September 20th
2009
1:29 PM
I am feeling such relief right now- I'm not alone. After having EKGs and Cardio-pulmonary stress tests, CAT scans of my lungs and chest, an abdominal ultra sound, and stress echocardiograms (all of these were normal or negative, mind you), not to mention months of anxiety, I finally started talking with a cardiologist to see if I had done/started anything around the time my symptoms started. I realized I had switched from an oral (orthotricyclen) to nuvaring birth control about two months before I started my symptoms of no sex drive, difficulty breathing, exhaustion, and severe anxiety. To elaborate- I was a national champion soccer player, I've always been in great shape, and I couldn't walk up a flight of stairs without being exhausted. I couldn't hold a five minute conversation without chest tightness and difficulty breathing. Everyone kept saying I was stressed (new job, new house), but I know I wasn't doing anything that unusually stressful. I love my job, and my house, and while I realize they may cause some stress, I shouldn't CONSTANTLY feel like this.
The most pressing issue, of course, was the breathing stuff. The doctor suggested, even though he wasn't familiar with the nuvaring side effects, that I take it out to see if there was any change. After reading what all of you have written, and after being off it for two weeks, and beginning to feel a change, I'm pretty damn sure it was Nuvaring. I already remember that my husband is sexy, and I'm able to go on dog walks without getting winded. I also am happier, and feel more awake, than I have in a year.
THANK YOU ALL for posting. I'm going to warn my girlfriends of this stuff- I wish my doctor (who is no longer my doctor) had said more than "there really aren't any side effects except some discharge- nothing different than the usual pill side effects".
-- By kristenc | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
August 31th
2009
11:15 PM
I am a healthy, active female on a low dose of premarin from a hysterectomy last year, went on a low dose or Lisinopril last June and within a month, was at the ER twice for heart attack symptoms. My EKGs were perfect, thyroid, electrolytes, etc. and we determined, my sis has two MDs that I was over-medicated because the panic attacks started there after and were nightmares! My doc said menopause triggers these even on hormones, I know my body and I was being poisoned with Lisinopril! Been off a month now and this is my first weekend I felt normal w/no more stroke/heart attack signs thank the Lord! Any ideas on what we menopausal women can take for high BP? There is life after this drug but if it high BP runs in your family, some kind therapy is needed for us middle aged gals!
-- By ktruebl | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
October 29th
2008
5:54 PM
I am not currently using nuvaring anymore because of a side effect I haven't really found anyone else experiencing. I would like to share my story and if anyone has had the same or similar symptoms please let me know because I am totally bewildered about it. I started using nuvaring after the birth of my daughter in December. I was on the ring for about one to two weeks. At first everything was fine but I started to experience very unique chest pains. The best way I can describe them is they felt like they were in the tissue and flesh in between my skin and my rib cage, and it felt like the area was being squished in a vice, and then my back would start to hurt alot. They first started about once every other day, but then got more frequent to the point when I stopped they were constant. I could not sleep because the only comfortable position was to sit down hunched over with a pillow on my stomach, with my back up against my headboard. My husband brought up the point that it could be the ring, and at that point I was willing to consider anything. I quit using the ring, and the pain stopped, for a little while. But it is still ongoing to this day. Although it only happens about once or twice a month, the pain is no less severe. I am sure it was the nuvaring or the ingredients in it that has triggered this because I have never had this problem before using it. Please if anyone has any advice or ideas, your help would be very much appreciated.
-- By kelliebellie85 | Reply | (7) replies | Private Message me
October 12th
2008
3:45 PM
i have had mirena for about three months now, it has been an absolute disaster. every scince i have had mirena i have suffered from severe back pain, terrible headaches, severe abdominal pains, mood swings, depression, and anxiety about absolutely every thing. every night i stay up because i have a fear that there is something really wrong with me and i am scared that i am going to die in my sleep. i do not know what to do i have been to several doctors, i have had blood test, x rays, ekgs and every thing else and no one can seem to find anything wrong with me, so i assume that these symptoms are being caused by the mirena. i have a doctors appointment soon, so we will see what my doctor says!!!
-- By amichelle816 | Reply | Private Message me
August 20th
2008
2:44 PM
I am so glad I found this website. I had the Mirena inserted on April 14, 2008. Since then I've been having anxiety attacks and I'm always tired no matter how much sleep I get. My mom had an accident 2 days after Mother's Day (May 13th) and passed away on July 17, 2008 so I thought my issues were related to everything going on with her. On July 24th (the day after her funeral) I was transported from my doctor's office to the emergency room via an ambulance because I was having chest pains for about 7 hours. After 2 EKGs, and blood work, they could not find anything wrong (thank goodness) and I made the doctors aware that I had the Mirena. I haven't had chest pains since then but I googled Mirena side effects because I still have bouts of anxiety and I am extremely tired. After reading the posts I think my symptoms may be related to the Mirena. I will have a talk with my OB/GYN and see what she thinks.
-- By njaka | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
August 14th
2008
8:22 PM
I am a 55-year old woman. I was first diagnosed with paroxysmal svt at age 7. It has never been much of a problem, but as I have aged, I have worried enough about it to make sure my doctors are all aware of the condition. I have had many ekgs, echos, worn a holter monitor, had every kind of stress test, but it wasn't until April that the svt was actually seen on an ekg. My internist freaked out, wanted to put me on Toprol immediately, but I resisted, since I knew that my irregular heartbeat could be back to normal by the time I reached the parking lot. I did heed her urging to see a cardiologist (two in fact), which led to an ep study, with the hope of a radio frequency ablation on August 5. I have been taking a full strength aspirin since April to decrease the slight risk of stroke during an svt episode. The ep study showed that the electrical problems in my heart were in places that made an ablation too risky, so nothing was done, but the doctor advised me to try Toprol (25 mg) for a month "and see how I liked it." I had my first dose in the hospital on Tuesday, August 5, and proceeded to take it as prescribed. By Thursday afternoon, I felt oddly on the verge of tears. On Friday, both of my knees were hurting, by Saturday evening, I was in bed feeling like I had the flu. Every joint in my body was aching. Sunday morning, I felt even worse. I found this website and decided to stop taking the medication at that point. Today, Thursday, August 14, is the first time I have felt vaguely like my usual healthy self. After stopping the medication, I had 2 episodes of svt, lasting about 10 hours each. I have had excruciating stomach cramps, headache, inability to sleep, depression. This is after taking it for 5 days!! My heart (no pun) goes out to those of you who suffered for months on the drug and then even more months off of it. I know it helps many people, my mother included, but thank goodness that those of us who have a bad experience have a place to realize that we're not crazy.
-- By pinknitter | Reply | Private Message me
June 26th
2008
5:25 PM
I can't tell you all how glad I am that I found this web site.
I've been taking 10mg Lisinopril daily for about ten months now (for slightly high bp). Beginning last October, I started feeling the following symptoms off and on:
-lightheadedness (including one fainting spell)
-some discomfort and tightness in my chest
-difficulty breathing (when this happened, I would force myself to breathe deeply and usually found that I was breathing OK ... just felt like I wasn't always getting enough air)
-feelings of panic
-muscle pain in back and neck
-diarrhea
I've never really had any previous health problems and I've never suffered from anxiety or panic attacks.
I saw my doctor several different times about these issues. When it first started, my wife wondered if it had something to do with the medication. My doctor (who I really like) said 10 mg is not enough to really do much of anything.
Since I've been on it, my bp has been great. And I knew 10 mg wasn't very much. I believed that the medication wasn't causing it. So I went through the series of tests:
-MRI was normal
-blood tests were normal
-repeated EKGs were normal
-chest x-rays were normal
-stress test was normal
My doctor started thinking it was something mental and talked to me about ways to reduce stress and anxiety. But I knew there was something going on.
Then I found this site. I stopped taking Lisinopril yesterday and am talking to my doctor about changing to something else.
Thanks, all!
-- By badmedz | Reply | Private Message me
March 17th
2008
10:56 AM
i just started my 7 month pack and ever since last month, while on the active pills, my heart seems to flutter or feels like its skipping beats. it does it alot and it scares me because i am scared i am going to have a heart attack or something. do you think its from femcon and if so, should i stop taking them?
-- By skhender | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
August 31th
2007
9:42 AM
My Side effects: major heart palpitations, numb/tingling hands almost every morning upon awakening, fatigue, thinning hair, bloating/weight gain. I am 43 yrs old, not overweight & in good health other than my BP. I was on atenelol for about 8 yrs & switched to lisinopril aprx 5-6 yrs ago. HBP & heart attack run in my family (dad & brother both had heart attacks at age 40). The heart palpitations (I call them summersaults in my chest) have caused me to go to the urgent care & doctor more than once. Have had EKGs twice in last 3 yrs, wore heart monitor, etc. Said I have irregular heart beat, but nothing to really worry about. I started on 5mg, but BP continued to increase. Raised to 10 mg, but same thing. Now up to 20 mg & BP is finally better (but not low) at 120/86. I HATE being tired all the time as I'm the kind of person who is always going. I'm going to talk w/Dr. & see about switching to something else again... Thanks to all for sharing!
-- By bethsmith | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
Lisinopril (4) Mirena (2) NuvaRing (2) Toprol-XL (1) Femcon FE (1)
November 6th
2009
8:32 PM
I have been taking lisinopril for more than 5 years now and just happened upon this site the other day. After reading all the posts I was amazed to see so many others describe the same side effects that I have had for years now, ie) pain in my chest and left arm that has led me to think I am having a heart attack. I have had 3 EKGs over the past several years and every time it was normal but the pain has persisted and to the point of not being able to sleep at night and constantly wondering if I am having a heart attack, it has been incredibly frustrating!!! So when I found this site I was very relieved to know that I am not alone here. I have also recently discovered a natural product that has helped many lower their BP, it is called Pro-Argi9 Plus, you can check it out at this link, ******, it could change your life as it has for many.
-- By makamm7 | Reply | Private Message me