Diet change symptoms and conditions

I am a 43 year old with two children (18 & 21 years), happily married for the past 23 years. I had a Mirena inserted in April 2007 following a year or so of extreme pain, irregular bleeding etc etc. Polops discovered as a result of testing etc which I was told could be the cause of my problems. Gyno suggested Mirena as a new treatment plus removal of polops, decided to give it a go,
Now in June 2009, I still have spotting (sometimes bleeding) 2 - 3 weeks of every month, incredible tiredness, aching, headaches, sore joints, bouts of depression (we call it sadness) for no reason, reduced sex drive (sometimes zero), difficulty concentrating, some memory loss (may be aging), spots have appeared on my face, bloating, increased fluid retention and my breasts have gone up 2 sizes (along with my clothes).
Before Mirena I had lost 80lbs and attending gym everyday (running up to 11klms per day), in the past 2 years I have gradually gained 30lbs with no diet change (although lately I have given up and eat too much) and I only go to gym when I am feeling guilty.

I have had many appointments with my doctor with countless blood tests all apparently normal. I think my doctor thinks I am nuts (hypochondriac). No longer know what to do!!
My husband has made an appointment to see about having a vasectomy (we don't want any more children) so I can have the Mirena removed.
Would love to know which countries other women are from? I am in Australia.

PS forgot to mention I often feel sick and describe my condition as "never actually feeling 100% on any given day".

MAY 29th, i had a heart cath done. while on the table i had 5-7 sec MI.
was put in MICU, rest of that day and night. moved to heart ward, was put on 24 hour telemetry for 2 days. was started on LIPITOR. had never taken it prior to then.
as of April 8th, i had made a radical diet change, from a lacto/ovo vegetarian, to a "south beach"/modified Atkins NO CARB DIET.
in the period from apr 8th to may 29th, i had dropped 16 pound. i have a bad back, and with the added pounds i packed on, made walking a choir.
with the weight loss, i was walking a lot better. THEN May 29th, LIPITOR was added ............and within 2 weeks, i was having leg weakness, when standing i would feel like my legs couldn't hold me up, walking was now harder then when i had the extra 16 pounds.
sooooo....as of June 14th, I STOPPED TAKING IT!!!!! within days i felt more energetic, and could work a few hours a day. had an appointment with cardiologist June 19th, told him of problems, and that i had stopped taking lipitor. he agreed with me, said to stay on the diet, exercise more, and give it another 6 weeks and then we will check progress.
he did not prescribe any replacement for the LIPITOR. but i have been herbal and homeopathic savvy for a long time so i will continue the OMEGA-3 fish oil, 4 capsules a day, and 4 GARLIC a day.
i mihgt have to add some MILK THISTLE for the liver, if the LIPITOR did any damage.
my diet change if anyone is interested is, chicken, turkey, fish for meats, no hamburgers, or steaks or pork ribs. i STILL do a ton of
VEGGIES, mostly COMPLEX CARBS, lettuce, broccoli, spinach, tomatoes, cukes, zukes, summer squash, and have found a wonderful substitute for PASTA, and its SPAGHETTI SQUASH. split it, microwave 10 min, let stand for 5 min, then take a fork and strip out the meat of the squash, cover with PASTA SAUCE as you would make for PASTA. awesome.

I am posting this because I feel so strongly about warning young ladies of the side effects of mirena. I am a mom with 3 small children and wanted an easy birth control. I had the mirena for 2 1/2 years. The first few months were okay but then I started to notice no sex drive, I slowly gained 15-20 pounds even exercise and diet change would not slow down, and i was very irritable. My poor family! I also started having what my primary care doctor diagnosed as anxiety attacks. I didn't even know what one was until I began to have them. I would get a hot flash, my heart would start pounding and I would start breathing fast. I felt like I would pass out and I had no idea where it was coming from. I had to get up and walk out of appointments, and even church. I then googled mirena side effects to find many others had the same experience. My doctor told me he didn't think my symptoms were related to the mirena. I know myself and I know when something is wrong.
I had it removed 3 months ago and I am only now more convinced the feelings I was having were caused by mirena. Slowly, I can feel my body return to normal and have lost 5 pounds. I hope this blog is helpful.
If you are having life altering side effects like I did, insist that your doctor remove it. Birth control does not have to be at the cost of your sanity!!

I have had vividly disturbing dreams since taking this- they began 3 days after beginning. Another side effect is serious lack of energy, to the point where I can barely keep up with what I normally did everyday- garden, hike, tend to home and family. Usually by 3 pm I can barely get off of the couch, which sucks because I am a busy woman. Have compensated by trying to get as much done in the morning as I can, and to fix smaller, easier meals. But little by little I've seen the quality of my life go downhill fast- the future on this drug does not look good to me.
Yes my blood pressure lowered somewhat, the irregular heartbeats not so much, but at what cost? Forget this, I don't need it.
Therefore, I am weaning myself off of Metoprolol after only 2 months of use, choosing instead to go with a natural regimine of VitC, buckwheat combined with gingko for blood pressure, garlic and dong qai for blood thinning. Also to mention, I've lowered my caffeine consumption considerably- from 4 or more espressos a day to 1 cup of brewed coffee- and within a week of doing so my blood pressure levels and pulse have returned to almost normal. (This was after both had been very elevated)
So it looks to me like I never really needed the medication to begin with. However I read on the literature included with the 'script that it is not meet to suddenly stop taking it- to do so could actually cause a heart attack! So I am gradually weaning off of it. (and lipitor)
I think many doctors are too quick to prescribe a pill without having a person look at their lifestyle and food choices. The caffeine withdrawals were nothing in comparison with how bad these drugs make me feel. And the dreams are almost enough to drive one nuts.
It's easier to be healthy than we are led to believe by an industry that makes a profit off of sickness, real or perceived, no matter how preventable.

I've taken Estrostep for at least 7 years now, and I thought I have been symptom free until just recently I started to question some unusual symptoms and if they were caused from my birth control. I've had terrible bloating and constipation for the past year and I am thinking I might have a bad reaction to eating wheat, but I've never gone off the pill since I was 14 so I don't know. Also I find it IMPOSSIBLE to lose weight. I am a very serious triathlete and I train 12 hours a week, two to three times a day most days and cannot lose even 5 pounds with a perfectly clean low calorie diet. My sex drive is completely in the dumps and has been for years. It causes a lot of problems with my boyfriend and I but I'm afraid to stop taking the pill to see. I've tried Junel Fe and ortho tri-cyclen and felt that each made me gain at least 15 pounds with no diet change.

Concerned citizen!!!
Just had to share the news! 3 months after stopping singulair and taking omega 3 (for last 3 months) has resulted in my 6yrs olds cholesterol going down from 236 to 202! Absolutely no diet change, in fact he has been eating worse due to throat condition/tonsils. Makes me go HMMMMM!!!

Hello: I am so sorry that all of us are suffering since taking this pill. My experience with Yasmin was brutal and 3 years later I know am told that I have developed b12 deficiency or a very serious, but treatable condition called pernicious anemia. I never had it before then pill. I took Yasmin for only 5 months and felt sick the whole time. Headaches, strange moods, even a popping sound in my head some times, bizarre symptoms. I called my OBGYN and told he I was stopping. She said the pill did not cause this, but if I felt it was related to stop. AND IT WAS! She now admits to feeling bad for this. She did not mean it. Doctors only know what they read from the literature of a drug. I stopped taking it and was in the hospital within three days. I was in shock. Night sweats, tingling skin, no energy, stomach problems of every kind. Severe pain in my left ovary, suicidal depression and on and on. The worst part is that I began to get sicker and sicker. 3 years later of still being sick. The only thing that has helped my system is acupuncture and a serious diet change to aid my system, I find out that I have a serious b12 deficiency, which I never had. They call it an autoimmune disease which impedes you from processing b12 and all this starts in the tummy! I lost a baby during this time while pregnant, now we know it was this! The Yasmin pill has been pulled off the social medicine of some European countries due to such severe side effects. Their is a girl on this blog getting names together to start a class action suit. I am in. No one can get me my three years of suffering back, or my lost baby or my lost work. I am a professional flamenco dancer and let me tell you it is not easy to perform with a serious b12 deficiency which affects nerve endings, heart tissue and neurology! And the cure for this is b12 injections for life! If you want me to forward your name to the girl with the attorney you can write me at:****** Well I am going to keep trying to be well. I am young and have a whole life ahead of me.

My four old son has been on singulair for about two weeks. The change from wheezing/coughing attacks at night and terrible allergies during the day has been amazing. They are almost non-existent to this point a great plus. However, a i stress however his behavior and speech has been VERY INAPPROPRIATE and quite frankly it concerns me. He now states "im a bad boy" and "i dont listen" and his mornings are very testy to say the least. Granted these sound like normal 4 yr. old sayings that he would pick up from other children on the playground but how do you explain them happening almost simultaneously with his taking singulair. I find it very hard to believe that it is a coincidence and that these are normal things for a 4 yr old to say/do when all other things have remained the same. My advice is to diligently watch your child for these warning signs and find other remedies if you have reservations. Im not promoting natural cures but i am leaning toward a diet change for the whole family and consulting my doctor for food allergen testing. I hope this helps. Be Well.

DO NOT take antibiotics unless it is a Life or Death situation!
I have been diagnosed with CYSTITIS, based in my breasts & bladder, and now I'm scheduled to go in for other tests because I have had excessive bloating, IBS & pain in my gut.
I thought the Nuva Ring was causing my extreme random cramps, my breast soreness (Extremely Painful, making me want to inject them with novacaine, if it were a good idea...), my Pain During Sex (esp. since I have a lovely sex drive) and most recently, the constant urge to pee when I didn't, but it was NOT the birth control.
ANTIBIOTICS CAUSED THIS!
In the last month I have met 3 more women (& 1 man) with the same/similar problems and diagnosis, All on heavy antibiotics in the last year.
The good news is that it is Not cancerous to my knowledge, there are foods you can eat, like those that are good for reducing swelling, and it's a good idea to Avoid certain foods such as soy, anything too acidic like tomatoes, cranberries or citrus fruits & juices, preservatives, additives, really spicy foods, etc. **It is Very Important to take a Pro-Biotic capsule with At Least 4 different types such as Acidophilus, Bifidum, and others, depending on your symptoms & areas of concern (look up what bacteria does what). Taking these only during antibiotic usage Is NOT Enough!
The bad news? If a few months to a year of partial/full diet change does not help, it is considered either too late to help (get used to the pain, it's not going anywhere) or it may be an auto-immune disease, though this is quite rare.
PLEASE, LADIES -- Take Care when dealing with antibiotics, they are much more dangerous than many people/doctors know/are lead to believe. (And as for the yeast infections and bacterial vaginosis? Take 1 part Hydrogen Peroxide, 3 parts water, douche (rinse, do not let it set for more than 10 sec's) once a day before bed/naptime for a few days, splash Outside Only with cool water if needed, but Not inside. Burn/irritation for about 1 min. but Absolutely worth not waiting for a doc's prescript. or spending endless $ on crappy worthless ointments/creams. Totally safe when Diluted -- Hydrogen peroxide is made naturally on its own in All Vaginas, this just helps to kill yeasts and bad bacteria which are Anaerobic (do not like oxygen).)

Our son was put on several medications 9/07 due to bad asthma and allergies. Since then we saw his behavior begin to go down hill. He would complain of stomaches, not want to go to school, became increasingly more irritable and has mood swings. He was a good student and we have never had a problem with him attending school. Since 9/07 we have taken him to a total of 10 different doctors. Pediatricians, therapist, allergy doctor and three licensed psychiatrists. Everyone said that we were crazy when we suggested that this behavior was linked to the medication. The psychiatrist diagnosed him with anxiety disorder along with school phobia. This has been a nightmare. I finally took him to an acupuncture doctor as a last resort because the doctors wanted us to put him on Prozac for the anxiety. Our family doctor has even suggested he is Bipolar! The acupuncture doctor has recommended a diet change and some treatments with her so that we can remove him from all his medications. I am so glad that I listened to my instincts and did not put him on the Prozac. I was so upset when this story aired about the Singulair. We have been trying to get the doctors to listen to us since 9/07 about the possible link. They still deny the connection and advised us to not remove him from the medicine. But for once I am going to handle things my way and we have already seen a difference in his behavior. We will keep our fingers crossed and hope for the best. My heart goes out to everyone that has had similiar experiences. These doctors should listen to the parents instead of assuming we are all trying to blame behavior problems on medication.

I have been on this pill for almost a year. Almost all of the side effects that I have read today I totally agree with. I have gained approximately 15 pounds with no diet change which is probably the number one thing that makes me want to quit. I've had a few headaches and some nausea mostly at the beginning of first taking the pill but I have had no sex drive since I have been on the pill although I haven't experienced very many mood swings, I do feel anxious and angry a lot and feel like I never get any sleep. I am always tired. I am currently still on the pill but only have 2 more weeks to go and I will be quitting. I want to see how much better I will feel after being off of it...will keep everyone posted.

Hi, I've just had my Mirena taken out ( thank Heavens) and can now get my life back. The only good thing was no periods for five years. The hormones gradually ran through my system and all the side effects crept up on me.
My allergies got MUCH worse.
My skin thinned.
I felt three thousand years old , ALL the time.
It stripped a goodly amount of calcium from my body, my teeth started crumbling.
( after two months post removal, my bone and teeth density has improved out the site! WITHOUT supplements My dentist and doctor are now a lot happier)
I had NO sex drive at all.
My weight crept up with NO lifestyle change, 30 kilos! - I have lost on average half a kilo a week since removal. NO diet change, NO activity change.
I've always had slight hormonal acne on my face and nowhere else... with Mirena I had it all up my formerly crystal clear back and diarriere, bust and even scalp.
Lots of other minor crap.
Please, if you have sensitivities to the pill and other hormone treatments, DO NOT go here. I thought I was just aging rapidly- bull dust! I'm just glad that my husband gave me all the support I needed to bring this tragedy to my doctor and Gynie's attention. For so, long I thought it was just me.
Now I'm having my tubes clipped. Hormonal interference just doesn't work for me

After reading many of your experiences, I feel the urge to tell my story. I got my Mirena put in back in June 2007. My doctor had been encouraging me to try Mirena because I was having such problems with my periods while on the pill and I had tried different types and brands and nothing seemed to be helping me. So, finally after about 2 years of her telling me to try it, I did. Since I have not had children, she said I needed to have it put in while on my period so that my cervix was more open. I called her on the first day of my next period and got it put in. It was very painful to be inserted, and the horrible cramps lasted about 48 hours, but then went away. My period also got worse during that time, but then completely stopped two days later. I didn't get my period again until two weeks ago, which stunned to me. My doctor had said that I may have spotting the first couple months, but then that would stop and I would no longer get my period. Since it has been 6 months since I've had it, I thought it was very odd for me to suddenly be getting my period again. Along with the actual menstruation, I got the cramps, headache, bloating and everything else wonderful that comes along with a full blown period. I only had menstruation for 3 days (the shortest period of my life) but the cramps have continued constantly for the last 2 weeks. I decided I should look up the side effects of Mirena to make sure it wasn't abnormal. I got the same information from their website as I did from the pamphlet I'm sure we all got from our doctor - saying that only a very small percent of woman have any side effects at all. So, I thought I was making things up. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized all the things that have changed for me since I got it put in. That's when I stumbled across this site and found I'm not the only one and I'm not imagining all these things! I gained 30 lbs in the first 3 months - I blamed it on stress because we had just put our house on the market, however I had never in my life gained THAT much weight in such a short period of time. I am now over 200 lbs and I'm only 5'3". I have been desperately trying to take the weight off, but it won't budge and I'm only continuing to gain more. It is getting to the point where my weight is starting to cause other health concerns. Also, I have not had a single good night of sleep since I've had Mirena. I again blamed it on stress (but to be honest, I've lived through much more stressful times in my life without the tremendous weight gain and insomnia). After several weeks of trying OTC sleep aids, I went to my doctor and she gave me a 10 day supply of Ambien. The first 2-3 nights it helped, but then that also stopped working and I was back to sleepless nights. I found there is an herbal supplement that helps me sleep, but it only works for a few hours at a time, which obviously is better than nothing. I have also had cramps on and off throughout the last 6 months, sometimes they are very sharp stabbing pains that make me buckle over in two. I have also realized that I may be having depression - I don't feel suicidal, but I get very down very easily and stay that way for much longer than I ever have. I have actually had such horrible down days that I've called my husband at work crying and begged him to come home. I have never in my life done that until Mirena. I'm sure that I have more symptoms, but I have been able to persuade myself that they are "normal" or explained them away otherwise. I think that Mirena and the OBGYNs must be in cahoots. I was not warned about any of these problems - I was only given the small pamphlet and told it was so wonderful. I think there are a lot of other women out there experiencing all these side effects but their doctors are telling them it's normal or blaming it on something else. And they aren't realizing it is Mirena that is causing all these problems! I have an appointment for next Tuesday to get mine taken out and I cannot wait! I am finally going to be able to sleep again!

I've been using Lisinopril for about a year and have experienced almost all of the side effects that everyone else has described. I have frequent severe sweating, headaches, sinus pressure, sore throat, tickling throat, annoying cough, frequent periods of when my face and solar plexus area feel very hot and/or flushed though my face looks normal, dizziness, weakness, fatigue, depression, no energy or motivation......etc, etc, and I did not have any of these problems before. Not sure what else to take. I've read side effects for all bp medications and none of them seem like anything I want to experience. Is there anything that people have found to work that has very little or no side effects? This stuff works but I'm so tired of feeling run down. I tried natural remedies, diet change, exercise, etc, before going on the Lisinopril but those did nothing to lower my pressure.

Was reluctant to take any Lipitor but decided to try it.
Now at 16th day of 10 mg tid.
Three days of foot swelling and eye and face swelling already. No other detectable reason of diet change.
Also severe low back muscle pains. No reason such as overworking it. The pain does not respond to movements which usually relieve back pain. (Pilates or Feldenkrais).
No proof of the cause but will stop the drug and test whether symptoms abate.

I have been on 10mg daily dose of Lipitor for over 2 years now. When I was first prescribed the drug my doctor stated that because my cholesterol was so high I would not be able to control the levels through diet alone and would therefore need to take Lipitor indefinately.
Initially my blood cholesterol dropped dramatically & I & the doctor were pleased with the result.
I continued eating a similar diet to before which was balanced, with no excess fats or salt although I was eating red meat on a routine basis.
About six months ago I started experiencing severe muscular pain in my neck & shoulders. My neck muscles became so inflamed & immobile that I had days when work was impossible (I am a chauffeur/butler). These pains did not respond to antiinflamatory or pain killers. I made two visits to an oestiopath & received manipulation & massage. The relief was temporary but not complete.
Just one month ago I cut out red meat, most animal fats & changed my diet, replacing the red meat content with grilled fish or chicken. I eat lots of fruit, vegetables & salads.I also take a multivitamin dose. At the same time as my diet change I increased my excercise regime.
WITHIN ONE WEEK of the new regime I experienced severe muscle cramps & my joints 'dried' to the point where they clicked & cracked whenever I moved them. I suspected the LIPITOR so I stopped immediately.
In just a few days the joints stopped clicking & grinding & my six month old muscle pains disappeared. This I think is not a coincidence.
I am male, 43 years old & very active with no other medical conditions of any kind.

I am a 68 year old male and am now on 40 mg. of Zocor for 4 weeks. I have never been on any Rx medications since I have always been in excellent health. My annual physicals have always been perfect except for elevated chlosterol (237). My doctor put me on Zorcor 5/9. Now my ears ring,neck hurts, tenderness of skin, tired all the time, hard to sleep, vision problems, headaches, and outlook on life is not as it was.
I am stopping Zorcor now. I plan to pursue a natural method of lowering my chlosretol. Diet change, excercise (treadmill) and a product put out by Twinlab (non-Rx). If this doesn't work, at least I won't hurt so much and can again enjoy life as I was before taking Zorcor.

Dowhatworks