Weight watcher symptoms and conditions

I have had rheumatoid arthritis for 20 years,controlled reasonably well with a combo of methotrexate, naproxen and enbrel. I do a 10 day course of prednisone several times a year for bad flares. I absolutely hate taking prednisone because it turns me into a crabby, edgy, insomniac who can't stop eating. It makes me bloat and that REALLY makes me nuts because I've done so well at weight watcher's, I don't need that nasty, upset stomach over full bloat feeling. And the "roid head" headache thing ? I'm on the phone all day at work so that's bad, too. The insomnia is the worst, really, because I just lie there awake. When I stop taking it I return to normal within 2 days. I only do it when I am absolutely desperate - I already lost some tendons in my left hand to arthritis related damage so I tend to use the prednisone when the fluid builds up in the right hand or if I'm really too sore. I'm also aware that long term prednisone usage is a one way ticket to osteoporosis / osteoarthritis, so I really have to feel like I cannot deal before I take it. It's a hate/hate relationship.

I had mirena inserted in Feb. 2008. Insertion was what I expected. I cramped for 1-2 days after, but it was well controlled with ibuprofen. I spotted for nearly 6 weeks after. The only thing I like about the iud is the lack of a monthly cycle and no cramps.

I am having a terrible time with the weight gain, mood swings and NO libido. Prior to getting the iud, I had been doing weight watcher for over 1 year and had lost 50+ lbs. Since about 2 mos after having it inserted, I have absolutely no control over my appetite and have gained 20+ lbs. The mood swings I am experiencing are terrible. I could cry almost every day. I have tried to convince myself that these things were not b/c of the mirena, but due to the stress of dealing with toddlers. After seeing the posts here, it looks like I'm not alone.

As a nurse, I try to believe that the mirena shouldn't cause such adverse reactions, but I have never felt like I feel now. I want to have it removed, but not until my husband has a vasectomy. I don't want to have it taken out just to have to start back on pills. We are done having children, and I want to be done with birth control.

Everyone reacts differently to medications/treatments, so the mirena may be just what some women are looking for, but I don't think it is for me.

I am a 37 year old Mom of 4 children. All were c-section babies. I had my tubes tied after the 4th child. She is now 2 years old. I went in to my OB/GYN complaining of uncontrollable bleeding and crazy heavy periods that lasted up to 14 days and left me feeling fatigued and miserable. I was given an extensive ultrasound. No abnormalities seen except for an elongated uterus. I was not a candidate for ablation, and they felt I was too "young" to consider a partial hysterectomy. So they pushed the MIRENA. I asked a million questions. I was only told how wonderful it is and that I should respond well to MIRENA. I used a contraceptive patch for my wedding and honeymoon, so that I wouldn't have my awful period through it. Then a week after the honeymoon was drug free. Then I had MIRENA inserted in surgery under anesthesia after a dnc. I bled for a month and a week straight. Then it slowed and stopped. I still had 10 day cycles for 5 months, not as heavy as before but not the light ones I read about either. This month I only had a three day cycle. As for all the symptoms, I truly thought it was stress... as I run my own business have a new husband and 4 children and am in a nasty custody battle over my first three kids with the ex husband. I've never experianced acne breakouts until MIRENA, I am so exhausted and never feel rested when I scrape myself off the mattress, and I have breakthrough bleeding after every time we have intercourse. I feel like I have pms daily and have been dieting with no results. I even went to my GP and tried a prescription weight loss drug to boost my weight watcher's efforts. I no longer have insurance to cover having it out, and can't afford the hysterectomy I actually need. I feel relieved that I am not the only one, but trapped by a doctor who should have listened to me when I told her I don't do well on hormone drugs and that I really just don't need my poor scarred and tired uterus any more.
Thanks for sharing.

I recently began taking Loestrin 24 Fe because I actually stopped having my period. I have lost 80 pounds over the last 2 1/2 years. The Doctor explained that the weight loss had affected my hormone levels and advised me to take this pill. However, she also assured me that I would not gain weight. I have been taking the pill for two weeks, and I have already gained 4 pounds. I am a faithful Weight Watcher member and looking back over what I ate the past 14 days and how much I worked out - the weight gain does not seem possible.

Doing some independent research, this pill has the lowest levels of estrogen, supposedly meaning that it shouldn't cause weight gain like other oral contraceptives with higher estrogen levels. However, the scale shows different results and I also feel like I am retaining water. I don't want to appear "vain," but I have worked very hard for a very long time to lose 80 pounds. I do not want to see it creep back on because of medication, especially when I am only using it for regulation, not pregnancy prevention.

From reading earlier postings, I know some other people have had similar experiences. Did your Doctor change the type of birth control? Did you simply stop taking the pill and lose the weight? Does anyone have any advice? I really appreciate the help!

I am 40 and have one child. I had the Mirena placed in January 2007 after having the copper IUD for 7 years prior. After the Mirena was placed I noticed my anxiety increasing significantly. I was short tempered and lacked the patience I once had. My dr. kept increasing my anxiety and depression meds. I finally got to the point of being tired of taking meds for everything and decided to get rid of the Mirena after a year. I am in the process of decreasing my anti-depressants and I have also lost weight. I started Weight Watcher's in January (2 weeks before the Mirena was removed) and since then have lost 20lbs. Now, I am still doing Weight Watcher's but got to my goal weight in 3 months and haven't counted points in over 3 months. So, I know that the Mirena was responsible for me retaining the weight. I work out 4-5 times per week and I am finally seeing some results.
I didn't have bleeding issues or sex drive issues, but definitely can tell that I feel soooo much better without that thing.

I have been on this pill for 11 months now and it has almost gotten to the point of ruining my life. I've experienced weird symptoms and I thought it was just from some mild changes in my life (just graduated from college, moved away from home, got my first job). But now that I have read all of these comments, I realize that ever weird symptom was from this pill! I have a non-existent sex drive (which almost ruined my engagement to my fiance), I've experience weird hives on my legs, arms, hands and feet. I'm constantly tired. I can concentrate (which has been detrimental to my home and work life). I've gained 11 lbs in 2 months. Hair loss, which is super scary for a 22 year old! I was taking a shower one day, washing my hair, and 2 big clumps of hair just fell out. I was scared to death. I've even experienced an increased heart rate. The scariest time was when I woke up one morning, had a horrible migraine, and my heart was racing. I took a shower and collapsed shortly afterwards. I was rushed to the ER and they did a TON of tests: cat scans, xrays, blood test. All the test results came back normal. I am convinced now, after reading these posts, that it was due to Yasmin! I've never experienced these symptoms on other birth control pills that I've taken. I am stopping this pill immediately & I am looking forward to starting my life, back on track again.

The worst part is that these symptoms that thousands of womens have experienced these symptoms & it is not warned on the label or website of Yasmin! The only side effects they list are the normal ones that are experienced with other BC pills: Headaches, Nausea, Bloating, Bleeding between periods, Breast tenderness, etc.. BUT NOTHING as severe as what we have experienced!

Is there a class action suit against Yasmin? I mean, for all the doctor's visits, ER visit, vitamins, how it has hurt my relationships, work-life & home-life, extra hours of exercising, many months of weight watcher membership fees, the list goes on and on.... I should be reimbursed for this! I could not afford to live like this any longer.

i've been on synthroid for 9 years. started at some low dose and gradually went up to112 mg. get extreme itching all day everyday if i don't take allegra for that.not a rash just itching. that doesn't bother me as much as the fatique. every joint in my body aches all the time. sure there are better days but fo rthe most part it's bad. tried physical therapy and chiripratic care but no avail. they ended my sessions. my legs get sooo weak and my feet burn lower back really aches. sometimes muscle cramps. i'm very negative towards my loving family and it hurts me to do so. can't seem to keep upbeat. soo tired all the time.
is it the syntroid? i used to be very energenic and a doer. now i have spurts of activity in the morning , but then i just can't get motivated. help me any suggestions?

I have been taking 50 mg. of Toprol daily for the last six months because I was having PVC's. After being on the medication for about a month, I started noticing my PVC's were unnoticeable, and I was thrilled because they drove me crazy, especially when it was time to go to bed. However, I am a lifetime weight watcher, and after 5 mos. on the medication I suddenly gained 10 lbs., and I was horrified. To make matters worse, strict dieting on the weight watcher's program and daily aerobic exercise did NOTHING to bring me back down to my normal weight. I am going to see my doctor this week because he knows how important my weight is to me (he saw me go down to 140 pounds after weighing in at 205 lbs). My doctor left a message for me when I inquired about this by phone that he thought it was unlikely that the Toprol had anything to do with my weight gain; however, I beg to differ. Even if the weight gain was not due to Toprol, then somebody needs to explain to me why I have not been able to take the ten pounds off..........

AFter I see my doctor, I'll give you all an update...

51 year old female. I have been diagnosed with Hashimoto's Thyroiditis.

I just started Levothyroxine 75 micrograms last thursday. Immediately my constipation issues improved, my libido increased and I was more alert after taking it on an empty stomach in the morning. I have not experienced any joint pain or depression yet. Previous to diagnosis I had difficulty losing weight, dry skin, cold-natured, lethargy, experienced three major depressive episodes, two which were almost suicidal. My thyroid hormone levels were within normal range even though I presented with these symptoms of low thyroid function. My pregnancies were difficult (3 births but pregnant six times), with the third and last pregnancy resulting in three false labor trips to the hospital and a post partum depression that would not go away for 13 years. Accupuncture took care of the depression since i tired of the many years of antidepressant side-effects.

I finally went to an endocronologist because of the growing goiter on my neck and all the symptoms of hypothyroidism.

I'll post any negative side effects as time goes on. For now, I am happy with Levothyroxine since I have begun to lose weight slowly and do not have the terrible constipation. Previous to starting this drug, no amount of Weight Watcher meetings or exercise regimens would allow consistant weight loss. Only in the years before my enlarged thyroid could I achieve my weight goal. In 2000 I lost a lot of weight by running 5 miles a day and attending Weight Watcher meetings, extreme measures by any standard. Even then, my weight loss was much slower than the other attending members.

I've been on sythroid for 2 months and gained 9 pounds despite the fact that I strictly follow a Weight Watcher diet (and have remained on it successfully for 6 years...until 2 months ago) and exercise 5 out of 7 days a week. The doctor said it is not from the medication, but I'm getting off of it anyway, as I'm only on it to reduce the size of a nodule.