9 Days Til Surgery
Didn’t do a whole lot this weekend. Love was recovering from his extraction Thursday and was kinda sore and I was really, weirdly dizzy Friday and Saturday. Not like vertigo dizzy, more like lightheaded/spacey/woozy. If I got up too quick, my vision would go kinda white/foggy too for a second.
I think that perhaps the Lupron caused my hypertension. (High blood pressure.) I’ve never had high bp before; in fact, it’s always been low. All the women in my family are that way. So, to suddenly have obscenely high readings when in 34 years I’ve never had any the same time I’m on a medication that can cause it…? Hrm. It’s listed in the side effects for physicians section under Cardiovascular. So I’m wondering if the Lupron is kinda weaning its way out of my system in bits where it’s not causing my blood pressure to be high and thus the meds are making it too low sometimes? I don’t know. It’s pure guess, but given the timing of the onset of the hypertension and the timing of these weird lightheadedness spells, it seems highly plausible.
I’m finding as I’m reading up more on Lupron that while it was a necessary evil for me to shrink the tumors (and shrink them it did, almost in half as of my last ultrasound in August), “evil” truly is the right word for it. A lot of the various strange and weird medical concerns I’ve had these past months can easily be traced back to this drug.
Such as:
- – Psychiatric side effects have included depression and emotional lability (up to 45%)
- – Endocrine side effects of leuprolide have included hot flashes (56% to 91%)
- – Cardiovascular side effects have included ECG changes (19%), … hypertension
- – Dermatologic side effects have included acne, dry skin, hair loss (up to 18% of females), photosensitivity, clamminess, night sweats, increased sweating…
- – Prolonged use of leuprolide in females may increase the risk of osteoporosis.
- – Hematologic side effects have included anemia
- – Other side effects including symptoms consistent with fibromyalgia (e.g., joint and muscle pain, headaches, sleep disorders, gastrointestinal distress, and shortness of breath) have been reported
- – General side effects including sweating, syncope, rigors, weakness, and lethargy have been reported.
Oh goodness yes. Seriously sadness and depression and sudden and often inexplicable mood swings.
Oh goodness yes, though helped by the Femhrt hormone replacement
A-yup. Suddenly on medication for something I’ve never had before.
Again, yes. Including really bad thinning of my hair that leaves me sobbing in the shower most days at the clumps coming out. My skin is both dry AND broken out, I’m always sweaty but often half hot and half cold and the sun is more intensely physically painful on my skin than ever.
This worries me. I read a lot about permanent bone density loss in women from this drug.
And oh yeah, I’m also anemic again.
All of the above.
Again, oddly familiar, yet weirdly not normal physical issues this summer.
And that’s just a quick look through one source of general reported side effects. That a very brief summary yields this many familiar symptoms is troubling. I fear the long term effects of this drug and truly hope that it will pass though my system quickly and be done. Sadly, many women report time upwards of a year (or more!) before it clears their body fully.
Lately, my mood has been worse than ever. I’m just so damned sad all the time. I hope this too will pass soon. Technically, my 3-month shot should “expire” October 7th but realistically, its hard to say how long it will take to get back to “normal.”
I do so want all this to be behind me. I want to get on with my life and stop thinking about medications, side effects, prescriptions, tumors, surgeries, doctor’s appointments – ! It is, at times, nearly overwhelming.
This is the start of my final, full week before surgery. I have doctor’s appointments Wednesday (with primary for additional pre-op bloodwork) and Friday (hematologist) this week. Love also forced me to make an appointment to get my hair cut on Thursday since it’s so thin right now from the meds and it’s months overdue and it just looks so awful and makes me feel so ugly he said I need to go and try to make myself feel a little better before surgery. I know it’s stupid, but I don’t know. I’ve been so sad about how I look and how I feel I look right now, maybe it will help.
Anyway, this got heavier then I planned. I’ve been wanting to write about my lupron side effects and thoughts and depression and hair loss and all that for awhile now but just never quite got it together. Guess it decided it wasn’t going to wait any longer and was coming out here.
But, that’s the weekend. And here starts another week and another day closer to surgery. For now? Bed. Good night and thanks for reading.
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Tags: countdown to surgery, depression, fundraiser, hair loss from lupron, hysterectomy, lupron, lupron depression, lupron for fibroids, lupron side effects, medical bills, medication, meds, my experience with lupron, raising money for surgery, side effects, trying to raise money for medical bills, upcoming surgery
:: about ::
40 year old Pagan woman who lives in Florida with her guy and two cats, loves Disney, reads fanatically, tinkers in photography and runs her own handcrafted artisan jewelry business.
Inadvertently became the face of Healthcare Reform in America by posting the (in)famous "I am Obamacare" image and sharing the story of her hysterectomy at age 34. Now runs her own small business, PhoenixFire Designs, specalizing in handmade tree of life pendants, full moon tree of life necklaces, family birthstone jewelry, wire wrapped jewelry and more full-time.
Our best friend passed away suddenly March 13, 2010. Five years later, it's still hard. The full story can be read here.Hysterectomy Fund
October 2013 Update: Happy 2 Year Anniversary!! I'm amazed at how different life is two years later. Though the hardest thing I've ever been through in my life, I've grown so much as a result of having overcome such terrifying and daunting medical issues. In a weird way, I'm better for having experienced these hardships. I'm more sure of myself these days and more confident I can face life's challenges better.
I have tried to turn this medical challenge into an opportunity and using this as a means to push forward with my small jewelry business and as a way to support myself again.
Your continued support is appreciated right now and even links to my shop are appreciated. Thank you to everyone who's helped and spread the word. All of you helped make it possible for me to be here and healthy.:: calendar ::
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2 Comments
*hugs* Good luck with everything!
Thank you!!