4 Females....bleeding while on enbrel | Arthritis Information
Hi, I have been taking a 50mg shot of enbrel for a year now. I have had severe menstrual bleeding and cramps for about 9 months now. I have had two depo shots that was supposed to stop the bleeding but has not. I also had a cervical biopsy but they didn't get enough tissue. Now the last two weeks it has really gotten awful. The cramps are awful and I wake up in a small pool of blood. I call gyne and they sent me for blood work and said I may need another biopsy to ck for endometrial tissue and a D & C. I always read every detail on the print outs from the pharmacy and have mentioned this to dr several times and they cked it out....enbrel causes bleeding. The gyne doesn't think it's from the enbrel. So next week I get to have this all done. Yeah. Anyone else on enbrel notice heavy menstrual flows or cramps or problems???
thanks
take care
YOu are the same age I was when that started happening to me.. I had fibroids.. Had D & C and felt much better.....
you may want ot have the ultrasound
I wasn't taking enbrel then.. it was 9 years ago....
babs102009-01-10 21:13:38thx babs,
I will have to bring that up. Can you tell me what the d&c was like? PM me if you like. I am not looking forward to it.
thanks again
[QUOTE=CinDee]thx babs,
I did notice an increase in the amount of days my cycle lasted while on enbrel, but nothing like what you described. I mentioned it to the rheumatologist and he said at the time, it was probably more to do with the NSAIDs and prednisone use. As I get older the periods are less heavy but the cramping remains. It was always there since the onset of menstrual periods. However, as you know we all respond differently to the meds. hope things improve soon. take it easy.
thx everyone for your replies.....
Jas, I am so sorry about your miscarriage. I know how awful that is. I had one 23 years ago and still think about it. I didn't have a d&c, it was all natural.
Shelly, I also was thinking of nsaids exspecially since I say a commercial on tv the other day about cymbalta. It said mixing cymbalta with nsaids may cause bleeding.
I think I will have to have the d&c. I hope it stops the bleeding. I have always had heavy periods and severe cramps since the day this wonderful thing happened at 12 or 13.
thanks again, looks like I'm in for a fun week.
I experienced these same symptoms 13 years ago and was diagnosed with severe endometriosis. I underwent an endometrial ablation, which helped short term, and ended up with a complete hysterectomy a year later. It was also long before I went on enbrel. What you are describing sounds like it may be the same thing...except I experienced very large clots in my bleeding, which you didn't mention.
You may need to go off your enbrel for the surgery, not because of bleeding, but because your body may not be able to ward off infection as well, since your immune system is compromised. Just take it easy and be sure to follow doctor's directions. Best of luck to you, and I hope you feel better soon....
CinDee.. the D&C wasn't much of anything. I was put out with general anesthetic for one and twighlight w/ a cervical block -- both in the hospital for inpatient services... out same day.. woke up w/ relatively no discomfort... my oldest son at age 21 took me home from the hospital (I was separated from my now ex husband) and I took a couple days to take it easy ...
Hi CinDee...I've had similar problems. I've had 4 months of bleeding nonstop (finally just stopped about 5 days ago) and have had an endometrial biopsy. I was told I had endometrial hyperplasia. This is thicking of the uterine lining...caused by too much estrogen. I'll be 47 this month and so of course the hormones are a bit wacky which I believe has caused the estrogen issue.
I have a hysterectomy set for the 29th of this month, but after doing some reading I think I'm going to be trying the progesterone therapy for 3 months (if needed) then rebiopsy to see if the reuslts have changed. There are 4 different types of hyperplasia and luckily for me, I have the least likely to turn into cancer. But she did say that the sample that was biopsied, could be different than another part that might be biopsied. I have an app't to see her again tomorrow to talk about this and the possible hysterectomy.
I'm not taking enbrel, but I take mtx and asked my doctor if this could be the cause and she said no...she looked at my list of meds and said none could be the cause. Just the stage of life that I'm at right now. Might possibly be the same thing for you considering your age. Something to ask about anyway. This first started happening to me when I was 44-45. Longer periods...very heavy with very large blood clots. But at that time the longest period I had was 3 weeks...so when this one kept going for the 4 months, I was very worried. My doctor told me that she's seen women who have let the bleeding go on for a year before contacting a doctor.
Anyway...I hope you can get some answers soon with your next biopsy.
Good Luck!
Cindee,
I have been on Enbrel now for 5 weeks.. I have noticed a significant increase in flow also. Never really thought to connect it to the Enbrel. Cramping has not gotten much worse but was not great to begin with.
This is very interesting. I wonder why your doctors do not think there is a connection.
[QUOTE=momto3girls]Cindee,
I realize it could be a huge coincidence... and those of you in your 40's should have it looked at by your GYN... and if you're alot younger... THEN I would have concern... but I know more than half my friends had the same issues in their 40's when the hormones are on whacko mode....
Just don't NOT get it checked out because it COULD be a med....... that's all.
Hi, there! Sounds like you might want to see if you have a fibroid. That much bleeding sounds suspicious for fibroids (to me.) Good luck!!!!!!!!!!
Brooke
I was on enbrel several years ago--had a BUNCH of problems on it but thats another story!! anyways I distinctly remember the doc saying that my periods could get quite heavy and that it was a common side effect of that med. Hope that helps! My doc also put me on the pill to counteract it.
wysone2009-01-12 14:49:59
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