Med school symptoms and conditions

I recently back in April of this year received Cyberknife radiation for Adenocarcinoma with metastasis to my brain. After surgery to remove my brain tumor in March of 2009. I went though whole brain radiation and the Cyberknife to my lung. The doctor was very adamant that as the lung heals from radiation you will develop what they call wet lung or neumonesis sp? This will have to be treated separately, or severe coughing would continue. My primary care doctor in the mean time put me on Lisinopril 20 mg for hypertension. I have not gotten a good nights sleep in 2.5 months since, then came the pneumonosis. This cough persist to this day waking me from what little sleep I do get, and amazingly am now suffering from joint pain especial in my hips. It's to the point I can't even cross my legs anymore it hurts. When discussing this with my primary she says its in my head as of today and reading this site and side effects I am taking myself off of Lisinopril and will seek a second opinion, even a third if need be thank you all so much for posting your side effects from this drug.

Thank you all. After reading many of your experiences I feel sooo much better, so much less crazy.

The past few months I've been feeling depressed, I can't seem to lose the ten pounds I gained since starting Nuvaring over a year ago, I've been having severe dizzy spells (I almost passed out and had to lay down for about 20 minutes), I have NO sex drive and I've been getting anxious over little things. The lack of sex drive is the worst. I've always been rather sexual but now I just never want to have sex. I've never felt so uninterested and out of touch in my whole life.

I just talked to a doctor a few days ago and got a blood test mainly for my thyroid and vitamin D levels. But now I'm thinking it's probably not my thryroid it's probably the nuvaring! The doctor (a male fresh out of med school) told me to get counseling. Apparently me almost passing out wasn't enough to make him think that my problems are something more than just mental.

Regardless if the blood test comes back okay I'm stopping the nuvaring and hopefully that will do the trick. The nuvaring was great for the first 8 months. No side effects other than a slight weight gain and larger breasts but now it's just ridiculous.

Update..1 week off the simvastatin now. Still not myself, but I am noticing that I have a little more energy. I can go outside again and visit with family and friends. Some days are better than others. I still have terrible pain in my upper right abdomen, and my ankles still really hurt when I walk, right shoulder is still very stiff and sore to move. I hope what ever damage this poison did to my body over the 11 months will get better. I am only 36, and this pill made me feel like all I wanted to do was die! I AM SO MAD at my Dr. Fresh out of med school. I haven't even called for my next appt. yet, I'm worried that I wont be very nice to her at all. How can they give this to people. She never said anything to me about any of these possible side effects. I did a search on FDA and Simvastatin, I can not believe they would allow Doctor's to give this poison, I guess it is all about the money for them, while we the consumers suffer.

Lithium Carbonate nearly killed me. My doctor knew I was bulimic and he prescribed it any way, in combination with Geodon and Lamictal, even though I've been medication intolerant of 34 psychiatric drugs since I was 15. I am now 23. One year ago my boyfriend said he didn't like how I was changing in personality, that I was "different". I couldn't conceive his perspective. After only 2 weeks exactly of taking the Lithium at 900mg a day, I landed in the ICU where I was fighting for my life for 5 days. I had what looked like seizures but they were not. I had a dystonic reaction to the drug. It all began with a hand tremor on my left side. Ever since then, I get "episodes" where my ENTIRE right side goes dead and my left side extremities jerk and twitch and it hurts like hell. My neck snaps to the left and my lungs freeze long enough to where my lips turn blue. I live back home now. I cannot live alone. These episodes come out of nowhere. I have not been the same since that April Fool's day (how ironic right?)...I am to go to Johns Hopkins to find out what happened. They believe it may be a drug induced movement disorder. I also lose speech during these episodes or at random on its own while in class or talking with a friend. It's scaring the living hell out of me. To think that my central nervous system very well may have been POISONED makes me sick to my stomach...this doctor was reckless and used me as a lab rat. And now I pay the price. He went to med school at age 17 and did 4 years brain research on monkeys post graduation....I trusted him...if HE could do this to me, imagine what a D.O. or typical M.D. with little training could do with this toxic stuff?! I almost died. And I fear that I eventually will...The symptoms of muscle spasms and cognitive impairment have only worsened. I get annoyed with outer stimuli very easily at times, followed by hours of confusion and I cannot understand what people are saying to me nor can I finish a thought or even identify an object (nominal aphasia). If you ask me, stay AWAY from this unnatural form of help, you're better off with homeopathic medicine and breathing techniques. I learned the hard way. I just hope this helps at least one of you from starting this horrible drug. It can have PERMANENT side effects on WHO you ARE, i.e. your personality. My perception of reality has forever changed and I cannot go back. Do your research. And REALLY think about the risks before you begin taking this drug....or any of them for that matter....
On youtube you should watch this eye opening documentary that my friend found for me about big pharma. It's...jaw dropping. search "big pharma big bucks" on youtube.com and you will see what I mean.
Hope this helps. I will post the outcome of a final diagnosis, because as of right now, I cannot go to the ER when these episodes occur because they AUTOMATICALLY assume it's "in my head" simply because of a history of depression and PTSD. So all they do is give me NO pain meds for the muscle pain or even any tests ordered to find an answer, and call for a psych consult...HELLO?! talk about breaking the Hippocratic oath "FIRST do no harm". I'm a responsible, smart, and determined young woman who's been in in-patient treatment before and is very aware on how to handle my day to day strives. But these doctors...sigh....they just don't listen...it's ALL about liability for them. And it angers me. So I wait at home crying because I can't talk to anyone, in agonizing pain, and await for the moment my lung muscles freeze and I cannot breathe...it frightens me to my very core. NO ONE should have to go through with this...NO ONE. So, do your homework. Please. For you and your loved one's sake.
-H.

Wow... I'm glad I stumbled upon this site. I'm 24 years old and had been on NuvaRing for the last 2 1/2 years. I had used the pill until then since I was 16 to regulate my horrible periods, but I decided to switch when I got married because I was always forgetting to take the pill and since I was starting medical school a few months later, we didn't want to become pregnant at that point in our lives (and with NuvaRing I was much more likely to forget it once a month compared to everyday!).
I was always very happy with NuvaRing: my periods stayed regular and manageable, which was all I expected from BC. But oddly, over the next year I gradually developed symptoms which greatly affected my life (and my new marriage): VERY tired & exhausted all the time, horrible IBS symptoms, an aching pain throughout my body, especially in my hips/lower back and shoulders, inability to get a good night's sleep from this aching, HUGE weight gain (25 lbs in 2 years - can't shed it no matter what I do between gym/diet... Dr. doesn't understand of course), NO sex drive, and worst of all, when we did have sex it was very painful. It was horrible. I keep seeing my primary and he insisted it was from medical school & the stress. Being a rational person in med school, I understood the logic in that, but I still felt like it was more... I've always been a "busy" person, and with the increase in symptoms I gradually let other activities go in my life, leaving the only thing left to be med school; to be honest, it was the "least stressed" and most "health conscious" I'd felt in a while. But when we kept going back in my history, it all seemed to start right after I got married / around the time I started med school. So to him it always made the most sense that med school/stress was the cause of it all (of course, I never put 2 and 2 together that it's the same time I started NuvaRing!)
It became so bad I finally took a year off from medical school to spend time to figure it out. After seeing LOTS of specialists and getting lots of tests, the best anyone could come up with was Fibromyalgia. So, I took steps to feel better w/o drugs (water therapy, massage therapy, etc). I didn't like the idea of a synthetic chemical fixing something that doesn't have an exact known cause (drugs can be dangerous when not well studied - as I'm sure you're figuring out), so that's why I went the holistic route. But it never really got 100% better but it was good enough that when my leave of absence was finished, I was thankfully well enough to return to medical school a few months ago.
Oddly enough, in that time off, my husband and I had a lot of time to think about our future, and we've happily decided to try to get pregnant! So a month ago, I stopped NuvaRing. And ironically (I'm sure you can guess where this is going), things have improved over the last 2-3 weeks: I've had lots of energy, and while I still get tired, I feel like it's the "normal" kind of tired, the kind someone in med school should have (not total complete exhaustion like I used to). And wow, the sex drive... we've gone from once every 2-3 weeks (if that) to 2-3 times per week at least (or more! which seems huge for us after what we've been through!).... and the best part, no pain during sex... for anyone knows what I'm talking about, as I've seen in other posts, that's a huge and wonderful improvement!
I always kind of thought NuvaRing might be the problem (I even asked my gyno about it when I had my annual exam during that year off... she said no, most likely not of course)... it was just this odd suspicion, but I have access to all the med journals I want, and when I looked it up, I couldn't ever find any studies that reported these kind of symptoms, so I kept looking for another answer.
So, for anyone who is experiencing these symptoms and others similar to the ones others have posted, I highly recommend you consider NuvaRing as a possible cause. Everyone's different and everyone reacts differently to the same drug. Also, keep in mind lots of other things can cause these symptoms (such as thyroid or anemia issues) so definitely see your doctor about these things first, but if all of that comes out clear, consider giving yourself a break from NuvaRing, and if things improve, at least you'll have your answer finally! Drugs have lots of effects that aren't life-threatening and therefore usually go unstudied (and therefore unreported), but when this many people report similar possible side effects on a post , it's definitely worth considering!

WOW! My jaw is on the floor. I have been taking Simvastatin for 4 years! At around that time I started feeling ill. I ended up in the infection clinic. There they did 6 spinal taps since they could not understand why I had this major headache, and stablike pains.
I was hospitalized for 2 weeks and during the last 4 years I have been in and out of hospitals and doctors.
After they found 'nothing' they told me that I might have LUPUS/RA. So they started me on drugs to treat reumatism. I was on 2000mg per day! Complained and said that the meds where not working and I needed help and someone to listen to what I was saying. Then one of the many doctors I had was telling me to shut up and go see a psychiatrist. That got to me and so I started writing letters. I got a 'new' doctor and he said odd. Told me he was only interested in my joints. After the second time w him he passed away and so I met a fresh doctor, on that was right out of med school.
She looked at me and said...*You cant go on living like this, this is no life.* she sent me to the hospital for 2 weeks so that I could get the right treatment. There they realized that I have no sings of reumatisum but rather a connection w Simvastatin.
They right away told me to stop taking all the reumatisum medication and they will now focus on removing Simvastatin.
I am blown away.... I was so sick, so may hours lost from work, family and friends. I almost left my husband because I felt like I was just 'there' not ever being able to do things. I was so sick all the time.
Wow is the only word I have in my head right now- I am in a shock.

I'm so glad I found this site! I thought I was going crazy! I got my mirena inserted about 2 months ago, and I feel horrible! I cramped severely when they were putting it in, after they put it in, and still now. I have really sharp pains every now and then that almost completely takes me to my knees. I've been moody, my l sex drive is shot, I have no energy, I'm bloated ALL the time, and I can't seem to loose any weight what so ever! I was previously on depo provera and experienced weight gain so that's one of the reasons why my doctor changed me to the mirena. I have not had any children yet. I thought maybe that was why I was experiencing such horrible cramps. I also, can feel it in me. My doctor asks as if I'm crazy too when I've told him what I'm experiencing. I am going this morning to see a new doctor. I know my body and there is something wrong! And the more I read these blogs the more I'm convened that it IS THE MIRENA!!! I'm just so glad that I'm not the only one experiencing these same side effects and that I'm not insane.

Well i just got back from the docs.......no surprise he highly doubted the singulair would have anything to do with an insulin blood level......same old song and dance.......I as a mother don't understand what a leukotriene receptor blocker antagonist is,but i was hoping those i pay the big bucks to that have completed med school do......i am wondering that one.....so i have to see an endo doctor and spend more monies but i have no choice it is the health of my son

I have just come across this website and I am so upset. My 10 year old daughter has been on Singulair for 8 years. Since she was 2 years old. About 3 years ago I spoke to her pediatrician about the fact that I was concerned that she had been on it for so long and about the possible long term side effects. She brushed me off and told me that there weren't any.

Over the years she has complained often of stomach aches and pains. We even had her on Miralax for a couple years because the Dr. was sure it was constipation. The last couple of years she has been complaining of leg cramps and I sort of brushed that off as "growing pains."

She is extremely emotional and has serious mood swings. I even asked her Dr. about ADD and she said it was just her personality. I am almost in tears typing this because I have no way of knowing if her actions are because of her age, her personality, or because of this medication. She has been on it for so long that I wouldn't know what her personality would be if she had never taken it.

Her asthma tends to be seasonal and she hasn't had an attack in years. I took her off the meds as soon as I read about the disturbing side effects that hit too close to home. I am upset that her Dr. never warned me about these side effects (that were not listed on the label) and didn't take my concerns seriously.

She is very small for her age and I was concerned that the medication may have stunted her growth....little did I know there were so many other dangerous side effects. I just hope and pray that she doesn't suffer any long term negative effects from this medication that I have given her, thinking I was helping her.

Why the brain function is impaired due to Singulair????? Maybe.

Here is the last chapter in a theoretical reason why Singulair affects brain function thus causing anxiety, depression, agitation, aggression, ADD/ADHD, and in extreme situations maybe seizures. I presented the study of the Chinese researchers that show a direct link between the cysLT1 receptor and the astrocyte in the brain. We don't really know how the cysLT1 receptor interacts with receptors that control astrocytes under all circumstances. We just know that there is an important link.

So last night, I had a dream about astrocytes. I don't really have anything to do but sit on an island, look at the Caribbean and fish so mental stimulation is actually welcome.

The last part of the "chain reaction" is probably the astrocytes role in glyconeogenesis. In other words, when the brain does not get proper nutrition, it sends signals to the liver to do something about the problem. The liver in turn releases glycogen which is turned into glucose to be released into the blood stream. A very unhappy brain becomes a very relieved brain. Obviously, we can't be eating all day long to keep our blood sugar up so the liver has to store energy and release it at the correct time.

Here is a diagram of that. Astrocytes are the only cell that produce the proper chemicals for this process to happen.

http://www.nature.com/jcbfm/journal/v27/n2/fig_tab/9600343f5.html
FIGURE
Quote: All credit to the authors, of course.

Energy metabolism in astrocytes: high rate of oxidative metabolism and spatiotemporal dependence on glycolysis/glycogenolysis
Leif Hertz, Liang Peng and Gerald A Dienel

BACK TO ARTICLEFigure 5.
Next figure | Previous figure | Figure and tables index

Glucose utilization pathways that provide or consume ATP. (A) Schematic of key aspects of the glycolytic pathway of glucose utilization for energy metabolism and major branch points that can divert carbon for other uses, including NADPH generation, storage of glucosyl units in glycogen, neuromodulator, and amino acid and nucleotide biosynthesis. The most important reactions for generation of energy are glycolysis (pyruvate/lactate formation from glucose), shown in light brown and occurring in all cell types, and glycogenolysis (pyruvate/lactate formation from glycogen), shown in light green, which occurs only in astrocytes, due to the astrocyte-specific expression of the enzyme glycogen phosphorylase, which releases a glucosyl unit from glycogen as G1P. The energetically most important biosynthetic reactions are synthesis of glycogen from glucose (glycogenesis) shown in brown and green and from pyruvate/lactate (gluconeogenesis) shown in pink, brown, and green. Gluconeogenesis is also astrocyte-specific, because only astrocytes express fructose-1, 6-bisphosphatase, which generates F6P from fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate (F1, 6P) and PC, which generates oxaloacetate (OAA) from pyruvate. The latter reaction is followed by formation of phosphoenolpyruvate (PEP) by decarboxylation of OAA; this sequence is necessary to form PEP from pyruvate, an energetically unfavorable reaction. Biosynthesis of serine/glycine (shown in olive) is also an astrocyte-specific process due to preferential expression of 3-phosphoglycerate dehydrogenase (Yamasaki et al., 2001). Both neurons and astrocytes form alanine and ribose-5-phosphate (R5P), the latter in the pentose shunt pathway (upper left corner), linked to NADPH production needed for operation of glutathione peroxidase and oxidation of monoamine transmitters. The MAS, indicated by red, transfers malate formed in the cytosol from oxaloacetate during conversion of NADH to NAD+ into mitochondria. PDH-mediated formation of acetyl CoA, which is also shown in red, initiates oxidative degradation of pyruvate in the mitochondria. Red and blue text for ATP indicates energy production and utilization, respectively. (B) Major reactions and net ATP yields or net ATP consumption of major pathways derived from the glycolytic pathway are indicated in color-coded boxes that correspond to the color-coded pathways in panel A. For simplicity, the scheme indicates the energy yields (ATP) and NAD(P)H production or utilization based on metabolism of 1 glucose to form one ribulose-5-P, two lactate/pyruvate, or 2 serine; a similar representation illustrates the energy and cofactors required for gluconeogenic conversion of two moles of lactate into one free (G6P) or glycogen-bound glucosyl unit. Glc, glucose; P, phosphate; G6P, glucose-6-P; 6PG, 6-P-gluconate; R5P, ribulose-5-P; GSH, reduced form of glutathione; GSSG, oxidized form of glutathione; F6P, fructose-6-P; F1, 6-P, fructose-1, 6-bisphosphate; GAP, glyceraldehyde-3-P; DHAP, dihydroxyacetone-P; 3PG, 3-P-glycerate; 2PG, 2-P-glycerate; PEP, phosphoenolpyruvate; Pyr, pyruvate; Lac, lactate; Ala, alanine; OAA, oxaloacetate; 3P-HyPyr, 3-P-hydoxypyruvate; Glu, glutamate; KG, -ketoglutarate; 3P-L-Ser, 3P-L-serine; L-ser, L-serine; D-ser, D-serine; Gly, glycine; C1, one carbon fragment used for methyl donor reactions.

This is quite interesting because should the connection between the cysLT1 receptor and astrocyte be established and explained, it shows that there is a very direct link between the immune system and metabolism. That should be intuitive because when we get seriously sick, then we are laying in bed and the body should try to conserve energy so that we don't just waste away.

So what happens if we cause changes in the cysLT1 receptor to cause the astrocytes to believe that we are sick, the normal connection between the brain and glyconeogenesis then doesn't exist. We would have to be causing some kind of periods of extreme stress on the brain because we are out moving around and doing not home sick in bed.

Maybe we should award the Chinese researchers the nobel prize? Maybe they established the connection between the immune system and metabolism? Is there also a link between the immune system of some individuals and depression? Some how, this makes perfect sense. So we have to find out and help as many people as we can.

I think that it is time to call the lawyer-biochemists to find out if this can be proven to be true and if Merck knew or not.

My beautiful 11 year old daughter was on Adderall XR 20 mg per day for 4 years. After about 2 years she started to develop some minor facial tics. After 3 years the facial tics were worse along with severe head shaking and she also started to develop trichotillomania (obsessive compulsive hair pulling). The hair pulling continued until she was almost bald. Her grades began to drop and she withdrew herself from her friends and family. Finally, we took her off the medication in October 2007 at age 12 and she immediately stopped the tics and hair pulling. We have found 3 other families whose daughters have developed these same symptoms after being on this medication for at least 2 years. We have filed a report with the FDA as our own doctor had no idea that this medication was causing the hair pulling. Now 5 months later her hair is growing and the tics are approximately 97% gone. We have taken her to a homeopathic doctor and she is doing absolutely great now. Marks have gone up and she is smiling and socializing. I am so happy we have our daughter back. The side effects of this drug was definitely not work it.

I have had problems with kidney stones but thank god, no prostrate issues..
My first stone occurred in the fall of '05. My doctor at the time - the nastiest old bastard that ever graduated med school, prescribed Flomax to help the stone pass.....I took one or two and the stone passed in a few days..I don't recall any side effects from that instance.

Fast forward to Jan '08...I had another stone that made itself "known" to me for weeks before being diagnosed.......That after a trip to the ER.Lotsa' fun, everyone should go!.....I took Flomax about three times during that period and had some nasty side effects - reflecting many that have been previously published here. I got dizzy and nauseated at times.....I also suffer from panic/anxiety disorder.Flomax made me a basket case!......The "roaring" and "ringing"in the ears was and still is problem..... I passed that stone in early Feb.....
At the end of Feb the BIG ONE (1cm) decided to drop down the ol' ureter. My present urologist (Yeah the old buzzard finally retired!) gave me options, as stones of that size are real mothers to pass. Take pain pills, Uricit and Flomax......Or insert a stint and wait.....The final option was lithotrypsy. Lithotrypsy is an outpatient procedure that breaks up the stone into smaller pieces while still in the body via vibrational waves...
I had the procedure and most of the particles were flushed out.....I recommend this procedure for a quick but costly fix....
The doctor warned me that there would be smaller particles that might take weeks to work their way out........Well, that's what happened..Just when I was recovering from all the medication - Flomax included, I had another piece start working it's way down..It's still mocking me as I write this.
I took Flomax - out of desperation for three days for the purpose of flushing out this one last particle. My patience with this stone and it's aftermath was at an end! I wish I hadn't taken them.......The dreams, anxiety, rushing in the ears, dizziness..The whole thing! I had three capsules left and ground them up and threw them out today!

Flomax is hell on earth and I regret ever taking it. If I'd read this board on Sat I would have thrown them out then and just dealt with it, well I didn't and I'm suffering again.....Will it ever end?

Has anyone else experienced a bitter metallic taste in the mouth as well as an unpleasant smell to the urine as well? I also have this irritating urge to urinate but the flow is moderate........I was doing well without any medication when I got impatient and took the Flomax. How long will this be in my system I wonder.... Sex drive? I have none now.......Kidney stones really take it out of you, that mixed with the Flomax has put me on the sexual sidelines.....*sigh*.
Robert

I was given 20 mg of Prednisone for 10 days for a rash and joint pain.
The pain went away and I felt great the rash got a little better. Two days ago I took my last pill. I woke up that night and my knees gave out. By morning I was great! Next night I woke with knee problem again had to slide down the stairs to the living room. I got to wondering if the knee thing could be associated with the Prednisone. I got on line and read all this terrible stuff. I am so Horrified! Today I am in pain like my body is bruised and my face is swollen a little. I have acid reflux as well. Non of this is typical for me. My knee thing is ok again, but I am just appalled! I have no MED insurance. I hope this isn't the beginning of worse things I am not taking that drug now. The Dr. didn't say I needed to taper...

I hope I have not damaged myself by taking this drug! My heart goes out to all of you! My question is - Why are the Dr.'s prescribing this terrible drug?

just started taking Adderall, though i am not prescribed. I went to my doctor and asked for it but she said no. I explained that I am often overwhelmed at work, I am a case manager and keeping on task with all of the work is hard. My doctor said when she was in med school, med students used to take it for that purpose.So anyway i bought 5 pills from a coworker. I seem to have super human energy, get all types of work done and stay focused all day. On the down side, in 5 days I have lost 3lbs., I want to lose weight, but not that fast. I have what I consider to be Adderall hangovers the next day, where I am extremely tired. I also have noticed severe headaches, every day that I have taken it, I crash by the end of the day at work and cant wait to get home, because I am so tired. My neck aches, and I had to change to a firmer chair at work, because all of a sudden my back is killing me, I also get insomnia and have to counteract the Aderall with Tylenol pm just to get to sleep. These side effects freak me out, and I don't know if I want to again ask my doctor for a script, but I get so much done at work, and I am heading back for grad school, I just don't know what to do? oh yeah, the pills that I bought were Adderall XR 30 mg.

I posted a question to anyone who used Tri-Sprintec before, but now it's been several months & I'd like to let everyone else know how it's worked for me! Tri-Sprintec has been the best birth control I've ever taken. I have been on other birth controls over the years, and up to this point Yasmin was good but I still had some side effects. I've just started my fourth month on Tri-Sprintec, and I feel more like myself again. I don't have any crazy mood swings, my skin has cleared up, my periods are regular again & my appetite has gone back to normal. I recommend Tri-Sprintec to anyone who is looking for an affordable & reliable birth control (it's offered at the Wal-Mart pharmacy for $9 a month if you don't have insurance.)

I'm glad I came on this site.. My GYN gave me Femcon FE because he saw that I have a cyst on my left ovary. I hard horror stories about birth controls, like weight gain, acne, and nausea.. I am afraid of all three of those.
He told me to start taking them over the weekend and I asked him will there be any side effect and he told me that I would like the pill.. I just gave him a look and said I will be doing some research on this pill and if I read any stories about bad side effect I will not be taking them.
So thanks guys for your comments...
I WILL NOT BE TAKING THIS PILL..
I'll just wait for the cyst to disappear on it's own.

I,as of almost two weeks ago, went off Yasmin. I have been on several different birth controls over the past 7 years. Yasmin being the latest. Overall, I think the pill is not healthy!!! I have had side effects from most pills I have been on, nothing major, but a definite lack in sex drive (which of course drives my husband CRAZY)...We are not planning on having kids so I do think it is imp. to find an alternative method, though I never intend to get back on any hormone related drug. My breasts have undoubtedly grown, which wasn't a bad thing @ first but now really is somewhat frustrating...going from a small C to a DD.
I guess I just miss being what I know of as my old self, and want my body to be back to normal. Recently, a woman in my building and I were talking about BCP's. She has been on them for just as long as I, and is studying to be a doctor. In her opinion, after going through 2 years of med. school thus far, BCP's are NOT a good thing. So I obviously have taken her opinion into account.
I do, however, take daily supplements, which I hope bring somewhat of a balance to my body. All I know is that being on the Pill makes it hard for your body to digest and absorb all the nutrients it should, which to me is pretty scary!!!

I put a message in here stating that deeep tissue therapeutic massage got rid of my intense muscle and joint pain. I was the one who when I sat up or rolled over in bed felt like someone was stabbing me in the chest with a knife. It was excrutiating! And I had severe pain in my muscles, joints and ribs so it hurt to take a deep breath. All this was from taking Levaquin Feb. 8 - 17th, 2003. Yesterday I ran sprinting races with my 9 year old son and felt GREAT! I am a 42 year old woman. Granted I used to workout a lot and did personal training for 5+ years, but had not exercised regularly in 3 years. I am telling you this so you can realize how much the following program helped me recover from the side effects of Levaquin. I told you that my osteopathic doctor recommended a heavy metal detoxification program - hot baths with epsome salts, alkaline diet(protein & vegies - no dairy or breads/pasta), massage, exercise and stretching to remove the metals - because Levaquin combines with metals in the body to form another compound. Aluminum is it's first choice to bind with, and I already knew my aluminum level was at 35 when the normal range is 0-9. I also started using "Heavy Metal Cleanse" by RenewLife Company. After 3 massages I was still feeling vague discomfort in my back and occassional sharp pains in various places, plus absolutely no energy. I have been on the detox program for about 3 weeks now doing all of the above and finally my energy is back and all of the pain is gone. I highly recommend this program to everyone. An Osteopathic Doctor graduates from med school just like an MD but they also learn some alternative medicine depending upon their interests, such as chiropractic, naturopathic, acupuncture, oriental medicine, etc.

An MD I went to wouldn't even discuss metal toxicity because they did not teach him about it in med school. He has the blinders on like a lot of MD's who think that western medicine (taught in US med schools)holds all the answers. But it does not. My getting healthy again is proof of that. There are still a lot of people out there suffering from this. Please try this program. The Heavy Metal Cleanse product just requires taking 1-2 capsules first thing in the morning and just before bed and drinking lots of water to help flush the metals out of your body. The instructions inside also outline the alkaline diet and say that you will have greater success if you follow this diet while doing the Heavy Metal Cleanse. I am now planning to get back into Personal Training. I could not even consider this if I was still in so much pain that I had to live on pain killers 24 hours a day like I was. Reminder: Tylenol hinders clearing the metals out of the body by clogging up the liver. My D.O. prescribed Hydrocodone for pain. Taking this also allowed me to start exercising because it relieved the pain enough so that I could walk, try to expand my lungs and do some upper body exercises and stretching. Don't take it before you go for a massage though or they won't be able to identify as well, what areas they need to work on. The first massage was very painful, so be ready. In fact I cried because I had been off the pain med for hours before and just couldn't stand any more pain. But she just said "you have to take it to get better". And it was well worth it because the massages were crutial in healing me. Best of luck! - Robin