Connective tissue symptoms and conditions

Hi, my name’s M. and I posted my story on here about a month ago. Unfortunately, I’ve made no progress. I was hospitalized again mid-October for numbness and tingling sensations in my legs, which is a symptom of guillian-barre syndrome and supposedly needs to be treated very carefully. I had an mri of my brain again, this time including my spine to check for possible tumors. I was sent home the next day, negative for guillian-barre, but having received no answers. I was crawling up the stairs by this time, and was too weak to walk without holding on to furniture to support myself. My legs felt like cement blocks, and the neurologist specifically said, “I don’t know why you can’t walk.”
Since then, I’ve developed acute mononucleosis, which increases my fatigue and muscle pain, and causes me to sleep about 15 hours a day. Recent blood work also showed I was positive for an autoimmune disorder called Myositis, which is a painful disorder that causes the body’s immune system to attack its muscles and connective tissue. I was referred to a rheumatologist, who was the least sympathetic person I’ve met in my life, and told me my physical exam was perfect, so she felt the Myositis must have been a false positive. She re-ran the blood work, and the Myositis was negative. This is of course a relief, but how we’ll ever know which test is correct, I don’t know. The rheumatologist did notice the weakness in my legs and my difficulty walking, and suggested physical therapy to help gain my strength back. She also prescribed an anti-inflammatory medication that took away almost all of my pain. Thank God, something finally worked for me. We then saw the physical therapist who said, “We can probably make you stronger, but I’ve never seen anything like this before.”
I’m seeing an osteopathic specialist who is convinced my illness is directly related to Gardasil. Through ancient medicine methods, she introduced a vile of Gardasil to my system and noticed an immediate weakness. I’m not sure if I totally believe in her practice, but the fact that she noticed a rejection to Gardasil the minute she introduced it is enough to convince me. She believes that my immune system was basically poisoned by the vaccine, which is causing it to fight off things I need. She also said it probably doesn’t recognize the mono as an infection, and decides not to fight it. For a normal, healthy person, mono can last up to 3 months. For someone like me, no one knows how long it could last. It was my immune system’s weakness that allowed me to develop mono, and it was the Gardasil that weakened it in the first place. So thank you Merck, for yet another thing I have to deal with.
And that brings us to today. I’ve missed about 30 days of my freshman year, so I’m assuming summer school will be necessary. My high school won’t provide a tutor, so I can only take my core curriculum classes, and am having difficulty keeping up with just those few. I’ve gained some strength in my legs, and it’s a little easier to walk with the anti-inflammatory, but I still can’t walk very far without resting. I’m also taking an anti-depressant to help me focus-hopefully it’ll lift my spirits. Since I received the vaccine, my periods have been painful and irregular. The constant nausea, headaches, and occasional stomach pain/joint pain continues, along with extreme fatigue.
The doctors make me feel like a crazy person who faked this to get out of school. How could I possibly fake nausea for thirteen weeks straight, and pain that kept me up crying almost every night? How could I fake my difficulty walking while it’s causing me to miss both of my volleyball seasons? Before this, I had hardly missed a day of school in my life, and refused to stay home whenever I got the flu because I hate falling behind. I’ve played volleyball tournaments with sprained ankles and chipped elbows, I can handle pain, and I’m not a baby. If the doctors would take five minutes out of their time to try to get to know me, maybe they would see that. And the few who actually take the time to be pleasant don’t listen. They tell you they know, that they understand, but they don’t. They won’t drag themselves out of bed in the morning feeling nauseous and half asleep; they’ll be able to walk into their office without feeling like they want to collapse, and they’ll go home to the people who care about them and will actually be awake long enough to enjoy their company. No one will tell them they’re insane, and the worst part is that most of them won’t take the time to realize how blessed they are just to have the ability to do those things. How can the doctors not have sympathy when they’re the ones who put this poison inside of me?!
I know I’m very lucky compared to girls who have experienced more serious side effects, and am thankful that we were able to make a connection between my illness and Gardasil after the first shot. But I’m living proof of what just one stupid shot can do to you-how can you put yourselves or your daughters at risk of what I’ve gone through? The benefits are not just worth the risk..
My 15th birthday is coming up in just a few weeks, and all I want is to be normal again.

My 12 year old son started on Singulair 10 days ago. Yesterday, he threw up blood twice, so I took him to urgent care. He said it felt like someone was shoving knives into his stomach. He had blood tests and a CAT scan -- the connective tissue in his abdomen was inflamed and his lymph nodes are slightly enlarged. His white blood cell count is up slightly -- just above normal -- and his liver enzymes are elevated, which the doctor said is common with a viral infection. He has also had migraine-type headaches twice in the last week. HOWEVER: my 16 year old son has been on Singulair for four years, and it has been a lifesaver. He has had some hand tremors, which could also be aggravated by the decongestant he also takes, but no other side effects.

I have been taking Lipitor for around ten years, up to last summer. In the spring of 2003 I began having severe pain in my heels and it was diagnosed as Plantar Faaschiitis. Last summer I suffered a severe rotator cuff tear, with no connection to any injury. Recently I have a small tear in my right rotator cuff. Even though it a small tear it is fairly painful. It seems to me that it is highly unlikely that all three of these conditions would occur in one person with no external reason. Does any one know of any connection with lipitor and orthopaedic injuries or break down? I have been told that there is a connection between Lipitor and connective tissue breakdown but haven't seen anything in writing. I have discontinued using all statin drugs and zetia.

I was out of the county where I contracted a supposed bacterial infection. The doctor prescribed Levaquin 1500 mg (500 mg x 3) for five days. Within days, I was experiencing the most severe back pain (to the point where it would have been preferable to have been doused in gasoline and lit on fire), both arms went numb, my heart rate skyrocketed to 130 bpm and I began passing out. I seriously thought that I was going to die and here I was in the middle of Africa with no one to help me. I finally got home after a 35 hr flight that has to be the most traumatic experience of my life. Five months later, I am in constant pain with numerous trigger points and extensive connective tissue damage in my back. I can no longer write because my fingers are so destroyed by arthritis-like symptoms. I am suffering from anxiety attacks and depression. I have chest pain and palpitations on a regular basis and now my knee has suddenly developed tendinitis when I have not exercised for 2 weeks. This drug has destroyed my life. I am 27 years old and was healthy before I took this drug and now I have become completely debilitated. This drug should be pulled from the market immediately! I will be pursuing legal recourse for my pain and suffering and I encourage others to do the same.

I was on Levaquin in February of 06. Although it helped the sinus infection, the price has been great. I had severe burning and tingling in my lips. Lower lip still numb after 20 months. Soreness and weakness in fingers--sprained two fingers while doing routine things. Stabbing pains in soles of feet, decreased over 4 months. Excruciatingly sore Achilles tendon, especially sore to the touch. Large muscle twitches in arms and legs. Decreased over several months. Ear ringing began--still have it. Dramatic increase in floaters in eyes also during the course of the drugs--still have them. Serious back problems began then also, with 4 herniated discs being diagnosed 5 months later. I have read that connective tissue damage may result from Levaquin. I feel that everthing that stated then is related: back, ears, eyes, numb lips, hands, etc. I checked with my doctors office, told them the symptoms, and I was instructed to keep taking the drug if I wanted to get well. But I only spoke with a nurse. . .shame on me. Good luck to all of you.

i recieved 3 kenalog epidural injections for herniated disc, 2 weeks apart, followed by a decompression nucleoplasty, also with Kenalog injection. after the first epidual. i began having extreme irritablity which i reported to the pain management doc. he said he couldn't prescribe anything but could refer me to a psychologist, which i declined , realizing i was having a reaction to something. after the 3rd epidural, my irritabilty had increased to the point where i was shouting and screaming, and had completely lost my patience. my face had blown up, and cheeks were hard to the touch, and my neck skin was swollen and hanging down. i described my appearance as "looking like a blowfish".

on the day of the nucleoplasty, i agreed that the doc should go ahead and use it again, since it was important for the procedure, and it was not a "true (anaphalctic) type reaction.

after this last injection of Kenalog, i had a terrible terrible reaction. my face became even larger, with big dark circles under my eyes, and my eyes partially closed, appeared like slits. i was frightened by my reflection in the mirror.

my feet, ankles and legs swelled up to the point where it was painful and difficult to walk.

i also i developed insomnia.

at the same time i was "off the wall" with irritability, anger, impatience, and could not stop crying.

during the day i had a general ill and sleepy feeling, and fell asleep driving, without notice.

throughout this period of Kenalog adminstration, i also had flu like symptoms every morning. sore throat, laryngitis, loose cough, muscle pains. i noticed black and blue marks on my extremities as well.

now i have a full blown flu and full blown bronchitis, and i feel so very very ill.

my feet and calves, hands and fingers are experiencing very painful cramping, intermittantly throughout the day and night. it's happening right now in my left hand, so i have to stop typing. i wait for one minute and try to continue typing, but that causes the painful spasm to return. i try again 2 more times, waiting a minute in between spasms. finally it stops and i can continue typing.

there are probably more symptoms, like the irregular heart beat, and these little bumps on the skin of my right cheek, but i need to rest now.

generally, i feel sicker probably than i can ever recall feeling in my life.

would appreciate hearing from anyone with similar symptoms, and especially how long before my face returns to normal. i live with the fear of what will i do if it does not?

I am a 55 year old adult. I have had unexplained random rashes. The timing seems to be in correlation with taking singulair. I also have had chronic joint or connective tissue pain. I have gone off of the medication for a week. Some of these symptoms are better. I am anxious to see if I have continued improvements.

Hi sherry and everyone else!!

No, my bloatedness didn't ease up at all!! I still feel like a waterbomb, some days less, some days more, but it didn't go away until now. I've started to note my weight every 2 - 3 days and also my bodyfat (bought a new scale therefor!!) to see, if the weight gain has at least stopped or if it still goes up and up... Well, at the moment it seems to have stopped thanks god!! I'm very careful about what I'm eating and how much. Excercising is still not possible for me because the muscle fatigue and breathlessness brought on by Yasmin is still very heavy somedays (especially shortly before my period should start, well, as though I hadn't one since easter this year......).

Well, it looks and seems as if this pill has ruined my whole body, especially the veins (my blood circulation isn't really good, I often get dizzy when I come up from sitting or kneeing which I didn't get before Yasmin!!!) and the connective tissue (I hope that's the right word in english....). I got cellulite all over my body, not only my belly and tighs but also on my arms and nearly everywhere!!! It looks really horrible!!! :(

Would be very helpful to hear, if that endocrinologist is able to help you somehow!! Please keep us updated Sherry!! I wish you best of luck!!

Someone wrote about some heat sensations - YES I had them, too!! Sometimes at one finger or sometimes even at one foot and so on. It just felt, as if I had put the finger or foot into some warm water. Did you mean that?? Well, this has eased up after being off Yasmin for about 5 months (now it's 8 months!!) and only comes up every few weeks for a short time. My MRI also came up normal (no MS or such...)! So it seems to be all this miserable pill, or the hormonal imbalance caused by it!!

HAIR LOSS: YES!! It definitely is brought on by Yasmin or the hormonal imbalance after getting off. Even some women who were pregnant get that hair loss shortly after the birth of their children and it goes away as soon as the hormones are back in balance again!! Don't worry too much about that!! It will get better and all your lost hair will grow back. Especially in an age of 21!! Be sure!!

PLEASE every NEW READER of this Forum go through all of the posts here, everyhting you are mentioning now has been written down in some posts some day here!! I swear!!

I read them all through in the heaviest time of my life and this was the only thing that helped me, not to go mad or give up and lose hope completely!! It's worth taking your time and reading everything here, I swear!! You'll be so much delighted after finding out, that you're really not alone with this shit!!!

Best wishes to all of you!!

Greetings
Silke

Folks who are prednisone dependent should know that one of the common side effects is weakening of the connective tissue. Due to the chronic use of prednisone and quinolone antibiotics (cipro, avelox, levaquin) for a severe respiratory disease, I have ruptured both my achilles tendons.