Updates

I'm almost a week out of injection 2. The soreness and swelling from the shot is minimal now. However, my hot flashes have increased significantly. I think the fact that I do drink wine adds to the flashes. I was reading online that Black Cohosh might alleviate some symptoms, so I'm off to get some tomorrow.

I've noticed no abdominal bloating since I had my last cycle. Last month this time, my stomach was big and hard by now. There's a noticeable shrinkage with the larger fibroid, but I"m not sleeping well at all. If I don't take a sleep aid, I won't sleep. Also, my anxiety has increased (I was already a worrywart) but now I feel paranoid. I'm working to manage it and I think the supplement will help. Next month I am focused on my exercise and nutrition a little more coming out the sugary, booze filled holidays. I have had some knee pain, but advil cleared that up. I have no regrets about taking the shot, but I do think I underestimated the injection side effects.

I can see my abs

In the last week my side effects have increased. Hot flashes, chills, but my belly has decreased significantly. This has made my self conscious about my belly bloat decrease as well. I feel more fit and focused. I also noticed that the area of the injection is very sore and I have a small bruise.. A friend told me not to get this in the same side next time and to massage the area because the injection is very thick.. It's still sore and I got the shot on 12/21. Today is 12/25..I'm back and forth deciding if I want the surgery still.. I also am having foot and knee pain.. I feel more achy. Again, this isn't the best but it's not the worse. I'm excited to see how much smaller they'll get as the month goes on. I will talk to the doctor about add back meds to decrease my side effects 

Eve of injection 2

I've noticed some shrinking .. Judge for yourself 

More symptons/side effects

Friday and Saturday (week 3) I had a major headache..Migraine level.. I took 2 excedrin and I still had a headache. I am still cycling (day 10), light but steady enough that I need to wear a tampon. This is the longest I have EVER cycled. I also noticed to today that I had a metallic taste in my mouth. It came and went, but it was noticeable. I am still suffering from insomnia and I have to say that my hot flashes are increasing. Even with all these side effects, I am still happy that I am on the injection, but I'm also nervous that the side effects will become worse with my  next injection. I am noticing less bloat and mentally I feel better knowing I am doing something about the fibroids.

Next shot on its way

Yesterday the prescription place called to say my second injection is heading to the doctor. I guess I 'll get injected in a week or 2. I am still spotting from my cycle, but I think it'll be over tomorrow, so not shorter, and day 1 and 2 were heavy (if not heavier) than normail.

I have had no pain thus far and the flashes feel minor. My mood is better this week, and I am definitely less bloated. I've noticed I haven't been as hungry this week either. Workouts still going well, and I PR'ed in heavier lifts, so bones doing ok as well. Weight training helps with healthy strong bones.

Insomnia sucks, but at least when I'm sleeping, it's deeply

Riding the Cotton Pony

At the end of week 2 of luprone and a week before schedule (21 days instead of 28) I started my cycle. It was heavier cramps than normal..I rarely have cramps and if i do, I take 2 advil and I'm good for the whole time. This time, the cramps stayed even after meds and I took more meds and still had cramps..I'd say i had cramps the whole day 1. What I also noticed is that my flow felt heavier, which is hard to even consider. Typically on day 1 and 2 I wear super plus tampons and 3 pads.. I flowed over my pads and my tampons. I was changing everything within 2 or 3 hours for almost 2 days. That's new..Day 3 was lighter and day 4 was very light (this is normal in my cycle-no cramps)

I guess much of the bloat last week was actually PMS bloat. My fibroids get big right before my cycle. I really can't tell that I am on a medication yet. I do feel more emotional, and i have noticed the forgetfulness, but nothing feels too new. The only pain I feel in bones is my bones in my foot. They hurt the way bones hurt when you wear heels too long. That feels new. however when I ran today, I didn't feel that foot pain and I even ran a steep hill.

My anxiety is higher, but not debilitating like it was in October (no luprone then, just medical worry around lightheadedness)

I will take a pic in about 2 weeks after shot 2. I expect month 2 to be better than month 1. I am hoping that some of the abdominal swelling will go down..

Ending week 2

So this week I'm still trying to figure what is normal and what is new.. I'm not clear yet..but here's what I noticed:

• I'm not sleeping or  fall and wake up around 2 or 3 (WIDE AWAKE)
• no anxiety this week, but i had it last week
• severe bloating, hard and big belly
• more emotional and quicker to respond emotionally-high level of annoyance to the BS that normally I'm pretty calm about
• constipation and frequent urination
• feelings of hunger ALL THE TIME , but technically I am close to my period so it feels like PMS food hunger
• occasionally I feel a shooting throbbing sensation. It's not pain, but a pulse of something hard to explain
• 2 or 3 times i thought I felt a feeling of "gushing" like I started my cycle.. It was not my cycle but there was discharge (sorry I know that's personal, but I want to be helpful and transparent)
• my body chemistry feels different. I always feel the need to shower
• As for the gym, not impacting my lifting, in fact I set PRs in barbell squat, hip thrusts, and my runs have been great. But I feel more tired this week about cardio than last week

I'm anxious to begin week 3 to see if I do get a cycle or not. I'm also tired of this bloat and abdominal pressure. There's nothing like seeing a toned body and big belly. UGH