Endocrinologist symptoms and conditions

I have been taking Lisinopril for years. Also I've taken numerous tests to find out why I'm so fatigued, sleep all day and more tired afer sleeping even,severe knee pain at night when laying down only... I had also put on a huge amount of weight in a month or two when I started taking it now that I come to think of it. Oh my gosh. As I continued reading everyone's posts I wanted to cry. Has this been my problem after all these years? I sleep my life away for the last few years and I'm only 40. Before I started taking it, I worked out extreme 36 hours a week and worked 50 to 60 hours a week. Now my day is trying to get up to make it to work on time for 8 or 9 hours! I've already sent an email to my endocrinologist to request a different prescription and I am not using Lisinopril anymore!! Are there any class action suits for this? This has really taken a lot from me. I only hope this is my answer, which it sounds like it is! Thank you so much for sharing your stories. I will return after time to reveal my results!

I got my Mirena in about 20 months ago and almost immediately my life started going downhill. I got moody, depressed, started gaining weight, my skin broke out in TERRIBLE cystic acne. Then I started having trouble sleeping at night, and was waking up EXHAUSTED every morning. etc etc. At first I blamed job stress. Then poor eating habits. Then poor skincare products, my new apartment...everything but the IUD.

I have Type 1 Diabetes, so I see an endocrinologist regularly and when I went in yesterday to show him this new BALD SPOT on the top of my head, and talk about my random weight gain, despite joining weight watchers and exercising every single day, he started asking me questions and determined that that IUD needed to come OUT. He said if the hormones were affecting my body enough to cause acne, and increase my insulin dose (I went from 10 units a day to 20...a HUGE increase!) then it was most certainly affecting my hormones enough to cause weight gain, hair loss, etc. It even explained why I suddenly needed to get waxed every three weeks instead of every six.

Unfortunately all the literature indicates that removal comes with terrible bleeding, clots, and cramps. I'm going on vacation in less than one month and I'm super bummed that I have to keep it in until I get back from vacation but I'm not going to the most civilized region so I don't want to risk the kinds of horror stories I've been reading while abroad.

Hi I am dumb struck by coming across this site i never dream it could be my mirena causing my unexplained symptoms but the more an more i read it i am fighting with my hospital to get it removed A.S.A.P. i have suffered severe dizzy spells,heavy legs,fatigue,sweats,headaches,loss of concentration,mood swings,bloating,thinning of hair,weight gain, depression,dont want to communicate,just fallen apart in the last 17 months,had number of tests all come back normal,i been back to hospital today to fight this corner an they need to see how many women this really affects as every doctor i have seen says no way can it be the mirena but reading all these this needs looking into.i am worried about the dizzy spells they are my most concern along with panic attacks that come out of the blue..makes me think it may be my mirena after all :( just want to be back to my old self again..i have been to A& E at least 9 times with same symptoms only to be put on diazepam which i don't like to take,i am so upset that i still got to wait 6 weeks+ to have it removed as i got to go under to have it done as they cant reach the threads they are up instead of down...i am hoping after my long wait that i have now found an answer to all my symptoms an the mirena needs to be looked into more.an after it is removed i hope i get better as i have also read it can have after affects.nightmare wish i never had it put in.....

I am a 35 year old male in perfect health. last week i received two Kenalog injections in my trap muscles to to treat muscle spasms{trigger points) from a pinched nerve in my back. When I went home later that day as I layed down I begin having severe heart palpitations. I went to my doctor and my blood pressure was very high 169/94 with a heart rate of 127. For the last week I have been experiencing anxiety attacks, insomnia, hot flashes, sweating, nervousness jittery, very emotional. I had my heart checked out and had bloodwork drawn all normal. I was put on lopressor 50 mg 2times per day and xanax to help me sleep at night. I am crawling out of my skin! I can feel my heart beating all hours of the day and night! It is driving me crazy!! I regret getting the injection!!! The doctor told me it could take 2 months before the steroid leaves my body. I hope I will not have any lasting affects of the drug! I am very nervous these symptoms will not go away! I also am experiencing headaches and burning in my stomach. I am also always hungry and yet I am losing weight.Im thinking about seeing an endocrinologist. Im scared!!

Until yesterday, I took 14 days of a 4 week prescription of 100 mg twice a day doxycycline for a tick bite rash. I rarely take any medication. The first week I just had mild side affects. Late in the second week I started to notice that I was becoming increasing anxious for no apparent reason. Even after hard exercise the anxiety seemed to be persistent as if an impending panic attack. Yet, I had no external reason to explain the anxiety.

After two additional days the anxiety seemed to keep ramping up and I began to get very dizzy when I moved suddenly or bent down to pick up items from the floor. The pressure behind my eyes also feel like it was increasing. I was afraid my blood pressure was spiking but in actuality it was probably either cranial pressure or simply an fight or flight anxiety response. I also experience some pretty vivid dreams.

I finally searched online and found no official symptom of anxiety for doxycycline but found people complaining about it unofficially. I spoke with my pharmacist who also said she had no listing of anxiety as a known symptom for the drug. She suggested I stop taking it and see if my symptom subside.

It has been 24 hours since my last dose and the anxiety has reduced substantially but not completely. I feel like I have a hang over today but otherwise I do feel an immediate improvement. I am still a little dizzy but not like yesterday.

Like all drugs, you should be very cognizant of how the drug affects your body - even if a physician tells you otherwise because only you can really tell and everyone has different bio-chemistry which reacts in different ways to different drug compounds.

My 8 year old daughter started Lupron about six months ago due to precocious puberty. She started her period about eight months ago so we saw an Endocrinologist who told me there were NO SIDE EFFECTS. With the second shot, I noticed mood swings and tearfulness that I had never seen before. With the third shot, she had a rash for one day that was relieved by Benadryl. She no longer has mood swings and has not had a rash again but she has gained 8 pounds and I have noticed hair loss. The front of her hair is twice as long as the back. Her doctor has recommended that she stay on the shots until she is 11. Now that she is 9, I have decided to stop the shots and we will just have to deal with her having a cycle so young. It was a difficult decision for me to start her on the injections, but I made the decision believing that there were no side effects. This may be true in some patients, but it was not true for us. I just hope she can lose the weight and that the hair loss is not permanent.

I'm loving it.

After trying every HRT and pill under the sun for surgical menopause, and I'm in my 30's, I'm glad I've finally found something that makes me feel better.

Trust me here. Everyone is different and it may take you a thousand different medications until you find the right one, especially with hormones, but when you find the one that works for you life as you know it changes for the better.

Don't listen to that bollocks about HRT or the Pill causing you breast cancer and death... not having HRT or the pill etc can cause you just as many difficulties. Some of you may get osteopenia, vaginal atrophy, and other things that are very private. Let's face it, death can come after you even if you're not on hormones, just look at a children's hospital if you want proof.

I wish all of you suffering from hormonal conditions a healthy long happy life. I know the journey there is hard, but never give up. Just try something else. Even giving hormone therapy a break for a few months and then trying a different drug or approach such as a smaller dose.

Perhaps it's not even your hormones causing the problem, perhaps you should seek a specialist physician, immunologist, endocrinologist or just find another doctor that understands what they are doing and actually helps you.

All of the above saved my life. All of it. Together. It is a long hard road ladies but it's your life.

Blessings to you all.

Ugh, this has to be the worst medicine I have EVER been on. I was having anxiety attacks that occurred every evening and lasted for hours. Hot flash, nauseousness, inability to concentrate, thought I was going crazy.........
they started after my mom went in for open heart surgery in Nov of 2008. They put me on Xanax for attacks, and Clonazepam (double ugh), and I didn't take Effexor for a while, but my aunt convinced me to do it as I wasn't doing much better.

The thing is I'd been having issues with fatigue, heart palpitations, facial hair, etc. for several months to years and the doctors ran blood work and said everything was fine........

With the clonazepam and effexor I didn't have mood swings so much, but it was because I spent 16-20 hours a day in bed. When I first started the effexor I was told that the side effects go away after your body adjusts, and as it was the fourth or fifth anti-depressant I tried I figured I would suffer through. I lost 40 pounds (as I was/am overweight it was a good side effect in some ways) in a matter of 6 weeks, lost my appetite to the point that when I realized that I needed to do something about it I had to force myself to eat 1/2 piece of toast a day, slowing eating more...........I went several weeks only able to eat an average of 500 calories a day. I was so nauseous all the time. I was pretty much having a break down. I would only be "functioning" for 2-6 hours a day.

After going to the ER because my muscles began shaking while standing or trying to climb stairs (I'm only 28), having racing heart beats which they just prescribed more medication for, absolutely no energy, my hair falling out by the handfuls, I would wake up with it on my pillow............could not concentrate for the life of me, falling behind in school work (back to school mom), unable to do papers because I couldn't think.............

They finally tested my thyroid (runs in the family, have been telling them it sounded like my thyroid from the beginning........) my levels were finally off the charts, my TSH wasn't even registering. I was diagnosed with Graves disease........which can cause the panic attacks that they put me on the medication for in the first place.

As I figured it was probably the Graves, I tried weaning off my meds, only to feel as though I was going nuts and going to die............... I cut my clonazepam and effexor dosages in half, and within 2 days I could concentrate, and within a couple weeks I could go up and down the stairs again.............

Even now it is hard to say how much of my issues were caused by the Graves and how much was due to the Effexor combined with the Clonazepam. I was able to wean of the Clonazepam within 6 weeks by cutting my dosage in quarters every two weeks, but NOT the Effexor. I tried cut it and started having panic attacks, couldn't think, major migraines, and bed ridden........so I had to reduce it even slower.

Once I got down to half a dose, all of my symptoms went away except the fatigue. That is why I associate a lot of it with Effexor and NOT the Graves, because the symptoms did not go away until I reduced the drugs. I am now finally free of Effexor for about a month, and it was a hard road. It took me six months. I still have some issues with concentration and the occasional panic attack, but they are very minimal. I have read that this could be due to either both or one of the drugs I was on as it can take a year or more for your body to adjust.

Anyhoo, I wonder if the medication didn't trigger the Graves, or what.............but I would NEVER EVER suggest this medication to anyone.

I have gained most of the weight I lost back........but that is to be expected since my metabolism probably hit rock bottom not eating anything but toast for weeks.......

Anyhoo, I really wish that Doctors would tell you what could happen before giving you a drug. At least then when you start having these symptoms you know where and why...........rather then going in, and them having no idea?!?!?!? Funny, as if you search online you see lists that match exactly what you are going through.

I am now VERY leery about taking any meds at all, including Tylenol.

My main side effect was because they had me on too high of a dose at first: I had severe abdominal cramping to the point of needing to go to the ER and needing a muscle relaxant (bellatal - sp?). My endocrinologist said that was not possible, but the second he put me on the right dose, it went away. Many people have idiosyncratic (personal to them and abnormal) reactions to medicines.

All I can say is that some experts believe that the synthetic hormones can give false results on the blood tests, making everything look fine, so I have opted for real thyroid hormone and take Armour Thyroid. My thyroid problem symptoms all completely went away within 6 months (many by 2 months) after starting the Armour Thyroid. I spoke with at least a hundred women online before switching who all had the same experience: doing much better on Armour Thyroid. Some doctors are hesitant to prescribe it because there is some bad press in the AMA that some doctor's buy into about it, but it's all misrepresented and untrue.

I have had no bad side effects whatsoever with Armour Thyroid. I was diagnosed 6 years ago with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (before I became symptomatic, actually, it was dumb luck that my neurologist sent me to the endocrinologist for a slightly off T4 level.)

I was started on Levoxyl (sp?) which gave me a headache every single day at the exact same time, exactly 9 hours after taking the pill. Then I was given Synthroid at too high a level and had rare side effects which subsided when I went down.

However, a couple years later I became symptomatic for Hashimoto's and although my endocrinologist swore up and down that no one should take Armour Thyroid, I had read otherwise, and had asked about it an an online women's forum. 9 out of 10 women on the forum said they did much better on the Armour Thyroid, and my new wholistic physician said, "Interesting, those are the same statistics I have in my office."

All my Hashimoto's symptoms went away within 6 months after starting Armour Thyroid and I've had no problems in years.

Got married about a couple years ago and went on Yasmin. First BC and as I've never had any BC did not know what to expect. I felt fine but now reading all these makes me realize that the weight gain, NO SEX DRIVE, NO VAGINAL MUCUS (have to use tons of lubrication), re-occurring thrush could be attributed to Yasmin.
I stopped Yasmin last year December as now ready for a baby, its been six months and still haven't conceived, still dry and use lubrication....and also have milky discharge from breast but not pregnant. Had an MRI scan and showed pituitary anenoma (not sure of the spelling) basically a small tumor of the pituitary glad that secretes too much prolactin in system caused by imbalance of hormones.
I'm only praying to God for healing and hoping that my body would go back to normal rather than start other medical treatment.
My advise.............. come off Yasmin, DO NOT TAKE ANY BC

I can't believe how reading all of your horror stories make everything "come together" for me too. I have been on Mirena for almost a month and had side effects from day 3 on. It started with this overwhelming fatigue and what I assume was depression. I am the happiest, most vibrant person and all of the sudden I was fighting back tears for no reason at all. Then around day 5, the cramps started. I thought I was going to die. I couldn't work, couldn't sleep, couldn't play with my kids. It was awful. They subsided after about 4 days. Then the worst happened. I started losing hair...I mean clumps, not just natural shedding. I have long dark hair and when I showered it looked like I was on chemo or something with the amount of hair hitting that shower floor. So scary! Then the headaches, OMG! Awful! Remember, all of this happened to me in just a few weeks time. So I'm freaking out crying last night because of my hair and I call the doctor and they think its my thyroid so they're sending me to an endocrinologist. Then my mom found this website and it all came together for me. MIRENA! So needless to say, I am having it removed tomorrow morning. Oh yeah, and I've gained 7 pounds in 3 weeks...nice.

Hi, had two epidural shots..first one went fine..worked really well..after the second one..my face has been swallow for over 3 weeks now..rash all over..water weight gain..back of my neck is all swelled up..there are days that i can barely walk on my leg..due to the swelling..i have been to 16 doctors and no one could figure out what is wrong with me..im thinking this is some reaction to the epidural shot that i had..I also have been bleeding..period i guess for over 3 weeks..spotting..does anyone know when and if this ever goes back to normal..what doc i need to be seeing to correct this problem..if anyone has any information that could help me..im 27 female mother of one..that has never had any medical conditions like this ever..so i have to assume that this is from the shot..i tried calling the doctor that did my shot and he said its not because of him and now will not return my phone calls..im at a loss on what to do..please email me at ****** if anyone has been through this and knows if this goes away on its own..what i need to do..anything thank you for taking the time to read my story.

D.
long island, NY

There should be warnings about this! The doctor should have told me that this could happen..it is not worth what we all have been through!! sorry just venting.

I'm sitting here in tears reading all of your posts because I've also been on prednisone and have horrible side effects. I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in my lungs in June of 2002 and, after starting at 60 mg/day then, I have been on 20 mg/day for years now. The very first posting that I read mentioned problems with the femur bone. Besides all of the other problems associated with this devastating drug, in December, 2007, I broke a bone in my left foot with no known cause for it. Then I started experiencing pain standing or walking in my left leg and was diagnosed with a fractured femur bone and after several months of trying to get it to heal (including an ultrasonic bone healing system), it just kept getting worse until an orthopedic surgeon recommended that I have a 16 inch rod put into my leg which I did and it ended up to be one of the worst decisions that I have ever made. After experiencing all of the prednisone side effects for almost seven years including depression, severe fatigue, weight gain, moon face, thin skin, cataract surgery on both eyes, hump on my back, mood swings, etc., the pain and suffering that were caused by that operation brought me to seriously consider suicide. I was also diagnosed with chemical neuropathy in both of my legs also which makes my legs so weak that I have to crawl up any steps and have trouble just standing. I actually have an appointment for this evening to have an x-ray done to see what is wrong with my knees and did not realize that this also is yet another side effect. I never make it through the night without waking up in pain and getting a pain pill and then getting up in the morning is almost unbearable with that "burning" pain. I am now on Cymbalta for depression, Xanax for anxiety, Percocet for pain, and of course 20 mg of Prednisone. I was told that I would have to remain on Prednisone for the rest of my life because of the lung scarring and COPD. After reading all of your comments, I have decided that I would rather put up with any breathing problems (and I don't even know how slight they may be at this point) than to remain on the Prednisone. I have tried weaning off several times but get so fatigued that I can't move and that's dropping one mg every week. I'm affected by the decrease but it gets out of hand when I get to 14 mg and I get so frustrated and depressed at not being able to do anything that I just go back up to the 20 mg/day. If you have been able to wean off of it, would you please let me know how you did it and what you had to go through? I'm 65 years old now but I have two wonderful granddaughters (ages 4 and 6) who I can't do any normal "Grammy" things with anymore at this point and I have to change this condition for them and for me. Obviously, the doctors don't recognize the severity of the drug because they just keep prescribing it and out of a regular doctor, an oncologist, an orthopedic surgeon and a neurologist, they can't seem to get together to come up with a solution. I have to say that I haven't considered suicide lately but I do wish that I would just die and be out of this pain. My family and definitely my granddaughters and wanting to see them grow up are the only things that keep me going. There are probably things that I'm forgetting but I'm sure that one of you have covered it in our posting. Although my family is so supportive, no one and I really mean not one of them, realizes knows what we all go through because of this drug. How could they know that something that is supposed to help you could cause these problems? My life is a living hell, all because a pulmonary doctor prescribed prednisone seven years ago and I trusted him to only do what was right without informing me of what was to come. I more than sympathasize with all of you. I sincerely appreciate the time that you took to post to this site and so thankful to know now that this knee pain is not something new that I have but another side effect of the prednisone. I wouldn't have known that if it wasn't for this site because I'd be willing to bet that after I would have had this x-ray done, one of my doctors would have just prescribed another medication to take. Please feel free to contact me directly with any comments or especially any help that you can give me. I know that all of you are going through the same thing so if I can do anything for you, even just listen and understand, please contact me also. Sometimes that's the only thing that people can do is to listen and someone who is in the same situation can always understand. I'm here for anyone who needs a hug for the day.

Hi, I am new at this, I have been so frustrated. I too was told this was the best thing out there, and the benefits looked great so I got the IUD Mirena inserted. Cramping when I first got it for a few days then nothing for a while. Seemed ok, then one day I noticed my hair was thinning then more and more. So I made a appt with my gyno and she said basically it was in my head. I also mentioned a memory issue, kinda foggy feeling. She dismissed me and ushered me out by wave of her hand. I then go to a dermatologist to see if there was something there, maybe a sign something was definitely wrong. He noticed it was profuse and in the back of my head. He had my blood checked for vitamin deficiency and my thyroid, came back normal. Told me it looked like a pelican and had me use Rogaine and special shampoo and biotin. He also told me of an option to do a biopsy, which scared me. I waited a few weeks and decided to do it. It came back normal, no hereditary or any other abnormalities. He suggested removing IUD. I talked to him once more to see if anything else can be tested, he sent me to an endocrinologist. Did another blood test and all normal. He also did thyroid all over again. By this time, I was devastated. I felt hopeless. I was still thinking it wasn't possible. That’s when I hoped online and saw so much more others had the same problem!! I couldn’t believe my eyes! I am 32 and had this damn thing in me for a year and a half. I only wished I would of taken it out by that same doctor who told me was all in my head. It would of saved me so much aggravation. Mind you I was feeling a bit depressed and I noticed I was uptight and yelled at the kids a lot. The good news in all of this, I had it removed today and again they tried to talk me out of it. I told her, if I didn't have all these tests done, I would probably kept it in. I did my share of making sure nothing else was wrong with me. I even talked to my regular doctor and had a heart to heart; he explained everything that the others would not, including lab results. I am hoping that my hair will come back. I love my Dad, I just don't want to look like him....

Does anyone now how long the hormones stay in your body and how long till hair will stop falling out?

First of all let me state that I stopped Advair (or Seretide 125 here in the UK) before I was aware of a plethora of potential side-effects.

I've had asthma for 4 years (male 39) and I started just over two years ago when I had a chest infection. Two days later I developed quite a bad pneumonia and ended up in hospital. Thankfully it cleared OK and I got out quickly enough. After that I continued with it. Around late summer last year I noticed my libido dropping off, bad sleep patterns (really tired at 10pm yet waking up at 2am and unable to sleep again), depressive episodes, mood swings and mental fogginess especially in the afternoon. Blood tests showed borderline low testosterone levels and I was referred to an endocrinologist early in 2009. A few tests later and I was no further forward but I started to suspect my adrenal function was poor. An ATCH stimulation test was done but it was "normal". I then had a tremendously bad depressive episode and went to the doctors. He offered me prozac until we got to the bottom of the issue but I declined as I suspect it would make things worse. I then started to analyze what had changed in my life and the only thing that had the potential was the Seretide. I then changed back to Clenil (beclomethasone) and the difference was like day and night. My sleep patterns immediately restored themselves and my mental state went back to normal. I also run up to 50 miles per week and suffered occasional cramps - I could even cramp at will by placing my lower leg in a particular place! Needless to say this has gone too. I now have another blood test next week and it'll be very interesting to see where my T levels are now.

I suspect that Advair/Seretide causes adrenal issues in susceptible people. Once your adrenals are out of whack then your thyroid and other hormonal systems start to get affected.

I am 57 years old and have been on synthroid for about 3 1/2 years. I had a nodule on my right side that was removed.I felt great but was told to see the endocrinologist. I felt better for quite a while but NOW I have gained over 25 pounds, out of breathe just going up stairs and feel like I always have a lump in my throat. The weight gain has made my feet, back and knees hurt. I have been exercising and even did Jenny Craig and only lost 10 pounds just to put it back on. I retain fluid in my hands and legs. Sometimes my legs feel like they are going to burst. I am seeing many of the same complaints on this site about synthroid. What is this Armour people are talking about?

OKAY!!! after reading everyone comments about mirena I decided to tell yall about mine. I'm 19 years old, I recently had my daughter July of 2008. I got my mirena in at my 6 weeks appointment and had it ever since, since then I've had major mood swings, I'm always bitchy and always exhausted like i never get enough sleep. And every month I have the ovarian cyst which my doctor said it normal when your on the mirena and that every month I can feel them rupture which hurts like hell... And also before I had my daughter i weighed 125-127 and when i was pregnant with my daughter i only gained 10 pounds so I weighed around 130-135 NOW get this after having my daughter I weigh 148-150 and im only 5"1' and 19 years old I've never been so big in my life... not only that I have other side effects they are Poor memory, Lethargy Hair loss,
Weight gain around my stomach, Feeling constantly bloated. Agitation, and every time my fiancee touches me or wants to do something I don't want to its like I don't wanna have sex anymore and also get depressed and I get very very irritated with my fiancee to where I just want to pick my things and my daughter and get up and leave him its like his consistly getting on my nerves but after reading everyone input on it im calling my doctor and having it taking out.. thanks everyone for yall input.

I've been on levothyroxine 150mcg for about 3 months before that it was 100mcg and so on. I have gain lots of weight and tired all the time. depression also, headaches. I hate this gaining weight, sleepy all the time and depression is from gaining weight. I thought this med is to up boost my thryiode but it doesn't seem to be working. my dr. said I'm on the highest dose there is. I don't know what to do any more. I was thinking about taking myself off this but not sure what will happen if i do. I hope there is someone out there that might be able to let me know if they are going through the same things what they are doing and how they feel now.

I think the key is perseverance. Find a good endocrinologist who is willing to treat you. A Dr. who realizes that normal blood tests may not be normal for everyone. A Dr. that knows which blood tests to order. It doesn't end there. You hold the keys to the answer. Simply keep a journal of how you feel, along with blood test results and medication levels. You and your Dr. will learn so much more about what you take and how you feel and can work together to find your "normal." I am still in search of my "normal," which I found about 6 months ago but seem to have misplaced after a recent increase in dosage of synthroid. Called the Dr., described my symptoms and he ordered blood tests which I had 2 days ago. I am looking forward to the results and a call from my Dr. this week. I am confident that he will work with me on the dosage and that I will find my "normal."

Our "normals" are out there...keep a journal, find a great endocrinologist and persevere!

I have been on Diovan HCT for about 9 years!!!! I have felt like crap for about 5 of those years! I recently was searching the internet to find out a possible diagnosis for my feet swelling! I showed this to an ENT dr. at a recent appt. and she thought it could be Cellulitis, however the antibiotics did not help the redness and swelling in my feet. Now, after extensive research, I do believe I have GOUT. After trying to figure out why I would have GOUT at age 39, I have read that the "thiazide" can caused elevated levels of uric acid, which forms crystals in the joints. I also have "anemia" which doesnt get better with medication and the reason I felt I was constantly tired over the last few years. I have also had severe joint pain...foot pain, back pain and hip pain. And an overall feeling of listlessness. After reading an article listed on the FDA's site on this drug, I fully believe this drug is the cause of 90% of my problems. I am going off this tomorrow, and calling my Endocrinologist. Did I mention I have diabetes too? Which has severely exacerbated in the last few years. Try this site for viewing adverse reactions (hopefully this will work)

www.fda.gov/medwatch/safety/2006/Nov_PIs/DiovanHCT_PI.pdf

I can't believe I didn't find this sooner! I was on the Nuvaring for about 4 years and just last month traded it in for the Mirena.

At first, I was thrilled to find the Ring as I have a very hard time taking pills because I've always had a sensitive stomach. The patch was messy and sticky so I was excited to find the ring. For the first couple of years, the only problem I had was keeping it in place (it would continuously fall out) so I just got used to having to push it back into place every time I used the restroom. Every. Single. Time. But it was worth it because it made my periods much, much lighter and more manageable (i usually am down for the count for a few days). I also did the ring continuously without taking a week off because I still had some pretty terrible periods.

About two years ago, I started gaining weight uncontrollably, became very depressed, lethargic and achey. One day I came down with a terrible case of bronchitis and was put on a heavy duty round of antibiotics and steroids. After, I started having terrible heartburn and IBS symptoms which lead me to a gastroenterologist. Every test imaginable was performed, but nothing was found. I was told I had a nervous stomach. Unsatisfied, I got some bloodwork done and had abnormal blood glucose levels. My diabetic husband gave me a glucometer and I realized my blood sugars were totally out of range. I ended up at an Endocrinologist and all tests came back normal. I was also referred to a Rheumatologist for my achy body and joints. I found a list of symptoms of hypothyroidism and was convinced this is what I have, so I was put on a very low dose of Synthroid. At the same time, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and put on a whole mess of anti-inflammatories and pain killers.

Unsatisfied with my diagnosis of Fibromyalgia and totally unwilling to admit this is something I have to live with for the rest of my life, I began working with a nutritionist who has helped me get off all the medications (except Synthroid). But still, I hadn't slept through the night in years (getting up 3-4 times a night to use the bathroom), I was terribly achy, irritable, nauseous, constipated and still gaining weight.

Recently, my insurance changed and I decided to get the Mirena. Within a few weeks, most symptoms have drastically improved, my family notices a major change. I actually slept through the night last week, only 3 weeks after using the Ring for the last time. I haven't lost any weight yet, but the fact that I even CAN exercise is monumental. More than anything, I'm thrilled at the prospect that everything was caused by the Ring, the one constant no matter what I tried, and maybe I won't have to live with Fibromyalgia for the rest of my life.

I can't say with total certainty that the NuvaRing caused all my problems, but it is absolutely astounding that all of us are experiencing the same terrible symptoms and none of our doctors have bothered to think that it could be the Ring. I'm angry about this. Why don't they know about these side effects??

Yes these side effects are listed in the package, but they're the same side effects from pretty much every medication... and I don't know about all of you but this thing came damn near close to ruining my life. I couldn't work, sleep, eat, exercise, clean my house, etc. etc. It's no heart attack or stroke, but definitely life altering.

I think health care providers need to be alerted to these symptoms and the possibility that the Nuvaring could be causing it all. It would have saved me thousands of dollars in medical bills and despair. Patients should be warned that the side effects are very real and can be debilitating. I'm almost sorry I found this so late (after I already got rid of it!) but I'm glad I found it nonetheless.

Good luck to all of you!

My doctor thinks I might have PCOS, which is why I went in the first place after reading up on the subject. I've always had random periods, and if I miss a couple months, they can last up to a month with heavy bleeding. I thought it might be wise to go get some help in regulating. At 27, I'm tired of 15 years like this. She gave me Loestrin24Fe because when I took birth control in high school for about two weeks, I turned into a raging monster that would have attacked anyone.

I'm on my second week of the pack, and bleeding heavy. I have an opposite schedule than most people (I'm naturally a late night to early morning person and no amount of work changes it) so I take it when I get up in the afternoon (around 5pm). I've been bleeding the same way I bleed when I haven't had a period in four months. This? Is unacceptable. If I wanted unreliability, I'd have just avoided getting an OBGYN in the first place.

Reading the side effects and replies here, I'm also wondering if the weird episode I had last week is related. I woke up dizzy when I went to the bathroom. I remember getting dizzy twice in there at random times, nearly falling against my tub, and then falling in my bedroom, passed out for a couple hours. I also had a severe migraine, like no lights could be on, not even the computer as back lighting so I don't stumble in the dark. I'm lucky that I wasn't concussed, but this is just not okay.

Later today, I'm going to call my doc since I need to call my endocrinologist anyway for sick meds. And I'm stopping the pills today. I got off my bed after takeout last night, to clean up, and noticed this insane amount of blood underneath that bled onto the mattress. No more of this.

I have always had and currently have the side of effect of extreme fatigue associated with the use of synthroid and now Armour thyroid replacement as well.
Whenever my tsh reaches normal levels I become increasingly fatigued. Now I an hardly stay out of the bed and yet my levels are normal.
I have Hashimoto's Disease and am menopausal with severe insomnia to cloud the issue. But the fatigue associated with thyroid replacement is longstanding and has occurred for about 15 yrs. For many years, I would stop taking the medication because of it. My doctors do not believe that the fatigue is related to Synthroid which I find utterly frustrating. Will be looking for another endocrinologist soon. Has anyone out there experienced this side effect of extreme fatigue?
Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Hi my name is Ari. I'm 20. About a month ago an on-call gyno prescribed me YAZ. For the 2 weeks I was taking it I felt like my brain was up my butt. I was anxious and easily agitated. I was with one of my friends 3 Fridays ago and I got these random heart palpitations. I had no idea what was going on bso I had to have my friend rush me to the ER. By the time I got there my heart rate was at 127 bpm. The nurses and doctors told me it wasn't the pill, it was anxiety. They gave me some shrinks numbers and told me I needed therapy... I say horseshit. That's never happened to me before. I'm quite the happy kid and I'm not depressed. Needless to say, I stopped taking it that night. For the next week I still had random heart palpitations. I was trying to shop for a new cel phone with my bf and my heart started racing again. For no reason. I waited for another week to see if they would stop and it didn't. I went to a PCP and she told me the same thing. She didn't even give me a chance to explain to her what had happened. She just said I was stressed and go see a shrink.

Please somebody help me. These heart palpitations aren't stopping and its been over 2 weeks that I haven't taken YAZ. I'm in the process of finding an endocrinologist to see which of my glans this medicine messed up. I even tried to get a hold of my OBGYN and twice, the receptionists told me if I stopped taking it and I got my period then the drug is out of my system... not too comforting considering they're not a doctor. Not only that but they wouldn't let me talk to my doctor! Coffee, tea and marijuana make the heart palpitations worse (I smoke occasionally). I can't exercise either without my heart racing uncontrollably. I would greatly appreciate someones help. =)