Women’s stories

I want women to know....

Susie was only 44 and status post hysterectomy when diagnosed with an endometrioma on her one intact ovary. Her gynecologist suggested Lupron to treat it, reassured her it was safe, and told her the only notable side effect would be hot flashes. Busy with her horse farm, plans with her fiancé, and a career as an ICU nurse, Susie preferred to avoid more surgery and agreed to a course of Lupron injections. But by the second shot she knew she’d had a terrible systemic reaction to it. Three difficult years later, she is finally finding her way back to wellness with the Personal Program.

“In 2004 I was given Lupron to avoid surgery — it’s a horrible drug. They never told me all its terrible side effects. I’m the kind of person who likes to speak the truth, and I want women to know that this drug is not to be taken lightly.

“Long story short, I had a very bad reaction to it. Immediately afterward I had severe pain and joint swelling. I was put into instant menopause, too, but went back for my second shot a month later. One day at work I started having severe PVC’s, so I went to the ER. They said, ‘You’re just under too much stress. Go home and say five nice things about yourself to yourself.’

“When due for the third injection, I told the doctor she’d already just about killed me. She totally denied that my symptoms could be related to the Lupron. I’m allergic to just about everything, but she just said, ‘Oh, Susie, you’ve got to learn to stop being a nurse and start being a patient.’ I believed in them, but then when I called them back and told them how sick I was, they said none of their other patients had reacted like I had, and they didn’t know what my problem was.

“I’ve had terrible swelling, weight gain, and bone pain ever since — for three years. No matter how many hormones they put me on to make up for it, they just didn’t work. And the ovary had to be removed, anyway! The symptoms mimicked RA, so I traveled to see a rheumatologist, too, who spent ten minutes with me then wrote up a three-page report saying I had a mood disorder!

“Meanwhile, my hands, feet and legs were swollen and blue, and I couldn’t wear shoes. I had to wear slippers. I went from 118 to 149 pounds. I lost my job as an ICU nurse. My fiancé couldn’t take it and left. I’ve ridden horses all my life, and used to show my horses, too, but I can’t do any of that any more.

“But I’m hoping to get back to that soon. I began the Personal Program about three weeks ago, and I started feeling a little bit better right off the bat. I was really good for four days — I even thought maybe I was normal again. But then I was bedridden again, so I called and spoke to one of the Nurse–Educators. She said my body had been through a lot, and suggested I try a bioidentical estrogen patch. I never would have thought of trying hormones again, after what had happened. She was so knowledgeable; I was just so grateful that I had her to speak with. I’m going to keep in touch with her regularly.

“So now I’m on a 0.1-mg bio-estrogen patch, natural progesterone cream, and Essential Nutrients. I’m working with the nutritional program, too, eating more protein — and I used to be a sugar addict, but no more. I am not in as much pain and weaning off my pain meds — so that’s how we know something in this program is working.

“My 75-year-old mother has been taking care of me — bless her. She’s not your typical 75 — she’s very active and healthy, like all the women in my family. This sort of debility does not run in our family! If it wasn’t for her — staying up ‘til 2:00 a.m., researching on the internet — I wouldn’t have found you, either. I just wish we’d found you so much sooner.

“Your people have all been very knowledgeable and helpful in educating us. Everyone has just been very, very patient and very, very nice. All these things — the education, support, and then giving me ideas on what I can do for this and that — have been very helpful. I didn’t know that I could try natural hormones now and maybe feel better. They’ve just been really, really good; plus the product itself, adding all those vitamins back to my body — that’s what I like.

“There are a lot of women out there on Lupron who need to know about Women to Women — they need you very badly! There is another website we go to, and these women are all sick like me from Lupron side effects. So my mom has been e-mailing everyone there about your website!”

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Last Modified Date: 05/24/2011