Unexplained symptoms 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.)

I got Mirena March 3rd, 2009 - The first 3 weeks I had the bleeding and small clots along with HORRIBLE cramping that about took me into the ER on 3 different occasions. After that it seemed a little better, well, until recently that is. I have been experiencing dizziness, headaches, lightheadedness and fainting spell. These were the unexplained symptoms. Next I noticed horrible tingling in my arms and hands and sometimes even legs and feet. Not just a little tingling, I mean a lot, like the kind that wont let you lay down at night or sleep. I have been very nauseated and often feel like I'm about to get sick but nothing comes out. It's amassing that all of my symptoms started about 4 months ago, around the time Mirena was inserted and have just been escalating. I have not had a period since the initial bleeding occurred, but i have had the brownish discharge that others have mentioned as well about once a month. Also heard palpitations and chest pain has been occurring more often. I blame this on my asthma, which has got worse over the last 4 months also along with an increase use of my inhaler. Can this be related? My neck is always tense and I feel my joints are also becoming more inflamed. My vision is sometimes blurred and at my last eye exam last week my doctor had noted a "drastic" vision change and increased my lens strength within the last 6 months. The last symptom I can think about is how tired I have been. I have a very active 16 month old and it's exhausting trying to keep up with him and finishing nursing school full time. My mom did mention today how "moody" I have became over the last few months, maybe its stress related? Maybe it's all Mirena related? I would like to know more...wouldn't you?

I was put on Lipitor 10 mg. last Spring about 8 mos. ago. I have never taken medications/drugs other than aspirin or Motrin or antihistamines. Since that time I have had a strange combination of unexplained symptoms arise throughout the months. These sx's included: Headaches, stiff neck and severe neck pain, acute shoulder pain, hip pains, joint pains, severe knee pain (tendon or Ligament problems?) and loss of movement, hair loss, jaw pain and some memory confusion. Initially, I had severe HA's for several months, but attributed them to stress, however, I had never experienced HA's as a common occurrence. Then we went away to our Maui house to get away from stress, HA's continued, along with leg and shoulder pains. At the same time, I started noticing several strands of hair falling out if lightly touched my hair to move it out of my face. The pains seemed to move around my body at different times, for no apparent reason. I am used to daily exercise, living in CO in the mountains @ high altitude, not usually having muscle soreness. Now, given my leg and knee pains have gotten so bad, I cannot hike and have difficulty climbing my stairs. Skiing is out. Snorkeling caused leg cramps. No explained reason for having muscle tenderness or soreness without my usual exercise at present time. When the pain leaves one area it tends to arise in a different part of my body. At the present time, my hair loss has subsided, as also my jaw pain and headaches. However, my leg pains and knee pains are so acute (for no apparent reason) it is impossible to exercise and difficult to walk that I looked up adverse reactions to Lipitor, finding all my sx's most probably might be attributed to this drug. Partially my fault for not looking up RX information prior, especially being a medical professional for many years. My husband kept throwing away the info when purchasing the RX. Too many unexplained symptoms, I decided to obtain the drug info. myself. I tended to make excuses for months, such as: I am getting older, under stress, must be an old injury, not exercising properly, need PT therapy etc.... I am dc/ing the drug immediately and have an appt. with my MD on 1/5/09 to discuss.

I have also had a lot of "unexplained" symptoms for the past six months, or so that's when things have really gotten out of control. I have been on the Nuvaring for almost 5 years. Recently, I started having these shooting pains in my uterus and ovaries. With all of the stinging and pulling sensations, I seriously thought I was pregnant. Now, the most recent occurences are the backaches, hip/side burning, and thigh-to-toe cramps. My doctor told me it was a viral infection, but after reading these posts, I'm seriously doubting that. I'm not sure if I should relate this to my headaches or not because I've been having them so long, I can't remember if I was having them before or after the NuvaRing. As for the ladies experiencing the nausea, I found this article . I don't know how valid the information is, but I'm going to try it to see if reduces the "morning sickness" feelings all day long. Thank you for helping me stop feeling like a hypochondriac. I know my family and friends see me as one now.

ive been taking ovcon35 for about four months for the last 3months ive had chronic diarea, im constantly tired wich is getting worse, pelvic pain,naseated wich i am still, persistent gas heartburn, and just reasently low back pain and i stopped haveing diarea last week 4 days after that i started abnormal bleeding. i was taking orthotrysyclen no problems and i never whould have thought my birth control would be the cause of all these unexplained symptoms!