Progress in living the Lupron-free life

I have been off Lupron for 3 weeks. Admittedly, I could be experiencing some placebo effects, just from the happiness of not being on ADT. However, I am quite encouraged after only 3 weeks. I just had a blood draw today for testosterone. It will be very interesting to correlate my T level with how I am feeling at this point. Also, I started taking daily Cialis when I finished ADT. So, that may be confounding any "scientific" observation on my part.

I do believe my libido and energy level are up. I am starting to fantasize more. Twice this week I have been able to climax "solo." I had never accomplished that in the prior 3 years. It still takes much more work than I wish, but it kind-of, sort-of, reminded me of the old days .. nice!

I can also get a bit of chub now. The VED helps jump start things. Now, I do not immediately deflate like I did on ADT. Alas, no sign of night-time wood, so far.

My testicles never did get as small as some men that post on here have indicated. However, they seem pretty normal in size at this point. Unfortunately, I did not think to do a before/after measurement.

My thighs have felt kind of prickly the last few days. I think hair is starting grow.

I will keep you updated.

Southern Comfort

wishing you all the best
Bronson

Jerry,
My last two shots were one month (actually 28 days to be exact) doses instead of the 3 month versions. My last one-month shot was 7 weeks ago, 10/17. So, that last shot officially expired 3 weeks ago. Technically, I have been Lupron-free for 3 weeks at this point. I hope I explained that clearly enough.
SC

SC,

Understood. Welcome to vacationingland. It is a nice place. My last Lupron shot was October, 2012 but it was a 4 month shot. So I am closing in on almost a year. This vacation has been better than relaxing in the Caribbean...

I'm sure I'll be going back on HT, but for now...I'm enjoying it....

My experience, though, with ADT3 wasn't all that bad either...so if it helps me stay alive...why, that's not a bad vacation either...Just very different.

Sounds like you might have started your vacation early...meaning t levels may be coming back quickly....again, that's great....

May you have a very long, if not lifetime, vacation....

Jerry

SC You're amazing! Congratulations and I sure hope your done with treatment! I'm not sure I could do it if I have to! Bob _____________________________________________________ DOB January 1944 1981: prostatitis 2000-2013 BPH, low T treated with avodart, tamsulosin, androgel PSA History: Pre 2000     0.4 01-08         0.6 3/09:          0.6 11/2011      2.2  8/2012       2.7  2/2103       5.5  4/2013       6.1  5/2013       6.6   11/1 2013   0.1    6/2013 Bx:PCa Gleason 4+4=8 (Bostwick), 4+5= 9(Johns Hopkins), 2/6 cores, 10%, 40%,  DRE neg. (Stage T1c)   7/2013: bone scan and pelvic MRI negative for mets.  9/7/13 open nerves  sparing RRP, Johns Hopkins, Ted Schaeffer MD PhD.  9/9/2013  Pathology: 33G, SVI, EPE and pos. margin at base (Gl7),N0M0, (Stage T3b)  9/20 2013 Foley and staples removed;   currently: one pad per day for security, ED (pre-op and post op) Watchful waiting until next PSA in 2 months

Thanks for the info SC.

I had a 6 month Eligard shot in August so I should be able to say I am coming off HT early next spring. I think the signs I will look for include changes in body hair, libido, hopefully weight loss, energy level and cojones growth. My hot flashes have largely subsided and do not hit me suddenly like they used to so a change there might be rather sublte.

I have read that the return to normalcy it related to the time on HT. I have been on for three years, so I am not anticipating any rapid changes.

Ms Worry,
He does insist that I do something to avoid "shrinkage." He never did get so specific as to specify a particular method.

I have been all over the map on ED strategies in the last 3 years while on ADT. I have been on and off daily Cialis several times. I have also tried Levitra and Staxyn. The oral meds never did do much for me. At least with daily Cialis, I get a little size bump -- it is a mental boost. Also, some prominent doctors claim that, without testosterone, the oral meds have little to work with. I went through a trimix phase. But, after two trips to the ER and a near-miss on a third trip (with a VERY low dose), I gave that up. (An aside: do not use trimix the day after an optometrist appointment. I walked into the ER and they looked at my dilated pupils. Well, I got some questions on that!) I finally settled on daily, or near-daily, workouts with a VED. It is low-tech but seems to get the job done.

When I finished ADT, I went back on Cialis to give myself a fighting chance to address ED as my T level returns. The same oncologist thinks I will always need to deal with this. In his words, I had "a lot of work done down there." Sigh.

SC

Should I start a new thread? The short answer: six radiation treatments left.

Radiation Side Effects (44 treatments, 9 weeks):

Week 3: Diarrhea started, so the BRAT diet for children began. Goodbye to my healthy diet of fresh vegetables and high fiber. Everything has to be cooked, canned and processed now.

Week 5:

It's hard to pee on command. Three cups of water every morning, 50 minutes before treatment. Sometimes I'm overfull and can't wait. Sometimes I have to wait 10-15 minutes. And sometimes I pee on the table during the radiation treatment. Even though I'm doing the same thing, my body doesn't behave the same way.

I wear a diaper after the treatment, so I don't have an accident on the way to work -- there's still a lot left that needs to get out. I have to pee three times within 20 minutes before it's all out.

Week 6: the doctor put me on Flomax and Detrol to help me control my bladder, which has been weakened by radiation. It appears to make only a marginal difference.

Week 8: I still don't feel any fatigue. I'm told that's unusual, but it's probably because I bicycled 25 minutes to the radiation treatments. Now that winter has set in, I bicycle in the basement.

Goserelin (Zoladex) Side Effects (after 4 months):

Month 1: nothing
Month 2: Hot flashes becoming noticeable.
Month 3: Hot flashes horrible, all desire for sex vanished, I'm no longer aroused.

2nd injection at 3 months

Month 4 : I barely notice the hot flashes
Month 5: I'm not a real man any more - I can still get it up, but no orgasm.

Only a marginal difference in weightlifting. Doctor says he treats active Marines and they can still build muscle during treatment. He says the studies showing loss of muscle were with people that didn't weight lift .

Thanks for the reply, SC.

Congrats on your progression to normalcy. :)