Neurologists symptoms and conditions

I have had the worst year and a half of my life-it should have been the happiest! I was on Yasmin for about 7 years. This last year I had gotten engaged and was excited to marry the man of my dreams! The first few years on Yasmin everything was fine-I did not notice any changes. Over the last few I seemed to recognize some anxiety and started having panic attacks out of the blue. Well, in July 2008, I went to the Dr. and was misdiagnosed as having an ulcer-I really had mono and walking pneumonia?? I was having all kinds of anxiety and they could not figure out why I was sick. I went to all kinds of specialists-neurologists, cardiologists, gastroenterologists, etc. They said nothing was wrong. I received a call from a friend of mine who is a nurse. She knew of my symptoms that had compiled over the last year and asked if I was on Yasmin. She told me to stop the pill but I did not think that this was causing me all of these problems. I ended up having severe insomnia, massive anxiety and panic attacks, irritability, moodiness, muscle aches, night sweats, chest pains, racing heart, depression, the list goes on...I wanted to cancel my wedding! I thought that I was going insane! I ended up at a therapist looking for some help. She was able to help me get through my wedding (December 2008)-thank God!
One of my friends wanted to get off the pill to try and get pregnant and decided to do so after my wedding. After 3 months, she was able to stop her anxiety and depression medicine...correlation?? She was on Yaz!
I immediately stopped the pill (March 2009) -that was the icing on the cake! I have NOT had a period since March, I still have anxiety and am in fear every day that something is going to happen to me.I still have insomnia and feel scared that all of this is taking a huge toll on my body-especially my heart. I just want my hormones to go back to normal so that all of this will end!
Does anyone have a similar story? Any advice as to when I will get back to normal?
Please do not recommend Yasmin or Yaz to anyone ever! It has ruined my life in every aspect. It has affected my relationships, work, school, my well being.
I would love any feed back and/or comments-help!

My daughter has had seizures for 20 years. She was on Depakote and Tegretol for about 15 years. We switched neurologists because of the continued seizures and involuntary movements that made her fall. She is now on lamictal (300mg) and topamax . Her seizures seem better, although she still makes the movements. But what is very different is her speech. She is speaking very nasally to the point I almost can't understand her and she repeats her sell constantly. Going to the neurologist next week.

Hi everyone, I had my mirena put in feb of 2008. Around June 2008 I started having dizzy spells, and headaches. Went to ENT and ruled out inner ear problems, went to neurologist and he said it could be migraines. I never had them before but have a family history. I have in the last couple months been having really bad dizzy spells and nausea, like 4-5 times a week. Has anyone else had any of these problems? Not sure if its the mirena or not, but have been to just about every doctor and no one can figure out why i have been so dizzy and nauseous> Any suggestions?????

After being on Lotrel for several years and doctors adding a pill for every side effect I got (14 prescription pills a day), I had to retire from construction at 47 yrs old due to muscle damage and weakness. After witting lotrel and getting on a different blood pressure pill I've been able to quit 10 other pills including arrhythmia pills for my heart! I'm 53 now and can't sit upright, stand, or walk comfortably for more than 1/2 an hour. I wish I had figured it out sooner. I used to b e able to lift 300 lbs and now can't lift more than 20 :

My side effects: slow but severe muscle loss, lethargy, severe coughing particularly at night to the point of separating ribs, muscle cramps, difficulty swallowing/choking, severe tachyarrhythmia. It is a dangerous drug, fortunately I figured it out before it killed me! I was on it for eight years and and my health deteriorated. I had to quit working 4/2003. I had gotten so bad that I qualified for Social Security 6/2006. After testing with neurologists and against my doctors recommendation, I quit the Lotrel 9/2005. I appear to have permanent muscle damage, but my energy level has increased with some increased strength, coughing/choking stopped, arrythmia is almost completely gone (was able to quit two dosages per day of Rythmol for arrhythmia, muscle relaxants, pain killers), and the swallowing/choking problem is completely gone. The side effects came along over a period of 8 years and have devastated my health. Doctors kept prescribing pills for every side effect not realizing they were caused by Lotrel. I was at a point where I spent at least 20 hours a day laying down or asleep. Now, although I have lost 90% of muscle strength, I am fairly active most of the day.

About 4 months ago I took 7 days worth of Levaquin after my sinus surgery. It was a preventative measure, I never had an infection. A few days into the prescription I started having tendon pain in my knees & ankles. I couldn't sleep, I was having nightmares, I was emotional, anxious and drained. My doctor told me to stop taking the Levaquin immediately. 4 months later and I am still suffering from entire body tendonapathy, neuropathic pain, joint pain, skin sensitivity, severe migraines, temperature sensitivity, twitching (muscles convulsing), basically my entire body hurts. Some days are a little better than others but not by much.

I have been to rhuemetologists, neurologists, pm & r doctors, physical therapists, acupunture, orthopedic surgeons, & allergists (in Chico Ca, & @ UC Davis in Sacramento Ca). NONE OF THE DOCTORS KNEW WHAT TO DO. My general physician actually told me to "go home and wait it out" because there was "no hope of finding help" (I'm not kidding). I've had tons of blood tests with fairly normal results. Thankfully I have a wonderful neurologist who has taken some interest in my situation. All of the other doctors told me that my case was very rare & that they had heard of such side effects but had never seen any patients with them! After some research on the internet I seriously doubt that my condition is as "rare" as they claim.

I am only 28 years old, I can't walk, I can't work, and my life has been turned upside down. I was very healthy before, I don't have a family history of health problems, nothing like that...it was the Levaquin.

Here is what I am currently taking: Lyrica for neuropathic pain, twitching, not being able to sleep etc., and oral morphine for the severe pain, Milk Thistle to promote glutathione (important because it helps your liver detox), Magnesium Malate (also helps detox), a multivitamin, vitamin c, and fish oil pills. I also attend acupuncture 2x per week (honestly feel some relief from it). Also, I heard that glutathione infusions are helpful but I haven't tried them yet. At this point I will try anything.

IF YOU HAVE HEARD OF ANYTHING OR ANYONE WHO CAN HELP WITH THESE DEVASTATING SIDE EFFECTS PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

~J.

I have been on lisinopril for over 3 years - 5 mg/day. I am a 52 year old female in great shape and exercise daily. For over a year now I have had muscle aches, muscle weakness, heart palpitations, foggy brain feeling, insomnia, fatigue, some tingling in extremities. I also sometimes get these spells where all these symptoms come on at once. It's very strange. Been to numerous doctors including, PCP, 2 neurologists and a rheumatologist and after many tests they all come up with nothing. After reading posts at this site I think it may be the Lisinopril and with my PCP's permission stopped taking it 11 days ago. My blood pressure is fine - I am monitoring it daily. My symptoms still remain. Does anyone know how long these symptoms may continue? I am grateful for any additional information you could provide.

IT'S OUT!!!!!!!!!!! What a mess I went through. For those who missed my prior posts, I got my Mirena in June 2008 after I got married. Even though I'm 29, I'm a medical student and not ready for a baby.. Within weeks I had oily skin, oily hair, hair loss, sore breasts, and no sex drive at all. But I never had a single period after the second month, so I was happy!

By August or September I was gaining a lot of weight (20lbs) and started feeling "brain fog" and fatigue. By December and January I was seeing neurologists for SEVERE migraines and dizziness. In April I developed symptoms like MS such as tingling/numbness in my head, face, and one foot... profound fatigue, and incapacitating dizziness.I've had every test done from thyroid workups to MRIs/MRAs and nerve conduction studies. I was on 3 different migraine prescriptions and was even getting nerve blocks in my neck for them.

In May I became withdrawn, irritable, depressed, and had anxiety attacks. I'm not ever a moody person, and never had PMS. But here I am, crying for no reason, yelling at my husband, snapping at my mother, and SO FREAKING EXHAUSTED that going to work is impossible, driving the car seems dangerous (severe brain fog.... like I'm drugged), and even just doing the dishes or feeding the pets takes all my effort (with tears) to complete. I don't feel like myself at all.

I found this website and thought perhaps all these symptoms were from the Mirena. So I found a new OBGYN who was awesome and said he'd take it out. I went to have it removed but the first a$$hole who put it in for me cut the strings too short so they could not be grabbed. The new doc tried to reach them but couldn't. I ended up having to have THE MOST PAINFUL PROCEDURE OF MY LIFE.... I had to take cervical dilation pills and then get a hysteroscopy which is where they shove a camera into your uterus to look around and find the little sucker. The cramps were unbelievable.... 10 times worse that getting it placed. (Mind you I've never had children so it was really bad). After he found the strings, he grabbed them and pulled. I thought I was going to die.... my poor cervix had a scope in it, an instrument holding it still, a dilator in place, a speculum in the hole, and then an instrument went in along side the scope and pulled the little bugger out. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I was in a hot sweat worse than menopause I bet!

So here I am, home, bleeding, only minor cramps. But now I wonder... how long will it be until the depression and brain fog go away? I want to be myself again. I want to be happy. I want to laugh instead of cry. I WANT TO HAVE ENERGY. My greatest fear is that I went through all the pain of putting it in, taking it out, and the cost, and the depression, fatigue, and brain fog won't go away, meaning it wasn't the Mirena to begin with. (If that was the case, I could have dealt with the weight gain, oily hair, and migraines as long as I had the nerve blocks). But I find it hard to believe that the Mirena is not the cause since so many of you women say the same thing. BUT.............. most of you had the Mirena placed after having a baby, so it's possible it was PPD?

THIS IS MY QUESTION TO ALL OF YOU OUT THERE.... did any of you WHO HAVE NEVER HAD CHILDREN have these things after getting the Mirena? Also, isn't it weird that the severe fatigue, depression, and really bad brain fog started after 9-10 months of having it and not sooner? I was on OCPs before the Mirena and did fine.... but this time I am so depressed and irritable, dizzy, and FREAKING TIRED TIRED TIRED.

:( How long until I feel better if it was the Mirena?

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.

Hi, I have been reading all the postings and my heart goes out to everyone. I been there, done that. Myself, I have a seizure disorder and been on Lamictal since 2003 (I can't recall/remember) - I had tried 5 other seizure meds that didn't work for me. For quite a while now I take 600mg a day and Keppra 250mg to control my seizures. I lost my driver's license twice so far (I know that is the rule in CA) , and once not long ago (I got my license back) I got totally lost in my town, which I used to know like the back of my hand. I thought I had lost my mind. I asked my doc if I was getting demenia and he said oh no you are too young (53). I have also learned doctor's (for the most part) are idiots too. They don't think outside the box for us. I can't spell anymore, get depressed easily. I really want to work, but I can't. I have tried time and time again, but (yesterday) it just about did me in...people explained to me how to do things on the job many many times but I couldn't retain any thing. People just looked at me as if to say what planet did you come from. I cried on the job so hard I wanted to disappear. I am so sick of my family saying "I know you can't - don't remember this or that..... I can hardly bare that. Now I have a potential kidney problem. Suppose it is from these meds? I am really scared.

I have been off Lipitor for 2 weeks now. I still have slurred speech. My tongue is moving to beat the band. I have been to 2 neurologists and both have told me that I have "motor neuron disease". This drug is POISON and anyone on it should get off of it. I never had a problem before I started taking this drug. Now I am looking at ALS as a diagnosis. That is awful to think that I might have that. I will find out on April 14th when I go visit my Dr. at Mass General. I will let everyone know what comes out of it.
P.

I have stopped taking Lipitor after 3 yrs. I was told I had a mini-stroke because of my slurred speech 6 mo. ago. Since then I have had a battery of tests and my neurologist told me "I don't think you had a stroke." I saw the words "Motor Neuron Disease" (I looked it on the web because I never heard of it before) on the script for my EMG. I blame it all on Lipitor and the wasting of the nerves and the muscles. I sound as if I am drunk. No one can understand me . I am taking speech therapy but it doesn't seem to help.

I think that since I have started the Advair, if anybody has had this symptom and I do not find it in the regular side effects, I have numbness from my waist all the way down to my feet. I have not felt my toes since about 3 weeks ago. I have already had the MRI of the spine and was told nothing to worry about, I have the best looking spine any radiologist had seen. My doctor took labs and they were all negative and normal and now she is going to send me to a neurologists because she is stumped. I believe I am going to stop taking the Advair, because it is the only NEW drug I have started since this began and see if that is the problem and if so. My problem is solved. If anybody else has had this problem let me know. Also numbness has began in my hands and fingers.

Attention!
I used Lupron protocol for IVF the last year 07. I began to have side effects a couple of weeks after I finish it. I had hot flashes, headache, insomnia and gain weight. However, on October 07 I began with burning sensation in both legs, which do not allow me to sleep or rest during the night or day. I went with 2 neurologists and I had a lot of blood tests done, also 2 nerve conduction study, 3 MRI… and until now November 08, No diagnosis. The burning sensation in my legs is not a joke! I need to try to keep my legs cool or my life is miserable, even in the winter my legs and feet are hot. I soak my feet almost every night in bucket of cold water and ice because they are practically burning. This year on November 08 I received again lupron as microdosis lupron protocol. Immediately, I begin to have the hot flashes 5 or 6 days after start it. The last year was after few weeks to finish the protocol. Also, the burning sensation in my legs is worst this second time. For a couple of weeks before use the Lupron again, the sensation in my legs was very light. Actually I cannot sleep at night and normally I wake up during the night because my legs feel on fire. Please if someone knows more about it, write in this blog. We need to figure out what is going on.

I was only on Yasmin for one month. After 2/3 weeks of being on it I started getting really bad migraines. I've had a severe migraine now ever since I got off of it. Does anyone know how long side effects last? Does anyone have this problem too?
I ended up in the hospital twice for the headaches. After the bloodwork, and CAT scan I was discharged, but to this day (I stopped taking the pills during the second week of October) I am still in constant pain. It feels like something is moving in my brain (as weird as that sounds). I am now debating to call a neurologist.
If anyone has any type of help or advise please help me!!

I am a retired Psychologist and former nurse. In April 2008 I went for a post -op check-up following ankle reconstruction surgery in July 2007 ( nine months after the surgery). I was still having a little pain and a lot of swelling in my ankle. The Orthopedic MD gave me a 1 c.c Injection of Kelalog and 3 C.C. of Lidocaine. He knew I am diabetic and didn't take this into consideration.He didn't tell me what he was injecting just got the shot and put it into my ankle with no information or explanation, telling me about risk factors or getting my consent .Three days later my lower legs became very heavy, weak and numb. The next day these feelings moved 12 more inches up my legs, and continued to move up my both legs anf then up body until it got to the middle of my chest and I was having a hard time breathing. I went to the local University hospital and was admitted to the neurology unit. After three days they couldn't figure out what the problem was and discharged me falsifying the discharge diagnosis saying that I was getting better. The neurology residents and their attending MD's emphatically refused to even consider that the injection of Kenalog was the problem.And so it was with another three neurologists I was referred to see. From then until now six months later my life has been hell. My diabetes has been out-of -control ( I had it under good control before the shot). My electrolytes are crazy, calcium high, potassium low, I have had three MRI's, 2 CKat scans, 2 EMG tests, nuclear scans of my para thyroid glands, at least 100 lab tests, dimpling in both my ankles and lower legs, and the heaviness, weakness and numbness coming and going in my legs so bad that I can hardly walk at times. I contacted Bristol-Myers to ask if there is any treatment. Their response was to get records form my doctor--I thought to help me--- but a phone call to their office made me realize it was to cover their own ass's and they don't give a S--- about me or how this drug had messed up my life.I had to cancel two consulting jobs to do Professional presentations costing me over $5000.00. I am 75 years old and now six months later all I can do is wait until this crap gets out of my system and hope I can get my diabetes back under control. I have been put on at least 6 more medications to control my symptoms including insulin shots. What a nightmare!

i had a cortisone epidural in my L3/L4 lumbar about 2.5 months ago.
30 seconds after procedure, i had severe dizziness and then fainted. Got up about 15 seconds later, i had no idea what had happened. My heart was racing and I felt out of it. I had the procedure in major hospital in Winston-Salem, NC, and they kept me for observation. I immediately felt different, i felt very anxious, nervous. Blood pressure was high. They admitted me to ER and they observed me for several hours. I had several bad 'panic attacks' where my heart unexplainedly increased to 130-150 bpm standing still. I felt extremely dizzy and light headed. They released me from the hospital and said i had a vasal vago reaction. I thought it was strange as i have had shots before with no problems. (doctor did hit a nerve with needle during procedure, very painful so i thought maybe that contributed to the fainting). For two weeks after the procedure i had trouble sleeping, irritability, nasaeu, stomach pains, bloating, chest pains, heart pounding, headaches, depression, dizziness and light headedness- thought i was dying at times. doctor's put me on a beta blocker to keep my heart rhythms under control. The meds made it even worse. Stayed on for about a month and a half then weened off. Nearly three months later, i still have extreme nervousness ,bloating. All the while doctor's all along said that it couldn't be the cortisone. I have not had any of these issues ever in my life, i knew it was the cortisone shot. This has been one of the most frustrating experiences of my life. Glad to see other people with similar experiences from this drug. I have seen neurologists, and cardiac surgeons, general md's about this and they all couldn't connect the shot to my symptoms. Cardiologist wanted to put me on a calcium channel blocker when i was off beta blockers, if it were there choice they would throw more drugs at it. I don't wish this effect of cortisone on anyone!!!!!!!!!!

I was prescribed methadone for chronic pain associated with partial paralysis from the chest down, 5 Macerated Discs, and a slipped disc right against the spine, preventing surgery as a cure. Believe me, the partial paralysis begins ONLY on the right side, and ONLY from the leg down, so the back pain is horrible!
Methadone has SLOWED the pain, but has not cured it in the least. Morphine helped, but I was so irritable to be around, I was losing family, so I tried changing to Methadone, and so far have not been very impressed! Highly addictive, cancels out any Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Morphine-based meds, so if your treated in the hospital and they treat you with any of those meds, they will not work for around 3-5 days, and then not well for another couple of weeks. I was in the ER for Kidney Stones, and was given, over a period of a couple of hours, 20cc's of Morphine straight into my IV, and was still wide awake, and was only on 60mg of Methadone per day. I WOULD NOT recommend this as treatment to chronic pain, even though more and more pain clinics and Neurologists, or even rehab specisicialists are changing to it, because the AWFUL SIDE EFFECTS. I still have not found my medication of preference, yet, but Methadone definitely is not suitable, for me. Though everyone is different, for me, the Methadone has increased the pain level due to, when I am NOT on it, I feel awful, so I wake up having to dose myself, and can not sleep until I have stopped taking the meds long enough to cause pain.

My nephew is 7 and has been on Singulair for probably 4 years. His symptoms developed over time but recently have exploded. He has epilepsy so most of the things that he has experienced has been blamed on that. However, today his doctor took him off singulair and said he believes his symptoms are caused from the drug. He started having head drop seizures, fell out of his desk and cut his face one day. He has also been depressed, had severe anxiety attacks for the past 8 months. Several months ago, he started having such severe nightmares that it is almost impossible to get him to go to bed and go to sleep. Recently he began "seeing dead people" and "monsters" that we trying to kill him even when he was awake. He has also cried many nights with leg cramps and severe stomach pain. I will update this page in two - three weeks to let you know if these problems go away now that we have stopped the singulair.

I was diagnosed at age 46 with osteopenia and being post-menopausal (altho I never had any symptoms). I was put on Fosamax 1X/week. After a couple of months I developed a painful locked left shoulder. X-rays revealed nothing, and the doctors could not give me any cause except "getting older." I was unable to hook my bra, raise my arm above my head, take an item down from a cabinet shelf, pull a shirt over my head, or put my hair up. I was referred to a physical therapist, and after four months of daily exercises with tension bands and light hand weights, most of the pain subsided and mobility resumed.

Now, a year later, I have developed terrible pain in my right shoulder along with pain in the upper arm, difficulty sleeping due to the pain, and recurring pain in the left shoulder. The right shoulder is not locked as was the left, but it is more painful.

I started doing the shoulder exercises on my own and found that the pain would be better for a few days, then resume with a vengeance--usually on the weekends. After reading this website and many others--voila! I have been taking Fosamax on Fridays. I've been off it now for two weeks and the pain is definitely better.

A few other things that have helped are a good massage to loosen the muscles around the shoulder joints, nighttime application of a heating rub (BenGay), and sleeping with a small pillow tucked under the armpit on the painful side (like holding a baby) to take the weight of the arm off the shoulder joint.

I have also been losing clumps of hair every day; I don't see any thinning or bald patches, but I am amazed at the two handfuls that come out every time I wash my hair. I feel so much weaker, especially in my arms, than I ever have in my life. I have always been quite strong for my small size, able to life heavy things, run long distances (three marathons), and have great physical endurance. Now I feel like a weakling; I have trouble getting up or down if I am seated on the floor or laying down, trouble lifting anything over my head, and trouble relying on the strength in my arms for ordinary tasks such as lifting or throwing.

I will check back on this site often and post an update if I see any significant changes after being off the Fosamax for a while longer. I want my shoulders, my hair, and my strength back!

Kenalog-40 I was never told what I was being given in my bottom, just that it would help with seasonal allergies. FDA site "Neurologic-Psychiatric: Psychic derangements may appear when corticosteroids are used, ranging from euphoria, insomnia, mood swings, personality changes, and severe depression to frank psychotic manifestations. Also, existing emotional instability or psychotic tendencies may be aggravated by corticosteroids." FDA More "Neuro-Psychiatric: Convulsions, depression, emotional instability, euphoria, headaches, increased intracranial pressure with papilledema(pseudotumor cerebri) usually following discontinuation of treatment, insomnia, mood swings, neuritis, neuropathy, paresthesia, personality changes, psychic disorders, vertigo. Arachnoiditis, meningitis, paraparesis/paraplegia, and sensory disturbances have occurred after intrathecal administration."
I went to an Urgent Care Clinic for allergies. My skin was crawling every time I left the house so I was told the cause was environmental allergies. The Benadryl wasn't helping. The nurse noticed my skin was patchy and swollen. Another nurse returned to the room and said this shot would help with the reactions. I was not told what it was till it was done and she mumbled the word Kenalog. Three hours later I was anxious and talking irratically. Pressured speech, I could not stop talking. I called Nurse Advice line, then told to call a Pharmacy Help Line, who in turn said to go to the ER but to not drive myself in such a condition. I was talking as if I was on speed or manic. The ER said to go home it was just an anxiety attack. I took 2mg Clonzepam to calm down and sleep. In the morning, the symptoms returned. I called the hospital pharmacy and was told to go in immediately to see my doctor, that it is a steroid and causes psychic reactions. My regular doctor didnt have an opening so I saw a different doctor who wasn't familiar with my normal personality. She said she saw nothing wrong no matter that she couldn't get a word in unless I physically put my hand over my mouth. She sent me to a Nurse/psychiatrist next door to her. He said there was nothing wrong also. I had to keep repeating myself, speeding along, stuttering because I was talking so fast, telling him I was going 100 miles an hour in my head and out my mouth. I thankfully had an appointment with my psychologist a few minutes later in a different part of the hospital. I see her weekly. She immediately saw my change in mood and personality and called the clinic nurse/psychiatrist and told him to prescribe clonzepam. I did some reading about kenalog 40 injections. The clinic doctors didnt have the same list of side effects as their own pharmacy. I should never have been given the shot because I already have an emotional/mood problem and have epilepsy. I have to increase my anti-convulsants for at least two weeks and watch my mood very very closely. Some days I "fly" then "crash" now. This is all new, extreme symptoms of an already existing condition. This Urgent Care Clinic nurse was told all these things by me, repeatedly because of all my allergies to drugs, daily convulsions and counselling I already undergo for PTSD. I was never seen by a doctor that day or counselled. I will never take a steroid again based on the information I now have on its effects on psychiatric and seizure conditions. I am already disabled because of daily seizures and now I have even more daily seizures. These mood swings and seizures will be abnormally high for over 3 weeks I was told by the doctors but the more reading I do the longer I find that the steroid will cause side effects. Epileptics or those with a low seizure thresh hold, anyone with psychiatric conditions, emotional problems such as panic attacks or anxiety, PTSD, depression, Please use caution with kenalog. My friends are very helpful and supportive during this time. They can see the emotional impact the steroids are having on me. They will tell me I am speeding and I say "sorry, its the 'roids talking" Now, I will be watching my butt, too. Its been 7 days since the injection.

I'm 29, have been on birth control pills for 10 years, and switched to Yasmin about 2 years ago. I a small varicose vein in my right within 2 months of switching, but didn't think a relationship between my vasculature and the pill existed. I can now trace the entire vein from my right hip to my ankle. In the 2 years since starting Yasmin, my ankles and lower legs swelled heavily...but at very random times. It often began at the start of the 7-day sugar pill regime and finished by the time I started a new pack. I assumed that the estrogen withdrawal going into the sugar pills was too much for my body to handle and that the diuretic effects of Yasmin were obviously absent during that time. I also noticed leg cramping, heart palpitations, and I started waking up in the occasional hot sweat in a drenched bed.

So, after making sure that my heart and kidneys were healthy, my gynecologist prescribed continuous hormone Yasmin and claimed it as the "ultimate solution". For 4 months, I have skipped the sugar pills for each pack and started new packages immediately. I have not had a period since, and the edema has continued (still at random) and has become exponentially worse. In the last few weeks alone, the vein in my right leg has become massive, my legs are so distended by the end of the days on which they swellI that I can't fit into pants which are otherwise loose, I am noticing other large veins "surfacing", little veins are breaking everywhere, and I can now see most of the blood vessels beneath the skin in both legs. My primary care physician told me I have chronic venous insufficiency...a diagnosis I'm not okay with. I'm very worried...the changes and ensuing damage have happened way too quickly to be venous insufficiency. I am going to ween myself off of the pill, but don't know what the next step should be. Endocrinologist? Another OB/GYN? Anyone have ideas or similar experiences to share....

Am I the only one who has gained a lot of weight while on Lisinopril? I have gained over 40lbs in 3 years. I have also experienced odd muscle cramping and have never made a connection to this and Lisinopril. The pain in my ear, side of my head, and my jaw was unbelievable. ENT dr thought it was TMJ or nerve damage. He was not able to really pin down the exact cause. One month later I was bed ridden with severe back pain, which I have never had before. MRI showed nothing. Headaches are daily, cough, leg cramps, chest pain, decreased sex drive, and definitely have feelings of depression. I have never made the connection between the changes in my personality, health, and lifestyle to this medicine; but now I have. I will be immediately contacting my doctor to discuss alternatives. My BP when I started was 150/90 and now is 112/70. Please let me know if anyone has also had the weight gain like I have experienced. I know I am going to have to have hard facts to show to my doctor. Thank you.

My son is 16 years old, a wrestler, and was in excellent health. He developed sinus issues and had surgery on September 17, 2007 (he had a headache on the left side of his head which the ENT said was due to sinus issues). After sinus surgery, the doctor prescribed Levaquin for 10 days. After 4 days, I called his doctor and told him he was getting worse and not better. The doctor said not to worry. After that he had sleepless nights, felt like the room was moving away from him, became dizzy and light headed. Then the joint pain came. First in his thumbs, then wrists, elbows, knees, and ankles. He developed severe headaches in the back of his head. The headaches were moderate to severe and with him 24 hours a day. He became extremely weak and his dizziness continued. He was tested for many diseases through numerous blood tests, had a spinal tap, MRI, MRA, CT of the spine, CT of the sinuses, x-rays of the knees, and an EEG. All came back normal, except his sinuses were still swollen which is normal after sinus surgery. He has seen numerous medical doctors (primary, pediatrician, two neurologists, allergist, two Ear Nose Throat) and is now seeing a pediatrician in UCLA and has appointments to see more UCLA doctors.

He has been out of school now for a couple of months. Luckily, the school has him on home instruction and sends teachers to the house and he is maintaining his honors classes. To give you all hope, he does appear to be getting better, but it is a very slow recovery. Up until two weeks ago, some days were okay and some days were pretty bad. It comes and goes like that. At first I never suspected Levaquin, but stumbled across the side effects when I was trying to research what was wrong with him. The only thing I found that had helped some people was taking high doses of magnesium (the kind ending in "ate" is better absorbed). I was and still am nervous about giving my child a lot of any type of vitamin, but no one was able to make him better, so I gave him 250 mg three times a day for three days. It could be just a coincidence, but about 3 days after I stopped giving him the magnesium, all of the joint pain was gone except for his knees, which still hurt if he bent down.

After a couple more weeks, he still had severe headaches, knee pain, some dizziness and some weakness, so I thought I would give it another go and gave him magnesium three times a day for 4 more days. After the 4 days of magnesium, he started on a new medication called Lyrica. His knee pain is almost gone and his headaches are minor with only an occasional flair up. I can see in his eyes and how he reacts that his is feeling better than he has in a long time. He has always been a happy kid, but I can tell he has his special spark back.

For the last two weeks, I just give him one 250 mg of magnesium a day, multi-vitamins, and Lyrica. By the way, one of the blood tests I requested was for magnesium, and it showed his level was normal. So, I have no idea if it is time that is making him better, the magnesium, or the fact that he is taking Lyrica. He will still continue to go to the doctors, none who believe Levaquin could be a cause, until he is completely back to normal. I believe that Levaquin was likely a culprit in his overall health issues, especially since no one can figure out how my healthy, energetic son suddenly became so ill he could no longer go to school. For the past two weeks now, he has had good days mixed in with okay days (no bad days though!!!) He has had only 2 weeks so far of better health and we hope it continues to get even better. Good luck to all of you and my prayers are with you. I hope somehow this will help someone.

Started out with face tingling about a week taking it primiraly on the right side of my face. About 3 weeks into taking the medication I experienced Experience weakness on left side of body which included unable to lift left arm and left leg, unable to stand by self, involuntary tremors to the hands, fingers, legs and mouth, difficulty speaking, very emotional, very tired. Was hospitalized because emergency room doctor felt that the effects were due to reaction to an MRI dye 6 hours before. Was released next morning with slight improvements in left side of body strength, speech slowness cycled from normal to extremely slow, additionally the involuntary tremors with the hands, fingers, legs and mouth continued as well as the emotions, actions like eating and bathing required a lot concentration and caused extreme tiredness.

I was on Nuvaring from 2002 until 2006, in that time I started having horrible migraines, I had never had a migraine previously. My migraines by June of 2005 were daily..... I was taking Topamax 400mg, Neurontin 2400mg, Altace 2.5mg and Celexa 40mg all daily. Along with Maxalt, Phenergan and Vicodin. I had 3 bottles of botox shot into my head to stop the pain. I went to 3 Neurologists, none of which had any explanation. I was sent a letter telling me that the Nuvaring would not prevent pregnancy with Topamax. I quit using the Nuvaring and within 48hrs my daily migraine went away. I now only take one daily med and will have a migraine during ovulation/period. All of this can be supported by my medical records. I had to go on disability for a short time due to them.

Amanda DeLay RN