Thyroid test symptoms and conditions

I am a 48 year old woman, 5'1" (now 145 pounds). I had Mirena inserted almost exactly 5 years ago, and am scheduled to have it removed in 2 weeks. I gained 25 pounds over the course of the last three years; prior to that, my maximum weight for my whole (non pregnant) life was 123 (I was at 120 when Mirena was inserted, four years after the birth of my second child). I have always been very healthy, never abnormal blood tests except during my two pregnancies was tested as pre-gestational diabetic and had to watch my carbs.

I never put it together with Mirena until just recently, when I started doing research on hypothyroidism after a friend told me that my symptoms could be due to that problem. Depression, hair loss, acne on my back, and the terrible weight gain. I went to see my G.P. who referred me for blood work. I hoped to see evidence of low thyroid function (actual TSH value, 3.12 -- I was told this is normal on a range of .4 to 4.5). I also discovered that I now have high cholesterol (269 triglycerides, 251 total cholesterol, 46 HDL, and 151 LDL). My fasting (14 hours) glucose # is 99 (I was told this is normal on a range of 65-99 mg/dL), and my vitamin D, 25-OH is 21 (also was told this is still normal but low on a range of 20-100 ng/mL). I tried to give blood six months ago, and was turned down because of anemia, so I've been eating a lot of spinach, greens, and more red meat than I normally would, so I was interested to see if I am still anemic -- the red blood cell count is 3.8 (told it was normal on a range of 3.8-5.1 mill/uL). I mention these specific results because although I was told they were normal (except for cholesterol), when I physically went to the doctor's office and requested a copy of the results and did some research online I see that my thyroid IS actually low-functioning -- according to guidelines revised six years ago, anything over 3.0 is considered hypothyroid and should be treated. Plus, isn't a fasting glucose of 99 pretty high? Yet my doctor's only suggestion: diet and exercise. Good grief, I've been on a diet since I had my first child, 13 years ago. True, I don't exercise regularly (I'm a teacher and mom of 2; I never seem to have the me time.) I guess I have an excuse to get a gym membership now.

Also, for the last year I've had increasing pain in my shoulder (I couldn't lay on my side, for example, and lately I can't reach behind me or over my head). An x-ray turned up mild bone degeneration, but not enough to cause the pain I've been having. I was referred to an orthopedist, who today diagnosed a shoulder rotator cuff injury (I've had no injury; he says it is a common degenerative complaint in the over-40 crowd). He gave me a cortisone injection and I'll be on PT for a while to see if the pain goes away. If not, I'll have to have an MRI and surgery to correct the tear.

I'm posting all of this in case it might be useful to someone out there who might be going through the same thing. I had a thyroid test done about six years ago at my OB/GYN, and it was normal then (though I don't have the number; I'll get it in 2 weeks at the OB/GYN). It will be interesting to learn whether my thyroid level has gone up since Mirena. Also, although my research suggests that the effects of these synthetic hormones do not wear off for some time, possibly even years, I will finally feel like there may be hope if my symptoms improve over the next few months when Mirena is gone. If so, I will share it with you.

If you are reading this, perhaps you have a similar story. I wish I had been more aggressive about checking out the possible causes of my many symptoms, but I let them go for years because, I guess, I just figured I'm a healthy woman who is no longer young. (Oh, one more thing: for the first year or even two years that I had Mirena, I had incredibly heavy periods. The blood flow was similar to that during the day or two after the vaginal births of my daughters. Don't know if that's significant, but it took a couple of years for my periods to get fairly normal on Mirena.)

Just want to survey everyone and ask for responses for the following 3 questions:

1. how long did you keep your Mirena and if you no longer have it, why did you have it removed?

2. how many of you had your thyroid checked? who's came back abnormal? what were the levels?

(I'm a medical student doing research on this one since I believe the levonorgestrel affects our thyroid hormone. My TSH was elevated to 5.2 which is considered "subclinical HYPOthyroidism". This was mid cycle when my natural progesterone AND synthetic progestin were cumulatively high. When I had it rechecked 6 weeks later (around my period when any natural progesterone level is gone) it was normalized at 1.5. So I think that the P+P screws up our thyroid and can throw us into a high TSH and "hypothyroid state". The opposite effect may be true during menstruation and we can become HYPERthyroid for a few days... hence the really bad anxiety?!)

3. where is everyone from? perhaps we can have support group meetings?

LOL- EVERYONE! I'M SITTING HERE SEARCHING FOR SIDE EFFECTS FOR MIRENA AFTER REMOVAL. I HAD MIRENA FOR 1 1/2 YEARS, AND I REMOVED IT ABOUT 2 MONTHS AGO. I HAVE EXTREMELY HEAVY BLEEDING SO I FIGURED I WOULD SEARCH IF IT HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE REMOVAL. WHEN I HAD MIRENA INSERTED, I HAD ABSOLUTELY NO PROBLEMS! THE ONLY SIDE EFFECT I HAD THE ENTIRE TIME WAS EXTREMELY LIGHT PERIODS FOR 2 DAYS, BUT I GOT THE PERIODS EVERY OTHER WEEK! WHEN IT WAS REMOVED, I FELT ABSOLUTELY NOTHING! NO PROBLEMS! I WAS IN SHOCK BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WAS GOING TO HURT. THE ONLY REASON I DECIDED TO HAVE THE MIRENA REMOVED IS BECAUSE MY HUSBAND AND I PLANNED A TROPICAL VACATION, AND I DIDN'T WANT TO BE BLEEDING ALL THE TIME, SO I FIGURED-GET IT REMOVED AND GET THE DEPO ( I HAD DEPO FOR 9 YEARS AND HAD NO PROBLEMS, AND NEVER GOT MY PERIOD). WELL, HERE'S A FUNNY STORY!! THE REASON THIS VACATION IS IMPORTANT IS BECAUSE I AM CONSTANTLY DEPRESSED, ALWAYS CRYING, EASILY AGGRAVATED, LOST ALL MOTIVATION, LAZY-I STOPPED CLEANING/ COOKING, I DON'T GO OUTSIDE WITH MY LITTLE ONES- MY HUSBAND DOES, ALONG WITH EVERYTHING ELSE. NO SEX!! MY HAIR IS FALLING OUT , EXTREMELY BAD ACNE (RESULTING IN MANY TRIPS TO THE DERM. AND SHORT HAIR CUT), I SOMETIMES FEELS PINS AND NEEDLES ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY BODY FOR DAYS! I WENT TO THE DR. AND SHE SAID I WAS EXTREMELY OVERWHELMED, STRESSED AND DEPRESSED! I ALSO HAD A THYROID TEST. MY THYROID IS FINE, AND AS FOR THE MEDS THAT WAS PRESCRIBED FOR DEPRESSION- I NEVER TOOK THEM ( I'M NOT A PILL TAKER-CAN'T REMEMBER!) SO AFTER ALL A TROPICAL VACATION IS JUST WHAT I PROBABLY NEED TO SNAP ME OUT OF WHATEVER MY PROBLEM IS! WELL, AFTER READING THIS , ALL I COULD DO IS LAUGH!! YOU SEE, LOOKING BACK----IN THE PAST 2 MONTHS- I HAVEN'T CRIED, I AM FILLED WITH TREMENDOUS JOY WITH LOTS OF ENERGY. I TOOK MY KIDS TO THE PARK AND FOR LONG WALKS NUMEROUS TIMES. I CLEANED THE ENTIRE HOUSE AND IT'S STILL SPOTLESS, COOKED ALMOST EVERY NIGHT, I HAVEN'T HAD A SISSY FIT, OR FELT SOME TYPE OF ANNOYANCE YET, MY FACE IS CLEARER, MY HAIR HASN'T FALLEN OUT AND GREW LONGER. AND MOST IMPORTANT I LOST 34 POUNDS! ( 174-140). RIGHT NOW AT THIS CURRENT MOMENT I FEEL BETTER THAN EVER! MIRENA BEING THE CULPRIT NEVER ONCE CROSSED MY MIND. I SUMMED UP MY PROBLEMS TO BEING STRESSED FROM MARRIAGE, 3 HIGHLY ACTIVE CHILDREN AND RUNNING A BUSINESS. SO I SIT HERE IN MY GLORY AND CHUCKLE TO MY SELF THINKING ABOUT ALL MY POINTLESS NAGGING & CRYING & BLAH BLAH BLAH. AND I THANK YOU WOMEN FOR OPENING UP AND BEING HONEST BECAUSE I NOW KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG! THANK YOU.

have to agree with Mrsbarrett's post right below mine...I have been a lurker on this board for the past couple of months and thank God for it or who knows how crazy i'd be right now!! Here is a list of my side effects and pertinent information:
DOI: October 2008
Side effects were gradual and most evident around the Christmas Holidays:
Dizziness
Weird eye/vision disturbance where i'd lose focus for a moment and then be okay.
Constant spotting of "old blood" nothing much but did require pantiliners 24/7
Anxiety
Hypertension (more than ever, like when I was pregnant, 150-170s/100)
Panic Attacks
Face Dryness
ZERO SEX DRIVE
No "natural" lubrication, but who cares when you have no drive, are spotting all the time, and it hurts to have sex
Vaginal Odor
Mood Swings
Depression
FATIGUE to the point of wanting to stay in bed despite having to care for my 7.5 year old.
Chest pains (kept thinking maybe I had heart trouble, had cardiac workup that came up PERFECT and bloodwork was perfect, Thyroid test was perfect)
Nausea (morning sickness type, would get slightly better in evening but not so much)
IBS symptoms (diarrhea)

DOR: January 23, 2009
2 days later heavy bleeding for a couple of days.....had somewhat of a "crash" the first week where I was still not better. By the 2nd week post removal I was still nauseated in the morning but improved in the late afternoon and got energy boost in late afternoon.By the 3rd week I was totally back to normal!!!!! (well what's normal for crazy me! hahahahha)

My husband came with me to the doc, and she had no problem with removal. I went back for a follow up this past Friday and she saw how normal I am and that I have lost several pounds as well. She realizes I am extremely sensitive to hormone changes but says i'm the only one that she has seen like that. (how many have problems that don't think it is the Mirena...that's what I want to know???)

Anyway, that's my story and i'm sticking to it!!! If anyone would like to chat or share please let me know. I will also add that I have a Masters in Physician Assistant Studies (just not practicing since becoming a SAHM) and so I looked up tons of information to figure out what was wrong with me, I really am thankful to have found this site....medical mumbo jumbo is NOTHING when you have your body telling you something and all you fine ladies......Thanks again!
~G

Hi I am 25 years old... I have been on the NuvaRing for about 2+ years. I have never had a problem with it... I actually thought it was the best invention ever for birth control until recently. I have been getting "Hot Flashes" or at least thats what I have been calling them for about 3 months now. I would be sitting at work or watching a tv and get extremely over heated to the point that if I don't cool myself down quickly I get dizzy and light headed. I didn't think it had anything to do with the NuvaRing at first but after going to the doctor and getting my blood test my Thyroid test came back basically normal. I am still waiting on the endocrinologist or gland doctor since i think i spelt that wrong. But either way I think i getting myself off of this medication. If anyone has any idea of what else this could be please let me know. I was told that it could be caused by something else. I do work with raw meat and seafood and come in contact with it on a daily basis. I also have a kitten at home. He has all his shoots but i got him when he was 8 weeks old with no shoots. Some people told me that thats a possible carrier of something that can cause this but its rare. I would like any and all impute on this if possible. Thanks and good luck to all that are having this problem. Oh and I definitely do not recommend the PATCH that made me doubled over in pain ever month.

I am so glad that i found this site. I was feeling like i am going CRAZY! I got the mirena after my third child Oct 2005. I can't wait to have it removed!!!! My story started by going to the doctor to find a good birth control. My doctor suggested the mirena, it sounded like the perfect method for me...up until today Oct 2008, i thought that it was perfect.
After the insertion everything was great until i started to feel like i was always pregnant(tender breast, nausea and vomiting, weight gain, and dizziness). I would report to doctor, have test run, simply told that i might have a stomach virus. Symptoms would come and go alone with now major hair loss, constant yeast infections, sore limbs, greasy oily skin, unexplained sweats, losing of 30 lbs, but gaining back 10 lbs in a month, bloated stomach, mood swings, unexplained sadness/depressions!!! I use to have long thick hair, but now i barely have any. My scalp is so sore and my hair is very dry and brittle. I thought that maybe i was just stressing myself and needed to take it easy. I started to grow very tired, drowsy with blurry vision, stressed-out, even slipped into deep depressions about any and everything. I would blow up on anyone for anything. I am so not feeling like myself....
After several OB-GYN and Dermatology appointments, I came to the conclusion that it might just be my so called "perfect" birth control. I expected my doctors to know the exact reason after i mentioned by birth control but they would always say that it was not likely to be the mirena. I will be having this removed this week. I just hope and pray that everything goes back to normal including all my beautiful thick hair.

As a Doctor myself I think drugs are NEVER the answer except in EMERGENT issues in Heroic life saving... YOU however and all individuals are and should be MORE accountable for your own health and STOP DEMANDING the Drugs and look to LIFESTYLE changes in DIET and EXERCISE to achieve the GOALS so necessary for quality and quantity of life.... The tools are at your fingertips ... The almighty internet ... And your OWN imaginative mentation is your TRUE limitation... So TAKE control of yourself and BE accountable .... Sorry so blunt but MORE tough love and Educating people is whats needed.... NOT more drugs....

MDG

To the best of my knowledge I never had any of the 'immediate' symptoms.
My problems are probably due to the fact that I was prescribed Cipro 3 possibly 4 times from Aug 06 - Dec 07 and then finished up Dec 07 with a round of Levaquin. My father is over 60 and was recently given Levaquin and had immediate and serious problems. He is seeing a doctor recommended by the CDC today. Yes, he is even working with the CDC on
this one. Due to all he is being told he is convinced that the medication is behind my medical decline as well. Since taking these medications (symptoms started slowly in 07), but after taking the Levaquin at Christmas time I never got up from the couch. My thyroid gland has quit working, my adrenals are shot, I have been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue, blew out 3 disks in my back, vision is deteriorating rapidly, and really so many things I can't list them all. I had a complete physical
in Oct 05 and was given a perfect bill of health. Through Aug 06 I was riding my bicycle 33 miles per week. I'm still trying to figure out what hit me??
What my father has been told is that in some individuals Levaquin will attack the glands (like the thyroid) and will compromise the immune system. This damage appears to be permanent. All I know is that I went from being extremely healthy to terribly sick. If in a day's time I have enough energy to load and unload the dishwasher it is a banner day. I can
not work and seem to get worse instead of better as each day passes.

My husband also had pneumonia at Christmas and took Levaquin but does not seem to have had an problems. I suspect it was possibly the cumulative effect of having basically 4-5 rounds of the antibiotic in a years time. According to the people at the CDC that have spoken to my father the symptoms that I have can all be traced back to the medication. One never knows what effect a medication will have. Just please be careful when taking this medication, and limit how many times you take it.

Hi all,

I had originally posted on 6/29/08, 6 days after having my Mirena removed. I had it for 15 months.

It is now two weeks later. I want to re-iterate that my fatigue is totally gone. My acne has totally gone away. I've not had one bout of dizziness and my appetite has subsided tremendously. The bloating has significantly decreased. The numbness I had in one of my feet has not returned at all. My insomnia has decreased. Eight hours of sleep feels refreshing and enough! I am not exhausted, nor do I have unexplained muscle fatigue just doing simple tasks like folding laundry! I have not had any PMS'y mood swings as I had noted before, which were totally unpredictable on Mirena. (BTW, I was not a moody PMS'r prior!!) I also had a slight case of sinusitis during the last month I had Mirena and never attributed it to it, but perhaps it was now that I've read more of the posts!

I have as yet to go to the lab and get the "thyroid test" the doctor ordered due to the symptoms I reported the day I had it removed, because I am absolutely convinced that Mirena was the cause. I will have it done regardless just to be on the safe side.... but I waited on purpose so my body could get somewhat back to normal.....

I could always "feel" MIrena inside of me when I would lean over to tie my shoes, sometimes during exercise... etc.... and it is so nice to know that thing isn't in me anymore, and I can lean over without fear of poking a hole in my own uterus inadvertently!

So.... I'm still VERY glad I had it removed. I'm feeling more my normal "self" every day. I know it will take my body a while to get back on it's routine but if it took a while for my body to feel that crappy I assume it will take a while to get back on track!!

PS - to those women who said it hurt having the Mirena placed.... I had a hard time with it as well. The removal did hurt, but not as bad as having it placed. The removal is a faster process than placement. I would suggest asking your doctor for a little pain medicine or to take something prior to your appointment to have it removed if you have a low tolerance for pain.

I have been on Diovan for a year. The worst part for me has been the weight gain. I went to my doctor last week. He denied that the medicine could cause it and did a thyroid test. Those results were normal. I can barely eat a meal and I am exercising 5 times a week. I know how to lose weight-- I've had three babies. This is impossible. I am so upset.

I started Topamax in November of 2007 the usual 25mg and worked my way up to 150mg. I have always had pretty thick hair and now have hair loss in the widows peak and top part of my hair. Needless to say I am devastated. I have cut myself down to 50mg in the am and 50 mg in the pm. My Neurologist states that she has not heard of hair loss but even this web site and the drug company states that it can cause hair loss. I have with the help of a very good massage therapist determined that my migraines are cervical so I am seeking a second opinion and taking myself off this drug. Not worth the hair loss if I don't need to be on this drug.

Hello To All,

I too am on this med, I have been on it for 1 year as of July 2008-

35 pounds, brain fog, headaches, eye sight for reading, chest pain and fluttering heart beat. My doctor who is my friend has told me that he will up my dose... "Dear God" any more and I will go nuts. Does anyone know of any study done in a medical journal that theu could forward to me so I can show my doctor.

Please email me at ****** I would be so very thankful.

Thanks to all and be healthy.

I got a Mirena because after laparoscopic surgery to determine if I had endometriosis (none was found) and a D&C to check my uterine lining, my periods did not "reset" the way I was told (I was 42 at the time and they told me that I was not releasing an egg every month so the endometrium was shedding erratically). What I really wanted was a uterine ablation, but my doctor was so enthusiastic about the Mirena and had been the first physician to even contemplate endometriosis was a possibility that I went along. The first day was fine, but the second day I had such stabbing pain in my abdomen that I could not stand up straight or take a deep breath. It resolved before I decided to call the doctor or go to the er. Months followed of checking off that little calendar that I had had menstrual flow that day (MONTHS. I think I started actually having a WEEK without a period sometime after 12 months of having this thing in me). I did not go back to have it removed at that time because my husband had lost his job and therefore our health insurance. In the meantime I still have the symptoms I had before I'd gone in to see the doctor the first time (stabbing pain near my right ovary during my heavy days), PLUS constant bloating, fatigue, my hair has started falling out so bad I can see the thinning at the top of my forehead, acne no matter what treatment I use, and weight gain (~20 lbs, some I can say is probably my dietary changes since DH lost his job, but even with increased vegetables/no caffeine/decreased breads, no measurable weight loss). I had attributed loss of sex drive to the fact that I have almost always been bleeding since this was put in. In fact, I went for a thyroid test yesterday because I hadn't found this site yet. I'm sure it will come back normal. Once it does, you better believe I'm going into the doctor and have this removed. I am so angry. I used to weigh over 250 pounds and worked so hard to get down to the weight I was when this was put in and am so mad that I inadvertently did this to myself.

I HAVE BEEN ON YAZ FOR 3 MONTHS NOW, AT FIRST IT WAS OK LITTLE SIDE EFFECTS LACK OF CONCENTRATION, MOOD SWINGS ALWAYS MAD EVERYTHING SEEMED TO BOTHER ME BUT SINCE 3 WEEKS AGO I'VE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE CHANGE I STARTED FEELING SHORT OF BREATH, CHEST PAIN, HEAVY CHEST AND PROBLEMS BREATHING, FAST HEART PALPITATIONS, NUMBNESS IN MY FACE CHEEKS HANDS AND THE BOTTOM OF MY FEET. SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE IF I WANT TO PASS OUT, SO I WENT TO MY PRIMARY PHYSICIAN I HAD A CHEST X-RAY, EKG, LUNG SCAN(PERFURIN AND VENTILATION SCAN) AND A VENOUR DOPPLER ON MY LEGS AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST BLOOD TEST, EVERYTHING CAME BACK PERFECTLY NO CLOTS OR EMBOLISM, MY PRIMARY PHYSICIAN SAID I AM IN PERFECT CONDITION SHE ADVISE ME THAT WHEN I FEEL THIS WAY TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM IT HAS PAST 3 WEEKS AND I STILL HAVE THE SHORTNESS OF BREATH, NUMBNESS, HEAVY CHEST, AND ALL MY DOCTOR SAYS IS GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM BUT IF SHE DID NOT FOUND ANYTHING WHY DOES SHE WANT ME TO GO TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM ANY WAYS I DON'T THINK THEY'LL FIND ANYTHING WRONG (WELL SHE DID NOT FOUND ANYTHING) BUT THE THING IS THAT SHE TOLD ME I COULD STILL KEEP ON TAKING THE YAZ PILLS. AFTER READING ALL THIS COMMENTS NOW I KNOW IT MIGHT BE THE YAZ BUT THERE IS ANOTHER ISSUE I HAVE HAD SEVERE DIZZINESS FOR 3 ALMOST 4 YEARS NOW I HAVE BEEN TAKING MECLIZINE 25MG FOR THE SEVERE DIZZINESS AND SINCE I STARTED YAZ THE SEVERE DIZZINESS DISAPPEARED I AM NOW SEVERE DIZZINESS FREE. SO I REALLY DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO I AM WONDERING IF THE SHORT OF BREATH AND NUMBNESS IS GOING TO GO AWAY IS IT JUST THAT I HAVE TO ADJUST OR WHAT? AS I SAID I HAVE HAD FOR ALMOST 4 YEARS NOW SEVERE DIZZINESS( I GET REALLY REALLY BAD THAT I DO NOT KNOW WHATS WORST FOR ME NOW THE DIZZINESS OR THE SHORT OF BREATH AND NUMBNESS). I AM GOING TO MAKE A APPOINTMENT WITH MY OB TO SEE WHAT SHE THINKS. HAVE ANYONE OUT THERE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS I HAVE? WILL THE SHORTNESS OF BREATH AND NUMBNESS GO WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS? DO I HAVE TO GET ADJUST TO YAZ? PLEASE SOMEONE OUT THERE IF YOU HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM PLEASE TELL ME WHAT YOU DID TO FEEL BETTER? SHOULD I JUST STOP THE YAZ PILL? THANKS AND SOMEONE PLEASE ADVISE ME

Thanks to all of you who have posted your experience with the Nuva Ring. I have been on it about a year, and have had side effects that I never attributed to the Ring.

I have been trying to lose weight and have been unsuccessful, despite my best efforts. I have gained about 15 lbs. in the past year, though I eat well and work out often. I CAN'T lose a pound! Plus, I am tired all the time, have limited sex drive, and often feel seriously depressed. I even went to a general practitioner to have thyroid test done, and nothing is wrong with me at all. I am not anemic and my thyroid is just fine. So? What's the problem here?

I happened to glance at an article in my newspaper yesterday about a woman around my age (I am 28) who was on Nuva Ring. She began coughing up blood, and it turns out she had a few clots in her lungs that they said had to be caused by the ring, as the woman had NO history of this in her family. I know that this a severe possible side effect and doesn't happen to many people...so then I decided to do my OWN research. I found this page and realized that perhaps my symptoms are NOT caused by anything my body is doing wrong, but just from this birth control. I just put my new ring in yesterday, but now I think I should take it out and go back to the diaphragm, because it seems to me that if these symptoms came on around the time I started the Ring, maybe they will just go away after I am off it for a while.

Geez, and it's crappy because aside from the possible harm it's doing to my body, I LOVE the convenience of the Ring. I sure wish I could stay on it, but I am getting too old to be irresponsible about my health. I used to be able to ignore the side effects on the package, because I figured it would never happen to me. But it seems that it's happening to so many people, I just don't want to take the risk anymore.

Again, thanks to those that have posted. I appreciate knowing I am not alone here!

I also experienced hair loss while on Lisinopril. I noticed it about six months after I began taking the drug. There is visible thinning in the front, and my hair generally feels thinner all over. I always had a thick head of hair. Since I am now in my early fifties, it's possible that it's normal balding, but I don't think so since it happen all of a sudden. My doctor also said he never heard about hair loss being a side effect of Lisinopril, but numerous people have reported it on several websites. I really think the side effects of many drugs occur much more frequently than the doctors and drug companies like to admit. Obviously it would be bad for business if they were honest about it.

I've been off Lisinopril for about a month but haven't noticed any improvement in my hair so far. If it does come back, I'll update this post.

Flowerbabies,

I had had a thyroid test recently that came out normal, but not since I started Yasmin. I think I need to just stop putting this crap into my body. I was trying to finish out the pack per my dr's office's instructions, but I can't see how it is worth it. I'd rather be bleeding than feeling like this. I keep thinking, it's only been seven weeks, if I stop now, it has to be better than if I continue on it. It has to be. I feel like I'm poisoning myself and like I'm poisoning my family with the miserable state I'm in. I'm just treading water, here. I cry and cry. I'm emotionally drained. I feel like I've got all the worst parts of pregnancy ten fold, with none of the joy.

My husband just doesn't understand all this. He knows I'm dealing with it, but he can be insensitive without realizing it. Then when we go to talk about it, I cry. I HATE TO CRY. I cried in church today, too. In front of everyone. I just want this to be over.

My heart breaks reading all the nearly 2500 posts from women like myself. It breaks even more for those experiencing these side effects who don't know what's going on, and those who are, with blind hope, about to start taking Yasmin themselves.

Is there a class action suit against the makers of this drug yet?

Alice

I am 39yrs so i decided to visit my gp. to change my birth control pill (conova) he recommend that i use Yasmin i started the Yasmin in June of this year approximately one month after taking the yasmin i realised i got nervous scared that i would faint i dont want to be around anyone the nervousness was the worst . I decided to revisit my gp. and i told him in detail how i felt, he said i am suffering from panic attack/anxiety attack he recommended lexotan i still had that same feeling when i didnt take the medication i didnt want to get hooked on it ,so i decided to revisit him a week later i told him i noticed this happening since i took the yasmin his reply was no that cannot affect you that way you are under serious stress thhats the cause of your attack. that day i went to 3 different doctors they all had the same to say I did thyroid test and all other blood test they all showed normal I also try a herbalist doctor he told me the same and he gave me other herbal medication for this panic attack. i got no relief so decided to search the internet and learn about panic attack . I was not satisfied so i continued to do further search until i found your site i have learnt alot and i think it is the yasmin causing these attack i had one this morning i took a lexotan it calmed me down but from yesterday i decide to stop the yasmin I also made an appointment with my gyno. so he can recommend some thing for me probably the coil. thank you very much i have learnt alot . may god bless each and everyone of you who have given me hope.

To guest 9280 below. Sounds like classic Lipitoritis. People don't inherit high cholesterol. However people can inherit metobolic problems that lead to elevated cholesterol levels. Since you state you have dry cracking skin and elevated cholesterol, sounds like you could have low thyroid function, which is almost always "inherited." Also, females are 9 times more likely to have thyroid problems than males. Have your doctor do a thyroid test. And remember, TSH over 3.04 indicateds hypothyroidism. Also check FT4 index and FT3.

Elevated cholesterol in a person who is strict with diet and exercise, is merely a symptom of an underlying metabolic problem. Taking Lipitor won't correct that problem. It may lower your cholesterol, but it will also induce the horrible side effects you experienced.

Bobby

feeling a bit unstable , swimmy in the head, heart palpatationgs, my thyroid test showed i was only 12.6 on my test and normal is about 3.0 and up or so , but they toldme it was elevated 3 times higher than normal. I'm also taking clonazepam to reduce my hyperness or jitteryness and the heart palpatations , but so far either the synthroid or the clonazepam is making me very very tired and almost zombie-like. Any answers?

I started taking 0.05 mg of Synthroid a few weeks ago because my thyroid test results were on the low side of normal. I get so tired and some weekends spend one whole day in bed. I'm on an antidepressant that usually works really well for me, but I'm wondering if the Synthroid is "overriding" it. Since I started the Synthroid I've lost a few pounds, but I am more tired than ever!!! In fact, I'm permanently tired and haven't been able to get out of bed the last couple of days and called in sick. I also feel like the Synthroid is making me feel depressed. I'm considering stopping this medication on my own.

I can't post side effects from this pill because I have not yet begun taking it. I can however thank all of you that have posted and listed your side effects.

I have a hyperthyroid and am very sensitive to medications. I was diagnosed a year ago with uterine fibroids and was put on the pill to try and treat the symptoms of the fibroids. At first I was fine, PMS improved, cramps were managable but after going on and off this one pill when I chose to stay on it I began having bad thyroid test results, extreme fatique, headaches, severe breast tenderness, etc. They changed me to Ovcon 35 and I started suffering from extreme nausea, can't sleep, shaky hands, extreme nervousness. Today I called my doctors nurse practitioner, she didn't want me to change pills, I insisted. When I went into the office my gyno was sitting at the front desk, his attitude was "Well, what can you deal with better, severe breast tenderness or nausea." I decided that before I would take Yasmin I would research it. Thank you to all you wonderful ladies that have shared your symptoms. Unlike the person that calls for people to have an open mind, after seeing only a few positive post out of the many negative ones, I have decided to throw the pills in the trash.
Thanks again.

Extreme weakness and joint pain. Fast heart beat. Breathless. Hunger. (see list below) Went to several specialsts for the weakness. Finally had thyroid test and found it is hyperactive. I strongly recommend anyone with two or more of these symptoms: extreme fatigue or weakness, fast heart, breathlessness, sleeplessnes, weakness, depression, irratibility - to get their thyroid checked. It apears Lupron can create a thyroid imbalance in some people