10 months symptoms and conditions

I'm 48 and got a Mirena put in last January at the suggestion of my doctor. I'd been having menstrual migraines and we thought that a steady dose of hormones might help with the dips and prevent my headaches. Well, it has helped some, as the headaches don't come every month anymore, however, I do still get them, so it hasn't really done what we hoped. Add to that my (growing!) list of symptoms and something has to be done. I am very active. I do Taekwondo 4x a week and was working out 5x a week this summer in preparation for my black belt test. You would think that I'd lose weight with the workouts I've done for the past 10 months, but no, my weight has increased over 10lbs! And it's not muscle, either: My breasts, waist, hips and thighs have all increased. I feel bloated, tired to the point of exhaustion even after 8 hours of sleep, and all of my joints are achy. The brain-fog has gotten so bad that I've had to go back on ADD meds to try to maintain my focus at work. I'd been doing my workouts for 3 years prior to getting the Mirena, and I never felt tired the way I feel it now! I'm seeing my doctor next month and this thing is out of here!

4 years ago i was given simvastatin 20mg for high cholesterol when i was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes....last year (November) i stopped taking it after someone commented after hearing me complain about aches and pains and asked if i was taking statins....i checked and found i could relate to several reported side effects...over the last 10 months my aches and pains had slowly disappeared and my cholesterol was recorded at 4.9 in July ....however 4 weeks ago i suffered an optic nerve stroke and my doctor immediately put me back on simvastatin at 40mg despite my complaints is there an alternative i can take as i don't want to risk loosing any more off my vision and as the aches and pains are returning ...i will reluctantly take it but carefully monitor myself....

I am so glad that I found this site. I had my Mirena put in February 2009 when my son was 10 months old. I wan't even looking for options for birth control. My doctor kept pushing it on me every appointment we had. I knew 2 people that had it and they loved it so I thought why not. The day I had it inserted I had major major cramps. But the doctor said I would experience cramping. Well the next day the cramps were so bad I was doubled over in pain. They felt just like contractions from active labor. After about a week they went away.
Then came the rest. Heart palpitations. Tossing and turning at night. Night sweats. My contraction cramps came more and more frequently. I started getting pimples and I never get pimples. Joint pain especially in my left shoulder. Mood swings like I've never had before. I don't even want to be around my son who is now 16 months old. Most days I feel like both him and my husband would be better off without me.
I went to my doctor in June and she told me they're was no way it could be from the Mirena. I then called the Mirena clinic. They told me the same thing and said not only would I have to go through my family doctor for a referral to have it removed, I would then have to wait 3 months for my appointment. Needless to say I felt backed into a corner.
I made another appointment with my doctor planning on telling her we were going to try and have another baby and hopefully we would get a better response.
Well in walked in a new doctor saying my old family doctor no longer works there! So I told the new doctor about my symptoms. She took out a pen and pad of paper and started writing everything down. She told me that it's rare for it to happen but few people have serious side effects. I felt like giving her this website.lol
Anyway, 4 days later I have an appointment on Oct 6th the have it removed!!! I am so happy. I will post an update.

I'm a 20 year old healthy girl. I started taking Yasmin 10 months ago. I thought it was the best thing that happened to me, no weight gain, no headaches or and no depression. I felt perfectly fine except NO SEX DRIVE. I didn't really understand why I was feeling this way. I started believing that I was not happy with myself and not confident enough with my body any more.I started taking it just before I got married and its beginning to ruin it. I need to find another BC solution. I don't know what to do any more. By the way, thanks for everyone's comments, when I began to read them I understood what was happening to me. TC

How interesting that I find this information out now. I had my third child at 39 in 2005 and have always suffered from bad periods. I was talked into having a mirena inserted and thats where my story begins. I was told that I would have spot bleeding for about 3 months - after 9 months of continual periods I was well and truly over it as was my partner. I went to my gp who order an ultra sound. This showed it had moved and was sitting sideways and would have to be surgically removed. The side effects were herendous for me and still are after having it taken out two years ago. Not only did I have my periods for 10 months non stop, I had continual nausea, migraines (which I had suffered previously but not to the extent I was having them), massive weight gain, fluid retention, the worst pms which was constant and so so aggressive towards everyone I came in contact with. My sex drive went out the door and my relationship started to fail. My hair also started to fall out in handfuls and still does to this day and my skin was always so dry. I was also constantly tired and had very little energy. Two years ago I went in to to have the mirena surgically removed and at that time I also had an oblation and my tubes tied. The oblation worked for about 6 months but my periods are worse than they have ever been and thats because now Im told Im pre-menopausal!!! I still have the occasional migraine, my hair still falls out in handfuls and my skin is still really dry. My sex drive is starting to come back (thank god). I thought all these crazy symptoms would go away once this horrible mirena was taken out but it seems they're here to stay. I now see a psychologist every week trying to get my aggression back under control which is working well. I wish I had known about all these symptoms prior to having the mirena - I might still be with my partner instead of being single. My advise to anyone wanting permanent contraception - get your tubes tied and stay right away from mirena.

I had Mirena placed about 10 months ago because I had heavy bleeding continuously for about a year. It took about 2 months for the bleeding to stop. I haven't had a period since, but....I have had one yeast infection after another, about every 8 to 10 weeks, low back and pelvic pain and aching. I have no energy, wt. gain, fatigue, mood swings, and feel bad all the time. My husband says he can see why it works for birth control, because I have no sex drive. I'm glad all of you took the time to share your experiences so I know I'm not alone. I'm seeing my MD tomorrow to see about having it removed.

I have had Mirena in for about a year. I got it because after trying birth control pills, I was getting severe migraines all the time. My doctor told me I was at risk for stroke and should never take birth control pills again. Not wanting to have to use condoms the rest of my life, I asked for options other than the pill. My doctor strongly recommended Mirena. He said I would not get migraines with this. At first there were the normal symptoms of bleeding, severe cramps, etc. But after a couple of months I was pretty happy with it. The only thing that was really bothering me was that I was gaining a lot of weight. I was only 21 at the time and had never had a problem with gaining weight in my life. It was so weird. Over the last year I have gained about 20 pounds and am really upset. About 4 months after getting Mirena I got a large cyst on one of my ovaries, but it eventually burst and went away. All of those things I suppose I could have dealt with, though. However, after about 9 or 10 months with the thing I started getting severe migraines again. I got married in June and over the past few months I have had more and more frequent migraines. I have optical auras and often feel like I have tingling in my face and hands, which is similar to what I had when on the pill. I am concerned that this could be a serious problem. I like having Mirena because it is easy and I don't have to think about it, but I am not sure what to do. I can't be having migraines all the time, and I also would rather not have the weight gain and cysts. I'm not sure what else I would use, though. If anyone has any suggestions for me, please let me know. I am only 22 and don't want kids for a while.

Well I don't take Yasmin, but I do take Yaz. I have been taking Yaz for about three years now --- I'm 25 and have been on the pill since 15 yrs old. I take the pill b/c I have ovarian cysts and have found that it does help, but doesn't make them go away or relieve the pain. In regards to Yaz, I haven't received my period for the last 10 months, which to me isn't normal. My OBGYN said that a lot of people who take Yaz have been experiencing the same side effects, but to me it just doesn't seem normal to not have a period, especially when I'm on a birth control that is supposed to help regulate my period. I have an appt w/ my OBGYN in early Oct and definitely going to bring up this website with her. Thanks for all the information that's posted here - it is truly helpful.

Prednisone is horrific! I went on it 10 months ago for autoimmune hepatitis which now I realize was a major mistake. I was to take 40 a day but only agreed to 20. Now I have very high blood pressure and am on Bystolic and Vasotec. I have gained 30 lbs and am seeing a shrink!. I have tapered the dose down to 5mg much to the docs dislike but I am depressed, anxious and a bit suicidal. Also, my lovely head of hair is at least halved and I look 7 months pregnant. Soon I'll become anorexic cuz I refuse to live any longer like this. Anyone else feel the same?

So I am reading all of the posts and Like the woman who posted on the 28th , I had and mirena after my 3rd child and then just this May after my 4th child. My first Experience with the Mirena was a little painful going in had 1-2 periods after and then not a period until I had it taken out. I can not say that it was or wasn't affecting my mood as my life was VERY stressful for many reasons. It was Placed in FEB of 2004 and then I had it taken out in June of 2006 because I felt like my body was rejecting it and I was totally uncomfortable and as soon as it was out I got my period. I thought this was normal and all my periods seemed Normal after that. My husband and I used condoms for the next few months for fear that I may be very fertile and then went back to our original family planning method. ( I had Never been on BC prior to the Mirena except for two months as a teenager for cramps) After having our 4th child, who was planned (3rd child was not planned that is why we decided on the Mirena at all) we were not sure if he would be our last and my OB thought I was too young to decide so another Mirena seemed like a good solution. I had it placed this may during my period and it was fine. I thought it was going to be just like the last one, I WAS MISTAKEN. I have had my period almost every 20days they are heavy and last about a week. I feel like my insides are falling out and I just got my period this morning and I had it two weeks ago. I have been unbearable to everyone in my Family and Ended my vacation today by storming off for five hours alone trying to deal my suicidal thoughts!!!! I came on the computer to search for a reason why I would have my period within two weeks of each other and founds this site. So much of this makes sense that it scares me. I have had a both experiences and am still trying to take in that my actions tonight may have been induced by my Mirena. Never would I have thought I would feel like this after my first experience but now thinking back maybe my coping skills with what was happening in my life then would have been better. As far as the weight When I had the first one Out I went from a size 14 to a size 6 (that at one point were big) in almost 2 months.... This time I have lost weight but I was also put on antidepressants which there side affect is weight loss!!! I am sorry if this is all over the place but my thoughts are all jumbled as I am trying to make sense of this.... I really never thought it was the Mirena until I read these Blogs!!!

This website is a joke! After I had my Mirena inserted 4 months ago I started reading on the internet about possible side effects. I was furious with myself that I hadn't Read up on this before the appointment. There were so many horrible reviews involving hair loss, weight gain, acne, and mood swings! I was so scared and actually thought about removing the Mirena that week. I then found multiple reviews on websites not owned and operated by other drug companies that are trying to scare people in order to prevent the sale and use of the Mirena and the side effects listed here were a 180 degree difference. I have not experienced any weight gain, in fact, I recently was able to shed 5 pounds from picking up running again (so it is possible to LOSE weight on the Mirena as well). I have had zero hair loss, have not had a pimple anywhere or any random hair growth. My live in boyfriend and I have discussed if we've noticed any mood swings or changes and my mood which is usually optimistic and positive has been the same since I had the Mirena inserted. My periods are much lighter and although they can last an extra day or two more than what I was used to, they are light and I have not had any cramping. I'm writing this review not because I absolutely love the Mirena, I think it's a fine form of BC but who LOVES their BC, isn't it all kind of a pain. The Mirena is by far the most convenient form of birth control and I don't worry at all about missing a day and the chance of getting pregnant. I'm writing this review because I encourage everyone to talk more with their doctors about the side effects and look around on the internet for REAL websites.

Warning: I do not know if this is related at all (or if there is anyway to know for sure). I accidentally saw a connection looking up conspiracy theories, and I can't seem to find any "real" information about it at all.

My daughter at 14 years of age had this shot. She didn't feel good after, but I thought "normal" vaccination reaction and haven't thought about it since. Feeling a bit faint, a fever, and such.

However, last September (a few months later) she was diagnosed with autoimmune hemolytic anemia. It started with her heart racing, she looked pale (and sometimes even yellowish), tired all the time, her urine turned a dark color, and fainting. Not knowing anything about this I assumed that she was dehydrated, and had her drink lots of water. Until she started fainting, at which time I took her straight to our family doctor. (Another reason that I wasn't to worried is she actually had been to many doctors who didn't seem to think this was abnormal.)

She started on high doses of prednisone to keep her immune system depressed, and has now moved on to mercaptopurine (as the steroids made her suicidal.)

I plan on bringing this "possible" connection up to her hematologist and I will report back (she has an appointment on the 11th.). However, I think it is better to do a little scare here, and possibly help someone rather than take for granted that I am not sure... (So take this information with a grain of salt.)

Also note that this was sudden onset, they can find no cause, and we have no family history nor any of the other typical reasons (sometimes can be "medicine" induced.) 10 months later she is still testing positive on her combs test though.

I am a 50 yr. old female diagnosed with diabetes 10 months ago. Tried Metformin for a couple of weeks and feet started swelling significantly. Have been on Januvia and Starlix since March '09. Just spent 9 days in the hospital with PNEUMONIA in my right lung only. Drs. are considering the fact that I have a very ENLARGED LIVER (19 cm. avg. is 12 cm) to be the cause of my pneumonia and having 3 liters of fluid removed from right lung cavity as the cause for my pneumonia. Liver function tests show liver is working fine. Anyone else have enlarged liver problems or pneumonia while on Januvia? I'm off it now and dreading what will happen to my sugar level. I also take ENBREL for my psoriatic arthritis and stopped it when my pneumonia developed.

Male 28. Was diagnosed a couple of months ago with Ulcerative Colitis and was prescribed Prednisone. A large dose to start with then tampered off for 4 weeks. The first week I felt great, better than great, fantastic. The only downside was difficulty sleeping. The following 3 weeks, without any exaggeration have been among the worst I have ever experienced. I think the lack of sleep finally caught up with me, so I was constantly tired and generically felt depressed, also knee ache, eye pain, inability to think clearly (quite a problem when you are an Engineer), lacked energy or strength – and the Acne. Never before have I had Acne like this, and I used to suffer quite bad during my teens. Its just so aggressive, every few hours there seems to be new ones appearing. It seems to occur when ever I step down the dose. I think having this bad skin has really added to my depression over the last few weeks, it has been especially difficult considering I have been in the process of starting a new job. To top all of that my UC seems to be worst than ever! I’m worried that when I go back to see the Doctor next week he is going to put me on some equally-annoying medication or maybe another course of Prednisone if I’m lucky.

Does anyone know of some natural alternatives that are good for UC, very reluctant to put anymore man-made chemicals into my body.

I was on lupron following a laproscopic surgery when I was diagnosed with endometriosis. I had two 3-month shots. I gained a little bit of weight, and had some hair loss. I would also recommend to people that they take add-back therapy like I did, it takes away a lot of the side effects, and I barely had any hot flashes or night sweats. In the beginning, I was so scared to get the shots with seeing all the horror stories online about what it has done to people, but for me I think it's a success story. I have been without pain for 10 months!

This drug crosses the blood brain barrier thus the anxiety and depression. It is damaging your brain not to mention all these other ailments. It shrinks the brain and is causing cognitive deficits. All should google the recent article in Sunday paper from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette regarding Mylan Laboratories. Hmmm....maybe this is why so many people are sick from this drug. Here is the website address: *******
I still have tablets although my husband has been off them for 10 months. Guess what...they have a big "M" on them...isn't that interesting. I don't believe a word any doctor or any study has out there on this drug. This drug is tainted with something causing all these issues. This isn't healthy, it's poison straight from a venomous Brazilian pit viper. And if they try to tell you it's the synthetic version...bull crap! It causes the same horrible side affects that over 2500 people have described. I guess WE'RE all nuts and it's not the drugs . Huh!

I WISH I had done research on Yaz earlier!!!!! I have been taking it for probably the last 10 months. At that time, I moved to a new city with my fiancee, started a new job that I hate... and becoming more and more depressed and anxious. I blamed it all on life changes. It eventually got so bad that I would lock myself in a bathroom and cry, snap at my fiance for EVERYTHING, snap at my daughter.. I was just this horrible woman and I couldn't control it. I would see myself being SO unreasonable but there was nothing I could do to stop it. I really felt like I was going crazy. I started seeing a Psychiatrist a few months ago and he put me on Wellbutrin. It helped the depression but not the anxiety or moodiness. So, last week he put me on Lexapro.
Finally, I'm starting to put 2 and 2 together and seeing that all my issues started as soon as I started taking YAZ!!! Not to mention, I have been having horrible skin allergies since I started as well. I can't believe I didn't make the connection sooner!
So now i'm off of Yaz and on 2 antidepressants, upset that I started something that I probably didn't need to, and don't really know how to get off them.
What really upsets me is that the doctors either don't make the connection or don't believe it. I am going back in in a couple of weeks to talk to my gyn about other birth control options...

I cannot believe I happened to find this page today!! Thank GOD!!

I was looking up reasons for being exhausted and irritable (which I feel I am ALL the time lately) and thought- maybe it has to do with my birth control pill. After reading these posts it sounds to me that it does!

I have been taking Aviane for 10 months now- prescribed Alesse after the birth of my daughter but was given Aviane by the pharmacy because it is a generic that is supposed to be the same as Alesse. I have been depressed, irritable, unable to sleep, overly exhausted, spotting for 3 weeks, and am beginning to gain some weight. I brushed the depression off because I thought it was my hormone levels returning to normal after the pregnancy. Unless I have postpartum depression (which I don't feel I do) then my hormones should have stabilized by now!

As for the weight gain- I'm not eating any differently than usual- maybe less do to the stress of being in school part time, being a mom and wife, and working, so this gain is not typical for me. Generally, when I'm stressed I lose a few pounds.

My irritability is out of control! Since I've been on Aviane I have been angry and mean. My reactions feel out of control. I can't count the times I've told my husband that I don't know why I'm acting the way I am and that I feel my "freak outs" are beyond my control. I have destroyed some of my husband's personal property as well as my own during fits of rage. When I pull myself outside of these situations I say to myself- who the hell is that person because It's not me. I used to be very laid back, easy going, and rarely angry in the past.

Every night I wake up at least 3 times on my own. My daughter sleeps through the night so I can't attribute my lack of sleep and night waking to her. I can't seem to get through the day without a nap. Sometimes I take two because I feel so tired.

All of these behaviors are so uncharacteristic to me. Before I had my daughter I was a competitive soccer player and enjoyed running, hiking, and biking. I traveled the country working as an archaeology field tech where I would work 10-12 hours outside all day, sometimes walking 4 miles or more a day in the hot summer sun. I enjoyed life and was light hearted and funny. I would never raise my voice to the people I care and never considered myself someone with a temper. Sadly, for the last 4 months I have been walking through life wondering what is the matter with me and wondering why I couldn't get myself together. I never even thought to research the side effects of my pill!!

Thank You EVERYONE for posting your thoughts or problems because it has helped me to see that maybe this pill isn't for me!! I am going to stop and will post again in a few months to let people know if my life has changed for the positive since quitting this monster of a pill.

I was prescribed levaquin back in May for a sinus infection. Have suffered from severe side effects, worst of which being joint and muscle pain, stomach pains, weakness and hives (last dose was taken 10 days ago). This has been the most physical discomfort and pain that I've ever been in. In addition, my ability to concentrate and recall easy things has lessened.
The "Bafoon" of a doctor that prescribed this claimed he didn't know what was wrong with me after a normal blood test. My new knowledgeable doctor told me that some people can't even walk after taking Levaquin. She says it takes on average 7 days to 6 weeks to feel improvement. Being a 36 yr old woman, having to move turtle speed, and feeling like I'm in a 90 year old body is very depressing.
If anyone has any information on any class action or mass tort litigation lawsuits please send me the information. This drug is poison and should not be prescribed for minor infections!!!

After reading other people's experiences with Norvasc, I realized that my symptoms are almost identical. I thought it was rheumatoid arthritis and asked my doctor to give me some tests and all came back negative. I started 5mg of Norvasc about 10 months ago and about 6 months in I started to get muscle spasms in my feet, then spasms and muscle twitching in legs, arms and hands. Extreme flushing in feet, small freckle-like rash on feet, lower legs and ankles. Also have what I would call chronic fatigue and just cannot get myself up and down stairs well. I'm 57 and feel like 100. All over body pain is very debilitative. I've gone from an active, happy person to a cranky person in pain 24 hours a day. So, now I have taken myself off Norvasc and am waiting to see if there is an improvement in my health. I'm still on coversyl for my blood pressure and will talk to my doctor again. It is so true that you must be your own health advocate and try to stay on top of all your health issues.

I have probably had THE WORST experience with YAZ, than anyone else on this site. Please GOD do not go on this drug. It is pure poison, save yourself!!!! I am having horrible pain as I am writing this. OK, I have been on YAZ for about 9 or 10 months. My Doctor draws labs every year on all of her patients (just run of the mills things, to make sure you are still healthy.) By the way I am ONLY 21 years old. I was on Ortho Tricylen for about 3 years, but wanted to try something new. While on Orthotrycyclin, I had normal blood pressure, normal lab levels, painless periods and ovulation. This drug almost killed me, it might still. Within one year, I went from being a healthy 21 year old, to having my blood pressure increase every month until the doctor put me on a blood pressure med, which didn't help, so she increased that dose, which didn't help, so she added a water pill as well, which doesn't help. The highest my blood pressure went was 158/110. The doctor did a kidney ultrasound, everything was fine. I was having constant cramping on the left side of my pelvis for 3 months, the doctor did a uterus and ovary scan, and those were fine. the doctor ran blood work on me, My TRIGLYCERIDES (the fat in your blood) had TRIPLED in 9 months. That seems impossible to me, considering I had not gained any weight, in fact I had lost 10 pounds, and my cholesterol was not elevated, but was low. At the advice of the doctor I stopped taking the Yaz over a month ago. My period is almost 2 weeks late, and i am not pregnant. I am still having constant severe pain in my left ovary in my pelvic area. I had no sex drive on Yaz, and increased anxiety. I developed a strange fungal infection on my chin while taking Yaz. I do not have any diseases, and should NOT be developing a fungal infection on my FACE. I just hope my period comes back, I want to have a baby one day. I am very sad and hate myself for taking Yaz, please take this seriously.

I am 44 and had the Mirena put in July, 2008 because of heavy periods/anemia. I thought it was a good thing at first although my periods were lighter I had spotting 2-3 weeks out of the month and never knew when it was going to happen. By December I went back to the Dr. with numerous other complaints (that is not me), I have been healthy, active, happy and within the higher side of normal weight up until now. I have aches and pains I cannot explain to the point of even getting off the couch or out of bed hurts, I have gained 30 pounds in 10 months, I have had blurred vision as well but I thought that was just my age, is it a coincidence that so many other women have this complaint? No sex drive, extreme back aches, nausea and I feel tired all the time. I am also a f/t college student and I find it very hard to concentrate and study. I did not have any of these problems a year ago. I was told there were no side effects so I decided to try it. Very bad decision, I called my Dr. today and I am getting it out ASAP.

I was wondering.......it hurt like hell when it was inserted. For those of you that had it removed, "HOW BAD DOES THE REMOVAL HURT?" I am afraid to have it removed but know it is necessary.

I've called my doctor and am waiting on a reply from the nurse. I want my Mirena removed. I posted my symptoms on May 8th. I've had mine in for 4 1/2 months.

My symptoms are in order of severity:

*heavy bleeding 3 out of 4 weeks (pads or tampons with breakthrough bleeding and pantiliner 24/7)
*acne on my back, butt and jawline (going to Derm. and using ProActive)
*I've gained 15 lbs in the past 4 months and it won't come off
*headaches
*a sore spot in my spine (I was fearful I had cancer)
*facial hair
*bloating (I look 4 months pregnant 1/2 of the time)
*low libido
*irritable and moody more than usual
*sore breasts

My 3 yr old son has been taking Singular for about 1 1/2 years. He has been diagnosed with eosinophilic esophagitis. That dx came after an upper endoscopy. From about 10 months until starting Singular he vomited after every meal. Eventually had failure to thrive. He was on the Singular about 1 wk when he stopped vomiting. I am scared to take him off this med because it seems to work for him (with decreasing the vomiting). It doesn't actually decrease the eosinophils in his esophagus but somehow stops him from vomiting.He is a more difficult child but it is all we have really ever known from him. By difficult I mean- overly emotional, has trouble controlling impulses, occasionally mean. Does anyone have insight?

My daughter, who is eleven, now, was on singulair for about 5 years. She has been having a number of problems for a while now, but we never thought about it being the singulair until recently. She was having anxiety problems, tremors, being very argumentative, irritable, angry, depressed, pulling her hair out, (trichotillomania). I started doing research on her meds. (Zyrtec & Singulair) and was shocked to find so many other people were having these same symptoms, including several with the hair pulling. I took her to her allergy doctor and just told him I wanted to change her meds. and that I didn't care if they say these are "not" side effects. It was worth trying to see if things would get better. Well, she has been off the Singulair for about a month and half, and I am happy to report her hair is growing back, and she says she feels happy again. It breaks my heart to know that medicine that we had been giving her for so long was doing this to her. I also have decided a few days ago to take her off the Zyrtec after reading a lot of the same symptoms for it on this website.