Zoladex and HRT - help needed

[jumpjackflash]

Hello wise women of Mumsnet. I am hoping someone can help me...I am 43 and for the last three months have been on Zoladex injections (once a month) backed up by HRT (the oestrogen gel, 3 pumps a day, and Utrogestan 100mg.) This is due to endometriosis and bonkers hormones.

After my last baby (now 3) my hormones were all over the place - mainly it seemed down to low progesterone as the second half of my cycle (at least 10-12 days) I would almost be bedridden with headaches, exhaustion and nausea. Periods were very heavy and I was anaemic. I was at the end of my tether.

Symptoms were temporarily eased by taking a progesterone only minipill - 2x a day - but I was still experiencing some PMS and bleeding so my gynae decided to move forward to the Zoladex in the hope that a. It would stop the bleeding (it has) and b. my hormones would settle. They haven’t.

I have had hot flushes, aches and pains, exhaustion, headaches, brain fog, lock jaw, depresssion, fluctuating moods - the whole lot. In the days after the Zoladex I feel rotten but even as it settles I am not feeling rights I am often extremely fatigued and am becoming so upset.

Shall I just go for a hysterectomy? Would an endocrinologist help do you think? Or is my dose not quite right? I really hope someone can help!

I was on monthly injections of Zoladex for three months as a preventative against a recurrence of breast cancer and I have never felt more like a zombie in my life.

I was so exhausted and nauseous I could barely function. I carried on with the Zoladex as long as I did because I hoped my body would adjust to it, but it never got any better and I decided the lowered risk of recurrence was not worth the wretched half-life I was living.

Hope you can find some help OP. You have my sympathy.

Thanks so much Cat. So hard to know whether it’s the Zoladex or the level of HRT that’s making me feel like poo. If it is the HRT then a hysterectomy won’t help me as I will still need to find the right balance.

Either way, I can’t do it anymore ☹️

Yeah I didn’t get on with Zoladex and hrt at all, didn’t even stop the bleeding.. now having a hysterectomy for severe endo next month as a last resort.. hoping it was the Zoladex and not the hrt that made me feel so rough as will be on Hrt now for about 12 years, you might have more options than me depending on your exact issues so push for more help as I have found it’s downplayed a lot.. you have my sympathies!

I had a zoladex about 3 weeks ago and did NOT start the HRT because I thought I would see how I felt.
I feel no different anyway, still anaemic and still having periods!

Mine was meant to be giving me a break from anaemia until hysto surgery and I don’t think it’s going to work!
I don’t have a hormone problem though I have a womb problem. I’m not having my ovaries out

Thanks so much everyone. Not sure what to do but tempted to ask for a hysterectomy. Is that the normal path if Zoladex doesn’t work?

Bleeding has also now started (one week after 3rd injection) along with cramps etc. This sucks!!

I got put on surgery list after 5 years of this.
Their tactic is to try everything and if nothing works you will get surgery. I’ve tried an ablation, 2 x Mirena, all the contraceptive pills, norethisterone, tranexamic acid - zoladex was the last resort.

I am so ill with chronic anaemia and nothing will stop the bleeding so I will get a hysterectomy but I had to ask for a 2nd opinion!

Can you ask to go back and have a review?

How's the zoladex for everyone?
I am getting my first one tomorrow but with Livial

I'm frankly scared shitless but decided to get on with it in lockdown as I'm mostly at home.

I may or may not have a hysterectomy but currently on mirena with a monthly bleed, a very bulky uterus and now prolapse.

45

@chuffedasbuttons how did you get on in the end and how are now?