Chemo symptoms and conditions

I have been on Lisinopril 20 mg for the past 9 years. I can't believe I have taken it for such a long time. I noticed some strange chest sensations 2 years after taking it but pushed through it. Then I developed breast cancer and went through the chemo and radiation while continuing to take it. In the last 2 years and more recently in the last 3 months, I felt so many skipped beats that I had to check it out and I also have had significant hair thinning. I had a holter monitor, resting EKG, lots of bloodwork and was told that everything was normal. Normal???? Then why was I feeling so rotten and scared every time my chest decided to heave or get funny sensations in my throat. Doctors do not want to hear these types of complaints especially when you think it is related to a medication that they ordered.
So I decided to try an alternative approach. I have been taking fish oil, coenzyme 10, cholesterol nutritional supplement, Vit C, Vit E. I started these about a month ago while still taking Lisinopril. I finally stopped the Lisinopril yesterday so I'll see if I have any improvement of my symptoms.I also went to a website that showed 1% of people can have skipped heartbeats while on Lisinopril Here is the URL
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Hope this helps many of you who have similar episodes. MHS

I was diagnosed with ILC August 2007. I had bilateral mastectomy w/ reconstruction, chemo and started Tamoxifen. Then I had a hysterectomy and I started Aromasin about six months ago. Prior to starting Aromasin I had some muscle and joint pain from Tamoxifen but I could tolerate most days. Three months into Aromasin, I couldn't get out of my car. It literally took me 15 minutes one day and I had to trade cars with my daughter. Naproxen gave me upset stomach, ibuprofen wasn't enough, Tylenol wasn't enough, Hydrocodone kinda helped but makes you feel weird. My doctor decided to take me off of it and i haven't taken anything since. My side effects were: extreme stiffness, better with motion but joint pain was so bad i didn't want to move. I have been documented as having overall generalized weakness as a result. My doctor said Aromasin shouldn't make me feel this way but why is it doing this to everyone else (mostly) too? I am now being evaluated by a rheumatologist for arthritis. My joints still hurt so bad. I gained weight, cant concentrate, can't sleep, can't wear my shoes. my ankles hurt the worst after being on my feet. My ankles, knee joints, hip joints, neck, elbows, wrists, fingers, toes and jaw are all very painful now.
If i would have known all of this, i never would have had my hysterectomy and stayed on Tamoxifen. I can only hope at some point this will get better. I just pray the cancer doesn't come back in the meantime.

I can't believe how reading all of your horror stories make everything "come together" for me too. I have been on Mirena for almost a month and had side effects from day 3 on. It started with this overwhelming fatigue and what I assume was depression. I am the happiest, most vibrant person and all of the sudden I was fighting back tears for no reason at all. Then around day 5, the cramps started. I thought I was going to die. I couldn't work, couldn't sleep, couldn't play with my kids. It was awful. They subsided after about 4 days. Then the worst happened. I started losing hair...I mean clumps, not just natural shedding. I have long dark hair and when I showered it looked like I was on chemo or something with the amount of hair hitting that shower floor. So scary! Then the headaches, OMG! Awful! Remember, all of this happened to me in just a few weeks time. So I'm freaking out crying last night because of my hair and I call the doctor and they think its my thyroid so they're sending me to an endocrinologist. Then my mom found this website and it all came together for me. MIRENA! So needless to say, I am having it removed tomorrow morning. Oh yeah, and I've gained 7 pounds in 3 weeks...nice.

My 14 year old daughter received her first Guardasil shot in May 2008 second in September and was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma in November 2008. The diagnosis was questioned at my daughters Oncologist in conjunction with the shot. I never heard anything else after that. Luckily she is in remission after Chemo and many treatments

My 13 year old daughter had her third shot on 02/16/09. Her first two shots did not seem to be a problem. She said her arm hurt really badly after the shot, and the next day she complained of leg pains she hadn't had before. Within a few days, she had a high fever with body aches like the flu, except it wasn't the flu. She felt better, but a week later she still had a low grade fever. She was tested and had strep throat, and was treated with anti-biotics. A week later she started having stomach cramps and diarrhea. It's now March 18th and she still has diarrhea. I think it's criminal this vaccination is being given to our young women. How on earth could anyone think "possibly" preventing HPV and/or cervical cancer is worth the risk of what my daughter and so many others are having to go through?

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003, age 53. I had excellent medical care at NW Cancer Specialists, Dr. D. G., Portland, Oregon. I endured Chemo (8 treatments) I had a lumpectomy and 36 radiation treatments. I also took Arimidex from 2004 - 2009. My doctor suggested exercise would lessen the side-effects and he was right. I followed everything my doctor told me to do, it was very difficult at times, but we are talking about my life and the quality of my days, his suggestions worked. I began a regime of walking, up to 3+ miles a day, water aerobics 3 times a week and I joined Curves. I also took vitamins: Costco multiple vitamin, vitamin E & C, Calcium + D(Viactive), Melatonin (natural sleep aid), probiotics, and fish oil. I also drank up to 6 glasses of water a day. I am now "cancer free" and not taking any RX.

I have been taking Arimidex since April of 2005. I have two more years before I can be taken off of the medication. I had breast cancer, diagnosed Oct. 2004. I had a lumpectomy following with chemo and radiation before I started taking Arimidex. I have severe hot flashes, can't sleep at night. I am up and down all night long. I can't remember things I am always having to make list and writing dates down and sometimes I get confused. I have joint pain, leg cramps and hair loss. My biggest problem is I can't sleep. I am always tired.
A. from Florida

extremely depressed after a week of taking levoxyl. Also face is swollen, eye swollen and red and face and eyes burn. These were the same symptoms after taking synthroid after a week. What's next? I am close to being suicidal after having survived lung cancer, surgery, chemo and radiation. To get another primary cancer and have things slide downhill after such a remarkable recovery, I can do nothing but cry after making the decision to have a cancerous thyroid removed that could have served me for years and years since it was such a slow growing cancer. I should have followed my instincts and just left it alone. Now all I want to do is lie on the couch and cry.

My 80 year old mom is going through Chemo for Bladder Cancer. She is also diabetic. Bacteria was found in her urine so the doctor gave her 4 tablets of Levaquin. Saturday night of Labor day weekend mom took the first pill. Sunday she woke up almost BLIND! She panicked and, thinking it was her diabetes causing the problem, took her blood sugar numbers. (She was so scared that she can't recall what the numbers were, just that they were 250+). She started taking her fast acting insulin. She couldn't get the blood sugar numbers to come down after numerous injections. She called me so confused and not knowing what to do. Thank God I wasn't gone that weekend. I rushed 18 miles into town. I calmed her down. We just kept watching the numbers and she kept taking her injections. About 6 hours later the numbers were down to normal for her. We narrowed the cause down to either the Levaquin or the infusion of platletts she had on Friday. We called the pharmacist and he said that Levaquin could cause blurriness of vision. She didn't take any more Levaquin.
It had been 10 days since she took that one pill and her eye sight is still messed up. When she tries to read the newspaper the letters jump around. She has a hard time reading the dosage numbers on her syringes now. She is so scared that her eyes won't get better and she will have to be dependent on someone.

My father had such severe mouth sores that he could not eat for 2 weeks which eventually led to his organs shutting down which in the end led to his death in 2 weeks time. Please make sure to insist your doctor does something to help with the mouth sores before they get so bad that you cannot eat! Actually, if any loved one of mine gets cancer, next time we are heading to Mexico to the Hoxsey Clinic. I will never again subject a loved one to the poison of chemo again!!!

I began taking Aromasin 1 year ago for advanced (Stage 4) BC with mets to the bones. I have increasingly had severe joiont aches, my hands and fingers ache so badly at times, I feel I can barely hold a book, or type, etc. My hands and fingers tingle and feel numb. I also have severe wrist pain so much so that I sometimes use a heating pad for some relief. I do not wish to discontinue it because it seems to be working and my Oncologist says the side effects are more tolerable than chemo, which I have already had before. I feel like my Dr. sometimes thinks I am exaggerating my pain levels, but I struggle with daily activities. I am on Fentanyl patches and even have to resort to Hydrocodone when it becomes to intolerable.

I suggest to anyone that has Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (type of Hypothyroidism) to have a blood test done for Celiac Disease. There has been research done linking Celiac Disease and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Celiac Disease can be controlled by a gluten-free diet (wheat, rye, and barley free). In the US, not many doctors recognize/know of this link. I have been hypothyroid for 20 years (had Hodgkin's Disease (cancer) - radiation/chemo at age 16) I have 2 sisters with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and were iron and B12 deficient. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis 3 months ago with iron and B12 deficiency. I have been on a gluten-free diet for 2 months now. My dosage of synthroid (levothyroxine) was 175 mcg and now is down to 137 mcg. I hope that I am one of the lucky ones that will have their antibodies to their thyroid normalized (no more synthroid!) I have a couple of days left before my next blood test and I hope that it goes down more. I am feeling better now than I have in a very long time. I have attached a link for those of you interested. It is an endocrine article from Finland outling the link between Celiac Disease and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (among other things). I hope that this helps some of you. http://edrv.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/23/4/464

I was on 200 mg/day of topamax for migraines. It did lessen the frequency and severity of the migraines. I lost 20 lbs and looked great. I felt horrible. I was suicidal and paranoid, cried frequently and thought that I was going to die. I was very tired, probably due to the topamax and the fact I was only eating about 500 cal per day on a good day, I was only rarely hungry and then would feel full after a few bites. I loved being thin, but was too tired to enjoy my life. I'm a nurse and couldn't remember anything, so I wrote everything down. My husband said that talking to me was like playing charades, because I couldn't remember the words for what I wanted to say. People would talk to me and my comprehension was very poor - it was like they were talking in another language that I didn't understand very well. I had always been sharp and quick witted, but on Topamax I was lost in a brain fog. I went off the drug under an MD's care. It took a while to feel like my old self, but life is now normal.

I was considering going back on it to lose the weight I put back on, but after reading all the other posts, I realize it's just not worth it. No, not everyone experiences all the awful side effects, but the side effects are not rare and some of them are horrifying. One of my friends who went on it couldn't even remember her children's names and she was on just 25 mg. I think this drug can make you feel like you are dying - just like a cancer patient at end stage. You don't want to eat, there is little enjoyment in life, your brain is foggy like you've been going through chemo and you feel incredibly sad as if you're going to die.

My advice would be to use the drug only if absolutely necessary. Try acupuncture, other migraine meds or seizure medications before this one. If you are taking it and notice that you are having extreme side effects, ask your doctor to be taken off it. If you can take it and the only side effects you get are a little pins and needles and an aversion to soda, go for it! But please note if you have strong emotional changes and try to eat healthy while on topamax.

My sister was prescribed Avelox on Tuesday, March 11, 2008. Within 15-20 minutes she began having breathing difficulties. Because she has asthma her initial thought was that she was having an asthma attack. She tried asthma treatment and it didn't help. She soon was unable to breath. Her husband called 911, they responded quickly but had to intubate her in the ambulance. They know that she was without oxygen to her brain for at least 3-5 minutes. This caused seizures that lasted 20 hours before I.C.U. could get them under control. Unfortunately it caused brain damage leaving her with no higher brain function (vegetative state). As she has worked in the medical field for over 14 years she did not wish to be kept alive by artificial means. On Tuesday, March 18, 2008 her ventilation tube and feeding tube were removed. It is now Thursday, March 20, 2008 and she is in a wonderful Hospice House awaiting her death.
She had taken the same class of antibiotic in the past with no reaction. Really not sure what caused this one. She was going through chemo for breast cancer, but had just finished and was scheduled to start her radiation treatment. Her chemo doctor told us that since her reaction, they have had another patient who went into anaphylactic shock after taking Avelox.
My sister is only 43 years old. This medication should be taken off the market.

started Levaquin 2 weeks ago for pneumonia & pleurisy (had been prescribed 5 day kpack but that didn't work). after a couple of days started the insomnia, joint pain in left elbow, knee & hip. then started having problems walking, dizzy, nausea, headache, called my docs and they had me come in. they sent me to emergency room to make sure I wasn't having stroke! no stroke, but stopped Levaquin (it was helping my pneumonia) and switched to another antibiotic. my side effects were not going away, though, and the night before last I took a vicodin. DO NOT TAKE VICODIN! woke up crying in the morning and could not lift my arms cause of the pain. my husband had to hold a glass so I could drink water to take pain meds. couldn't even type! I did go to acupuncture, and last night I took Advil pm (2) and today slept till 2pm! I feel MUCH better, though side effects still not gone. I am mid 40's, fairly healthy, (had breast cancer last year, though, w/mastectomy & chemo, and had radiation for hodgekins in my early 30's) so my immune system is a bit weaker than most, but I get around and am VERY active, so this threw me for a loop. any advice anyone? gmf

Hey there ladies, I just started taking Loestrin 24. I am 41 yrs old. I have a history of endometriosis, with bleeding lasting for 10-12 days a month. I was at my wits end with the monthly pain. I was on the pill for many, many years. I went off it 6 years ago, I went through chemo for Hodgkins lymphoma, and wanted my body to run naturally no hormones no nothing. So here I am taking the pill again, and to my surprise, I have severe PMS!!! I never had it before, but the rage I have is just terrible. I know it is not me, but it scares me. I have breast tenderness, brown spotting too, sharp pains in my side, dull headache,acne, and yes the rage. My poor husband was chewing food next to me, I wanted to beat him,the noise errrrr. Cybil (lol)

I just started 80 mg of Prednisone for Vasculitis in my kidney’s. I also have RA. This treatment is being augmented with low dose chemotherapy. The Chemo is nothing compared with the side effects of the Prednisone. It is Horrible. It has so messed with my brain I never knew what an awful existence obsessive compulsives live. I can’t sit still and stop doing things if there is anything left undone! I have trouble with controlling my emotions, responses etc. Thinking isn’t easy either. And I’m awake most of the night. (Not a bad thing since we just were blessed with twins however). But it is really straining my relationship with my 6 year old son who can’t understand why his Dad goes from nice dad to mad dad in a second. I’ve also have horrid muscle fatigue in my legs. For me this is the worst because getting up and moving and walking up stairs is almost impossible. And I was hiking up to 5 miles in rough terrain just a few weeks ago. I’ve actually LOST 10 lbs.

So I am wondering if anyone has any tips, tricks or ideas they have found to combat the muscle fatigue? It would be greatly appreciated if you could share any ideas you have. I’ve been drinking water and electrolyte replacements, (G-2, the new Gatorade) but that has not solved the problem.

Thanks.

Hi, I was diagnosed Sept 06 with a small breast tumor following a routine mammogram I had a Lumpectomy and 4 lymph nodes removed in Oct 06 In January 07 I started 15 sessions of radiotherapy and then was started on ARIMIDEX which i have taken religiously each day for a year even though I have felt WEAK ,slight ACHES in my knees, TIRED, and WEARY, SINUS infections, BOWEL PROBLEMS, METALLIC TASTE all of which eventually in December got me down so much my GP signed me off work with depression and I am now taking fluoxetine to lift my mood I am convinced the Arimidex affected me and has played a big part in the way I was feeling for the last year I told my breast care nurse about this she advised me to stop taking it for 1 month I have not taken it for 4 days and feel a different person already having more energy and feeling like I can cope with life and full time work again Has anyone else experienced the same side effects as me? from Rose SNY

I had the Mirena inserted before starting chemotherapy in August 2007. I thought all of the side effects were related to chemo and steroids, but I've been off of those for 5 months now. I'm beginning to think all of my symptoms are being caused by the Mirena. I have horrible, painful acne. The worst I've ever had in my entire life and I'm 34yrs old. I had weight gain with the steroids, but have only been able to lose 10 lbs since I stopped taking them. I have headaches, dizziness, fatigue, acne, dry skin, dry mouth, itchy scalp, seem to be loosing a lot of hair in the shower, no sex drive, no orgasm, insomnia, nightmares, lack of concentration... and the list goes on. I went to see a dermatologist who told me the acne was mostly likely being cause by the hormones from the Mirena. I'm calling my Ob first think on Monday to have it removed. I can't wait to feel like myself again.

There has been at least two documented cases of women having extremely high acid levels due to taking Xeloda. These high levels ultimately caused their deaths. All drugs cause side effects but death is not one listed in any of the literature that Roche presents with this drug. If you are taking this drug please make sure that your acid levels are checked regularly and if you know of someone who had the same complications from Xeloda please contact us.

I had a kidney transplant a year and half ago, and had to take Prednisone as one of my post-transplant med's. I was on it for about 2 months and I went through a lot of the same side effects mentioned by other people, increased appetite and weight gain in odd places, sleeplessness, and acne. Then recently I had an allergic reaction to an antibiotic and was again prescribed prednisone for three weeks, but this time the acne is so bad it looks like a rash, and it's all over my back, chest, neck especially, and on my face. I can deal with it because I realize it's what I need to do, and I am grateful that there is a drug that can treat the symptoms from the allergy, but I am wondering how long it will take for the acne to clear up once I finish the 3 weeks? Does anyone know how long it takes when you've been on it for that amount of time? Any thoughts would be helpful. Thanks.
Megan

I took levaquin, cipro and avalox in a 4 month period due to a severe sinus infection, back in Jan to april of 2006. I had tolerated it most of my life, but at that time, I had had 'neck surgery due to 2 pinched nerves, left shoulder operated on, major tears, due to extreme 'flat roof roofing repair' for 6 months trying to save our 'dream home from satan'. (we lost it, foreclosure)
I complained to my dr the next day, (and most every week) he ignored my halluciations, (actually "snickered" in my face), mood altered, ignored my complaints of feeling like a hot rake tearing my muscle and tendons apart. pain, told me to continue taking it:(, blame me for listening and NOT doing research soon enough, I learned later the dr is supposed to STOP the drugs immediately to rule out tendonitist to prevent pernanent irreverable damage AND it's not to be given to 'muscle challanged people'). after that 3rd round in a 4 month period, I told him I'd rather die than to take them again. mom always told me I was allergic to pennicilin, I wasnt, it helped clear my infection.

I now have hodgkins lyphoma, (affects men mostly, i'm female, 51 yrs of age), I shouldnt have 'this cancer'. My face started breaking out w/2 types of skin cancer, basal cell, and precancer A. keratosis eveywhere. I was 120 lbs, cut muscles, always had been physical. Now, flab, lost mucle strength everywhere. Every day now is filled w/severe pain and NO dr will listen, I've been called crazy so many times, I could puke. The dr's dont WANT TO KNOW because of the extensive lawsuits that will exist due to them NOT knowing side effects and stopping meds, it's their 'brotherhood', protect each other no matter what the patients 'cost' is, as in mine, complete mind and body destruction:(
To MOST people, this drug is okay. To many of us, it's a life destroying slow death. Cant work, cant get disability. Have reached for 'help to heaven' so many times, but never followed through:(. I still HOPE for some dr to listen and do necessary tests so I can sue the crap out of my previous g.p. He should have known . HOPE is a forbidden 4 letter word, yet I cuss like a sailor.
Peace my fellow quin sufferers, Sandie in S.C.

I have been off Lisinopril for 5 weeks and feel 200% better than I have in almost a year. All of the side effects have disappeared except for the cough and that too is almost gone.
My family doctor told me to just stop taking it and I did. Cutting it out slowly doesn't work. You still have all the side effects.
My oncologist and ENT doctor said this drug is nasty to many people.
I live on chemo meds because I have metastatic breast cancer and they don't give me any problems.
Funny how one 10mg BP pill could cause so many problems.
Dyazide keeps my BP in check with no side effects.
I think a lot of doctors are brainwashed in regards to Lisinopril. Thank goodness for doctors who listen and bother to check things out. I have 3 of the best..Life without Lisinopril......Wonderful !!!!!

My friend got CMV retinitis because her immune system tanked during chemo for leukemia--ALL. After the chemo was finished she still had problems with the eye and the ophthomologist gave her an injection of Kenalog right into the eye. A few weeks after that my friend started to gain weight, sometimes as much as 10 pounds a month. At the time of her injection her TSH was normal. Yesterday, 35 pounds heavier than she was 6 months ago, the TSH was > 100!!! Basically, she has no thyroid.
This is a very serious situation. Please be aware of possible side-effects before you have a Kenalog injection.

Warning, could ruin your life, take at your own risk, proper side affects that could be permanent, would you still take it? lack of information on drug leaflet, should not be allowed...