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Posted 12/20/2013 4:45 PM (GMT 0)
All,

It's been a while. I hope everyone is doing well. So, my father had is his first Lupron injection yesterday. First of many. he will get one every three months for three years. I read that some people don't take well to Lupron. Anyone care to share their experiences? Also, my dad got it injected in his backside. Today, he is having trouble sitting as the left side (injection side) is very sore and tender. Is this normal after getting the shot?

My fathers stats (I will get the signature setup shortly)
age 73
Gleason 8
PSA 10
No lymph node involvement, no bone mets at this time
diagnosed November 2013
Prescribed hormone therapy and radiation
Posted 12/20/2013 5:02 PM (GMT 0)
A bit of soreness after the shot is very possible. I think a lot has to do with the skill of the nurse. But remember that a big pocket of fluid has been injected. I liken it to sitting on a golf ball.
Posted 12/20/2013 5:05 PM (GMT 0)
My husband has pain in the injection site for a good few days. No matter which nurse has administered it.
Posted 12/20/2013 5:34 PM (GMT 0)

needadvice1911 said...
All,

It's been a while. I hope everyone is doing well. So, my father had is his first Lupron injection yesterday. First of many. he will get one every three months for three years. I read that some people don't take well to Lupron. Anyone care to share their experiences? Also, my dad got it injected in his backside. Today, he is having trouble sitting as the left side (injection side) is very sore and tender. Is this normal after getting the shot?

My fathers stats (I will get the signature setup shortly)
age 73
Gleason 8
PSA 10
No lymph node involvement, no bone mets at this time
diagnosed November 2013
Prescribed hormone therapy and radiation

That tender left side(which is normal) maybe the least of his worries.....I'm no expert(just 12 months), but besides all the physical SE changes, there are also emotional and physiological SEs that most don't like to talk about while in that chemical castration mode. And he may be one of the lucky ones and breeze through it all. I found out, later, that my personality altered somewhat during my tenure. I should have read(and those around me) more documentation on the whole process and the possible SEs that may or may not occur. Good luck and always seek more information.

Some of my notable SEs

Hot Flashes
Lack of sleep.
No Libido(of course)
Short tempered.
Posted 12/20/2013 7:57 PM (GMT 0)
Yeah, the sore injection site reaction clears up quickly (my 2nd one was virtually painless).

The effects take about 3-4 weeks to start kicking in, and the hot flashes have been my biggest side effect. I'm on 20 mg twice daily of Megace for them, and it has helped a lot.

Libido is flagging lately, and there have been certain physical changes. I'm fighting weight gain too.

I take all of these though as evidence the Lupron is doing its job, and we're fighting the cancer cells on a continuous basis.
Posted 12/20/2013 8:29 PM (GMT 0)
The "kicked in the a55 by a mule" feeling is normal and will pass.

Get him a couple of table fans and encourage him to exercise.

He'll do fine.
Posted 12/20/2013 9:13 PM (GMT 0)
Hello .....

   I have been on Lupron now for over 2-years ... after a brief period of time on Casodex - starting 3-years ago.

   The side effects are difficult to identify for Lupron specifically because I also started on my first type or form of chemo nearly 2-years ago.

   However, I can definitely say the Lupron has and still does put me in a state of being somewhat tired virtually all of the time. I dop believe the other side effects I've experienced in the past two years are due to the four types of chemo I have been on.

   I have read that many people do have a problem with the pain of the injection site for a few days to a week or more. I have been very lucky to not have any pain from the Lupron injections .... whether it's because of the accuracy of the nurse or just the make-up of my body.

   Some of the other SE's I've had that I personally attribute to one of the types of chemo (and not the lupron) are:

   appatite change

   nausea

   constipation

   diarrea

   shoulder pains

   hair loss

   hot flashes

Note .... some of the above may be due to the Lupron - but my belief is that they are all from the various types of chemo instead.

   Lupron injections ..... have been 45ml every 6-months.

Good luck to your Dad

Rob & Gizzy

    

Posted 12/21/2013 1:06 AM (GMT 0)
Hi, before my Lupron injection in January of this year, I had a serious accident and had to have my last two vertebras fused and had serious damage to my right hip. One of the side effects for Lupron states that it will enhance any pain related to bone injuries. I sure found that out within about six hours of the six month injection. I had to double up on my pain medication.

All the other posts were right on with the other usual side effects. The one that was never mentioned in any of the drug literature is that the Hallmark channel will completely replace ESPN and MSNBC channels!

Good luck, I hope his pain is short lived.
Posted 12/21/2013 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
I think a lot has to do with the skill of the nurse.

I do too. my nurse was excellent. she took her time to prep the medication by rolling the syringe in her hands and she injected it very slowly. the shot was never given where I sit, always a bit higher. I only had three shots and they never hurt during or after.

when I was a kid my dad gave me a penicillin shot a couple of times and they hurt like hell but I attribute that to poor technique.

ed
Posted 12/21/2013 12:24 PM (GMT 0)
..I received monthly shots since August of 2013 and all shots ache a day or two it causes the Lupron walk (slight limp from injection). I will be going to 3 month shots starting January 2014 with a new MO. I have not lost all my energy but get winded faster. I work outside in a construction environment and I find I get muscle fatigue much faster than before and I am weaker now. I lost that umph that testosterone gives to a male. Any healthy libido that might have existed before is now gone, well ran dry, no interest in relations is my experience. On a positive note it makes for dealing with ED much better cause there is no driving force to curb. Hot flashes come and go all day every day, some mild some extrem, they are interesting at times. There is the Bone Density issues. Get a bone density scan ASAP to have a base line to work off of in case there are issues you can then determine the difference. I did not get the baseline test unfortunately and got tested just last week and if I'm reading it correctly am having issues with on coming signs of osteoporosis. Will see MO in January to disscuss. There might be considerable shrinkage of the family jewels (trying to put that in some sort of civil way), I have noticed that too. Some notice a loopy type of forgetful of foggy nature to there mind. I do not think I'm there yet. All this sounds like a lot and it is, it is hard to deal with but the alternative could be much worse. One day at a time, trying to stay positive, staying as normal as can be. Wishing your Dad the best..

..Have a Happy & Healthy New Year......
........Appleseed.......
Posted 12/21/2013 2:34 PM (GMT 0)
I've been on Lupron and its equivalents (Firgamon, Zoladex) for over a year. I haven't had any problems other than the expected ones (hot flashes, weepiness, thinning of beard, impotence), which are annoying but manageable. I get the shots in the tummy. The area where the shot is given is often tender if pressed but otherwise I have no SE.
Posted 12/21/2013 2:39 PM (GMT 0)
I agree with Appleseed almost completely. I am 16 months into treatment and finding a little more forgetfulness now than earlier in treatment, almost seems to be a cumulative effect. All in all it is tolerable ,but especially thanks to my loving and caring wife.I still have been able to work with no problems , but I do not have a " physical type job ".
Posted 12/21/2013 4:52 PM (GMT 0)
Best wishes.

I have been on Lupron for 5 1/2 years. I think it is important to be positive, keep going, keep doing and exercise. Yes it hurts for awhile after you get the shot but it goes away in a day or so. Faster if you exercise. I don't call what I get hot flashes. If I get warm, I take off my coat, pull up my sleeves or throw off a cover. I have back and hip pain but back exercises help and I take melixocam every other day. I play a lot of bridge to keep the mind sharp, teach WII bowling at the local senior center twice a week, and enjoy watching grandkids sporting events often. Life is good and I look forward to many more years with all the recent medical advances and those coming such as Cabo for bone mets in the future.

Sam
Posted 12/22/2013 6:56 AM (GMT 0)
I am one of those guys who has BAD reactions from Lupron. Can usually barely get out of bed the next morning.

Doc switched me over to Zoladex which is the same chemical as in Lupron but the delivery method is different.

Zoladex is a tiny pellet implanted into the belly fat. Painless since they numb you first.

No more three and four days limping around!

Hope this may help someone like me out there....

Don

Posted 12/22/2013 9:10 AM (GMT 0)
I'm going on my eight month on zoladex, aways feeling fatigued, insomnia, joint pains ,aways laughing at my self for all silly things I do because of memory problems, libido up and left, hot flashes were extreme at first but subsided, or iam just getting use to them.Some minor depresson, no weight gain yet, moody and irritable, try to keep positive with each new day. Surgery failed three months post opp. PSA. 0.60. Casodex one month then zoladex psa dropped to 0.01 RT treatments in July and Aug. Managing to maintain a regular work week.
Over all feeling pretty good. As long my PSA stays this low and my body continues to remain in its current condition I will accept things for what they are. Lupron and zoladex both work the same way, fooling the hypothalamus and patury gland in in thing you have to much testosterone ,because of this the body experiences adrenal fatigue. Wishing your dad the best.
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