Endometriosis and Lupron Injections for Pain

Updated on November 18, 2010
N.W. asks from West Jordan, UT
17 answers

My doctor wants to start me on Lupron injections next month for pain associated with Endometriosis. Is anyone out there familiar with this type of therapy? Thanks for looking!!

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N.S.

answers from Provo on

I have written this before, but I know of a doctor of nutrition who has worked with women for many years and has had HUGE success. IF you are interested in learning about other solutions to Endo, write back and I would be glad to get you in contact with her. I have been amazed over the years about how effective proper nutrition can be in treating and healing women's health issues.

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L.Z.

answers from Boise on

Hi Tasha,

My daughter is 19, she was diagnosed(surgery) with endo her senior year in high school. She has tried many treatment options, every type of birth control, every cream, supplement, the list goes on, but we had to put our foot down when her dr suggested the Lupron. This disease is truly debilitating and she struggles every month more often than not, her pain lands her in the ER when her prescription pain meds don't help. Last month she ended up in the ER where we were told to follow up with Dr David Redwine. He is a specialist in the field and not one of those that just says "hysterectomy"!!
Check out his website www.endometriosissurgeon.com (lots of great information! well worth the read)
We followed up with him as suggested, he offered us some real hope in treatment options, yes my daughter will endure another surgery but this time we expect to see results that will truly improve her quality of life!!
I hope that you find something that works for you, keep researching and continuing to educate yourself, what works for one my not work for another.
Good Luck!!

1 mom found this helpful
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D.W.

answers from Provo on

Hi Tasha!
I have A LOT of experience with endometriosis and Lupren injections. I have had 5 surgery's and been on Lupren for about 2 years at a time. I don't know how serious your pain or endo is but I would recommend the injections. It's definetly not easy. It's exactly like going through menopause. You get the hot flashes, mood swings, the whole package. But it does help the pain. Has your Doctor talked to you about putting you on some meds to help the side affects? Please don't hesitate to ask me more questions. I have had endo for 7 years and have a lot of answers. Hope everything works out for you!
Dani

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B.H.

answers from Salt Lake City on

I, too, did 6 months of Lupron shots for endometriosis. The side effects were managable. I had a lap. done right after the 6 months and the enometriosis that was left was minimal. I would be very careful about staying on Lupron for too long, but it does help. Have you tried birth control pills? If they will manage your symptoms it would be an easier way to go. Good Luck.

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C.E.

answers from Provo on

i've found the yahoo group for the endometriosis research association very informative and helpful. http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/erc/

i would check the archives first for this particular question because it's been asked and answered many times in that group. also feel free to email me with questions or just to vent any time.

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L.L.

answers from Salt Lake City on

Hi Tasha
I did the Lupron route for endometriosis because we were having a hard time getting pregnant. Because it puts your body through temporary menopause, I did have some hot flashes, mood swings, etc, but for me, it was definitely worth it. It got rid of the endometriosis, and we were able to conceive with the help of in vitro. Plus, having six months without a period and free of the awful cramps that come with it, was fabulous. Good luck with whatever you decide to do.

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E.S.

answers from Fort Collins on

I actually had six months of the Lupron injections for endometriosis. Prior to that, I had two surgeries. In all honesty, I think surgery helped more than the shots. The shots themselves weren't all that bad, but I don't think the benefits outweighed the potential risks associated with the injections (namely bone loss). I had severe pain associated with my case, and I did end up going to a pain specialist and they did injections (I think cortisone)locally to the areas of pain. This helped significantly, at least short term. I read recently that there are some newer treatments that are available that you might look into (unfortunately I can't remember what they are). I hope this helps!

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S.M.

answers from Casper on

I googled "endometriosis herbal cure" and found some interesting and informative results. If it were me, that is the route I would want to take first.

I believe that God put these amazing plants on this earth to heal us, and that if we study and learn how to use them we can be healed.

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A.M.

answers from Fort Collins on

Hi Tasha,

I am in the same boat as you and have been wondering the same thing! I have severe endometriosis and so many fibroid tumors in my uterus that they cannot count them all. I am in pain every single day from my endometriosis (I have been since I was 17 but this is the first Dr that finally diagnosed it and I am now 30). I hurt so badly at times that I am doubled over in pain for an hour at a time. I am unable to play sports with my family anymore. I have four boys, which in itself is a miracle because I did lose 10 babies due to this condition. I am finished having children, so I have considered having a hysterectomy. I just don't want to be on hormone replacement pills the rest of my life or deal with the weight gain, etc. I think the weight gain would be the hardest for me. My Dr actually ordered the Lupron shot for me and has been urging me to come in to the office for the injection but I keep putting it off. I have been having second thoughts about it. The pain is so bad that I have to do something! Although I do not like to take ANY pill; even Tylenol- I have tried vicodin and percocet and they do not even phase the pain. I have not had a period for four years because of being pregnant and nursing, so the bleeding is not a factor for me at this point; only the pain. I am not sure what to do! Good luck with your decision. I wish I could offer a suggestion for you.

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C.C.

answers from Oklahoma City on

I have had 4 surgeries for endometriosis and my first was when I was 18 and I am now 28 and a mother to a beautiful 13 month old daughter. I have struggled with endo for years and researched everything that could possibly help. The Depot Lupron injections have some pretty serious side effects that you should think about. It puts you into a menopausal type state, with weight gain, mood swings etc. After my research I decided to not do Lupron because I did not see the point in trading one problem for the next. What has helped me the most is to have a laproscopic surgery where my doctor scraped out all the endometriosis lesions she could find, then I take a constant dose of birth control. Currently, I am on Yaz and I do not take the sugar pills. This in turn keeps me from having my period. If you you don't have a period, then the endometriosis lesions are less likely to grow since you are not cycling. I know some say you need to have your period, but I have had trouble since I was 14 years old with periods every 2 weeks for 7 days. I want to have more kids and I feel like, along with my doctor, this is the best option for now, to keep it under control. When I was 22 I did go to the Center for Endometriosis Care in Atlanta, GA where I had my 3rd surgery and started the constant birth control regimen after that. Once we decided to have a baby, I did go off the birth control and had one more surgery to clean up the endometriosis that had formed over 4 years. This was the longest I had made it without and endo surgery for a while. I know this may sound confusing, but I truly believe in the constant birth control instead of Lupron. Please let me know if you have questions. I know the pain and frustration that comes with endometriosis.

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K.B.

answers from Denver on

Yes. Been there done that twice. You have to be mentally prepared to trade in the pain for menopause symptoms. I was SOOO ready... Good luck to you!!

R.C.

answers from Denver on

I did 6 months of Lupron injections for cysts and endometriosis. It made mine a lot worse. Be very careful.

It also depleted my bone density so bad that I was walking barefoot across my deck heading to my hot tub and ended up with multiple hairline fractures in the bottom of my foot.

I fortunately got on natural progesterone cream to replenish my bone density and good calcium supplement.

Feel free to contact me to discuss further. Do a lot of research because this shot has pages of side effects!!

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E.W.

answers from Las Vegas on

I also have endometriosis and I have been on the lupron shots and I would not ever do them again. IT has been over five years since I started them and I still feel side-effects occasionally. I felt crazy when I was on them, like I knew I was crazy but couldn't do anything about it. I would hear a noise and think that someone was trying to break-in and try to get away by climbing out my window. I wouldn't be able to decide what to wear so I would have a total meltdown. Things like that. I couldn't work while I was on it either- everything was too stressful. I had a TERRIBLE experience with it. If you would like to talk about this more you can email me at ____@____.com or call me at ###-###-####. I would be more than willing to help in any way I can.
E.

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C.B.

answers from Provo on

I had the lupron series but was only able to have 4. On the 4th one I had an allergic reaction for some reason. They worked great, but basically put you in menapause and you will experience hot flashes, etc.

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E.N.

answers from Provo on

I had a laporoscopy followed by Lupron when I was about 16. It did help, but I did have lots of major hot flashes and moodiness! So it is a trade-off. And it is terrible for your bones!

Now that I am done having kids I am on an IUD and birth control pills to stop cysts from forming and that has been working great. I haven't needed another surgery!

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D.Q.

answers from Pocatello on

Hi Tasha,

My daughter was dignosed with endometriosis when she was 14 yrs old. She has had surgery once when she was 14. We tried birth control pills and she would bleed for weeks at a time. We also tried Depo Provera but that did not stop the pain. We decided to try the Depo Lupron because we has tried so many things that were not working. She has been on it for 7 months and is pain free. I don't know how long she will be able to stay on this but for now it is working great. I wish that this would have been available when I was having the same problems. I also had Endometriosis, I had it removed 4 times and at 28 I had a Hystorectomy (not spelled right I'm sure. It is not the worst thing in the world if you are done having kids. Thank goodness I was able to even have kids. Hope this helps.

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J.S.

answers from Los Angeles on

Lupron has changed my quality of life. I have had chest/heart pains since receiving 3 months of shots for endometreosis. The shot was sent to my Drs office I never received list of possible side effects from Lupron until I called and asked them for the info. Lupron sent me through menopause, joint pain, headaches, depression, exhaustion. Now I am a 34 year old woman with constant chest/heart pain and exhaustion. Shame on Lupron!! My Dr acted like the Lupron shot was no big deal. I wish I would have had info on Lupron. I wish I had a choice

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