't know about endo in all of it's forms, he
>may just laser the surface of the endo lesions, leaving some behind,
>that can grow and bloom. So you will end up back in the same kind of
>pain about 6 months after the surgery! So it's important to find a good
>doctor, and to have the doctor excise the endo implants completely.
>I'm guessing you're in Canada, and if you are, here are a couple of docs
>who are good there:
>>>Dr Nicholas Leyland
>> > 27 Roncesvalles Avenue
>> > Suite 407
>> > Toronto,Onatario,M6R 3B2
>> > Canada.
>> > 416-979-1371
>> > Fax...416-979-3556
>> >
>> > DR.K. Lie
>> > 700 Bay Street,
>> > Suite 605,
>> > Toronto,Ontario.
>> > M5G 1Z6
>> > telephone...416-595-1311
>> > Fax...416-979-0238
>
>You also might try a reproductive endocrinologist, since they are often
>more familiar with the disease than regular ob/gyns are.
>
>If you're in England, you can go to this website & maybe they can help
>you find a doc: http://www.endometriosis-uk.org/
>
>At Thu, 18 Jun 2009, Susan wrote:
>>
>>Hi,
>>I have been trying to get advice from my gynae for the past two months
>>so am hoping I can get some here. My Dr says she doesn't know enough
>>about the condition.
>>
>>I was diagnosed with endo and adenomyosis in January after suffering
>>with daily chronic pelvic pain. My gyna started me on 6 months course
>>of zoladex with Livial tibilone add-back HRT. The first two months was
>>pretty bad but by the 3rd injection the pain was lifting, I felt great.
>>I had two periods that month which was surprising since they had stopped
>>and were supposed to stop.
>>
>>I had the 4th injection and 1 week later felt sick, the pain was bad and
>>I had another period. Two weeks on now I do feel better, but the pain,
>>although much less, is still there. I am emotionally tired from not
>>knowing what to expect. I want to have try and have a baby as soon as I
>>come off the treatment. I am 30 yrs old. My gut is telling me to stop
>>the treatment and start trying, especially since I'm still in pain and
>>having periods. I'm not convinced the zolly is working very well and
>>I'm miserable.
>>
>>Should I persist for the last two months, even though I'm unhappy and in
>>pain, or should i stop? Will the last two months make much of a
>>difference?
>>
>>thanks for any advice!
>>Sue
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