Vinegar symptoms and conditions

I have been taking 40mg lipitor for over 9 years now.

I have had back issues since an injury to one disc (L4?), and had microdiscectomy in 2001? Took about two years to actually get close to normal.

The last few years, I have had multiple issues with shoulder pain, wrist pain, elbow pain, lower back pain, Upper rump muscle pain , and now both hips are killing me (the shoulder, upper rump muscles and hips are by far the worst). And I am now so weak in my lower back muscles, that it feels like I will (and do) pull out my back.

I have seen NO many doctors I can't even name them all. I have had operations, multiple injections (cortisone) taken pain meds, etc. Nothing has helped and in the last year and a half, I have gotten steadily worse. To the point where I can't really do much of any activity. Sleeping at night is painful. Can't lie on left shoulder, and can't lie on either hip for more than a few minutes. If I fall asleep on my side, the pain wakes me up. When I try to walk, 80% of the time, I end up with a pain in my upper right rump (sacroiliac area), that I MUST sit down to get the intense pain to go away, which it does. But comes right back when I walk again.

I have had x-rays, MRIs etc, and never reveals all that much. Disc issues, yes. NOt much else.

Recently, I have begun to get a nasty clicking (catching) on my left jaw (joint?). Not really painful, but something definitely wrong. My dentist sent me to his Chiro. I went and liked him right away. I had gone to another chiro for years and I believe in them. But this one is the best I have seen.

Anyway, one of the FIRST things he suggested, was that it was POSSIBLE that the Lipitor is causing all of my problems. Put me on COQ10, and doing multiple adjustments and treatments. I will be seeing my regular doctor 5/26, and my chiro wants me to see if he will take me off lipitor and put me on Niaspan instead.

I guess my question is: Can Lipitor be fine with me for so long, and then in such a short period of time, turn me into a compete wreck from the pain and wasting away of my body/muscles? I've told doctors for over a year now that there is SOME connection as to all these issues and pain. One Doctor, of course, gave me the "you are getting old" bull. Yes, I am 56 yrs old. But I understand the process of getting old, vs the complete failing of ones body.

Also, IF it is the Lipitor, can it possible all go away? Or should I expect some damage forever?

One more thing, the last ortho I went to the other day for a second opinion, wants me to do a EMG, to see if there is muscle damage. I was not planning on doing it, but wonder now, should I? He was not doing it because of lipitor, as he never even talked about that to me. I had shoulder operation and have not had the results I feel I should have had.

I took biaxin for 10 days in early June for a sinus infection. The side effects I noticed at the time were the yucky taste in my mouth and extreme fatigue. However, I also lost my sense of smell. It's been almost two months, and now I can smell some things, like ground coffee or ammonia, but not the more subtle scents, like flowers, light cologne, etc. At the time I was taking the drug, I discovered I couldn't smell vinegar; now I can smell it faintly. I visited my nurse practitioner yesterday, and she thought it might be a residual effect of the biaxin, but didn't find anything about loss of smell as a side effect. She advised me to wait one more month, and if the sense of smell hasn't returned by then she'll refer me to an ENT specialist. I'm just wondering if anybody else has noticed a loss or change in their sense of smell. (Smell and taste are closely related, so it's logical that it could be a result of the biaxin, since I experienced the yucky taste that so many people complain about.)

FOR THE LAST 2 YRS OFF & ON I HAVE BEEN TAKING THE KILLER DRUG DIOVAN 160/12.5 MG AND, YES IT'S BEEN TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!! WHERE DO I START ....... CHEST PAIN,HAIR LOSS, LEG CRAMPS, SORE FEET, BACK PAIN, ARM PAIN, KNEE PAIN , SHORTNESS OF BREATH . LAST YR MY LEGS HURT SO BAD MY DOCTOR STARTED TO PUT ME ON MEDICATION FOR RLS ( RESTLESS LEG SYNDROME) ......PLEASE IF YOU JUST STARTED THIS MED STOP RIGHT NOW !! GET YOU SOME APPLE CIDER VINEGAR W/ MOTHER(MOTHER) TAKE 2 TEASPOON W/ 8OZ GLASS OF WATER OR JUICE 3 TIMES A DAY AND, WATCH YOUR BP DROP AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS YOUR BP SHOULD BE NORMAL THEN START TAKING IT ONLY IN THE MORNING AND AT NIGHT

Hi all,

My first time on this site, it's quite interesting to see how people have very similar side effects. My case is I fought with a Poison Ivy and lost, my left arm shows the battle scars. Before going to the doctor, I tried Calamine, Caladryl, Cort Aide, Ivarest, Aveeno Oat Meal Baths & Tee Tree Oil. All failed to help, so off to my doc I went. After what I told him I tried using, he told me to stop. He noted those things do nothing to help Poison Ivy rashes to go away, he prescribed for me to take 20mg of Prednisone 3x a day for 4 days, then knock it down to 2x for 4 days and then 1x for 4 days. He also prescribed Cortisone Cream and to buy OTC Doneboro to soak my arm, it smells just like vinegar..I wonder! I have been taking Prednisone since Monday, so far the only side effects that have shown up is Insomnia and coughing. I do have A LOT more energy than I used to have, my job is enjoying my spitfire mode. The question is, what will happen once I am off this stuff? I've read and heard a lot of nasty things about this drug and I guess I will find out in another 9 more days, I've never been on Prednisone before, I do watch for changes in my body. Making sure I am not growing a beard or mustache, that my boobs don't expand (even though it would make my husband VERY happy). I am sorry to see many on here are having a bad time with this, maybe some of you should get a second opinion. Some doctors today are babied by pharmaceutical companies to push drugs, with some issues some of you have you may want to research your health problems more. Never take the word of your doctor as concrete, they are human too and make mistakes. I believed one fertility doctor until I researched my condition to find out I would never be able to have children, they milked my health plan until I faced them with my findings of medical research sites and online articles by universities. Never again! Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. Don't be fooled, research for yourself. I will keep you posted as to my next 9 day countdown.

Alison

I took Yasmin for 2 years and about 6 months after starting Yasmin I started getting migraines at least 3 x per week and sometimes 5 x per week (before not even really getting many normal headaches). I thought it might be my birth control and saw my OB who referred me to a Neurologist who put me on a medicine for migraines. About another 5 months later I noticed I had a small bald spot in my hair line. Saw a Dermatologist who diagnosed it is alopecia. I immediately stopped Yasmin and migraine meds and decided to get an IUD (GREAT CHOICE!) My migraines stopped almost immediately, however my hair loss continues to progress. I now have 3 additionally bald spots on my head and areas on my scalp that are very thin. I feel great otherwise, no headaches, no depression (other than losing my hair), no anxiety, appetite is normal. I'm so desperate to find someone else that has had this specific problem as no one believes the hair loss is connected to Yasmin. I just pray after awhile the hair will grow back. Please if anyone has experienced this same situation please post what might have helped you get through it and if it does ease up! One more thing - I have scalp pain, like burning on the front and top and back part of my scalp, wide spread, not only in the bald areas.

Hi all,

I am 53 and from the UK. I was on Lisinopril for 13 years. First 5mg, later 10mg then a few weeks ago 20mg as my BP was 169/90. Afetr 8 days of taking this dose I felt strange and felt as if I was about to fall down when walking. Also had a feeling I was kinda walking sideways if that makes sense. Anyway, went for check-up with health worker at docs surgery and after 8 days on this stuff instead of my BP being reduced it was up to 210/120. The health worker took my BP 5 times and looked cncerned while trying to reassure me not to be concerned. She went of to consult the senior practice nurse and made me an appointment for the next day to see my GP. The next day I told my GP how I was feeling and he said he didn't know why my BP had gone higher on the double dose of Lis but to continue taking it along with nother drug he prescribed called Amlodipine 5mg, a calcium channel blocker. After another couple of days I felt very ill. Palpitations, dizzy, and a feeling every ten minutes or so as if my chest was puncched from the inside, a very uncomfortable feeling indeed. I decided on a process of ilimination and stopped the Lis but kept taking the latter drug. Almost imedietly I felt better even though my BP was round about 146/85. I started to realize that symptoms I had for 13 years were probably due to the Lis. Symptoms including, waking suddenly, literally choking on acid as my throat closed in a spasm, Strange nightmares, food sticling halfway down my gullet causing extreme discomfort etc. On top of this, nearly two years ago I was diagnosed with auto immune disease and had radioactive iodine treatment on an overactive thyroid, an overactive thyroid that instead of making me lose weight, made me put it on. A while later I was diagnosed as having type two diebetes which I tried to control with diet. Now since stopping the Lis my blood sugar readings have never been better, in fact I wonder now if I was ever diebetic at all. The most upsetting thing is, I now wonder if the thyroid malfunction was caused by the Lis. I feel much better like a veil has been lifted from my mind, no longer moody or having foggy thinking. I hope I have not gone on too long. I wish you all luck with your meds. I have started taking Hawthorn berry capsules which it's claimed help to lower BP naturally. My BP today is 140/80 but does fluctuate.
Lawrence

My daughter is 5 years old and has been on singulair for 1 week. i have already noticed a dramatic change in her behavior. she has become irritable, mean, nasty, and emotional. she has had me in tears on a daily basis. she has turned into a monster. we will be calling the doctor in the morning!

I don't think that 1 grapefruit per day can do the bladder infection; I was eating or drinking 3 grapefruit servings (juice or fruit) 3 days/day. I am using an Italian salad dressing with vinegar to try to offset drinking it!...but I did start the cranberry juice yesterday...good luck to all....

I just hope my 'new' doctor doesn't put me back on any steroids...it just seems that each of the (4) doctors I saw 'gave up' and put me back on them for lack of what else to do...the last one had me on prednisone for 2 weeks and then wean down on those and start on a low Decadron for 2 weeks to hopefully prevent the hives from returning...then this new doc took me off all of them ...I've been off a week now, just on antihistimines and Dixopen...so far just a little, bearably, itchy...

hi cjmom--
glad you found this site! hate to say it but i just swallow 2 tsp of vinegar before my meals. it's bad but not THAT bad. if it helps rev up my metabolism it is worth it! i really like drinking the pure cranberry juice... but be sure and dilute it in a lot of water or it is very tart. drink tons of it. it's also supposed to be a holistic remedy for shingles, which is why i was prescribed prednisone. so who knows? maybe it is also good for the hives? then my opthamologist said i never should have been on prednisone in the first place (it was prescribed by an urgent care doctor).

bottom line is my moon face has been going away. i don't know if it's the diurex or cranberry water or both. i'm going to keep using both just for good measure.

can eating a grapefruit a day cause bladder infections??? i was excited to be eating a healthy fruit!

good luck!
sanndiego

Hi... I was glad to find this site..I have been on and off prednisone for 3 mos....mostly ON..but now I have been off it for a week....I had a terrible hive reaction to 'something' in June and the only thing to suppress it has been prednisone...needless to say, I didn't sleep either...I averaged about 4 hours/night til they put me on Dixopen (sp?)...definitely helped with the sleeping as well as the hives..I tried the Diurex for the bloating and weight gain too...it helped very little...be careful around the grapefruit daily (I did that 2 different times in the past and it caused a bladder infection...) I am going to try the Cranberry juice though!...I am now off the Prednisone for a week and really watching my calorie intake...so maybe the Cranberry juice will speed things up and get me back to my 'normal' weight...do you put the vinegar 'in' anything...yuk by itself...I sure hope to get my puffy cheeks down as well...any updates?

Hello, everyone!
OK, Gypsi... i got the vinegar and grapefruit tonight and started the new experiment! Between that, the Diurex and the cranberry juice... maybe my moon face will disappear completely along with the extra pounds I picked up!

In general, my moon face is better but still there. I can't tell if my semi-depressed/low self-esteem state is due to post-prednisone moods or being down about my moon face and weight gain. Or maybe because I quit smoking and am all wacked out but didn't even realize it. haha. The good news is this website is so helpful and there are things to make us better.

Thank you to everyone who writes in!
sanndiego

Hi Gypsi--
Thanks so much for the grapefruit and vinegar tips for my metabolism. That is just what I need! My metabolism seems to be at a standstill. So today I will WALK to the store and get the stuff.

Pure cranberry juice and water is a great diuretic. I used to drink it on a diet I was on called "Fat Flush..." designed to lose weight and flush all the toxins out of the body. I was going to the bathroom constantly, it worked so well. Plus cranberry juice is supposed to be so good for a lot of other things. It may take a little research to find the pure juice... i get mine at Henry's or Whole Foods.

Thanks for saying I have a new state of mind... I am certainly trying, so maybe it shows!
sanndiego

Sanndiego,

Awesome to hear about your new state of mind. I thought I would share with you a few of my diet tips that seem to be working: add 1 grapefruit to your diet once a day and take 2 tspns of vinegar before every meal to help you speed up your metabolism!
Do you have any natural tip as well? I figure if we combine our forces we might just win the fight against Prednisone!

Gypsi ;)

A GREAT alternative to Lipitor is Garlic, vinegar, and vitamin B3-Niacin. Not necessarily all at once....but, you get my drift. These have always been natures best for "roto rooting" cholesterol. I had a heart attack a year and a half ago. I stopped the Lipitor within the first 2 months due to practically disabling side effects. Had 'em all that everyone else here speaks of. I was NOT a good candidate for the stuff!!! Good luck and remember to EXERCISE.....that really is the KEY to all diets and forms of vitamin regimens.

I started taking Lisinopril 20mg in early April. The week after I started, I began craving salty, vinegary foods (banana peppers in vinegar, pickles.) I also couldn't get enough V8/tomato juice. These are all foods I liked before, but I felt the need to consume them every day in huge quantities. I even drank the pickle juice sometimes! It took me a while to figure out the connection between starting the med and these cravings. I told my doc about it, but he didn't seem to think there was a connection. Well, I stopped Lisinopril a week ago and I haven't had any more cravings since then.

Also, I suffer from depression and I am almost positive that this medication exacerbated that condition. Certainly the fatigue that comes with taking Lisinopril didn't help things anyway. I also found the lightheadedness annoying, though it was livable.

Before Lisinopril, I was on Norvasc for five years and didn't experience any notable side effects. My blood pressure was always normal on Norvasc, whereas the Lisinopril lowered it to low normal (enough that I felt lightheaded.) Interestingly enough, my BP has been normal since I stopped Lisinopril last week. Go figure.

This medication and my body DID NOT get along. I won't be taking it again and I can't wait until the poison is completely out of my body!

To LARRYHOR,

Rather not send you an email. Was wondering, since you're not selling anything, if you could just post here what you're talking about as far as natural supplements. Sort of like folks that've posted things about garlic, CoQ10, vinegar, etc. Or, is the term "protocol" just another way of saying you have something for sale? Appreciate a response....thanks.

Mary

Yessir Mr Guest #5666. You are not alone in feeling "old" before your time. I'm 52 and only after 4 months on the Statin am feeling practically everything you speak of and more. Like I'm 82 instead! Yikes!

I need to report.....since having my LAST dose on Friday morning (the 14th of May) and none since I'm ALREADY starting to feel a bit better as of tonight, midnight Sunday night. I know that the chemistry will hang out in my system for a while but am already encouraged.

Since all my "numbers" are very good (I've hit all the targets) and my Ejection Fraction on my last Echo is at 2% above "normal for 52 year olds".....My plans are to stay on the Plavix, aspirin and Metoprolol and also use natural supplements such as Vitamins E, Bs 6 and 12, CoQ10, Fish oil tabs, 2 tblspoons of vinegar, Green Magma®, and plenty of juicing of carrots, apples, and other essential veggies. I'm also eating TONS more salmon and hardly any beef. Plus I'm walking fast for 45 minutes daily.

I'll keep you all posted at least weekly on my new plan. I feel very encouraged as to the outcome. Not nearly as anxiety ridden as I have been lately.

Prayers,
Geary

My husband was on Lipitor. After only 4 days, he would "walk" into a wall if he got up in the middle of the night. He was confused and unsteady on his feet. I had him stop taking it. We also tried Zocor..same effect. Eventually we hit on a regemin of good diet, Garlique and drinking vinegar(about 2 TBSP. /day) This helped lower his cholesterol some. Then the doctor said he HAD to take Lipitor or he would have MORE heat damage (previously had an attack).He did take it for 4 weeks, BUT the symptoms came back plus tiredness, GROUCHINESS, and muscle pains; also cold extremities. He is off the Lipitor again. After reading this website, I will NEVER let him take it again. We will try harder with his diet and hopefully increase his exercise(mostly walking).
I think we are very fortunate to not have been on it a longer time. Some of you suffered alot. God Bless.

What drives me crazy are the things that involve my brain. This includes speeking, thinking and comprehending, and memory loss. When I go to talk, instead of saying "vinegar" it comes out "vigenar" for example. People have to tell me things over and over and most of the times very slowly until I have it correctly in my head. It frustrates me so. However, the memory loss is the worst. It as if I have become an amnesia patient. I am currently dating a man that I dated a few years ago. We go places that I think we have never been before. So I start telling him about the place and what I like about the place and I go on and on and then it dawns on me that we have been there together and I feel like an idiot and become so embarrased. Or I start to say something like, "Did we ever go to such and such a place?" and he might say, "No, why?" Now, in my head I'm thinking it was him and actually it might have been another guy, but I can't remember so I have to cover for myself so I say, "Oh, it must have been a dream I had of you." Now the doctor who checked me in for my last hospitalization said, "Well, if you can stand the confusion for a little bit longer and lose some more weight, why not stay on it?" I don't know if it's worth it....