Contact lenses symptoms and conditions

I hate this pill! I don't know why I've been on it for so long. I am considering going off of it but I am afraid what I switch to might be worse. It has made me very anxious, its caused my curly hair to become straight, limp and dull and wearing my contact lenses is nearly impossible. If someone can recommend another option please do!

I only started taking Yasmin 11 days ago. I noticed that it had an effect on my moods straight away. I felt constantly irritable and like I was about the burst into tears for no reason. I have also completely lost my sex drive. My skin has become really really dry and my vagina is very dry and painful. My eyes are so dry that it's even giving me problems trying to get my contact lenses in. I am going to stop taking the pill now even though i haven't finished the packet because I just don't think these side effects are worth it.

It's so encouraging to hear everyone else's views about this "device"!! I've had my Mirena since 16th March 2007 (yes, I remember the day like it was yesterday as inserting the thing was the most painful experience I have ever had, although I haven't had children!!).

The literature says you will get cramps and bleeding for up to about 3 weeks (I think) ... yes, try about 6 months.

Then, just when I thought things were settling down, I got sciatica over Christmas for no apparent reason. It was mild to begin with and then after £100 and 3 trips to the chiro, I am now on physiotherapy and have been for a month. I've also starting having cramps for about a month yet, but no sign of a period, so I got to thinking I wonder if this sciatica has got anything to do with the Mirena. I googled and sure enough, people are suffering and also from a whole host of other things I now recognize is happening to me. The blurred vision is interesting as when I went to get the Mirena removed this morning (it has got lost up there!!), the nurse said I've never heard of anyone getting sciatica. Check the internet love, the uterus is very close to the sciatic nerve and bearing in mind mine (the Mirena not the uterus) has gone walkabout, I'm pretty certain this is the root of my problems.

Someone had asked for the Mirena to be removed because it was affecting their contact lenses, so there must be something in the rumour.

Anyway, hopefully the doc can remove mine tonight or I can get a scan quickly and have the damn thing removed. Only 12 weeks until I get married and I refuse to walk down the aisle on crutches!!!!!

Wow ladies!! First off, thank you, all of you, for taking the time to share your stories.

I had my Mirena inserted mid March 2008. It is April 3rd today, and so far I'm not a fan.

Insertion was easy. I barely felt anything. Minor cramping afterwards, some spotting. The worst part was the black gritty sand like discharge. (previous poster compared it to coffee grounds) Every time I sat down or stood up I could feel the grit rubbing inside me. It was the most AWFUL feeling in the world.

I have been spotting every single day since insertion. I did have a full period (started a few days before Easter) and it lasted about a week and a half. It was moderate to heavy. I did have more than usual cramping for me. And with every cramp I felt a sharp stab in my uterus. I imagined it was my uterus pressing down on the IUD. It was very uncomfortable. Now my "period" is over and I am still spotting! Its strange though. My discharge is clear, but with streaks of purpleish/brown blood. Its not typical spotting. But i've ruined one too many pairs of good underwear so its starting to get on my nerves!!!! I thought this was supposed to STOP bleeding. I've bleed every day in some shape or form.

My one month checkup is on the 10th. I am going to express my concerns with my doctor, but I know she'll blow me off like everyone else. I am getting a lot of pressure from my husband to keep it, despite the side effects. We already have 4 children, and dont want any more for a few more years.

Other side effects I am experiencing that I can only assume are from the Mirena (they might not be, but I cant explain them any other way):

- I feel stupid! Im spacey, i cant think straight. Very forgetful. Simple jokes go over my head.
- my vision is wacky. I feel like im staring through a haze. I have a hard time focusing on objects or fine print. I have never had a vision problem before!
- i feel weak and woozy occasionally.
- extra crampy. and often feel pings and pangs in my uterus.
- increased thirst
- slight paranoia. I actually feel like all my friends are mad at me, when i know they arent.
- I sweat at night.
- moody.
- my nails are all dry and splitting. I normally have very healthy nails
- a general feeling of laziness. It takes a ton of motivation to get up sometimes. I have 4 kids and I work full time...I'm not a lazy person! I cant be! So this feeling is very frustrating!
- I'd rather sleep than have sex. which for me is abnormal. I am more of a hornball than my husband usually. hahaha

wow this list is longer than I thought!!

I'm going to give this thing more time. But so far I am not a fan. I know it works for some women....but these things were not in the little pamphlet they pass out! I guess if they were no one would get this thing!

Thanks for listening!

i experienced all the above mentioned symptoms but in addition did anyone have problems with their vision as a sense of having blurry vision and sensitivity to light?

I am 42, no children, never pregnant.
I had Mirena inserted about 7 months ago.

I thought I finally found THE REMEDY against heavy periods and condom use.

Since then I've had practically constant spotting. My period (heavy, as usual) followed by spotting. The first couple of months continuous blood loss, the last 2 months it was 3 weeks of bleeding (1st week heavy), only 1 week not.

Because of all the blood loss, there is no doubt I have am low on ferritin, thus and suffering from an iron deficiency. I am tired and lack energy. There is no drive to take any action whatsoever. Could be lack of iron, could be Mirena...

I wear contact lenses and had a left EYE that showed bubbles, the surface wasn't flat anymore. My eye was irritating. Not suspecting/thinking of any relation to Mirena, I went to see 3 different ophthalmologists, 5 visits in total. I took every kind of medicine you can imagine against viral and bacterial infections (as heavy as Prednisolone) etc. They only made things worse. None of the ophthalmologists actually found the origin of my "bubbles". Finally, triggered by the fact that my eye problems started at about the same time as I had my Mirena inserted, I started to do some research on the internet and found a website describing scientific research on mice that stated that sex hormones influence the surface of the eye... All of a sudden all became crystal clear to me....

My THROAT is sore. Like having acid reflux. I went to see my doctor, had and echo done, went to see an ENT-specialist to looked into my throat with a camera. No one found anything special (except a red throat). I am practically sure that this phenomenon has to do with Mirena as well as I also have this problem since I have Mirena (and not ever before...).

I have all kinds of strange pains in my MUSCLES and JOINTS, especially in the lower BACK (which is hurting a lot like a hernia - I never have had back pains in that area before) but also my elbow and fingers and thumb. Sometimes my right leg is just paralyzed for a 10 secs and I am hardly able to raise my foot to walk. I feel like an old woman.

I feel SWOLLEN in my stomach, sometimes have slight pains or a weird feeling. I have the impression I can feel the IUD, especially at some movements.

I've had very sore BREASTS for some time (weeks in a row), but that's over now.

I sometimes suffer on and off from CONSTIPATION, which is very unusual (especially with my healthy diet (practically vegetarian, regularly organic food, lots of whole-wheat items, fruits and vegetables).

I always had some ACNE but it has gotten significantly worse.

I SWEAT at night and more easily during the day, something I never used to.

I lack sex drive and for the first time in my life I experienced intimate dryness. This is the best birth control I've ever experienced, because I have no LIBIDO at all...

Overall I am not feeling good / active / in good physical shape with my normal energy/drive. Also my MOOD has not been so optimistic as usual.

I am definitively going to have this Mirena taken out. Toooo many problems with this type of "birth control". It coasted me a lot of money and time, months of health problems. Back to condoms again. Something I am not looking forward to... but I do look forward in getting my libido back...

The thing that really makes me angry is that it is still is up to the women to stuff themselves with hormones. Why, in the last 40 years or so that the birth control pill exists (and I've taken it for 15 years or so, bloating me and killing my libido...), medicine never has come up with birth control for men???
I've had it with hormones. No more for me. I eagerly pass my turn is to the other 50% of the population. Let the male gender be suffering from lack of libido for some time (so women can make fun of them faking a headache...) and the rest of the side-effects of hormones. Women have enough problems with their period already... There's no justice in the way nature has arranged things and (male) scientists have only made thing worse.

I have been on this disgusting drug for three weeks and today I ended up in the ER. I was prescribed Flonase and Singulair for allergies. I didn't have actual allergy symptoms but I kept getting sinus infections. Like many others posting I did not look at the side effects until right now. I have blurred vision, red itchy eyes (I constantly look stoned), pasty puffy eyes, cannot wear contact lenses anymore, body aches, ringing in my ears, and disorientation. I had a terrible reaction at work today. I started feeling like I couldn't breathe, then like I might pass out, and then started shaking uncontrollably. I'm disgusted that this drug is even on the market b/c it is ruining my quality of life and that of so many other people. I'm 27 years old and I have never felt so lethargic and unmotivated. I struggle to keep up at work (I'm a social worker) and the doctors at the ER asked me if I have anxiety attacks. I never have had one in my life and am normally energetic. I feel so weak right now that I am barely able to hold a bowl of soup and eat. Thanks for posting and spread the word about this awful drug!

I'm soo glad I found this site!! Now I know I am not really crazy... I was on ortho tri cyclen for 6 months then started Yasmin and have been taking it for 3 years to help regulate my period and since starting it my side effects just keep getting worse and worse. I'm 21 years old, very active, outgoing...but I will have SEVERE depression, feelings of hopelessness, bloating, crazy appetite (one day I won't eat at all, the next I'm eating everything), and for the past 3 years I easily get yeast infections and the part that really gets me is that I'm not sexually active and have never been, I only went on the pill to regulate my period. ALSO, since starting the pill I have had really bad problems with my contact lenses...so bad I couldn't even wear them and I had to get lasik surgery because glasses are not an option with me being a gymnastics coach. But all of this started when I got on Yasmin. I enjoy having a short, light, and regular period but the side effects have made me look to another because pill YAZ. My doctor said this pill should help with my symptoms of depression, poor appetite, etc. But is it even worth switching, I wish I didn't have to take anything but I'm afraid I will become irregular again. If I didn't have to be on the pill I certainly wouldn't be!!! Do ALL bcp have the same side effects? Should I try the shot, or the ring? This will definitely be my last month on Yasmin but I don't know what else to take!?

Has anyone else had problems wearing contact lenses with Yasmin? I've been on it for about three years now -- about a year ago my eyes started completely rejecting my contact lenses. I'm at the point where I can't wear them anymore. I'm thinking of changing to a different medication to see if that helps, but I don't know if it's just my eyes, the Yasmin, or all birth control. I know there is a definite connection, I've done some research. Has anyone else experienced this side effect?

Oh MY LORD! I can NOT believe what I am reading. THANK YOU THANK YOU THANK YOU! I have been taking Singulair for approximately 3 months. I went to a local doctor concerning yet another sinus infection when my doctor was out of town - she prescribed Singular for my allergies and I have been praising her ever since... until this past week. My allergies were non-existent and, until recently, I hadn't noticed any side effects.

I did not get my refill on time and went a couple of days without my Singulair, when I refilled it and started up again the INSANE side effects began. It wasn't until this morning that it occurred to me that these two things coincided and I should check the side effects online. Thank you ALL for writing here!

I have been EXTREMELY depressed, anxious and having terrible nightmares. I nearly had what I can best describe as a panic attack on the way to work this morning, for NO REASON. I actually began talking to my family about seeking therapy because I could see no reason for feeling the way that I did! It has been about a week of this and I was really becoming frightened. It was really only the suddenness of all of these symptoms that helped me make the connection.

I also haven't been wearing my contact lenses because my eyes have been so itchy! My goodness! Is this all from this drug?? I have not taken anything else. I am 31 years old and otherwise healthy - I can't believe I am going through all of this to avoid a sinus infection!

Goodbye, Singulair! Sweet dreams and happy wakings to me!!

Thank you again to all that wrote here - and for any readers - BE AWARE - all that glitters is NOT gold. While this may seem like the GREATEST thing ever for allergies, please take note of your other behaviors. When Singulair turns on you it takes no prisoners!

My Dr. started me on Toprol XL when I was constantly complaining of migraines. Imitrex worked the first couple times I used it, then it didn't any more. My blood pressure was not real high, but higher than normal so he suggested Toprol XL. He told me it would lower my BP and help prevent migraines. I started with 25 mg, worked up to 100 mg a day. I've been on it for over a year now and only have migraines about once every 3 months or so whereas before they were coming 2 and 3 times per month and lasting 2 to 4 days each time. My BP is normal and all seemed fine. About 5 months ago, I started having problems keeping my contact lenses in, especially at the end of the day or when I was tired. My eye doctor asked me what meds I was taking. Turns out one side effect of Toprol XL is drying of the eyes. After wearing extended wear contacts for 20 years, only taking them out once a week, now I have to take them out every single night. Other than that I really can't complain. It's worth it to me to not have the migraines. I have not noticed any of the symptoms on this web site.

I was prescribed 750mg of levaquin 9/11/07. I read all the side effects but also read in many scientific studies that the odds of these side effects occurring were slim. I believe the exact figures were around 1-3%. I have my bachelor's of science in biology and am planning to attend graduate school next year, so I thought I was educated enough in the realm of how drugs interact with the body. "1-3%" is such a low probability, right?

I took one pill at approximately 9pm then around 11pm I began to feel dizzy and light headed. I had been drinking water all day and continued to do so after taking the first dose so I decided to go to bed. I awoke the next morning still dizzy and my muscles ached. Then, while walking to the bathroom to put my contacts in, I began to hear ringing in my ears until it was all I could hear around me, I developed tunnel vision, then completely blacked out. The only way my vision returned is when I sat on the ground with my head between my knees barely moving. I remembered reading that levaquin could cause hypoglycemia so I literally crawled to the kitchen and poured a plethora of sugar into a cup of gatorade and drank it as quickly as I could. I've never been more thankful to be an athlete and keep that in my refridgerator constantly...well... I WAS an athlete. I haven't been able to walk, let alone run, without my head throbbing with each step.

It is now 9/19/07 and I still have a pounding headache that won't go away. It is as if my optic nerve is on fire. I've tried vitamins, flushing my body with constant fluid, sleep, massage, and an optometrist examination for new contact lenses in case the headaches were due to eye strain. Nothing has seemed to work. My sinus infection that the levaquin was initially prescribed for has subsided but I can only hope that this headache will subside as well.

Has anyone else experienced an on-going headache as well? And if so... what have you found provides relief?

I have mirena for 2 years and 6 months I feel depress I can not wear contact lenses since, I think my ANA is high for this reason 1135 is not lupus but the only extrange in my body is Mirena I do not drink any medicine I was healthy before it Does anybody has this side effect?

Marysabel Miami FL

I originally went on Yasmin because I experience horrible menstrual cramps. As a cure for cramps, Yasmin is a miracle. HOWEVER...I have been on it for almost 3 years now & have noticed new issues. I now have insomnia (recurring almost EVERY night). I can fall asleep, but ALWAYS wake up after a couple of hours & usually can't go back to sleep, or sometimes wake up every hour or less. Also, I haven't been able to wear contact lenses in almost 3 years. I have an unusual condition that causes my eyelashes to grow abnormally. I have zero sex drive. Other birth control brands make me moody & angry, but I don't know which is worse.

I have been off Yasmin now for a little over a week and i'd like to think that i'm seeing an improvement in myself but I know it's too early to tell... I did wake up this morning with a sore throat once again. The past 2 months (I was only on Yasmin for 4 months) I have had a sore throat at least 3 times which is very unusal for me. The thing's i've experienced and how I have been feeling since December 2006 has been nothing short of very bad (I started Yasmin in November 2006). I guess the worst thing was my moods and the least little thing would set me off. I couldn't deal with the stress of everyday and that is very unusual for me. I've had a rapid heart beat at times and a little shortness of breath. There are nights when I don't sleep or get very little sleep. I have instances where I am either extremely cold or very warm - seems there is no happy medium lately at all when it comes to my body temperature. My head feels 'foggy' a lot of the time and I never feel rested. My eyes are a lot dryer then they ever used to be and by the end of the day I can't wait to get my contact lenses out whereas before they never bothered me. I have episodes of vertigo where I can be stood up at work then all of a sudden i'll go to move my position and i'll stumble.... thing's like that which never happened to me before. I can't believe how much I have noticed over the past few months of thing's that didn't make sense to me and I didn't think Yasmin at first until I fainted at work last week and was brought to the ER. All blood tests and EKG were all normal so it got me thinking. That night when I got home I did some research and found this site and am relieved to know that I am not the only one that has had a bad experience because of this pill. I don't know what else can explain what has been happening to me the past few months if it's not Yasmin. I was only on it for 4 packs and I felt like crap the whole time. I was initially put on it for breakthrough bleeding but needless to say because of it I experience a whole lot of other things. I'm coming off birth control pills altogether and want to have my body get back to normal. I don't know how long Yasmin has been on the market but from what i've seen - the negatives of this pill are far outweighing the positives.

I'm glad I'm not alone. I didn't have any problems with Yasmin at first, but when I lost weight I started to have a lot of vaginal dryness, difficulty with my contact lenses, twitchy legs at night, foggy thinking, etc. Takign a magnesium supplement helped with the twitchy legs. I went off of Yasmin one month when I was travelling and all those side efects went away. In addition, I found that I was sleeping better than I had in months. I stayed on it for a while because none of my side-effects were very strong and would come and go, and I wasn't sure if it was the Yasmin
My OB-GYN was very understanding so this month I'm switching back to Ortho-tricylen. Wish me luck!

Sophie,
I have exactly the same thing you do. Mine, however has just hit recently (I have been off of Yasmin 11 months.) My head pains are not very bad now....that eventually goes away although they did last for weeks at a time. My eyes still do not focus. I have had my glasses (I cannot wear contact lenses anymore...they make me sick.) changed 6 times in the past year. I am going back Wednesday to get them changed again. My optometrist told me that my eyes were not really changing that much; I was just extremely sensitive to light changes. Sometimes I feel as if my eyes are not tracking together. I call it "snail eyes." Anyway, I would not be too worried about it at all. Mine has continued to get better...there for a while, I could not read for a couple of months, because I could not focus on a page of writing.
Virginia

Angie,
YES! I have been off of Yasmin for 9 months and still have severe eye floaters, dizziness, dry eyes, and racing heart. I have had my glasses prescription changed 5 times this past year, and I am still unable to wear contact lenses (they make me dizzy). Most of the time I feel as if I am looking through a jar of jelly....

Virginia

I would be interested to know how many of you had vision problems related to the pill. What problems did you have? (spots, blurry vision, unable to wear contact lenses, dry eyes...etc) and how long did they last. I have been off of the pill for 5 months now, and I am still having problems wearing my glasses and contacts. I have had my prescription changed....but it just keeps changing! My new glasses last about 3 weeks before I start getting headaches again. I am unable to read or work at the computer for long periods of time. Thanks for any help!

Virginia, USA

I took Estrostep for 1 year and had many strange abdominal pains, dizziness, and major dental problems... I switched to Yasmin and it nearly killed me in 2 months. I had ALL the symptoms mentioned in previous messages on this page, along with many vision problems. I still have spotted vision (looks like floaters), one eye that keeps dilating in a stretched square shape, and my glasses prescription has changed DRASTICALLY every 3 months....just forget about wearing contacts. Contact lenses, which I used to wear all the time, now make me sick (dizzy, disoriented, dry eyes). I have been off of ALL birth control pills for 5 months. Yes, it is still very bad (panic attacks, sharp chest pains), but it is getting better. This website probably saved my life. My doctor still denies everything, although my optometrist has had one patient go through surgery for clots due to the pill, and another die from a stroke. I find it funny my optometrist could tell me more about the side effects than my gyn. I finally found a general practicioner that did report my symptoms to the FDA, and I gave him this website.

For all the men out there...my husband says to BE PATIENT. :)

Hello Ladies,

I have posted several times before and thought I would add a few things. I have experienced the EXTREME weight gain and bloating in a very short time, sweats, migraines, problems with vision and contact lenses, chest pains, on and on. As with many of you, my side effects only got WORSE when I went off. I was only on for 5 months! I've been off since July 19 and I'm continuing to expand, which is SOOOOOO depressing.

Anyway, I've reported all of this to Berlex Labs and suggest you all do the same. I've also requested a call back from one of their "health care" professionals to see if they know of a recomended protocol to turn this monster around and get my body back. You can write me privately for contact info.

I'va also contacted FDA and the individual with whom I spoke was a very kind and understanding gentleman. He HIGHLY suggested we post our problems with YASMIN on FDA'S adverse event reporting system. I haven't done it yet but he said you just go to FDA.gov and on the right side click on "FDA activities", which will take you to their MEDWATCH site. This is where we should report our problems. This can be done directly on-line or copy and send a fax. If you send it online be sure to click "SUBMIT REPORT" at the top to be sure it goes through and you will receive a confirmation email.

I am FURIOUS that we've all been put through this and want to stop it for other women if possible. I understand that b/c pills have their share of consequences, but this one really takes the cake.

Blessings to you all,
Rita

I've been taking Topamax for a couple months now and am up to 200mg per day for both my Trigeminal Neuralgia (right sided facial nerve pain) and migraines that I was having 2-3 times a day. I now only have migraines 2-3 times a week which is so much better and my trigeminal neuralgia is under control, no pain as long as I take the medicine. I have frequent tingling of my hands and feet, I feel drowsy alot, but there are some times where I go one to three whole days when I can't sleep at all and I feel like a zombie and I'll even try taking tylenol PM to try to sleep but still can't. That is such a horrible feeling. When I finally do get some sleep, I'll sleep for like a whole day and night and then I am so relieved and back to normal. I used to love diet pop but now it just tastes totally bitter, so I pretty much just drink water which is good. I've lost about 8 pounds of weight and hope to lose more, sounds like others of you out there have lost some weight on this drug. Thats a good thing right? Like some of you out there, I also have that tip of the tongue thing where you know what you want to say but you can't say the words some times, and that is very frustrating. But on a positive note, I have friends that don't take anything and it happens to them too! I have had lasix surgery on my eyes and since being on Topamax, I have had to get some glasses and contact lenses for my eyes which is quite a frustration for me. I don't absolutely have to wear them, but things are just too blurry now if I don't wear them especially when I drive. Overall though, I am happy with the fact that my migraines are so much less frequent and I feel like I have a much better quality of life than before. I hope as time goes on my sleep patterns will even out, I have a feeling that they will. Good luck to all of you out there! ;-)

i've only been on yasmin for almost 3 weeks and my main problems are drying of my contact lenses and that i am always starving. i have been waking up in the middle of the night craving food. thankfully my boyfriend and i broke up and i plan on quitting this pill by the end of the month.