can you compare???

Can anyone here compare Lupron side effects and surgical menopause for me?

I went on Lupron 1 1/2 years ago and the side effects were horrible!.........

severe dizziness

faintness

headaches

hotflashes

tachycardia

memory loss

facial hair growth

hair loss

I could probably name a few more. When I asked my doctor if I had to have my ovaries removed(which I didn't, but might have to now) would I experience the same side effects of surgical menopause that I did on Lupron. He said no, but he did not want to take my ovaries out unless he had to because I was only 30 at the time of my surgery(now 31, 3 1/2 months later ) and I didn't tolerate lupron at all, so he wasn't sure if I'd be able to tolerate HRT. I'm still having problems with my ovaries and I want to learn as much as I can before I even talk to my doctor because I think eventually they will have to go. I am so afraid of menopause because of what I experienced while on lupron.....when my heart would start racing and I'd nearly pass out, I felt like I was having a heart attack or something and it was all because of lupron, but I do know that those can be menopausal side effects too. My doctor doesn't know if it was the chemicals in lupron that I reacted so badly to or if it was the temporary menopause brought on by lupron????

So, if there is anyone here who has been on Lupron and had their ovaries removed that can make the comparison for me, I would truly appreciate it

Hi,
I can't exactly address your question, but have another question back for you! Before my surgery, my DR had suggested I have a Lupron shot to reduce my fibroids and uterus to a more manageable size, etc., but after reading about the side effects, I didn't want to. My understanding though was that Lupron kind of puts one into instant menopause. Yes, that is what would happen when the ovaries are removed too, but HRT would alleviate those symptoms, not cause them. So i don't quite understand why your doc thinks you wouldn't tolerate HRT?

Sorry you're having to consider more surgery at this point!

Maybe he thinks there's a chance I wouldn't tolerate HRT because he put me on add-back therapy(premarin) when I was on Lupron to help with the side effects, which it did a little bit, but I still developed even more side effects after going on Premarin. So I didn't seem to tolerate either one. I don't know the answer to your question, the whole idea of going into menopause just scares me because of my experience

I'm so sorry to hear this news!

Since the mechanisms of Lupron therapy are different from those involved in surgical menopause, I'm hoping that you won't have anywhere near the uncomfortable symptoms that you experienced with it. Lupron acts to block production of your FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) and LH (lutinizing hormone) and thus blocks estrogen and progesterone production.

The symptoms of surgical menopause are caused by an increase in FSH, trying to stimulate ovaries that are not there. But at least you would not have the Lupron inhibiting your HRT any longer.

Do your research here about what HRT products you think might work for you -- Premarin works for many, but not for all of us! Besides looking through the pulldowns at our home page: www.hormonejungle.com, you might want to check into Survivor's Guide to Surgical Menopause, which lists the available products by brand name. I would also check into progesterone replacement, which may help to mitigate your symptoms when/if you do start estrogen replacement.

Sorry to see you hanging out with us in the Jungle, but with a little research, a little knowledge of your own body, and some careful "tinkering" hopefully you'll find a better balance than you're getting now.



Audrey