Arteries symptoms and conditions

I just learned that you can develop Cushing's Syndrome from taking prednisone, and that the doctor that has you on this should warn you that you could develop this. 10 mg a day usually worked for my pain, but I eventually got up to 20 mg a day, and that's when my problems really started. Of course I had already gained enough weight, which caused severe depression, but then I started gaining like crazy, and this is really weird, I was eating less, and had no appetite, but still gaining weight. I started feeling too tired to do anything, I have severe lower back pain, and get short of breath from any little bit of activity I do. I can't even take a shower without sitting on the side of the tub to rest. I also started having restless leg syndrome at night and would wake up several times. I sweat profusely without doing anything. I can just be sitting on the couch watching tv and sweat will start pouring down my face. I keep a towel with me at all times to wipe the sweat off. I definitely have moon face, and I also have sores all over my legs and face. I wish I would wake up and it was all a bad dream, but not so. I feel for everyone that has had these experiences. I am seeing an endocrinologist next week to see if I have Cushing's Syndrome. I don't even know if there is anything to do for it? Has anyone else who has used prednisone been diagnosed with Cushing's Sydrome?

Three and a half years ago i suffered a heart attack, i had three stents put in and was put on Aspirin 75mg, Cardicor, 1.25mg, Tritace 5mg and Lipitor 80mg. I was fairly fit at the time, didn't drink or smoke and ate properly.

But now i'm suffering, i've been to the hospital and my GP, but are told there is nothing wrong, my hear tis good. So why am i suffering with light headedness, pains through my body, back, neck, chest, stomach. So much so i thought i had gall stones or kidney stones. My right knee can't be touched, it is so sore. Chest heaviness, eyesight getting worse, slurred speech, depression i could go on.

I've said this to my doctor, he just brushes it off and says i'm on them for life, ....apparently standard treatment for anyone who's had a heart attack. I walk 5 miles a day, eat 5 or more fruit and veg, don't smoke or drink, do all what i'm meant to. My cholesterol is really low, but so is the HDL too. I was never recommended CoQ10 or a vitamin B complex.

It was my mother who told me to research the side effects of all the meds i'm on. I agree, we all want to live a long and healthy life, but at what cost. I am now of the opinion that doctor's are so use to thinking they are near god like, they have forgotten that we are individuals, that we know our own bodies. I'm sick of the fact that the large pharmaceutical companies send out there sales reps to doctor's surgeries and that is what is deciding what the patients end up taking and not the patient's problem.

DOCTOR'S WAKE UP TREAT THE CAUSE NOT THE SYMPTOMS!!!!!!!

Except for having high cholesterol (310), I'm a 29 yr old healthy active female, very petite and weigh 98lbs. My mother has had a quadruple bypass and 4 stents at the age of 54, high cholesterol is just hereditary in my family. My doctor put me on 40 mg of zocor. The first week taking zocor I started feeling strange, a little soar here and there and very tired at times, also I have become very forgetful. It's been almost 2 months now and I have severe pain in my legs. First it was the right leg and now both legs, the pain starts at my lower back all the way down to my cav. I have a burning painful feeling sometimes numbing feeling, its driving me crazy!!!! I can't stand for too long cause I feel tons of pressure on my lower back pushing down my legs, It feels like my sciatic nerve. I went to my doctor and he said he is 95% sure that this is from the zocor medication, he told me to stop it right away. This is my first day without it, I know I need to do something to prevent what happen to my mother, I'm on a strict healthy diet, staying away from all fatty cholesterol filled foods, but there has to be a better way then taking statin drugs! If anyone has some ideas of what kind of alternative meds I can take, please help.

Can anyone tell me if you can just stop Lipitor cold turkey or do you have to stop it slowly? I have been taking Lipitor for 5 years now and I have been trying to find out what is causing my leg weakness. I mentioned it to my doctor who said it si just a fact of getting older. The problem is getting worse and I noticed it started about 3 months after taking the Lipitor and has steadily gotten worse. I am 49 years old a little over weight {which I am working on}. I also noticed my asthma which I haven't delt with since a small child has come back. This may or may not have to do with the Lipitor but the pain in my knees and legs I believe do. It really hurts in the joints of my legs and sometimes in my shoulder area.

I've been taking Niaspan for about six weeks now; I started out at 500mg for the first three and I'm now on week three of 1000mg. I hadn't had any side effects and I was thrilled because I can't take statins (though I do take Lovaza with success). My doctor mentioned -- but did not stress -- the "take an aspirin ahead of time" or "eat something with it) thing, so I haven't been. Three nights ago I work up from a very weird dream about my house being on fire and couldn't go back to sleep, partly because I felt hot. I got up and looked in the mirror, and as others have described, I was beet red on my neck, chest, and arms, and very itchy and hot. The "rash" was mottled at the edges. It reminded me of sun poisoning. I wasn't sure what to do; it was 5 am and I knew my partner had a bad night with sleeping already, so I didn't want to wake her. I took a Benadryl. I was wide awake, so I got onto the computer to do some stuff (never thinking I should research the damn thing!), but about 20 minutes later, I felt itchy on my stomach. I went into the bathroom and looked again. My stomach and lower back were now getting it! Interesting. I went back to what I was doing, then about 10 minutes later, my stomach was hot, so I looked again. Now my stomach and all of my back were covered, and I noticed that my neck wasn't as red. Hmmmm... 20 minutes later I looked again, and now my neck and chest were pretty clear (but still itchy) and my butt and upper thighs were getting it (stomach and back still had it). I could actually feel it breaking out on my legs! 20 minutes later, my stomach and back were clear, and my legs were covered. about a half hour later, it was completely gone. I wracked by brain trying to figure out if it was something I ate, a new detergent, a drug interaction gone wrong, but I could think of nothing. I never associated it with the "flush" my doctor told me I could get. This was so much more than a flush. The next night I was so tired that I took a half an Ambien and slept through with no problems (and remember, I had no issues before this, at least that I could remember). I thought it was a fluke. I then spoke to my father yesterday about The Rash, and he asked if it could the the Niaspan, as he had taken it before (but the flushing had been too much and he stopped). I did some research and through that I found this page. Bingo! I had already taken the Niaspan, so I couldn't try the aspirin first. Last night, I woke up at 3 feeling hot and looked, and sure enough, it was starting on my face and neck. I took a Benadryl and went back to bed. I finally fell back to sleep. I'm still a little itchy, though nothing unbearable. Tonight I will try the aspirin a half hour before and eating something non-fatty with the Niaspan. I'll give it a week to help, then I'll call my doctor. I hate to give it up if it works because I am just about out of other options to lower my cholesterol.

Returned yesterday from 3 days in the hospital. Rapid heartbeat and pain in the chest sent me to the ER. The heart enzyme tests showed that I'd had a mild heart attack but an echocardiogram showed my arteries were fine and there was no damage to the heart. They call me "the mystery lady". No mystery to me! It's been 2 weeks since stopping Levaquin after 5 pills of 500 mg. I've been suffering with constant headaches, severe neck, shoulder, arms and elbow pain and am convinced that the heart problems are all part of the results of taking Levaquin. I'm drinking Aloe Vera Juice, and taking calcium, magnesium, garlic, Omega 3 fish oil, and lots of water. No one seems to know what works!

i have been on neurontin for nerve pain in my legs due to vasculitis for a few weeks now. i have only noticed a small increase in appetite. my eyesite seems to be out of focus, but its so bad anyway that i have no idea if its the neurontin or just my eyes, and minor headaches i had no pain relief either........absolutely no improvement at all. my doctor just raised my dose from 900 mgs a day to 1200 the other day. still no pain relief but i am now getting a bit dizzy. i guess we will see what happens!

Hi, I am so relieved that I decided to finish with Yasmin after just 4 months. ...ESPECIALLY, after reading all the above severe health warnings and symptoms many have experienced. I am 38 with 2 small children and after over 10 yrs of not being on the pill I decided to take it again for PMT reasons and lighter periods. I too have noticed the migraine type headaches are far more frequent but more so I have noticed a worrying tightness in what seems the arteries in my neck which I have been paranoid could be the beginning of clots. Last week I also had a heaviness in my right side mainly my arm and went numb on right side of my face and lips whilst out shopping last week. I was scared to death as thought I was having a mild stroke at the time. This was the end for me. That day I never took another pill from that Yasmin pack. It is not worth it. I also felt quite anxious, wound - up, depressed and neurotic during the last 4 months on Yasmin. I am now back to ovulation cramps and heavier periods again but who cares at least I know this isn't life threatening which I believe Yasmin has the potential to be with regards to thrombosis and other severs health risks etc to some users.

777
I've been noticing that you as well as bobby are continuously replying to many of the posting. I stopped taking lipitor in December after having chest pains for 10 months which included being hospitalized for 2 days of testing. I'm still having the chest pain although I believe it's getting better. There was a week in the beginning of this month that I had no pain at all but now it's back. My question to you and bobby is you keep saying you still have some side affects for months but fail to list them. What are they and with your experience, why does Lipitor cause chest pain? What have you found out in your research? Is this drug causing damage to the interior lining of the arteries? Is this why many people are getting the pains from?

I have posted here before. I have been off the lipitor for almost a week, now. I am still feeling dizzy and wobbly. Does anyone know how much longer I should have this side effect? Also I was reading that elevated cholesterol levels and MI's and strokes can be caused by elevated homocysteine levels.Anyone been tested for this in your blood?

Some good news re: my concerns in my Drs. note (posted the other day) "some buildup" and why such a high dose 40mg. of this poison?. I actually received something from the cardiologist on Fri. which made me feel much happier. 'NO SIGNIFICANT ABNORMALITIES - MILD CHOL. PLACQUE BUT NO SIGNIFICANT BLOCKAGE SEEN' so you can imagine how much better I felt - I had already made the decision to not take the Statins, but that report absolutely convinced me. If you haven't already had a doppler on your carotids, do so, it can ease your mind, since we're always being told we're clogging up our arteries with just about anything and everything, we're gonna have a stroke, etc. all these scare tactics. It's not an expensive test (about $80, not sure what will be added to that, as to cardio. reading the results), but worth it. Read up on the Red Yeast Rice - I've read several articles from several well known medical websites - it seems it actually can work better than Statins! Get off this stuff people, more risk than having a stroke!

No side effects yet - coz I haven't taken it!!! I recently had my blood work done, it had been 2 years slightly elevated cholesterol so, in those 2 years leading up to latest bloodwork, I've eaten oatmeal every morning, taken Flax/Omega 3, B-complex, olive oil for all cooking, I have a glider, 20mins. 5 days wk. but had to watch myself, lost too much weight, I'm only 105lbs now, etc. etc....so, shock and horror my latest results: 232 Total Chol. 157LDL 57HDL-good number really, and best thing, 91 triglycerides, glucose 87 - so I guess some of the above improved some numbers. Dr. suggested a doppler/carotid.....a note received yesterday "some build up" and enclosed prescript. for 40mg. of this poison which seems kind of a high dose to me? So, is he not telling me the extent of "some build up?" what's "some"....I need to find that out first - but I really don't think I'm gonna be taking this stuff - there is so much info out there debunking this cholesterol thing....I'm 58, would there be natural build up in arteries, I mean your plumbing pipes don't stay pristine forever - there's bound to be build up, surely? Or am I kidding myself. Any suggestions out there, people!????

I came home from work and opened my new bottle of Niaspan er 500mg. It was late and my wife was asleep. I read the bottle and it said take 2 tablets before bed with food. I did and about 4 hours later, my entire body was on FIRE and my hair felt like needles pinching my skin when I moved. I can deal with a hot flash or flushing but I was literally RED hot to touch, forget the feeling that I was having a heart attack or stroke.
I am only 41 years old in good health and a little low good cholesterol. I tried again few days later with one pill(after my wife had a good laughed) and experience the same nightmare. No hot flash, I was BURNING RED and my hairs were needles pinching my skin as I put ice packs around my neck.
I understand this is just a form of vitamin B-3??? Has anyone tried some form of herbal version of a B-vitamin?? Has anyone tried to take during the daytime????

If you take lipitor, you will be interested in this.

I have taken it upon myself to do my own studies into cholesterol and heart disease. I painstakingly studied various countries comparing rates of heart disease to cholesterol levels in each country.

From the Data, I can honestly say that I find no relationship between total serum cholesterol and heart disease. More surprising is the data showing higher cholesterol levels associated with less disease and longevity.

I've been on simvastatins for about 2 years after TIAs. I'm 56. I had two small Strokes about year ago despite being on simvastatins. Had brain scan which showed two small areas of scarring and carotid artery scan- arteries fine. Started experiencing dizziness last year and GP diagnosed vertigo and gave me seasickness pills which didn't do much good. Since then I've experienced headaches which last for weeks, increasing fatigue (now struggle to get out of bed in morning) muscle pain which is getting really bad and sore feet (?). Increasing memory loss, confusion, lack of concentration, eye problems (when I first wake in morning my vision is blurred for ab out 30 minutes or so. I've been worried i mmay be developing Alzheimers. I've also piled on weight and the texture of my hair has changed - it has become very soft and silky and become thinner - normally my hair is very thick. Also I've had two perms in last 6 months which won't hold curl - been having perms for years and never had this problem. I've had several blood tests including for under-active thyroid and they have all been clear. I've been really worried about all these problems and did some research and came up with this site. I am beginning to think my problems stemm from taking 40mg Simvastatins so am going to stop them and book appointment with GP. Any comments/advice would be appreciated.

I am a 51 year old male. November 2007 jaw pain sent me to the hospital where they found a 99% block in my right coronary artery, yep 4 stent's. Three month late the same this time 2 stent's and two weeks later 2 more. I now have 8 stent's. My DR. put me on several meds including Zocor. The zocor made me very tired and headaches. He change it to Lipitor 10mg. I have been on it for 7 months and a few day's ago I have notice pain in both knee's and hip. I once again find it hard to concentrate, feel sluggish and have headache's. I NEVER have headache's. Stopped taken the Lipitor, hope the pain goes away. It a shame that the medical field is so quick to put us ALL on drug's, how about herb's instead. I'm going to look into a natural way to lower my cholesterol.

I was prescribed 500 mg Levaquin for 5 days for a uti.

After two days I got a cramp in my left calf muscle.

It's been 2 weeks now. My UTI still remains and I feel horrible. I'm taking Vicodin for all over pain. My calves, lower back, shoulders and knees ache badly. I feel like I have the flu, but without the nausea.

My Doc prescribed Nitrofurantoin to treat the UTI again. Can't wait to check it out.

I just found this site and have been reading the posts and I'm so pissed.

I read some posts that said this poison had left a metal taste in some mouths, so tomorrow I'm going to a CHELATION treatment center and start IV treatments. Chelation by intraveneous is good for getting metals out of your system. I had some treatments about 10 years ago to clean out my arteries and felt better, so hopefully this will work. I'll post the results here.

I have never experienced the side effects of statins myself. I have never taken any - nor would I if my numbers should be too high.

I have had the opportunity - or rather was forced to - to "educate" myself on the cholesterol issue as i had 3 relatives suffering from side effects.

They were all over 70 and had taken Simvastatin (Zocor) for years.

In 2003, when I had just got an Internet connection, I started to look for information and was surprised to find these sites:

******

I also found "Stopped our statins" (google for those words) where there is a lot of information.

Under print articles you will find a very informative article from The Weston Price Foundation about the different statin studies over the years and also about the side effects.

Are you sure that a high cholesterol will cause heart problems - or is it just propaganda from the pharmaceutical and health industry?

After having visited some of these webb sites and read some of the books you might have changed your mind - like I did.

Your cholesterol is very important for your body and essential for your brain among other things.

Why should you live better and longer if you use medications to lower it?

It`s just to read all these patient stories - what quality of life is this?

I would suggest that you also read the messages for the other statins such as Lipitor, Zocor (=Simvastatin) etc.

All statins have similar side effects.

Here are some books that you might find interesting. Some about the cholesterol issue.

The Great Cholesterol Con (Antony Colpo)

The Cholesterol Myths (Uffe Ravnskov)

Lipitor - thief of memory (Duane Graveline

Malignant Medical Myths (Joel F. Kauffman)

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Overdosed America (John Abramson)

The Truth about the Drug Companies (Marcia Angell)

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Bitter Pills (Stephen Fried)
about quinolone antibiotics such as Cipro, Ciprofloxacin, Levaquin etc.

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The Antidepressant Fact Book
Your Drug May Be Your Problem
Toxic Psychiatry
Medicine Madness
(Peter R. Breggin - all books about psychotropic drugs)
____

What if medicine disappeared?
(Gerald E. Markle and Francis B. McCrea)

How doctors think
(Jerome Groopman?)

I started using lipitor from my doctor, it lowered my cholesterol all around but I started to have lower back pains. At first I thought it might be prostate cancer, but after having to MRI's done they found no cancer, thank god. But I went to an orthopedic surgeon to see what the problem was. He looked at the mri's and saw lower dics hitting my nerve endings. He also thought that it might be muscle problems so he gave me 3 epidurals and that helped for a while took away about 50% of my pain, but I still have the pain, It is hard for me to get comfortable when I sit or even when I am sleeping. I don't want to think that it is the lipitor that is doing it to me but after talking with others I feel it is time to talk to my doctor about it. My doctor said that lipitor is the safest one that will do very little harm to my liver. I am not a doctor so I would not know.. My cholesterol level was 246 at one time now it is 175. I am now facing possible spine fusion to help correct my disc problem. But will also ask doctor to prescribe something else.

Alan

I took a statin for 18 months, terrible aches and pains. I couldn't turn my head side to side and when a awoke in the morning my legs aches so bad I felt I'd never get out of bed.

Three weeks ago I stopped taking them cold turkey. The aches & pains are long gone and I can now turn my head to see where I'm going when backing up the car.... So far so good. I'm also started taking Serrapeptase to clean up my arteries

Lee...
Long Beach CA

I've been on Zocor 40 mg. for 9 months. After being on it 4 months I began to have symptoms. Dizziness, vertigo, tingling in hands and on scalp, stabbing pains in head and chest, eyelid and finger twitching, throbbing of arteries above each ear and head tremors. Went to ER when vertigo and tremor got unbearable, they found nothing. Been to several doctors and not one of mentioned that these symptoms could be from Zocor.
Internet research enlightened me and I stopped taking it yesterday. Will advise if symptoms decrease.

I'm a 52 year old female and have been taking Zocor for about a year. During the past few months, I've noticed increased muscle pains in my upper legs. It's to the point that I actually hurt when walking, even for short distances. I have also gained about 15 pounds in the past year. It could just be "middle age spread" but I can't help but wonder if this drug is the cause of it. I've also had some visual disturbances in the past month or two, like something that just won't clear out of my eye.....like a film across my eye. Anyone else with similar symptoms? I go back for a physical in a few weeks and am going to ask my MD about another medication. I have genetically elevated cholesterol and low cholesterol diet has not helped previously.

Kenalog injections for my Poly (Many) Arteritis (Arteries) Nodosa (Inflamed). I had a growing skin lession on leg (approx.) six inches below
bend of knee. I have received Kenalog injections in legs (below knee area) for over ten years and this latest was given by a resident who needed me to walk him through it. I guess the amount given was too much cause my lower leg feels noticeably weaker now and gets fatigued easily especially when driving. I already have weak legs from myropathy and this has made my right leg even weaker. My hope is that this might forwarn someone whose going to get a Kenalog injection. I want to add that I see my problem from Kenalog as minor compared to what Ive been reading other people are going through and Im sorry for those people. We get ill and just hope the treatment wont cause even more and worse problems.

Hubby had angioplasty last month for 95% blockage and still has 75% blockage in two other arteries. Doctors put him on a handful of drugs (blood thinners, blood pressure meds, fish oil, aspirin) including Lipitor. Hubby has gone from healthy to being in constant pain, mostly in the legs. He had knee replacement last year and cant believe that this hurts worse! Also, his urine is darker and he has to 'go' more often. It's only been 1 month, but after reading up on the drugs, I've told him to refuse to take any more of the statins. I love him and want him around a long time, PAIN FREE. What's with these doctors?
For all of you who are suffering and wanting to get off the statins, increase your exercise to as much as you can stand, and then some! You'll not need the drugs anymore. Hubby and I are doing this as well as increasing our intake of legumes (my homemade bean soup for starters). I'd much rather he farts than cries in pain! Good luck to all and God bless you.