72 years symptoms and conditions

I am 72 years old and in 1995 I had an artery blockage and had angioplasty.Upon my release from the hospital I was put on several prescriptions, beta blockers, cholesterol, Aspirin, Vitamins, etc. which I had been taking regularly for 13 years without any problems. In 2008 after having chest pain and going to the hospital my heart doctor advised me I had Atrial Defibrillation and put me on Warfarin and also told me to stop taking all the vitamins I was using along with my daily aspirin dose and one of my prescriptions. Since then I have had constant shoulder and muscle pain in my arm and leg. I have had several treatments by a chiropractor and several physical therapy treatments and the pain has not subsided. My memory has gotten worse also however I thought that was due to my age until I read some of the above side effects of Warfarin. I definitely have a lack of energy and also changed my diet due to the Warfarin. I have informed my heart doctor about the problems and he advised it is not due to the Warfarin. I don't agree with him after reading all the posts, but I am not a doctor. I will continue my prescribed dosage and Pt/Inr tests as schedule for a while, but if my pain etc doesn't get better I will probably do like the lady's posting and stop the warfarin on my own.

I have been on Simvastatin for several months. I am now experiencing low back pain, stiff neck on the right-hand side, fatigue feelings in back when standing, fatigue, dizziness and generally feeling "awful." My MD cut me back from 40mg daily to 40mg every other day, but I still continue to feel sick.
I read complaints from others on this site and want to share my symptoms. I have a 78% blockage in my right carotid artery and a 58% blockage in my left carotid artery. I am 72 years old but what else can I do to prevent a possible stroke should these blockages increase without the use of a statin drug????

As a Doctor myself I think drugs are NEVER the answer except in EMERGENT issues in Heroic life saving... YOU however and all individuals are and should be MORE accountable for your own health and STOP DEMANDING the Drugs and look to LIFESTYLE changes in DIET and EXERCISE to achieve the GOALS so necessary for quality and quantity of life.... The tools are at your fingertips ... The almighty internet ... And your OWN imaginative mentation is your TRUE limitation... So TAKE control of yourself and BE accountable .... Sorry so blunt but MORE tough love and Educating people is whats needed.... NOT more drugs....

MDG

In January I was diagnosed with polymyalgia rheumatica and temporal arteritis (giant cell arteritis). I was put on 60 mg prednisone and an array of other meds to help with pain, inflammation, water retention, and stomach problems from everything. I've lost some vision from the TA. I've experienced the weight gain, the moon face, stomach problems, depression, fatigue, muscle weakness, lack of memory and concentration, and generally feel miserable. The brain fog is awful! I don't trust myself doing much of anything these days!

When I was first put on the prednisone it completely took away all my TA and PMR symptoms. I could walk and get up and down again, didn't have the headaches, and didn't hurt all over.
My doctor tried to taper my dosage about 6 weeks ago and all my symptoms returned and increased as I went down on the prednisone. He upped me back to 60. That time the symptoms didn't go away. They lessened but were still there.

He's trying to taper again, and I'm down to 30 mg now and feel worse and worse. My sed rate has been normal, so the doctor thinks it's from the prednisone. Does it mimic all the TA and PMR symptoms? I also am having a lot of hand and feet cramping.

Does anyone else have these two illnesses? I would be interested in your experience. I want off these meds! Anyone found an alternative approach that's helped?

God bless!

My mother is aged 72 years old,she was unfortunately diagnosed with osteoporosis about 10 years ago, at the time her hospital was undertaking the FOSAMAX drug trial which unfortunelty she was asked if she would participate. She started the trial and was still taking the medication until about 8 months ago.

Around 18 months ago she started showing signs of the side effects but none of the doctors she saw would say if this drug was the cause of her presenting symptoms. These were inabilty to breath correctly, unable to swallow, on set of spasms in her throat and chest. She is now in hospital recovering from surgery which we all thought was going to be simply an hernia repair but I now fear that the long term taking of the drug has caused more serious damage than a straight forward hernia operation. She is after the 3rd day since surgery still mostly on bedrest, having morphine, intravenous antibiotics, not able to eat or drink, There is talk of her kidney being stuck to her stomach. This is a very serious matter for my mother. She was never ever seriously ill in her life until her diagnosis of osteoporosis, I really wish she had never been approached to take part in this trial.
I am at a loss for what to do within the field of medical research it seems no one wants to help or advise but just hope we bury our heads in the sand and not say an more. But this should be made clear to other women who are being asked to start on this treatment what could happen after a few years down the line.
Please could you help and give my mother advise.

MANY THANKS
CHRISTINE

I have been reading this off and on since I was put on Lisinopril. I have been so ill off and on, with horrible headaches that will not go away, along with back pain - the cough isn't too bad, but comes and goes - and the fatigue is beyond description and I am a caregiver for my husband who has been on this med for years and has had 4 strokes and heart attack, so I need my strength - I have never felt like this before (fatigue) so I told my Doctor 3 days ago and he told me I was a depressed woman and these are not side effects, and I told him never to tell me I'm depressed, and of course I get tired, I'm 72 years old, who wouldn't, but never depressed - I'm very happy go lucky and blessed, so what does one do when their Dr. tells them they are depressed because of side effects of meds.