Veteran symptoms and conditions

Hello Everyone,

Reading your stories has brought tears to my eyes. I have received my first shot two months ago, on October 20th. Since October 24, I have had nothing but struggle. I am 25 years old and have been in good health my entire life. The only thing I have ever had a struggle with was UTIs, approximately 2 times a year. However, they were gone with the first dose of antibiotics, within 24 hours. Couple of years ago, my gynecologist had completely cured me from that annoying disease through a course of medication that I took for two months. That was not a very easy process but I was free at last. I did not have a care in the world. However, my nightmare came back after the first Gardasil shoot. Exactly three days later, I woke up with severe pains in my lower abdomen, as well as all the other common symptoms of a UTI. Honestly, being as careful as I always have been with UTIs, I did not put Gardasil and this infection together. I went to my doctor. She tested me for a UTI, said I had a small presence of bacteria in my urine, and released me with a prescription for Macrobid. After a week of taking the meds, things were not looking up. It has been two months, and things have not gotten better. About two weeks ago I started searching for other causes of this pain that is resisting going away. I have been on three courses of antibiotics and going back to my doc tomorrow, after coming across this discussion. I have never experienced pain like this before, having considered myself a veteran of UTIs. I thank you for sharing your stories and advise everyone to think twice about having these shots or taking your children. I am not going back for another dose of this nightmare! I don't even know when I will feel normal again. Everyday starts with a thought: "Will I feel pain when I go to the bathroom today?" I am now completely sure that Gardasil had everything to do with my recent condition.

I JUST started Loestrin 24 Fe (day one) and have been reading many articles and websites (anything from the literature in the research journals to the Mayo Clinic posts). I have just read through this entire site and took in all the feedback from the women who have shared the side effects. I have NEVER taken BC until now. I am trying it to keep monthly bleeding and mood swings to a minimum. BUT, I see some serious side effects (depression, acne, weight gain) - these seem worse than just dealing with the monthly symptoms and taking some pain relievers.

Should I STOP? Any advice from veteran birth control users?
Michele

I took topmax prescribed by my Veteran's Administration physician for Migraines. Stepped from 25 mg to 100 mg over 3 weeks. I also take effexor. I already have aphasia and the side effects increased those symptoms and it seems from reading here every other one but eye problems. At the strong suggestion of my "back" surgeon, I have quarterly caudal blocks, I stopped immediately. Anyone who must use the VA for medical care knows getting in touch with ones primary physician is problematic at best and nearly impossible often. The worst is I suspect I was let go at work due to the side effects. I am an accountant currently studying for the CPA exam and could not work well and accurately with the side effects. The only reason I tried this med was to prevent waking up in the middle of the night throwing up with a migraine and losing time at work due to migraines.

From now on I will simply use the injectors of imatrex that may be a major pain, literally and leave me losing a day when I must use it from knocking me out. It seems that I always get every bloody side effect from every med I take. Botton line is, I will never take this medication again.

I've read all the good and bad.I am a Paxil veteran. 17 yrs, since I was 19.The yawns,sweating,no sex drive, and oversleeping get tolerable. If you have bad side effects after 4 mo. of use try something else.Paxil is addictive. I have had good results over the 17yrs. The Dr has tried to switch at times...I CAN"T. When you have had success for a couple of yrs, you might as well commit for life. My body is addicted. If I forget to take a pill my equilibrium in ears goes haywire. To dizzy for much of anything. Although the past year, as I am getting older my emotions are going numb. Anyone out there over 15yrs able to quit Paxil?As I have had success with Paxil in the past, I'm affraid of what's to come.
I also have ADD. Is there a link btwn paxils memory loss side effect and ADD????

Hello All,

Another post from a veteran of this horrendous pill. It is now 7 months off and I am now feeling my real self. Anxiety has been the main symptom that has taken this entire time to decrease (I never suffered before taking Yasmin).

Just a warning, I have read some posts that suggest your body can 'get used to' Yasmin and as such the terrible symptoms can decrease if you give it time. THIS IS NOT TRUE. From my research and contact with many sufferers and survivours of Yasmin it has the opposite effect. I had no sympoms on Yasmin for 12 months before I was struck down in the matter of a week with severe panic attacks/anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. I lost about 7kg in 2 weeks cause I was too nauseated to eat, and felt like I had developed a mental illness.

DO NOT FOOL YOURSELVES. THE ONLY SAFE CHOICE IS TO STOP TAKING THIS PILL. The time it takes to get better tells you how long it takes for our brains to re-balance our hormone levels.

Good luck to all.

I have been taking Topamax for over a year for Bi-polar Disorder and Migraine Headaches. My I have been having Kidney problems since January of last year. Grainular type stones and kidney pain associated with the medication. Now the stones would come and go. I am a disabled veteran so I am dealing with the VA for my health care so it is hard to get appointments and proper care to begin with. I have to weigh the benifit vs. the pain. I was told that the tests were fine and that the meds were causing the stones that we have to cut back the medication. It is kidney pain and uninary tract pain, or manic episodes and migrains until I can fined another mood stabilizer that works as well as topamax.