Registered nurse symptoms and conditions

OMG!!!!! I am a Registered Nurse and still didn't know so many women (including myself) had these extreme side effects from this awful thing. I had a miscarriage back in March and chose Mirena as my birth control afterwards. Every since then I have felt like I was going (or already gone) insane. Like the original poster, I have EVERY SINGLE SIGN AND SYMPTOM!!!!! I haven't slept more than 2 hours at a time since, My bra size before was a 36C, I am now back up to 40E. Which is larger than they got after I had my son and was breast feeding him. I have the pregnant belly, mood swings from hell, hot flashes, off and on cramping (especially after sex), acne that has scared my face, bouts of awful depression, unable to concentrate on anything, lower back pain, nausea, and I always have this feeling that I'm pregnant. I also gained a whooping 25 lbs which is impossible since I had gastric bypass surgery 6 yrs ago. Just like many of you I stepped up the exercise and modified my already limited diet. I truly wish that I had stayed on Depo-Prevera. I plan on having this thing taken out of me this week. This awful "demon" needs to be taken off the market. I guess all of us that have had these extreme side effects need to be on the look out for a class action lawsuit. No woman should have to go through what all of us have been through. To those of you that have already had it removed: Did you lose all the weight that was gained after the Mirena placement? If so, how long did it take??? I'm so ready to be normal again!!

I am a 34 yr old registered nurse and I was given Levaquin for a kidney infection. I was very pleased that by the next day my symptoms from the infection were gone. Unfortunately, after 5 out of 7 days of taking Levaquin I developed pain in my knees, wrists,shoulders,ankles and hands. My hands are swollen and difficult to use even to type this. I am very familiar with Levaquin and give it to patients all the time without even considering these symptoms because they are dismissed as "very rare"! Obviously they are under reported because doctors don't attribute these complaints to the drug side effects. I pray that this pain goes away soon for myself and everyone else. I have learned in my career and in my own experience that though doctors are the ones with the ability to diagnose and treat, WE are the ones that must be our own advocates! I will definitely never give Levaquin without warning patients of potential side effects.

****KENALOG CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT****
Need a list of people that want to join Kenalog class action lawsuit A.S.A.P Please email me with name,state and all side effects. Include if you were treated for the side effects from a Doctor and/or hospitalized.
******

I am a Registered Nurse and feel foolish that I wasn't able to connect the dots sooner. Yasmin's effects for me were insidious thereby slipping under the radar as the culprit responsible for all of the side effects I was experiencing. On Yasmin for 3 years:

- feelings of shortness of breath
- heart palpitations
- horrible anxiety and feelings of panic (not good when you're a nurse in the
ICU)
- insomnia (never had trouble sleeping before)
- varicose veins on my stomach??!!
- strange weight gain around my abdomen I could not lose despite my best
efforts
- ear popping and a feeling of fullness in my head
- constant runny nose requiring new prescriptions for nasal sprays and
allergy pills that did not work
- new abdominal bloating (ultrasound was negative)
- UTI (never had one of those before)
- strange colored periods
- agoraphobia (previously outgoing)
- depressed--lost interest in things I previously enjoyed, moody & angry,
- horrible fatigue (unable to jog anymore without becoming drained for days
- sharp debilitating headaches (CT negative)
- breast pain
- cellulite I've never had before
- and last but not least, compromised circulation to my right arm causing it
to go numb and change in color (Doppler showed partial arterial
obstruction that has since improved since quitting Yasmin)

Quit Yasmin 2 1/2 months ago and everything is resolving itself slowly. A big price to pay for good skin.

I had open heart surgery August 23rd 2006 for a conginital heart defeat (Aortic Valve replaced with mechanical St Jude valve). I wanted a bio valve but Drs insisted I should have the mechanical valve because of my age (45 at the time).

Prior to my heart surgery I was a performer, singer/songwriter/actress/comedianne and I loved what I did. It was my life. Now, after 2+ years post-op and on Warfarin (7.5 mg daily for life) I feel like life has ended and I'm just a walking dead person. The effects I feel daily are as follows...

Dizziness
Severe Headaches
Blurred vision
Memory Loss
Fatigue
Weight Gain
Trouble concentating
Fluttering effect in my head/ears- Hard to explain
Hair loss
Unexplained pains in chest & left side of my body
Unable to sleep well
Tiredness- even when I've done nothing to be tired for
Nausea
Gas & Diarrhea off and on
teeth pain- Like I've drank something very cold
feeling in my head similar to a brain freeze- like you ate ice cream too fast
Night bleeds in my month- wake up with a mouth full of blood daily
What do think, is that enough??

I'm going in tomorrow for a cat scan because the headaches have been so bad they feel I need to be checked for brain tumor and/or internal bleeding. When I tell the Drs I think this is due to Wafarin they pratically laugh in my face as if to say, "Silly silly woman, don't be foolish! We know whats best for you. Remember, we saved your life!" Really? Did you?!

I want nothing more than to get off this rat poison and regain my life, but to do so could mean a stroke or heart attack. I would go under the knife again to have the mechanical valve removed and replaced with a biological valve, but do you think my insurance company (Kieser) would pay for a "silly" thing like that? Right!

Welcome to the greatest country in the world!

I'm going to start a website to help people like us. I want your stories, please send me your info, together we might make a change, what can it hurt to try? Email me ******

B.

Initially, my doc told me to take 300mg every am, initially 150mg for a wk,then increase the dose to 300mg total, 150am/pm. Had the initial wt loss of 5-7lbs, also had headache the first week, insomnia, awake almost 18hrs a day, little rested sleep and constipation.
I continued with xanax, docs didn't want this, Rx'd Remeron, that didn't do anything the 1st night, 2nd night bad sleep with vivid dreams of being buried semi alive with other people and having dirt tossed onto us. we were too weak to climb out of the ditch. Too much news these days. 3rd night w Remeron awake all night, 4th night, nothing, continued Wellbutrin. Remeron was started about 2 wks into the Wellbutrin dose.
I was out of Wellbutrin because the pharmacy would not refill due to insurance and I had to get a new Rx because of the increase in the dose.60 pills you figure. MD rx'd a "purple" buproprion, took 1 of them, stopped that immediately because of the nasty nicotinic taste and my tongue felt burned also. Got another rx for the previous bupropion 150mg to be taken twice daily. I had been off the white (first)pill for about 7-14 days by then.
Restarted white 150mg, again the headache, ear ringing, decreased appetite and agitation stimulus, insomnia and beginning to get fatigued from lack of deep sleep. I have an underlying very serious resp condition that this medication began to make worse because of the above symptoms. All of the above symptoms gradually worsened by the days I continued to take this medication. I began to have nausea and could not even think about taking anymore of the buproprion, the thought of it made me ill. I was rx'd it for depression, I am not a smoker,never have been, don't use illicit drugs and am a Registered Nurse.
It began to incapacitate me as I had no interest in anything, I felt weak from the anorexia, insomnia and dehydration, urine was becoming dark yellow. couldn't stand to have anything in my stomach. I had to throw away food, also.
I began having bilateral jaw pain, felt exhausted and had trouble with fine motor skills, was restless/agitated and very constipated. I had to force myself to eat. I took this med for approximately 3 months, but it never did reach the "therapeutic" stage of 4 wks total until the last month because of the Rx interruptions. I stopped it cold because, the jaw soreness was from bruxism or teeth grinding/clenching and I began having large muscles pains and smaller muscle(eye) twitching, I had itching all over , stinging sensations like little fire crackers in my calves, and all previous sore spots became irritated and inflammed. Stopping this med suddenly is only for the brave and you need other meds to get through the withdrawal. It's supposed to have a 33hr half life. It took 1 month for this junk to get out of my system. I felt better the first few days as I was able to eat, drink and get a better sleep. I had to take xanax for sleep, motrin, tramadol, aspirin alternate with motrin, tylenol XS for the muscle pains. zantac, benedryl for the stomach acidity along with Tums. I requested an Rx for Compazine supp. didn't use initially although had bad nausea, it progressed to vomiting for over a week atleast once daily or for some reason at night. I took prednisone 40mg on a taper dose. My lungs became dry as did urine/bowel. I had to take Colace to ease the constipation. My body readjusted to it's old self and now I'm even more angry. I would have gotten through the depression on my own. The vomiting stopped last week, have regained appetite, although did crave sweets/salty/water/milk/protein and green vegetables, etc I took multi vits, and Kefir yogurt drink to restore gut.The reason I'm here is because I, too, just made the connection, I noticed the hair thinning, not just with texture, but along the hairline and scalp.I bought Women's Rogaine tonight. I experienced the symptoms that others wrote about also. I hope the Rogaine works. I will never take this medication again,the muscle rigidity in my thighs/legs and jaw clenching was so repetitive, I was exhausted, even when I willfully tried relaxation, I noticed very quickly the cycling of the muscle tone and it would get tighter and tighter. you can write to glaxo smith kline or go to wellbutrin.com and the FDA to make a complaint. They pulled this drug off the market once before. There is nothing well about Wellbutrin is what I say.
sunnytoo

I was put on Levoquin after 4 days of Bronchitis. My body was not responding to the antibiotic so they added Prednisone. I continued on both medications IV for 8 days. After the second day, I developed a severe pain in my groin. I mentioned it to the NP treating me and she said, "we will worry about that once we get the Bronchitis under control". The pain continued as the medication continued. After the Bronchitis was resolved, the pain in my groin was terrible. My doctor sent me for CT scans and and MRI. The next thing I knew I was in the Orthopedic Surgeon's Office talking to him about a total hip replacement. He said the test showed very mild degeneration and he was not sure a total hip replacement for me was the answer. I opted not to have the hip replacement. Diagnostic Testing continued. Finally, my doctor told me that the combination of Levoquin and Prednisone caused a tendon rupture in my groin. He said it would heal but would take a long time. It is now 8 months since I took those medications and my hip is more painful now than ever. I am on pain medication and it does not help. I see my doctor today and we will discuss other options to relieve this awful pain. I walk with a cane and I feel like I will never walk normally again. It has totally disrupted the activities of my life. My doctor tells me to stay off my feet as much as possible to rest the tendon, this is impossible as I am a registered nurse and I am on my feet constantly. This has destroyed my life!

Hi all. I would just like to agree that PredniSone sucks but it is the best out there for these diseases especially the auto-immune diseases. Drug companies do not make any money on prednisone because it is generic and there is no patent. I know I picked up 98 10mg prednisones yesterday for $5.00. Believe me when there is a better steroid that works as well and has less side effects it will be available to us all. It will cost tons but it will be sold. Researchers have been working for so many years trying to find an alternative, some have been found but do not work well enough. As bad as the prednisone makes us feel it does work on the diseases. You always have the choice to say no - that is why we should all have a health care power of attorney - just remember that when you decide not to take the prednisone you are agreeing that the disease may worsen and may be life threatening. I hate to sound so morbid but patients must be informed. When you are at the physician ask about the side effects, ask if they can give you something to counteract any mood swings, ask what lotion is best for the itchy skin (AmLactin works well for me and is over the counter). Also, my physician advised me yesterday that the side effects are worse on women due to our precarious hormones. I have told my husband to just stay out of the way and don't piss me off because I am not sure how this next 7-8 weeks is going to fare for him. I am 4ft 10in 110lbs and he is 6ft 1in 200lbs and believe me he is scared for his life. I am using prednisone for my ulcerative colitis so now that I am feeling better physicially I can return to exercise and that has definitely helped. So has turning up the music really loud and dancing and singing poorly. Yelling at the tv helps me whether it be politicians, soap operas or idiots on game shows who get the wrong answers. I also have been keeping a journal of all the rage I have and what kinds of things I could do to people who keep getting in my way at the store, on the road, in line at the pharmacy - I guess I need to put that in a safe place so it can't be used for evidence :}

I'm a 52 year old female and have been taking Zocor for about a year. During the past few months, I've noticed increased muscle pains in my upper legs. It's to the point that I actually hurt when walking, even for short distances. I have also gained about 15 pounds in the past year. It could just be "middle age spread" but I can't help but wonder if this drug is the cause of it. I've also had some visual disturbances in the past month or two, like something that just won't clear out of my eye.....like a film across my eye. Anyone else with similar symptoms? I go back for a physical in a few weeks and am going to ask my MD about another medication. I have genetically elevated cholesterol and low cholesterol diet has not helped previously.

I am a 56 y/o female who started on Fosamax last Sunday. I have a dx of osteopenia. I followed the directions of taking pill with full glass of water and remained upright for 30 minutes before having anything to eat. I was fine on Sunday but on Monday I woke with SEVERE bone pain! My whole rib cage, back, knees and heels were hurting so bad. It felt like I had pain in every bone in my body. I could not take in a full deap breath as my rib cage was hurting so bad. I could not bend or turn without terrible pain. My energy level was zero. I immediately called my doctor who told me to hold the Fosamax (ya think?) and ordered Vit D lab levels. Apparently when you Vit D levels are off (don't know if too high or too low) you can suffer this bone pain. I am awaiting the results. The pain is better today and I was told it takes 5 days to get out of your system. I only wish I had done my homework and found this site before taking this poison. I have to say I'm a registered nurse and know that ALL medications have side effects and everyone responds to meds differently. Some side effects subside as your body gets use to it and some can experience severe allergic reactions. But it's important to weigh the risk vs the benefit. I would rather deal with osteopenia in another way. So my search begins for alternatives to Fosamax for good bone health. Has anyone had good results with other supplements/meds?

I am a registered Nurse who was recently hospitalized for a bacteremia cuased by a sinus infection...........Of course with bacteremia and cuastive germ as strep viridans, the first thing to rule out is endocarditis. So 6 days later after fighting with doctors to treat sinuitis and not endocarditis they finally put me on Levaquin 750 for thirty days on discharge........ well three days later I thought I had gout in my right knee and left hop. then the following day my other knee became involved..............this medication side effects apparently affects the joints as it also affected my shoulder and elbows..I am an active, healthy woman who does yoga and runs and bikes....I feel like all that the doctors did was look at tests and read books popping all kinds of heavy duty antibiotics into my system I do not take anything at home except vitamins...............so beware...........I refused to take more levaquin and have informed these infectious dis. docs that I am seeking a second opinion with my dentist as the sinusitis is related to an endo/root canal problem in my molr...........I am also a dental hygienist........bottom line consumers need to be assertive and docs need to listen and trouble shoot with patients and their families.

I have taken Levaquin 500 mg daily for the last 7 days. I am quitting it today! I am so tired. Cannot sleep! Have severe pain in both of my hips! I do not have a history of sleep disorder or hip pain!!! I even have severe pain in both of my shoulders now as well. My doctors insist this isn't from the med. My pharmacist differs in that opinion!! This stuff is POISON!!!
I am a registered nurse and will preach this to any and everyone who will listen!!!
I only pray I will not suffer a tendon rupture even after I have stopped this med! If that happens I will contact an attorney! Can we get a class-action lawsuit for all of us and to prevent others from this terrible experience???

I am absolutely amazed at all the side effects that may be a result of Lipitor.I have been on Lipitor for approx.4 weeks. Accdg to my blood work, my cholesterol was extremely high...possible genetic factor.(father had hight cholesterol).My diet is fairly low in fat, exercised regularly, etc. I have had muscle, joint, breast, and all over body pain, nausea, headaches,decreased energy. I actually think I am having heart attack or stroke pain....I have become very anxious due to these symptoms. Having lipid profile done tomorrow, see the doctor next week. I am going to go off the Lipitor and see about an alternative from a health food store.(I am also a registered nurse)

I have just been reading the list of, what I am considering to be "possible", side effects from Dilantin . Doesn't everyone, whether on Dilantin or no drugs at all experience headaches, nausea, stomach pains or depression from time to time?
After being on this medication for over 30 years there are some things which I've experienced. Just about everyone complains of hyperplasia but it has been my experience that if I maintain a clean healthy mouth, there is no hyperplasia. If, for one day, I do not brush my teeth, hyperplasia sets in immediately & it then takes a week or so to get it under control. So, brush, brush & brush your teeth.
As far as memory loss or difficulty learning, I suppose it happens to everyone at one time or another. However I have graduared from high school with honours & became a registered nurse (top 5 in my class of 56) all while I was on Dilantin.
The only true adverse side effect from taking Dilantin for over 30 years which I experience is that whenever I am tired, my speech can easily slur. I am very aware of this & it's become habit to pay close attention to my pronounciation & correct it so I may articulate normally. Not a big deal & a very small price to pay.
I'm not one for pity trips or blaming my seizures or medications for my downfalls in life. I am so grateful to have my seizures under control & hate to think where I would be today if not for Dilatin. Remember, if you look for it , you will likely find it. So try not to look for all these adverse side effects (crutches)& see the benifits. We have enough to handle keeping this under control & educating the sometimes ignorant world.
I took control of the epilepsy that attacked my system. I would never allow it to control me. Good luck to all of you. Sincerely :)

I had the Mirena IUD placed after the birth of my 2nd child (2003). I began to experience horrible mood swings prior to the onset of my menstrual cycle approximatly 1 year after it was placed. I have experienced an unbelievable amount of anxiety and depression over the past 2 years. During the past month I have been diagnosed with anxiety/depression disorder, started on lexapro and seeing a psycologist. My friend, who is an OB/GYN, thinks it's the results of the Mirena. I am having it removed. Thanks ladies for helping me realize what's going on. I, too, am a Registered Nurse and passed it off as the stress of the everyday grind. But, this is not me. I am a very high functioning individual.

I have read a ton of the posts in this category. I have been taking Lisinopril as an addition to my regular blood pressure medication for approximately 3 years, with absolutely no problems. My 10mg was increased to 20mg a week ago. Still no problems. It has only helped me. If there are any changes, I will definitely post it. I believe that symptoms can arise from reading an article. I actually know a couple people who read things, and suddenly they are convinced they have the problem or disease referenced. I call it an Epidemic of Diagnoses. Always seek a doctors advice before stopping medications. Stopping suddenly on certain drugs, can be more dangerous than taking them.

Complete Nightmare. Please read...I was on Minocin for a week. I developed major CNS (central nervous system) side effects including major light sensitivity, back pain, runny nose. The worst of the lot were the mental side effects which included extreme paranoia, the inability to concentrate, depression, suicidal thoughts. I couldn't go to work, I was up all night crying, couldn't socialize properly or look people in the eye. i felt completely out of my mind and didn't know why..until i stopped taking the drug the next day.

My mother who is a registered nurse accompanied me to my dermatologist the following week to describe my experience. Let's just say he denied my claims and that there could be any connection between my side effects and Minocin, rushed me out of his office without treatment or refunding the fee that I already paid to see him, and continued to cancel my future appointments with him. I never heard from him again.

Over the following months, my mother did her own research at her hospital. Turns out,she witnessed and heard of many young women come in with the same side effects..and they were in a mentally unstable state. They were admitted to the psych ward and most were suicidal.

I know this sounds extreme and everyone's body reacts differently to drugs, but this is a true recount of my experience with Minocin and I wanted to share it.

Background: I've never taken regular prescription drugs other than anitibitocs for infections, and am otherwise a healthy person. I have no history of depression and was not going through any emotional stress at the time. I was not on the pill at the time, so my body was not bombarded with high levels of tetracyclin (which Minocin is of) although I was on the pill for a year, 3 years prior.

Iv'e been aking Toprol -XL for 25 mg for 3 years. Gained 25 pounds, muscle and joint pain, depression.Mornings are a challange. My legs are stiff, crampy and it's difficult to walk.I wake fron arm and shoulder pain.Please respond if toy have the arm and leg pain symptoms.Help!

I had the mirena put in after my fouth child in December 2004. I continued to have my period like normal for about 6-9 months, then my period stopped. I began to have problems with anxiety, and they seemed to be worse when I was suppose to get my period. I am a registered nurse, and I thought with the stress of working, and four kids I am suppose to have anxiety. As time progressed my anxiety got worse, and I was curious if maybe Mirena was linked. I found in the pamphlet that it may cause mood changes. Well the more I investigated I found I was not the only one experiencing this extreme anxiety. I had my Mirena IUD remove 7/20/07, and right away I could feel the difference. It was like my body knew something foreign was in it and reacted. I also talked with a doctor at the hospital who said because Mirena is inserted in the uterus, the progesterone is absorbed right away. Birth control pills are taking orally and not directly absorbed. Some women may not be able to handle direct absorption of the hormone progesterone. I was one of them. If you have side effects that coinside with the insertion of your Mirena IUD, talk to your doctor, and have it removed.

Just wanted to update my situation. Well the shaking muscles have subsided a bit (it's been 8 days since I've stopped levaquin) been to the dr's 2 more times and had new blood work done yesterday. One doc says 90% sure it's from the levaquin but wants me to take the doxycyline anyway and then see a rhumatologist. My primary disagrees, did more blood work believes it definitely from the levaquin and is sending me to rhumatologist. They also they are updating their warnings in their office to make sure that it states this is a SERIOUS side effect (she also printed me off all my symptoms that are side effects of levaquin from their computer but say "rare") My knees started to subside until I bent down and BAMN just like it was all brand new, they are burning like no tomorrow! My ankles (achilles) and my shoulder tips (where the tendons are) are still killing and I am getting muscle contractions in my thighs and left arm but not as much, this may be due to the muscle relaxers and motrin. I have also been taking diazapam for the spasms so who knows how I would feel otherwise. I am disguising the pain with medication it seems and my fear is I am going to hurt myself worse. One dr told me that if the tendons were going to rupture then there is NOTHING I can do about it, they're going to rupture, the other dr. disagrees. My primary feels I need to be seen and diagnosed asap with tendon and joint pain and feels as though it's serious, but also believes it will not last as long as the other dr said (about 4 months). I am going to go swimming tomorrow because it's suppose to be good excercise for the tendons and joints. I have been putting hot pack and nuprin cream on the knees and ankles (cold seems to aggravate it and make them feel like they're ripping). If I type (like now) I can feel the burning in my shoulders and my left elbow now. This is a serious disease this medication has given me and the second I see the rhumatologist and I am diagonosed with something I do NOT want to hear (like permanant, or long term) I am calling a lawyer. I am not a sue happy person but who the hell does this company think they are making MILLIONS off of this medication and leaving people disabled or dibilitated for long periods of time. I am too young (early 40's) to be feeling like a 80 year old as a matter of fact my mom is 70 and goes to the gym every day and walks and swims, I was the same way until this medication poisoned me. I have herniated discs in my spine and they are aggravated because I have not been able to excersise that is part of my life and routine and I am furious.

If anyone has contacted this company, can you post it here and let me know what they have said? Thank you all and I hope you are all feeling better!

I am a Registered Nurse, I am 35 years old and I have been taking Yaz for about 1.5 months now and have had an overall bad experience and now reading all of other's side effects, I think I will be taking myself off of it. I have horrible fatigue and extreme weakness, I am a runner and for the last 2 weeks have had difficulty finishing my runs without dizziness and almost collapse. This in itself is depressing but I also have noticed the depressive symptoms are worse than the symptoms of depressive type emotions I exprerience with PMDD. PMDD is the reason I sought out a treatment and they suggested this, not very happy with it. I also have breast swelling now with tenderness and very low libido and extreme need to sleep, sleep and sleep. I also am irritable and angry with outbursts much of the time, I can't deal with this anymore and I will be ceasing the regime. It is nice to know that others have the same type effects, especially with the exercise intolerance. I also have tremulousnous and general fogginess of thought. Well, thanks readers for your shared info. A.Wilson

Being a registered nurse, I know that all medications have potential for side effects. And with this type of forum, it is important to know that people who do not have side effects often don't write in BLOGS so there is a very biased view of the totallity of effects. Having said that, I've been on Biaxin XL for 4 days. This medication has really messed with my stomach since day 1. Starting day 2 was the night sweats and vivid nightmares. Nighmares puts it lightly- it was more like night panic. Day 3 started with diarrhea. So now I'm at day 4 with all my sweat, shakes, nausea, cramps, diarrhea and I can't wait to go to bed to have more nightmares. What can happen to me next?

I am a 52 yr old registered nurse.I was on Lipitor 10mg for 3 1/2 weeks.By then,I was miserable.I had joint/muscle pains,I was sleepless and had overwhelming fatigue.My co-workers asked me why was I limping.I ached so bad I couldnt walk straight,and would come home and lie down and cry from these things.I stopped and all symptoms stopped in 24-48 hours.I will never put myself through that again.I will try harder to watch the diet,but would rather take my chances that subject myself to that again,it was crazy.

I am a registered nurse that works in a pain clinic. We give epidural Kenalog everyday for people with disc problems in their spines. I had been having pain in my left leg and buttock for about 10 months, got an MRI and had a lumbar epidural steroid injection for my disc protrusion. It worked beautifully, still pain free 5 weeks later. However, my period is on its 3rd week now! My GYN gave me Provera pills but it didn't help. My other problem is I have found a lump in my breast. My GYN thinks it is related to the steroids and will do a mammogram in 2 weeks if it hasn't gone away. Has anyone else had this happen after steroids? I am 38.

Dear worried,
Hi. I am writing to you because you sound like my wonderful caring mother, I too have had a horrible experience with yasmin. However, I am 33 yrs old. I took birth control pills for 14 yrs. with no side effects have been through 2 pregnancies and restarted the pill with no problems. I have always, and my mother would tell you this, always been a Happy go lucky person...until I started to take Yasmin Sept. of last year. I switched from ortho novum to Yasmin because the ob I went to see thought it would help with some stomach problems I was complaining about (turns out I had low Iron and just needed some Iron supplements) but I had already started taking the Yasmin.. so I stayed on them. Let me tell you this... I am a registered nurse, have been for 14 years, I was self confident, self assured and always self reliant.. until I took Yasmin. I started to get panick attacks, which I NEVER ever suffered from my entire life. I became depressed, moody, insecure, and scared to death, these symptoms were only things I had read about out of a text book, I thought I knew what depression was from nursing school books, boy I had NO idea how bad it could be. I really thought I was going crazy. It took me three months on that pill to finally realize it was the pill! I only stumbled upon this realization because I ran into another aquaintance who had a bad experience with Yasmin, and had friends who also had bad experiences with Yasmin. She described the same symptoms I and your daughter have experienced.

Being a nurse, I have dove head first into literature and books on hormones. I have also spent Lots of money on tests and doctors visits, many of whom tried to put me on anti-depressants. But I would not take them, because I KNEW my body. I knew I was NOT depressed with life in general. I KNEW that the Yasmin and all of its horrible side effects was what was making me depressed and anti depressants would not help my underlying problem. Dont get me wrong, lots of women on this website get some relief from them, and if that works for them thats great, but I stuck it out, and it took a while but finally the depression lifted and I began to feel more like my normal self. I know your wondering how long?

Let me just say that with all the reading and information I have gathered this is my best guess..
There are many different bcp, and some have more androgenic (male hormone effects) and some have more estrogen effects. There are many different types of women with different body chemistrys for example lets take
Curvy type-full breasts, no facial or body hair, more body fat (Has more estrogen in her chemistry)
Althletic type-althletic build, more muscular build,prone to facial hair, has some body hair (Has more testosterone/androgens in her chemistry)
We all have estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone in our chemistry, but based on the woman own personal chemistry, each of our bodies seems to be different in how much we make and which is more dominant.
So if you give an athletic type person, much like I was, an estrogen based pill, which is what Yasmin is, then it only makes sense that you are going to feel bad. Because this is nowhere near your bodies normal. When I was on the ortho novum, a more androgenic pill, I never felt any of the HORRIBLE symptoms I felt on Yasmin. And guess what, on the yasmin, my breasts grew larger and my facial and body hair dissappeared. It sounds like a good thing but its not, I also lost muscle mass, got itchy dry skin, dry hair, wrinkles, and soo much more I could go on and on.
The thing that seems to be the trend with me and the others on this website is that for some of the girls you get immediate relief when stopping the yasmin, for some as well as myself, you get relief and then it goes down hill again, especially the week before and sometimes on your period and this will cycle month after month and it is a process that takes several months. If this happens she will get discouraged and depressed again, some of the symptoms will come and go, but keep reminding her she will feel better.
My hope is that because your daughter is so young and producing so many hormones right now, her hormonal balance will get right back on track quickly. For those of us in our 30's and up I believe it takes much longer because we do not produce as much of the hormones, including the "mother" hormones like DHEA which converts into testosterone and progesterone, because we make less and less of this hormone as we enter our late 20's and early thirties and age. This may explain why it takes some of us so long to feel better and others feel better right away.
It may also have to do with how long you have been on it, but Im not sure.
Another thing, and Im sorry to write a book, but I have also learned that bcp work by first bottoming out ALL of your natural hormones and then replacing them with synthetic ones (the pill). When you go off the pill, as in my case, your hormones I believe bottom out again and then your body has to replace them again. This can be more difficult for an aging woman.
One more interesting side note:
Testosterone is responsible for a whole lot very important things in your body. Sex drive being one of the main ones but it is so much more than that. If you read any book on testosterone, Suzanne Somers The sexy years is a good one you will find that it is so important for all of your body organs, the mind, and even in aging. I know that I feel a hundred years old when mine is low and only when it starts to go up did I start to feel like my old self.
Also, they have found that testosterone which is suppressed during pregnancy, sometimes does not come back up after birth in some women. Some women need a boost to get it back up and I wonder if this is what brings on post partum depression. The bcp can do the same thing after being on it a while the body may forget how to make it.
I think anyone still having side effects after stopping the pill should get their hormones tested and see if they are low or high in something. Keep in mind that hormones are about balance. Once your hormones are completely balanced again you will probably start to feel better.

So I think your daughter feels better because she stopped the Yasmin and I would not go on any bcp for a few months and then see how she feels (keep taking the vitamins and eating well and lots of water) she may even be able to quit the lexapro. I would definitely suspect the pill if the depression started when she started taking bcp (whatever type) Probably due to hormonal imbalance which she will probably get from any pill. There are other options out there besides bcp. I hear marena (sp?) is an implant in the uterus that releases progesterone (to block pregnancy) but the hormone does not circulate the blood system. She might want to check out other options with her OB.
Anyway feel free to write back. I hope this helps some of the other women on this site as well. We are all just trying to understand what is going on with our bodies. And please ladies, all these "weird" symptoms you keep writing about and asking do you think this can be related to the pill? I think YES. To all of them. Because knowing what I have read about hormones and how important and intricate the balance achieves in our bodies to maintain our health and sense of well being, then yes messing with this balance can wreak havoc of all kinds. Each body is responding in its own different way and it is going to take time to get back on track.
And YES mood swings are a BIG part of it. The hormones seem to go up and down. Not a steady climb as this can be discouraging at times!
I wish you all the best and keep your heads up. It will get better.
Last but not least the Yasmin is the only bcp that has dsrp in it (the diuretic part of the pill) I cant quite put my finger on it but I feel this "unique" part of this pill may be the part of the problems we all experience. Im sure its why some of the girls on this site have to urinate a lot as that is what a diuretic does. I would not recommend this pill to anyone.