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Hormone therapy - Side effects

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User
Posted 27 Jan 2022 at 22:45

I am aware of the possible side effects of hormone therapy, but can anyone out there tell me their experience with 6 months of treatment, and how long to gain some normality after treatment stops?


UPDATE.  I got my prescription now and it is for Bicalutamide tablets and Goserelin implant. anyone had similar?

Edited by member 10 Feb 2022 at 18:10  | Reason: Update

User
Posted 28 Jan 2022 at 00:31

Hi Steve, 


My OH will have had HT for 6 months in feb and it is ending then. He has lost libido and he does get some hot flushes. Don’t think his sleep has been the same but we’re not sure if that’s just the effect of diagnosis aswell. He gets a little tired during the day and will have the odd nap (although he’s always been fit and healthy) he is 73 though. I think a little bit of muscle mass loss too, but really difficult to tell as we completely changed diet so he lost about 24lbs before his operation. We really haven’t noticed any major changes though and life was able to carry on pretty much as normal. Hopefully all will be really good for you too πŸ‘πŸ½

User
Posted 28 Jan 2022 at 10:14
Been on Decapeptyl for one year exactly. Still libido and function but reduced β€” I guess it depends what you start with πŸ˜†. Hot flushes quite severe but no big deal really , and joint pain and aches. No weight gain or moobs. Not as bad as I was expecting
User
Posted 28 Jan 2022 at 13:02
Hi Steve all I can say is it’s kind of weird and just gradually washes into your life. Hot flushes were pretty instant and maybe 5 or 6 a day. Easily liveable with though. Aches and pains were quite quick also. Sex function still good as I’m still on low dose Cialis and have never stopped using the pump for practice in over 6 yrs. Weirdly despite this I more or less lost the ability to orgasm anymore. Very hit and miss. That was quite quick too as was testicle shrinkage. Hope this helps a bit. I am fatigued quite a bit but not noticeably because of the HT. As you say we all react differently
User
Posted 28 Jan 2022 at 13:06
I am appoaching a year on zolodox and 9 months on Enzalutamide. Loss of libido and fatigue (but not debilatatingly so) , no weight gain but I am careful with my diet and I walk about 30 km per week. Also 6 weekly * 6 gyes until end of november without any great impact although I felt wretched in the first part of December and looked like death warmed up.
User
Posted 28 Jan 2022 at 13:51

Thanks again Chris. It does sound a bit scary, but if needs must...!


Fingers crossed I don't have to go beyond the 6 months 🀞

User
Posted 28 Jan 2022 at 16:31
No problem Elaine, I hope your OH gets back to a normal (and active!) soon, and thanks for your good wishes.
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User
Posted 27 Jan 2022 at 23:57

Six months will fly by. Lack of libido almost certainly, hot flushes possibly. You might gain a bit of weight and lose muscle mass, but these will be very slight in six months.


I was on it for two years. It took me about nine months to recover. If you are only on it six months I would think you will be recovered after three months. You do hear the occasional case of testosterone never returning, but that is rare.

Dave

User
Posted 28 Jan 2022 at 00:05
Thanks Dave, You have basically confirmed what I have heard previously, but it is really good to hear it directly from someone who has actually been there!

Many thanks, and best wishes . Steve.
User
Posted 28 Jan 2022 at 00:31

Hi Steve, 


My OH will have had HT for 6 months in feb and it is ending then. He has lost libido and he does get some hot flushes. Don’t think his sleep has been the same but we’re not sure if that’s just the effect of diagnosis aswell. He gets a little tired during the day and will have the odd nap (although he’s always been fit and healthy) he is 73 though. I think a little bit of muscle mass loss too, but really difficult to tell as we completely changed diet so he lost about 24lbs before his operation. We really haven’t noticed any major changes though and life was able to carry on pretty much as normal. Hopefully all will be really good for you too πŸ‘πŸ½

User
Posted 28 Jan 2022 at 10:14
Been on Decapeptyl for one year exactly. Still libido and function but reduced β€” I guess it depends what you start with πŸ˜†. Hot flushes quite severe but no big deal really , and joint pain and aches. No weight gain or moobs. Not as bad as I was expecting
User
Posted 28 Jan 2022 at 10:38
Thanks Chris. I understand that we are all different, and I may respond differently to you, but do you recall how quickly the side effects kicked in? Also was it suddenly or a slow-build?
User
Posted 28 Jan 2022 at 13:02
Hi Steve all I can say is it’s kind of weird and just gradually washes into your life. Hot flushes were pretty instant and maybe 5 or 6 a day. Easily liveable with though. Aches and pains were quite quick also. Sex function still good as I’m still on low dose Cialis and have never stopped using the pump for practice in over 6 yrs. Weirdly despite this I more or less lost the ability to orgasm anymore. Very hit and miss. That was quite quick too as was testicle shrinkage. Hope this helps a bit. I am fatigued quite a bit but not noticeably because of the HT. As you say we all react differently
User
Posted 28 Jan 2022 at 13:06
I am appoaching a year on zolodox and 9 months on Enzalutamide. Loss of libido and fatigue (but not debilatatingly so) , no weight gain but I am careful with my diet and I walk about 30 km per week. Also 6 weekly * 6 gyes until end of november without any great impact although I felt wretched in the first part of December and looked like death warmed up.
User
Posted 28 Jan 2022 at 13:51

Thanks again Chris. It does sound a bit scary, but if needs must...!


Fingers crossed I don't have to go beyond the 6 months 🀞

User
Posted 28 Jan 2022 at 13:54

Thanks Cayambe, and as I just said to Chris It does sound a bit scary, but if needs must...! Fingers crossed I don't have to go beyond the 6 months 🀞

User
Posted 28 Jan 2022 at 14:46

Really hope all goes well for you Steve. Life really did just carry on fairly normal for us. (Then he had op) He ate well and went to the gym and lots of walks so no weight gain. It could maybe depend which HT you have aswell? 


I really hope you don’t mind me hijacking your post but one thing that did happen this morning is that he got a really fast resting heartbeat for about 5-10 mins (between 140-160bpm) this has probably happened a couple of other times. He’s on Prostap 3.


Has anyone else experienced this?


He’s due to start sildenafil but I read that this could have a side effect of irregular heartbeat while on Prostap so I’m a little reluctant now. 


Thanks for any help 

User
Posted 28 Jan 2022 at 16:31
No problem Elaine, I hope your OH gets back to a normal (and active!) soon, and thanks for your good wishes.
 
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