Taking natural supplements while on Lupron

I'm a 42 year old, mother of four children and a 5th on the way (HA, HA), my 7.5 cm fibroid.

After being on BCP for 2 mos to control bleeding and hating every moment of it (weight gain, depression, bloating, nausea) I decided it was time to decide now what the future of my buddy, my uterus, was to be.

Well after numerous suggestions, many well meaning "fanatics" choosing a wait and see nutritional approach, and a few 3rd opinions from drs. who all suggested surgery, I've come to the conclusion acupuncture, supplements and meditation don't work so let's just take it out!

I currently got my 3 mo Lupron shot (11.25mg) this past week to help shrink this fibroid to a more manageable size in order to do LSH.

I realize this will throw my body into chemical menopause. As if my body hasn't been through enough with the BCPs which I hated. (I also had 1 1/2 ovaries removed when I was 20 due to ovarian cysts and my libido hasn't been the same since.)

Of course, my drs. both general and gyno, never wanted to address that the loss of libido, muscle loss and inability to lose weight could have been a hormonal balance, or estrogen dominance factor.

In some ways, I'm actually looking forward to surgery and eventually menopause, because I think this peri-menopause stuff is for the birds! Of course, LSH will save what's left of my ovaries, all 1/2 of one. Is this enough to produce the right balance of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. Personally I think I've been off balance for 22 years but my drs. never wanted to test. They thought I was a hypochrondriac .I'm curious if anyone has been on the 3mo Lupron to shrink fibroids for a LSH, what their symptoms were on it, and whether anyone took natural supplements to combat them.

My dr. said absolutely no progesterone cream but was less emphatic on soy, black cohosh, damiana and chasteberry. Will they lessen the effectiveness of the drug along with the symptoms?

I appreciate any response from anyone who is on Lupron or has been on it to shrink fibroids prior to a LSH and what to expect!

Strinker on Lupron

(((Strinker))), I'm sorry that you are dealing with all of this and hope you will feel much better after your LSH. I took Lupron for 6 months-- (2) 3 month shots-- AFTER my TAH/LSO because the gyn thought I had return of endo. She was right because even after that and 6 weeks of bcp they found active endo when doing a RSO. Since you are on the Lupron for different reasons it is probably best to ask your gyn about using supplements while on it. Personally, I wasn't allowed to, but my meno symptoms form it weren't intolerable. However, the side effects from the Lupron itself were horrible the second 3 months.

Doctors seem to have many differing opinions on the use of supplements so, it is always best to ask the one who knows your personal history. I am now 6 months into surgical meno and while not allowed HRT, my gyn said Black Cohosh was ok, but not Soy. I am suffering from insomnia and zip in the sex drive category, but no hot flashes or night sweats now due to the Black Cohosh.

I, too, believe I was estrogen dominant for 22 years. I have 4 children as well, but also had 3 miscarriages that no-one could ever explain and horrible periods all my life. Was always miserable during times of high estrogen. Go figure! My only daughter is almost 12 and will be starting this misery soon. I really feel for her. Good luck to you!

i had lupron before my tvh on 2/9/05. i had a 1 month shot and then a 3 month shot. i was lucky with it. i didn't have a big problem. the only thing that i noticed was night sweats. i would wake up drenched in sweat. as time went on they seemed to ease up. i didn't get them as often or as bad. i had fibroids with very heavy bleeding. my iron level had dropped to 6. the lupron was to help shrink the fibroids and it helped with the beeding. although i was breaking through the lupron it wasn't as heavy. my dd wanted to get my iron level up before surgery. i was so stressed about my surgery that any other symtoms i might have had from the lupron i really didn't notice. plus my iron was so low that i didn't feel well. i didn't take anything other then a multiple vitamin and my iron. i hope you do o.k. on the lupron. if you need any other info let me know. i will try to help. good luck.

Hi Strinker,

I had Lupron for 3 months before LSH. My results were very much like mkh.
I had an emergency dnc late November and a ultrasound and a Lupron shot the next week. I had one shot per month for 3 months. Previous history was heavy periods for last 2 1/2 years and tried Prometrium (spell?) and birth control pills which I believe is why I ended up in ER. I still had bleeding for an additional month non-stop atfer dnc.
Blood count was at 6 also and Dr (ob-gyn) said I needed to get blood count back up and Lupron would help.
I had many many fibroids with a 16-17 week uterus. By 2/21 my blood count was at 12.
I had night sweats every 3 hours some nights the 2nd and 3rd month. Also hot flashes every day 2nd and 3rd month, every 2-3 hours. It was an experience!
I kept ovaries and now at week 5 few daytime hot flashes and a couple wakes at night with night sweats. It's definitely getting better at this point.
I only took multi-vitamin and iron. I am waiting to see if my ovaries return to normal before I worry about hrt. Since I am 48 I was told I may start menopause at any time. I'll be visiting these posts regularly.

Good luck. The LSH was a great advantage for me and I was referred to an excellent surgeon.

Nan