Glucose symptoms and conditions

I am 39 years old and have been on Omeprazole for 6 years. I have had the worst year ever. I was always a healthy and fit guy until 2008. I had chronic headaches and extreme fogginess which led to me having an MRI and seeing a chiro(all negative). I had chronic chest pain which led to EKG's, stress tests, ER visits, and tons of blood work ranging from cardiac, glucose, liver, renal, thyroid, etc...(all negative). Did gastroscopy and found esophagitis and gastritis. Upped the dosage of Omeprazole. Then I started getting tremors, muscle cramping, muscle pain, fatigue, blotchy red skin, and continued fogginess and lightheaded.

Did I mention i still have constant heartburn despite all the Omeprazole. I have done everything...tilt up head of bed, bland diet, no coffee or alcohol, no eating late evening etc....

Doctor put me on Fluoxetine (Prozac) for all my stress and anxiety from these crazy symptoms. After seeing this site and reading all your testimonies I am now thinking it is from the Omeprazole!!! Scary thought to stop since my chest pain and heartburn can be pretty severe and constant. What do I do? Feel like I'm caught between a rock and a hard place here.

60 year old male on zocor for approximately 10 years. taking 80 mg daily.
only recently (within the last 18 months) i noticed some changes going on.
first i had joint pain in my feet, both feet, same areas. the foot pain went away but then the pain traveled up to the back of my legs, behind the knee,
when the muscle or tendons attach. every time i sat for awhile, then got up, the pain was brutal. that lasted about 3 months. later the pain shot up to the joints in my hands. both hands, same place on both hands. when i rotate my thumb or move it, the knuckle area of the thumbs, same place,
hurt bad. i will confront my health care provided at the va on these issues.
she disregarded my previous remarks and said arthritis, hands and feet and perhaps i overextended something at the gym on my behind the knee issue.
i think she is wrong. recently i had a severe cold and did not take the zocor for two days. the thumb pain subsided substantially. i resumed and the pain came back. now it feels as if the pain will travel back down to behind my knees again as i am beginning to feel a pull. any others out there with these issues???

Lisinopril causes burning and tingling sensations in your feet (peripheral neuropathy). The neurologist insists that the Lisinopril simply "unmasked" a hidden glucose problem. My primary physician does not understand what that means. I have stopped taking the drug. It has been over a year and the side effects remain. I tried 10 sessions of acupuncture which seemed to alleviate some of the pain & discomfort in my heels and middle of the feet. I have started a treatment of folic acid, B1 & B12. I also recommend diet & exercise. I was prescribed gapapentin by the neurologist; it alleviates the side effects but does "cure" it.

No side effects yet - coz I haven't taken it!!! I recently had my blood work done, it had been 2 years slightly elevated cholesterol so, in those 2 years leading up to latest bloodwork, I've eaten oatmeal every morning, taken Flax/Omega 3, B-complex, olive oil for all cooking, I have a glider, 20mins. 5 days wk. but had to watch myself, lost too much weight, I'm only 105lbs now, etc. etc....so, shock and horror my latest results: 232 Total Chol. 157LDL 57HDL-good number really, and best thing, 91 triglycerides, glucose 87 - so I guess some of the above improved some numbers. Dr. suggested a doppler/carotid.....a note received yesterday "some build up" and enclosed prescript. for 40mg. of this poison which seems kind of a high dose to me? So, is he not telling me the extent of "some build up?" what's "some"....I need to find that out first - but I really don't think I'm gonna be taking this stuff - there is so much info out there debunking this cholesterol thing....I'm 58, would there be natural build up in arteries, I mean your plumbing pipes don't stay pristine forever - there's bound to be build up, surely? Or am I kidding myself. Any suggestions out there, people!????

I started taking Yaz 2 years ago after my son was born. I didn't have any side effects for a long time and was generally happy with the pill. About a year after being on Yaz I started getting horrible anxiety and depression. It was really beginning to interfere with my life. I always felt on edge, my heart was constantly racing, I felt down, starting binge eating, etc. I also started noticing that my blood sugar was out of wack. I became hypoglycemic and had to eat little snacks every hour to keep myself from having my blood sugar drop too low. I sometimes even had to take a glucose tablet. My thoughts were always racing. I felt like I was going crazy. After going to my PCP and a psychiatrist and not getting any relief from the way I was feeling, I took it upon myself to stop taking Yaz to see if that made a difference. Well, since stopping Yaz my anxiety, depression, and hypoglycemia has completely disappeared. I feel happy again, normal and healthy. I have gained a few pounds and my skin is an oily mess, but I would much rather deal with that than the hell I was dealing with before. I'm not big on taking medicine unless I absolutely have to and this experience has only made me feel stronger about that. I think I will go back to using condoms and give my body a break. (forever)

This is my second bout with what my doctor thinks is erlickiosis. The first time I was at the point where I could only move like an old man doing "the nursing home shuffle". Everything was swollen. Feet, hands, knees even my jaw was hurting. I couldn't stand on my own even though two weeks prior I was walking 3-5 miles per day on some good size hills. I was hospitalized and given steroid injections. Within 12 hours I was standing on my own. I was given Perdnisone 30 mg X 3 days 20 mg X 3 days 10 mg X 3 days 5 mg X 4 days. Except for some insomnia and peeing 5 times a night there were no other effects. Within 2 days I was crippled again. Now my GP was in Africa and my Internist was leaving for vacation in India. Internist would not put me back on Prednisone because he wanted me to see a Rhumatologist. I made an appointment but it was SIX WEEKS OFF. Two days later i was admitted to a different hospital. This one was where my Rhumatologist had access. Long story short Prednisone 80 mg 7 days 60 mg 7 days 40,20,10mg 7 days each. Had to start taking insulin again. Glucose never went over 200. Avg glucose last 5 weeks is 120. Gained 5 pounds because I work out every day with free weights and lots of cardio. Hopefully, I won't have to many side effects when weaning is accomplished.

I think it is interesting the symptoms that you mention here. I have been on birth control pills since the age of 19. I am now 28. Over the past year I have had similar symptoms. I have been on so many different BCP's that is is hard to keep count. They don't seem to work the way they claim to. The last BCP I was on was orthotryciclen. While taking these I began to experience severe heart palpitations. So bad that they would wake me up at night. Because I wasn't sure if it was an anxiety attack or just being in my head I decided to ignore it. Four months passed by and it seemed to get increasingly worse. I had enough and decided to go to my PCP. She wasn't really much help either. Although I was tested for Mitral Valve Prolapse, which I was told affects younger women my age. There was nothing found. What I thought was interesting is I really felt that it was the birth control pills, but I couldn't find it as a side affect on the information that was provided in the box. The tech who was doing my echocardiogram began to tell me she also experienced the same feelings and found out it was her BCP. Once she confirmed what I thought was right, decided to stop taking them. After three months the symptoms began to disappear. I figured it was just the particular brand. I began to take loestrin 24. I started to feel the same symptoms again, just not as severe. I would feel my heart beat when I would like down in my back and my stomach. My heart rate would reach 90 to 100 sometimes. I know this is not normal. When I visited my gyno yesterday she told me it was impossible that it was a result of the BCP. Maybe it was just anxiety and or perhaps I should get checked out by a cardiologist. That is serious stuff when you are talking to a young person about getting there heart check out. I think if there are any other women out there who are experiencing any similar symptoms should speak up. So these doctors won't keep telling us it is all in our heads and help to take care of this problem.

I have an update...........Before all the news broke on singulair,my son was placed in a asthma study for adolescents,i got some very disturbing news today from the study.....his insulin level at fasting was 11....his insulin level at 2 hours after eating sugar was 238 but his glucose was within normal range...they have suggested we see an endocrine doctor......i will call his primary Monday and see if we can repeat these tests....I am hoping it was a temp effect of the singulair and not permhis hdl level was abnormal to but his cholesterol was 170....

Increase in POCS and obesity due to young-age use of progesterones?2 March 2006

Ellen C G Grant,
physician and medical gynaecologist
Kingston-upon-Thames, KT2 7JU, UK
Send response to journal:
Re: Increase in POCS and obesity due to young-age use of progesterones?
Professor Balen and colleagues write that PCOS is increasing because more women are becoming obese.1 Progesterone use can cause rapid weight gain and many adolescent girls therefore refuse to continue taking the Pill.
In an attempt to cut the numbers of unplanned teenage pregnancies more longer-acting forms of progesterone are being used. Unfortunately depo medroxyprogesterone acetate (DMPA) caused significantly greater weight gain with longer use in adolescent girls than the Pill. After 18 months obese girls gained 9 kg while non-obese girls gained 4 kg. The authors considered that the potential contribution of DMPA to severe obesity in adolescents is concerning.2 DMPA is reported to have no inherent oestrogenic or androgenic effects, which suggests that weight gain induced by DMPA is a progestogenic effect.
Use of progestogens can also increase the risk of PCOS. In the Walnut Creek Contraceptive Drug Study significantly more oral contraceptive users aged 18-39 had non-functioning ovarian cysts than never users (50/7506 with 4/2556).3 Fewer functioning cysts would be expected in users of progestogens designed to stop ovaries functioning. Use of fertility drugs can also cause ovarian cysts.
Progestogen use also increases the risk of diabetes. In a study of 210 women taking 150 µg levonorgestrel and 30 µg ethinyl oestradiol, 60% had stopped by 15 months and only 8% were current users at 3 years. Glucose tolerance tests deteriorated into the diabetic rangein 6 women but improved when oral contraceptives were stopped for side-effects including weight gain.4
It is reasonable that obese women with PCOS are not given fertility drugs risking more ovarian cyst development and further weight gain. Advice about weight reducing high protein/low allergy diets and life-style changes is preferable.
1 Balen AH, Dresner M, Scott EM, Drife JO. Should obese women with polycystic ovary syndrome receive treatment for infertility? BMJ 2006; 332: 434-435.
2 Bonny AE, Ziegler J, Harvey R, et al. Weight gain in obese and nonobese adolescent girls initiating depot medroxyprogesterone, oral contraceptive pills, or no hormonal contraceptive method. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2006; 160: 40-5.
3 Ramcharan S. Pellegrin RR, Hsu J-P, et al. Walnut Creek Contraceptive Drug Study 1981; Center for Population Research Monograph; Vol 111: P 162.
4 Wynn V. Effects of duration of low-dose oral contraceptive administration on carbohydrate metabolism. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1982: 142: 739-43.
Competing interests: None declared

Thanks, Mo! ;)

I have only been taking singulair for about a month. I have noticed that I have become more irritable, grouchy, hateful and just numb, not really wanting to be around anyone, not caring about anyone else's feelings much. I also noticed I have become extremely lethargic, to the point of falling asleep at work as well as heart palpitations and stomach pains. I just started new birth control pills so at first assumed they were causing these side effects, that is until I looked up the side effects of this drug! I have over half of the side effects so I stopped it immediately and can already tell a difference in my mood. I have to sons age 11 and 14, both who have asthma and allergies. The took this medication for a few years with no side effects but have not taken it for about a year now. My youngest son however, has been diagnosed with ADHA and ODD and possibly BiPolar disorder. As I read the other posts, I realize the description of how their children act while on this drug is exactly how my son acts. I wonder if there can be irreversible permanent damage from taking this medicine? He has been on a number of ADHD drugs, none have helped except to make him stop eating and lose weight and he is small for his age, so I have taken him off everything. Has anyone else out there experienced what could be permanent damage from this drug in their children? Even after being off the drug for a year or so? If it could make me miserable within a month, what can it do when one takes it for years? Its sometimes hard to tell the effects of medicine on small children. My son prob starting taking it around 4 yrs old and took it til he was about 8 or 9. Just wondering if anyone else out there has had this happen to them or their children.

All this talk of HAIR LOSS, POSSIBLE GALL STONES, ANEMIA etc. is really scaring me as my doctor (gastro-i) has prescribed it for extreme IBS. Am interested to know if anyone else has experienced hair loss. I HAVE been experiencing gas and feeling tired. Don't know if the tiredness is due to the Walchol. Am very uncomfortable about taking this drug after reading all these comments.

I was on Yasmin for 6 months before my wedding. i had to go to the hospital for the headaches I was getting....they were indescribably painful. i stopped Yasmin end of aug and got my period normal for sept-jan. then feb and march skipped but had weird cramping and nausea and then got in randomly in april but was brown blood only. then may skipped. i demanded blood work and got tested last tues for thyroid, glucose, insulin, and hormone levels to help rule out PCOS. i am worried i have pcos or premenopause from the pill. i should get the results tomorrow.

Our son started taking Singulair when he was 2 for severe allergic rhinitis and cough variant asthma (in addition to Zyrtec, which didn’t control all of his symptoms). He is 5 now. For the last three years, he has been an increasingly violent, difficult, defiant, argumentative, volatile child who has intense mood swings--one minute he’s laughing uncontrollably, the next he’s weeping over nothing. His doctor and therapist recommended that we see a psychiatrist to have him evaluated for bipolar disorder, which used to be unknown in children. Because he has such chronic sleep problems, the doctor also suggested we take him off Singulair (and increase his Zyrtec dose) to see if it improved his sleep issues. Within a week, he was sleeping much better and was a calmer, happier, gentler boy. He suddenly could take “no” for an answer without flipping out and trying to hurt me. We thought that we were just in an unusual, calm window that would shift either to mania or intense sadness or both, any minute. We also thought that his behavior change might be due to sleeping better. We were enjoying the rare reprieve. Over the last weekend, his springtime allergies really flared up. We gave him Singulair on Monday and by noon, he was completely out of control. I had to strap him into his car seat at one point to keep him from hurting either me or himself. It finally occurred to me that Singulair might be causing his “bipolar” disorder. Of course, we stopped the Singulair. After two days he was a new boy. Yesterday, I Googled “Singulair bipolar children” and got a few hits. I am stunned to read how similar other families’ experiences have been to ours and I feel sick that we gave this drug to our child for three years.

Singulair does interact with the astrocyte in the brain.

The role of the cysLT1 receptor (Singulair blocks this receptor) and the astrocyte in the brain has been studied. For anyone from Merck to say that there are no mechanisms by which Singulair can affect the
brain is ludicrous. If the Chinese researchers are correct, then Singulair very clearly affects the brain. Certainly, we don't know exactly how or when the effect would be good or bad. Under what circumstances would it be beneficial and under what circumstances would it be harmful.

For quite a while, researchers have been hypothesizing about the role of the astrocyte in brain function. If we go to look for theories, we will find them. Here is the theory of Dr. Dale Antanitus. I am no here to promote anyone's theory in particular but just to point out that they exist.

http://www.antanitus.com/hypothesis

We can see that the Chinese researchers have gone forward to look at potential links between the cysLT1 receptor (Singulair receptor) and inflammatory response in the brain. The 2008 study showed a link between the astrocyte and the cysLT1 receptor (Singulair receptor)

1: Glia. 2008 Jan 1;56(1):27-37. Links
Activation of CysLT receptors induces astrocyte proliferation and death after oxygen-glucose deprivation.

Huang XJ, Zhang WP, Li CT, Shi WZ, Fang SH, Lu YB, Chen Z, Wei EQ.
Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People's Republic of China.

We recently found that 5-lipoxygenase (5-LOX) is activated to produce cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs), and CysLTs may cause neuronal injury and astrocytosis through activation of CysLT(1) and CysLT(2) receptors in the brain after focal cerebral ischemia. However, the property of astrocyte responses to in vitro ischemic injury is not clear; whether 5-LOX, CysLTs, and their receptors are also involved in the responses of ischemic astrocytes remains unknown. In the present study, we performed oxygen-glucose deprivation (OGD) followed by recovery to induce ischemic-like injury in the cultured rat astrocytes. We found that 1-h OGD did not injure astrocytes (sub-lethal OGD) but induced astrocyte proliferation 48 and 72 h after recovery; whereas 4-h OGD moderately injured the cells (moderate OGD) and led to death 24-72 h after recovery. Inhibition of phospholipase A(2) and 5-LOX attenuated both the proliferation and death. Sub-lethal and moderate OGD enhanced the production of CysLTs that was inhibited by 5-LOX inhibitors. Sub-lethal OGD increased the expressions of CysLT(1) receptor mRNA and protein, while moderate OGD induced the expression of CysLT(2) receptor mRNA. Exogenously applied leukotriene D(4) (LTD(4)) induced astrocyte proliferation at 1-10 nM and astrocyte death at 100-1,000 nM. The CysLT(1) receptor antagonist montelukast attenuated astrocyte proliferation, the CysLT(2) receptor antagonist BAY cysLT2 reversed astrocyte death, and the dual CysLT receptor antagonist BAY u9773 exhibited both effects. In addition, LTD(4) (100 nM) increased the expression of CysLT(2) receptor mRNA. Thus, in vitro ischemia activates astrocyte 5-LOX to produce CysLTs, and CysLTs result in CysLT(1) receptor-mediated proliferation and CysLT(2) receptor-mediated death. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

PMID: 17910051

The astrocyte has been studied to see how it functions in the brain. The astrocyte:

1. may perform a role in the physical structuring of the brain
2. may perform a role in providing neurons with nutrients
3. may perform a minor role in the maintenance of the blood brain barrier
4. may perform a role in neurotransmitters
5. may perform a role in the regulation of ion concentration in the extracellular spaces
6. may perform a role in neuronal regulation of blood flood
7. may perform a role in the protection and repair of neurons

TO LIE TO PEOPLE REGARDING THEIR HEALTH IS CRIMINAL AND SHOULD BE PROSECUTED. PEOPLE OUT THERE ARE GETTING SICKER IF THEY ARE EXPERIENCING SIDE EFFECTS BECAUSE MERCK IS LYING. SOME PEOPLE MAY NOT EXPERIENCE SIDE EFFECTS BUT WHY NOT TELL THE TRUTH AND SAY THAT THERE COULD BE SOME PEOPLE WHO HAVE PSYCHIATRIC SIDE EFFECTS BECAUSE THERE IS A PATHWAY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN.

What started out as a simple visit to dentist became a nightmare. My BP was high l73/90...so I went to a doc to get something for the BP. I knew it had been creeping up. I should have been more vigilent and done my own research first. He prescribed l00 milligrams of the generic brand--metropolol. I questioned the dose, but he said it was safe, and I needed something to bring my blood pressure down right away.

By the third day I felt like I had a hangover when I woke up. I started feeling not quite right. Tiredness, depression, and headache. My BP got higher. On the 5th day my heart started racing, with a pulse in the l30's. I spent 6 hours in the ER. My pulse was in the 60's, but BP 210/110. They injected me with 5 mg of the stuff, and also gave me clonopine. My EKG had been normal at the doc visit. In the ER it showed abnormal with sinus tachycardia and First Degree AV nodal block. It returned to normal, and by BP dropped to 150/80 with the clonopine. My glucose was also high at 300. I could feel an immediate relief with the clonopine. Heart enzymes normal. ER doc denied that the Topol caused the racing heart. He said that's not a side effect..perhaps there was an underlying cause. He did say the episode could have been triggered by low oxygen to the heart. I think they all stick together----he's not going to say the first doc was an idiot.

They wanted to transfer me to the "big" hospital for cardiac workup. I refused, since I had an appt.with a cardiologist in a couple days, and the doc that prescribed his awful med. I didn't think my insurance company should fork out $50,000 for an adverse effect from a drug.

I had been doing heavy exercise the morning of the racing heart...it was after I sat down I noticed the increase in pulse rate. NO ONE gave me any warnings..not the doc, or the pharmacist. Both said this was a safe drug.

I cut the dosage in l/2 for two days, until I saw the cardiologist. He said ok to stay on the clonopine for now, and a diuretic. I feel much better, and BP has dropped to the l40's over 80 something...pulse near 80. I am going to do a stress test. Based on a heart scan, 3 arteries have 0 plaque, and two mild.

I read that this drug is not recommended as first choice for BP. In the UK they're weaning people off of it because it causes diabetes, and there's other better drugs out there. I did not wait to "ask my doctor" to take me off of it. I told him I am not taking it....I don't know how much longer he will be my doc. I don't think he should have started at l00 milligrams to begin with...and should have started out slowly at the least.

Caveat emptor (buyer beware) when it comes to this med...and do your homework, and don't be afraid to fire your doctor!

HI, I was prescribed IC Metoprolol succ er 25 mg. same as Toprol xl. I feel tried, I am a fitness instructor and teach 13 classes a week. 8 aerobic and 5 weight training classes. I continue to gain weight. With this being a blocker, I have just come to find out this med wont let you heart rate go up when you exercise so you muscles can get oxygen and burn fat. The lack of oxygen makes you (us) more tried less motivated to workout or anything for that matter. It has effected me in this matter. I am calling my doctor to change my meds. this website was great. I new It had to be my meds, you don't workout this way and still gain weight!!!!!!!! I have always been very fit and muscular, something i took pride in. now I"m looking flabby. It"s really hard for me. Hard to motivate people when you don"t look like things I share with people all the time. hang in there the weight will come off just be consistent, when I continue to gain weight.

Was prescribed prednisone 10mg dose pack. Took my first days worth and by bedtime my heart was beating so fast it felt as if it was going to pop out of my chest and burst. I went to the hospital and per the doctors there, SVT is not a reaction to prednisone. Anyways, left hospital with a clear bill of health, heart was in good condition.
Now, If it wasn't the prednisone that caused this rapid heart beat, what was it? I really think that the prednisone was the cause but as long as I'm not sure, I fear this will happen again out of the blue.

Been on Methadone tabs for 9 yrs. I gained 130 lbs, have edema in my ankles and feet for the past 8 yrs, I have an endocrine problem (pituitary gland doesn't produce testosterone anymore), I'm itchy all over, I get drowsy, and I have hot flashes. I think I should get off this drug and deal with my chronic pain. At least I'll lose wieght, stop itching, lose the edema and aching feet, maybe restore my endocrine system balance, etc....
Whata ya think?

I was taking Atenolol for a few years and it worked marvelously, but because I am diabetic- my Dr put me on lisinopril because Atenolol supposedly raises your sugar somewhat.

I have only been taking lisinopril for a few days, but I have already noticed headaches, stiff neck and sore joints, nausea and diarrhea, and my pulse seems to be racing. I feel like the blood is rushing to my head so I doubt it is working for my blood pressure.

I also take lipitor and metformin (and low dose aspirin).

I was reading the ingredients, and I am curious why lisinopril wouldnt raise glucose since it contains starch!?

I think I will be heading for the emergency room shortly if my head continues to feel like its going to pop. I would rather go back to Atenolol and deal with the tingling, because at least it maintained my BP which is what I was taking it for.

I feel your pain, ladies! I had been on Yasmin before for several months with no side effects, so in February I went back on it. I gained about 5 lbs that month, and just didn't want to deal with the weight gain.

So when the month ran out, I stopped taking it. I gained 35 lbs in 6 weeks!!! I changed nothing about my diet and exercise during that time, so I know it was the Yasmin.

Here it is November and I've lost about 7 lbs of it. I can't change calories or exercise too much because I gain 3-5 lbs in a day. All I know is that it will take time for your body to stabilize, so hang in there.

I get so frustrated with drug companies and doctors only talking to each other, and not listening enough to patients who complain of these side effects. My blood pressure spiked from the weight gain, as did my glucose and cholesterol, which have always been low since I was 6ft tall and 155 lbs (now 189-192.) Just keep speaking up!

Hello. this is my first post. I started taking Lupron four days ago. I am preparing for ivf in a few weeks. I ahve read the side effects but doctor told me the most would be a headache. I took tylenol on the first day, and hada slight headache anyways. The second day was betetr, but still had headache, not bad enough to take tylenol. yesterday was my third injection. I started to feel a little lightheaded during the day and sometimes felt I may pass out, but never did. I am also experiencing a little trouble with my eyes, but it could be my contacts needing to be cleaned. I ahve had my forth Lupron injection today and I ahve a slight headache already. I read that someone said the Lupron causes lack of glucose getting to the brain, I know that low blood sugar can cause headache, dizziness and even blackouts. I only take 10 units everyday, and it will be only for 20 days. Has anyone out there used it like I am starting to ? I will not be taking for long periods of time and do not have any medical problems at all. I am taking Lupron so I can carry a child for a friend. Would like to know if anyone is in the same situation as I am.
thanks!

I have never been so SICK in my life! My QUACK put me on Lisinopril and a diabetes (sugar lowering med) on the same day. I got deathly sick within a few days, unable to sit up, vomiting, etc. So, I stopped the glucose med, as my numbers aren't REAL high, and I've been fine on a year without ANY.

So, got rid of IT, to be sure it WAS the

Lininopril

making me so weak, sick to my stomach, etc. I'm TRYING to continue on a half (10 mgs.) until I see her Thursday. I know she will probably be angry, because I REFUSED to take Lipitor for cholesterol (after reading studies.) So, if my (DR) "QUACK" blows, I don't care. I'd rather die a NICE, natural death, feeling great, AS I DID before this horrible medication!!!! YUK!!!!

I truly believe in Naturals. I had started a vigerous exercise program Aug. 3rd. Now, I am too sick to MOVE!

OK ladies (and gentlemen too), I have just completed my second 6-month course of Lupron. The first time I had some side effects while on the medication (mood swings, hot flashes, massive - 40 lbs! - weight gain, memory and concentration problems, aches and pains, etc) - but the withdrawal was worse. I was trying to plan my best friend's bridal shower and couldn't do it because I was mentally non-functional, and I had diarrhea and other unpleasant effects. Within six months, however, I was able to hold a full time job, take graduate level classes, and do all my other activities. And Lupron gave me 12 symptom-free years - I was sure my endo was cured.

After I found out otherwise last fall, that I had huge endometrial cysts again PLUS some small fibroids (the result of all the pills and progestins I'd taken trying to help the endo), I faced surgery and Lupron again. My doctor was extremely conservative and JUST took out the large cyst on one side - leaving several smaller ones on the other side as well as ALL the adhesions. He recommended Lupron again, and I decided to take the bull by the horns and to do what I could to help myself.

During the course of Lupron treatment, I tried to consume at least 40 mg of soy (soy only!) isoflavones per day. I avoided beer, yams and other phyto-progestins. I upped my consumption of milk and other calcium-rich foods; if I craved sweets, I binged on them. In other words, I listened to my body.

Recent research has shown that the hot flashes and memory problems associated with menopause are the result of changes in the processing of carbohydrates that causes too little glucose to reach the brain. Likewise, I have read that the joint pains associated with Lupron are caused by the drug's undermining the liver's ability to produce glucosamine, another glucose-derivative. I noticed that when I would have symptoms and would, for example, eat sweets (no, fruit won't do), my mental symptoms would subside and my joints would almost immediately feel better. I realize most doctors would stone me for this advice, and I have gained 15 lbs - but I have /only/ gained 15, whereas I gained 40 before while attempting to eat right and exercise.

I have also found that MSM, especially when combined with chicken collagen, almost instantly helps my joints. The glucosamine/chondroitin formulations I tried tended to make me dizzy - again, probably something to do with the Lupron's effects on the liver.

For my immune system I have been taking Coenzyme Q10 and Juice Plus, a fruit and vegetable blend available online (www.juiceplus.com).

I won't say I haven't had side effects either while on the Lupron or since going off, but I have been functioning much better thus far than I did while on or immediately after going off the Lupron before. Can't hurt to try it. Good luck!

I Was At The Grocery Store A While Ago. First I Had The
Dry Cough. Then I Started Sweating From Neck And Head.
Felt Like My Heart And Stomach Were Fluttering. I Also Felt Like I Was Going To Pass Out. I've Been Taking Lisinipril 5mg
For Over A Year. My Blood Pressure Wasn't Really High. I Have Had Other Episodes Like This Before. I Am A Diabetic.
I Thought My Glucose Had Dropped. When I Got Home I Checked It And It Was Fine. I Also Have Heartburn Now. I Don't Know If That Has Anything To Do With It Or Not.