I’ve managed uterine fibroids for many years. At my last check-up appointment, we noticed one of the tumors had grown rapidly over the past year (six times its usual growth), so I’m shifting gears.
I’m pausing on my herbal supplements routine, and taking Lupron Depot injections to try to shrink the fibroids before having surgery to remove them.
Here’s how it’s going.
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Reading About Fibroid Medications
Prior to getting my first Lupron Depot injection last week, I spent hours reading about this medication from others who have posted online.
Some didn’t experience any issues, while others felt terrible. Several bloggers mentioned the first two to four weeks after the injection are the most difficult as far as managing menopause-like side effects, and that’s the time frame I’m in, so I thought I’d write about it for future Googlers.
How I Felt on The Day of the Lupron Depot Injection
I had my first of three injections on a Friday afternoon. I planned it that way so I’d have the weekend to rest and recover, if needed.
As of the writing of this article, the fibroid medication has been in my body for four days. The goal of the medication is to shut down estrogen production from the ovaries, which fuels the fibroid tumors. This will put me into a medical menopause state, and hopefully starve the tumors of the hormone that feeds them.
My gynecologist shared a laundry list of side effects to expect, and so far, I’ve only noticed a few of them. On the day of the injection, I felt the worst.
- Sore arm at the injection site
- Mild, lingering headache
- Extreme body fatigue and heaviness
- A little forgetfulness and brain fog
Since injection day, I’ve been improving. My arm isn’t sore any longer, the headaches are happening less often, and my mind is clearer. I do, however, still notice body fatigue and some new nausea. The fibroid symptoms I had before the injection (cramping, pressure, and pain) continue.
I can’t do as much physically as I’m used to, my heatpad is my best friend, and I want to go to bed an hour or two earlier each night.
How I’m Managing Fibroids for the Next Several Months
The current plan is to do one Lupron Depot injection per month for three months. After that, we will measure the tumors again via ultrasound and see if the fibroid medication shrank the tumors. This will inform the type of surgery.
If the fibroids and uterus together shrink to below 10 cm, I can have laparoscopic surgery with vaginal removal of the uterus, which is a faster surgery with easier healing. If the fibroids didn’t shrink enough, I will have a full open abdominal hysterectomy to remove my uterus with the tumors inside. This surgery carries more risks and requires a longer recovery.
After surgery, the fibroids will be biopsied.
Help Me Plan for Surgery Recovery
I have a few months to prepare for surgery and recovery. If you’ve had this type of surgery, I’d love to hear your bed rest must-haves and tips for healing comfortably.
Comment below or send me a private message. Thank you!
Until next time,
Choose healthy!
Angela
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