Half a dozen symptoms and conditions

I have been taking prednisone on and off since '04, totally unaware of the problems associated with it. In '07 I got double pneumonia and almost died, and that resulted in nearly 3 months of the 6 I was sick, of on and off prednisone use. I have never recovered from it, the inflammation that kept me from breathing and nearly killed me, comes right back within 2 weeks now, and back on the prednisone I go for another 2-3 weeks. I have been sick now for almost 14 months like this. What saved my life from pneumonia, now appears to be taking it slowly.

My doctor said I have to come off of it, or it will kill me. As it is, without it, I'm like someone with emphysema and I've never smoked a day in my life. At present, I have refused to do the re-dose, and my abdomen is so swollen it hurts and is so tight you could bounce a quarter off of it. My ankles, which never swelled before, now swell constantly and I now have to take a water pill now to wear shoes.

I'm 52 years old and had never been on ANY long term MEDS AT ALL, until they put me on prednisone. Now I take half a dozen. If there is any way, any of you can NOT take it, don't do it, not even for a short time unless it's the only thing that will save your life. It is like inviting a cobra into your home and then sitting there watching and waiting for it to make it's final strike. I think it has damaged me beyond repair. I go to a lung specialist the end of month.

I've been on Yasmin for about 2 years. My breasts grew from a C cup to a DD-E cup within a couple of months. I am a size 6-8, small frame. I know cellulite occurs in thin women, but within the last 5 months (after never having it at all) I have developed a lot of cellulite in my thighs and bottom. I am absolutely convinced this is hormone related. Apart from this my periods are pain free and my moods are pretty normal I think. I have experienced a low sex drive for a while and it's definitely still not what it used to be. The thing is with the pill is that it is obviously not meant for everybody. Different pills affect bodies differently. I have tried about 5 different pills, Loette, Marvelon, Yasmin, LevlenLD, none with great results. I stayed with Yasmin for so long primarily because it alleviated my cramps and horrible periods. For me it's time to come off. I know my body is reacting badly to the pill and to be honest I can't be bothered with it anymore. In the last month I have experienced a dramatic increase in cellulite and terrible tenderness in my breasts to the point that I cringe whenever I take off my bra. I was wondering if anyone else has experienced the same dramatic breast increase and tenderness?

Hi I started taking Lipitor when I was about 41 and gradually noticed a big toe becoming numb. Then later another toe became numb. I had just started swimming about this time with fins and thought at first it may have been caused by them. But then I stopped swimming and the numbness continued. I visited a Neurologist a couple of years ago who tested for everything and found some peripheral nerve damage to the feet. I said the only thing I could think of was Lipitor. He said here was no conclusive evidence it causes this but explained how nerves are made of Lipids and lipitor limits the production of lipids. I stopped taking it but later my GP said I need to go on something for my cholesterol. He put me on Crestor. I took a Lipitor the other week and my toes tingled that night. So I am convinced it is Lipitor. I am not sure how to reverse the damage though.

My chronic pain has really increased since being on Lamictal for 15 months for bipolar. I have had fibromyalgia for years. The bipolar developed after that. Since starting Lamictal, I have developed headaches so severe that I have been off work 3 times in the past 7 months, inc. 5 weeks recently. I've always had headaches, but these new, more severe headaches are non-stop. I have to take 3 time-release 100 mg codeine tablets every day, plus Gravol to keep the headaches bearable. Even then, many days I end up bed-ridden. I've also developed chronic, very bad plantar facsiitis in my left foot since starting Lamictal. I did weeks of intensive physio, plus swimming therapy to no avail. Finally had to get a cortisone injection in my foot.

I hate being like this; I like my job and was used to leading a very active life, despite the fibromyalgia, before I went on Lamictal. I briefly tried Lithium recently, but it had a whole other set of side effects, so I am really frustrated.

Has anybody else had increased or new pain since being on Lamictal?

Rosslyn

hi sophie,
i don't have pcos but i did get menstraul spots,i would get half a dozen or so really nasty cystic spots that were really big and sore and would leave scars. when i went onto yasmin my spots cleared up like yours. i have been off it for 7 months now too. my spots have been back for about the last 4 months,especially around the front of my ears for some reason,it is quite bad there. i get a monthly flare up around my mouth and chin also. i have been using clearasil to keep my skin clean clean and oxy spot on for topical treatment. i have also been using ketsugo gel morning and night. i believe that the doctor can prescribe stronger lotions and potions. spironalactone is also meant to help with acne etc but have not tried it as drosperinone in yasmin was meant to be similar and i am nervous about taking any component of yasmin as i do not know what caused all my anxiety problems, i expect it was the high levels of hormones but i don't feel strong enough yet to test it out! i have just started taking agnus castus which is meant to be very good for hormonal problems,luteal phase defects etc and also acne. why not google it? there may be some info that will help you decide if it will help you. It is very distressing to have hormone related acne and i really sympathise with you sophie. it seems that just as we win one fight something else lines up to give us a kick!

best wishes to you.
sarah

My doctors checked when complaining about abdominal ache and found out that my lipaze and amylaze were elevated.I made some research and found out that Lisinopril can cause the elevations.I read it somewhere but forgot.Anyone with this problem?I have GERD and took almost half a dozen different meds. at different times.I still have the problem.Could the abdominal ache be from Lisinopril 40mg once a day for over 4years now.My doctor also told me that I have tiny noddules about 2mm on my left lung.I really don't know where this one came from.I never smoked my entire life never exposed to any kind of infections.The only thing that I can tell is that my mantox on my arm for TB test with positive.A lot my country folks have those problems on their arms but no noddules on their lungs.Please,help if anyone has any feedbacks or experience on GERD.I have tried other suppliments like Digestinol which is made of Aloe Vera plant.It didn't work for me or maybe I quit too early because of some stomach discomfort.THANK YOU!

I have life long temporal lobe epilepsy.this drug was given to me for tooth absess.I started having''breakthru''seizures that resulted in ten day comma dislocated shoulder.the seizures and comma continued 3 days hear 36 hours there.
I seemed to be improving when I was diagnosed with cancer of the neck.I had swollen lympth knodes.after a surgical biopsy that removed thirteen lymph knodes,I was given sulfameth as a prophilactic against risk of infection.this was dec 18.
I spent christmas in the er after a seizure.I started having the strangest seizures of my life.I thought I was dying.the spirit ws poised to just walk out of my body.and I was some how joyful at the idea,
I had half a dozen seisures,this time!the thing is this episode sheds
light on the seizure episode I had in 1999.I went to the dentist,and started having seizures,my sexual preference became confused.
I was living with a great lady,we where planning on adopting a beautiful boy we where raising.the CPS took the baby away because of the seizures.the lady and I broke up and I just drifted away.and the doctors no where along the way had a clue.one dr asked another is this what we do.the other dr just says yes.the one dr.should have mentioned that I had spent more time in comma in there hospital in the last twelve months than most people get to spend on vacation.

hi everyone-

i feel very bad for all of you who are having such bad experiences with yasmin. i have been on it for 5 months now and have also experienced problems, though very different than what you have described here. in general i am very skeptical of sites like this since it is obvious few people are experts in medicine, endocrinology or other clinically relevant topics, but i will share my experience in the hope that others have found solutions.

to preface i will say that i have been through nearly half a dozen bcps (levlite, alessa, lessina, etc.) and have not been happy with any of them. my main complaint however has been spotting, which is only annoying. the first thing i noticed on yasmin is that my periods became much lighter, shorter (1-2 days!) and my spotting stopped completely. but within a few months i also developed pretty severe acne, increased body/facial hair, gross spider veins in my legs, fatigue, and have recently been experiencing severe cramping during or after intercourse. i'm 26, workout 5-6 days/wk, run marathons, eat very healthfully and drink 2-3 liters h20/day. i don't deserve this!

i hadn't tied these symptoms to the yasmin until i remembered i had symptoms like this the very first time i went on bcp, 9 yrs ago!! then i was on orthocyclin. the main similarities between the 2 problem pills have been the higher estrogen dosage and similar progesterone dosages. ironically, both of these pills were supposed to HELP acne, and even though i have never had it in my life it got worse!

fed up with bcps i went to my ob/gyn and she recommended mirena, the newest iud. upon reading about it i'm concerned the progestins may be what is causing my acne and hair growth, and that is what is in the iud, though in smaller doses. i really want to stop estrogen b/c the spider veins bother me most of all, but i'm afraid of upsetting my hormonal balances yet again! anyone out there with similar symptoms?

thanks,
reads too much

Hello all,

I myself live in Canada, but a brother of mine, who still lives in Germany, seems to be suffering from the typical statin-drug adverse effects. He is off the drugs now, but the symptoms persist. What can he do to rehab himself.

Here the symptoms: impaired muscular coordination impaired sense of balance... can walk only with a stick. Impairment of finer motor skills - he has difficulty writing and he experiences difficulties swallowing. Slurred speech. Listening to him you'd think he is more than a little drunk. He feels dizzy, disoriented; pain at the back of the neck; pain in abdominal muscles
and in legs. He has trouble raising his arms to reach for something up a little higher than his head and experiences intense pain if he tries to hold an arm up in a horzontal position for more than say a minute.

He was on two German statins, one called "Zokor" and the other "Baycol" for some five years. He went to see half a dozen doctors and came away with half a dozen different diagnoses till finally one took the time to find out what drugs he was on and suggested he go without the statins for a while.

Has been off the drugs for more than a year but the side effects, though somewhat improved, persist. What can he do to rehab himself faster?

Thanks for any suggestions.

waterbuf, alias Bud ***