Ladies I need your expertise with Depo Provera 150mg

[joe199]

I had a laparotomy 8 weeks ago for bilateral endometriomas and adhesions. My follow up with the gynecologist was today she wants me to have Depo Provera shots every 3 months 150 mg for the advanced endometriosis. She said this can cause weight gain. Then when she saw my reaction she said only a couple of pounds. Will this stop the endometriosis or only provide pain management. I don't want to go against her recommendation but I wonder if I should get a second opinion.

[Pres0081]

Hi Joe!

I've had endometriosis for about 14 years now... I'm 23 now. I tried Depo Provera at the age of 16. I had a smaller dose once a month. I wasn't advised of the weight gain that I would be getting lol I went from a size 5 to a size 10 within 6 months. I don't know how old you are but at 16, still in high school, I wasn't too happy. I decided to quit the treatment after a year.

After that, I tried all other treatments... pills, patches, Mirena (which I will NEVER recommend to anyone) and now I am on Depot Lupron which puts you into menopause. The way endometriosis was explained to me is that if you stop your period, the endometriosis cannot spread. What I can suggest to you is to give it a try. Every woman reacts differently and if weight gain is the only "bad" thing that can happen, it's honestly not that bad. If it can work for you, then give it a try.

You do not want to get to the point where I'm at. I now wish that I had toughed it out and dealt with it. Weight gain is nothing compared to hot flashes, insomnia, rapid bone density loss and many other nasty things.

Hopefully you'll give it a try. Also, with endo, you do have to change your diet. Check it out on the web, certain foods can make endo worse. So maybe if the weight gain does happen, you can make diet changes that can help both the endo and the weight gain :(

Keep us updated and good luck!

[babyblue2449]

I am still tryin to figure out the best treatment for me, but while i was reading about the depo, i found out that there is a different depo shot just for endo. Its depo-subq provera 104. Its claims its for the pain management.

[Karen777]

I am in the same boat...tryng to figure out the best treatment for my endo.  My gyno suggested continual birth control pills or Depo Provera shot.  I am too worried about the weight gain as a side affect from the depo shot.  Still doing my research....

[joe199]

Hi Karen,

I feel the same way as you do. Can you let me know if you get anymore information. From what I am reading the weight gain can be substantial and I don't think the shot is a long term solution for the endo. Did you end up finding out what stage of endometriosis you have ?  How is the stomach swelling coming along, I remember reading some posts of yours from some other questions I had started and I remember you were trying to dress up some drawstring pants. I am in the same boat as you but I am 9 weeks post op and still swollen. Some people said it takes 3 months. I seem to have gained around 5 pounds as well since the surgery maybe because I am not as active as I usually asm. Anyways take care of yourself and give me some news..

[joe199]

I wonder what the difference between the two depo shots are and I wonder why my gyno recommended the other depo shot if the depo-subq provera 104 shot is specific for endo ?

[babyblue2449]

i think it is new, not sure. all i know is when i googled endo treatments it poped up. the website for it is still under construction.

[babyblue2449]

i think it is new, not sure. all i know is when i googled endo treatments it poped up. the website for it is still under construction.

[babyblue2449]

i think it is new, not sure. all i know is when i googled endo treatments it poped up. the website for it is still under construction.

[hollandlop]

What's the difference between  Provera  and Lupron?

I heard that weight gain is not the only side affect. You can also get acne, hair loss, and bone density loss?

Also, birth control pills doesn't get rid of your period completely, right? So when you do have a period, won't your endometriosis come back every month?

[joe199]

I think although I am no expert that the Lupron puts you into menopause whereas the Provera is a birthcontrol which is less strong. I have read all the same side effects and that is why I am very hesitant to have a shot that I am stuck with side effects for 3 months at least. It is not like a pill that you can just stop overnight, the shot lasts a long time in your system. I don't think irregardless of what they give any method is fullproof I believe I read that endometriosis can still return even in women who get hysterectomies. I am to say the least confused and wondering if the surgery is enough for now and I should just wait and see how it goes.

[babyblue2449]

Hey ladies, i just found this all natural product that claims can help with endo. When i can afford it, i am going to buy it and try it. Heres the website if you want to check it out yourselfs   www.endovan.com  At this point i am willing to try anything because the first & only BC pill that i ever took, i had a reaction to.

[hollandlop]

Hi. I remember that you said it's been like 9 weeks since your surgery.

Are you taking any birth control pills right now?

It's been 8 weeks since my surgery and I'm not taking anything right now because I'm trying to conceive. But I'm very scared that my cyst will grow back.

The only 2 birth control pills I tried in the past is Alesse, which was ok for me, no side effects. I also took a progesterone only pill, which gave me a lot of acne. The reason I took the pills was to regulate my heavy period a few years ago, when I didn't even know I had endo yet.

[joe199]

Hi,

No I am like Karen 777 still doing my homework before starting any treatment. I only saw my gynecologist last week for my follow up and she didn't convince me that the depo shot was the best course of treatment. What I don't understand is that in the hospital she had said we don't need to treat you because you didn't have endo everywhere and at my follow up it was for sure I had to have the depo shot ???

[joe199]

Thanks I will look into that natural treatment. You have endo have you had surgery. Did you have chocolate cysts. Can you give me some background as to when you had your surgery and if your endo has returned. What treatment does your gyno want you to use ?

[hollandlop]

My doctor told me the same thing. He said the only place I had endo was my right ovary, where the endometrioma cyst grew.

Then he told me I had to either become pregnant, or get Lupron shots because the cyst will eventually grow back little by little every month during my period.

He also told me since he doesn't know when my endo started, he doesn't know how long it'll be before the cyst grows back.

Did you have your doctor check to see if anything has grown again during your last checkup?

[joe199]

My gyno didn't do a pelvic exam I had my period. She did say that it had been the cause of my infertility 8 years ago so I assume my endo has been there for quite some time.

I had bilateral endemetriomas and adhesions but the endo wasn't everywhere. It is confusing but I know I don't want to take the Depo but I know if I go back and see her in 6 months and I haven't taken it she won't be too happy.

I am only 40 years old so I am not going to hit menopause for a while.

What are you going to do as a treatment method

[hollandlop]

Well, my doctor told me to have a baby before going on any birth control pills.

My doctor told me to have a baby as soon as possible because of my endo. Since he has no idea when my endo developed, he also doesn't know how long it'll take for the cyst to grow back. I already tried once after my surgery, but no luck. I'm going to try 2 more times. If I still don't get pregnant, I'm going to probably go on Lupron shots for 6 months. I know there are a lot of side affects, but I have no choice. Surgery was just too painful for me. I can't risk going through another surgery again. After the Lupron, my doctor told me to go on birth control pills. Since I'm 33, I am also far away from menopause, and don't know if my endo will worsen a lot before I do hit menopause. This is just so frustrating.

[joe199]

I understand your frustration I tried to get pregnant for years and only now found out that the endo is what caused my infertility. I am now 40 and have decided it is too late for me you still have a chance and I really hope things work out for you.

What my doctor hasn't been able to explain to me is after the 6 months on Lupron or Depo won't the endo come back. Since we can't remain on that medication until menopause aren't we only giving ourselves 6 extra months before the endo comes back ?

I don't see the point unless it guarantees it will never come back.

What do you think ? and how did your doctor explain it to you.

[hollandlop]

My doctor hasn't really explained why I need to take the Lupron shots either. The only thing he told me was it will trick my body into thinking that its on menopause and I won't have my period. And because of that, any adhesions I may have may shrink or disappear.

I read online that some women have been symptom free for a couple of years after the shot, but that depends on each individual and how severe your endo is. I also read that when your endo does come back, it may grow on different places in your body.

The worst part about all this is that nothing is guaranteed. All my doctor could say is that it could work or it may not. This means that everyday we have to worry about when the adhesions might grow back. And we have to keep trying different medications until we find something that works. Just awful!

[joe199]

I am going back to see my family doctor next week although he is not a specialist I trust him and I want his opinion about taking the shot or not. I am just not convinced all these possible side effects are worth it. My cousin had bad endo and had a lap done many years ago and she was not treated afterwards and has been fine for the past 10 years. Her gyno said that the surgery was the most radical treatment option and the best one for long term relief from endo. She said if it comes back quickly chances are nothing will work longterm, she was lucky it hasn't returned for her but from some of the posts I am reading here some woman are back on the operating table in a couple of months even if they do take the shots.

I will let you know what my family doctor says.

[hollandlop]

Yeah, I read that about 50% of women who had surgery done won't get it back. I guess your cousin is one of the lucky ones.

I also read some of the posts about their adhesions reoccurring within a few months. That is so scary. That's why I'm really worried if I'm one of them since I'm not taking any pills right now.

I hope your family doctor will give you some answers. Please let me know what he says. =)

[joe199]

Of course I will keep you informed I am seeing him Wednesday afternoon on August 26th.

I actually was told last week by the surgeon who performed a colonoscopy on me for some digestive issues I have been having that the laparotomy I had for the cysts to be removed causes scar tissue and adhesions to occur. I was shocked because I thought the surgery was done to remove adhesions he said yes but any abdominal surgery can cause other adhesions to occur. We discussed it when the colonoscopy was painful and that is when he explained it to me that the surgery had probably caused scar tissue and adhesions to form !!!!!

I know that things will work out for your hollandlop. Keep me informed of how you are feeling and how things are going. I feel like we have come to know one another and I understand exactly what you are going through at the moment.

I am starting to feel the gas and bloating finally going away a bit. I know it is going to go away soon for you as well.

Take care

[hollandlop]

It is comforting to know I am not alone here. This was my first surgery and I didn't know it would take so long to heal.

The urologist also told me the same thing last week regarding adhesions. He said my surgery may have caused some adhesions around the bladder area. I am also shocked because like you, I thought the surgery was to remove adhesions, not cause them.

But the urologist told me that the adhesions caused by surgery will usually go away a few weeks after.

I went to see my gyn today to make an appointment for intra-uterus insemination. He told me to take 5 days of Clomid and then to test for ovulation until it becomes positive. Then I will go in to do the procedure. He said the success rate is about 50%. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

I also asked him again about the gas and bloating. He confirmed that it does take 3 months for it to go away. He also said that the pain we feel when we press around the incision site will stay there until it completely heals.

I am glad to hear you are feeling better. Please keep me informed on your healing progress.  =)

[joe199]

That is great news about the intra-uterus insemination. You must be really anxious.

Did the gynecologist say how long before the endo comes back ? Thanks for confirming about the gas and bloating.

I hope you are managing to stay calm about that and I know everything is going to work out fine for you. 50% that is pretty good chance for you to get pregnant.

I am back at work since 4 days, finding it difficult. Are you back at work yet ?

Please keep me informed :)