Mri symptoms and conditions

My daughter was being treated for headache pain and eye pain. She was put on prednisone z-pack which did nothing. The pain got worse so she spent 2 weeks in the hospital where they were giving her 1000 mg bags of prednisone in her IV. She finally came home and nothing was found. They did numerous MRI's catscans, you name it. A week after she was home she developed severe pain in both legs we believe is from coming off of prednisone. Does anyone know how longs this lasts, and what can be done about it. She averages 1-2 hours of sleep. She is on every kind of pain medication known to man but nothing helps. Please help!!

After you read a representative sampling of this website's testimonials, you certainly ask yourself inter alia: Can this be true? Did thousands of people inject an antibiotic from the fluoroquinolone family, which crippled them for longer or for shorter? Most of us, I suspect, never really get beyond the initial litmus test: Did this medicine poison me or save me? (The answer depends, of course, upon the age, gender, medical condition, and most importantly, the DNA make-up of the individual patient. For hundreds of thousands of patients this antibiotic is a boon. For thousands of other misfortunes this antibiotic is a disaster.) But there is another important question here.

Who gains from self-revelation? To be sure individual sufferers gain certain emotional catharsis from posting their adverse drug reactions (ADRs) to levaquin. E-postings are one-way anonymous tracks that form ruts on a well-traveled trail of tears. Unless these postings are hoaxes written by mischievious gnomes, then they consitute prima facie evidence for a causal link between levaquin injection and sundry crippling ADRs.

Curiously, this e-forum cannot be used as a tool for organizing thousands of potential litigants who might coalesce under a class action lawsuit. Yes, we can analyze each other's anonymous revelations to see if they muster our respective sense of the "ring-of-truth" re: levaquin toxicity, and we may contact each other one-on-one, but no-one can harness this intoxicating communication's technology to reach simultaneously all respondents en masse as a bloc.

So, who wins? The emotionally unburdened e-poster who learns belatedly that s/he is not alone and that prescription medicine likely caused more pain than the underlying malady for which s/he is being treated? Or big pharma that continues to manufacture and market a medication that poses downside risk to many consumers who unwittingly incur more damage than therapeutic value?

Indeed, who wins in a forum where consumers anonymously reveal their symptoms and unconfirmed suspicions? The answer is big pharma wins. Pharmaceutical companies data-mine our postings to estimate the frequency and bredth of ADRs about which consumers complain. House statisticians estimate the ratio of active complainants : silent complainants, i.e., the ratio of complaints who show up on this website to the far heftier percentage of complainants who never post on this website because either they are technology-challenged or they are incurious. House actuarians proceed to estimate how much operating profits their employers must set aside to cover losses in out-of-court settlements or in awards made to plaintiffs in class action lawsuits.

I think this is how the game is played in a behavioral sink where billions are made in a deregulated marketplace that allows predators and prey to interact anonymously. Sorry to be such a downer, but I fathom only the desperate plight of tens of thousands of levaquin consumers for whom no monetary award ever will compensate them adequately for their suffering, and the hundreds of millions of dollars at stake in court awards if consumers ever brought to bear their aggregate numbers and draw a bead on their big pharma tormenters.

I think it a true horror and shame that pharmaceutical companies have not devised a test which determines in advance which patient safely may consume levaquin and which patient's DNA places him or her at risk. I suspect the genome technology is available, but would dig too deeply into big pharm's bottom line. The economics of "parachutes-for-everyone" is infeasible. We are all guinea pigs in a B-grade movie featuring Russian roulette, billion-dollar pay-offs, and an FDA that pretends not to know.

Just had to comment on these side effects I'm reading about Lipitor and other Statin drugs. I don't take anything and I never will after finding this site. Guess what, I have had high cholesterol since I was in my early 20's. When I say high... it ranged from 240 - 260...remember when 250 was OK? Well folks, it's 30 years later, my cholesterol is just about the same range, and Oh My GOD...I'm still here without any drugs.!!! They lowered the range so they could pass out the pills!!! Greed, greed, greed. Do you wonder why our Healthcare system is out of control? Well, when you keep feeding people medications that are presenting the side effects they do, making them sicker, they just keep testing and testing and testing for other things. Let's do blood work, MRI's, CAT Scans, Spect Scans, Pet Scans...Scan away...and guess what...all comes back OK...hmmmm why not look at the drugs you're prescribing. We need to see "all the side effects" listed. Not just some. They're misdiagnosing, Alzheimers, Fibromyalgia, MS, Lupus, Dementia, Arthritis, and on and on when it's been the drugs causing the diseases!
Ween off everything and anything you can...take your chances...when God wants you, he's going to come and get you no matter what you're doing...right or wrong!

Hello, I can't help but get into the Mirena conversation. Three months after my son was born, I was put on the Mirena IUD. I had a ton of symptoms. My hair was falling out, tired, weak, headaches, stomach cramps, and just all around felt like crap. I went back to the doctors to have the Mirena removed positive that it was the Mirena that was making me feel like crud. The doctor persuaded me to keep it in longer and after much debate and feeling flustered with the doc I agreed for a couple more months. Well symptoms got ten times worse to the point I called and demanded to be seen right away to have it removed. Well after it was removed, I felt better but not completely. I started losing weight, I had periodic migraines which mind you I never had a migraine in my entire life, and felt like a truck ran over my body every morning when I got out of bed. I went to the doctors and they ran a slew of tests and NOTHING! Well about a month after a car ran a stop sign and crashed into me. I hit my head. IT was the best damn thing ever, I got a cat scan and it showed something on my brain. A MRI picked up a right cerebellum hemangioblastoma about 3cms. I had to have brain surgery to have it removed. They decided to do a full scan and I now currently have a kidney hemangioblastoma. Moral of this story. I am 31 years old, I have always been healthy with no migraines, no ailments, nothing. I have the Mirena put in and I feel like shit and they found a brain and kidney tumor. The estimated both my brain and kidney tumor to be about 2 yrs old. THE EXACT TIME I GOT THE MIRENA IN. Hemangioblastomas are either sporadic of VHL. With sporadic, usually you only get 1 and if you get another its later on down the road and my two tumors would not be the same age so it rules that one out. VHL, I had a genetic test done and it came up negative. So anyone of answers for my mishap. I know the Mirena caused this for me. Im just looking for someone with a similar story

I have had a similar experience as many others who have written. I took Wellbutrin (with no side effects) for years, until my insurance company made me change to Budeprion in June 2007. Almost immediately I started feeling dizzy and had terrible nausea. My MD kept saying it was not the Budeprion, but that was the only new medication I was taking. Over the next year, I had a colonoscopy, endoscopy, CAT scans, MRI's, blood tests and breath tests to find out what was wrong. Everything came back negative, and my MD diagnosed me with Irritable bowel syndrome. On my own I decided to cut back the Budprion from 300 mg to 150mg, and I did feel a little better for awhile, but then the nausea came back worse than before, and I definitely noticed that it started about 4 hours after taking Budeprion. I decided to skip it entirely for a day or two, and each time I did, I had no dizziness or nausea. My MD can say whatever she wants, but I know the medication is what made me sick. I don't know if my insurance company will let me go back to Wellbutrin, but I do know I will never take Budeprion again.

Was prescribed HCTZ and started taking it off and on in early August. Pain in the butt cutting the pills in half. Started to feel weird feeling in my left ear and cheek and then numbness spreading up my face, forehead and scalp.(I did have a few beers the weekend before this happened) Took myself to ER. MRI, CT, full blood work, thyroid check, EKG, heart and lung xray. ALL PERFECTLY NORMAL. Of course I was diagnosed with possible MS, Belle's Palsy, and was told I might just be wired weird.

Went to primary the following day for follow up and was told that my blood pressure may have been the cause of the episode. Prescribed Lisinopril and started taking it immediately 10/12.5. Started feeling good pretty quick, but noticed a few crazy dreams and almost like I was falling.

Missed a few doses and and had a few beers over the labor day weekend. Started meds on Monday but started feeling pins and needles coming back in different parts of my body. Continued to take meds and then went camping. Had a few beers around the fire. Woke up next morning with slight case of Vertigo. Continued with meds through the weekend and have felt dizzy, dumb, tired, my eyes don't move correctly, my left arm has felt numb and swollen, my left cheek tingles and I feel so swollen in my gland area under my ears. Knee pain too.

I didn't take a dose today, and I feel 100% better. Still tingly and numb in spots, but better. A little anxious and my heart feels like it's beating really deep and fast. BP is 154/82 after going down quite a bit on the drug.

Anyone else had trouble with the alcohol? Any similar symptoms? This site has calmed me down as I've always been a worrier/hypocondriac type. any response or idea would be really appreciated. Thanks everyone...good luck!

I took Cipro for 3 days back in March 2009. After 24 hrs, I was completely disoriented, had HUGE blisters appear on my feet (they are scars now) and lost my memory. Thank God my husband realized something was very wrong and took me to my Dr (the ER had prescribed the meds) He took me off of it, and my symptoms got better.

Since then, I have had pervasive short term memory loss, loss of vision (periods of blindness), and extreme exhaustion, joint pain, and body aches. My doctor is getting ready to send me for an MRI and EEG- this is after full body X-rays and huge amounts of bloodwork.

My life is not what it used to be. I have 3 small children, and I am terrified to be alone with them for fear of forgetting something crucial. My grades have suffered, and I can barely function.

My Mother took Levaquin Oct. of 2008. You got so sick taking the drug, she felt like she had the flu. She had fever, dizziness, and felt like she was going to throw up. She is very depressed now because she can't do anything anymore. She took all 7 pills 500mg. each. Now she hurts from head to toe. They can't figure out what is wrong with her. She has had MRI's. xrays. Blood work. Everything you can think of. Her Tendon tore in her shoulder, she had surgery on it and is still in rehab for that. She can sleep at night because of pain throughout her body. They gave her a patch to wear for the pain and it made is better at first. Now she can't even tell she has it on. Does anyone know of anything that can help get out of all this pain?

Had Mirena coils for 10 years before having it removed 2 years ago as I was 52 and was told I didn't need it any more. Had always had acne while it was in place and that didn't clear up after having it removed. A few months ago, by chance, a 7cm tumor was found in my pelvis, which defied diagnosis by ultrasound, MRI and CT scans. My CA125 ovarian tumor markers were over double the normal rate. Gynae Oncologist told me I must have Total Abdominal Hysterectomy, Bilateral Salpingo-Oophorectomy and Infracolic Omentectomy. Had the op 3 weeks ago and am now recovering. Finally had histology report back last week and luckily it was a benign Fibrothecoma! Strangely, my acne disappeared with it and I reckon the tumor had been there for some time. Is this a coincidence? I can't convince myself it is and would urge users to be very vigilant.

So here is the caveat, I am not sure these symptoms really are related to Lisinopril or not, but they all started about three weeks after taking 10 mg a day. Waking at night with rib pain, hip and low back pain. At first this was only at night, for several months (the pain was very intense). The pain would move from rib, to right hip, to low back (mid), left hip seeming to make no sense. I have had every test under the sun, MRI, CTSCAN etc. Now rheumatologist believes I have a thing called Ankolosing Spondolytis which is an auto immune disease in which the body attacks the large joints of the body (I tested positive for the HNLAB27 marker). I will be having a special MRI to test for AS.

So maybe Lisinopril has played no part in this, but I think it is very coincidental that this all started when I started taking the Lisiniprol. I am wondering if Lisinopril could have been the trigger for AS (if it is AS). Until this started I was in excellent health, 40 year old mom of 4!!

I was given Levaquin for a kidney infection. It seemed to help break my fever but after only one dose, I broke out in rash and later that night had tingling in my legs. My hand felt numb. When I called the oncall doctor she told attributed to anxiety. I told her I was anxious because all of a sudden my hand had gone numb and knowing that was a danger sign I refused to take anymore. Later that night, I could not walk or stand or bear weight on my legs. My shins and Achilles tendons were burning and only because of the internet did I know what was happening to me. Only 1 out of three doctors would agree I was having a drug reaction. For some odd reason, the doctors REFUSE to believe or acknowledge this was caused by Levaquin. No wonder the side effects are "rare" if no doctor will acknowledge the pain their patients are going through....how can the drug companies get any real feedback. Funny thing is only after I sent an email out to my team essentially warning them about this drug did I find out my coworker who had been on medical leave had suffered the same fate of torn achilles tendon and only after 3 months of PT is finally walking without pain. WHAT IS WRONG WITH our world when no one will listen to us. Thank God for the internet. I can walk now and have no pain standing (lasted only 2 and half days) but I am scared about the future as I know the results are lingering. I have been exhausted this whole weekend and wonder if its just me recovering as my PCP had me quit all antibiotics even at the risk of getting my kidney infection back. Well nice to know our stories are the same...and its not in our heads. BTW, my ER doctor told me it was a good drug and very unlikely the cause of my leg pains. They rather believed I had pneumonia or lyme's disease before they would believe it was caused by their beloved drug. All I can think now is I hope one day they are given this drug and it cripples them like it has so many others. Sometimes that is the only way they will acknowledge the truth. It has to happen to them or someone they love.

I am absolutely ecstatic to have found this webpage, although I feel like I have lost YEARS of my life to this drug. After reading the online article from The Plain Dealer (newspaper), my mom urged me to stop taking this medication.

I am 25 years old and have been on this medication since I was 12 years old. Over the years I have had NUMEROUS problems including migraines, chronic vertigo, anxiety, severe insomnia, irritability, urticaria, hives, eczema, and all sorts of GI issues ranging from GERD to diarrhea.

I have seen an allergist, a neurologist, a GI specialist, a family physician, a physical therapist (for the vertigo) and have had countless medical procedures ranging from MRI's to endoscopies.

I am horrified that ALL of these problems have stemmed from this one drug. I will NOT be taking my prescribed dosage before bed tonight and will be calling my allergist in the morning to inform them that I am going to quit taking Singular.

Thank you all for your support and for sharing your stories!

I had the Mirena inserted almost 2 years ago. Over the past 6 months, I have had horrible joint pain and swelling in my ankles, knees and hands. I have not been able to wear a wedding ring in 4 months. I hurt so bad that I can't sleep and recently I have felt that my fingers, toes and palms of my hands are cramping. My calves get so swollen, they shine and no one knows why. I have had MRI's, X-rays, innumerable blood tests, nerve conductions and a bone scan. Other than the bone scan showing inflammation, EVERY test is normal.
Because of these increasingly debilitating symptoms, I started wondering if they were related to the Mirena. That is how I found this website.
I had the Mirena removed yesterday and I think I may see some decrease in swelling today. Even though I still hurt, I am not cramped.
I see that many people experience swollen joints, has any one had their fingers swell. My swelling never goes down, I have it 24/7. If so, can anyone share there experience after having the Mirena removed. Did your joint pain and swelling go away?

****Are you having severe headaches, vision problems, dizziness, ear pain, nausea?? If so, you may be experiencing what my daughter did. Please, please seek immediate treatment from your physician and request a CT or MRI. This is the only way to detect blood clots. Unfortunately, my daughter did not have that chance. She was 18 years old. I do NOT want to scare anyone! I want to raise awareness of the side effects and prevent any of you going through what my daughter did. Listen to your body and go with your gut. If something doesn't feel right, you need to get it checked out. You may need to be very persistent with your doctors too. Don't give up & give in to them. If you are having any of the side effects I listed above daily, you need to follow-up with your physician immediately!!****

My experience was a seven day short-lived trip through hell on Topamax.

I began experiencing a constant headache for several months in February 2009 (no prior history of headaches). I am healthy 32 y/o male. After multiple MRI's and CT scans came back negative I had a very severe headache that sent me to the ER. The ER helped arrange for me to see a Neurologist, who after patient listening to my laundry list of symptoms concluded I was having migraines (even though I had no sensitivity to light, sound, or nausea). I had been doing a decent amount of research on headaches and didn’t agree that they were migraines but decided, he’s the neurologist, I should trust him. Let me also say at this point, I am not a person looking for a pill to cure my problems, but I was getting desperate as my headaches were ruining my life. I was prescribed Topamax.

I was suppose to start with three days at 25mg, then go to three days at 50mg, and finally up to 100mg per day. The first three days were uneventful when I hit 50mg and then 75mg…I was out of my mind. I read these messages and see people at 400mg with no problems…it makes me cringe to think of dosing that high. I stopped at 75mg…here were my side-effects. Tingling in my face, lips, hands, arms, and fingertips, chest pains (I do have GERD and it jacked up my GERD bad!!!), pain in the back of head, taste confusion (soda tasting flat), and pressure in my eyes and temples…But those are NOTHING compared to the complete feeling of anxiety that over took my body. I had a mild nervous breakdown at work, became paranoid to the point where I was afraid to do routine tasks. And the MUSCLE SPASMS…those are the worst part. I have muscle spasms all over my body, just random fluttering of muscles in my chest, arms, back, neck, head, and face! I became suicidal and had the worst night terrors ever, of things, that I wasn’t even afraid of.

I have been off Topamax cold turkey for four days now and the anxiety has significantly subsided. I have worked through a lot of the anxiety with my wife and I now believe that stress is the cause of my headaches, not migraines like I tried to tell the doctor…but the muscle spasms have not stopped (they have decreased) yet…but I can’t wait for the Topamax to leave my body.

I used to think these messages boards were part of the problem, but they are very helpful. Do your research before you put anything into your body…trust yourself and if you disagree with your doctor, get a second opinion. This has been a life changing event for me.

Health and Happiness to all

My healthy, active 55 yr old husband of 30 yrs was prescribed SIMVASTATIN in Aug. of last year. He started having pains in his legs & back and had an appointment in Oct. with the dr. to check on how he was doing with the new drug. When he went in to the office, he was having terrible pains in his chest, legs & back. The dr. immediately called 911 thinking he was having a heart attack. He was in the hospital for a week while they ran a multitude of tests. All came back clear for his heart. He kept telling the dr. that the back & leg pains were still there. They didn't seem to be concerned about anything except his heart. He was dismissed continuing to have pain. The pain steadly increased over his whole body, then in Feb. of this year, he suffered a major seizure and spent another week in the hospital. This time they wrote it off as epilepsy and put him on anti-seziure pills. After he was released, the symptoms increased, his memory, vision & balance are all effected, he has chest pains, depression, and is in constant pain. He's been sent for numerous MRI's, bone scans, blood tests,etc. He has been to neurologists, neurosurgeons, chiropractors, physical therapists, etc. The entire time, his health has declined because he was being poisoned by Simvastatin. Finally, after doing our own research, we found a neurologist that recognized the problem. He told us that this drug distroys muscle tissue and that the damage may be irreversible. My husband can no longer work, drive, or enjoy life. He walks without a cane or walker, and depends on pain pills because the pain is so severe. He stays in bed most of the time due to the pain and lack of energy. He has been off Simvastatin for a week now with no change. We are hoping & praying for improvement over time. PLEASE, if you are your loved one are taking this drug-STOP IMMEDIATELY. The results can be devastating. I can't imagine why the FDA would approve a drug like this that destroys quality of life.

OMG...I want to thank everyone for their comments, as I thought I was just crazy, I have not been able to walk more than 25 steps in three years because of this stupid Lisinopril. I could honestly just cry. Three years have been just taken. My daughter was 8 and now she is 11. We have not been able to go to the mall one time because mommy's muscle pain and weakness is so bad and it is just embarrassing to try to walk around a mall or the airport. I am only 39 there is no reason my primary Dr. should not have caught this. I have been referred for and had multiple MRI's, cortisone injections, nerve testing and nerve blocks, taken Tramadol until I can not take it anymore. Thank you all of you. Thank you. God Bless you, in Jesus name, Amen.

WOW! I have been feeling so bad lately, I decided to put my medications in google and do some research. I have been reading these peoples post like it was something that I wrote.I am only 36, but I feel 86. I thought I was loosing my mind. I have been on 40mg/day for 11 months now. In that 11 months, I have had to stop working, I can barely walk around because the pain in my ankles and knee. My right shoulder hurts all the time. I had been working 50+ hours a week for over 7 years. I pretty much have withdrawn myself from most friends and family, I just feel so bad all the time, I feel more like a burden than anything. The latest thing I have had going on is, this terrible pain in my upper right abdomen. Ive had blood work, Ultrasound, MRI all came back ok, with the exception of a small spot on my liver.(normal they say) I didn't refill the last Rx for about 2 weeks($$ issues) I actually was able to get outside and mow the yard, take a walk with my daughter, then 4 days ago I get it refilled and start taking it again. Now im back in the house, it hurts to walk again, I feel like im here but not here most of the time. I have asked my doctor about this and told her several times that I am not feeling right. She just tries to give me antidepressants! Yea just what I want more pills (NOT). I have also had terrible boughts with constipation and diarrhea. It was nice to see that I'm not loosing my mind here. My mother also takes this, I sent her a link to this site and we are both stopping this medication. Doctor says my chol. should be under 100 mine is 115, and she thinks she is gonna up my dose to 80mg/day. NOT! This is no way to live.

Thank you so much for all your posts guys!! I just googled Mirena side effects today just trying to check ANYTHING that would explain my recent experiences. I sat her bawling while calling my doctor to insist it's removed immediately.

I had it inserted in December after having baby #3 in October. I finally got my girl after 2 boys and a few miscarriages and wasn't certain what to expect. I am only 25 and didn't want something permanent or really any drugs put into me on a consistent basis. When the doctor pushed Mirena I happily said okay! Sounded like a god send. I have extremely high blood pressure and his strong sale point would be that it would remove the need for meds. Liar! My regular doctor flipped out when she found that he had removed me and of course, I went back on meds a few weeks after having it inserted, after 4 readings 200+/110+... amazing he didn't cause me a stroke. That should have been red flag #1 but I figured it was just an error in judgment on his part.

I felt no pain with it going in and didn't cramp at all.. spotted for a few hours then it was over.. My first cycle lasted 2 1/2 weeks and the next started a week later.. All side effects I was warned of so didn't really concern myself.

I started having phantom kicks (uterus contractions) and stabbing labor pains back in February which I figure was it doing its job trying to get my system on track. I had numbness and pain down my left side and would constantly find myself hunched over in pain.. The bleeding had slowed down so much that I was so grateful and just kept popping pain pills like candy hoping it would go away soon.

These last few days have been a flu from hell. Can't leave bed, can't speak, constantly throwing up, loose stools followed by extreme constipation, achy muscle tingling skin.. you name it!! Went to the bathroom earlier and when I wiped, had a small bout of black blood.. Old blood that sometimes you will find at the end of your cycle! I checked the calendar and had indeed finally skipped a cycle.. The cramps and pains have been there as though I was going to start, but no bleeding for a week now.. So apparently to skip a cycle I'm going to be bed ridden with the flu.. I have a 5 year old, a 2 year old and a 7 month old who can't have mommy sick. This has been hell..

I too have experienced
terrible headaches, stomach pains, DEPRESSION, short fused tantrums, sitting and crying for hours on end, no passion for life, numbness of limbs, tingling skin, sinus infections, yeast infections, temporary blindness and now spots in my eyes which aren't regaining vision, 5 months ago I dyed my hair and it came out by the chunks, now that the dye is gone, I'm still losing hair and have bawling spots which I blamed on the dye.. Now I wonder..I also look like I'm about 6 months pregnant and people keep asking.. I HATE IT!! its been devastating to my self esteem. I lost so much weight after my boys so I blamed the weight gain on having a girl.. Now I wonder about that too.. The weight is only about 10 pounds but ALL in my belly..

I wonder so much..

I got about 5 posts into this horrified before I called to insist it will come out.. I have to wait 4 weeks.. but I can't wait to find me again.. I'm gonna just stick with condoms until I get my body back.

Thank you so much for speaking out on this.. I know the doctor is going to insist that it's not to blame.. but I now know better.. Thank you so much for helping me find answers.

i have just been prescribed Lyrica, for nerve pain in my leg, whilst I am waiting for an MRI. After reading all the side effects, I have decided not to take it and wish anyone on it GOOD LUCK. Just out of interest has anyone out there had any good experiences with it?

I went to the doctor yesterday for test results. I have had an ultrasound and xray to locate the Mirena which is not in my uterus. Now I have to have a ct scan to make sure it's not near my spine and I'm so scared and angry.
Has anyone else had this experience?
I continue to gain weight rapidly. Last week I could fit a size 20 and this week I need to buy a size 22. I've gone from a size 16 to size 22 in 5 months. I'm so sad and my skin is prickly and itchy and my feet swell something awful. My ob/gyn is not being supportive and she appears to minimize what I've experienced. I'm looking for another doctor so I can find out where this IUD has disappeared to.

Hello everyone..I have many great things to say about Neurontin. It has been a miracle medication for me. I was in a car accident in 2000 as a passenger my face and head hit the windshield at 80mph. my jaw was broke and the back of my teeth were broken.
Little did I know it was extremely traumatic! My MRI's came back fine and I moved on with my life. About 6 months later my life began to change a brown spot covered my eyesight in the left eye. I began falling all the time and having seizures.
I had another MRI's of by brain done it came back negative. Not one Doctor could seem to understand what was wrong with me. I was put on Topamax for bad headaches that seemed to help. I began loosing weight and continued having seizures(Granmal) where you lose ur vision and it began to effect my speech and i would become confused.
My life was like this for 5 long years. Life didn't get better, I began to be soo tired and felt exhausted all the time. One day out of no where , I couldn't raise my head to get out of bed for work, my whole right side was burning and i was in pure agony!!! i will never forget that day. I had to have my Daughter help me up and i could barley walk...I pushed myself to keep going thinking this is all in my mind!! theres nothing wrong with me.. The MRI's are negative. I proceeded with my day in so much pain and limping all day.
It finally went away and I was fine again fo a small amount of time, I started not being able to remember things ....and forgetting from one second to the next and getting lost when I would drive...i began to panic and have anxiety, I felt like my life was out of control. I called my Mom and she said she had noticed a change in me, things I guess I didn't even know. She said I couldn't hold a conversation as before and i would slur my words and I couldn't recall what she would tell me.
My attacks moved to 4-5 times a week sometimes having seizures 2-3 times a day. I ended up having to be taken care of and moving where my Mother was so she could watch over me. I didn't get better. I couldn't work and I couldn't do much of anything.
My Mother took me to a MS specialist and he was the one who noticed there was something wrong! My face and legs would jerk and I couldn't sit still ..I had so much going thru my mind what could be wrong? I had 2 Sets of MRI's this time and it wasn't fine this time...My Spinal Cord was barley attached to my Brain Stem and CV 5-6 in my neck.
I was at the stage of being in a wheelchair not that I hadn't been using one from time to time and needing a cane.
I was sent to ER Surgery and had a stay in the Hospital and really thought I was a lucky Person to have made it for 5yrs without dying. It has been 4years and I still have soo many problems, I'm held together with a steel plate in my neck that holds mt together.
I'm now 41 years old and I wonder what my future holds. I'm not the same girl I used to be and probably never will be. I have to have Neurontin 600mgx4 a day and 1000mg Keppra a day...Without it I would not want to live the pain is unbearable for me! The only negative side affect is my hair falls out and I have severe Insomnia. Neurontin is a Miracle for me!

I wish all of you the BEST! Prayers for all of you.....

I have been on Topamax for 2 1/2 months. My dosages have been varied due to side effects that scared the daylights out of me. Never more than 100 mg a day, at which point I was a vegetable. After such terrible side effects - pressure in the eye, blurriness, loss of speech, coordination, complete exhaustion, inability to work, stopping mid sentence with inability to complete sentence - I finally had it. I talked to the doctors all along that I was terrified what was happening to my mind and body but they just said it was too soon to tell if the meds were working or not.
Out of pure frustration and concern for my own well being, I decided to try to taper off Topamax and then stop completely. I lost feeling in feet and hands, pins and needles, weakness in feet and hands as well as spasms- lovely. Frightened me so much I wound up in emergency thinking something else must really be wrong with me. MRI said all was fine as regards to MS or stroke, etc. Whew!
Continuing to withdrawal and mad as @#*! that the Dr.s don't know what they are prescribing to poor patients, Topamax is a dangerous crap shoot. Funny to me how something as horrible as this drug can be prescribed in our government, yet medical cannabis prescribed properly with little to no side effects is a crime in most states.
What have I learned from this experience?...be your own advocate. Don't let anyone ever push you into saying something is black when you clearly see it is white. Get angry, state your feelings if you feel you are being harmed and brushed off and not helped. You still have the brain cells in you to make good decisions though Topamax and pressure from others about "not taking your meds" may knock you confidence for a loop.
I'm thankful I live in CA where I can make legal choices that are not available to others in the USA. Shame on the drug companies, shame on the Dr.s that need to do their homework, shame on our FDA for letting this horrible drug on the market whilst holding back natural herbal relief that grows right out of the ground for all to use legally. Shame on me for not doing my homework earlier and doubting myself and letting other decide for me for so long now.
Good luck, hope you all find some comfort and fire in this message. We are our own best advocates. No one knows us better than ourselves. Freedom of choice is a wonderful thing - so thank you makers of Topamax, for helping me to find the strength inside to tell you....JUST SAY NO! to drugs - your drug in particular. May you be recalled and not harm any others, and may your profits plummet as you have make you $ on the suffering of so many others.

IN DEC 2008 I CAME DOWN WITH CHRONIC BRONCHITIS, MY DR. PRESCRIBE 750MG OF LEVAQUIN ONLY 5 TABLETS FOR FIVE DAYS. AFTER ABOUT THE SECOND DAY I STARTED HAVING SEVERE PAIN IN MY SHOULDER, FOREARMS ,HANDS, BACK ,HIPS AND KNEES. I MADE A APPOINTMENT TO SEE MY DR. AGAIN . COULD HARDLY GET IN OR OUT OF THE CAR THE PAIN WAS SO BAD. WHEN I WAS TOLD TO GET UP ON THE TABLE THE PAIN WAS SO BAD I WAS ACTUALLY SCREAMING. SHE KNEW RIGHT AWAY THAT IT WAS THE LEVAQUIN AND KEEP SAYING I AM SO SORRY, IN AWAY I WAS RELIEVE TO KNOW WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM THINKING I WOULD BE GIVEN SOMETHING TO MAKE IT GO AWAY . I WAS AT THE DR. ABOUT EVERY OTHER DAY THEN XRAYS MRI AND FINALY AFTER THREE DIFFERENT DR. I HAD TO SEE A ORTHOPEDIC WHICH STARTED A SERIOUS OF SHOTS , NINE SHOTS GIVEN SEVEN DAYS APART AT A COST OF OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS. I WAS OFF WORK FOR FIVE MONTHS . STILL MY KNEE GIVES ME PROBLEMS BUT EVEN BEING ON SHORT TERM DISABILITY I WAS LOSING MONET AS I HAD TO PAY 500.00 ON MY MRI , 25.00 FOR EACH OFFICE VISIT WHICH WERE MANY PLUS 10.00 EVERY VISIT FOR THEN TO FILE PAPERS FOR MY SHORT TERM DISABILITY AND IF THEY WERE NOT SATISFIED WITH HOW THE FILE , THEY WOULD NOTIFY ME AND I WOULD NEED TO PAY ANOTHER $10.00 FOR THEN TO REFILED.I WAS ONLY GETTING 60%OF MY PAID MINUS MY SHARE OF THE INSURANCE . I STILL DON'T HAVE ALL OF MY ENERGY BACK BUT TO KEEP MY JOB I HAD TO RETURN TO WORK ONLY PART TIME FOR THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS ,AND NOW THEY HAVE ME BACK ON FULL TIME AND IT IS VERY HARD THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I DRIVE HOME AND GO TO GET OUT OF THE CAR I CAN HARDLY WALK. IT HAS BEEN A NIGHTMARE, I HOPE THAT THEY TAKE IT OFF OF THE MARKET.

I have been on Topamax for four years. 25 mg in the am and 25 mg in the pm. I have experienced the weight loss and the migraines have completely gone away along with my wittiness and ability to remember why I am in the bathroom with my pants around my ankles. I have passed up my exit on the highway on my way home several times.... not really sure why or where I think I was going........ I have found myself on a freeway and had to search the signs to figure out which direction I was traveling and then realized I was going to moms.........don't even remember getting in the car but have stuff with me that I was bringing her. I have woken up in the middle of the night in a panic and always have the word right on the tip of my tongue. I feel like I have alzheimers. I am 34. I started out having severe ocular migraines when I was 17 (I don't have head pain) and ended them at 30 after spending weeks in bed, days in ERs and hours heaving into the toilet........ hours, straight, not even able to take a complete breath. I wouldn't even have the strength to hold my head up anymore and I would just lay on my side an heave in my bed, until I would pass out. The MRI showed brain damage and necrosis (dead brain tissue) of my brain from my migraines. I was originally diagnosed with strokes. Imitrex would raise my blood pressure so high the MD's and RNs would hold me out of fear I was going to stroke out. My life just stopped..... I couldn't even move.... ever, I couldn't look out a window, listen to a radio, watch T.V, have a conversation, smell food, perfume......... anything without getting sick. Topamax stopped it all. And yes, I got stupid with the meds....... I lost my train of thought, but I can go outside. I lost some weight, but I can eat, I have lost some, hair but I can work...............I feel like I have more of a life now than I did before. Anytime you introduce a drug to your body you are going to have effects........there are trade offs. If you had what I had, you will be willing to have the trade off. I had gotten to the point that I would have been better off dead, because I wasn't living. My migraines started off manageable and progressively got worse over time. I have to admit, I have tried to come off of the medication... who wants to be tethered to meds all of there life? But when the migraines came back, I quickly went back on the meds.....Drink plenty of water, stay off other stimulants, don't smoke!!!! titrate your doses and then don't miss them.