October 2th
2008
1:48 PM
I reluctantly had mirena implanted in Nov. 06, shortly after the birth of my son. It was more economical than the pill. Initially, I experienced spotting, cramping and low libido. It was mostly a nuisance at first but during the following months, I jut grew to feel unwell each and every day. The cramping became much more severe, and it felt like I grew cysts on my right ovary. My period occured on a bi-weekly basis, low libido became absolutely no libido -- which caused issues in my marriage, when I gave in to appease my husband, sex was often painful or uncomfortable; my abdomen felt bloated and tender, I always had headaches, sinus issues; usually had an intense pain in my lower back which would radiate to my hips, my hair was thinning out at an alarming rate, the hormones gave me a manly appearance -- bleaching my new " mustache " became routine, the hair under my arms and on my legs grew twice as fast, irritability was frequent. All these things were affecting me daily, which becomes ridiculous after a while... I don't take a lot of medications so I narrowed down possible culprits. I googled mirena and identified with women on several different forums. I reasoned that this IUD is still relatively new so the verdict is just coming in. Having realized this much, I'm nervous to learn in more detail what long term effects this contraception may have.
Mine was removed last week! Immediately I felt my uterus deflate. I have lost a pound in the last 8 days. Removal was difficult and painful, it gravitated upward. Ultrasound was necessary in locating it. I was afraid if I left it in much longer I would've needed surgery to get it out. I am grateful that wasn't the case.
I don't think doctors are maliciously pushing it on women. They only make a small amount of money for each prescription. I think from their standpoint it is theoretically an ideal form of contraception. In practice however it is a nightmare for a lot of women. I was astonished that so many women posted similar side effects. It cannot be coincidence. Think about it, it's plastic. The body tries to attack an invasive object, but it gets mixed messages from the hormones. It's completely unnatural and dangerous!
-- By octobertypo | Reply | Private Message me
September 5th
2008
11:31 AM
Ladies,
God gave us all that "little voice inside" that we call a woman's intuition. LISTEN TO IT! Unfortunately, I did not when it came to choosing Mirena as my first and only choice of birth control since I was a young teen first experimenting with sex. Well now, I am a day away from my 31st birthday and have been married to my high-school sweetheart for ten-plus years. After two kids and a miscarriage of twins, I decided I just didn't want to go through pregnancy again. So, little ol' me decided to be hip and choose a form of birth control that allowed me to be free and not have to worry about the likes of condoms...or spermicide...or those wretched birth control pills. If only I knew back then what I know now, however.
I first got Mirena inserted the end of March 2007. Since then, my sex life with my husband suffered dramatically, because, first, I bled inconsistently (that is, I didn't know when my period was going to show up---every week, every two weeks, etc.); second, when my period did show up, it would last 8-11 days; and third, the wire attached to the device was painfully uncomfortable for my husband during sex to where we were limited to just a few positions, which made for a pretty mundane sex life.
From a health standpoint, like so many other posters, I suffered severe hair loss. It had gotten to the point where I literally had a receding hair line and had to wear very weird-looking bangs just to cover up my hair loss.
I stayed bloated and on edge from the anxiety I felt from feeling like the start of my period was just imminently hanging over my head, because it seemed as though I was always on it (because I did bleed more times times than not).
The weight gain was horrible. I always felt insatiably hungry and looked up one day and realized I was a size 16...and barely squeezing into my clothes. I went on a diet, which went fine. However, I ended up coming to a standstill even after increasing and intensifying my exercise and lowering my calorie intake even more than I had. NO ONE 'til the day I die will be able to convince me it wasn't Mirena's fault for causing the initial weight gain and later stagnating my progress to lose weight.
And, yes, there was a change in my personality. I went from a laid-back, independent, self-sufficient woman to one who was totally clingy, overbearing, and extremely jealous. But then, I turned into the worst person I had ever seen myself becoming: I then turned into a woman who just wanted to be by herself. And so, I was one phone call away from hiring a divorce attorney and leaving my husband and kids, because I just couldn't handle my every day life as it was. I did not know what was going on with me; I just knew I found myself having a total change of heart about everything in my life, even though my life was a pretty dang good one, according to all of my friends and family and even people on the street who would observe how well my husband treated me.
Enough was enough, and I finally had Mirena taken out Friday, July 11, 2008, at approximately 11:00 AM!
My life has totally changed.
No lies. No embellishments. No exaggerations. I lost three pounds by that Tuesday, July 15. So, my efforts to reach my weight loss goal don't seem so futile now. Furthermore, my husband and I are as happy together as we were back when we were in high school; and, I can't even imagine not having the kids and him in my life. Oh, and my hair.... I no longer have a receding hair line. It's still going through that annoying growing-out phase, but at least it exists again!!!
Looking back, particularly at some of these posts, something told me I was in for a nightmare come to life when my doctor was amazed at how I felt hardly any pain while he inserted Mirena. And even now how he and his nurse act totally shocked and surprised at all of the problems that I had while using Mirena just sickens me to the point of wanting to punch something. These medical professionals know. They get very nice perks for being in cahoots with these drug representatives and manufacturers by going along with making us, the patients, guinea pigs. Such low-life scum! I am hurt and totally pissed off by the whole thing. But still, I am thankful my life has returned to normal since having Mirena taken out.
Nevertheless, be warned! Mirena is a steep, pricey sentence on one's life. So, you'd better be prepared.
-- By legendof4060 | Reply | Private Message me
July 16th
2008
4:59 PM
I had my mirena fitted in 2000 when I was 40 years old. I have suffered with psoriasis since that time and only recently realized that maybe this could be linked to the hormone. I have spoken to my GP who insists that there could be no link and that it is purely co-incidental, however he can offer no other advise as to the cause of the psoriasis, so how does he know. I have tried all sorts of remedies to alleviate the psoriasis with no luck. I am now practically convinced that the mirena is the cause and am considering having it removed asap. I have also experienced palpitations for the last two years and have had all the tests and have been told I am fine. I also suffer from IBS. Has anyone else experienced similar?
-- By scorpiop | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me
April 12th
2008
1:11 PM
I just got a very condescending private message from a doctor on this site who said that while my articles from Europe are very helpful that I don't know what I am talking about and that I could mislead the public. Then I see how many parents and patients got a condescending attitude from their own doctors.
Well the public has been mislead but it is not my fault. I don't see any experts in this field stepping up to the plate to acknowledge that these side effects exist, have been reported by authorities in other countries, and that these experts are interested in learning why they are happening. This is an extremely widely prescribed medication that involves the lives of millions.
Merck's research director was quoted as saying that they know of no mechanisms by which these side effects could be related to psychiatric adverse drug reactions. That was a flat out LIE. So what if I quoted you a research article from China that was very complicated and yes, could possibly be misinterpreted by somebody? I just needed to give you an example. The only expert so far that had the guts to give you a truthful statement was Dr. J. Douglas Bremner. Thankfully, he corrected a misunderstanding about saying that it was "unclear."
I hope that we will all hang in there and something will be said by somebody, anybody on this site that will make the FDA listen and investigate Singulair (montelukast) all the way back to the very original studies done in test tubes not on people. And, then take a new look at it from the standpoint of what we now know about human genetics. I guess I will keep repeating myself about one size does not fit all.
I would also PRAY that all clinical studies on Singulair (montelukast) would be suspended until the FDA decides why these side effects occur. And that they would issue a statement to doctors to make conservative decisions regarding treatment with Singulair until the results of the investigation have been reported.
I hope that nobody thinks that I am trying to mislead anyone. The answers are either unknown or being hidden by Merck. How would I know the answers? I don't work for Merck. How many other people are out there trying to translate articles in foreign languages to see what's going on? American doctors are calling Merck and being assured that there is nothing to these claims.
I wonder how many experts there are that just don't want to be another Jeffrey Wigand or don't know what is wrong?
I know that I am ranting but somebody should do it.
-- By concernedcitizen | Reply | (6) replies | Private Message me
April 9th
2008
8:25 PM
I just visited Merck's Singulair website and spent a long time really, really thinking about everything that they had for physicians. After thinking about the pathways for myself from the standpoint of chemical interactions, I wanted to know what was explained to the physician. I approached the site from the standpoint of -- if one of my patients was overdosing, how could I recognize that. What would happen? Merck's site has diagrams and movies on the nasal passages and the lungs. You get a picture of a mast cell producing-- doing it's thing. That was it. And on every page, this...
SINGULAIR is indicated for relief of symptoms of allergic rhinitis (seasonal allergic rhinitis in adults and children aged 2 years and older and perennial allergic rhinitis in adults and children aged 6 months and older).
In clinical trials, SINGULAIR was generally well tolerated, with a safety profile similar to that of placebo. Adverse events varied by age. The most commonly reported adverse events, occurring at a frequency of ≥1% and at an incidence greater than placebo, regardless of causality assessment, were sinusitis, upper respiratory infection, sinus headache, cough, epistaxis, headache, otitis media, pharyngitis, and increased ALT.
SINGULAIR is contraindicated in patients with hypersensitivity to any component of this product.
Okay, let's talk about headache at greater than 1%. Headache is 18-19%. How do I know that from what they put on their website?
It might be a very good question to ask your doctor if they could go to the Singulair website and be able to know what would happen if they had a group of children or adults that liked to take pills. Yum, one of good, more is better. I had no clue from that website if there was a risk of overdose or not.
This is not my area. I am trying to help. I am essentially as in the dark as you are.
-- By concernedcitizen | Reply | (3) replies | Private Message me
March 28th
2008
9:16 AM
I also just heard about the Singulair side effects. I am a 58-year-old female with recurrent sinus infection and general allergic reactions. I had testing at my ENT's last spring--I was allergic to nothing specific. It was thought that I am generally sensitive to lots of different things. Well, the ENT put me on Singulair and I never put two and two together until now--- I became extremely anxious and depressed, couldn't sleep, my legs were so restless at night that it was unreal. I also had frequent urination and bladder spasms, low pelvic pain, etc. Over the winter, I stopped taking the Singulair and gradually was able to get off Lunesta and an anti-depressant. These were the worst months of my life---I went through all kinds of urinary and gyne testing to no avail. The urologist couldn't give me any answer---just that he though it might be a neurological issue so I also spent a lot of time and $ getting CT scans and MRI's to no avail. I really thought I was losing my mind---it was half a year during which I was definitely not my usual healthy, upbeat self. I will never touch Singular again!
-- By jbrooks | Reply | (2) replies | Private Message me
February 13th
2008
9:53 PM
Avelox - someone needs to get a class action lawsuit going. I was put on this Friday (2/8/08) for pneumonia. The MD said it was a great very strong antibiotic and would kick in really quick. Within 4 hours I was having some problems with urine dribbling out - something I've NEVER had before. By the next day I was having to change pads every 30-60 minutes with gushes every time I coughed - and that made me go through multiple pants until I started to use my babies diapers. By the third day I couldn't leave home. My pneumonia was much worse, as if I hadn't taken any antibiotics for it at all. I stopped the Avelox and went back to urgent care - the doctor didn't even argue that my pneumonia was worse, one listen to my chest and he was quite concerned. He put me on Zithromax and I'm doing better as far as the pneumonia.
The bladder incontinence is still bad and hasn't let up even though I haven't taken any Avelox for 3 days. I called Bayer's branch that makes this stuff to file a complaint and the customer rep said "You must be unusual, there have been no complaints of bladder incontinence with Avelox before." She barely listened to me and told me to go back to my doctor to see if he could help - which he can't because he has no experience with this and would have to call the drug manufacturer anyway! She was totally unsympathetic and when I got upset would put me on hold for several minutes and then pick up again.
If you look at Avelox from a marketing standpoint, NO patient would take it if they ended up in diapers! I know I wouldn't - so they sell it hoping to sneak it by and make money. Only they have now damaged my body and I don't know if I'll ever be back to normal. I'm still suffering from sensitivity to light too - which they claim is a false side effect but has been really severe for me too. Can hardly drive during the daytime now when I've gone to the doctor as the light is sooo strong for my eyes.
When I told the doctor that the Avelox had made two of my joints painful to the point I could not lift my baby or kneel on one leg, he said not to worry. I hadn't been on it long enough for the tendon to rupture. WHAT??? That wasn't listed as a side effect either but obviously THAT has happened enough (and can be proven) that the drug company has told doctors about it.
Someone needs to hold these drug companies accountable for the damage they do...
-- By rw8 | Reply | (4) replies | Private Message me
February 8th
2008
12:27 PM
I was prescribed Avelox for a sinus infection and bronchitis. I didn't have any problems with the Avelox until after the second dose. By the third dose, my abdomen was extremely distended- to the point that I could barely eat b/c the pressure from my abdomen was pressing into my chest area and caused trouble breathing. I saw my doctor after the 3rd dose and explained how bloated I was. She told me that sometimes antibiotics upset your stomach. I was told that I didn't have to take any more of the Avelox (which I wasn't planning to take anymore anyway). It has now been 8 days since I've taken Avelox. I am still bloated. I think the bloating is slightly better. But I'm still miserable and wondering when I will feel better. I dread eating because I know I'll feel worse when I do. I'm just thankful that I haven't had some of the other reactions I've read about here. I'll never take Avelox again.
-- By melcato | Reply | (1) replies | Private Message me
November 4th
2007
6:07 AM
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 :)
Singulair (3) Mirena (3) Avelox (2) Dilantin (1) Gardasil (1)
October 8th
2009
1:31 PM
For any person that got the Gardasil vaccinations and did NOT have any side effects or symptoms, PLEASE go and have a pap test done immediately! We are getting reports of these girls that had no side effects to the vaccine that are now getting cervical lesions and cervical cancer. So if you know of anyone that received Gardasil with NO side effects, PLEASE tell them to get a pap test done immediately!
My 16 yr old daughter was also injured by Gardasil. She had 2 of the 3 injections (Jan 9th and March 9th, 2009). Before Gardasil, she was a happy, healthy and vibrant teenager. Since Gardasil she is sick every day of her life. She has dizziness, overall weakness, numbness and tingling in both legs and left arm, back pain, neck pain, pressure headaches, vision problems, breathing problems, chest pains, racing heartbeats, brain fog, stomach problems, nausea, diarrhea, weight loss, hair loss, jerking all over spells...the list goes on and on.
She was an A/B student but failed her 10th grade year because she was too sick to retain what she was trying to learn (brain fog). She no longer has the energy to go off with her friends. Most days she lays in bed, in pain.
This just doesn't happen to a healthy teenager!! And it just doesn't happen to THOUSANDS of other girls with no connection except they all had the Gardasil vaccine.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure this one out.
Please educate yourself as much as you can before you allow anyone to push this unproven and unsafe vaccine on your daughter! The guilt is overwhelming from a mothers' standpoint! I thought I was doing something to protect my daughter. Instead, I allowed the doctor to inject poison into my child and take away her life!
These 'side effects' are NOT rare! They are happening every day to literally hundreds of thousands of young girls after receiving Gardasil. The numbers in VAERS is estimated to only be between 1-10% of the true numbers! Try asking some of us moms who have to deal with these horrible side effects every day if we consider it to be RARE!
Everyone should look at the other side of the fence and research this. There are thousands of girls that are coming down with strange illnesses, paralysis, gran mal seizures, etc. after receiving Gardasil.
We are now getting reports of girls as young as age 9 that are breaking out with genital warts and severe cases of cervical cancer AFTER receiving Gardasil. Some of these girls/women did not initially have any side effects from the vaccine.
There are perfectly healthy girls all of a sudden come down with all of these strange sicknesses (some that I cant even pronounce) after getting jabbed with Gardasil. All within hours/days/weeks?
Just like Merck's 'wonderful' Vioxx...what will it take? How many dead/injured before someone takes notice?
The doctor that literally pushed this vaccine on us at a routine doctor visit told us that there were no side effects except for soreness or redness at injection site.
She also told us that it would protect her from a whole LIST of things! I had seen the commercials but had not researched it.
As a matter of fact, I never really THOUGHT about vaccines until my daughter suddenly started having all of these strange health issues.
She was ALWAYS a healthy child, happy and outgoing, active and just a joy to be around.
Now, she is a totally different child. She is always sick..always in pain..and cries a LOT, so scared that she will die in her sleep from the breathing problems. She describes it as breathing through a blanket or that an elephant is sitting on her chest.
She has SO many of the exact same symptoms as all of the other girls that have been injured.
It is NOT a coincidence! All of these Gardasil girls have the same symptoms, some worse than others, but the bottom line is the one thing they all have in common is Gardasil.
These symptoms are NOT in their heads!
My daughter started having dizziness, overall weakness, pain and numbness in both legs and left arm BEFORE we found out about any of these other girls having the same issues.
When I called her doctor that gave her the vaccine (as soon as she started with these symptoms) she said it was NOT the Gardasil vaccine that is causing it. How could she be so sure? This is such a NEW vaccine...a DANGEROUS and UNNECESSARY vaccine!
HPV is not an STD (research this!).
Cervical cancers have gone down 70% since the PAP smear came along.
This is NOT an epidemic! Why are they mandating this vaccine for as young as 9 year old girls for a vaccine that doesnt even do what they claim it will do?
Girls are now coming down with cervical lesions and HPV AFTER receiving Gardasil! I'm talking about healthy young girls that did NOT have these things BEFORE getting Gardasil.
Young girls dropping dead within hours of getting the vaccine and they think we are all stupid enough to believe it was a huge tumor that was in her heart and had spread to her lungs? (I'm speaking of the 14 yr old that just recently died after receiving Cervarix).
If that young and healthy and active young girl really DID have this so called huge tumor, she would have had symptoms. A tumor like that doesnt just up and kill it's host without a 'wasting away and painful period'.
That is a complete cover-up!
Just like the young girl that has been paralyzed and hospitalized for the last year, Ashleigh Cave. Because her mother was trying to speak out and find out what exactly happened to her daughter, they have now placed that child under protective orders! To shut the mother up?
This is all about $$$$$ at the expense of our young daughters (and now sons) health and lives!
It is an outrage!!!
Please see my posts at ******
And this website:
******
There, you can see other girls' stories and their pictures..there is also a memorial document with pictures and stories of young girls that have died after receiving Gardasil.
Educate Before You Vaccinate!!
-- By mstyrayn | Reply | (6) replies | Private Message me