has anyone taken lupron as long as i have?

i have been on and off lupron for about 9 years now and am a little (more than a little) nervous about the fact that it seems like most people only take a 6-month course of it. I've done a few 6-month courses of it and then taken a year or 2 off and then was on it for about a straight year and a half. i just came off a 6-month course of it and am waiting for my period and have resolved to have the surgery and not go back on lupron. i read about it in oprah's mag about the concerns that it's only ok'd for 6 months in women and drs are using it for way longer. anyone out there in my situation?

I've not been in your situation, but I was wondering if you'd had a bone density (DEXA) scan done?

Lupron and its cousin, Synarel, can really leach out the bones; if you have other risk factors, such as soda drinking or smoking, that bone loss can be quite dramatic. That alone is one of the main reasons for the six-month limit (usually) for Lupron use.

I hope the surgery goes well for you!



Audrey

hi audrey, yes i've had the scan done every year and my bones are great, mostly b/c i get a lot of exercise and drink a ton of milk. so far so good in that respect.

scrappingmary -

Can't believe you/your doctor opted to take Lupron vs surgery for nine years! I felt great on Lupron (was only on it for two months) and would have been satisfied with just that vs. surgery, but as others have commented, my doctor said the longest I could be on it would be six months. Have the surgery! You'll feel just as good or better - in time!

Roz

i know, it sounds crazy when you look at the big picture, i guess. now looking at the whole picture scares me, and the reason i was on lupron was that i would get relief for some months after stopping the treatment, and my plan was to avoid surgery as long as possible. i'm not sure why anymore!