Read a book symptoms and conditions

My daughter has been on prednisone since October, 2006 -today is July 25, 2007. She is a 35 years old with asthma and allergies. Originally the pulmonologist thought she had ABPA (Allergic Bronchio Pulmonary Aspergelosis) and put her on 60 mg daily. This year has been a nightmare for her. That original diagnosis apparently was erronous, but she was kept on the high dose for breathing issues, with instructions to lower it as she could. As of today she is on 30 mg. daily. Side effects? So you know she is no "loser", she is a PhD in Biomechanical Engineering, has two patents to her credit, has spoken at numerous medical conferences (for vascular surgeons and cardiologists), and has had countless articles published in medical journals. Now she can't concentrate much less sit still, has not read a book in months (she used to read at least one book every week), she has two research publications that need to be finished but she can't focus on the work, is totally exhausted and needs to rest after only a couple of hours of mild activity, has a face she has described as looking like a mongoloid. Her beautiful, big, blue eyes are slits in her face. Clothes that fit yesterday wouldn't fit today - and those that fit today won't fit tomorrow. She craves food in the middle of the night and said she usually eats 2 bowls of cereal. She has terrible pain in her torso. Her esophagus has become so eroded she is on 6 different meds for that, and as a result cannot eat salads or raw fruits or anything that might irritate the lining of the esophagus. Her body is covered with huge dark bruises. The latest side effect made evident happened this past Saturday night. She fell striking her shins on a carpeted step. Her skin has become so thin that it actually burst open. She said it reminded her of when we'd blanch tomatoes in boiling water to peel them, and how the tomato skin would just burst open. That's how her leg was. That little fall cost a trip to the ER for stitches, tetanus shot, and antibiotics. Her husband is a career military, so since they married 1 1/2 years ago she's lived in 4 states, there's not much history among doctors. She lives now in Kansas and has started seeing specialists through the university there. We just wish she could go to Mayo Clinic for complete evaluation, but unfortunately military insurance doesn't seem to cover the best.

My doctor started me on Levaquin for a UTI. When I asked him why that drug (I had never heard of it) he explained that it would also take care of any infection that may have occurred in the kidneys as well as the bladder, etc. and that it was very effective. Sounded good to me since I had all the symptoms that typically make a UTI sufferer miserable. What a trip! He told me to take two 250mg tabs that day and then take one per day for five days. I did as he said, and after taking the third day's dose, my heart started beating like a rabbit on and off. It was nighttime, so I went to bed hoping that rest would calm the heartbeat. I managed to fall off to sleep, and woke up within an hour and a half with cold sweats and a cramp in my right calf, heart had still not slowed to a normal acceptable rate. I got up and walked around a little, as shaky as I was, in order to get the cramp to go away. I sat and read a book all wrapped up in sheets like a mummy, sipped on water and only got short periods of rest that night as you can imagine. I told my doctor the next morning and he changed the prescription for me immediately. I normally read about all drugs that I take on the internet or from any other reliable source before taking them, but I had been feeling so miserable that I just trusted it and took it, uninformed. Big mistake. Know what you are taking, folks. Ask all the appropriate questions, and at the first sign of feeling weird, insist on something that is less of a thrill ride! Luckily though, those symptoms did not come back after discontinuing the Levaquin.

My 4 year old son has been taking Sigulair for three weeks. He has started showing signs of restlessness. The past two weeks he jhas becime very aggressive at school. I started questioning this medication a few weeks ago. I decided to research the side effects and I am so pleased to have found this sight. He was even restless in his sleep. The is out of character for him. I am stopping this medication immediately.

I would strongly recommend anyone with hypothyroidism or on thyroid medication read a book called The Thyroid Solution. I believe the author was Dr. Arem. He seems to be an open-minded physician fully aware of the catastrophic effect low thyroid hormone and also quite aware of the inadequate care most patients are receiving.

There are so many misconceptions about thyroid health-- and many general practitioners do not have nearly enough information to be helping patients. He fully covers the problem of relying on your doctor to provide the adequate dosage. As well, many people with so-called 'normal' TSH levels still show symptoms of hypothyroidism. In fact, the 'normal' range was simply found by measuring the TSH of a cross-section of people to determine what level makes most people feel healthy. The problem with this is that some people may naturally have an extremely low TSH, but if it raises to a 4 (which is considered fine) that person may feel quite ill. There body knows something has changed but to a doctor who only looks at blood tests, they can't see why there is a problem.
In the past doctors used symptomology to determine the health of a patient, not ridiculous blood tests!
Best of all, Dr. Arem confirms that your symptoms are NOT IN YOUR HEAD like doctors try to convince you.

This is also a great book for people dealing with family members who are hypothyroid to understand what their loved one is dealing with emotionally.

Hello everyone,
I too have had problems on bcp (specifically coming off of it) and had a tough time with anxiety/insomnia/ depression due to the loss of hormones. I was never really quite sure how reproductive hormones affected all of these things and I couldn't get clear info from docs or from the web. I eventually read a book called, "Its My Ovaries Stupid" By Dr. Elizabeth Vliet. In it she talks about how changes in estrogen and progesterone affect anxiety, depression, hair loss, headaches, urinary problems..the list goes on and on. It was a HUGE relief for me to read this book and it made me feel SO much better about my situation. I highly recommend you look into it. She is also the author of, "Screaming to be Heard: Hormonal Connections Women Suspect but Doctors Ignore"
Good reading!

I HAVE BEEN ON TOPAMAX FOR 3 YEARS. I AM NOW UP TO 3OOMG A DAY. I HAVE COMPLEX MIGRAINES THAT ARE LIKE SEIZURES. SINCE BEING ON THE MEDICATION I HAVE NOT HAD AN ATTACK. YES I HAVE SIDE AFFECTS, I AM VERY FORGETFUL, I CAN'T READ A BOOK, I START TALKING AND FORGET WHAT I AM GOING TO SAY. I HAVE ACHES AND PAINS AND MY EYE SIGHT IS WORSE.
BUT I REMEMBER 3 YEARS AGO THE WOMAN LAYING IN THE HOSPITAL BED WHO DIDN'T KNOW HER NAME OR HER FAMILY. MY LEFT SIDE OF MY BODY LOOKED LIKE I HAD A STROKE. i DON'T WANT TO GO THROUGH THAT AGAIN SO I WILL PUT UP WITH THE SYMPTOMS .
I ALSO TAKE EFFEXOR AND HAVE TAKEN THIS MEDICATION FOR 7 YEARS. I DID ASK THE DR. IN THE BEGINNING IF IT WAS OK TO TAKE THESE TWO MEDICATIONS TOGETHER AND WAS TOLD YES BY THE DR. AND THE DRUGGIST.

I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY ANYONE WOULD FEEL SUICIDAL TAKING THIS MEDICATION. I BELIEVE YOU SHOULD CALL YOUR DR. RIGHT AWAY.

The side effects I have been experiencing during the 5 yrs I have taken this drug are: Exploding in my head huge popping noises, electric like shockes throughout my body esp while trying to sleep. If I happen to skip a dose I know immed. because my eyesight will become all fuzzy, my thinking is fuzzy..and I have the feeling of rusty wheels in my eyes and head. When ever I turn my head from side to side, blink or move my facial muscles I have the feeling of a rusty door being opened along with the noise. Recently I could not converse with my kid (23ysold) because of the bad side effects. Could not concentrate.
Started taking Effexor to help with depression related to constant pain. It did help but the side effects are too much and they have caused me to be in trouble for the first time on the job. I have been employed by the same company for 16 yrs and now I am beginning to get into trouble because 1) can't show up on time I am sooo tired in the am
2) can't get to sleep at night...takes about 45 min to 1:30 min to fall asleep
3) Exema on my legs, arms, hands
4) lack of ability to make good decisions, lack of clear thinking
5) what the hell happened to my eye sight, can't even read a book at night anymore!!!
However I love the dreams!! Like going to a movie every night, some don't make any sense, but others have wonderful people with great experiences in them. Maybe I should sleep all the time and live in dream land.!!??

Don't start with this med if at all possible. The thing is they (pharmacist, dr. etc) never told me of the side effects that I have been experiencing except for the dreams. There has got to be a class action law suit against the makes of Effexor but I can't find it on the WEB. If anyone knows of a class action law suit I can join, or wants to start one please e mail me at ****** thanks

Went on June 6 for a medical test and was given an IV dose of Levaquin as a precaution. I did not know I was being given this antibiotic. Within a few minutes I was in anaphylaxis. Also had very high blood pressure and heart rate. Muscle spasms throughout my body including my diaphram. I had two major "attacks" and one minor. I was given losts of drugs to counteract the symptoms. Had my procedure done and went home. Did not sleep that night and heart problems started up again. Ended up in the ER and in hospital for four days. Sleeplessness continues to be a problem 9 days later. No sleep again tonight. Lots of aching joints and muscles. Can't do much yet and can not concentrate enough to read a book. I had no problems like these prior to being given this ONE dose of Levaquin. I previously fell asleep as soon as my head touched the pillow.
I looked up this drug on the Web when I got home and found this site. I am very angry to have been given this drug without my knowledge and approval.