October 19th
2009
2:15 AM
After almost a year to date....I am experiencing a lot of the side effects lately that almost everyone has posted. I have two beautiful daughters and a loving husband. Here is my story. I had it put in Oct of 2008. I had not been on BC before b/c we were purposely starting a family. Well, I had it put in because I ended up getting pregnant for the 3rd time after having my 3month old (second child). Being pregnant so soon after giving birth was such an emotional roller coaster and caused a lot of stress for us both. Unfortunately I ended up having a miscarriage after 3months. When that happened, we decided that I needed an effective BC that I didn't have to think about everyday because I already had a 3month old and a 20 mo running around. This is what led us to getting the Mirena. So NOW that I stumbled upon this forum, I realized that I had been through a lot of the side effects that others have. I thought it was "normal" to go through what I did. At times, I thought it was my imagination. And now, I wish I would have spoken up about it sooner. I bled for 6 months straight thinking that this is what I had to go through to have years of light or no periods at all. It def put a wedge in my sex life with the hubby and not to mention my libido has been next to nothing. After the first 8 weeks of insertion, my hair fell out, but I blew it off because I thought it was due to the stress of the kids and the miscarriage. It fell out so terribly that I had to get a new hair cut to even it out. Fast forward to May of 2009, finally, my period is starting to last only 7 days and not like 3 weeks. Next thing you know, we are smooth sailing. Libido hasn't moved up a notch, but at least I knew when my period would come and how long it would last so that my hubby and I could have intimacy for once. Everything was fine all summer all the way up to last month (Sept 2009). Present day, now all of a sudden, my period has not shown up. Last time it came was 6weeks ago in Sept.. Kid you not, I'm having all the same symptoms of all my pregnancies. All last week including today I have had the following symptoms:
-Extreme dizziness with nausea
-Severe abdominal pain-like a sharp piercing pain on the left side
-lower back pain every single morning
-nose bleeds everyday, sometimes twice in a day
-increased appetite
-Extreme fatigue like I need to take a 2 hour nap
-adrenaline flashes
....So, after 7 days of this I called my OB today since she was on call and asked if I should go to the emergency. She decided that she wants to see me at her practice first thing tomorrow morning. In the meantime, she asked me to take a hpt. It was negative. But guess what, I'm not convinced. The 3rd pregnancy where I had the miscarriage...you remember right? Well, I took a pregnancy test the week before I was supposed to get the Mirena in b/c it had to be put in before my next period, well, that's when I found out I was pregnant...at the doctor's office! My hpt test said negative. So anyways, I am nervous and anxious to get to the bottom of this. If I am not pregnant, I will probably have it removed. It has caused so much unwanted change in my life-loss of sex drive, irregular bleeding, moodiness to the point where my husband thinks I'm psycho at times....you name it. If I am pregnant, then I will certainly have more worries than I ever have had before.
October 19th
2009
1:56 AM
Folks, I was on this standard diuretic for about 6 years or so. For a very long time, I did not think it was causing any significant side effects (other than having to pee a lot). I was wrong. It gave me type II diabetes.
If you ask MOST doctors and nurses about this, they will deny it strenuously. As one very good PA told me, "diuretics are our first line of defense." An RN just two weeks ago thought I was crazy to blame my diabetes on it.
But it is not my imagination. The ALLHAT study -- which, if you cite, will cause most docs and nurses to shut up right fast -- is one of the most famous studies out there. It was huge, and its authors became strong proponents of diuretics. But the same study found that if you take HCTZ for five years, you have about a 12.6% chance of developing diabetes (versus perhaps a 1 to 2% chance otherwise). I am so angry about this because no one warned me. No one told me this, so I could never make an informed decision about taking this medication. Now I will be fighting diabetes for the rest of my life!
I haven't looked at the insert for HCTZ in a long time, so for all I know they're now finally listing blood sugar issues. But they said nothing when I started in 2002, and no one bothered monitoring by blood sugar either. Even when we finally noticed the glucose readings going up, no one said, "Oh, we should take you off that diuretic."
If you do some googling, you'll discover that there are a (minority) of doctors out there who are also very concerned about this. They argue a lot at forums for doctors. This business about diabetes IS a known side-effect. It's just, as I said, that too few doctors seem to be aware of it, or if they are, seem to feel the need to inform their patients before prescribing it.
-- By pdxwriter | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
September 15th
2009
3:47 PM
I'm 29 years old, and this is my second time trying Loestrin 24 FE. I took it a couple of years ago, and stopped. I couldn't remember WHY I had stopped, until now. My side effects are probably mild compared to what some women experience (as I can see from reading these posts), but still, they have caused me to have to take the day off work today, which I am not happy about. I'm on my fourth week of the pill, and just a couple of days ago I started the light bleeding. Although the bleeding is light, the sensation in my uterus has been terrible - almost the feeling of having cysts burst. Stabbing achiness that has lasted for a couple of days, and caused me to lose sleep (Not something that I normally have with a regular period). I have also been more bloated than usual, (which seems to come and go), I've been slightly nauseous, and have had this dull headache for the past couple of days. (Whether the headache is simply due to lack of sleep, I have no idea, but I normally don't EVER get headaches.) I realize that it takes a few months to adjust to the pill, but I sure hope my symptoms aren't going to continue on this way or get worse, as I understand some women have experienced. Comparing how I feel to what others are reporting here is helping. I realize it's not just me, and it's not just in my imagination. We'll see how the next couple of months go.
-- By azgirl | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
July 2th
2009
5:10 PM
Hmmm after reading all your comments regarding Femcon Fe, I really wish I would have stayed on Yaz. I originally started on Yaz (not sexually active at the time) because of my acne. My doctor recently switched me because I was spotting a lot and my periods were so irregular. (They always have been though.)
So I've been taking this for about a week now and I'm not sure if it's just my imagination or not, but I feel warm, bloated, and can't sleep. I'm on anti-depressants as well so Idk.
Question for you guys... I used about 7 pills of my last Yaz pack and my doctor told me to start Fem Con immediately the following Sunday. Should I be worried? I know I should have probably checked into this more but now it's too late. I don't want to have sex because I'm worried.
-- By vitousm | Reply | Private Message me
May 6th
2009
8:07 PM
I think most of this is all in your heads. It does state clearly in the booklet though that you will have less of a sex drive. But being depressed and all is all own thing. Maybe if you start thinking that its making you happy you will feel happy....
-- By kccatlover1 | Reply | (4) replies | Private Message me
April 18th
2009
6:25 PM
My daughter has taking singular for about 3years. Her doctor put hersingular for allergies when she was five years old she is now 8 years old. There was no problem at firs.It took about 6 months before started seeing her change .She has a lot of hate toward her mother, sister, father.She has mood swings saying she hates us sometimes she wishes we were dead. She is all the time hitting her sister.We took her off of them for about a week and she changed toward everybody she was the best kid you could ask for, but her problems started with her allergies again so we had to put her back on them. We took her back to the doctor and they say there is no other allergy medicine that will work her. She has to be on something or she will run high fevers for weeks plus lots of nose problems and watery eyes. She has complains of a lot headaches more than any other kid would
-- By renighney36 | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
March 10th
2009
11:52 PM
i have scheduled to have my Mirena removed because i need to know if i'm just aging really poorly at 24 or if it's the side effects of the Mirena.
i haven't even had Mirena in for a full year, but the last half of 2008, i gained 20 lbs, my face broke out in painful acne, i noticed my hair thinning at the top of my head, and my back was hurting an awful lot.
back pain and depression travel in my family. i'm not blaming those on Mirena just yet.
but i have been working out for months, and have not shed a single pound until going on an extreme diet and HCG therapy, where i have finally lost my first 10 pounds.
no acne medication is helping at all (i'm sitting here with a Proactiv mask on my face as i type).
i'd like to go back to the way i looked and felt a year ago, so i hope the Mirena is the culprit.
-- By siloparek | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
February 11th
2009
3:30 PM
I'm 24 yrs old and have 2 children. I had the Mirena placed in June of 2008. At first I really didn't have any symptoms just spotting everyday that lasted for 4 months. The first few times my husband and I had sex afterwards, it was a little uncomfortable but that went away. I even went through a phase about 3 months after it was placed - I had severe migraines, which I had never had before. I got these headaches everyday for nearly 2 months and them they just quit. It seemed like as soon as the headaches went away my lower back started to ache constantly. The pain seems to have gotten worse with each passing day. I was so relieved to find this site and know that all this wasn't just my imagination. Now, I deal with the chronic, severe lower back pain in the hopes that it will soon go away like all of my other symptoms. It hurts so much I don't feel like even moving. This is effecting my husband, my children, my house(it's a mess all the time now because cleaning is so hard for me now), and even my career. I had this thing placed because I wanted all of those things to benefit, not suffer. Can anyone tell me if the back pain has gone away for them? I just want to find out if it will eventually go away like everything else or if the only cure is to get this thing taken out.
-- By smdm1984 | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me
February 3th
2009
11:55 PM
One week Post Mirena update...
Just reporting in. It is not my imagination but I feel SO much better already. My breasts completely stopped hurting and the swelling went down on Saturday. I am not bloated all over from water retention anymore. My belly still has that ball of fat on it but that will take tiem to lose BUT I can tell that I am not longer "bloated" with water in my belly. Its JUST fat at this point.
Im still bleeding off and on but I don't care. I have never felt so cheerful. AND I cant help but notice that I have LOST my appetite!! And have NO cravings for sweets or chocolate! My energy has picked up.
I am still having insomnia and heart palpitations though. And my sex drive has not returned :( Even though I am barely sleeping at night, I don't feel tired at all during the day. Its like I have an energy surge!
I just pray I don't hit the hormone crash.
December 4th
2008
12:43 PM
Anyone coming off of Celexa feel free to email me. I have been off for 4 or 5 days now and I don't have enough time to write down what I am going thru.
Bad dizziness/wavy when I turn my head.. clenching teeth..my right arm is aching.. no idea why or if it has anything to do with this...
moody...feeling I can cry and have.. at almost anytime.. headaches behinf the eyes..
This is hard..not to mention no libido whatsoever...
help?
October 20th
2008
8:32 PM
I have taken my 15th tablet this morning.
I already knew i was sensitive to new products, and if a small percentage of people have side effects, I'm likely to be one of them.
I browsed through the potential side effects on a my fact sheet and then put the paper away and focused on the positive effects i was looking forward to. I was keen for improvements of any sort!
Well here i am on day 15 and had to start googling to see if it is my imagination or something else.
I commend those women who stick it out for 3 months, but i just can't risk waiting around for an improvement or for it to settle.
I can handle the mid nausea that comes and goes, even the breast swelling, which has been quite extreme. I got a rash -acne like - on my face, initially my face became abnormally greasy too- like i had olive oil on my face! But the following is just not on. i can cope with physical issues, but not mental ones.
1. Moods- Depression and irritability - what a change- I am angry, nasty -want to leave my husband, say mean things to my young children. Don't care about my kids. No warmth. Feel overwhelmed by usual tasks like housework. Feel really negative about everything in my life. Feel sorry for myself for anything that is not positive or terrific. Don't feel motivated, don't care. Resent things that normally i would just go ahead and do.
Foggy brain- can't think clearly
My husband has clinical depression so this is not helpful- two of us being self centred can't work.
Anxiety- unbelievable. I'm like another person- I allow irrational negative thoughts take over. Each day is different, some worse than others.
I've been tempted even a week ago to ask for anti-depressants for anxiety and depression when i saw my doctor for something else. i thought I was going mad.
Fatigue,- some days i just don't want to do anything.
Sleep- a couple of unexplained nights of insomnia and really negative stressful dreams.
Probably other symptoms.
Everything described is an extreme and unbearable change in me, and this effect took place probably with 24 or 48 hours (I didn't keep a diary unfortunately, but the symptoms began almost immediately.
I wish it was a good experience but i am not willing to wait and see what my mental health will be like in a month or two. Not with young kids who need a mum. I just took a herbal laxative to hopefully flush out the Yaz I took this morning. No more for me.
-- By lovebug70 | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
October 10th
2008
11:31 PM
I have been on Loestrin 24 for over a year now and I have to say that it is working really well for me. I have extremely light periods (esp. compared to the ones I was having before), predictable periods, and no mood swings. i have had breakthrough bleeding 2 of the months I've been on this pill. The only thing I've noticed is it is extremely hard for me to lose weight. Now, I only need to lose like 10 pounds, but I was running everyday and eating healthy for about 3 months and did not lose a pound of weight. I don't know if it was due to the pill, but in the past it has been fairly easy for me to lose,
-- By hil1959 | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
September 18th
2008
1:02 AM
Hi - I posted a couple of days ago (around the 15th). I had the Mirena taken out yesterday. Yes, still bleeding. Yes, with medium to large-sized clots. Oh, I forgot this side affect also - for some time when I had it in, I had a tinging or numb-like feeling passing through my top lip - I thought I was going crazy at first but I realized it had been happening more and more and it wasn't my imagination. I've had this also since it was removed; not as often though.
Could it be that we are the "3%" that has a problem with this IUD??!! I am following up with a second opinion with another OBGYN because I was concerned that the radiological tech said my uterine lining was "very thick" and my friend's mom (who is a nurse) asked right away if the doctor was doing a D & C...(!) Any suggestions or ideas or comments???
-- By jnoto | Reply | Private Message me
September 15th
2008
4:33 PM
I have been on Advair Diskus and Singular for about 2 months now for Athsma. As time went on I wondered what was wrong with me.
Singular gave me a horrible stomach ache after 2-3 days which I stopped.
Symbicort made me very itchy and gave me hives.
W/Advair my personality changed as I fell deeper and deeper into a pit of despair. It all began w/serious mood swings, fatigue, leg cramps, anxiety and depression. I wondered why I was so out of sort and I noticed my emotions were not what I considered normal for my self. I became anti-social and have been unable to sleep for more than 3-4 hours at a time as well as now I also have itchy skin and hives.
I thought, what am I doing now that I have not been on or doing before and began to Google my symptoms. I ran into this site to find my aggravations w/anexity, depression and lack of focus is now not my imagination and that I am not the only one and now understand the reasons why I have been feeling so down.
I am now on the path to detoxing from this stuff and am going to stop taking this medication and just use Proventil as needed for my Athsma.
Thanks to all of you who posted here and best of luck to everyone in recovery from the terrible side effects of these medications.
-- By sette | Reply | Private Message me
September 6th
2008
12:46 AM
I am currently taking Zofran (day 3) My prescription says to take it every 4 hours. I am noticing that I am fine with the first tablet (besides constipation). When I take the second one, I am natious and have this incredible desire to not stop eating. Nothing seems to satisfy the hunger. Not to mention the incredible bloating and cramping Anyone else felt this way? Im going to go to just the one in the morning and just be sick the rest of the day once it wears off.
-- By ermorgan09 | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
August 8th
2008
2:49 PM
OMG! I thought I was losing it. Have had the Mirena since April and have gained weight (an entire dress size) for NO REASON, been foggy, moody, no sex drive, joint pains, cramps, etc.I thought I was alone, Did I mention EXHAUSTED all the time and acne on my face and back-sever enough to get antibiotics from the dermatologist?
I also suffer with PCOS--does anyoen else on the Mirena suffer with PCOS? Would be interested to see how it has affected you. Tried BC pills and after awhile they stopped working then switched to the YAZ--DO NOT GO THERE--the worst Pill ever--so not many options for those of us with PCOS. Just can't wait to go to the DR and get this thing out.
June 29th
2008
12:39 AM
Dealing leg pain and swelling fpr over 6 months - having 2 DVT test and 3 MRI's they finally found that I did have a DVT in my left leg and now I am taking Warfarin as of May 30th 2008. I now have severe joint pain, sore skin/sensitivity, my vision is going I can hardly read anything all of a sudden, so exhausted, sleeplessness - even after taking an ambien and getting some sleep, I can take a shower dry my hair and I am ready to go back and lay down because I am so tired. the doctor says thin blood does not carry oxygen as well so this is why I am tired. I am not anemic as I just had that checked. I can feel my muscles getting weaker. From reading what everyone else says it must be this drug, but I don't think I could live without it since my clot is so massive. I feel like my life will end soon I am getting weaker by the day...is this just my imagination? I know I am depressed but I do think all of the symptoms I am having is from the warfarin(besides the pain from the DVT which is still very painful)
-- By jjatl | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
June 28th
2008
11:18 PM
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.
-- By margozinha | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
June 26th
2008
6:17 AM
I too had have unpleasant side effects. Strange smell and now soreness . Gp wondered if it was herpes or shingles and am due a test today But am 150% certain of my partner and myself? I wondered about Marina coil as ve had an infection after insertion and bled since insertion in January only last month bleeding as been intermittent, every day for 4 months! strange smell too which thought was my imagination. Not mentioned to gp as thought he would think me odd!
-- By bbyu | Reply | Private Message me
June 25th
2008
7:07 PM
My son, now 10...has been on singular off and on, since I don't' know how long...today was the second time he was intentionally hurting his cat. He has told me time and time again about visions while he was awake, violent ones, he argues with anyone and everyone. He has no friends at school. Last year I took him off all his medications to see why his behavior was so drastic, he got so calm, it was like a new boy, but then when he started back to public school...he had to be put back on them again, and again with the singular...
If it was not for this site..I would think my son was sick mentally. But after this...he will see his doctor tomorrow and no more singular...
When I took him off all the meds I told his doctor I was really worried about his behavior and they said it will be okay...he went right back to just out of control. Could not sleep, concentrate at school or at home. He is so smart and he is failing school..not because he is slow, but they kept saying he was add...but when I home schooled him and took him off his meds...he was so great, obdient..not perfect by no means, but just a normal boy...
I hear him right now, in the other room, fighting imaginary people...he seems to go go go..and with no sleep...the dreams in the day time I just thought were his imagination...but now that i hear about other children like him...they are to him real..just like he tells me..he also always tells me how mad he stays..he says all the time I am just angry mom, and I would say at what..he just says everything...
Thank God for this site....now i know..it is not in his head, it is just like I told his doctor...it is his medication..now I know just the one it is..
THank you all..
God Bless all the others here suffering with the same problems...it is just shocking that we as parents and patients, even after telling the doctors, are right...I feel vindicated...I will be printing this off and taking it with us to the doctors...
June 8th
2008
1:17 AM
I just had Mirena removed yesterday, and could feel relief in my body with a half hour. Yes, truly-a feeling that I removed this "irritation". When I saw the size of the Mirena-and the shape of it, internally understood why my body was swelling. It scares me that so many of us are exhibiting the same types of symptoms. I had this inserted 4 !/2 years ago and have gained 30Lbs., experiences of depression and strong mood swings, changes in my skin-acne, and an increased libido.
What I notice the most after removal is the very distinct sensation that its out. I didn't realize that I just got used to this being in my uterus.The swelling was so obvious it looks like I am 5 months pregnant. I am 5'4 and when I first had this inserted I wore Size 6. I now wear Size10, 12. And its not my diet-I do not indulge in junk food,or large portions. I exercise 4-5 times a week, and have a great sex life..
I think that the Pharmaceutical community and Physicians are aware that this is a problem, They just aren't acknowledging it...YET. Who knows what the long term effects are.
I have had this out for about 36 hours and I feel a sense of comfort in my own body... It is not my imagination and I would call anyone in our "medical Community" ignorant for not standing up to the obvious fact that this IS A PROBLEM.
June 8th
2008
1:17 AM
I just had Mirena removed yesterday, and could feel relief in my body with a half hour. Yes, truly-a feeling that I removed this "irritation". When I saw the size of the Mirena-and the shape of it, internally understood why my body was swelling. It scares me that so many of us are exhibiting the same types of symptoms. I had this inserted 4 !/2 years ago and have gained 30Lbs., experiences of depression and strong mood swings, changes in my skin-acne, and an increased libido.
What I notice the most after removal is the very distinct sensation that its out. I didn't realize that I just got used to this being in my uterus.The swelling was so obvious it looks like I am 5 months pregnant. I am 5'4 and when I first had this inserted I wore Size 6. I now wear Size10, 12. And its not my diet-I do not indulge in junk food,or large portions. I exercise 4-5 times a week, and have a great sex life..
I think that the Pharmaceutical community and Physicians are aware that this is a problem, They just aren't acknowledging it...YET. Who knows what the long term effects are.
I have had this out for about 36 hours and I feel a sense of comfort in my own body... It is not my imagination and I would call anyone in our "medical Community" ignorant for not standing up to the obvious fact that this IS A PROBLEM.
June 2th
2008
3:52 AM
Has anyone had eye irritation while using the Ring? I had "dry eyes" two years ago and was prescribed drop which I had to use for months, since then I have not had to use them and have had no issues with my eyes.
Recently I've experienced the same condition in one eye, itchy, kind of swollen.
I was just wondering if the nuvaring may have aggravated it? (It has thus far been the cause of every other problem I've had lately)
-- By julez01 | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
May 13th
2008
6:17 PM
I've been taking Prilosec OTC for 3 years, 20mg a day. All problems with my acid reflux disappeared. HOWEVER, I switched to generic Omeprazole 20mg and the heartburn reappeared. This has been awful! I thought they were supposed to be the same drug! I switched back to Prilosec OTC and my stomach is finally feeling some relief.
-- By pamshaffer | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me
Mirena (12) Levaquin (5) Lisinopril (4) Loestrin 24 Fe (3) Singulair (3) Yasmin (3) Advair HFA (2) Omeprazole (2) Yaz (2) NuvaRing (2) Doxycycline Hyclate (2) Toprol-XL (1) Hydrochlorothiazide (1) Kenalog (1) Diovan (1) Femcon FE (1) Zofran (1) Warfarin Sodium (1) PredniSONE (1) Avelox (1) Celexa (1) Welchol (1) Lipitor (1) Lyrica (1) Niaspan ER (1) Flagyl (1)
October 19th
2009
2:19 PM
I had no noticeable side effects when I first got it but now two and half years later, I have all the symptoms cited by other contributors. My breasts ache all the time, I have trouble concentrating, feel exhausted (even when I go to bed at 9:00 pm), feeling worthless, weight gain, bloated, arguing and complain all the time. Oh, and the ovarian cyst that caused soreness in my abdomen. I have so many symptoms and never put it together with the Mirena, probably because they came on slowly over time. The last year has been horrible! I'm finally getting it out tomorrow. Has anyone else experienced a gradual increase in symptoms over time?
-- By sebass222 | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me