Diovan and stomach

OK guys, I have been reading all your side effects for a couple of weeks now, and finally decided to jump into this pot! You will not believe this, but I have been on Diovan 80 mg twice a day along with a couple of other blood pressure medications. It's been about 2 years, maybe a little less, and for the past 10-12 months, I have complained to my doctor that my joints and muscles ache so much that I feel like a 100 year old person. I also have has every side effect mentioned on the 9 pages listed here with all of you. I have had every test imaginable for artery's/veins/muscles/joints/sleeplessness/hair loss/weight gain/swollen ankles...you name it, I've been tested for it. They can find nothing wrong with me at all. NOTHING! I'm sure they feel that it's all in my head, since I've been quite sensitive to a lot of meds. in the past!

I am usually very active and run around like a crazy woman most of the time, but I was absolutely walking like I'd been hit by a truck. I went to my doctor with all of the complaints listed under Diovan printed out, and believe me, she took notice. We stopped Diovan that night and I started on a couple of new meds. that have absolutely no side effects. It will be two weeks this coming Wednesday (June 4) and I am almost a new person. I'd say, about 98% pain free. I actually felt relief after being off for about 5 days. It's getting better day by day. I actually feel that this stuff was killing me slowly. Get off asap!
By the way, I tried to look up the new meds, and they are so new that I can't find anything. For me, they are an answer to prayer.

I started taking diovan about three months ago. First, I had upper back pain, then started gaining weight-I wake up in the night with my stomach growling(but I don't eat), and still the weight is going up. Have shooting pains in my arms. Whenever I put my arms in the air, they ache. Also while walking, my feet started to hurt. I don't feel like doing anything, and that is not the way I was before diovan.

I am 53 year old male and began taking Diovan 160 dose in JULY 2002. I have dizziness, nausea, fatigue, some weight gain but changed diet and lost the extra 20 lbs. Of course, I realize the fatigue is due to the insomnia. I can be feeling OK and all of a sudden feel nausea, chills, sweats and have to lay down sometimes it last for days; other times just a few hours. I have a thumping in my throat with every heartbeat, which causes a headache. Am always complaining of lower back and joint pain. My eyesight is ever changing for the worst, has is my impotence. Open to natural ways to lower BP.

Sometimes, I can feel and hear a growling noise in my left side at the base of my ribs. Has anyone else experienced this?....Thanks