Cleveland clinic symptoms and conditions

I have several back & neck problems caused from an accident 5yrs ago but i wnt go into that! i'm 39yrs old my doctor put me on pregabalin {lyrica] a month ago for severe nerve pain in my left arm & shoulder since taking it i have felt no benefits at all, all i,ve experienced is side effects being constant sleepiness even falling asleep when driving meaning i can only drive short distances & only if i have some1 with me i have also experienced the worse kind of pain in my right arm, its a really painful tingling, cramping pain its so hard to explain its like nothing ive ever experienced in my life it wakes me at night its so bad the pain makes me cry it makes me scream inside its that bad. i want to just stop taking this drug but my dr says i have to come of it slowly does anyone know why? as she dosent seem to be able to tel me, also anyone that has stopped this drug can they tell me if the side effects go away i'm so scared its another pain on top of everything else that i,m going to have to deal with now!!!

I had excruciating muscle spasms in the legs when taking synthroid. My physicians argued that Synthroid or T4 was all that was needed because my body would produce T3. This simply is not accurate information for everyone. The muscle spasms became so severe that I went to the Cleveland Clinic in hopes of resolving this issue. This was a waste of time; the docs could only confirm the presence of muscle spasms in my legs and offered no other options. Finally, while reviewing all my lab reports and the related symptoms, I discovered that the muscle spasms only occurred when I was taking synthroid for hypothyroidism. I switched to Armour thyroid and the muscle spasms ceased. I urge everyone with hypothyroidism to find a doctor that can think outside the box.

I am a healthy 58 yr old woman. On May 20 2008, I went to the dentist to have two small fillings done. At the time of the shot I experienced what felt as though I had received an electrical jolt because the shot hit my nerve. This jolt radiated down to my ovaries. I complained to the dentist instantly. Right after the visit I started noticing that my hair was thinning. On June 17, 2008 at my normal hair appointment I commented to the beautician that my hair was thinning. On June 27, 2008 at the second visit to the dentist I experience the same problem from the shot and again told the dentist of problem. By July 18th I noticed some extreme hair loss in two locations on my scalp. I pointed out my hair loss condition to the Dermatologist at the Cleveland Clinic on July 18, 2008 he referred me to a hair loss specialist. On September 2, 2008 I meet the specialist she stated that the hair loss was caused by some extreme stress to my system. I told her about the dental work and my reaction to the injection. She said that could have been the catalyst that started this problem. The doctor said if there is some "shock to the system", as many as 70% of the scalp hairs are then shed in large numbers about 1 to 2 months after the "shock". This sudden increase in hair loss, usually described as the hair coming out in handfuls is called acute telogen effluvium. Has anyone else had a similar experience?

“The first heart disease indicator to be recommended by the American Heart Association in twenty years entails only a surprisingly simple, inexpensive blood test. This high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) test takes the traditional cardiac check-up a step further, pinpointing those people who are at a much higher risk than others for heart disease, America’s leading cause of death. From hs-CRP results, doctors gain crucial insight into inflammation of the blood vessels around the heart, a factor not considered until now for patients at risk… People who have suffered a heart attack or stroke and those with at least one risk factor, such as family history, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking or diabetes, should be tested. While the American Heart Association and Centers for Disease Control just recently recommended hs-CRP testing as an option for those already at risk, The Cleveland Clinic has used the hs-CRP test routinely for at-risk patients for several years. Hs-CRP is a great test for people with one or two risk factors who wonder if they are really in jeopardy of a heart attack or a stroke (Greater than 3.0 mg/L High Risk for CVD). It’s probably less useful for people without any risk factors.” See entire article: http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/news/hot/crp.aspx
Hopefully, your physician/cardiologist will do a C-Reactive Protein (CRP) test, and based on the results of the CRP, consider a low dose statin (5mg Lipitor –split tablet in half or 10mg Zocor), instead of a high dose. See article by Dr. Cohen, Associate Professor of Family and Preventive Medicine and of Psychiatry at the University of California, San Diego: “Overall, the risk of death was the same with high-dose and lower-dose Lipitor. In other words, high-dose Lipitor offered no advantage in the study's most important category: preventing deaths.” See, www.medicationsense.com (HIGH-DOSE LIPITOR FOR HEART ATTACKS: HOW EFFECTIVE, HOW SAFE?)
Also see, the recent article (Feb. 2008), by Board Certified Cardiologist, Dr. Peter Langsjoen, M.D., FAAC, which details the trouble with statins and the requirement to supplement with 300mg to 600 mg of CoQ10 daily: *******/magazine/mag2008/feb2008_Alleviating-Congestive-Heart-Failure-With-Coenzyme-Q10_01.htm, as well as, CITIZEN PETITION TO CHANGE THE LABELING FOR ALL STATIN DRUGS (MEVACOR, LESCOL, PRAVACHOL, ZOCOR, LIPITOR, AND ADVICOR) RECOMMENDING USE OF 100-200mg PER DAY OF SUPPLEMENTAL CO-ENZYME Q10 TO REDUCE THE RISK OF STATIN-INDUCED MYOPATHIES (INCLUDING CARDIOMYOPATHY AND CONGESTIVE HEART FAILURE). *****/OHRMS/DOCKETS/dailys/02/May02/052902/02p-0244-cp00001-01-vol1.pdf.
In closing, I hope your physician/cardiologist will consider recommending CoQ10 in addition, should he/she make the decision to prescribe the above (Low Dose Statins to reduce inflammation of the blood vessel wall/endothelium). See, the following medical research/article: ******/cgi/content/abstract/57/1/1

I was diagnosed as having chrones. My doctor prescribed me with Endocort.

After taking it and still have problems I got a blood test and showed my sugar level had gone to 340- I now have diabetes.

Back in July of 2007 I had a partial Colectomy and was given Levaquin before the Surgery. When I woke up from the surgery I immediately felt all types of strange symptoms like, vibrating all over my body, anxiety, chills, Heart palpitations, tremors, insomnia, memory loss, and panic attacks. They told me that it was the anesthesia wearing off so I just sat in bed feeling that way for my entire 2 week stay in the hospital. When I went home these symptoms persisted as well as continued pain in my lower left quadrant where surgery was performed. It has been 8 months now and the symptoms are not getting better. They have conducted MRI’s, MRA’s. EEG’s, EKG’s, CAT Scans, X-Rays, numerous Blood Tests, and Thyroid tests but have found no physical problem. They can see that I’m having the symptoms I describe but cannot give me a reason for them. At first they thought that my Thyroid was having problems that turned up to be inconclusive. The doctors are currently referring me to a third Colorectal Surgeon, a Neurologist and a Second Gastroenterologist. We are also looking for a new Endocrinologist and will be going to the Cleveland Clinic for help. My life has come to a virtual standstill and I have no Diagnosis or direction to go toward other then the possibility that I have been affected by the Levaquin they gave me. I found a website that has all kinds of information concerning Levaquin poisoning. http://www.fluoroquinolones.org

My husband used to take Altace fo HBP. It wasn't working so his dr. put him on Lisinopril in Feb. of this year, 2007. He had to keep lowing the dosage until he reached 5mg. It knocked him on his ass, he has no energy at all, no sex drive, we have not had sex since Jan. He is tired, tired tired all the time. He also coughs but is a smoker, wakes up at night with his t-shirt soaked. He has told his dr. this and he says it's where his BP gets low and his heart is pumping trying to keep up with his body. He had bloos work done and has found out he's anemic. I don't know if the medication has caused this or not. Since June 2007 he has had to have 2 blood transfusions, has gone through scopes, more blood work and we are waiting results of the lastest done Aug. 7, 2007. He goes for a CAT Scan Aug. 21, if the dr. isn't satisfied with that he's doing a bone marrow test. Could this be the result of lisinopril? Anyone else having these systoms?

My Mom is 57 years old was given Omnicef in November of 2006. She stopped taking it after she began bleeding and diareha within 4 days of taking this medication. Since then she has been in and out of the hosipital and even trips in an Ambulance from her legs swelling. She has had one doctor tell her that they believe it to be caused from the Omnicef. Now they have her on Pretizone because they think that it started Rhumetoid Arthiritis. She is on three other medications for this and she still is in pain when she walks. It takes her over an hour to get out of bed in the morning and for the swelling in the ankles and legs to go down after she takes the medication. The doctors seem to be doing a lot of guess work right now. I would like to find her a new doctor at the Cleveland Clinic but since the doctor's are unsure of what is wrong with her, I have no idead what type of specialist I need to contact to get her an appointment.

Thank you to those who wrote me with words of advice. I'm now 14 days out from levaquin and am feeling a bit better. I have had a complete physical and blood workup. I've also seen an allergist, a rhematologist, two ER doctors and my primary care. My primary care and one ER were at the Cleveland Clinic and advise that it's the levaquin. I have yet to run across a doc who didn't say it's the levaquin. I was sure it was MS, ALS or something worse than an allergic reaction. I am getting a little better and hope I continue on this path. I wanted to share the list of meds the allergist told me to NEVER TAKE and even suggested that I get a med alert braclet. It appears that if you have a bad reacation and take the offending agent again, next time will be worse including shock. My daughter who is an RN also agrees with the medic alert braclet. She said that if I were ever in a car wreck, one of the first things they would do in the ER was start an antioboitic IV.

The meds in the same family to avoid are:

Cipro, avelox, faxtive, levaquin, varoxin, tequin and trovan.

This same Dr. (the allregy immunology doc) says that I have had nerve damage, that I should fully recover and that it will not get worse.

My symptoms were mostly pain in my limbs, if you have had the pain in your limbs at the least please put a note in your wallet that says that you can not take the above listed drugs.

Hope this helps. God bless

Taunda

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I took Levaquin from May 1, 02 until July 19,02 for an infected hip prothesis. I developed severe pain in my fingers, knuckles, hands, shoulders and TMJ joints. The Dr. said it would go away. As of May 9, 03 I still have the problem and am seeing a rheumatologist. He, through blood test said I have ANCA Positive vasculitis which is caused from taking Levaquin. The course of treatment is steroids. I took steroids and the raised havoic with me, and only made matters worse. His next course of action is massive doses of steroids. IV therapy for three days followed by 100, yes 100 days of taking 15 mg prednisone daily. He treated his only other patient with ANCA Positive and it did not work.
I'm currently waiting to get in to Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic or University of Michigan Medical Center.
My question to anyone out here is if there is a class action law suit going against the manufacturer of Levaquin.
jcoleman@shianet.org