Inability to lose weight symptoms and conditions

I had my mirena removed about one week ago after a year and a half of having it in. my doctor had told me that I would have no side effects as it only dispersed hormones locally. My experience was very different! The most noticeable were: immediate weight gain (10pounds in 6 weeks from inserting it), inability to lose weight with diet and exercise, terrible mood swings and depression for no reason at all, extreme fatigue and lack of energy (I couldn't stay up past 9pm), bad acne, hair loss on my head and increase of facial hair (go figure!), constant bloating (I looked pregnant all the time), definite decrease of libido, nausea (which led me to see many gastro dr's as I was convinced I had a stomach bug), vertigo, terrible discharge...you name it, I've had it. The thing about Mirena is that the side effects are accumulative and subtle to begin with, so it takes a while before you make the association. Since removing it a week ago, I have noticed a major increase in my energy level (I love it! i feel alive again...), increase in libido, sudden disappearance of depression and mood swings, and bloating is gone. I'm happy to have my body back and feel liberated! I replaced mirena with a regular Copper IUD. In the past I've had increased bleeding during periods with the copper IUD but I'll have that any day compared with my experience with Mirena. The doctor that removed it for me told me that she never advises woman to use mirena unless they have a medical problem such as fybroids, very heavy periods etc...Mirena is used as a cure for these conditions. Her reasoning is that if you are a healthy woman with no hormonal problems, why would you ingest hormones into your body in this manner and mess with your system? The fact that periods stop with mirena means that hormones are all over your system... I advise all women to listen to their bodies...you know better then any doctor if a contraceptive is right for you. There are always other options for you if you are not happy.

i took zoloft around 6 yrs ago for 7 months and it helped me with anxiety tremendously, fast forward : i've been on zoloft, about 14 months, 50mg to start, and after an auto accident in july which caused increased stress and anxiety, 100mg a day. nov 2008 i weighed 134 @ 5'3", today Sept 1 2009, i weigh 152, and sometimes it is a bit higher!, i am not taking my zoloft daily anymore and in fact, after a friend told me he heard it may cause weight gain in some people, i only take 1/2 my pill (so, 50mg).
i do sometimes feel the dizziness/egg-for-a-brain feeling, but the weight gain, the increase appetite, the night cravings (which i did not have before) are driving me downhill/depressed. zoloft has helped my anxiety both times greatly, it mellows me so that i'm not worrying 24/7 BUT, the increased appetite, the eating to make me feel good--which i have NEVER ever done before--is not worth the inability to lose weight, fit in my clothes,etc. i have been consuming healthy coffee for the past 6 months and thanks to God, it has helped me with these things, the main reason i started it was because a lot of people have had their appetites curbed, but i guess not for me: my blood pressure, which skyrocketed after the auto accident July 2008, was around 189/110. after 2 to 3 weeks of this amazing coffee (not expensive either and tastes awesome), it is around 130/77 most of the times that I check it. . I now have no cravings whatsoever to alcohol & sweets, no more jitters or stomach burning or caffeine crashing either, a lot less headaches and I used to get nauseous from too much regular coffee too!;no more muscle twitching either. My allergies to oak and other crap have improved as well I'm thrilled to report. I have a better sense of well-being with I'm sure the coffee. I just hope that by cutting down on the Zoloft NOW more so than ever after reading these posts, will enable me to lose this weight--it seems that even though i am more physically active now, due to my feeling a bit better after the auto accident injuries, and eating more salads, I still cannot lose this flabby disgusting, making-me-depressed, weight.

Getting my Mirena removed on Monday (May 11) after 4.5 years. Like others, I made excuses of my side effects. . . nausea (that would last for DAYS), lower back pain, weight gain (or I should say the inability to lose weight)...I was 130 when I had it put in and it is a CONSTANT struggle to keep my weight at 145 (and I am very active and exercise 4x a week)....also, I am always spotting. I live with panty liners and may, if I am lucky have a 4-5 stretch with no spotting. The anxiety...omigawd...too afraid to leave my house on some days. I have never had depression/anxiety issues before. Lastly, my sex drive is non-existent and I have always had a high libido.
I am so glad I found this site b/c I have felt like i am going crazy! As someone else said, "I am taking this DAMN MONSTER out of me".....

I had Mirena inserted on Feb 9, 09. My period started on Feb 15, 09.....and it hasn't stopped! It is MUCH lighter than before but annoying! I am told this is normal for some women and that it can take anywhere from 3-6 months to regulate. My plan has been to wait that time period and see what happens. I have also experienced crazy mood swings around PMS time. I am definitely attributing those to Mirena. It's the first form of birth control I have had since 1998. I have always been a fairly calm person with very mild PMS symptoms. Since having Mirena inserted, my mood swings have been quite impulsive. I'm like a ticking time bomb and it really is not fair to my children. Has anyone else experienced this? I'm also experiencing the bloating, fatigue, increased hair loss, and inability to lose weight. I don't know that I can attribute the inability to lose weight completely to Mirena at this point as I am only 4 months postnatal and still breastfeeding. Also, with the hair loss, I don't think that is Mirena either. Pregnant women do not lose much hair. Since it is normal to lose x amount of hair on a daily basis, the increase for me may simply be due to hormones trying to regulate once again.

I have had to Mirena IUD since January 2008. I decided to get it because most other forms of birth control have some terrible side effects on my body, and I have one daughter and I want something hassle and side effect free! I first only experienced HORRIBLE cramping and unpredictable spotting. I now have migraines, nausea, bloating, and the complete inability to lose weight!!! Worst mistake I've ever made...I wonder though what else I can find that will be effective?!

I'm almost 25 years old and just had my 2nd child in February. I'm diabetic and also have heart problems and my doctor HIGHLY recommended Mirena. I got it in April 2008. For awhile, I didn't realize how tired and moody I was. Then my husband started commenting on how I never get up in the middle of the night anymore when the baby wakes up, and it's always him doing it. I told him that I was always completely exhausted, and thought maybe it was from all the bleeding I was experiencing. Since I had it put it, I bled for over 2 months. I also started experiencing migraine headaches, severe cramping, and hair loss. I could shower and wash my hair and look at my hands and see large amounts of hair tangled around my fingers. I called my doctor about the excessive bleeding, and they said it's "normal" and will get better. I kept telling myself that... "this can only get better". I also haven't been able to lose a single pound since I started the Mirena. I stay at a consistent 167 pounds (LITERALLY). No matter what I did, or how I ate, I wouldn't gain or lose weight! So, I'd finally had enough with the headaches, the extreme fatigue, and inability to lose weight. I went to my primary care physician and they did blood work to check my thyroid, my liver, kidneys, blood sugars, everything that would typically cause these symptoms. Everything came back normal. So my doctor said it could be that my pituitary gland is enlarged. So I had to do a CT scan and a sinus scan. They told me that I have a sinus infection and gave me amoxicillin. Well, obviously that didn't make most of my problems go away. I'd also been getting into a lot of fights with my husband over the stupidest things, and I didn't even know why! So I decided to take the Mirena out. When I called my dr's office to request to have it removed, my nurse's exact words were "I speak from experience..it gets better" I told her I don't care, I want it out. And that was that. The SAME night after I had it removed my husband commented on my behavior...that I seemed happier and more energetic. And today is even better! I feel like a whole new person! Ladies... if you are experiencing these effects, get it out. It's not worth changing your life around. Good luck to everyone.

I had always been 160 lbs since 8th grade, which was a fine weight for me bacause I'm tall and muscular. When I was 25 I gained 20 lbs over 3 months with no change in diet or activity. So I went to the doctor because hypothyroidism is very prevelent in my family. The blood work showed I was borderline hypothyroid, so the dr didn't suggest starting any medication. So I started working out 4-5 times a week for at least 1-1 1/2 hours per day. I also got on phentermine to help jump start my diet. After doing this for 2 months, I had gained 5 lbs. Which is crazy because anytime I needed to lose weight, I had no problem dropping 10 lbs in 2 weeks. I was frustrated but ignored it for a while because I got pregnant shortly after that. During the pregnancy, my throid was checked again and was normal. I weighed 248 lbs the day I went in to give birth. 2 weeks later, I weighed 210lbs and a month after that I was 200lbs. Then I went back to work,(where I walk continuously all day) and I could not budge my weight below 200 lbs no matter what I did. So I went back to the dr and I was slightly hypothyroid again. I opted to go on generic Synthroid 25mcg. I then gained 37 lbs over 4-5 months. So I went to another dr. to get on phentermine. I started the phentermine and lost about 27 lbs. I have been off phentermine for a while, but have been working out vigorously working out and watching my diet and couldn't lose another pound. So, I thought the synthroid might be making it harder to lose weight. I stopped taking it and have lost about 10lbs in the last month. I think there is definitely a connection in synthroid and my inability to lose weight. But I still can't get below 200lbs and I still feel sluggish. I am only 28 and don't think I should attribute this to age. I can understand age causing weight gain of 5-10 lbs per year but not 155lbs in May '05 to 183lbs in Nov '05 then to 200lbs in Jul '07. Please give me any suggestions you might have. Diet, medication, activities???

Just an update about the class action suit discussed previously, and Aamaya had provided us with the Florida attorney, Justin Wikin: I got a letter in the mail yesterday stating that they would not be pursuing suit against them. They said that they deal mainly with wrongful death cases and it does not mean that the case does not have merit, just that it is not their specialty. I will be doing some research here locally in Ohio to see if I can locate a practice to pursue this. If anyone comes up with something, please let us all know.

I was diagnosed with allergy induced asthma in my freshman year of high school. I was given Advair for a couple of weeks to help deal with a major attack I experienced. After seeing an allergy-asthma specialist I was told to continue with the Advair until I could get my AIA under control. I was also placed on Singulair, Flonase, MaxAir AutoHaler (for emergencies), Acuneb (also for emergencies) and I was already on Zyrtec and an eye drop Patanol. At the time my Zyrtec and the Astelin I was on were not enough to treat both the allergies and asthma. I also began taking allergy shots. I was an athlete playing fast pitch softball, conditioning P.E. including weight lifting and running, and I was also doing aerobics in my regular P.E. class. I swam often, was an active outdoors man, rode horses, and ate a fairly healthy diet. I could not figure out why I weighed 145 lbs at 5'2. My doctor said I was healthy and that I shouldn't worry about my weight but now that I am a 19 year old 5'3 weighing 130 lbs I realize that my weight gain was not normal. Although I do not play softball right now, I practice belly dancing and yoga. I often go hiking, running and swimming and I walk about 30 minutes a day to get to and from classes at LSU. I worked hard to keep a healthy diet, and exercise often so that I would not gain the dreaded freshman 15. It took me two years to get down to 130 lbs and I never attributed my weight gain and inability to lose weight to my Advair until I was off it for almost a year and then had to start taking it again to deal with a flare up. In less than two weeks I had gained almost 10 lbs and was feeling miserable.After I got to college, I would often go for runs to help keep myself in shape. I got to the point where I had to quit running because I was always short of breath and I would have severe asthma attacks. I was on all of the above mentioned medications and often on Prednisone for sinus infections. I also experienced the dry cough and the tightness of chest. I experienced almost daily headaches -some were attributed to stress but I am not sure if the Advair caused the others. I was also very groggy, dizzy, and EXTREMELY moody. I disliked the way I was feeling while I was on Advair and took myself off it earlier than I was recommended. Since then I have been feeling a lot better and I am able to control my occasional flare ups with zyrtec and flonase and occasionally singulair if I feel my asthma acting up. I got dizzy easily for a few weeks after I took myself I was not told by my doctor that I needed to rinse my mouth out to avoid thrush, nor was I told about the possible weight gain and some of the other side effects. I am going to stop taking Advair unless I absolutely need it and I am not going to stay on it for long, especially if I start feeling like I was before.

My Mirena Removal....
So i posted here a few weeks ago after I found this site. I had EVERY side effect listed and was so freaked out that i immediately made an appointment for removal.
For those of you reading and wondering what the removal is like..
Well, NOTHING like the insertion. I was so so nervous and it was over before we actually started. The DR was surprised that i was back in his office to have this removed. He then proceeded to do an ultrasound to be sure it was placed properly before removal. And yes, all was OK on the position of it. I explained to him my reasons and he looked at me like he had never heard this before. I honestly can not imagine with all the women he sees that NONE of them have complained. But...as I was getting dressed afterwards, I took a good look in his office. There was Mirena literature ALL over the place. In fact, that was the ONLY thing he was advertising. Not to mention...they made me pay up front with the insertion back in Nivember...billed my insurance and I still have yet to receive my reimbursement. Oh yeah, and that...they charge more than the actual Mirena costs, then they bill your insurance for the price they know they will pay and the DR then makes about $150 profit. Nice.
Ok, back to my side effects post Mirena. The removal was not painful at all. I did spot for about a week- nothing too heavy but it was clotty and def there.
A couple of days after the removal it felt like I was coming out of my skin something terrible. I figured this was my body adjusting to the lack of hormones. I also had some headaches.
It has now been 2 weeks and the spotting has disappeared. I also can see the bloating of my stomach is starting to go away. It looked like I was about 4 mos preggo while I was on it. I also have an increased sex drive. And sleep-- well let me tell you, I have not slept this good in a very long time. I am actually sleeping more than 6 hours now and the night sweats have also discontinued.
I can't believe EVERY time I come to this site and look up Mirena ALL the people that have posted their experience as being negative. Yet, the DR looks at me like I am crazy! I have been seeing him for years and I have never complained about something like this. I really am so happy that I have it out and wish I would have done my research on this prior to insertion (which was one of the most painful things ever!)
So..for those of you out there that are either contemplating having it inserted...I say NO WAY. And for those of you out there that are nervous about the removal or not sure..I SAY YES, DO IT! For our bodies to be reacting this way, it is clear to me that it should not be inside of us. Listen to your bodies...they really do speak to you and let you know when something is not right. Forget about the DR saying it is safe or he has not heard of any of these side effects...YOU be the judge.
Good luck! And I promise it gets better once you get that lil' demon out!
Mona

Through relentless pursuits in trying to stop my hairloss, tiredness, inability to lose weight and increase metabolism, my doctor agreed to allow me for 6 months to take a natural T3 supplement from a local apothecary. I FELT GREAT. The hair loss and tiredness stopped. However my body temperature still was low. 6 months later I agreed to a blood test and the "numbers" revealed I was out balance. Mr Dr. would not OK another Rx for the T3 supplement. Now that a few months have passed, again the hair loss and tiredness is returning. I am going to transfer to a Dr. who supports the T3 supplement. Did you know that there is no T3 in synthroid. However Armour has both T3 and T4.
There is a syndrome called Wilson's Temperature Syndrome. Search it out. A small group of endocrinologists are treating the body temperature (symptoms) rather than the numbers.

i posted most of my side effects a few days ago...weight gain, severe acne, joint pain, abdom swelling, headaches, inability to lose weight, long bleeding,aggression/depression, etc. I've scheduled my appt to have Mirena removed next week. Does anyone know how long it takes for all the "side effects" to go away? I'd appreciate your input. thanks.

Acne, decreased libido, depression, inability to lose weight (even with exercise and dieting), among other side effects. I have never had an acne problem but not a week went by without major pimple outbreaks on my chin. Sex is totally unappealing and my decreased sex drive has really effected our marriage. Mood swings have not been fun. Also had some backpain that I can't understand. Had it removed today and it was a nightmare - the IUD had migrated and was way up high in my cervix, had to have a hysteroscopy to have it removed. I have had two vaginal deliveries and this was far worse than either of those. Painful, terrible cramping, thought I was going to pass out and I normally have a high pain tolerance. Would never recommend the Mirena IUD to a single person!

I have been on Toprol XL for over 2 years and I can't believe what I am reading on this website. I am so glad that I googled. I have had many of the same problems and I am taking 100 mgs once a day. I cannot lose wait, my memory is horrible, I am always tired, I even had the itching thing go on, my joints ache some thing fierce, so bad that I went to a joint specialsit to have them checked because I thought that I may be getting arthritis at 37. I suffer from both depression and anxiety and was given this medication called Lexapro and had a panic attack in the middle of the night so that was the end of that. I have also had the sleeplessness and the sleeping too much and most importantly the edema of the hands, ankles and feet. I can't wear shoes that are too flat because they swell, I can't wear shoes that are too high because they swell, I can't eat salt because they swell, I can't stay out in the heat or humidity for too long cause they swell, I am so tired of swelling I want to scream. I also get very bad leg cramps and leg pain when I walk too far, also my menstural cycle is crazy. I bleed so much (sorry guys) that I have to buy new at least 2-3 new pairs of jeans a month because of "damage". I get overly fatigued and everything because fo blood loss. I am so tired of this it is not funny, but I like the fact that it is time released and is somewhat gentle. I am going to speak to my doc next week about changing though because I thought that I was in a very small group that was having these issues, even down to the inability to lose weight.

I have been on NuvaRing for 2 years 8 months. I have been seeing a doctor for the past 20 months for a series of unresolved symptoms:

1) extreme exhaustion
2) unexplained weight gain/inability to lose weight
3) Gall Bladder attack
4) High Inflammation based on CRP (C-Reactive Protein), predictor for heart disease, alzheimers, stroke, cancer, etc.
5) Loss of mental focus - Constant brain fog.

Other symptoms digestion problems, bloating, zero sex drive.......

It just occurred to me this weekend that it might be the NuvaRing. I had a gall bladder attack in June of 2005, with no symptoms and not a typical profile for someone to have an attack. In May 2006 my husband and I took a trip to Hawaii and I skipped my period by inserting a 2nd ring when I removed the first. I did not feel good the entire trip (bloating, extreme headaches, sensitivity to sun, stomach upset), and even had a skin reaction to the tag on my swimsuit (sign of high inflammation). I have been through cancer tests, bone marrow test's, tested for autoimmune disease (all thankfully came back negative) and there is no explanation for the high inflammation I am experiencing. My inflammation/CRP levels are 2x what Lupus and Rhumatoid Arthritis patients experience.

I have been on an anti-inflammatory diet for 6 weeks, and the results were actually worse at the second test. So in trying to deduct what could be causing the inflammation and other symptoms it finally occurred to me that - BINGO maybe it is the NuvaRing! I read the potential side effects and was shocked - gall bladder disease, heart disease is one of them. I have been off for 2 weeks, and I already feel like a new person. I have not been tested again for inflammation (will happen in 2 weeks), but I am almost positive that is the cause.

Don't let this be you, do not let symptoms go as long as I did before realizing what you are doing to your body. Maybe the NR works for some people, but judging by the number of responses on this board, not many!

I have been taking Lisinopril for over two years. I have a whole conglomoration of symptoms that may or may not be related to this drug. The inability to lose weight, the difficulty lifting my feet, the depression, the Gerd symptoms, the deep pains on the left side of my chest (I wouldn't know if I was having a heart attack or not, because it always feels like I'm having a heart attack).
They have run a series of test on my heart. Everything but a Cardiac Cath... the heart seems to be okay, yet I have these continuous ailments. I don't want to have a Cath, the mere thought frightens me, however, not knowing if I'm truly having heart problems or not scares me too.

I've been on Toprol XL 50 for 6 years after angioplasty/3stents.

I'm tired during the day, sex drive diminished but not gone, and have inability to lose weight.

Are these symptoms related to Toprol?

Inability to lose weight, no sex drive, I take so much medication, I am not sure what does what to me any more, I just know I have no kind of life, I am tired all of the time, but yet I have trouble sleeping.

I began taking the Japanese version of Norvasc because nothing else was available where I was (in Japan). When I came home after 5 years, my doctor switched me to lisinopril 10 mg,then 20 mg and finally 40 mg. My BP is under control now at an average of 130/70.
My side effects are itchy eyes (chronic), occasional chest pain (like a hammer from the inside, scary), inability to lose weight (not a big issue) , a probable small stomach ulcer but no acid reflux etc (I do not eat beef or many saturated fatty foods).
A possible key to resolving some of the stomach problems may be in diet control. Alcohol and sugar should be off the menu entirely ( it has helped ne immensely). Also, plenty of fresh fruit, almonds and walnuts, edamame (japanese soybeans found in the frozen food section) as a snack, and don't cook your vegetables to death (steam or lightly saute them). In addition, eat mushrooms. I eat a lot of shiitake, enoki and sometimes maitake mushrooms, which seems to have made a difference.
Anyway balance and moderation in food intake are key, and if you drink alcohol or consume a lot of sugar while taking any medication, you may be negating many of the potential positive effects.

I was on Yasmin for 10 months. After crazy side effects, skin discoloration (People actually told me I looked 10 years older!), decreased appetite, and the worst of all not only weight gain, but inability to lose weight on Yasmin. I would work out 4 to 5 times a week, and my weight would not budge. It was a horrible feeling. sex drive went out the door for ten months! I got off the pill in May. Since then, My normal skin color has slowly started to come back, My clothes are starting to feel loose again, and my moods aren't as crazy!! Yasmin is a horrible Birth control pill. Doctors will keep telling us that it's not the pill thats making us this way, thats cause they aren't dealing with it!!!

I just found this site and I'm totally AMAZED at all the similar complaints I have. I am a 46 year old female and have been on Zocor for about 6 years. My cholesterol is high, due to heredity. I've gone from 20mg, to 40 mg, to 80 mgs. I had leg cramps so badly with the 80 mg. that I just quit taking it. I was put back on 40 mgs. and still have many of the complaints.. i.e.... chronic muscle pain in neck, shoulders, arms, legs... chest pain/burning just doing minimal walking (saw cardiologist and had treadmill - nothing found)... a rash that comes and goes on my face, especially on and around my eyelids... insomnia... strange to horrible dreams... sudden lower abdonimal protrusion (never had that in my life!)... inability to lose weight... So, there you have it. I will be consulting with my doctor and getting off this horrible medicine! Diet and exercise will be a forever friend to me. I'm so glad I found this site.

Hot flashes. Sweating. Inability to lose weight easily.