Looking in the mirror symptoms and conditions

I just started taking this drug three days ago, and I am already having such bad side effects that I don't want to take it anymore. I am only 29, but have a family history of high BP, and went to the doctor last week to find out my bp was 175/90. Since starting the drug, I've been getting dizziness, but last night took the cake. I woke up around 4:30 with horrible nausea. I ran to the bathroom where I fainted while sitting on the toilet lid, wanting nothing more than to vomit. I remember waking up and looking in the mirror, and my face was as white as a sheet, as were my lips. I looked dead, and it scared the hell out of me. As I came to, I suddenly had diarrhea hit me, and once that was over, I felt better. My husband thinks my body is trying to get rid of the drug. In addition to all this, I am having palpitations and feel that my heart is beating too fast. I know that part of this is nerves, because I'm scared of taking this medication, but the fainting and nausea ARE because of the drug. I called my doctor today, and she wants me to come in to get my BP taken again. I am so scared that she won't lower the dose or (better yet) switch me to something else, because my bp always goes up at the doctor's office when I get nervous, every time. Oh, and I also started metformin last week because the doctor tested my blood sugar and it came back 250. Could it be the combination? I don't know. I just know I have only been on this stuff for a few days and already hate it and feel that it's bad for my body! It's very scary.

I was diagnosed with Rheumatoid arthritis at the end of 2007 and have been on prednisone since then. I started on about 105mg a week and am currently trying to reduce it but it is really hard as the moment the dosage goes down I lose all mobility and cannot even get out of bed. I am only 23 years old and really feeling the disease to the extent that I cannot even cope with my life. The prednisone has really taken its toll on me and the side effects are crazy! I just want to go back to my old self as I am finding it sooo hard to get through a single day. My side effects include:

Insomnia, tooth sensitivity, depression, anxiety, mood swings, moon face (my face is so swollen that I cant stand looking in the mirror anymore, dizziness, temper, feelings of uselessness, nightmares, night sweats, water retention, and to top it all off the arthritis is getting worse and I am in constant pain. Is there anything anyone can suggest then please help me!

Wow ... reading all of these stories makes me feel a little better about my situation. On April 21 I was prescribed Bactrim for an infected cyst and just in case it was MRSA , the doctor thought Bactrim was the best way to go. Early on I had a few headaches and body aches and a nightly dose of Tylenol took care of that.On day 6 while at work I was overcome by the worst body aches I have ever felt. I left work early and laid down immediately and started to wonder if this is what it feels like to die. Naturally , my first Day 6 pill was the last one I took. I went to work the next day , still feeling crappy but able to work. I thought I was in the clear after stopping the Bactrim , but that was premature. The next morning I couldn't get out of bed , so I took the day off and tried to recover . Later that evening I noticed my skin felt really strange my face felt puffed out. Looking in the mirror I didn't recognize the person looking back at me. My face was sunburn red and completely swollen . Looking closely i could see the redness was a million little red dots grouped together to make my entire face , neck , chest and shoulders red. Interestingly the rash has only itched a little. At the E.R. that night the doctors were confused because of the lack of itching and because the rash did not go away immediately after a few doses of steroids. Another side effect , which is becoming the worst out of all of them is my mouth is extremely sensitive and raw feeling ... my throat is also very sore. Eating food is almost impossible , even soup. When I brush my teeth it feels like I've never brushed them before , when I chew food it feels like I've never eaten before. Tonight's dinner is probably the 6th meal that I haven't been able to finish. What I find most interesting with myself and a lot of the people posting on here is how long into the treatment that these side effects occur. My rash started over 2 days after I stopped taking Bactrim.

I have been taking Januvia for 1 1/2 months and I have the worst case of acne. I have never had an issue in my life. I have white heads all over my face. I am a 50 yr old woman who has always had a clean clear complexion. I am beside myself and hate looking in the mirror or even going out. I am literally cover in tiny l bumps similar to "baby acne" or millia. People who know me right away remark about what is going on with my face. I am convinced it is related as it started after 3 days on the new med. I had an allergic reaction to "glucafase" (?).
Any one have a similar experience? . ...

This website had made me sane!!! I have recently become a crazy woman searching side effects of birth control like it was my job, it has taken up my entire head!.. I started nuvaring four months ago (first form of birth control ever) to help control my horrible pms and very irregular period, and it helped that out, HOWEVER, I have recently decided I would prefer the pms over these awful, AWFUL symptoms. Although little spurts occurred here and there, this month is the absolute worst. I have managed to gain 12 lbs in under a month ...(keep in mind I am a work-out freak and have made sure to burn as many calories as I take in each day simply because I just can't stop gaining the weight!) I don't fit into any of my clothes and I just do not like the way I look. It is as if my body has just gotten wider and larger. I used to love my body and now I cant stand looking in the mirror everyday. My eating habits are awful....I try to starve myself for periods of time because I simply cannot help myself when I enter the kitchen. I feel like a bulimic girl, without the puking afterward. My binges are DISGUSTING, I'm actually ashamed. The worst symptom of all, though, are the mood swings. I cry at the drop of a hat every single night, I'm 20 years old away at college, and last night I cried because all I wanted was my "mommy." That's embarrassing. Not to mention my boyfriend thinks I am absolutely nuts because I have "changed." When you tell a severely hormonal woman she has "changed" you better expect a shoe or the nearest object to fly at you, which is exactly what I did. I CAN'T HELP IT! I also have been having negative thoughts about life as a whole lately and have even entered the realm of slight suicidal thoughts, or at least thinking my life was worthless. I've been through too much with my cycle to stop it now (even though I feel like ripping this thing out ASAP) and have 2 weeks left before I can take it out FOR GOOD! If anyone has any feedback they want to share to keep me sane through these last 2 weeks PLEASE PLEASE share! Also, does anybody know how long it will take for me to get my life back?! =(

I had my mirena inserted about 13 months ago before Christmas after the birth of my 2nd child , I was naturally shedding the baby weight until Mirena came into my life and then I gained 10lbs effortlessly within 2 months! even though my diet is always the same (I am coeliac). I had to start working out running 4 times a week and gradually have lost 8lbs but its been a huge battle.
Last May I woke up one morning bright red covered in a sunburn type rash all over my body it was scary, my joints ached so bad and my hands and feet were really swollen as if my body was reacting to something.. my gp did some blood tests and nothing it kept happening for 2 weeks and then the rash went,..I put it down to a virus at the time but felt as weak as a kitten and suffered night sweats, anxiety and flu like symptoms for months.

Ive had to really fight to keep up my running because most of the time I feel tired and depressed and run down and I have awful PMT the past few months have been dreadful I feel rubbish most of the time..everyone is getting on my nerves, I have little sex drive too and I am sure its down to the Mirena..its side affects remind me of the mini-pill which I took once for a few months it sent me so extremely loopy (paranoid and anxious) that my husband flushed them down the toilet!! well I think its the same/similar type of synthetic hormone that my body DOES NOT agree with.

I saw my Gp the other day and asked her about the side affects and she still said that I shouldn't have any after a year and it was very rare but after reading about it on here I cant believe it... its obvious and Im getting it removed. Ive had over a year of feeling terrible and various ailments so much so that I think my immune system (which is already sensitive) has suffered.

I agree, for me this is a horrible drug! This is the 2nd time my allergist prescribed it to me (last time was this past summer and I had severe panic attacks and thought I was losing my mind) this resulted in me returning back to my GP and him putting me back on Paxil (which I had been off of for a year). I was extremely reluctant to use this again but thought i might be able to manage it this time (with the help of Paxil).

My allergist prescribed Prednisone to me 2 weeks ago (5mg 3x's day for 3 days then, 2 2x's day then 1 for 5 days) I made up until the last 3 pills. I had severe brain fog and felt like I was floating through space. I couldn't even remember driving to work and parking my car! Extremely fatigued (I have diabetes (which is under control, but I had to keep checking my bg because I thought my sugar was dropping to low). Now, within the last week of taking the Prednisone I have experienced aching in my kidneys and I think I have a kidney infection.

Can Prednisone do this to you??

I am calling the doctor tomorrow. Today is the first day without Prednisone and I feel like I am totally out of it - really spaced out, dizzy, panicky and a bit nausea.

How long does it take for you to get Prednisone out of your system?

Survivors Of Prednisone
Type: Common Interest - Health & Wellness
Description: Many of those with auto-immune diseases such as Crohn's Disease are forced to go on a prescribed steroid known as Prednisone. The effects of Prednisone are terrible. Prednisone creates water retention (puffiness) in your face and torso. It causes severe mood swings. It also causes your hair to fall out. And that is just going on the Prednisone. Once you get off the Prednisone, you then have to deal with the adrenal insufficiency as Prednisone can shut down your adrenal glands.

There seems to be little support for people who have been on Prednisone. They seem to be left alone to deal with the side effects and the confusion and fear that it causes.

This is what this group aims to do:
***
Provide awareness of how Prednisone can and has affected lives.

So if you are feeling down or suffering from crazy mood swings or can't handle looking in the mirror anymore then come and let it all out !

I was diagnosed with Crohn's disease in July. I had my colonoscopy/endoscopy the day before 4th of July. Got sick with what I thought was the flu on June 26th. That's when I first landed in the hospital (dehydrated & sick). After the diagnosis I was first put on Entocort and Pentasa (Pentasa is supposed to be a remission drug - keep you from having flare-ups). Entocort didn't work so they switched me to Prednisone. I've been on Prednisone for about 6 months now. Going from 20 mg to 40 mg and then I'm finally weaned down to 5 mg. I get to go completely off of it Jan. 13th. Scared of what other side effects might occur from coming off the drug. While on it I've had emotional problems, acne(never had a problem with it before), moon face, gained 30 pounds, joint pain (I was in therapy for as long as insurance covered. - I recommend water therapy, it helps for some people as it did me), trouble sleeping (haven't slept a full night since I got sick), certain days I'm really really thirsty, I've had sort of what I'd call restless leg (I had this before I was on this medicine but it has gotten significantly worse - mostly at night or when lying down), and dry skin.I have to say though that the WORST side effect is the FOG. It's horrible. I enjoy learning and using my brain and when I'm on this I can't think, I mix up words, and it feels like my brain is covered in cobwebs.I had to drop a calc 2 class and that got me off the track I'd set with my academics. My inflammation rate is down where it's supposed to be as of the last blood test a couple weeks ago. So I guess the Prednisone and Remicade are doing what they are supposed to - but I still don't feel as if the pain (not associated with Prednisone - caused by the disease) has gone completely away even if the inflammation has gone down. And Prednisone's effects are just horrible. Some nights I feel depressed and just want to cry and cry. The past months have been trying because of several hospital stays, switching to many different doctors (gastrointernologists, nephrologist, urologist (kidney stones), primary doctor - and they think maybe I should see a rheumatologist), and Pentasa (it began shutting my kidneys down). I just hope that when I come off the Prednisone the side effects will fade (hopefully quickly but lets be realistic - ill just be happy if they go away sometime in the next few months) and I won't flare up again. Anyone know the best way to get rid of the weight? I'm already drinking lots of water and I go walking and do exercises everyday.

QUESTION: When tapering Prednisone does anyone have a place(s) on their stomach that are sunken in and feels dry compared to the skin around it?

Anyways, I hope that everyone overcomes their difficulties, whatever they might be or concern. It's hard to have a life when you are constantly fighting your own body to stay healthy.There are plenty of situations in life that are already hard enough to deal with without medical issues of your own. Best of luck to all!

I was given prednisone for the second time this year having never taken it.
1st time was for an allergic reaction to sulfa,
thought I was having a heart attack a couple of hours after it kicked in.
(I am 28)
Lost so much strength, used to go out & do 10-15 chin-ups, couldn't get to 1.
Grouchy, weepy.
That was in August.
I November (1 week before thanksgiving) I got sick with upper respiratory, same cold as rest of my family, but it knocked me out. Doctor figured it was cause of the 5-8 cigarettes i smoked at the time,
prescribed antibiotic.
Flash to 2 weeks before Christmas:
Laying on couch, unable to breath, went to doc, given antibiotic, inhaler, and Prednisone:
2 pills 2x's a day for 1st three days, then 2 pills 1x a day next three days.
I think they where 20 mg?
I was in very bad shape,
But NOW
I had tried to give up those last few cigarettes I had held on to, since I had gotten so sick.
I had insomnia, nausia, insatiable appetite, sweating, fuzzy upper lip ( i am female)
gained 15 pounds, depression, couldn't even shower unless I dragged myself through it, quit quitting smoking to try to alleviate the depression, but this is unlike anything I have ever felt.
Oh, and the reason I am up so late,
my right thigh feels like it is dying from the inside out.
It started the day after starting the meds, that was December 21st. It is now January 3, and it won't stop. I am so worn out from it.
I can't sleep.
It's like a cramp that never ever ends, but it's down in the bone.
My 3 yr old daughter put her weight against it and I screamed.
It seems like it is walnut sized, with pain radiating out from it.
I thought I might have a blood clot, my husband brought me Aspirin tonight in bed, and now I just cannot sleep,
it doesn't just hurt, it is hurting to distraction.
I feel out of my mind,
and so old.
My stomach had been solid abs a few months ago, I worked so hard on them, now, I do not have the strength to lift a jug of milk, and my tummy looks more like pizza dough.
I am 5'6" and went from 118 lbs to 135, right now back down to 127 as I cannot eat even though I am starving, I just can't.
But I am really scared about this leg pain.
I swear there is something in there, and at night I fear it coming loose in my sleep and killing me. Mind you, I am not sitting here imagining it, i am feeling this pain in what little sleep I am getting, and the dreams start.
I was on it a short time, but it was 2 times this year, within 6 months, do you guys think it is the reason?
any thing you think would help. Thanks

I have been on Mirena for 2 years at the end of this month. I got it because I am a type 1 Diabetic and I already have 2 children and don't believe it to be healthy for me to have another. I thought it was the best invention ever. Nobody told me that while I never have to worry about birth control, I do have to worry about constant nausea, bloating, extreme mood swings, weight gain, and bad facial skin. Lately here, I've been really depressed because all of my clothes don't fit right, I hate looking in the mirror, and I started going through all the things that might be making me gain weight, and I really don't even know what led me to look up Mirena and weight gain, but here I am, very relieved to find out that I am not the ONLY one to experience these side effects. I was never told that all these were possible, because had I known I would've never opted for this. I intend to have this removed as soon as possible.

I was just wondering...I've been weened off Prednisone the last month or so and today is my last pill. YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!.
However, I've noticed that my joints hurt and my feet oh the pain. Is this normal. I feel like my muscles are weak. walking up a flight of stairs is painful. Anyone know how long this will last or if this is something I will have to live with.

If ever you are prescribed PREDNISONE, please research your dosege, your condition,and your prescribing MD......wish I had.

Silke

Iam sorry I didnt mean to make it sound like your symptoms were any less that story is horrible and worse than me!
I dont know how you did it you must be so strong!

Well it does make me feel better light at the end of my tunnel.

Its hard no one understands except for you guys.
People around me dont understand what is taking so long they think Iam better than Iam worse it isnt like a cold or a sore throat.

I miss me I miss what I could do I miss how I use to enjoy life I miss running around and being so tired from having fun
i miss my daughter
i miss my family
I miss dreading having to go to work
I miss shopping
I miss smiling and laughing
I miss having a glass of wine
i miss my friends
I miss looking in the mirror and thinking Iam pretty
I miss wanting to have sex
I miss everything and its not fair that some man made pill took all that away from me
I never took a man made pill in my life excpet for a Alieve or Tylenol
How is this allowed how is this allowed in our countries
How can this keep going on and on

I dont understand it all

Iam so sorry for you I too feel like Iam 5 years old dont like being alone I have so many fears now

Iam full of anxiety in my arms and I cant relax I just dont know how Iam going to work and be the single mom I have always been

With the viatamins it seems when I take anything with B it makes me more anxious I know my body is robbed of it probably but it makes me more anxious??

And Sara your so helpful too all of you are please keep emailing it gets me thru each day and talking to Dejay on the phone we talk 3 or 4 times a day has been a life saver.

Thank you

I am 54 and have recently been diagnosed with a lung disorder known as Boop as well as hemolytic anemia both of which require massive doses of steroids. I started out on 100mm for ten days, IV. and went home on 80 two weeks later. I am now onn 50 daily and weaning off 1omm at a time to see how I am doingl. Both illnesses are life threatening if not treated so I really don't have much choice. I may even need chemo for the blood disorder as well.
I have the same miserable side effects you all mentioned. The moon face is like looking in the mirror at a monster I don't recognize. My mood swings are awful, I get so angry at my husband and son as they just don't understand what it feels like. All the aches, the insomnia, the weight, bloat and pains in back and side. I know that I have to be on this for a minimum of 6 months manybe more and I can't stand looking and feeling like this. I already had a weight problem because of meds I am still on from when I had Breast Cancer five years ago and they put weight on as well. (I used to be a size 5 and now I can't even look and see what size I wear. Of course I guess it is better to be alive and fat then dead and thin, but sometimes I don't feel that way. Why can't they find a drug that can work withougt all these other side effects.