Dry skin symptoms and conditions

I am 19 years old and have had Mirena since May 2008. I really struggled with the cramps and continuous bleeding for the first two months. My menstrual periods became less and less until I hit my year mark of having it. NOW, if I'm around a girl friend for more than a few days, I automatically get my menstrual period the same day she will and it will last for 8 to 10 days. I thought I wasn't supposed to get my period after a year of having Mirena?!! I've really enjoyed not having to worry about taking a pill every day or putting a new patch on every week and hope it stays on.... BUT, a year and a half of constant acne, the freshman 15, the anxiety, the decreased sex drive, the abdominal cramps are really starting to take a toll on my mental health!
I recently have developed new symptoms of excessive sweating in my armpits, loss of interest in doing things I used to love, joint pain, thin peeling nails, dry skin, cold intolerance. I mentioned these things to my mother the other day on the phone and she reminded me that thyroid problems are very congenital in our family. I have a doctor appt in 2 days for a blood test. If all goes well, I may just have to say goodbye to Mirena. Its been 100% effective for me in the past year and a half, but I can't handle the excess fine-print bullshit that comes with it!!!

Spoke too soon. I woke up yesterday (my tenth day on the medication) with puffy lips and red bumps on my arms and thighs (I just thought it was dry skin). I also have huge red rashes on the insides and backs of my thighs. Is burning/itchy palms a side effect? It's killing me! :(

HEADACHES,NAUSEA,MAJOR HAIR LOSS,EXTREMELY DRY SKIN,GALLBLADDER REMOVAL,FULL HYSTERECTOMY,PANIC ATTACKS,MOOD SWINGS,STOMACH/DIGESTIVE PROBLEMS,PARANOIA,NEAR LOSS OF JOB,PROBABLE LOSS OF MARRIAGE,MONETARILY DEPLETED,SHORTNESS OF BREATH,HEART PALPITATIONS,VISION TROUBLE,CHILDREN TRAUMATIZED,LOSS OF ENERGY,NEED FOR THERAPY,CURRENTLY USING THE CLYMARA HORMONE PATCH. I WAS ON THIS YASMIN DRUG FOR ALMOST FIVE YEARS, AND SYMPTOMS STARTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS AFTER I STARTED ON YASMIN. I WAS PUT ON YASMIN TO KEEP OVARIAN CYCSTS FROM BURSTING. I FINALLY TOOK MYSELF OFF OF IT DUE TO WHAT FELT LIKE A MINY STROKE AMONG SOME OF THE OTHER SIDE AFFECTS. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND MYSELF FOR 5 YEARS, I DON'T EVEN KNOW THIS PERSON INSIDE ME. DOES ANY ONE KNOW IF CLYMARA IS OKAY TO BE USING W/WHAT YASMIN HAS DONE TO ME? IS THERE A CASE # NUMBER FOR ANY CLASS ACTION SUIT OUT THERE?

Well, I've finally figured out how it is that Mirena works as birth control: if you're not having sex, you can't get pregnant. The first few weeks after having it inserted (about 2.5 months ago), I was fine - spotting pretty regularly, and having significant cramping, but nothing I couldn't handle. Then slowly I began having other side effects: dry, brittle hair that falls out in handfuls, dry skin, irritability, depression, fatigue, lack of motivation to do anything physical, extreme bloating through my mid-section (I am too terrified to get on the scale to see how much I've gained, but it's been about 4-6 dress sizes), swollen hands, migraines, and no sex drive. I mean, ZERO. My husband and I had a very active sex life which has now gone down to a couple times a month if I'm not too tired at night. I was a runner up until this summer (used to do 4-6 miles three or four times a week) and now I can't go more than a mile without becoming completely exhausted. I absolutely intend on getting it out, but ironically I'm so brain-dead tired all the time I can't seem to remember to make the phone call.

I did my research prior to getting Mirena, and read page after page of women who had extreme side effects from the hormone, but somehow assumed I would be one of the blessed few to escape them. That was big, fat, giant mistake. Bad pun intended.

I had the Mirena for about a half a year. My side effects included cramps, blurred vision, brain fog, nausea, high blood pressure, headaches, extreme fatigue, severe depression, lack of interest in anything, bloating, and extremely dry skin and hair. Also, I had to have two surgeries for atypical cells after my first ever bad mammo. ever. Whether this was related remains to be seen, but the other severe changes to my health make me suspicious. A few weeks after getting Mirena, I thought things would get better, as some of the severe cramping subsided. I was wrong. I had no idea how depressed I was until I had it removed. Honestly, the change after two days post removal was amazing. I could function again. My skin started getting better within a few days. I would have had it out earlier, but like many, my doctor felt I should continue with it. Thankfully, after my second request, he agreed it was a good idea to have it removed. I feel that this is a very dangerous product that certainly affects much of the body. I am aware that many women have no problem with it, but I urge those women who have had problems to report them to the FDA and also consider searching for the Mirena petition site. Otherwise, problems will go under reported, and personally, I do not believe enough studies were done on this product. The manufacturer tells us that side effects are uncommon. What is uncommon? If you have symptoms similar to many others, you should trust yourself. It affected my job and family. I am so happy to have it out.

I believe that the biggest key to success with loestrin 24 is to wait it out! you have to give it at the very least 3 months to get in your system and really regulate and for your body to adjust!! i say this only because i have been on it going on 9 months and i love it! the first 6 weeks were horrible! headaches, spotting, back aches, chest pains, swollen feet, acid reflex, my face broke out, dry skin, i even found more hair in the shower than normal for about the first 3 weeks, but you name it, and its a proven side effect, i had it! i have a fever for about 11 days of between 101-103!!! but my obygn just kept telling me this was the pill for me and i though the had lost his ****** mind!! but i did stick it out! all the side effects started to disappear around the beginning of the 3rd month. and so did all the spotting and my period completely!! wow! im 21 and no mood swings, no average side effects of a periods, nothing.. nadda!! its amazing! this is the only bcp i have been on! and i wouldn't change it for anything! but let me remind you, im not on the pill to prevent me from getting pregnant, i have endometriosis!! this is extremely common in white females!! my obgyn said i developed it between the age of 11-14 ( i started my periods when i was 10! and it went totally undetected for 11years! now, my mom always thought i was just a totally baby! but the pain and the blood clots i would pass when i was that young was so scary. but i never went to a obgyn til i was 20 and i had insurance, lived on my own and could afford to go. so now im so happy on the pill! there were times when i was younger that i would give anything to be punched in the lower back cause the pain was so bad! i couldn't stand, i would be walking and just fall to my knees cause the cramps would just take over. this happened at school a lot, but the day it happened at work i knew i had to do something! so they did a few months of blood test, 6 peps smears in about 2 months.. and a few other test and determined it had to be endometriosis!!! if you ever feel like your insides are tearing appart.. you need to ask your obgyn about testing you for endometriosis!!! *google it!!** anyways, back to the bcp, after the fifth month i was happy again, no pain, no more side effects, no moody-ness or random out breaks of tears!!! its amazing. i dating this one guy! and not having a cycle is sooooo wonderful. he loves that i don't have a cycle!! which means no "time of the month" crap to deal with!!! lol!!! i cant tell you how much i love being on this pill. OHHH i almost forget! you can now get your script with or with out insurance for just 24$ a month!!! no matter what! just to buy the pills like like 80 a month, with full coverage insurance ( which i have ) its still 60 a month. well i found this website and i called, answered a few questions and now i get it for just 24 a month!!! ask your obgyn for the info!!! amazing!!

oh my...thank god for reading this site...i so thought something is seriously wrong with me i had the mirena inserted in feb.. i have had the worst acne breakouts through my hair all my face, back, chest, legs etc, i have been having headaches and bad lower backache which i was seeing my chiropractor weekly, i get abdominal pain, discharge, thrush wont go, dry skin itchy, my eyes are sore and dry itchy, i have recently started forming blistery sores, tingly in my vagina, i am extremely moody i have just about ditched all my friends and giving up start arguments, i don't want anything to do with my son, i was suicidal depressed, paranoid, dry mouth lips, achy joints, insomnia, exhausted no energy for day to day lifestyle, cant stop eating lately and feeling as though im pregnant, feeling of burning heat in my legs, wake up in lather of sweat, swelling of limbs, i just had no idea what was happening, im so glad to know now whats causing this only after hundreds of dollars at dermatologist and chiro etc, i cant believe so many others are experiencing the same, just bit worried to get it out, and what contraception to use now,

I am 22 years old and I have never had any children. I do not understand what made the doctor think that this horrible device would fit in my uterus. When I had the Simply Mirena inserted in March 2008, I almost passed out, (since he inserted it wrong once, he had to pull it out right after and do it again). I think of myself as a pretty strong person, but I literally cried out, and I almost fainted while paying my co-pay at the receptionist's desk. My husband had to come pick me up from the doctor's office because I couldn't even walk to my car, but I wish that was the worst of it.

Within one month, I started feeling VERY depressed so my doctor put me on Effexor XR (which started a whole bunch of other problems), but now that I have been off of the Efffexor for a while and I am noticing problems that I had been blaming on the Effexor.

Here are some of my symptoms...

- Weight Gain
- Feeling tired, weak, and depressed.
(To the point that I will sleep for 18 hours if givin the opportunity.)
- Chronicly Dry skin
- Constipation and Diarrhea
(I haven't had a normal BM since I had it inserted.)
- Memory problems
- Cannot concentrate
- ABSOLUTELY NO SEX DRIVE!
(And when I do have it, It hurts for days afterwards.)
- Lower back pain
- Stabbing pains in the uterus
- No menstrual cycle
(I would spot for the first few months, but now it is completely gone.)
- Massive mood swings
- Nausea

Well of course my doctor thought for sure that this was my thyroid, so (without medical insurance), I went and got all my blood work done thinking that I would finally have an answer to my health issues... NOPE!
I received the results today and found out that my thyroid was perfectly fine, no anemia, good blood counts... Nothing.
Now not to say that I am not happy that my thyroid is okay, but I just wanted an explanation for all of this. SO my doctor sends me to see my NEW Ob-Gyn, to have this "Thing" aka Simply Mirena, taken out of my body. After reading all of the problems that the other women have been having, I am CERTAIN that this is the cause of all of these problems.

I would like to thank all of you for opening my eyes to something that was so obvious. I have an appointment to have mine removed next Friday (I'm not as brave as some of you ladies to take it out myself). I will keep you all posted on my progress.

I was 23 (the recommended age range is anything past your teens) and took Accutane for 6 months. I was closely monitored by a good doctor and had no ill effects. I did have painfully dry lips (used Aquaphor, as many here did) and dry skin. I had to drink lots of water, but I do that anyway. My results were amazing, after 6 years on another antibiotic with a doctor who refused to prescribe Accutane. As long as you have a good doctor and loving family and friends who will watch out for any emotional side effects, don't be afraid to take Accutane if nothing else is working for you. Acne does NOT "just go away" for many people. I suffered from age 12 to 23, getting worse every year. I am 28 now and still have clear skin.

I like many others had average shoulder length hair. Since I have been on Lisinopril and HCTZ my hair has thinned in the top considerably, the texture has changed from mildly kinky to borderline straight. I am concerned about putting any heat on my hair, it is soft like cotton. I cannot style it so I pull it back. My BP is well controlled on the meds, however I am only 55 and my hair has thinned like a much older woman. Does anyone know if stopping these meds will make the hair regrow once it has thinned?? Help

I had the Mirena inserted 6 weeks post postpartum so it has been in about two and a half months, since then I have turned into a crazy woman. At first I thought it was postpartum depression but then I got to thinking I was fine up until my six week check up.
Symptoms include the following:
Chest pain
Extreme Nausea
Exhaustion
Irritability
Uncontrollable Crying
Loss of hair
Anxiety
Dry skin
Hair on my legs grows out of control I have to shave them EVERY day as opposed to my every three day schedule.
I have been on my period since they put it in basically have had a combined total of seven days of not bleeding. ugh.
Me and my Husband have fought every day since I have been on this.
It's getting RIPPED out lol on Wednesday.
If I would have known what it would do to me I never would have got it!

I have been taking Loestrin 24 Fe for about 2 in a half months. I had started a period in the middle of my first set and they said that it would just take time..well i haven't had a period since. I have had UTI and pregnancy test and they were both negative. The doctors thought i was crazy and I felt helpless and thought it was because i hadn't taken them regularly enough. My symps were nausea/vomiting, yeast infection,sore/tender boobs, dry skin, cold sores, chapped lips, excess sweating (so much to where id wake up with wet hair), dizziness, rash,hair loss, depression, joint pain, horrible abdominal pain(like bad cramps),back pain, no appetite which i lost about 10 pounds in 2 weeks, headaches, and i hadn't had a period in two months. All these symptoms happened in about a two week span. I was freaking out about it because the doctors told me it was just stress but i was sure that something was wrong..i was talking to my mom because i was really scared and upset & she asked what birth control i was on and i told her. She looked at the package and saw it was Loestrin -->FE<--(iron)..no one in my family can take iron and it makes them very very sick. Im going to the doctor tom again to tell them that and im almost positive that this is the reason. I will let you know when i find out.

I am 34 years old. Back in 1985 I had most of my thyroid removed, due to a tumor attached to it. Since I was 10 until my late 20s, I was on Synthroid. By age 19 I had 3 knee surgeries to remove arthritis. I have suffered most of my life with joint pains, dry skin, weight that is like a roller coaster, and being tired most of the time. In my 20s I was put on Levoxyl. I has been on Levoxyl for several years now. Since being on Levoxyl I have been fighting anxiety, racing heart, joint pain in fingers and ankles, sudden dizziness to the point where i have to sit or pass-out. I feel like I'm 80 and not 34. After reading this site I am printing all this out and taking it to my doctor. No telling how much damage has been done after all these years.

Started with fever, then rashes, then swollen face, then rashes all over the body, then no taste buds and did not feel like eating. Very tired all the time. Stopped taking the drug after the 8th day when fever and rashes started to appear. Took lots of water after that to try to flush out of system. After 12 days, taste bud seem to be coming back. Skin has started to become flaky and peeling. More like extremely dry skin. This was an extremely bad reaction and can cause very bad side effects. See you doctor as soon as an allergic reaction starts. Blood tests seem to be necessary to make sure the drug hasn't affected other organs. Good luck to any one who has to go through this reaction.

Ok so...I started taking Loestrin 24 almost a year ago and I can't really complain too much. I've had a few pregnancy scares because of missed periods but they were just that- missed periods. And there's nothing wrong missing a period or two imo :D
About two weeks ago I ran out and couldn't refill so I neglected to take any pills for a week, figuring I would just pick back up when I could. I've since started taking them regularly again but in those two weeks my personality changed sooo much. In an attempt to describe myself I'd say I was...confused and depressed, for no real reason. My stomach was so messed up I don't even want to share the details. And the strangest thing... I've noticed two VERY SMALL spots (one on my upper thigh and one on my butt) that are slightly red and drier than the skin around it. I'm positive it's not an STD but I'm concerned nonetheless.
In conclusion, I'm gonna take my pills regularly from now on.

But seriously if anyone else has gotten weird small spots of dry skin, plz respond cause it's definitely worrying me a little.

Ive had my mirena in for 10 months. No problems at first. Light spotting no periods which i loved. I have very dry skin and have never had issues with acne but I have minor acne now, even my friends noticed my great completion was gone. I still wanted to keep it in regardless of this small skin flaw up until about 2 months ago. I would get dizzy spells. Then they would go away. I started getting anxiety, horrible which is something else ive never experienced! I feel like im outside of my body im so dizzy, cant drive have missed work and feel helpless. so glad others blog about there experience. im obviously not the only one! Its not worth it, Im getting it removed tomorrow which cost $160. Getting it inserted wasn't painful at all so im hope this wont be either. Its done in office. All i want to do is be me again. This thing is being rejected by my body and must go. However on the flip side my best friend has the mirena as well and had no side effects. It just depends on your body. All i wanted was to be sure i wouldn't get pregnant but id rather endure labor pains than feel like my life is spinning out of control and i don't even know who i am anymore? Good luck to all. Hope i helped you :)

I was prescribed bactrim on April 8th for a UTI they gave me one pill while I was there and i went straight to the pharmacy to get my prescription. With in the first two hours of taking the pill I got nauseous. I just assumed it was because on top of the UTI I also had what I think was just a bug. I was already having a fever before I went to the doctor. I felt nauseous before but this time I felt like I was about to puke I just assumed it was from moving around too much. Over the next few days I would get the same sick feeling within hours of taking the pill. On the 11th I started noticing itching and I was turning yellow. On the 12th I went to the ER where they decided to test me for hepatitis because of all the symptoms I was having. The doctor also said shes never heard of it affecting the liver but she took me off the pill. By the 13th my palms were itching. The skin around my eyes was red, really dry and peeling. I was told I don't have hep but I'm allergic to Bactrim and it was affecting my liver. My eyes have cleared up but today I still have really dry skin and some areas are peeling really badly. The skin on the palms of my hands and on my feet peeled off like a glove. I have random spots all over my body that are extremely dry and peeling. My skin feels really grainy even after the piece that peeled off. Oh yeah also while I was on the pill I would get a tightness in my chest almost like I couldn't breathe.

I would never recommend this to anyone. For 6 months I was on Junel FE 1/20, which was perfect, with no side affects what so ever. I changed my birth control to loestrin 24 FE, 3 weeks ago and I feel like I’m losing my mind. The first side effect that happened was extremely red dry skin on my face, which didn’t seem like a big deal at the begging, nothing moisturizer couldn’t fix. So I decided to stick it out, then my eyes started to become extremely irritated, I have trouble putting on my contacts and when I do I can only keep them on for a few hours before it becomes unbearable. My eyes become so irrigated it looks like I’ve been crying for hours. Now recently I have an ear infection, that doesn’t seem to want to go away. I have been prescribed eye drops, ear drops and purchased aveno for the dry skin. This has to be the worst experience I’ve had with birth control. The worst part it I have to wait to get off of it until I finish all the pills, according to my doctor. So I have two more weeks of hell left, if I would have known the side effects I would have never started it, I would never recommend it to anyone, it’s not worth it.

I'm so glad I found this website! I am 28 years old, and have only been on NR for about 2 months.....everything was fine the first month or so. Really didn't notice any changes. The past two weeks have been awful. I was really surprised to read about some people having nasal problems....I live in Arkansas and it's spring, so I just thought I'm finally developing allergies, but it makes more sense to me that it's NR, since I've never had drainage and sneezing like this. And I don't think it's allergies because my eyes aren't itchy or watering like they do when I'm around cats (which I'm definitely allergic to).
The other main side effect, like most people was weight gain. I've always had a fast metabolism and I can pretty much eat what I want. My weight stays around 125, and I'm a size 6. If I gain a pound, usually I just eat really healthy, drink lots of water, and maybe exercise, and I'm back down. But the past two weeks, I'm up to 130 and the scale WILL NOT BUDGE!!! No matter what I do!! I am drinking so much water, thinking it is water weight, but that didn't matter. I tried working out EVERYDAY, which I never do, and that didn't help. Cut out all sweets for a day and that usually makes a huge difference. Nothing.
One other think I noticed is that my skin is drier. I have dry skin anyway, but my skin looked awesome when two months ago. My dermatologist had prescribed a skin regimine that worked great, but now it doesn't seem to be as effective.

So tonight I took NR out. I'm SOOOOOOO glad I've figured out what the cause is before I gained any more weight. I expect to be my good old self in about a week.

I've only taken two birth control methods (the other was the pill), which completely killed my sex drive. So hormones are not good for me. Has anyone tried Para-Gard? It's an IUD with no hormones that is good for 10 years. My husband wants me to try it.

I am having my Mirena removed Friday after having it since Dec. I have had extreme hair loss, weight gain, dry skin, depression( to the point that I am on anti-depressants), back pain, and headaches. No energy at all. I still have a sex drive but not as great as usual. I can not wait to get this horrible thing out of me.

35, male, athletic: i took 3x 500mg and immediately got sore joints and severe flu-like symptoms. i was completely bedridden, loss of balance, sore from head to toe, major bloating and cramping... MISERABLE. this was near the beginning of November. while most side effects have lessened, i have had tendon issues as recently as last week. basically, any "strenuous" exertion will injure the tendons, although i haven't ruptured anything yet. bottoms of feet were sore for a couple weeks for no apparent reason. having trouble remembering words, finishing sentences, etc... digestion seems to be "off", and there is a bitter taste in my mouth that has been there since the beginning. also, "phantom itch" deep in both ears that comes and goes, and earwax production seems to have ceased... weird. oh, and D-R-Y eyes, nose and mouth upon waking. very dry skin as well. it did kill the infection though. i guess i'll be back to normal again someday. i hope.

I have had the minera coil for about 5 or 6 years over the past 4 years pains; have got so bad i am due a scan on this Friday. I have very sharp pulling pains each side of my belly button ;a swelling on my left side a dull ache on my left side ;psoriasis dry skin ( and it used to be greasy) ;blotted cant loose weight ;sore boobs tiredness cant get on with house work ; my back aches all the time ;if i lift anything iy brings the pain on cant stand for too long ; this brings the pain on. i cant take this anymore the stomach cramps are so nsty i feel sick i now have thrush piles and just woke to a very sore burning bottom and have a small hard lump in my rectum. one of my gp;s thinks i could be worst off having the coil removed ;how i ask.when the pain is so bad i can hardly lift my left leg for the pain on my left hand side. please has anyone else suffered kile me.

Thank you all for sharing! I thought I was crazy. I have 3 bulging discs in my neck and have been seeing a new doctor for neck block injections. He prescribed Ultracet for me on Jan 29, 2009. I did not know it was Tramadol, which I told him I could not take because of the side effects. In a short period of time I began to experience the same problems that I had with Tramadol. Very dry mouth, weird dreams, uncontrollable sleep but not rest, hyper activity as if I had had coffee, which I don't drink, and the strangest one of all that I just discovered on this site. I live in Chicago so dry skin is typical in the winter but I have had uncontrollable itching on every single part of my skin including private areas. I had already stopped taking them except in extreme need but I am stopping completely now. For those of you who are helped with the drug, good for you, for the rest of us, we are not crazy with these strange side effects. I for one have stopped and will look, with my doctor, for an alternative.

UGGG!!!! You all have helped clear up my confusion. I had my mirena put in July 2008. I didn't seem to have any adverse effects...at least not anything big enough to question the mirena. I had acne and a little weight gain, and then my knees started hurting. Then over the last month I started getting this stomach!!! It's huge!! I look 6 months pregnant. I also noticed that I was getting a lot of headaches, and extreme mood swings. Then it got harder and harder for me to read the TV from the couch. I was wondering last night if I should go get my eyes checked. I also find myself wondering who has taken over my body. I get all angry and mean!! I can't believe the stuff that comes out of my mouth, and my husband is looking at me like I've lost my mind. I feel thirsty all the time, and I have dry skin and chapped lips a lot. I've also experienced constipation, chest pain, pain in my right breast, extreme abdominal pain, like when you ovulate. After I got it in I bled for a month straight and I haven't bled since...not one period. I thought it was a perk, but now I feel so strange. It's like an out of body experience. I also struggle to find energy for anything, I'm tired all the time. I feel like I'm falling apart. I had to pay for the mirena out of pocket because it was the beginning of the fiscal year for our insurance, and so I(because of the expense) decided I should leave it in. I appreciate your comments, no amount of money is worth what I'm experiencing!

Hi All

I've been on Yasmin for a year. At first, it’s fine until there’s some side effect such as emotionally, leg cramp, headaches, breathless, chest pain, etc. since July ’08. Had stopped taking Yasmin on end Aug ’08. Since stopping it, I feel much better emotionally but was feeling so sick every day as had gained about 9 Lbs, stomach bloating, indigestion, abdominal pain, headaches, water retention (swelling on my finger & legs), having acne on my face, skin become very dry & skin allergy and the worst is that I’m losing lots of hair everyday (about 1/4 of my hair in the past few months and it’s still dropping & some portion already bald).
Could anyone give some advice how to get my hair back to normal through their experience?

Thanks