New year symptoms and conditions

Our story is so similar to many of the others posted. I am including it because it adds to the data. Our 12 year old son has been on Singulair since age 7. Prior to going on Singulair (although I did not make the connection between these two events until this week..) he was an easy-going, happy, delightful boy. During the late fall of first grade he started developing strange behaviors--obsessive hand-washing, kicking our pediatrician, saying the water was poisoned. He is continuously irritable, moody, easily annoyed, impulsive, self-critical and has difficulty modulating his attention. He has had a few incidents where he has said he wants to die, he is worthless and a loser. He continually apologizes for his behaviors and is extremely remorseful, but then goes and does it again. We have seen so many specialists, spent so much money on counseling, have tried neurofeedback, Adderall, alternative supplements (eg omega 3's)...the list goes on. His issues have been like a part-time job for me. I never made the connection to Singulair, because the pediatrician and allergist assured me that Singuair had virtually no side effects. Right after the New Year (2008) he had a few days where everything seemed to go right for him-- moodiness disappeared, did his homework agreeably, seemed truly happy for the first time in a long time. In retrospect, I am guessing it is because we forgot to bring his Singulair on our vacation, so it was out of his system for several days. Now that we've tossed the meds, I'm hoping that the side effects are short lived...and we see our old son again.

As for the individual who wrote that we may be ambulance chasers, I can promise you that any money I receive in a successful class-action law suit would go towards helping other families avoid the pain and suffering our son has gone through. I consider myself an educated & well-informed parent and yet I was blind-sided by the medical industry.

Shortly before Christmas 2007 my doctor decided my LDL was too high (104) so changed me to Vytorin from just Simvastatin. Shortly after the new year I became so weak that I would look at my stairway and wonder how I was going to manage going up for the night. I was extremely tired and terribly weak, hurting all over. I didn't even want a back rub from my husband because I hurt so bad. I arbitrarily stopped taking the Vytorin and resumed my Simvastatin (40mg/day) When I called my doctor he poo-pooed my symptoms and said if I had those symptoms with Vytorin I would have them with the Simvastatin. 2 weeks later my cardiologist assured me that I was not imagining the symptoms and increased my Simvastatin dose to 60mg/day which seems to be fine. Three of my co-workers experienced the same problems and took themselves off medication. Doctors...listen up!!!

irregular period; flushed red face (first few days after injection); acne; bladder infection; indigestion (gas, burping)

I received an injection of 80 mcg of Kenalog in my hip joint to treat pain due to hip impingement. As is the case for most of the other women on this site, I received NO warning from my orthopedist of any these side effects. She said there were virtually no side effects for a single dose, only for repeated use. The only specific reaction she mentioned was the potential for infection at the injection site, which didn't occur. She gave me no information about which medication or dosage I'd received, let alone a handout with side effects.

A week after my injection, I got my period -- 2.5 weeks early. I was unable to speak with my orthopedist's office for the next 1.5 weeks because they were closed for the Christmas - New Year's holiday. I did manage to reach my gynecologist, whose office was also closed for the holidays, but she said she didn't think my early period was due to the steroid. Since I still didn't know which steroid I'd received, I couldn't do any internet research. I was worried because I have a uterine fibroid, which could potentially be causing the irregular bleeding. Also, I know there are other scary causes for irregular bleeding.

The period lasted 8 days, which is longer than usual for me. Almost immediately after it stopped, I started feeling PMS symptoms, like I could get my period again any day.

I ended up cutting my vacation short so I could see my gynecologist. When I finally got in touch with my orthopedist's office, they told me that I'd received Kenalog, which can cause menstrual irregularities. WHY DIDN'T THEY TELL ME THAT TO BEGIN WITH??? It would have saved me 2 weeks of needless worry.

Now that I've informed my gynecologist, she says it may take a few months for my menstrual cycle to get regular.

I used YAZ for one moth last July and it really helped with my mood swings. My period has always been light and I only have cramps the first day of my period and they are bearable by most standards. However, i stopped using YAZ after a month and a half and decided to get back on a few weeks ago (in time for the New Year) and within ONE WEEK I FEEL TERRIBLE!!! Like many of you I kept worrying that I was pregnant, took a test which turned out to be negative but still experiencing the NAUSEA, TIREDNESS even after a full night's rest, back pain and I am emotional!!!
I am VERY in-tune with my body so this is soo bizarre to me especially since I've only a taken 8 pills so far. My boyfriend says to get off it ...for all the bad side effects it just doesn't seem worth it!!!! I was thinking that the symptoms would subside as my body adjusts in the first month. I am still debating if it's worth finding out! ~ Still looking for the right pill for me! :o(

Hello,

I have just gone through a series of tests and a heart cath over the holidays. I have MVP and two other leaky valves. I have known about these since I was 28, I am now 62. I have had problems with the valves, skipped beats, faster beats early on in diagnosis. Just this Nov., I started with problems again, thus the tests were completed. They found Ven. Fib, fast and skipped beats, therefore putting me on the Toprol XL Tab SA. I have only been on this 7 days. New Year's Day, 4 days after the heart cath, I started with fever and chills, only to find out 2 days ago I have full blown strep throat. This makes me wonder if I had this before the heart cath was performed, as I had complete exhaustion,.... anyhow, I took myself to my family doc and she is taking me off of the Toprol and after reading all of your reports I am very glad. She treats me with herbs and has for years, until this episode, I have been very well, I am actually an energizer bunny due to her efforts! So I am working with her on herbs to build my system back up and support for the heart. I hope the rest of you can find a way to wellness that works for you. I know many people don't believe in herbs but I firmly do! Don't be afraid to try herbs if you can afford it! I am 62 and don't look it or act it, like I said until this episode and it truly makes me wonder if it wasn't the infection playing the biggest part. What concerns me is why that was not caught in the first place? Anyhow, take heed to your own body warnings, other people do not know what is transpiring inside of you, only you can know this. Thank you Doctor ** for keeping me well!

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO EVERYONE!

I WAS PRESCRIBED LORTAB DUE TO PAIN FOR CRAMPS AND I EXPERIENCE DIZZINESS, LIGHT HEAD, COULD NOT SLEEP AND ITCHING REALLY BAD!! THIS MEDICATION IS NOT FOR ME!!!

I am 35 yrs old. My son was born 7/2/6 I got the Mirena inserted on 8/31/06. Right after I had my son. My body doesn't react well to the birth control pill and did not want to get pregnant. My Gyn said there is a slow release of hormone so I wouldn't even notice any changes. My period was off but I just had my son. In March I went to my primary and she put me on Zoloft since I was experiencing anxiety, a constant flush, and insomnia (kinda feel like your going crazy at certain times of day). I never had these before giving birth (and its not the stress of my son). They did blood work it came back fine. I took yoga, acupuncture and Zoloft, nothing is working 18 months later I went to my primary office and seen a nurse practitioner and she said take the Mirena out-she herself had certain side effects that I had. My Gyn says that is not the cause, it could be the Zoloft. How confusing is all this. I am really considering having it removed soon. I want to feel myself again. I'm sure my husband does too. Anyone with info. on after the Mirena is removed and how I might feel would be helpful. At least I have idea what might lie ahead even though every one is different.I am so glad I found this site. Ladies take care of yourselves. There will be happiness again.

Hi Ladies,
I was not aware that there was so many side effects, I had terrible pain having it inserted as most of you did, cramping for the first month after and then nothing till this morning when I woke up and felt like I was in labor I could barely move I had 2 Panadol which had no effect so I had a hot bath 2 Nurofen, a Berocca, called the hospital where I had my 2 children and the Mirena put in, they said it may have dislodged because it is a foreign object our bodies will try to reject it from time to time because it is a foreign object, it is not dangerous for us just really uncomfortable, the pain started to go away so i went to work, I feel a bit heavy but that is it!
She has booked me in for a consult in the New Year, I am not worried.
Not that Bad!

Hi All, I am a 37 year old mother of 4, with a history of severe Hemiplegic migraines (up to 14 a month). I've been on Verapamil and Topamax for 7-8 months with a gradual increase of the Topamax to 150 mg a day. Before I start writing this I have to preface it with two things: First, Before Topamax I was one of those women my friends refer to as a "Supermom", I home school my kids and used to love it, we normally have a lot of fun and I have a successful, happy marriage. Second, on Topamax, I went from 14 migraines a month to 0. It didn't happen over night, they went away as we ramped up the dosage, but for the last few months I have had no migraines, I can feel it occasionally when my head is fighting one off, but nothing an Advil won't stop, and for those of us who've lived with trying to care for kids while having migraines (especially Hemiplegic) you may understand why I initially put up with the following: I started out with the tingling in my hands and feet (that went away in a couple of months), word finding difficulties (which never really went away, I just learned to accept it),occasional blurred vision which never lasts very long but which has been an issue the entire time I've been on the med, and weight loss ...I am 5'4" and was only 118 lbs to start with, and have nearly "disappeared" into a size 0 and 105 lbs, and it doesn't matter how much I eat, I've been trying 3 meals, snacks, cookies, candy, you name it, I can't gain weight. I was never nauseous, no diarrhea, I just don't get hungry... I had to start wearing a watch at one point to remind myself to feed the kids, because if they didn't ask, they weren't getting lunch until 2:00 because I wasn't getting hungry! Soda does taste like metal (fortunately I don't drink it normally anyway), and you do get loopy with one glass of anything alcoholic.
Then to add to the lovely appearance of skin and bones, my hair is falling out. Before Topamax I worked out regularly, I am even on commercials for my gym (recorded a year ago), since Topamax, I was so tired, depressed, and so afraid of losing weight that I stopped working out. Now a woman who has always made it a goal to set a good example for my daughters that a fit body is the goal, not a thin body, has her mother in law telling her that she looks "bulimic"! In August I noticed I was crying a lot, then I thought well, maybe it's the Topamax, so I started drinking more water and it went away... so I've been very careful to drink A LOT of water and only decaf tea while on this med, but apparently that wasn't enough, because a few weeks ago my husband pointed out that I stopped showering every day. I have been crying at the drop of a hat for a couple of months again, and I have never been someone to cry in public, I have even started crying in front of my daughters friends' mothers and near tears in front of her teacher over the littlest things... then last weekend I found myself with four hours to myself in my house for the first time in months and I was thinking about how I might be able to use it for unspeakable things like running away, or worse... if those aren't signs of a pretty severe depression I don't know what are, fortunately I recognized them and put them together with the memory problems, etc. As for the memory loss, there have been problems with that for months as well, my daughter has been telling me I "have a bad rememberer" , This weekend everything culminated and other people were recognizing the memory issues that I had been keeping private until now (including my husband). Before that, I would be in the kitchen cooking and forget what I was doing, I went to drive to a party this weekend and forgot where I was going, so I called a friends husband and he had to tell me four times where to go before I could retain it (at first he thought I was joking) and then I still couldn't remember the name of the place, only the # and street, I haven't been able to remember routes to places I used to drive... I'll find myself sitting at a light not sure where to go, and making mistakes with our money because I forgot whether I did or didn't pay a bill (something I've never done, we have always had excellent credit). On Topamax I went from feeling like an attractive, successful, good mom,with a happy family... to constantly stressed, even by things I had previously enjoyed doing, and a completely depressed failure... but I had no migraines. I have now been weaning off the Topamax for a few days. I was playing phone tag with my neurologist... so due to the urgency of the problem I took myself down to 100 mg a day. I have since spoken with my neurologist and I am going off of it completely... by the way don't ever discontinue this med without ramping off of it, doing so can cause a seizure. I am unbelievably grateful that I put 2 and 2 together the weekend I had time to myself and got lost going to the party and I already feel more awake, less tearful and depressed... I know that things will be ok anyway. I hope that anyone reading this who is having memory or emotional issues on Topamax and just brushing them aside (because they don't want to risk going back to the migraines or whatever), will get off this med. Please realize that this med could have cost me, my kids and my husband a lot more than my migraines ever will. I have never experienced depression before Topamax, and I can't say that I'm completely back to myself yet, but I hope that when I am off this med I will find normal again, and I pray it will be without migraines, but I know that I wouldn't wish these past few months that I've put myself and my family through on anyone. Now, I need to go take a shower :) , then I'm going to my neurologist to pick up some 25 mg samples to continue ramping off! Good luck to you all!

I am on my last shot and I am so Glad.I have had night sweats,hot flashes,sleeping diffuculties,no energy,achey and a little weightgain.I am curious to see how I feel once I am off this for good.If anyone has any ideas or any comments about Lupron let me know.