Re: Unsure whether to have 5th zoladex injection
From: anonymous (anonymous@obgyn.net)
Thu Jun 18 16:16:29 2009
Estrogen can help endo grow, progesterone can help the symptoms recede a
bit, but doesn't remove endo
have you seen the erc's site, they have doc recc's in the uK, i think
erc.activboard.org/
google it if doesn't come up
have you seen this info on diet, she's in the UK
endometriosis.org/nutrition
http://www.endometriosis.co.uk/
http://www.endometriosis.org.uk/misc/links.php?menuID=8
hysts don't fix endo, but i think excision surgery is called keyhole
surgery over there (aka 'lap')
http://keyholehysterectomy.co.uk/laparoscopic_assisted_keyhole_surgery.html
At Thu, 18 Jun 2009, Susan wrote:
>
>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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