Migraines symptoms and conditions

I have been on Yasmin for a little over a year. I also have suffered from migraine headaches for a few years. My doctor kept putting me on different meds to help with my headaches but nothing has worked. These headaches I've been getting lately aren't at all like my normal migraines. I get sharp pains in only one side of my head and it feels like there is so much pressure that my head is going to explode. It hurts to breathe through my nose, and if I sit up or stand it gets worse. I have been depressed and irritable so he put me on anti depressants. Then I find out all of these things that I have noticed happening like my legs feeling weird and my pains in my chest are happening to other people on the same pill. I have an appointment next week and I'm definitely bringing all of this up.

I got my Mirena November 14, 2008, the day before my wedding. The pain was insane, I could barely stand up as I walked out of there and hardly made it through my wedding rehearsal that night. I cramped and bled for the first couple of weeks and then it suddenly stopped only to come back full force as a full period on my honeymoon of all times! My hair started falling out immediately, but until I read these boards I was blaming it on the dry winter air and all of the coloring I do to it. My migraines came back full force (I got the Mirena because my doc took me off of the pill because it was giving me migraines) mid December and I have gained about 10 pounds always feeling bloated. I've been feeling depressed lately and extremely tired! I thought it was because I recently lost my job and now that my life has calmed down I was starting to feel the effects of it, and now I know it was the Mirena! Thank Goodness it's now really me! Just in the last couple of days I've noticed vision problems, not really blurry, but kind of wavy vision...I was starting to blame it on the fact that it's time to have my eyes checked anyway (I wear glasses) but my eyes really don't change from year to year anymore, so wavy vision is a major problem! So, to summarize, 10 lbs gained in a month and a half, bloated, constipated, migraines, wavy vision, spotting, depression, tired constantly to the point of exhaustion (I can fall asleep on demand).

I'm making an appt with my doctor this week to have this thing taken out! I don't know what to do next. I can't have any more babies...I had one baby, she died in March 2003 due to multiple birth defects and the doctors don't know what caused them, I'm not going to do that to another child and I'm not going to go through that again. I can't find a doctor to tie my tubes though, so hopefully my husband can find someone to give him a vasectomy!

honestly, i cannot believe my doctor even put recommended having the Mirena put in me! I put it in because it was my last option of not getting preggo. im 23 and have four kids. each of which was conceived on a different form of birth control. i got the mirena put in on nov 27th 2008 and i naturally started to bleed on nov 23rd. and ever since the 23rd i haven't stopped bleeding! the blood gets darker as if it will go away but then it gets red again and keeps going! and its not just blood its with lot of clots too! i've gained weight (which my doc said none of her patients on mirena have gained any and suggested i start to look at my diet and exercise more often). i was loosing weight just fine before i had the mirena put in! in three weeks i gained 10 lbs! i have massive migraines that wont go away, my sex drive has completely vanished, by back is always killing me and im very very moody with everyone. my husband just hates it and wants it removed already!

Got Mirena in August 2006, 2 months after the birth of my son. It hurt and I was very dizzy afterwards. The bleeding lasted for about a couple of months, but got better. The problems have really been within the last 6 months. The small problems - joint pain, lower back pain, cramping, weight gain. Another problem, something similar to a catch in my uterus prior to orgasm. Oh my gosh! My husband has actually felt the threads during sex. The absolute worst problem is the migraines. I have a history of migraines - usually right before or after my period. Now, I cramp every week, have spotting about every two weeks along with migraines that put me to bed. Sometimes I vomit from the pain. I've used Midrin for years as a rescue medication. Most of the time, I have to take 3-4 to get rid of the pain. My regular doctor wants me to take Topamax. I'm afraid to. I'm thinking removal of this Mirena will help. Can anyone offer some info on how their migraines became after removal?

So heres the deal ladies.... No matter what, ALL BIRTH CONTROL SUCKS........... But we're ALL in the same boat. They ALL have side effects, different to each person. My Nuvaring story goes like this... I have tried EVERY birth control only to have HORRIBLE MIGRAINES. So, after years in my 20's of constantly thinking I was pregnant, freaking out all the time which is what I think has psychologically screwed me up the most, I tried Nuvaring. I was 27 years old, 5'5, banging body w/ NO fat in the mid-section. I'm not even kidding that w/in 3 days I gains 10lbs. of fat(love handles) in the mid section. I work out 3-4x per week and have ALWAYS been a fitness fanatic. I have never been able to get this stomach fat off since. But here's the deal......... I could go on forever about how BC sucks as I had MANy other side effects, nausea being number one. But we don't have a God damn choice. I am now 31 years old and thats just the way it is. You know, heres even the more real deal. When I was in college I gave a speech on MALE contraception. Hello, it's out there. But they don't market it because it will be a waste of money because men are stupid and won't take it. Men assume that all women when we have sex are on BC and they could give a shit if we aren't. We need to stand up as women and make THEM take all precautions. For the most part, I wouldn't change being a woman for anything. I love it! But when it comes to birth control and constantly having to worry about pregnancy, it sucks................................ But we dont have an option, seriously!!!!!!! What's worse??????????? Losing your mind because of side effects or losing your mind constantly thinking your pregnant??????????????????????????????? After 31 years of age, I know it's just a no win situation........... J., Chicago......

Had the Mirena put in on 13 Nov 08 hoping that it would lighten my periods due to fibroids. Did not feel a thing upon insertion but cannot stand the spotting. I have been spotting since having it put in outside of my normal cycle in early Dec and now late Dec earl Jan. I think my husband is more upset than i am being that there is no time for sex because I am either spotting or bleeding. I was though happy with the fact that it lighten my periods because before I was scared to leave the house without fear that I would mess up my clothes. I am considering having it removed thanks to the posts on this website. I have been also getting the symptoms of being extremely tired every day at 3:00. I too have had the breast pain, abdomen pain, excruciating pain in my right knee, and the approximately 10 pounds of weight gain. I am also already overweight and work out 5 times a week so I was really upset over the weight gain. The headaches were not that bad being that I have spent the last 9 years or so having really bad migraines that would put me out of work for at least 3 days at a time. They are nothing compared to migraines to me. I have already made an appointment to have mine removed. I would rather have heavy periods than constantly bleed or spot. Better yet I have already discussed with my doctor about having a partial hysterectomy but wanted to try this first. I am now convinced that I would rather have the partial than to deal with this.

I have been on Advair 2X a day for 2 weeks with a history of migraines. The last 3 days I have had 3 separate migraines with preceding scotomas- the third migraine headache on the third day- was the worst ever and didn't respond to migraine medicine. My husband figured out it was the Advair and I stopped the medication. For those with a history of migraines- don't take Advair as run the risk of severe migraine headaches.

i have had 3 babies pretty much back to back. after having my third in may 2008, i decided to get a mirena iud so i don't end up in the looney bin with 4 kids under the age of 4. about 4 weeks ago i started to have constant knee pain in both knees that i have never had before. it has become sometimes impossible to squat down and get back up. this past week and a half have been overly tired with more knee pain and back pain. i have also had an increase in migraines. i plan on getting it removed VERY soon!!!
G., 28

I am 41 and have been taking Yaz for about 6 months. My skin is much clearer and that is nice, but on the other hand I have had a continuous headache for two weeks now. Just in case, I took meds for a sinus infection but the headache has stayed... so now I am being treated for migraines. The problem is: the meds for migraines don't work. I am wondering now if it is the Yaz. When I first started taking it I got headaches at the beginning of each new packet, but now it's non-stop. After reading some of these posts, I am worried that coming off it will also have side effects, but it can't be anything (I hope) like the pain and fatigue associated with a long, drawn out headache. I am deeply scared that this headache will turn into a stroke or a tumor or something.

I have been on Topamax for about two years for migraines, and was very pleased that after the first month or two, most of the noticeable side effects (dizziness, flat-tasting soda, etc.) disappeared, and the Topamax has been very effective in cutting my migraines in half. However, I've recently begun to question whether other health problems I've been experiencing are actually Topamax side effects and I just didn't realize it.

The first is intermittent stomach troubles that have been ongoing for the last year. Starting last January, I started experiencing diarrhea, stomach pain, and other persistent gastrointestinal problems, and through online research, I decided that it was probably either a spastic colon or Irritable Bowel Syndrome. I lost 15-20 lbs. in the spring and summer, but the problems would always recede before I took them to my doctor, then resurface just long enough to irritate me before disappearing again. It never occurred to me until recently that these could be Topamax side effects.

The other possible side effect that I assumed was an unrelated problem is interruptions to my sleep pattern. I have been experiencing some occasional bouts of sleep paralysis, and which researching this, read that in normal sleep patterns, one is supposed to enter REM sleep (when dreaming occurs) after about 90 minutes. I frequently enter into dream sleep in as short as a 20-30 minute nap, which does not seem to be normal. Again, researching this, the only two explanations that came up were narcolepsy, which I obviously do not have, and that my normal sleep patterns are being interrupted "by medication." So I'm back to wondering if it's the Topamax. Has anyone experienced similar sleep symptoms?

Thank God for this website! I have learned much and appreciate your experiences so much!

I had the Mirina placed in May of 2008. I have endometriosis and had to come off the oral contraceptives due to migraines. The placing of the Mirina was somewhat painful, but all in all, it wasn't so bad that I look back and say it wasn't worth the pain. Just felt like a bad period, but it only lasted a short time. However, I am ready to GET IT OUT! I absolutely hate the way I feel on it. I did bleed for about 6 weeks, but it was mostly spotting, so not too bad, and I really didn't mind, knowing that my endometrium was thinning out. But, I began to get horrible nausea, so bad that I had trouble getting out of bed in the morning. I felt like I could be pregnant. And, my boobs got really, really sore. So bad, that when I got out of bed, I felt the most pain. They felt like swollen water baloons (sorry for the lack of tact here). I also started to get my headaches back. They were not the typical MIGRAINES i had on teh oral contraceptives, but they were definitely there, and they were cyclic. I told my doctor about this, and she was extremely surprised. She said she has a Mirina and has absolutely no problems and loves it. I felt like I must be imagining things until I found this website. The worst for me is the nausea and the headaches. So, it will come out this Monday. I am a little frightened at what I will feel like afterwards, since I've read it can take the body some time to adjust. But, I did decide to "go organic" to try to rid my body of toxins. I don't know if it will help but I hope so. By the way, I want to pass on that if anyone has really bad periods (or endo), it does help to use Flaxseed Oil. It is pricey, and can be bought at a Natural Market like Whole Foods. It is refridgerated and I take 1 tsp per day. I noticed a decrease in my cramping. Just wanted to pass it on in case it might help someone out there.

Oh, forgot to mention, I am very moody on this Mirina. I snapped at work the other day and yelled at my boss. Very unlike me. I was so agitated and upset over something small. Been like that a lot.

God Bless!

Jackie

In desperate need for help! I started taking Loestrin24Fe 1mg/20mg and I didn't start taking it on the first day of my period,I took it before I got my period.My doctor recommended that I do that. I took one whole 24 pack and noticed I had server migraines,back pain and server nausea. I missed my period and haven't had it since Oct 27th,Today is Dec 16th.I started taking the birth control in November. I'm worried I may be pregnant but have no idea,I'm terribly worried and need advice. After the 24 pack,I stopped taking it. I've continued to have server migraines and now even painful chest pain. I feel like I'm always hungry and I'm always tired and moody. No breast tenderness but I do have really bad pain in my right breast area. If any one has advice on what I should do please contact me via email ******

I have no insurance and am scared!
Thanks a bunch,A.

I've been on Cymbalta now for about 2 months to treat terrible PMS and aches and pains from Fibromayagia, I am on 60 now and I must say it has made a HUGE difference, I am feeling much better and not as sore or moody. I had the Mirena removed because of it's terrible side effects and found that my migraines have lessoned and with the help of Cymbalta, I feel soooo much better and more myself.

I'm 51yrs.old. I was put on the NuvaRing to help eliminate my migraines and control my hot flashes. It's been 5mo. and I've gained 10lbs, and have the worst migraines I've ever had that last 5 to 7 days at a time. I'm lucky if I don't have one for a week. I have itching and it can be uncomfortable during sex so I end up taking it out. I hadn't had a period for 6mo and thought I was through with that but now have it monthly since I've had the NR. I get emotional at times and stressed out easily. I think after reading everyone elses side affects I'll be taking this thing out and try a different route. I can put up with less headaches and the hot flashes. I also have severe leg cramps every night.

I am 34 and have never had children. Mirena was my only option. I have always had problems with my periods. They are very regular (28 day cycle) but extremely heavy, I always have clots, a lot of pain and I also have migraines just before or after my period.

My doctor told me that oral contraceptives would not work for me as the estrogen would cause more headaches (this is true I have tried all of them) and that Mirena would work well.

I had it fitted 4 weeks ago and I'm due for my first check-up on the 15th of December. So far it hasn't changed a thing. The insertion was uncomfortable but not as painful as I expected. I had major cramps afterwards but 2 pain killers helped. A week after insertion I got my period which lasted 5 days and I experienced more pain than I ever had before. Since the period stopped I have been spotting every single day and my next period is due on the 16th of December. I am already experiencing stomach cramps and had a migraine which I had to get medication for yesterday.

So far I'm not impressed with Mirena but its only been 4 weeks so I dont know whether things might improve. I'll give it 6 months and if nothing has changed I will have it removed. At least then I wont have to constant spotting! I'll just have to live with the migraines and period pain like I did before!

I have quite a few friends who have Mirena and they are all very happy with it so I guess you have to give it a try.

ok so i know i posted saying bad things right about mirena....well I went to the doctor dec 1st and found out the the mirena went completely in!! They did an pelvic ultrasound and its way up in there.You would think that they would pull it out asap but noooooo i have to go back on the 28th of January.while im still having bad bleeding and horrible cramps.and migraines like non other.Its obvious that my body cant handle it.

I have been on Topamax since August 2005. This spring I began to have odd problems that I did not attribute to the drug. In April, my doctor prescribed Lasix for swelling in my legs and feet. In August I developed peripheral neuropathy in my legs and feet and began experiencing numbness in my chin and lower face. My doctor prescribed Lyrica for the peripheral neuropathy. Also in August, I began experiencing extreme fatigue and sleepiness. I became depressed and irritable. By September was falling asleep everywhere--even driving. I was exhausted because I awoke from sleep feeling totally unrested. I had a sleep study done and they told me I spent only 25% of the normal amount of time in the two deeper stages of sleep. At the beginning of November, I suddenly became plagued with excessive thoughts of suicide one Friday evening. I decided to stop all my meds, except the antidepressant. Within 48 hours I felt MUCH better. No obsessive thoughts and no more falling asleep. I felt like a giant weight had been lifted from my shoulders. By Thursday I was feeling rested when I awoke in the mornings. I looked up all my meds, including the clinical trials with ALL the side effects and recommendations on Tuesday of that week. Lasix increases the potency of the Topamax and has many of the same bad side effects as the Lyrica I was prescribed--sleep disturbance, depression, dry mouth, etc., etc. Since stopping those medications the first of November, Topamax, Lasix, and Lyrica, I have returned to normal. Even the peripheral neuropathy is MUCH better. No swelling or sleepiness or fatigue. No more irritability or deep depression. Definitely no thoughts of suicide. I can taste food again. And none of the migraines for which the Topamax was prescribed. My doctor is pleased that I am feeling so much better and concurs with the action I took. The medications were apparently interacting with one another and multiplying the intensity of the side effects. So, if you take multiple medications, please go to the clinical studies themselves and read about ALL the side effects uncovered in the studies. On the prescription information we get at the pharmacy, it lists only those discovered at "high incidence", including interactions with other medications.

Hi, I've never posted on one of these sites but here goes... Lamictal does indeed affect some vital nutrients. They are biotin, b12, b6, L-carnitine, folic acid, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin D, and vitamin K. My hair started falling out in clumps. I had my levels checked and I was VERY low on biotin, and L-carnitine. I was also low on zinc. I dropped my dosage from 150 to 100 to 75 to 50. With doctors approval. I started taking centrum silver and skin, hair, and nail vitamins and my hair stopped falling out and is starting to regrow. I am now back up to the 125 level and feeling better. I also started taking L-carnitine and that has helped as well although it had nothing to do with my hair loss. As to the other side effects...I have headaches, and neck stiffness, and sex headaches at the 100 plus level. And a buzzing/ vibrating in my right ear. For the migraines I take Advil. DO NOT TAKE TYLENOL WITH LAMICTAL. It lowers the level of lamictal in your system. I only take Excedrin when I must. I know this is long. I hope it helps. Even with all the side effects I still will take lamictal. It has made a huge difference for me. ( I also have occasional nausea and dizziness.) Hope this helps.

I had my second Lupron shot this last mid October that lasts, supposedly, 3 months. So I will be 5 months in this mid December and I have to say I was one of the people who was fine with Lupron...up until now. I had and have all of the typical side effects of hot flashes, headaches, memory loss, mental fog, etc. Then I had my first ever migraine a week ago that knocked me on my butt for 2 days. My memory loss and depression are by far, by far, the worst side effect I have experienced. At this point I am concerned my memory problems and mind fog will not go back to normal, which has already adversely affected by daily life. I was one of the people who spoke positive of this injection even after reading all the horror stories but now I am beginning to wonder if they were right on some levels. When reading all the different experiences I would get confused and wouldn't know what to believe. I am not saying I would change things, the jury is still out as to whether the benefits will outweigh the difficulties, but my personal experience and symptoms have been getting worse just in the last few weeks, so that would be between month 4 and 5 on it. I could lead a pretty normal life up until recently and I'm a pretty tough person, I clean houses for a living and work hard with a packed schedule so I am not just stating little symptoms I experience but ones that actually have affected my daily life. Just being honest so you know what to possibly expect, depending on your body's reaction. That is a point to keep in mind, everyone's body reacts differently but if the majority of people are saying the SAME side effects, makes you wonder if there is a consistent pattern.

One thing I will tell you that has helped me is B vitamins regularly in your system and staying as active as possible. Write things down to remind you for the memory issues, don't over-commit to things because of the mental affects-it hits you hard when you can't follow through, and try to watch your sugar intake, which messes with your emotions. Hope this is helpful.
I would love to know from someone who has the same symptoms (which looks like almost everyone who is on it) and who is now off of Lupron for at least a few months, if the symptoms of memory loss and mind fog go away. Is my memory permanently damaged?

I just finished my first week of Femcon FE and on the last pill of the week got a huge migraine. I thought it was just a headache at first, but when I woke up the next morning with it I knew it was more than a simple headache. I am not sure if it will go away after the three months that it says side effects usually last. I am just hoping it does. This is the first form of BC that I have not had severe nausea...yet. I love it other than the migraines.

I started Femcon FE about 7 months ago because I needed to start a birth control regimen because I was getting married. I started this pill 3 months before my wedding so my body would have a chance to adjust.

I have ALWAYS had normal and regular periods like clockwork. I've never had any issues with my periods in my entire life, until I started Femcon. The first month I was on the pill was fine...I got my period like normal. The second month my period was horrific....I bled for 13 days straight and had horrible cramps, unlike any I ever had before.

The 3rd and 4th month I skipped my period because of my wedding. I was one of the unfortunate that would have had my period on my wedding day, which is the ONLY reason that I skipped.

I am now in month 7 since I started the pill and it's been 3 months since my wedding. I've yet to have a period at all since the wedding even though I am taking the pills like normal...it's been a full 3 months with no period. I've had light spotting the last 2 months, but absolutely no period. I am getting concerned. What's the deal???? Has anyone else had this problem?

I have been having difficulty with my legs from the knees down since taking Remeron for over a year. Normal walking is a chore, but let me get in a department or grocery store and I am in such agony with leg pain from the knee to my ankles. It is a heavy, throbbing ache. Pain pills, heat and sleep is the only cure. Never had this problem before this. If I ween myself off them, my migraines come back with a vengence.

November 27 2008

on NR since February, had taken a break since my fiance was away for work for 4 months and thot it wasn't worth using it and spending money. I noticed slight weight gain4 lbs roughly, but since the first of November i get my old migraines back again used to have them only twice a year with aura, but now nearly every day, read the posts and shot the ring out of the window, out of my life literary, not to mention my mood swings, paranoid over my fiancee being away and nagging him all the time abt affairs etc..worrfying abt accidents, losing a relative ecc...Thank You Jesus I found this site!! No More NuvaRing.

i had my mirena placed about a month ago. my ob has one and she said she loves it and it is better than the shot or pills. so i thought i could give it a try. i didn't have a normal delivery and had to have a c-section. when we went to have the mirena placed the nurse told me that normally you still need to be dilated for the placement...and i wasn't. so needless to say the placement was horrible!! i had extreme cramping when she put it in, it felt like she was stapling it in(seriously), and i also felt the urge to pee all over her....oh it was horrible!!!! and that wasn't even the first of it. not only am i bleeding like crazy with HUGE clots, i had felt like the mirena moved cause i could feel the threads poking out. so i made an appt to go in, so they do a internal ultrasound and it was in place but the threads had mysteriously grown....my ob trimmed the threads and said that the bleeding will go away. (it still hasn't) this past week i have debilitating migraines and HORRIBLE cramps i have never had them before, so i look up side effects and i found this site and thank god i did. i also noticed that i am in a fog, like i am out of it all the time and all i want to do is sleep. and on top of all of that it feels like there is a rake inside my hoo-ha!! my husband and i have not had sex since it was placed. he is afraid it will hurt him...i don't blame him...it hurts me!! i can't believe i had this done!!! i am calling this morning to have it removed, i just wish i knew about this before!!!

I also am glad to see that I am not the only one experiencing side effects. I got Mirena last December. I had no problems or discomfort with the insertion, just a little spotting a few days later. Very light periods for a few months after that, but for the last 3 or 4 months, I have spotting for a few days, then it goes away and a few days later comes back again for a week or two. And the spotting/period (whatever you want to call it) is never on a regular schedule. I have had terrible mood swings, weight gain with a puffed out belly, and am getting acne like I'm going through puberty again. I'm 29, I should be done with that stuff! I have always gotten headaches, but they are as bad as migraines now when I am PMSing. I think the Mirena is great in theory and have had absolutely no problems with the device itself, I can just rest assured now that I am not imagining all these things since I got the Mirena, other people are experiencing them too.