Desk job symptoms and conditions

I am a Registered Nurse and feel foolish that I wasn't able to connect the dots sooner. Yasmin's effects for me were insidious thereby slipping under the radar as the culprit responsible for all of the side effects I was experiencing. On Yasmin for 3 years:

- feelings of shortness of breath
- heart palpitations
- horrible anxiety and feelings of panic (not good when you're a nurse in the
ICU)
- insomnia (never had trouble sleeping before)
- varicose veins on my stomach??!!
- strange weight gain around my abdomen I could not lose despite my best
efforts
- ear popping and a feeling of fullness in my head
- constant runny nose requiring new prescriptions for nasal sprays and
allergy pills that did not work
- new abdominal bloating (ultrasound was negative)
- UTI (never had one of those before)
- strange colored periods
- agoraphobia (previously outgoing)
- depressed--lost interest in things I previously enjoyed, moody & angry,
- horrible fatigue (unable to jog anymore without becoming drained for days
- sharp debilitating headaches (CT negative)
- breast pain
- cellulite I've never had before
- and last but not least, compromised circulation to my right arm causing it
to go numb and change in color (Doppler showed partial arterial
obstruction that has since improved since quitting Yasmin)

Quit Yasmin 2 1/2 months ago and everything is resolving itself slowly. A big price to pay for good skin.

About 3 weeks ago I was given a Kenalog shot for head congestion. I felt good for aprrox 24 hours, then back to my ears and head being plugged up. I am not sure if these are effects from this shot or not, but I now feel like my skin is crawling, chills, loss of appetite, lack of focus ... I could go on and on. My face feels like I have been crying for hours, that puffy feeling, but at the same time my skin feels tight around my face and head with tingling. Does this make sense? It is better if I move around and try not to sit still for too long. But that really doesnt help me at work since I have a desk job. I am returning to the doctor tomorrow to ask what the heck is going on with me and what did they give me. I will keep you all posted. I am thankful that I found this site and all your postings. It makes me feel like I am not alone.

I was weaned off 50 mg Toprol over an 8 day period (after having been on it for 4 years) and then had been off it completely for 10 days -- when my Dr. decided that what I was feeling could not POSSIBLY STILL be side effects from Toprol Withdrawal and so put me BACK on it at a lower dose (25 mg instead of 50 mg) - and 80 mg of Diovan (along with Prilosec OTC for acid reflux and a Hiatal hernia) - the Diovan made me so sick, I developed a bad cough and pains in my upper chest so I stopped that --- and low and behold after being back on the Toprol 25 mg for 2 days -- the severe chest tightness is BACK and worse than EVER -- it is horrible. I am a 33 year old woman with asthma (5'3 @ 135 pounds with no other health problems) -- my problem is without meds my B/P runs 140/110 (they say that it is genetic and that I do not work out and have a desk job - because I do not drink or smoke and I am not overweight, and I eat a very healthy diet) -- but the meds they want me take for it give me so many side effects I cannot STAND IT.. I don't know what to do -- I go back to my DR. Wed for a follow-up but cannot stand this chest tightness until then.......... Being 10 days off Toprol I was still have chest tightness and breathing difficulties -- but not as often and not as severe - so I thought maybe it just took a long time to get out of your system... My Dr. said I should have been feeling better after 3-5 days so that it could not possibly be the Toprol. I am at my WITS END and do not know where to turn or what to do.

I've just started doing some research on Yasmin becasue I just woke up with horrible cramps and an actual period! I just passed my regular cycle a week ago! Has this happened to anyone?

Also too, I've had some weight gain issues too! I never attributed my weight gain to marriage, stress, moved to NYC 1 week before 9/11 and our business is three blocks away!. Anyhow, just figured my body was changing, different foods...I started gaining weight shortly after I began treatment in April 2001, and gained a total of 30 pounds by the end of the year! I have always been a lean 135 - 140 lbs 5'7" chic, eating whatever and whenever I wanted, with a sedentary life...45 min commute to work, 8hr desk job, then home, eat and sleep...except weekends...

I've also been struggling with loss of my sex drive...Never thought It was because of the pill until found this site! Just thought it was me and some pshycological problem...

I've thought about just trying the rythm, however, I cannot get pregnant now...It's not our time yet. Have any of you been successful with it?

I've been really frustrated with how I look....I've never had to diet before, and now find myself trying the ATkins diet, and anything else, but nothing really helps long term. I don't like myself. I really do believe things will change if I get off the pill.

I truly feel for all of you who have suffered greater side effects. Hope you all start feeling better and are on the road towards improvement.

Background - 26 yr old female, debilitating agoraphobia/social phobia - tendency towards obsessive compulsive behaviours on alternating days 100mg/50mg been on for about 10 months. originally on effexor xr, but had a nasty allergic reaction.

Good things:

able to sleep better than i have in years
no more tears! (usually anyway)
able to leave my 'safe places' without having a freak out
no weight gain... actually i've lost weight (thanks Dr Atkins!)
able to interract with other humans again

Bad things:

attention span of a goldfish (constant brain fog)
diarrhoea to begin with (gone now)
very easy brusing
bizarre vivid dreams (although better than prev nightmares)
constantly fatigued - especially at my desk job
missed dose = mild electric jolts through system AWFUL!!
sex drive killer :(

I would go the Zoloft over my old life anyday, even with the side effects. I am planning to study next year so want to drop the dose so I can actually concentrate instead of re-reading stuff over and over but am a jot worried about the getting off. I feel as though I've 'dumbed down' alot as I just can't concentrate.