Embarrasing symptoms and conditions

I am so happy to have found this sited. I thought that maybe I was just getting stupid with age. Memory loss, can't find the words, I just don't have any conversation in my at all if that makes sense. Just feel really foggy or nothing at all. Very embarrassing when in mid conversation you just stop and can't continue because you can not even remember what you were going to say. I have been on Lamictal for about 6-7 years for bi-polar disorder. Has anybody on this forum gone off of the drug completely, and if so do you notice a difference in these things that I have referred to. It is really a relief to see that it is not just me, or menopause which could be part of my symptoms as well but I can deal with that. I am very worried about the long term effects.
I don't get it, these drugs we are prescribe should make us feel better not numb and stupid.
Any response will be appreciated.

I am a 51 y/o white female that has been on Lipitor for 2 years. I am 5' 1" and when I had to go on it my cholesterol was 267 I weighed 112 lbs. I was shocked.... my doctor told me weight had nothing to do with cholesterol. She kept a close watch on me and my cholesterol came down...... and then my ex-husband of 17 years and I re-connected and got back together and I moved so I had to get another primary care physician. I took all my meds to her, she also kept a close watch on everything. At this time my cholesterol is down to 109 and I asked if I could stop taking it, as I take quite a lot of meds, due to different things and if I could stop anything it would be great, but she said it I stopped it, my cholesterol would go right back up. So since I am not experiencing any side effects I'm okay with continuing it.

I surely hate to hear what you all are experiencing with your Lipitor..... could your doc try another cholesterol medication?

The only one of my meds that is giving me any problem is TOPAMAX........ that we are using as a Migraine preventative! HORRORS!!! Today is pretty good day. But my cognitive abilities are in the trash... I say the wrong word when I mean something else...... I search my mind looking for a memory...... I am also on disability since 2002 because of the Migraines....... I have has them since 1978, but they got progressively worse over the years until I was sick more days per week, sometimes more than 7-10 days at the time, having to be in the hospital being rehydrated and on IV pain meds.......... and as awful as the TOPAMAX is.....it has been reduced the migraines to approx 2 per month and they do not last nearly as long.

So sorry, I got waaay off topic, but I know that it is not the Lipitor that is giving me the side effects as it the last med I had to go on and I had no new side effects....... but that TOPAMAX is kicking my behind.

I'm a 22 year old who was diagnosed with dermatologists a couple months ago. I've been on different doses of steroids ranging from 5mg to 60mg for 5 months now. i was on 60mg the longest and just went down to 40mg. i go down to 30 mg next month. so far my side effects are moon face, swollen areas around my neck and collar bone, weight gain like 15 lbs, always have to wake up in the middle of the night and pee, my knees get shooting pains sometimes at night, light hair by my ears like sideburns, tired, helps with my muscle weakness a little, my eyesight seems blurry sometimes, chest always feels tight. I'm also on Methotrexate, Bactrim, folic acid, and Fosamax. it might be a reaction form all these but i think its mainly from the Prednisone. i cant wait to get down to the lower doses. i look like a different person and even tho all my family and friends know its still embarrassing. i fell like a whole different person. i cant wait to be normal again.

I just started Singulair 10 days ago and 3 days after I started I developed what I thought was a massive head cold. Pains at the base of my neck, followed by a stuffy head, sore throat, and a nasty cough. This dry, never-ending cough keeps me up at night. It takes over an hour to go to bed even after taking Nyquil and last night I even tried Rx cough syrup w/codeine, still over an hour to get to sleep. I cough to the point of gagging and sweating. This has been happening since last Monday and it's so embarrassing at work. I know people are afraid they are going to catch my "cold" If it were a cold, I would think I would be getting better by now, not worse. This morning I felt so bad that I decided to search the internet and found this post. I beginning to think it's the Singulair. I'm going to the doctor and then depending on what he says, I may try quitting the Singulair. I am miserable. I was reading the other posts and was amazed at the symptoms I've had but had not connected to Singulair yet. I had a vivid, scary dream last night and I don't usually dream much, but this was very real. I also had noticed lately that I keep thinking I see someone coming or passing by out of the corner of my eye, and I read someone's post that referred to shadows in your peripheral and I was shocked! This is exactly what I've been seeing. I would have never blamed it on the drug. I will see how things go once I quit taking it. This is unbelievable!

Hello, I have been on Topamax for about 2 months now for severe and unexplained dizzy spells\vertigo. I am at 100mg. The spells are gone thank God, because they were debilitating, but the side effects are HORRIBLE! First it was me just feeling like an idiot, dropping everything, forgetting words, losing my train of thought mid sentence... I am a hair stylist so this could be quite embarrasing. Then I got the crazy weird tingles everywhere, but they are kinda cool. Except when they wake you up in the middle of the night. AHH! But luckily the stupidness has worn off, and the feeling like I never get enough sleep has too. But now I AM LOSING SOOO MUCH HAIR! Like handfulls of it. I took a ziplock bag of it to my Dr. and (extreme, I know...) he says "yeah, that can happen..." not to me! I'm a hairdresser! I think I may go off of it... Has anyone else experienced this??? Soda still tastes like crap most days, but I don't like it much anyways. It can up your anxiety level at times too, i think. The positive is that it keeps you from overeating. The side effects get better, as in not as constant, but they never completely go away.

I took Lipitor for 4 or 5 years. I lost count. I am a type II diabetic and the Dr. threw tons of prescriptions at me. I was convinced all my problems were not the result of Lipitor because my sister's Dr. told her that if you had the muscle pain you would have it all over. Well I got sick of feeling like I was 85 years old. I am 57. I know I am not young anymore, but I couldn't sit for more than a few minutes without having trouble getting up. The right top of my leg hurt so bad some times that I could hardly walk . I also had really bad pain on the right side of my lower leg. I had pains in my neck and shoulders and attributed it to stress at work.Last, but not least I had terrible gas and bloating. The gas was downright embarrasing. Well I took it upon myself to stop taking it. Within several days I felt like a new woman! The minute I woke up one morning I could feel the difference before I even got out of bed. I felt like I had been given my life back.

When I called my Dr. to let her know she wasn't very happy and wanted me to come in. Well now she put me on Crestor and it's been two weeks and the old pains and gas are coming back. I am NOT going to take these terrible statins anymore. They say that the muscle and joint aches are rare, but that is only because most doctors won't listen to their patients. You know your own body better than anyone else.

I have heard that some of the "older" statins are not as powerful and they don't have as many side effects. Has anyone else heard this or had any experience using them?

All I know is that for now I am off statins.

My doctor put me on Topamax for migraines, but I can not handle the effects. I just started the 75 mg dose just as I was moving into a new college apartment with new roommates, and I felt like I was going crazy! I couldn't eat anything without feeling completely ill, I was spacing out, and I couldn't remember words.. for three whole days I couldn't remember the word 'tapestry.' I finally had to look it up in the dictionary.. not a good sign for a college student. The worst, though, was the overwhelming sense of panic that was getting worse by the day. I was no longer myself! The last straw was a panic attack, complete with hypernentilating. I have never felt so scared in my life. I actually had to go the ER to get something to calm myself down.

So, I decided to stop taking it. My parents talked to my pharmacist, and she told them that Topamax IS the type of drug you can stop "cold turkey." But after a week, I feel almost as bad as I did when I was on the drug! I still can't eat anything. Also, I wake up hours before my alarm goes off, completely sick at my stomach. I feel panicky and nervous. I have several bouts of diarrhea and this morning I almost didn't make it. I share a bathroom with three (normal!) girls, and it is getting to be embarrasing and annoying. Please, can anyone tell me.. when do the side effects go away?? I want to be a normal 19 year old again!

Hi Everyone. This is a bit wordy, but please forgive me. I just feel compelled to put the whole story out there. In case some fine detail helps someone out there feel a little less random and crazy.

I have been having irregular, almost non-existant periods my whole menstruating life. i started menstruated later than most girls. i have a delicate relationship with my body weight, having to REALLY really control everything in order to maintain a healthy shape on a tiny frame. i recently was diagnosed with polycystic ovarian syndrome. it makes a lot of sense... and im excited to clear up some of the symptoms related to this disorder (and yes, there is an odd laundry lists of odd symptoms... which never seemed too related before i pieced it together, just an annoying, sometimes embarrasing parade of weirdness)

Anyway. My doctor told me that if I quit smoking she would offer me A RX for Yasmin. because of the particular hormone imbalances I was experiencing, and the synthetic hormone in the BC, it was her first thought for a treatment plan. I was eager to quit smoking, so this added some incentive. I was also excited that I may get some relief from something as commonplace as BC pills. I have gone thru breif phases of using BC Lo-Overal back in my late teenage years, and don't recall any real side effects, maybe a tiny bit of weight gain, maybe a touch of the moodies... but nothing to write home about. Doc said this time would be different, and that while some other BCs would intensify my forementioned hormonal problems, this would/should/could do just the opposite.

Now for the punch line. Its just been one week. I feel crazier than usual. Like the most intense of PMSs is with me everyday, INCREASING in intensity everyday. My lower belly, uterus feels full and cramped. My already large chest just became even more "entertainingly full". I've always suffered with depression and anxiety, I'm no stranger to that. But this was such a fast and direct spike in that category, I can't ignore that.

My diet and excercise routein is excellent, the smoking cessation is difficult but successful, I take prozac to help with my mood/anxiety... I didn't think adding yasmin to the mix would make me feel as if my situation would become nastier. uhhh!

I understand BCs come with side effects, but for my particular situation, I feel like I'm bound to very specific hormone combinations, with little room to try out different ones. Its upsetting to think that Yasmin is being so rough so soon. Will I adjust? Are there other options for women looking to help with PCOS?

All this makes me want a cigarette real bad.
thanks for reading and thanks for all who tell their weird tales.

I received a Kenalog injection in December '06 to provide relief from an allergic reaction. My doctor did NOT inform me of any possible side effects other than drowsiness. Two months later a small dipple formed where the shot was given. I had no idea what it was and just assumed it was a part of getting older (I'm 30). When it began to get deeper, I became extremely worried. It has now been 6 months and the dimple has turned into a very large indentation. I still did not put two and two together and did not think it could have been caused by the steroid injuection. I visited my doctor, the same one who administered the shot in December, to find out what this could possibly be. He said he had no idea!! And even suggested it could be cancer!!!! I came home upset, obviously, thinking I was very sick, possibly even dying!! My sister did some research and found this site, and I am so relieved. But now I am angry at my doctor for not warning me of this possible side effect at the time of the shot AND then diagnosing it as a possible cancer!!! So now I am left with this deformity on my butt and a profound feeling of helplessness. Someone please tell me actions you have taken that have worked, both legally and physically. Will this go away?!?

I have crohns disease which has spread outside the bowel, and have started taking 40mg a day. i started 2 days ago and my head has been raging with pain since a couple of hours after i took the pills. I am Writing this at 2 am because i can't sleep. Paracetamol and codeine won't work and i dont see how i will last 5 weeks like this! its like having my head permanently in a vice. Last night My legs were aching really bad i couldn't sleep. (any clues to why this happened?)
A few years ago i went on prednisone but not for long as i swapped to budesonide (which is a muuucchhh better drug for the intestines) but now my crohns has spread outside the intestines i have to take prednisone again! I gained about 15-20 kg last time and it causes me great depression and self confidence issues. (just a note that the budesonide is just as bad, perhaps worse with the gaining weight perspective, personally i kinda miss not being hungry or not being able to eat. LOL)
It made my crohns pain subside but are the side effects REALLY worth it? i don't think so... I like to avoid steroids as much as i can...

I'm sick of looking like a chubby kid (i'm 18 but when im on steroids my face looks like a chubby kid's face and its embarrasing)

I have been on a methyl pack for a few days for a severe sinusitis which caused major swelling inside my ears. My ears are still sensitive to noise but I don't like this feeling from the meds - I am jittery or shakey which 1. is embarrasing in public and 2. have bad thoughts of causing a major accident while I am driving like this. I have little kids and I do not like this feeling at all.

Hi rather embarrasing question here but has anyone has thrush on their tongue i have had it since being on the yasmin and its really bad this week along with the post yasmin effects, any suggestions, i have tried mouth drops, and a probiotic natural tab but still its lingereing,
thanks
lisa

I started taking Zoloft 6 months ago. I have gained 15 pounds since I started taking it. It has helped me with being moody though. I have started to bite my cuticles and pick at them which I am not sure why I do this. I have to put bandaids on my fingers so I wont pick them till they bleed. It is so embarrasing that I make up stories that I cut myself gardening. I am 36 years old and am happy now and content. I dont have panic attacks anymore but the weight gain issue is really a problem for me. I am not sure what to do now. Zoloft really helped me but I dont want to be fat and chew on my cuticles anymore. I take 50mg once a day.

i took yodoxin 2 years ago and now again and both times i had the worst case of rectal itching redness and stinging for 2 month afterwards can u help in what i can do for this please it is upsetting and embarrasing -thanks ray clark

Side effects are basically the same as everyone else. The worst one and the most embarrasing one is excessive sweating especially on minimal exertion. Other side effects are prednisone induced diabetes requiring insulin 4x a day, weight gain on abdomen and upper body, muscle, joint pain especially hip pain, muscle cramping, irritability, nervousness, teeth pain and facial hair growth.

I am going on a "mentaly young 54 yr old female. BUT I feel like I'm over 80 and hurt so bad I thought I should be dead, just that someone forgot to throw the dirt in on my grave. I have been physiclay going down hill for the past 4 yrs. with a varioty of ailment. Recently my best freind turned me onto the web site and I could not believe what I read. I'm astounded that when my syptoms first started my doctor of over 20 yrs didnt' take me off right away. I made an apt for a 2nd opinion. I defently plan on quiting, but I want to be monitored. Besides going through hair loose, my worst 2 symtoms are: my back was hurting me so bad that I was desperate enough to go to a cyroprator. I took the exray to the bone doctor and he claimed I have soliosis, and the 2nd claimes it arthritis. My spine dose have a distict S curve to it. I'm been going to physical therapy for streaching exercises which I will probly have to continue for the rest of my life just to try to keep the muscles around my spine as strong as I possible can. The other major effect is that my feet are going through something weird. It feels as if I have silicone injection in my foot just befor the toes on both feel. Like walking on small water balloons. Then of course my hip is killing me when I try to sleep, that only feels like there's a rail road spike in it. I just pray that when I do quite these effects will disapear. But after ready some of the other people's messages, I'm afraid that after 4 yrs, I'm screwed. Trust me though. If there is ever a class action lawsuite I would be more than happy to jump on the band wagon. I'm in pain no matter if I stand, sit or sleep. An after thought accurred to me. This is embarrasing but my bladder habbits have also changed. I havent had a full night sleep in years. I find myself getting up at least 2 to 3 times in the middle of the night just to go to the bath room. Has anyone else had that problem? Does anyone also know if there is something else one can do to lower cholesteral level beside this hell.

I'm Back (bnorvell Side effect # 4520)
I have now developed the cronic itchy throat eye watering gaging cough. It's really raises up when i'm sitting in the quite Church. (How embarrasing!) I found a way to subside the cough a little, by Just blowing your nose even if your nose feels clean. Blow it hard and your cough will be suppress for 1/2 hour to 2 hours. (Well it works for me) It takes out the post nasal drip. This is by no means a cure. I'm looking into another remedy for High BP.

Good Luck Group..