Medical transcriptionist symptoms and conditions

I have felt the worst I've ever felt with this and didn't even think about it until lately. We got it put in in August of 2007 because my OB thought birth control would help stop the extra bleeding I was still having 3 months after my daughter was born and I went with the IUD because I'm not very good at taking the pill every day at the same time, etc. I've been glad that the bleeding stopped, but didn't put all my crumby symptoms together until now. I finally realized that the only constant with everything different I've been trying to stop the symptoms has been mirena. I have had the worst headaches (migraine type at least 3 days out of every week), cramping like none other, severe mood swings, nausea, and dizzy spells that put me on the floor. I have fallen down at work because of dizzy spells, not cleaned my house for a week at a time because I felt like I had the flu every time I tried to move, not been able to work as a medical transcriptionist because my head was throbbing so bad, and had break downs of crying because I feel like all my kids do is make me angry, along with my husband telling me that things need to change because I am always cranky with him. I have never had a problem with sex drive, to the point of being overzealous to my husband sometimes, until now. I have to make myself do anything and it feels like the most awful thing since the first time. I've suffered depression in the past, but never like the deep depressions that I've gone into lately. It's hard to believe so much power to change me can come from something so little and seemingly harmless.

Just one question I have been on this stuff at the beginning dose for less than a week. My eyes hurt, my head is about to explode, I am sick as a dog, I lost 5 pounds, I can't eat, constipated, can't sleep, can't function, ringing in my ears, and the ADD is unbelievable. I am a medical transcriptionist I kind of need to be able to work, no work, no pay. Topamax is going bye-bye for sure but how long till the side effects go away?

I am not sure my symptoms are related to Lipitor, but it is the only med i was taking and when i finally suspected the connection 3 wk ago, i stopped taking it.

It occured to me that i was complaining of muscle and joint weakness in conversations with others, but related it to my age (53) and lack of exercise. Then i had a few episodes of sudden brief cramping in my back muscles -- totally unexplained by anything else -- and a couple episodes of dizziness, or true vertigo, while sitting and typing at my computer (i am a medical transcriptionist). Those got my attention. Come to find out my mother and brother also had identical muscle problems and switched their cholesterol medications away from Lipitor.

There are numerous other little things, running into walls and furniture, numbness in my feet or hands, yes, the cognitive things i've read here too, etc. Again, don't know if it is the medication, but after doing some reading of other's experiences, i do plan to do my best to improve my health withOUT the use of medication.

I am 61 years old, very fit and I exercise rather vigorously 2-3 times a week. I was given a free sample and a 7-day prescription for Levaquin by an urgent care physician. By the third day I was unable to pick up my coffee mug with one hand and had difficulty even using two hands due to weakness, muscle pain and joint stiffness. Since my PCP was out of town, I cut the pills in half. By the 6th day my heart was skipping every 4th or 5th beat and I had mild chest pain and gout-like symptoms in both big toes. I did not complete the last dose, as I was afraid it would kill me. Two weeks later, I continue to experience difficulty going from lying to standing and from sit to stand. I have to stand for a moment and then as I begin to walk, I am so bent and stiff that I look like something out of a nursing home. Once I begin walking, the pain and stiffness dissipates considerably, but the weakness is intermittent. I walked through Lowe's yesterday and wasn't sure I was going to make it to the other end of the store. I am having difficulty opening jars and bottles and even lifting pillows to make beds seems to be difficult. My hands are hot and swollen for a considerable time after getting out of bed. I am a medical transcriptionist, so this interferes with my typing. The pain, stiffness and weakness appear to be worsening and I am very concerned.

Caveat emptor! Apparently, big pharmacies make billions and then find it more profitable to pay a few law suits than to pull such poison off the market.