Health plan symptoms and conditions

I have been on Climara for about 3 weeks. I was prescribed it as I am 39 years old and going through menopause. Other than an increased number of headaches, I have had no negative side effects. It has been a Godsend in relieving my hot flashes and night sweats and I started sleeping through the night after only one week! The unfortunate part of this picture is that this patch is not covered under my health plan so I am seeing the doctor tomorrow to have something else prescribed (probably something oral) which will be covered. I am hoping for the same positive results with an oral version of the estrogen.

I feel like such an idiot. I'm usually so careful about new things. When I was prescribed Alesse 3 years ago I researched all the side effects, but I never had a problem. About a year ago, my pharmacy offered me Aviane, and since the pharmacist told me it was exactly the same as Alesse I figured I might as well save a few bucks. I trusted the pharmacist, and never thought to research the side effects since I believed it was the same. Now I know I was so wrong. I never connected the side effects until recently. I have noticed thinning hair around my temples for about 6 months, and it wasn't until I googled that expecting to find that its a normal part of aging (even though I'm only 25) that I came across so much about Aviane. Then reading everyone else's experiences, I realized I hadn't connected all the other side effects to this generic brand. I had rapid weight gain the first 3 months and have been unable to lose it no matter what I do. The depression, low sex drive, acne, and practically constant yeast infections I think now are all connected to Aviane. After reading this yesterday, I went straight to my pharmacy and switched back to Alesse. Even though it cost me $25 with my health plan (2 years ago it only cost $6 so I wonder if my plan pays less because of the cheaper alternative) I don't care, I just want to be healthy and sane again. Thanks for sharing your stories, they made me realize there was a problem and I can't wait to start my new pack tomorrow and see what happens.

*JENN*

Hi all,

My first time on this site, it's quite interesting to see how people have very similar side effects. My case is I fought with a Poison Ivy and lost, my left arm shows the battle scars. Before going to the doctor, I tried Calamine, Caladryl, Cort Aide, Ivarest, Aveeno Oat Meal Baths & Tee Tree Oil. All failed to help, so off to my doc I went. After what I told him I tried using, he told me to stop. He noted those things do nothing to help Poison Ivy rashes to go away, he prescribed for me to take 20mg of Prednisone 3x a day for 4 days, then knock it down to 2x for 4 days and then 1x for 4 days. He also prescribed Cortisone Cream and to buy OTC Doneboro to soak my arm, it smells just like vinegar..I wonder! I have been taking Prednisone since Monday, so far the only side effects that have shown up is Insomnia and coughing. I do have A LOT more energy than I used to have, my job is enjoying my spitfire mode. The question is, what will happen once I am off this stuff? I've read and heard a lot of nasty things about this drug and I guess I will find out in another 9 more days, I've never been on Prednisone before, I do watch for changes in my body. Making sure I am not growing a beard or mustache, that my boobs don't expand (even though it would make my husband VERY happy). I am sorry to see many on here are having a bad time with this, maybe some of you should get a second opinion. Some doctors today are babied by pharmaceutical companies to push drugs, with some issues some of you have you may want to research your health problems more. Never take the word of your doctor as concrete, they are human too and make mistakes. I believed one fertility doctor until I researched my condition to find out I would never be able to have children, they milked my health plan until I faced them with my findings of medical research sites and online articles by universities. Never again! Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Don't be fooled, research for yourself. I will keep you posted as to my next 9 day countdown.

Alison

I very recently started having something like anxiety attacks, I was doing things that were totally out of character for me (mood swings, anger, saying mean things for no reason, ending valuable friendships, getting badly depressed for no reason, withdrawing from my usual activities, not keeping up with things as I normally do, isolating from people, finding that I was beginning to hate the entire human race though I have always loved people and my entire career was devoted to working with people, being forgetful though I usually am not, etc.) and I became very concerned that something had happened. I kept thinking, “This is not like me. I am not myself. Its totally out of character for me to neglect things like this or to do some of the things I am doing. Something has gone wrong.” I started wondering if I was becoming senile though I’ve never seen that happen with any family member, sometimes wondered if maybe I was developing a brain tumor. I had pulled my health plan brochure and looked at mental health benefits available to me. Vytorin apparently caused much of the mental and emotional issues that I was experiencing so stopped taking it. I stopped taking it just a couple of days ago but am already finding all of the mental and emotional problems I was experiencing have gone away.

Can Lisinopryl cause insomnia? I have been experiencing insomnia, panic attacks, difficulty breathing and tightness in the chest for over a year. I am 67 years old and switched from Diovan which I loved. The switch was made because my health plan took the Diovan off their preferred list and my doctor prescribed Lisinopryl as an alternative. I don't like it. I suspect this drug has caused my insomnia for which I am now taking Lunesta at $50 a whack. I first took Ambien CR and it made me so nauseated I couldn't eat (like pregnancy) and I lost 8 pounds in a month. Also my breathing feels very cold when I inhale. Ideas will be appreciated. Laura

As early as the next day - after the first pill - change of hair texture and very significant hair loss on a daily basis. From time to time scalp numbness.

ALL WHO HAVE RECENTLY STOPPED YASMIN, LETS KEEP EACH OTHER POSTED FOR SUPPORT!

Thank you for your feedback VOICE. I have been really scared about how I have been feeling lately. I can get over not having a period and the acne, but the hair loss (since stopping Yasmin 8 weeks ago) and anxiety/depression it has caused is HORRIBLE! I have never felt this bad for this long in my entire life. I keep trying to tell myself that each month will get better, but each time I see a clump of hair fall out, I start panicking and getting depressed again. I don't know if the hormones are just making me more emotional, but I have been crying at the drop of a hat lately. I have always wondered if I had PCOS. I asked about that, but my GYN said I may or may not have it and that there is no real diagnosis and that it's just based on symptoms. Well...HELLO...then wouldn't you think she would have asked about my symptoms to see if I fit the CRITERIA! I am definitely switching GYNs. I think I'll go back to a male GYN I have seen in the past. My sister and mom love him (and my mom works for the health plan I have and says he's the best). I should have just stayed with him, but I thought I would feel more comfortable with a woman. I know a lot of women think that female doctors are better, but my history has always been that they tend to minimize my problems/symptoms more. I have found male doctors to be more thorough and sympathetic. I have a male GI, have recently switched to a male PCP and they have really done the most for me. The female docs have all told me my problems are from stress/anxiety and that I need to see a therapist.