Nickname symptoms and conditions

I am a 38 year old male suffering from a combination of occipital neuralgia and migraines. For 20 years, until a year ago, i would endure pain that was only manageable with narcotic pain relievers (imagine all the gamut of such kind). I would have neck and head aches typically 3-4 times a week, accompanied by vomiting, dizziness which would put me to bed for the entire day. Work and family suffered in magnitude comparable to my own suffering. So then I finally saw my GP for that. The pain meds went up the roof, imitrex, maxalt was added to the equation with only marginal side effect. I saw a neurologist. He had me do an MRI and put me on Topamax starting from 25 mg, which I upped to 200 mg within 6 weeks. Past the initial side effects, the headaches subsided, the frequency reduced and i was able to enjoy weeks at a time with no episodes. Stayed at 200 mg for 5 months. In the meantime, the MRI came back positive for some brain inflammation. False positive they said, does not fit the clinical picture. Second MRI, same positive, this time proceeded with LP, which was negative. Third, MRI still positive; making the neurologist uncomfortable. While dealing with MRI results, the topomax had yielded positive results as far as pain management was concerned. But little by little I noticed that I was becoming more irritable, more impatient and more forgetful. Someone would have to remind me of something several times before it would even register in my mind. I empathize will all the posts that mention feeling like having Alzheimer's. I didn't care in the meantime. As long as I didn't have to deal with the pain it was ok with me. But the situation became worst and worst. I couldn't concentrate on anything, the mere task of remembering to do something was insurmountable. I would wake in the middle of the night and find myself staring at the bathroom mirror for no reason. I would have terrible panic attacks which i control with valium. But yet i continued on with topamax convincing myself and being convinced by other people around me that i just had a "personality disorder". Finally, work begun to suffer. I was loosing track of meetings, deadlines and when this happens someone knocks on your door (boss) telling you that something just doesn't click, something just doesn't feel like a personality quirk. Other people playing doctor would slap on my face that i just had ADD, that I should take something for that and get on with my life. But something was wrong. Pain or dizziness or lack of concentration etc are all electrochemical processes in your brain. It turns out that topamax was helping my headaches but it was not slowly deteriorating other cognitive abilities. Finally, the neurologist decided I should wean of the topamax, stepping down from 200 - 150 and then we go to 100 and so on. I dread the re-occurrence of the headaches. I am waiting for them to happen again at some point as I drop the dosage. But in the end of the day, I'd rather be in pain and in control of my life rather pain free and absent minded.

I've only been taking this drug for two days - 25mg in the evening - and I've already got side effects. I get tingling in my fingertips, and all down along the bottom of my fingers. I've been feeling nausea as well, and writing this, my brain feels a little blocked and slow. I also think I'm losing my appetite, which could be a good thing, considering that I do need to lose weight. But I don't think it is worth it if I end up getting side effects like the ones that have been posted by other people.
I'm a writer, and I cannot afford to lose my memory, or suddenly not remember how to spell words, or to communicate effectively. Should I stop taking Topamax?

Tony Sapore
Too Everyone on this devil drug get the hell off it..My wife is Dead because if it.. Its happened so quick.We are from arizona(mesa) It pretty much happend in one day.I was at work My mother in law took sandra too go see a (her doctor) she was really white out of breath weak and coudnt breath ..Rite away they told her to go straight to the emergency room.They thought she was bleeding inside.They took care of her rite away. They started to take alot of test cool everything came back awesome. Then they said we are going to run a Kat scan.Bam that was it.Came back to us said she had Pulmonary Embolism .They said they can treat it.Never said you can past from it.So they took her to her own room in the hospital ..Started treating her for the blood clots in her lungs ..Everything was looking good getting color back and thinking positive.You know were like cool 3 4 days in the hospital eat good food alittle vacation dont have to take care of our son Nick 12 years old .Her mother was with us up until 1120 pm she was tired and told sandra that she was tired no problem go get some sleep and I will take care of her.She was resting pretty good then around 1220 pm about a hour later BAM stood up Cant breath and she was at white as ghost.She was suffering I could tell I called a nurse.THat when it happend so quickly They gave her oxygen nothing couldnt breath its was like she was having A CARDIAC ARREST her body couldnt function she was really tiny(her Nickname was peanut) 130 pounds then one doctor came then another like it was ER the show.I couldnt do a dam thing .Then the took me out of the room I knew something was up that was the last time I saw her alive suffering.I was sitting in a chair about 4 rooms over.Lights going off over the door.There was about 10 people in her room.Lights going off red white red.THen I heard them say Go GET A SOCIAL WORKER.I knew in my heart she was gone.They tried to give her CPR for about 20 min nothing.Then they said they want to call any family .They called her mom and Dad.and said they are going to try 10 min of cpr nothing they came out of the room and told me she died.Wow 35 years old both of us .Then her parents showed up and I had too tell them their daughter died all in one day..So know we know it was from yaz..All the signs losing hair cant breath always nervous lots of head aches .Every thing was their signs .Just because of that stupid pill.. Thank you so much and sorry it was so long have a good holiday.. always TONY

Well folks, its coming off time and it is no fun. i have only been on l5 mg and under for a short time, but im weaning and have laid aside the entire week for that. im tired, very sleepy, headache and feel as if a spoke or two is missing.lol

Wow, I'm so glad I found this site and now realize it's not "just me" as one doctor put it. I have had my Mirena in for 18 months. The first year was great, no side affects at all. 6 months ago I started getting bad allergies, the worst PMT symptoms ever starting three weeks before my cycle which I barley get anyhow. I continue to struggle for breath on a daily basis and I have never been this tired in my entire life. I have been in and out of doctors surgeries wondering what's wrong with me, even seeing a naturopathic. Nothing helped until I found this site, I have never had children and I don't plan to have any. I thought this would be a great 5 year at a time solution for contraception as doctors claim I am too young to be "fixed".
Now I truly believe I need to have this removed for my own health. When I do I will repost the outcome.

I've had my Mirena for about 15 and a half months and I am having it removed today at 2 o'clock. At first I had sharp pains when I would sit down and I felt like the cords were poking me and irritating me. My OB/GYN requires patients to come back one month after having it put in so he can check it and make sure it is still in place. At this visit he also trimmed the cords although he acted like he didn't believe me when I told him that I could feel them poking me when I sat down and that it hurt. At first I didn't notice any bad side effects, but I did have one good one: my periods stopped, but I still had occasional and sporadic spotting. I didn't think to look for any bad side effects because I got the device under the impression that it had no bad side effects. I thought it only had a rare complication of perforating the uterus, but since mine was in place at the one month check, I didn't think about anymore until I started thinking about having another baby recently. I went online to see if I had to have a doctor remove the Mirena or if I could do it myself, and I found out that it's best done by a professional because bad things can happen and then you'd have to go to the doctor anyway. Plus, I didn't want to hurt my chances of having another baby. While online I discovered this whole world of message boards where women were having a lot of the same problems I'd been having in recent months and they all blamed their Mirenas. Some claimed that their problems had gone away since having it removed. I never thought to link my circumstances to the Mirena, but when I saw how many women are having the exact same problems as me I knew that I needed to go ahead and get mine out ASAP. Here is a list of my side effects, and I've found other women have had them as well with Mirena: weight gain, bloated stomach, depression, short temper with husband and daughter, acne, low sex drive, spotting, cramps, constipation, and back pain. There may be more, but I can't remember them all right now. Some of them may not even be related to the device, but I've read of so many women with Mirena who are having or have had the same issues, so I suspect a link between my problems and Mirena. I hope this helps someone out there looking for answers. God Bless!

Having the Mirena IUD put in was the worst thing I have ever done to my body! I am 33yrs old, have 3 kids - 9, 2 1/2, 1 1/2. They told me to come in when I started my period because it would be easier to insert, so that's what I did in early November 2007. (Since then, I have had non-stop bleeding or spotting every day.) I didn't have as much pain as some people have described, but it was more uncomfortable than I expected. The next day I developed a bad, bumpy, itchy rash on both of my legs from my ankles to just above the knee. I thought it was just a fluke, and it starting going away after two days. It was gone within a week. I started having very bad mood swings - angry, short-tempered, irritated, irrational, paranoid, and I wanted to cry over everything. (I normally don't cry over anything - I am not an emotional person.) I got a few deep, itchy pimples on my face, which normally I don't get either, but I figured I just needed to get used to the hormone. Then, my upper back and chest started itching really badly the second week, and I got pimples all over those areas - I have only ever had them at about age 13-14 and not as bad as I do now! I became fatigued, and I have gained 5 pounds. Don't get me wrong - I have been eating everything in sight, but I feel terribly hungry half an hour after I am done eating. So that part is my fault, but I'm not used to be being hungry all the time for no reason. I have religiously gone to the gym 4-5 times a week for an hour and a half a day for the past year and a half. For the past two months I have gone twice a week, and struggle to make it an hour. My endurance is terrible. My muscles - particularly my legs - burn like I've had long strenuous workouts, which I just mentioned is not the case. My sex drive - NONEXISTENT. Luckily for my husband, I know it's a side effect and haven't told him - he would probably take it personally - so I just go along with sex when he wants it. I finally had to get over the fact that I had non-stop spotting, but sex is not enjoyable when you feel self-conscious, and no foreplay because of the spotting if you know what I mean. (Sorry if that's too much information but I'm sure some of you can relate.) My husband was also not thrilled about the strings - I wouldn't be either if I was him. I had a non-stop migraine for 9 days straight - I maybe get two of them a year before Mirena, and they last about 3-4 hours. I normally have 20/15 vision - better than most people - and I found I was struggling to see things I normally could. I have been occasionally nauseous, but that has been minimal. My breasts have been sore. I am sure I am forgetting other effects, but as you can see the picture here is pretty grim. I went back to the doctor three weeks after insertion, and he told me that he couldn't tell me what to do, but that it is not rational to expect to feel perfect after 3 weeks, and that most people adjust just fine after about three months. He further explained that he has personally put in several hundred, and only one person has ever wanted it removed. He said my "side effects" probably had other causes and this was coincidental, and that the few that could come from the Mirena would settle down. Well, for the next month it got worse. Yesterday, after working a 12 hour graveyard shift, I forced myself to stay awake three more hours until the doctor's office opened. I went in with no appointment, and told them I would sit there all day if I had to, until it was removed. They managed to fit me in with the nurse practitioner, and she also asked if I was sure I didn't want to give it one more month to settle down. After reading everyone's stories on this site, I was pretty sure that was pointless. So she removed it as I asked, and at least treated me with respect and didn't try to tell me it was in my head ( like the doctor did.) She said it could take up to 20 days to get the hormone out of my system. (Which is funny, because when you get it inserted they tell you the hormone acts only locally within the uterine area and doesn't get into your "system" - LIES!!!) Well, I went home, went to sleep for 4 1/2 hours before I had to be back to work for another 12 hr shift. But guess what - even after getting little sleep, I felt much better than I had in two months. My headache was gone. While sitting at work, I noticed I could see things at a distance again. I had a pretty stressful night, and not once did I feel emotional. Just a little tired from lack of sleep - but it was worth it!!! I am almost 24 hours from when I had it removed, and see a light at the end of the tunnel. I hate to sound pessimistic, because I wanted really badly for this to work out. If anyone tells you what you are feeling is in your head - or has another cause when you know the symptoms started at the same time you got the Mirena - DON'T BE BULLIED. They will try to make you feel like you are the only one complaining, but you're not. There are many of us. Trust me on this one - you will feel better if you get it removed. If you are reading this and haven't gotten it yet - keep this info in the back of your mind. If you want to try it and it works out for you, great! But if it doesn't, don't stick it out any longer than you have to. I also extend my sympathy to those of you that had it in longer than I did and are taking longer to recover, especially those who have experienced traumatic pregnancies and miscarriages since. I hope you take some comfort in knowing your stories have helped me make a great decision - having it removed. I also had a friend read all of your postings because she was considering this as well - she has since changed her mind.

I had Mirena put in straight after the birth of my second child as recommended by my maternity hospital to have inserted 6 weeks postnatal and kept it in for seven months. At first I just had minor symptoms like spotting slight cramps and a little bit of vaginal discomfort due to the wires, and the only good thing was that my periods stopped eventually. As the months went on my health started to decline as the side effects crept up on me and I couldn't figure out what was wrong. I just thought it was because I have two small children and I was feeling worn out/burnt-out, it got to the point that I was struggling to do everyday tasks and look after my children. I am only 24 years old and I felt like I was a 50 year old grandmother!

I had the Mirena removed 3 days ago after reading this site and I feel so much better! This company must know that there are more side effects than they have listed, yet they still fail to list the serious and debilitating side effects their product is causing people. They were sending the maternity hospital I went to products with Mirena printed on to push their crappy product. The biggest worry I have about this thing is that I am breastfeeding and I had this stupid thing in for 7 months and some of it was coming through my breastmilk and I have noticed that my 9 month old baby girl had really bad clicking joints that have got better since the Mirena removal as have mine! (although not 100% back to normal yet) This company deserves to have their product removed from the market and someone to sue the pants off of schering. The product is completely unsafe!. If there are any long term side effects to myself or my daughter I WILL SUE THIS STUPID COMPANY AND THE DOCTOR AT THE MATERNITY HOSPITAL WHO PUSHED THIS PIECE OF JUNK TO ME. The warnings are completely inadequate - because I'm sure if all the possible side effects were listed next to no-one would have it put in. I feel that this thing is pushed on mothers so that you can't distinguish the side effects from hormonal changes that could possibly occur after the birth of a child to hide the fact their product is dangerous.

First I would like to say thank you to all the posts for filling me in on the side effects of Mirena. I wish I would have read this sooner!! Here's MY short story....II am 34 years old no children and do not want them, I was having problems with birth control for years making me sick. I saw the add on TV for Mirena and though "HEY THIS IS A GOOD OPTION FOR ME" Well....BIG MISTAKE...On Saturday December 22nd I had Mirena inserted. I was told it would take 5 minutes and have no pain at all. A little grossed out by the fact of having to do this while with my period I still went ahead with it. My 5 minute painless insertion turned out to be an excruciating 45 minutes of poking pinching and jamming this piece of plastic into my cervix. The pain was unreal but subsided a few minutes after. I though I was in the clear....OH NO....about a 1/2 hour after the cramping started. I thought my Uterus was being shredded inside me the pain was so bad. I called my OBGYN and he said this may be a result since I had no children. He told me to take Motrin and in a day or so I'd be fine. WELL.....for the past 6 days I have been in so much pain I couldn't stand up. I had horrible bloating, diarrhea, bad headaches & cold sweats in the middle of the night. During the day I was nauseous probably from the pain but who knows. I literally killed my stomach with all the Motrin I was taking. Yesterday after being in pain all week, ruining my xmas and almost my new years, I googled Mirena Side Effects and found this site!! thank you ladies....I immediately called the emergency line for my obgyn got a doctor on call and told her i wanted it OUT NOW. She made me stick it out till this morning 9am. I went in and MY GOD IN HEAVEN the pain of taking it OUT was worse then putting it IN however the pain lasted for only about 3 hours and I'm OK now. My abdomen is still bloated and very tender but I am sure that will go away. I printed all of these side effects and gave a copy to my doctors office and told them that maybe they should read up some more before they put any of their patients through this. My mother was right....it is not natural to put something foreign up into your body and it be healthy. So, to all.... DON'T DO IT!!! its not worth it!!
Happy New Year!!

I had the Mirena put in place in August of this year. I had it put in to help with heavy bleeding and in that aspect it has worked. However, the cramping is unbearable. I now have prescriptions for Naproxen, Motrin 800 and Darvocet. Prior to the Mirena I had not experienced cramping other than slight cramps during my cycle that 2 Advil would take care of. Now the Darvocet don't even work. I experience cramping 24/7, sometimes light cramping other times sweating with intense pain. My doctor keeps saying it is not the Mirena, maybe it is endometriosis (sp?) and wants to do surgery to see. Also since having the Mirena put in my hormones are going crazy. I have gone from Ms. Ice Cube always carrying a sweater with her to don't touch me or sit by me because I am so hot. Night sweats are horrible, I wake up every morning with my hair and bed sheets soaking wet. I am now on Prozac for depression. I am not crazy, all of these things started after the Mirena was put in. Also I have noticed in many of the other post people complain of cramping in their right side, my pain is on the right side. Why is that? What does the right side have to do with the Mirena?

When I was offered Mirena I thought it was the best thing ever. I have been going to the same doctor for nearly ten years so he knew the negative effects that regular birth control pills had on me, including severe depression and anxiety issues. I had not had these problems since I had not been on any bc pills. It had been years. Five weeks after the birth of my baby I got the Mirena after my doctor raved about it "having no side effects". I wish daily I would have researched it and not trusted him on it. I am bloated, depressed, I lost so much hair I have bald spots, I am tired all the time. I used to live in the gym, now I can't get up the energy to go. My facial hair has increased dramatically. To the point where I wax my entire face ;( This to me is probably the worst problem as it kills my self esteem. I am an attractive female but because of facial hair I don't even want to leave my house. I didn't have this problem before. My acne is out of control. All of these can be symptoms from having a baby, but most clear up within six months to a year. I just wish doctors would wait and let your hormones settle down before they push for the Mirena, that way the side effects could be properly tracked and people could get accurate information about the risks involved. I am going to have my removed next week. I hope some of these effects will lessen, especially the facial hair which is one of the main causes of the depression. I am heartbroken about it. But I hear that once you wax you have to do it for the rest of your life ;( so I may be stuck anyway and it may be too late for me. I will never trust the word of my doctor again.

My daughter is 9. She has taken Singulair for 4 years. She is a handful. Her nickname is Sassy. I do not like that nickname, but my extended family gave it to her and it stuck....I have taken her to counslers, who have considered she is bipolar, ADHD, OCD. I have looked at pictures of her, my journal entries and just thought of so many memories. I have found myself wondering what happend to my sweet preschooler. Why has she changed so much. Sadly, as I read these posts I realize the possible cause. Something that I trusted to help her all the years, has really done more harm than good. Now I have reached a point to find new answers.
Any suggestions on where to begin.