Oprah symptoms and conditions

I'm sitting here in tears reading all of your posts because I've also been on prednisone and have horrible side effects. I was diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer in my lungs in June of 2002 and, after starting at 60 mg/day then, I have been on 20 mg/day for years now. The very first posting that I read mentioned problems with the femur bone. Besides all of the other problems associated with this devastating drug, in December, 2007, I broke a bone in my left foot with no known cause for it. Then I started experiencing pain standing or walking in my left leg and was diagnosed with a fractured femur bone and after several months of trying to get it to heal (including an ultrasonic bone healing system), it just kept getting worse until an orthopedic surgeon recommended that I have a 16 inch rod put into my leg which I did and it ended up to be one of the worst decisions that I have ever made. After experiencing all of the prednisone side effects for almost seven years including depression, severe fatigue, weight gain, moon face, thin skin, cataract surgery on both eyes, hump on my back, mood swings, etc., the pain and suffering that were caused by that operation brought me to seriously consider suicide. I was also diagnosed with chemical neuropathy in both of my legs also which makes my legs so weak that I have to crawl up any steps and have trouble just standing. I actually have an appointment for this evening to have an x-ray done to see what is wrong with my knees and did not realize that this also is yet another side effect. I never make it through the night without waking up in pain and getting a pain pill and then getting up in the morning is almost unbearable with that "burning" pain. I am now on Cymbalta for depression, Xanax for anxiety, Percocet for pain, and of course 20 mg of Prednisone. I was told that I would have to remain on Prednisone for the rest of my life because of the lung scarring and COPD. After reading all of your comments, I have decided that I would rather put up with any breathing problems (and I don't even know how slight they may be at this point) than to remain on the Prednisone. I have tried weaning off several times but get so fatigued that I can't move and that's dropping one mg every week. I'm affected by the decrease but it gets out of hand when I get to 14 mg and I get so frustrated and depressed at not being able to do anything that I just go back up to the 20 mg/day. If you have been able to wean off of it, would you please let me know how you did it and what you had to go through? I'm 65 years old now but I have two wonderful granddaughters (ages 4 and 6) who I can't do any normal "Grammy" things with anymore at this point and I have to change this condition for them and for me. Obviously, the doctors don't recognize the severity of the drug because they just keep prescribing it and out of a regular doctor, an oncologist, an orthopedic surgeon and a neurologist, they can't seem to get together to come up with a solution. I have to say that I haven't considered suicide lately but I do wish that I would just die and be out of this pain. My family and definitely my granddaughters and wanting to see them grow up are the only things that keep me going. There are probably things that I'm forgetting but I'm sure that one of you have covered it in our posting. Although my family is so supportive, no one and I really mean not one of them, realizes knows what we all go through because of this drug. How could they know that something that is supposed to help you could cause these problems? My life is a living hell, all because a pulmonary doctor prescribed prednisone seven years ago and I trusted him to only do what was right without informing me of what was to come. I more than sympathasize with all of you. I sincerely appreciate the time that you took to post to this site and so thankful to know now that this knee pain is not something new that I have but another side effect of the prednisone. I wouldn't have known that if it wasn't for this site because I'd be willing to bet that after I would have had this x-ray done, one of my doctors would have just prescribed another medication to take. Please feel free to contact me directly with any comments or especially any help that you can give me. I know that all of you are going through the same thing so if I can do anything for you, even just listen and understand, please contact me also. Sometimes that's the only thing that people can do is to listen and someone who is in the same situation can always understand. I'm here for anyone who needs a hug for the day.

Wow. I have an appointment to go get my blood work done, because I couldn't for the life of me figure out why I feel the way I do. Until my friend asked me if it could be the Mirena... duh. I've had it now for almost a year. (It was put in after my second baby.) It hadn't even occurred to me before that it could be the culprit. I wake up every morning feeling like I just got hit by a bus. Anything but refreshed! I can be happy one second and then TICKED OFF the next. I never ever in my life would even THINK of swear words in my head. Now, it's a rare occasion when I DON'T freak out and kick walls and say every swear word I know. My vision is blurry. My neck is super stiff. My lower back always hurts. I get so depressed. People who know me are starting to notice that I'm not the same old me. My husband calls me crazy. My kids pray that mommy will stop being grumpy. I keep wondering why I hate my life, when everything is just what anyone would ever want. Hmmm.... something isn't right.

Oh my gawd!!!! I feel like a weight is being lifted off me as I write this!! While I have been keeping my emotions in check on the outside, inside I have committed murders for no reason, and it's been making me even crazier than I have become!! I have been telling my husband for months that I think it is perimenopause (even though he didn't know that anything was wrong - (I think an Academy Award is in order) ...even asked a new doctor to do some blood tests but she was useless. After watching the last couple Oprah's about hormones, I decided to Google some stuff tonight. And there popped up posts about the Mirena. Reading for hours and hours, I have been close to tears realizing that getting this thing out of me (after almost 5 years) is definitely the first place to start. I am 41 and know that, with age, comes some weight gain and the like. But this gut on me is ridiculous!!! Leg cramps, skin issues, mood swings, insomnia...the list goes on and on. The only positive in all of it is that I haven't had a period in almost 5 years. But let me tell you that tampons are starting to look really good right now. I'm making an appointment tomorrow and will post again in the near future to update. Will also be checking back for more great updates from you all! Thanks for the light bulb! x' & oh's

3 years ago i had the mirena inserted, 6 week's after giving birth to my daughter.....At first i had the heavy bleeding for 2 months but other than that thing's seemed to be ok, that didn't last for very long.about 3 months after getting mirena i started to notice some weight gain and acne on my face and arms.. I called my doctor and he said it could not be the mirena and that it was probably just pregnancy hormones still in my body..So i believed him,BIG MISTAKE!!As time went on i started to notice more symptoms ANXIETY,DECREASE IN SEX DRIVE,PANIC ATTACKS, HEADACHES,FATIGUE,DEPRESSION,INSOMNIA,IRREGULAR SWEATING,FUNNY SMELLING DISCHARGE ,and the most recent thing is itching around vagina area.I was a perfectly healthy 20 year old when i had mirena put in,I never had any of these things before not even acne as a teen.I have been thinking this whole time that i am loosing my mind....I went to my primary care Physician to see if he had any answers.He did blood tests and tested my thyroid and of course nothing was wrong.....So he put me on klonopin and lexapro,neither of those worked.I was ready to give up and try to accept that this is just the way my life is going to be...That is until i was watching Oprah and they happened to be talking about hormone changes in women and how not having a monthly cycle can stop the production of hormones women need to be mentally and physically balanced....A light bulb went off in my head!!!... that's when i decided to google mirena and it's side effect's,and thank god i found this website all the symptoms i'm having are the same as everyone else.....I cried when i read them it was like hearing myself...I FEEL SOOO MUCH BETTER TO KNOW THAT I'M NOT GOING CRAZY,AND THAT THERE MIGHT BE A CHANCE FOR ME TO GET MYSELF BACK, NOT JUST FOR ME BUT FOR MY FAMILY AS WELL!!!!! I AM MAKING A APPOINTMENT WITH ANOTHER DOCTOR ASAP TO HAVE THIS THING REMOVED...I JUST HOPE THAT ALL OF YOU THAT ARE HAVING THESE PROBLEMS WILL REPORT THEM TO THE FDA AS I AM....THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN HELP TO PREVENT THIS FROM CONTINUING TO HAPPEN...I WILL BE PRAYING FOR ALL OF YOU, AND I HOPE THAT ANYONE WHO IS CONSIDERING THE MIRENA WILL MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION AND DON'T DO IT!!!!!!! I WILL POST AGAIN TO UPDATE ON HOW LIFE AFTER MIRENA IS GOING!!!!!!

Singular has been recommended to my 3 1/2 year old son. I didn't feel good about it, so I declined and decided to look up possible side effects. Wow! I will NOT be giving it to him!
I have always been cautious on giving him antihistamines because prior bad side effects (which I never heard anyone else complain about).
When he was a few months old, he had cold like symptoms (runny nose, congestion, etc.) and was really suffering. I gave him the over-counter Pediacare and he could breathe better but he became something out of a horror film. He screamed constantly for over 48 hours and did NOT sleep a wink! Like a "crack baby" or something. (I assure you I am not exaggerating). I too became sleep deprived and crazed by his constant screaming, it took me some time to realize it was the meds. When I quit giving it to him, he became normal again. I decided I had to deal with the symptoms and not give him meds.
A year later, different medicine, I tried again. Same results.
When he was 2 1/2 we took a road trip from KY to KS. I thought I would try Benedryl, he had 2 older syblings that it benefited. NOT for him. He became "crazy" and screamed to the top of his lungs for the entire 12 hour drive. I vowed never again (for him or his family).
I have had success with Claritin in less than normal dosing. With no side effects. I have been assured, however, that Singular would work better for the symptoms. No thanks.
I feel really bad everyone this has effected negatively. I understand the side effects first hand.
I too have heard of the "antihistamine blocker" but don't know if it works.
I plan on trying a "nettie pot" (natural alternative) and have heard great allergy success stories. You can get them for about $5 at Walmart.
Hang in there parents! Do what you have to do for your child. Trust your instinks even over the Peditrician. I love Docs but YOU know your child. :)

Hello Ladies....I am 56 and diaged Hashimotos disease 3 years ago.At the moment on 112mcg of synthroid....dosage started off low and have gradually worked up....So angry with drs...was seeing endo, but moved and using family practice...so frustrated with weight gain approx 25lbs since diag. Also does the word sweat ....mmmm perspire for all us ladies, mean anything? I can't even wash dishes without breaking out in to a sweat...mmm beads of perspiration....Dry skin, I own stock in Aveeno....Also....does anyone get "boil type" skin eruptions in the nether region...butt, inner thighs etc? Does anyone or has anyone done any serious research on Iodine? I try to eat as well as I can, was doing Weight Watchers and gained weight do ya hear me? I am questioning my idodine intake or lack of....Presently take mulit vit with 150mcg. Considering uping it and dc ing my synthroid...cuz docs have been useless....eat less, (how much more less?) exercise more...I swim so much I look like a freaking prune....Any comments?

I've posted a few times. I suggested that we ask Dr. Oz who is on Oprah and has a radio program about any way to counter react the ADR's of this drug. Plus maybe he can warn some others the danger of this poison so they aren't harmed. His email is http://www.oprah.com/xm/email/xm_email_moz.jhtml

PLEASE READ:

I have posted my side effects here before. Was floxed at least twice but didn't put 2 and 2 together because the side effects came well after I had taken the medication. I caught it this time because I was on a higher dose. I was on Leva-Pac 750mg for 9 days. I have had 2 distal bicep tendon ruptures and surgery each time.

It's nuts that there is no treatment for the person who is floxed and how many doctors and hospitals are telling us this is all in our head. This needs some coverage. I had thought about Sonja Gupta on CNN but every other commercial is from a drug company.

Then I thought of Helmet Oz on Oprah. He is into alternative medicine and if he did a segment on Oprah I think it would raise awareness. I am writing and urging you to do the same. I am telling him my story and the lawsuit that Public Citizen with the Office of the Illinois Attorney General against the FDA to blackbox this medication.

Please follow my suit and submit a letter and also spread the word to other floxed web sites. The link to Oprah is
http://www.oprah.com/email/reach/email_showideas.jhtml

I have been on here for 6 months now. Please read the rest of my postings. My son is now 5 and doing great! I have my child back. He has been off Singulair since October 07. It took a few days to see little improvement. It took a month to make strides. And now we are almost home. Thank God. I too until I found this website was so distraught. My son had every test in world, comes from about as stable as you can get happy loving catholic home. We eat healthy organic foods and I am a medical professional to top it off. So for anyone to get on here and questions a parents "parenting" or to call them ignorant for not stating their complaints until now is simply a moron! I see the side effects first hand this has had on children. I too was unaware of the problem myself until my son became the victim at only the innocent age of 4. Merck knows what is going on. There needs to be a class action lawsuit. I am so proud of Kate whose son became the victim of Merck who took his innocent life. She went beyond blogging and took it to media. Imagine if all of us became motivated enough to realize the drug company used and abused our children or selves. Write oprah, bill o riley, merck the fda, everyone. Everyone I come in contact with I warn them. I email everyone I know and urge them to forward it and so on. The one god given duty that we were given was to protect our children. WE NEED TO DO THAT!! I am so proud of the parents who are speaking out and realizing their kid is not a pyscho. Kudos to you!! I am holding Merck responsible for this traumatic event it caused my entire family let alone my four year old son. They owe us big time, not just for the medical bills that endowed for all the tests, doctor visit, and psychiatric visits. But also for our mental anguish!! Be active and we will make progress!!!

Hello Gang,

I have never felt so sick in my entire life. I started taking Yasmin two months ago (I only went through two packs of pills). I have felt like I am going to die every day of this last month. I have had severe migraine headaches, body aches, chest tightness, dizziness, SEVERE anxiety and EXTREME fatigue. My sex drive has packed up and gone, I have terrible vaginal dryness and I am never hungry. I used to work out every day but now find that the very thought of lifting weights puts me to sleep. The strangest part is how the "illness" kind of comes in waves, I'll be fine all morning and then I'm freaking out/sick all night. I have panic attacks and I'll start crying for no reason. Sometimes I lay in bed and worry that I have cancer or a tumor or all types of various diseases. My boyfriend has been extremely patient throughout the whole thing but I feel terrible because we hardly have a chance to get romantic because I'm constantly sick or simply worrying that I might get sick later on. I actually just had four vials of blood taken yesterday to make sure that I'm doing okay. They also gave me chest xrays due to the chest tightness. The thing that really bugs me is that aside from being frustrating, confusing and scary, it is proving to be quite costly since I now have to pay for my doctor's visits and doctor's expenses. I just switched over to Loestrin two days ago so I'm hoping that will help get me back on track. Until then, I'm just gonna have to hope that this stuff gets out of my body and that the feeling of looming death vanishes. I'm all for going to the news or Oprah or maybe dateline nbc. Women should know what they're getting themselves into because it seems obvious that if doctor's are prescribing this to us, they must have no idea what they're doing. And that thought is equally as terrifying as the constant sickness.

For any and everyone who may be interested, a couple of us are attempting to contact local news channels as well as Oprah. If there is some interest/receptivity in our inquiries, and you would be interested in sharing your experience, please post on this site.

J

Ladies,
I have had trouble posting on this site and HOPE and pray this one goes through! I have suffered TERRIBLY from this horrible drug, the most prominent side effect has been the unabated weight gain,which got WORSE after going off this HORRIBLE pill(my opinion!). I registered my complaint with both BERLAX LABS and the FDA. If anyone wants to write me directly use THIS email address and I can give you instructions on doing BOTH(I am unable to retrieve my password from this site which I have forgotten and had to REregister on my other email address):*****

Also, I have been working with a MEDICAL INTUITIVE for 3 weeks now. I worked with her for 6 months over the phone, to stem the tide of a chronic ailment and she was incredibly helpful. If anyone is interested in an ALTERNATIVE approach to breaking the cycle of this drug, I HIGHLY recomend working with someone like this. Oprah often has Carolyn Myss, a medical intuitive, on her show. I'd be happy to share this info as well. I have seen significant changes in my overall outlook(which this drug PRAYS on - having a negative, depressive attitude), and the way my body feels. We are now working on the weight gain piece of the puzzle, which will come as my hormones are more in balance. I only took YASMIN for 5 month and experienced bloating and weight gain by month 2(along with the persistent migraines and leg cramps), but the weight continued to SPIKE once going off. I have been off 4 months next week and am doing my best to keep a positive attitude, which I KNOW is very hard to do when you look and feel like someone else is in your body and your clothes don't fit, etc., etc.

I feel your pain; no question.

Another FURIOUS YASMIN user.
Rita

OK, so I am thankful I found this site, but I am even more confused now than I was before. I am 31 and have been on Yasmin for over 1 year. In the past year I have noticed that I am a much more self-conscious, nervous person, and I suffer from extreme anxiety. Previously I was a very confident, social, outgoing person. I have very low energy and I seem to get tired too easily. I lack any sort of motivation & get depressed & cry at the silliest things (I can barely make it through an episode of Oprah or ER without welling up in tears!) I have also noticed a ridiculous amount of hair loss. I though my hair was thinning due to my age, but now I have actual bald spots! It recently dawned on my that my problems could be the result of the birth control pill, hence my discovery of this site.

After reading through this site I still can't tell if women are experiencing the negative efffects of anxiety, depression, hair loss, loss of libido, etc. while they are on Yasmin or after they stop taking the pill. After reading the postings on this site I am ready to quit Yasmin today, but I really am curious to know when most people have experienced these side effects the most. Also regarding weight gain & loss, again I can't tell if it occurs while on or off the pill. So far it hasn't been an issue for me, but what will happen when I stop?