Dilema symptoms and conditions

Here's an update to my previous post from a couple weeks ago. After reading all the posts here, and talking to several close friends, I had mine removed last Tuesday, May 26, 09. Wow! I can already see and feel the changes. I do want to say one thing though, I did not gain weight with the Mirena. In fact, I lost weight. Now I'm concerned that it will have the opposite effect on me and I will start to gain. I hope not since I am very happy with my current weight and hope to maintain it. Tomorrow will be a week and I can already tell a difference in my sex drive. Plus, my partner could feel it. He said it hurt and was starting to leave a permanent "place" on the end of his penis. But here is my dilemma. I'm a smoker. Yes, I know, bad, bad, bad. Trying to quit but not having a lot of luck. I am also 41 yr. old. There are not a lot of birth control options out there for women over 40, let alone those of us who smoke. I would be interested in hearing from anyone else who is in the same situation as me.

Also, I'm sure that the Mirena is a wonderful thing for a lot of women. I agree with Kimboslice that it is an individual choice for each person. Don't let all the comments scare you. It's just not the choice for us. Do what I did, try it for a while and if you don't feel it is the right thing for your body, have it removed. But give it long enough to make sure. Personally, I think you should give it at least 6 months. Good luck to everyone!!!

I have corrected my typing error I am not on 400mg it should have read 40mg. Thanks to the reader of my experience who very kindly pointed out my error!!!!
Despite having a brush with the big C last year (I finished chemotherapy in January) I have been very fit and healthy during my 61 years! A few weeks ago I started having palpitations, hence a visit to the doctor revealed high blood pressure and cholesterol reading of 9.9!!! Shock, horror. He informed me that it was genetic and prescribed Simvastatin 40mg and Bendroflumethiazide 2.5 mg daily. Not being satisfied with the enclosed leaflets I have looked up more info. on the net. Should I have done this!!! After reading some of the posting on the site I am feeling a bit apprehensive. Last night I had a terrible night couldn't sleep for the pains in my legs and a bit nausea this morning. But I need to be sensible, I really don't have any choice but to take these drugs just hoping that I won't have to stay on them for the rest of my life and I don't get any of the side effects that some of you have suffered. I also wonder if the chemotherapy could have caused by raised cholesterol? Hope to keep you posted and would welcome any comments!

age 72 had MI angioplasty and stent.On lipitor for 3years but recently noticed increase in muscle and joint pains and then lightheadedness and walking unsteady and tending to go slightly from side to side.Also a tendency to have nasal congestion.I am an MD and will stop the statin and assess the progress.

Hi, I am just after coming off Yasmin 5 days ago...
I 've been on it for 5 or 6 years and it's just really the last year, especially the last few months that I feel like I just can't take it anymore... Previous to taking Yasmin, I had never experienced any period pain, however when I started taking Yasmin the period pain started and got progressively worse from then. The last few months I have been all over the place when I get my period, awful pressure pains in my lower abdominal and emotionally up and down every few minutes, half an hour, I could literally be in great form, and then I'd just get really quite and I can't even tell whats wrong with me because, I feel, there's so many hormones in me my mind does not know how I feel.... Anyway, i refuse to take it anymore, but now I am left with the dilemma of what form of contraception to use and also experiencing very bad back pain and light headaches....If anyone has been in the same situation or has any suggestions at all, they would be much appreciated.....!

I was prescribed 25 MCG tabs of levothyroxine (generic for Levoxyl) by my MD for my hypothyroid. (I was tested at a 4.5 reading -- just below a normal 5 reading). After 60 days of taking levothyroxine EXACTLY as prescribed (i.e.; on an empty stomach, 1st thing in the morning with a glass of water; no vitamins for at least 4 hrs afterward), I started to have symptoms that I've never experienced before: my hands began hurting so bad with joint pain; my lips felt numb; and I was sweating more than I ever had in my life. I decided to stop taking the medication due to these symptoms, and in about 7-10 days from stopping, ALL these symptoms had disappeared and have not returned to date. I relayed this information to my MD who told me that my symptoms had nothing to do with Levothyroxine and that I needed to continue taking the drug. It's more than strange to me how some MDs will not listen to his/her patient -- even more so now that I've read other info on the internet where many other people have had these same side effects taking levothyroxine!! On my own, I am now looking into taking an all natural alternative that I found on wellness resources called "Thyroid helper". I will not take Levothyroxine again if I can avoid it by taking an alternative. Has anyone else out there had success taking "Thyroid Helper"?

I take doxycycline as an anti-acne medication. I've been on it for two years now, with an increase in dosage from 50 mg 2 x a day to 100 mg 2 x a day.

If I take it without food, I feel incredibly nauseous, so I'm careful to take it always immediately after meals. My prescription says do not take within 2 hours of eating dairy products, but sometimes I can't avoid that, since I have to take it with meals... I am also a lot more prone to sunburn since I started taking this, including one really horrible sunburn I got in FEBRUARY last year! ugh!

Does anyone know if there is a limit on the number of years one should take this medication for? Having been taking it for two years now, I began wondering if there could be negative consequences to the drug being in my system for such a long time without break. I am going to ask my doctor the next time I go in for a visit, but wanted to try to find out on the 'net first.

I have been taking the lupron shot for 9 months now the great part of it no more pain from periods and no more periods. but the concrning part hot flashes when I sleep and weight gain. and I have noticed memory loss.I feel slow somtimes talking to people and its like why can't I get my words out.So in a dilema should I stop taking it or not.I am 41 and have enjoyed some effects of it but have the side effects too.So am lost in what I should do.