Radiation symptoms and conditions

I have been on Lisinopril 20 mg for the past 9 years. I can't believe I have taken it for such a long time. I noticed some strange chest sensations 2 years after taking it but pushed through it. Then I developed breast cancer and went through the chemo and radiation while continuing to take it. In the last 2 years and more recently in the last 3 months, I felt so many skipped beats that I had to check it out and I also have had significant hair thinning. I had a holter monitor, resting EKG, lots of bloodwork and was told that everything was normal. Normal???? Then why was I feeling so rotten and scared every time my chest decided to heave or get funny sensations in my throat. Doctors do not want to hear these types of complaints especially when you think it is related to a medication that they ordered.
So I decided to try an alternative approach. I have been taking fish oil, coenzyme 10, cholesterol nutritional supplement, Vit C, Vit E. I started these about a month ago while still taking Lisinopril. I finally stopped the Lisinopril yesterday so I'll see if I have any improvement of my symptoms.I also went to a website that showed 1% of people can have skipped heartbeats while on Lisinopril Here is the URL
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Hope this helps many of you who have similar episodes. MHS

I have been on levoxyl for about 8-9 years now. I have an under active thyroid which I believe is from radiation over my neck area for benign tumors. I have been reading the side effects from people and I am starting to think that most of my symptoms or side effects are from this medication. Slowly over the years I have developed several of the same things people are talking about on this, especially restless leg syndrome, fatigue, chronic pain in legs, trouble sleeping, anxiety, lack of energy, cold feet/hands, lack of sex drive depression, b-12 deficiency, neck and back pain. I am talking to my doctor tomorrow and see if I can go on something else. I am being treated for all these other things that could all be related to the levoxyl side effects. I had none of these other things before taking this medication, what is going on?

I started coumadin 2 weeks ago, for a clot in my leg. I'm dizzy and lightheaded. I guess I'll be on it for at least 3 months. I've had abdominal surgery and a wrist fracture repaired surgically in the last 6 months and have had breast cancer (surgery, chemo, radiation) 4 years ago. I'm on Arimidex now. All of this is to explain possible underlying causes which I am investigating.

Dizziness seems to occur within an hour of my taking it - in the morning, but subsides by the afternoon. I'm thinking of switching the time I take it to the night - before I go to bed - maybe I can be dizzy in my sleep then and wake up with some sense of normalcy. Any comments?

My 13 year old daughter had her third shot on 02/16/09. Her first two shots did not seem to be a problem. She said her arm hurt really badly after the shot, and the next day she complained of leg pains she hadn't had before. Within a few days, she had a high fever with body aches like the flu, except it wasn't the flu. She felt better, but a week later she still had a low grade fever. She was tested and had strep throat, and was treated with anti-biotics. A week later she started having stomach cramps and diarrhea. It's now March 18th and she still has diarrhea. I think it's criminal this vaccination is being given to our young women. How on earth could anyone think "possibly" preventing HPV and/or cervical cancer is worth the risk of what my daughter and so many others are having to go through?

I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003, age 53. I had excellent medical care at NW Cancer Specialists, Dr. D. G., Portland, Oregon. I endured Chemo (8 treatments) I had a lumpectomy and 36 radiation treatments. I also took Arimidex from 2004 - 2009. My doctor suggested exercise would lessen the side-effects and he was right. I followed everything my doctor told me to do, it was very difficult at times, but we are talking about my life and the quality of my days, his suggestions worked. I began a regime of walking, up to 3+ miles a day, water aerobics 3 times a week and I joined Curves. I also took vitamins: Costco multiple vitamin, vitamin E & C, Calcium + D(Viactive), Melatonin (natural sleep aid), probiotics, and fish oil. I also drank up to 6 glasses of water a day. I am now "cancer free" and not taking any RX.

51 year female, History of Hyperthyroid disease (Graves disease) treated with radiation in 1984, now have Hypothyroid taking 100MCG Synthroid. Began 20mg of Simvastatin 4 weeks ago. Developed mild rash, hives off and on but that was normal anyway so I didn't think anything of it. In the 3rd week a Co-worker noticed that I was walking a little stiff and thought my foot problem was back but I mentioned my knees felt strange. Again this is normal with the cold weather here. This week my knees and calves were swollen and I could hardly walk down the stairs. I called Urgent care and they told me to stop taking the Simvastatin. It's been two days and I feel better but I wonder if my joints will ever be the same? Will I walk normal again? What's next if I can't take statin's? Red Rice Yeast has been banned.

I have been taking Arimidex since April of 2005. I have two more years before I can be taken off of the medication. I had breast cancer, diagnosed Oct. 2004. I had a lumpectomy following with chemo and radiation before I started taking Arimidex. I have severe hot flashes, can't sleep at night. I am up and down all night long. I can't remember things I am always having to make list and writing dates down and sometimes I get confused. I have joint pain, leg cramps and hair loss. My biggest problem is I can't sleep. I am always tired.
A. from Florida

Does anyone have ringing in their ears due to the arimidex? I have just over a year left to take this drug and I CAN'T WAIT to stop. ( I was a stage 0 (.9 cm tumor/0 lymph nodes)....treated with Chemo (adriamycyn, cytoxin and taxotere), then radiation and now arimidex. ) I was almost 41 when this started, I'm 45 now and want my life back. Don't get me wrong, I want to be cured, but sometimes the side effects are disheartening. This sure does sound whinny and I am sorry. I am happy to be cured, but so tired of all the side effects!!!!!!!!! UGH Thanks, dpr

Fatigue, flashing in the left eye, worsening migraines:
I have been on Arimidex since July, 2007 (after lumpectomy in January 2007, chemo, a mastectomy in same breast in August, 2007 followed by radiation) and seemed to be tolerating it quite well, except for the fact that I wanted to go to bed at no later than 9PM every night.
Recently, however, I had noticed retinal problems in my left eye (could also be a result of my nearsightedness and my age --61) and worsening migraine attacks which I could not relieve completely with my usual medications. I did research on Google and found that Arimidex could indeed lead to worsening of headaches and perhaps lead to retinopathy as well.
This morning I decided not to take the pill and called my oncologist's office to find out what he thinks about stopping it for a while.
I have also made an appointment with a neurologist since I haven't had a brain MRI since 1987 (to rule out other causes than migraine for my headaches).

I am a healthy female with little to no history of adverse reactions to medications. I was prescribed a 10 day dose of Levequin (500 mg) for a minor but stubborn skin abscess. After the third day, I woke up with significant joint soreness in my fingers. Progressively the soreness spread daily to my wrists, elbows, ankles, knees, hips, etc. I did not suspect the antibiotic at first, but I know my body, and I know something was WRONG.
After my 8th dose I decided to look online...it is at least good to know that what I'm experiencing is definitely from Levequin. Thank you all for sharing your stories.

I especially found MERCEDESLANE posting on April 15th interesting. I guess this person works in the health care system. Considering this uncompassionate individual, who apparently wants everythone to know he has a Mercedes, can't spell (whine), and does not have basic grammar skills. Wow...my faith in the our health care system is stronger than ever. But what do I know, I'm just an "IDIOT" with shingles that needs to have a couple of glasses of whine while I pop my remaining Levequin.

I was prescribed Zocor for high cholesterol. Almost immediately I began to experience body aches -- some days more severe than others. I would take ibuprofen and it would help. Then, I started getting a pretty strong pain on my hip which radiated down my leg onto my foot. The pain was so severe, even the Motrin 800 mg. pills didn't help it. I am 53 years old, but I felt like a 90 year old. I had problems walking, especially after sitting for an hour or so. I had problems with stairs. Even laying down was painful. I tried heating pads, ointments, etc. When I told my doctor about it, she said that this was a typical side effect of statins, and that because I am diabetic, I need to continue taking Zocor to keep my cholesterol down. Just the other day, I stopped taking Zocor for 3 glorious days and guess what? NO pain!!! I resumed it because my doctor insists that I stay on it, but I wish there was something else I could take that wouldn't cause pain.

extremely depressed after a week of taking levoxyl. Also face is swollen, eye swollen and red and face and eyes burn. These were the same symptoms after taking synthroid after a week. What's next? I am close to being suicidal after having survived lung cancer, surgery, chemo and radiation. To get another primary cancer and have things slide downhill after such a remarkable recovery, I can do nothing but cry after making the decision to have a cancerous thyroid removed that could have served me for years and years since it was such a slow growing cancer. I should have followed my instincts and just left it alone. Now all I want to do is lie on the couch and cry.

I have had a total thyroidectomy due to thyroid carcinoma about 2.5 -3 years ago. I have been on synthroid and levoxyl and both have caused tingling and numbness in my hands and feet, what I call a general fog (hard to concentrate or think, sometimes talk). I have been tested for neuropathy since endo said radiation may have caused issues. Only to be cleared by neurologist. Now endo switched does lower after rebout of cancer from 300mcg to 274mcg and have knee joints now going numb I want to sleep all the time, general weakness and now low testosterone levels.

I suggest to anyone that has Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (type of Hypothyroidism) to have a blood test done for Celiac Disease. There has been research done linking Celiac Disease and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis. Celiac Disease can be controlled by a gluten-free diet (wheat, rye, and barley free). In the US, not many doctors recognize/know of this link. I have been hypothyroid for 20 years (had Hodgkin's Disease (cancer) - radiation/chemo at age 16) I have 2 sisters with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis and were iron and B12 deficient. I was diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis 3 months ago with iron and B12 deficiency. I have been on a gluten-free diet for 2 months now. My dosage of synthroid (levothyroxine) was 175 mcg and now is down to 137 mcg. I hope that I am one of the lucky ones that will have their antibodies to their thyroid normalized (no more synthroid!) I have a couple of days left before my next blood test and I hope that it goes down more. I am feeling better now than I have in a very long time. I have attached a link for those of you interested. It is an endocrine article from Finland outling the link between Celiac Disease and Hashimoto's Thyroiditis (among other things). I hope that this helps some of you. http://edrv.endojournals.org/cgi/content/full/23/4/464

started Levaquin 2 weeks ago for pneumonia & pleurisy (had been prescribed 5 day kpack but that didn't work). after a couple of days started the insomnia, joint pain in left elbow, knee & hip. then started having problems walking, dizzy, nausea, headache, called my docs and they had me come in. they sent me to emergency room to make sure I wasn't having stroke! no stroke, but stopped Levaquin (it was helping my pneumonia) and switched to another antibiotic. my side effects were not going away, though, and the night before last I took a vicodin. DO NOT TAKE VICODIN! woke up crying in the morning and could not lift my arms cause of the pain. my husband had to hold a glass so I could drink water to take pain meds. couldn't even type! I did go to acupuncture, and last night I took Advil pm (2) and today slept till 2pm! I feel MUCH better, though side effects still not gone. I am mid 40's, fairly healthy, (had breast cancer last year, though, w/mastectomy & chemo, and had radiation for hodgekins in my early 30's) so my immune system is a bit weaker than most, but I get around and am VERY active, so this threw me for a loop. any advice anyone? gmf

I know this is not a new effect, but I feel so out of control with hunger. I have never had a weight problem but I can not stop eating. I was on a regimen of high dose 60mg tapering over 6mths and gained 20 pounds due to radiation pneumonitis. Unfortunately, I now have a rare pneumonia from lung injury (radiation) and am back on 40mg for at least 6mths with gradual tapering. My question....am I going to gain another 20 lbs? This cant be all water because I am really eating and feel so bloated. Not to mention the other side effects mentioned in other posts.

Also, the pain after coming off in my muscles was very intense so it must be very common. I feel 80 and I am 48.

Hi, I was diagnosed Sept 06 with a small breast tumor following a routine mammogram I had a Lumpectomy and 4 lymph nodes removed in Oct 06 In January 07 I started 15 sessions of radiotherapy and then was started on ARIMIDEX which i have taken religiously each day for a year even though I have felt WEAK ,slight ACHES in my knees, TIRED, and WEARY, SINUS infections, BOWEL PROBLEMS, METALLIC TASTE all of which eventually in December got me down so much my GP signed me off work with depression and I am now taking fluoxetine to lift my mood I am convinced the Arimidex affected me and has played a big part in the way I was feeling for the last year I told my breast care nurse about this she advised me to stop taking it for 1 month I have not taken it for 4 days and feel a different person already having more energy and feeling like I can cope with life and full time work again Has anyone else experienced the same side effects as me? from Rose SNY

I have read a lot of these blogs and I am seeing that many other people have the same side effects. I was diagnosed with hypothyroidism when I was in 6th or 7th grade I think and I am now a high school senior so about 5 years taking Synthroid. the doctors said that my antibodies had completely destroyed my thyroid gland so I wasn't getting any of the hormones I needed which became very noticeable when I started gaining weight and loosing energy in 5th grade. I haven't really seen any weight gain in a while but I still look like I am overweight. I am 5'6 and 130 lbs so I am about average. Side effects that are also occurring are rapid mood changes, one minute I am happy and something sad happens or I think about something and ill be tearing up. I feel depressed a lot. I am currently on 150 mcg. also during 9th and 10th grade I was put on this drug to stop my puberty so that I could grow more while on the Synthroid I guess it helped a little with height but I still look like a freshman. I don't know if I should stop taking it or keep taking it because I stopped for about a month once and started getting really sick, I would get really bad nose bleeds at random, had constant migraines and felt sick to my stomach. I started taking the Synthroid again and felt fine. I really don't know what to do.

55 year old male and used to be in excellent condition. I had radiation and Lupron Depot injections for prostate cancer and even though my PSA is down to .032, the hot flashes, joint pain, weakness, weight gain and atrial fibrillation caused by Lupron sucks. Now I am on medication for the a fib and it's really horrible.

I was prescribed Clonazepam for anxiety about 3 months ago coupled with a generic version of zooloft. I am definately starting to feel insane. My head aches at random times. I do still drink and smoke leafy substances, which i know is not recomended, but I am still in college and I feel sometimes like its the only way to meet ppl, drinking/partying, especially in places where there isn't much else. I want to get off the drug, but I am so afraid of the side effects. I don't really feel better on it. because I like having energy, I am a spunky girl and it takes away my spunk. I just wanna know how to function in society. I get nervous around new ppl, especially bosses/or anyone in my field, if I don't take the drug, but I can't even really tell if it is helping. At first it was fine, but now my head hurts all over/ headache. I forget things, which may be the sertraline, but regardless I want to get off of it. I feel more insane now than I did before.

In 10/2001 I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer and my MD prescribed a Lupron 3 month Injection to reduce the size of my prostate prior to radiation seed therapy. l started having the following symptons immediatetly frequent hot flashes which disrupted my sleeping at night from 4 to 6 times per night and which lasted for 9 months, I was no longer able to achieve an erection, although immediately prior I was able to have sex with an orgasm. I loss muscle and gained weight. Seven years have past and during that time I developed a heart arthymia which I was hospitalised for all this despite forcing myself to stay physically active, by walking, lifting weights and doing manual labor. I have never been able to regain my strength despite my exercising. I am now suffering from an undiagnosed skin disease and low blood platelets which my doctor thinks is an auto immune problem. This drug has had a severe impact on my well being and I tell all my male friends that if they ever have prostate issues to avoid hormone therapy at all cost.

I took 75 cmg of Synthroid after having my thyroid destroyed by radiation, then two months later dropped to 50 cmg. Within a month I was hospitalized for atrial fibrillation. The Synthroid was reduced to 37 cmg by my physician. I am experiencing dramatic hair loss and want an alternative to this poison that has ruined my heart as well as my appearance. In less than two weeks, I have gained 3 pounds. I should have left the thyoid alone but three "experts" said the hyperthyroidism would kill me. I had lost 14 pounds and had a thick gorgeous head of hair. Thanks to Synthroid, I am fatter and have gross hair loss. What hair I have is dry and thinning.

I underwent prostate cancer IMRT radiation in 2005. As part of the treatment, I was given three four month doses of Lupron Depot. Men who get this drug experience a reduction of testosterone, wright gain, hot flashes, and sometime depression. I had all of those.

Toward the end of 2005, about two months after my last injection, I noticed a tingling, sometimes burning sensation in my right fool near the toes. Over the past year or so, the sensation has spread to my other foot and sometimes up my leg.

My symptoms have all the earmarks of peripheral neuropathy. So far, my motor functions are okay, and I have been checked for diabetes, and found not to have it, which is a relief.

I did have an attack of Bell's Palsy back in 1973, and it was treated with heat and cortisone. It never came back. I see from some of the web sites that there is a connection between Bell's Palsy and peripheral neuropathy, and and also a connection with Lupron and peripheral neuropathy.

I realize there is little I can do about it, but I think the physicians who prescribe Lupron for prostate cancer should also make their patients aware of this possible side effect.

I've been taking synthroid for several years due to radiation caused thyroid damage. I appear to be quite sensitive to Synthroid. I get a total rush from a 77 mcg, but have no such effect when taking a 50 plus a 25. I've been told it is due to the dye in the 77. If my doses are too low (50 mcg), then I feel great for a week or two, but become foggy mentally and after a few weeks have sharp pains in the joints and muscles. At higher doses, I become irritable, have shortness of breath (77 mcg) and have burning sensations in the kidney area.

I find that regular exercise (walking 1-2 miles/day) moderates these effects greatly and stabilizes the emotional swings. The amount of medication that I need to balance between these two extremes varies depending on the amount of exercise I get.

49 post surgery, chemo, radiation. Took it for only 2 and a half month,
Initially had buzzing sensation in body, panic at night, increased hot flashes....and then it got worse, sever abdominal cramps...Doctor tokd me to take pain meds. I wen another two weeks, pain unbeatable, got a sonogram....It had grwon me huge ovarian cysts!!!
This is not commonly mentioned, but alloiver the web.
I may have to have more SURGURY. Ansd possibel removal of my ovaries.
I am furious. After all I went through. It is a miserable drug.
I am angry when they make light of women not able to take the side effects.