National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine

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NCCAM. A federal agency that uses science to explore CAM practices, trains CAM researchers, and provides authoritative information about CAM to professionals and the public. NCCAM awards grants for research projects, training, and career development in CAM; sponsors conferences, educational programs, and exhibits; studies ways to use proven CAM practices along with conventional medical practice; and supports adding CAM to medical, dental, and nursing school programs. NCCAM is part of the National Institutes of Health. Also called NCCAM.

Recent Postings

I JUST HAD MY MIRENA REMOVED BY THE EMERGENCY ROOM. I HAD NO IDEA OF ALL THE SIDE EFFECTS.I HAVE A PID AND AM IN A GREAT DEAL OF PAIN. I HAVE HAD THE DEVICE SINCE FEB 2005 AND HAVE SUFFERED FOR ALL OF THESE YEARS. I HAVE BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE HOSPITAL SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST TWO YEARS. DOCTORS COULD NOT TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME.I HAVE SEEN THE BEST DOCTORS IN COLORADO SPRINGS AND HAVE HAD MILLIONS OF DOLLARS WORTH OF TESTS DONE. STILL NO ONE COULD FIND OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH ME. THIS MORNING I WOKE UP IN A GREAT DEAL OF PAIN AND MY HUSBAND RUSHED ME TO THE ER. AFTER SEVERAL HOURS AND MANY TESTS LATER STILL NO ANSWER SO A OLDER FEMALE DOCTOR DECIDED TO DO A PELVIC EXAMINE AND THERE IT WAS. AN INFECTION AND IT WAS CAUSED BY MY MIRENA. SHE REMOVED THE IUC AND GAVE ME IV ANTIBIOTICS ALSO A COUPLE OF DOSES OF MORPHINE. I STARTED TO FEEL BETTER WITHIN 30 MINUTES OF THE DEVICE BEING REMOVED. THE DOCTOR STATED THAT MANY WOMEN COME IN THE ER AND HAVE HAD TO HAVE THERE MIRENA REMOVED BECAUSE OF THE DEVICE CAUSING INFECTIONS.
Posted in: Mirena

genetic mutation in a gene, SLCO1B1, which encodes a transport protein responsibe for moving statins into the liver to be detoxified/meabolized occurs in 22% to 36% of the caucasian pop (less in african am; more in asian). Thus it is NOT RARE. This mutation has been assoicated with greatly INCREASED levels of statin in the blood stream--the drug cannot be moved into the liver in normal function to be broken down, thus it stays in the blood stream.building up greatly increased, toxic levels, Studies have shown up to 400% higher levelsof statin in the blood stream than with normal detoxification. Imagine having toxic levels from taking a drug every day. This mutation has been associated with severe myalgias and myopathies, prompting discontinuance of the drug, I think for those not lucky enough to develop the muscle involvement, neurodegeneration occurs had genetic profiling done thru 23andme; there are many cos out there who do genetic testing. if interested make certain they offer testing for mutation in SLCO1B1 gene.
Posted in: Lipitor

FUCK MIRENA!IT HAS CAUSED ME SOME MANY PROBLEMS THAT DOCTORS WONT GIVE ME ANSWERS TO.I HAVE HAD EVERY SINGLE SIDE EFFECT THAT THERE IS AND HAVE BEEN HOSPITALIZED 3TIMES.ALL THE WHILE THE DOCS TELLIN ME THEY DONT KNOW WHATS WRONG.IT'S REMOVED NOW...AFTER THEY FIGURED IT WAS OUTTA PLACE AND MERGED AGAINST MY OVARY.IT'S BEEN A WEEK SINCE REMOVAL(BY THE WAY IT CAME OUT IN 3 DIFFERENT PIECES!) AND I HAVE NO FEELING IN MY VAGINA.NOT EVEN ON MY CLIT.I STILL FEEL ALL THE OTHER PAINFULL SIDE EFFECTS.I DO NOT RECCOMEND THIS TO ANYONE.I FEEL THE DOCTORS PUSH THIS ON YOUNGER WOMEN AND BECAUSE OF THAT MY HEALTH IS PUT AT RISK.
Posted in: Mirena

discovered mutation in a gene, SLCO1B1, which codes for a transport protein that is responsible for moving statins into the liver to be detoxified. Without this protein, statins build up in the blood stream leaading to toxic levels. thus Statin poisoning can result. Studies have shown levels of statins at 400% HIGHER than normal. Imagine having that level of statins every day one takes the drug. this mutation IS NOT RARE. predicted to occur in 22% to 36% of caucasian pop, less in african am and more in asian. thus 20 to 36 persons out of 100 have this mutation. and if taking a statin have great likelyhood of sufferrig from greatly inceased plasma statin levels. one couldgoogle "SLCO1B1+statin" obtained genetic profiling from 23andme; there are many other cos out there offerring the genetic testing, though one should check to make certain this mutation is tested for. Many individuals with this mutation develop severe myalgias adnd myopathies prompting them to stop the drug. for those who do not get the muscle involvement, I think neurodegeneration can occur after therapy with this class of drugs that cannot be transported for detoxification correctly. "
Posted in: Lipitor

My issue is that more than a few of the women here are blaming this IUC for issues they would have had regardless. Take the woman on her second Mirena who is taking medications for thyroid issues and has gained weight. Thyroid issues cause severe weight gain. Then there is the one who was already taking medications for mental issues, but she is certain it is the IUCs fault. I have been on Mirena for a few weeks now. I have lower back issues (likely because I sleep on my couch most nights), migraines (which I have had since I was about 12), mood stabilization issues (an ongoing problem since puberty), insomnia, and anxiety (both for the past 12 years). The only real issue I can attribute directly to Mirena is the fact that my boobs are sore, which happens every time nature comes to visit. If I come across anything in the future that can actually be blamed on my IUC, I will let you know. I am sorry for all of the women who had placement issues or who have had actual side effects from Mirena. Nothing is perfect and some women have more issues than others. Remember, it is a drug and not all drugs behave the same for everyone. I know quite a few women that currently have Mirena, some coming up on their date to have a new one put in, and all say that they will. One woman I know had such painful swelling that she had it taken out and replace with Paraguard, which gave her worse cramps and longer periods, but at least she could pick up her grandson (my son) without wincing. As with anything, do your research before choosing you birth control and understand that any of them may affect you differently. I can not take pills or have shots because the estrogen makes me bleed continuously until I stop with the pills or shots. I won't do copper because, quite frankly, I think it's unfair to have more periods when you don't want any babies. I hate condoms and I am allergic to latex anyway (I know you can get other kinds, but they cost more and I still hate condoms). Diaphragms and cervical caps really kill the mood and aren't all that effective. Spermicide is just messy and, again, isn't that effective. That, by the way, is how I narrowed it down to Mirena. So far, so good.
Posted in: Mirena