Old women symptoms and conditions

I have been reading all of your posts and I am surprised by what I am hearing. Especially the depression, loss of sex drive, and hair loss. I did check out their website (http://www.nuvaring.com/Consumer/aboutNuvaRing/possibleSideEffects/index.asp) and it seems they are actually pretty honest about the possible side effects. HOWEVER... although I checked the site before I started taking the ring 2 years ago, I kind of ignored the "possible" side effects as just that, "possible." Because I've never had any problems with medications or birth control before I didn't think they would happen to me.

Last week I 2 days late in putting in the ring and since then my breasts have been SO tender I can barely walk. Seriously, it's awful and I know it is the hormones from the ring. Until this point, I have had no problems with it, in fact I have really enjoyed its convenience and effectiveness. But after reading all of your posts I am wondering if I should rethink using it... I have been feeling really down, angry and anxious over the last few months and not really craving sex with my boyfriend like a 22 year old women should!! I don't want to over react and blame it on the NuvaRing if it could be other things in my life, but I also don't want to ignore it either because if taking the ring out would make me feel better, more healthy, less angry, etc...

What should I do?

I am a 36 year old women that decided to start taking birth control for the 1st time in my life which was on aug. 1st. I decided this after having my last of 3 kids. my ob doctor prescribed me Yasmin, but I filled the ocella a generic of Yasmin. I was at first concerned a little bit about taking birth control due to my age. But my ob told me that if I smoked than there could be risks of the side effects of birth control. I do not smoke, drink, or eat badly.I used to drink coffee everyday, but stopped because of the b.c. effects. I am not overweight with no other health conditions, except now!!! I don't exercise much or sleep much because of taking care of the baby. I do stress and have anxiety at times. I have had a few mild heart palpitations in my lifetime that occurred at work.
I have never experienced so many and strong HEART PALPITATIONS until I was on the pill. I started experiencing them about 2 weeks after starting the pill they occurred about 3 to 6 times a day about 4 to 5 days in a row. I continued for another few days just to make sure, but still had HEART PALPS. I stopped taking the pill. on aug 17th. I was also more moody and felt like I had pressure in my head at times. I than got concerned and decided to take my blood pressure on aug 31st.which was at 133/88. I said to myself that i have elevated blood pressure that i never had before. I started to worry because i never had HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE. My BLOOD PRESSURE started to raise every day and reached 182/101. I was was so worried and stressed over this, because i know I did not have HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE before. I called my ob to find out my blood pressure before i started the pill and on july 27th it was 120/64 a great and healthy blood pressure. on Sept. 5th I went to urgent care they gave me a clonidine 0.1 to lower my bp when i reached 182/101. and did an ekg which was fine. my pulse if fine. They gave me lisinopril 10 mg to help if my blood pressure continued to be high. I did start it because if was like 172/96 which was close to this # everyday.It is helping a little. My pressure ranges from 128/80's to 156/90's. usually the 2nd #. It's rare that it hits lower. started meds on sept. 6th. I don't have any heart palps since about 3 days ago, which was 11th. but still have hbp. my primary dr does not think it could be my birth control, especially with being on for only 2 & 1/2 weeks. I'm pending blood tests right now. and my dr. thinks it could be my thyroid causing palps and hbp. my dr does not seem to think bc's can raise hbp. I read the package insert of bc's and read on internet it can. I felt completely healthy 1 month ago. and had excellent blood pressure.

I was on Toprol XL for 6 years. This drug is not good. I am a 47 year old women that weighs about 120 and am 5'3". I have had HBP since I was 30 and have tried most of the medicine out there to try and control it. Toprol made me feel horrid. No sex drive, tired all the time, sometimes so tired I couldn't even get out of bed, dizzy, chest pains and tightness, feels like my throat is closing, panic attacks.... the list just goes on. I am now on Azor and it seems to work great for me. Coming off Toprol was another nightmare and it took me several months to completely wean myself off of it. Today is my 5th day completely Toprol free and I am starting to feel like me again.

hello i am a 28 year old mother of three i am going to school to become a nursing assistant just started my clinical.i have not been feeling good for the past 4 weeks went to my doc and asked for them to test my urin they took it and only did the dip stick instead of sending it to the lab the doc called me about a week later and told me everything looked good i said to him are you sure i feel like i have a uti so he told me if i am still not feeling well come back in in about a week so a week passes and now i am having pains in my back and trouble going to the bathroom so he does a (ua) i go to the lab to give urine and he put stat so the women said it should be back by tomorrow i called my doc the next day the receptionist says yes your results are in so i told her i am coming down cause she couldn't give me the results over the phone so i get ther and she tells me well it came back abnormal which i knew didn't have to pay $80.00 to tell me that i was the one telling the doctor that so anyway she tells me the doctor is in with another patient that i will have to wait i said oh no i feel like i am dying i am having so much pains in my kidneys so she said ok 1 min she got the doctor he called me down to his office and said well it looks like you had a uti and now it seems a little worse than that it might have traveled into your kidneys so i said i told you a few weeks ago when you said my urine came back fine i was in a lot of pain so now what he told me he was going to put me on levaquin 500 mg for 5 days and lets see how that works and to come back in in 2 weeks to take a repeat ua so i said ok got the prescription filled $50.00 later went home and read all the side effects and was so scared to take it but i was in so much pain and hearing about the actress who died of a ut i was so scared but i took it even know in my heart i knew it was not going to respond to me ok well let me tell you i almost had to quiet school i can hardly take care of my children just to walk up the stairs to go to the bathroom feels like i have been running a marathon for 10 miles we are a young couple and parents of 3 and i am a homemaker till i finish school so we live on my husbands pay check which really is living week by week nothing in saving cause we need every penny for bills and food but now i have been in so much pain not sleeping a wink cause i am so afraid of the nightmares that he has been home and not working which means no money is coming in at all i mean how do you tell your children well sorry i have nothing here and no money to buy you juice boxes for school i just really wanna give up i feel like i became a failure to my husband and children if i wasn't so sick he could be working and at least we can have the basics how do i tell them that we are almost out of oil and might not be able to have hot water i mean my life seems ruined all because of this drug i can not believe it i wish every day if i do fall asleep mybe it would be in my childrens best if i do not wake up but then feel like how can i even think that they love me no matter what i don't know i just can not even believe that my life turned around like this in the matter of a week how can this happen i really need help if anyone is out there please help i just wanna end it but i know deep in my heart my kids need me what to do

I had the Mirena coil inserted April 2008.At the beginning of June 2008 i was starting to get pain in the loin area in both sides. A few weeks went by and i woke up one morning in absolute agony,vomiting and breaking out in sweat. I had to call my GP who thought that it was either a kidney infection or stones. I was prescribed antibiotics which relieved it slightly but the loin pain was always there just not as severe. In July the pain got worse so i was sent for a CT scan which came back normal. I also had blood tests and urine tests. Urine tests showed infection or blood in urine.Sept the pain got so bad that i was hospitalized for a few days and had a scan which again was normal but blood in urine. Was told kidney infection and put on more antibiotics. Also since June had been suffering terrible Anxiety,mood swings, low self esteem,tiredness and worrying about absolutely everything that i could not sleep at nights. I had a few sessions of counseling to try and combat those feelings. I also have terrible acne on my face and neck but not just pimples, they were more like boils which is not a good look especially for a 41 year old women! Then there was the weight gain. I`ve always been a healthy eater and workout 5-6 times a week at the gym but since June last year have put on 10lbs! I just feel so bloated and clothes that were loose on me are now too tight. I`m the heaviest i`ve ever been and so fed up about it as i`ve always been a size 8-10 but now 12-14.After reading this forum and recovering from yet another UTI from last week, i decided to book appoint to have my coil removed this morning. It will interesting to see if the above symptoms stop.Will let you know how things go.

hi im a 37 year old women from England with two children and had my first mirena coil fitted about five years ago because i was experiencing very heavy bleeding virtually every day after coming off the pill and my husband having a vasectamoy told by my doctor this was best option to be fair first time round mirena was execellant had no nasty side effects and even better lost loads of weight. in April of lart year i had a new mirena fitted as old one was running out and since November i have had nearly all of the symptoms that you ladies have experienced; thinning of my hair ;bad back;bad cramps in my abdomen;sore swollen boobs;pains in my legs;tiredness so much so that finding it hard to exercise;fluttering in stomach like baby is kicking;bleeding starting again after having none at all;always feeling bloated beem eating activa yogurts like their going out of fashion;have appointment with nurse on Monday 2 go through the option of having this horrible thing out lucky for us ladies in England we do not have to pay for any of these procedures.will post back in couple of months with results of how im feeling

I am a 52 year old women , except for a yearly resistant sinus infection I would describe myself as very healthy and have only minor aches and pains for my age. I was prescribed Levaquin by a walk- in physician after 2 months of a sinus infection. Within a week I felt 100 years old . I could barely get out of bed, the pain in all my joints was excruciating the first 5 minutes and didn't improve a lot during the day . I didn't think my legs would hold me upon rising from any position. After one week of finishing the drug I started to feel better.......it has been two weeks now.... I'm still sore and weak , especially noted in hands and legs .

I am a 58 year old women.I have been on advair for three years. I have gained a few pounds and have bone loss in my left jaw. Resulting from taking advair. Went to see my family doctor about the bone loss. He has taken me off of advair. A lot of pain due to taking advair. Possible surgery in future. I think advair should be taken off the market due to so many side affects.

24 yr female diagnosed with PE and DVT. I have been on Warfarin since may of 08 and it has turned my world upside down. Weight gain (20lbs in 3 months), major hair loss, very bad acne, and memory loss. Not to mention i can't shave my legs or anything else for that matter with out getting major in grown hairs. I NEVER had any of these problems before. I am loosing muscle mass and feel as if I am a 70 year old woman. I don't know what to do but cry. The doctors keep telling me its not the medicine but I feel it is, my body is telling me it is. things are not easy, and it is affecting me I feel for the rest of my life.

As a Doctor myself I think drugs are NEVER the answer except in EMERGENT issues in Heroic life saving... YOU however and all individuals are and should be MORE accountable for your own health and STOP DEMANDING the Drugs and look to LIFESTYLE changes in DIET and EXERCISE to achieve the GOALS so necessary for quality and quantity of life.... The tools are at your fingertips ... The almighty internet ... And your OWN imaginative mentation is your TRUE limitation... So TAKE control of yourself and BE accountable .... Sorry so blunt but MORE tough love and Educating people is whats needed.... NOT more drugs....

MDG

I was prescribed the 4mg methylprednisolone pack along with 50 mg tramadol for acute tendinitis in my wrist. I took the first 3 days of the prednisone and only 2 doses of the tramadol over the three days. For a total of 60 mg of prednisone.

The first day I had hot flashes and insomnia but attributed it to the tramadol because I had never taken it before and had taken the prednisone several years ago for poison ivy with no adverse reactions. I didn't take the tramadol the second night and then took it again last night along with my daily dose of prednisone. I had extreme difficulty falling asleep, heart burn, hot flashes; and tossed and turned all night trying to fall asleep. At around 2am, I began to have difficulty breathing, tightening in my chest, confusion, and racing thoughts. It felt as though my throat was closing up on me. My anxiety progressed to the point that I was pacing back and forth. I woke my husband up and told him to prepare to take me to the ER. After calling my insurance's 24 hour help line, it was recommended that I go to the ER. I had an x-ray, blood work, urine drug screen, and echocardiogram. Luckily, everything was negative. The ER doctor told me that I likely had a reaction to the prednisone and commented that some people will experience these symptoms when taking it. He stated that he had a similar reaction when he took it and it felt like he was climbing the walls, which is an accurate description of my experience that night. He recommended that I either stop taking it altogether or call my primary care provider and cut it down. He prescribed me xanax and administered some to me at the ER which greatly helped. The next day I stopped taking the pred but am still having dizziness, chest tightness, hot flashes, and mental dullness. I have decided to never take this medication again. Fortunately, I don't have any of the physical sx that some have experienced, and my heart goes out to you. I think the mental symptoms were traumatic enough for me and can't imagine having both as I would be a basket case. I have mood swings, some melancholia, and am very fatigued.

I think it is imperative to research any medication that is prescribed to you before you take it. Many providers will say that side effects are rare, but my experience is that side effects are more common than rare. My prayers go out to those of you who are going through what I am going through. I hope that it clears our systems quickly because this is no way to live. I'd rather put up with the pain of tendinitis or carpel tunnel than to have these symptoms.

I have been taking HCTZ for 8 years due to having problems with swelling after having my first child. A good while later, I was diagnosed with pre-hypertension but having irregular heartbeats. My cardiologist added Lisinopril.

I had the same problem with cough and feeling like something was stuck in my throat. I went to an ENT and they could find nothing wrong - but I've been taking major amounts of Musenix for years to help clear my lungs. The feeling that my throat was scratched or something stuck in it have never gone away. Why didn't any of my doctors put two-and-two together???

It just clicked in my head recently that I had also started to have hair loss around that same time I started taking HCTZ. I had a lot of hair so it wasn't that much of a concern for years but is now more of an issue. I spoke to my internist 2 weeks ago and she thought it may be the HCTZ. She said to stop taking it that night. I questioned if I should taper it off and she said no reason to wait. (No mention of the Lisinopril and hair loss).

Two days later, I could hear a crackling sound in my chest/lungs when I opened my mouth. I called the doctor and her assitant said to let me know if it didn't get any better. Two nights later, I was extremely restless and coughing. I couldn't get a breath. Lots of crackling noise - fluid in my lungs. I had to stand up and work hard to get deep breaths - all night. Around 4 am, I decided I better take the HCTZ or I was going to die - so I did and the fluid started to leave my lungs and I was better by noon the following day.

I want to get off both of these medicines asap - I don't want to wind up a bald, dead 41 year old women leaving behind two young children and a husband.

Anyone else have similar issue when stopping HCTZ? What results have you had with resolution to hair loss after getting off the medicine?

Oh, also have had a headache going on 10 days for the first time in my life. I think it was from quitting the HCTZ "Cold Turkey".

i have been taking zocor for about a year when i remember to take it but have been having very bad muscle weakness in my legs.I have had a few leg cramps occasionally.Also when i sit and then get up i am like an old women.The ache never really goes away.My legs are so much worse when i wake up in the morning.I am going to stop taking it for now and see if things change

I am a 44 year old women that has been dealing with asthma almost my entire life on and off.But I started a new job(housecleaning)and I believe it started up my asthma.So after having to use my albuteral inhaler a couple times a day,I decided to see my dr.He put me on advair.The first day I started taking it I was breathing so much better.I thought this is it!I finally found the miracle pill!Well about 5 days or so into it I started getting a really bad sore throat.The kind that is deep down-maybe in your larynax or whatever.And yes-I rinsed really good after every use.Well I ended up in the e.r. at 12:00 at night.I could hardly swallow and it felt like something was stuck in my throat.They gave me an ekg and did a neck xray on me.Dr. told me it was most likely from advair and to stop using it now and he put me on prednisone for 5 days.I called my doctor that put me on it 2 days later and told him what happened.He said huh,I wonder why that happened?Anyways,now he prescribed singulair to me but after reading all the negative comments I am not sure what the hec to try?I have missed 3 days work.I will most likely change jobs.I am real weak and anxious.Probably from prednisone.Anyone have any ideas on what works best for asthma that has few side effects?HELP!

I'AM A 69 YEAR OLD WOMEN TAKING SINGULAR EVERY NIGHT SINCE
APRIL I WAS GIVEN IT TO SUPPLEMENT MY ADVAIR (TAKEN AM & PM)
AS I HAVE COPD ALMOST FROM THE OUTSET I DEVELOPED A COUGH
NOT HACKING BUT ANNOYING I LIVED WITH IT NOW I DEVELOPED
A HOARSENESS TO MY VOICE THAT YOU CAN HARDLY HEAR OR MAKE
OUT WHAT I'M SAYING STARTED TO WORRY ABOUT THIS SO CALLED MY PULMONARY DR & HE HAS TAKEN ME OFF IT FOR 1 WEEK STARTING TODAY 6/6 I'AM TO CALL HIM TO LET HIM KNOW IF MY VOICE
CLEARS

I am a 43 year old women with 2 children. After my second child I started having problems with infections and pain during sexual intercourse After 5 years and 3 doctors I was diagnosed with endometriosis. I had surgery and still had some discomfort so my doctor suggested the Lupron shots. I was very concerned about the side effects. I talked to my husband and prayed about it a lot and decided to go with the injections. I just had my last of 6 Lupron injections the other day. I have experienced most of the side effects such as fatigue, mood swings, joint pain, lack of desire for sex and night sweats but have handled it pretty well. I was very concerned about the weight gain so I started a pretty intense exercise schedule (work out everyday) I have lost 5 pounds and feel the exercise helps with the fatigue. Even though I did experience the side affects due to the fact that I did not take my add back therapy like I should have I feel so much better than before I started the Lupron injections.

I am a 49 year old women, who has been taking Lipitor 10mg for about 2 years at first I was told by my Pharmacist to take before going to bed because this is when the cholesterol is released in our body's. I also took synthroid for a thyroid condition,& Blood pressure medicine, but always took these in the morning, so at first I would forget to take the Lipitor on a regular bases. I am being helped with my prescriptions by a program that sends me my medications directly from the Pharmaceutical companies at no charge to me. I was receiving 3months worth at a time and the were piling up so I thought I really should take these regularly since heart disease runs in our family. In these past 2 years I have been experiencing progressive muscle weakness ,restless legs and feet at night so much that I can't sleep I toss a urn so much I most of the time cannot sleep in the same bed as my husband. in this last 8 months things have gotten so bad I know something is not right I have been going to Dr. having x-ray MRI, P.T, I have told my Doctor my pain is gotten to the point that I needed something strong for pain because I have to work to survive and it was getting to the point the every movement I made was very Painful almost like a deep burning pain. I am now getting spasms in almost every major muscle in my body.At night I gett cramps in my legs and feet that seem to move all over my leg muscle with the painful "cramps " I have ever experienced and they are brought on by just the muscle strength it takes to turn in your bed, they always last for 20min. or more. I work as a nursing assistant for an 84 year old women who has Parkinson's Disease I take her to all of her P.T appointment and exercises along side of her she is 84 and I can only lift 10lbs more than her we joke about it to the effect that she is doing great, but in reality I am the one who isn"t doing so well.The past 4months I have been looking for answers myself because I am in pain 24/7and I know that just because I'm turning 50 next month doesn't mean I should have less strength the the 84 year old I care for daily, These past 2 weeks I have started experiencing extreme nausea and stomach and back muscles going into spasms. drinking fluids are what always are coming back up and since I sweat a lot when showering my patients, I have been starting to see signs of dehydration and being very thirsty if I don't sip it it has been coming right back up my appetite is also decreasing because of the nausea. I am so thankful I found this website. Because I do not need any more proof to know that I have a least 90% of the symptoms other have explained I am quiting Lipitor immediately. Good Luck to everyone taking this medication.

I am a 35 year old women, with severe asthma. I have had asthma since I was four years old. I have been through numerous meds. Currently I am taking Singulair, Combivent, Advair diskus and thte 7 day Predinsone. In July 2007 i had a severe asthma attach where i almost lost my life. In the past I'd rarely take the Advair, but since that last time in the hospital i have been religiously taking it. Right now i have a severe chest cold and i am taking theraflu and vicks cold meds and i am noticing strange things. Irregular heartbeat, feeling bloated, some anxiety and my weight gain. By reading the other posts and this whole site, i know believe i should ween myself of this Advair again. It is too much to worry about ...

I went back to my PCP today. Yes the one that gave me the Levaquin. He was very nice and even agreed it was the Levaquin I took back in December. He said that these types of side effects we all are describing are RARE (I would have kicked him for all of us, but my legs hurt to bad).

But he did acknowledge pain and my symptoms (listed in my December post) and prescribed me Prednisone for my ligaments and Lyrica for my nerve pain. He also said it was going to be a long haul. I know that some of you are dying to telling why these meds are bad too, but I am going to try it because I haven't really been out of my bed for two weeks.

I just wanted to let you all know, that maybe some doctors are starting to listen... and that we should keep speaking out and warning others about the HIGH risk of our side effects.

I am a 34-year old women who started 50 mg of Toprol-XL 4 days ago for a rash of panic attacks I experienced earlier this week, after having high blood pressure and occasional panic attacks in the last 3 months. Since then, I've had migranes for the past 2 days, bad allergies, stomach pain, loose bowel movements, slight difficulty breathing, frequent urination, and tiredness/lethargy during the day with trouble sleeping at night. I was already feeling strange my 2nd day on it and called my internal medicine doctor, who, of course, told me to stick with it. At this point, I'm ready for safer, natural alternatives. I'm will call the doctor tomorrow to tell him that my mind is made up and ask for instructions on how to wean off of it safely.

I am normally a very physically fit specimen, working outside every day. One 500 mg. tab of this poisencompletely debilitated me. Within six hours of taking levaquin I experienced excruciation soreness in my arms and shoulders. My throat swelled up and I could barely breath. I was perscribed steroids to stop the swelling - I took only ONE 500 mg time release tab 7 days ago and today I am still experiencing incredible pain.I am so sore I can't sleep. If anyone wants to start a call action suit I am in - I have NEVER sued anyone - but I am furious.Any advise out there as to how I can flush this poisen out of my system?
Chris

incontineous urine drop by drop urine

I am a 47 year old women. I started thanking two packs for a disk in my back. I HAVE NEVER taking anything like this before. After taking my last pill, that night i started with nasua.By the next morning I had bad nasua,sweating, chills had to stay in bed.I also could not go to the bath room for days. very bad stomich pain and indagestion. Would the cause blood in your stool. Has any one else had this problem?

I am a 48 year old women who has been diagnosed with a upper repiratory disease called sarcoidosis. I was presribed prednisone 30mg per day in april of 2006. About two weeks ago I noticed a numbness in my left foot. I trully believe its a side effect of taking prednisone. This numbness causes occasional pain. I am down to 10 mg per day and I think i am going to stop taking the drug to see if its the culprit. I will let you know in the near future if the results are good. Thank You Annette D. Odom of Philadelphia, PA.

I HAVE BEEN ON METADONE FOR ABOUT 7 MONTHS NOW AND I AM UP 150 MGS A DAY, I HAVE FIBROMYALGIA AND THE PAIN IS JUST TERRIBLE MOST OF THE TIME, WHEN I FIRST WENT ON THIS DRUG I THOUGHT THAT IT WAS THE PERFECT DRUG, IT TOOK ALL OF MY PAIN AWAY, IT WAS SOMEWHAT CHEAP, AND MY DOCTOR WOULD GIVE ME ENOUGH OF IT TO TAKE CARE OF MY PAIN. HOWEVER ...I WAS ALWAYS A SMALL WOMAN THE MOST THAT I EVER WEIGHED WAS 150 PONDS AND THAT WAS WHEN I WAS 9 MONTHS PREGNANT WITH MY CHILDREN, I USED TO HAVE TO MAKE MYSELF EAT TO TRY AND GAIN WEIGHT..AFTER BEING ON METHDONE FOR ABOUT A MONTH I STARTED TO NOTICE THAT I HAD INTENSE CRAVINGS FOR SWEETS THAT I COULD NOT DENY...IT WAS LIKE NEEDING A HIT OF HERION OR SOMETHING.. NOW THAT LITTLE GIRL THAT USED TO HAVE TO TRY TO GAIN WEIGHT AND WHOS NORMAL WEIGHT WAS 115 POUNDS IS UP TO 162 POUNDS AFTER JUST 7 MONTHS ON THIS DRUG, I AM ONLY EATING ONE MEAL A DAY AND JUST HAVING A FEW BITES OF SOMETHING AT BREAKFAST..THE MORE I TRY TO DIET THE MORE WEIGHT I GAIN...SOMEONE HELP!! IS THERE ANY THING AT ALL THAT I CAN DO .. I CAN SOMEWHAT DEAL WITH THE CONSTIPATION THAT IS NEVER GOING AWAY AND I CAN DEAL WITH THE SWEATS THAT ARE HORRIBLE - I CAN EVEN DEAL WITH THE SLEEPINESS AT INAPPROPRIATE TIMES BUT I CAN NOT DEAL WITH ALL OF THIS FAT..THIS IS MAKING ME EVEN MORE DEPRESSED AND SUICIDIAL THAN I EVER WAS BEFORE METHADONE....I REALLY AM THINKING ABOUT TRYING ANOTHER DRUG BUT THEY ALL JUST COST SO MUCH.....ANY ADVICE FOR ME ABOUT THE WEIGHT GAIN???