Can anyone shed some light as to what might be going on with me? I have posted a thread in the autoimmune disease section as well. Since then I have minimized & prioritized my symptom list. I have also made an appt. to see my GP on Monday but was wondering if anyone had any insight in the meantime. Anyway, here is a list of my current symptoms:

1. Major fatigue
2. joint & muscle pain w/stiffness
3. exzema, boils & rash on back of neck
4. PSVT- recent episodes feel as if my heart is vibrating and lasts for 2-4 min
5. dizziness upon standing
6. short term memory loss
7. neck & back pain
8. face flushing w/ low grade fever at times
9. eyes have become extremely sensitive to light
10. high cholesterol
11. shortness of breath with little activity
12. dry skin
13. facial hair
14. headaches
15. hypocalcemia (probably due to diuretics taken for edema)
16. recent weight loss of 20 pds in 2 mths when not even trying
17. obesity
18. nausea

I know the list is still long but I wanted to include all of the symptoms I am experiencing. I have been tested several times for diabetes and hypothyroidism. Recent CBC was completely normal. I am currently taking a Vit D prescription supplement, Simvastatin, Adderall XR (to treat problems w/ concentration), an antibiotic for skin problems and ibuprofen for the pain which isn't helping anymore.

I have plans to go back to school soon at a local community college and am hoping that I can get myself well before then.

From what I have seen & read here in the forums, people really have some great advice to offer. I have also come to realize that it is okay to ask for help. So, here I am doing just that.

Sincerely,
Concerned & Determined

What antibiotic are you taking? And for how long?

I have some impressions from your post that memory issues and muscle pain may be related to Simvastatin. Also if you do not take a CoQ-10 to replace what the Simvastatin destroys, then your heart and other muscles get fatigued as well.
You don't mention a diuretic in your drug list. What is it? Diuretics deplete magnesium which can cause heart beat changes.
If you give me a complete list I'll look up depletions for you. I suspect much of your problems have to do with drug side effects and the depletions they cause.

Your situation is complex.. be prepared for a long list.

Oh yeah, sorry, I forgot to mention the Lasix 20 mg which I take almost everyday. If I don't take it everyday the swelling returns with a vengance and my b/p seems to go back up. The name of the antibiotic is Doxycycline Hyclate 100mg. I took my last dose this morning. i had to take two pills a day for ten days. I did notice it made me very nauseated if I took it on an empty stomach. But I still get nauseated in the later afternoon for unknown reasons. I wonder why my Dr. didn't put me on a CoQ-10 (not sure what that is but will look it up) when he put me on Simvastatin? I take 40mg a day of the Simvastatin.

Thank you so much for trying to help me out.

have you been evaluated for Cushing's syndrome? This can be caused by an adrenal malfunction or a pituitary tumor. Pituitary tumors are not rare. In fact they are quite common. And they secrete different hormones for different people.

So that needs to be cleared up.
facial hair
fatigue/weakness etc
acne

Those would be clues for Cushing's.

Secondly, you need a blood serum level drawn for Vit D. This is being found to be very low in many people and a cause of low blood calcium, and other problems like chronic pain.

Lasix depletes potassium, magnesium and thiamine (Vit B1).
What is causing the edema? Was that ever explored? Most doctors don't, and just give a drug which then causes other problems.
Low magnesium impairs fatty acid use (acne), causes muscle aches/cramping, and cardiac irregularities.
This is my magnesium informational thread:
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread1138.html
It is a big subject, and critical for daily health.

Loss of Vit B1 CAUSES edema... it is a vicious circle.
To start, I'd suggest a B-complex -50mg daily.

There are issues with doxycycline, but 10 days is typically not long enough to have them be important. Longer, months, yes.

40mg of Simvastatin is a high dose. You need at least 200mg to 300mg of quality CoQ-10 to offset the negative aspects of this drug.
What was your "high" cholesterol reading? Do you know it? NatureMade makes a special supplement now for people taking statins...Called RX Essentials.
This is one very interesting website:
http://www.townsendletter.com/FebMar2006/coq100206.htm

But you can put statin CoQ-10 into the Pubmed link at the top of every page here and read more.

These are only BEGINNING things to look at.

[What side effects may I notice from taking simvastatin? (Back to top)
Side effects that you should report to your prescriber or health care professional as soon as possible:
Rare or uncommon:
•dark yellow or brown urine
•decreased urination, difficulty passing urine
•fever
•muscle pain, tenderness, cramps, or weakness
•redness, blistering, peeling or loosening of the skin, including inside the mouth
•skin rash, itching
•unusual tiredness or weakness
•yellowing of the skin or eyes

Side effects that usually do not require medical attention (report to your prescriber or health care professional if they continue or are bothersome):
•constipation
•headache
•upset stomach, indigestion, gas, heartburn

What should I watch for while taking simvastatin? (Back to top)
Visit your prescriber or health care professional for regular checks on your progress. You may need to have blood tests drawn to make sure your liver is working properly.

Tell your prescriber or health care professional as soon as you can if you get any unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, or weakness, especially if you also have a fever and tiredness.

Some medicines increase the risk of muscle side effects while taking simvastatin. Discuss your drug regimen with your health care provider if you are prescribed certain antibiotics or antifungals which are not recommended to be taken with simvastatin (examples: clarithromycin, erythromycin, itraconazole, ketoconazole). Your prescriber may decide to temporarily stop taking simvastatin while you are taking a short course of the antibiotic or antifungal therapy. Alternatively, your health care provider may prescribe another antibiotic or antifungal medicine for your condition.

Simvastatin is only part of a total cholesterol-lowering program. Your physician or dietician can suggest a low-cholesterol and low-fat diet that will reduce your risk of getting heart and blood vessel disease. Avoid alcohol and smoking, and keep a proper exercise schedule.

If you are going to have surgery tell your prescriber or health care professional that you are taking simvastatin.

This medicine should not be used by women who are pregnant or breast-feeding. There is a potential for serious side effects to an unborn child or to an infant. Talk to your health care professional or pharmacist for more information.]
http://www.drugdigest.org/DD/DVH/Use...statin,00.html
and a list of more side effects -
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&c...statin,00.html

I would get evaluated for cortisol - but with weight loss, instead of gain, it could perhaps be Addison's disease instead of Cushing's. They are the opposite but share a lot of the same symptoms.
Make sure your draws are at the appropriate time of day to be diagnostic (cortisol peaks and then drops during the day in normal people - this is called a diurnal rhythm) and the ACTH is kept cold and spun immediately, and frozen promptly as it degrades at room temperature rapidly.
How do I know this? It took me 12 years to get diagnosed with cyclical pituitary cushing's disease (and I had a prolactinoma too) and I now have addison's disease as I had my adrenal's removed to cure it.
Good luck.

Well, today I went to my appt. with my GP and brought him my list of symptoms and current medications. We talked briefly about some of the problems I have been having and he said he is almost sure that I have Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. He is sending me to a rheumatologist for further testing because he said there is definitely something else going on. I may also have to see an endocrinologist and surely my GYN. So the wheels are in motion. Oh and he put me on Bactrium (orally) and Spirolactone (a different kind of diuretic than Lasix) and he told me to just take the Lasix when the swelling gets too bad. He also put me back on Atenolol 50 mg for the tachycardia. (b/p was 130/86) He didn't run any test but like I said he is referring me to a rheumatologist who will do all that. I asked him if the Simvastatin could be causing me the pain and he said most probably not cause I have been on it for about a year and the pain just started about two mths ago.
I am so ready to start feeling better. The pain and fatigue has become very debilitating. I can nolonger make a fist because of the stiffness. I can hardly fold a batch of clothes without my arms giving out. 'This' whatever it is, has limited my activities of daily living very much so. It is very depressing being 31 yrs old and feeling 80. I have been watching Joyce Meyers every morning to try and lift my spirits. I am a mother and a wife and I need to be healthy and strong for them.
Also, I forgot to mention another symptom that I have been having for about 4-5 yrs. My fingernails curve under. I keep them cut so noone sees. It is quite unattractive. I didn't think that was important but I happened to come accross something online that mentioned curved fingernails. Has anyone heard of anything that this might be a sign of?

Well, I look forward to hearing from all of you soon. I will keep you updated.

Happy Early Valentine's Day!!!

you might want to read this research report on how doctors don't really
know the side effects of statins....


http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/thread38209.html

I'd request a blood test to see if the Simvastatin is affecting your muscles:
CPK it is called. Your doctor should do this by himself and not have to be reminded.
I don't get a good feeling so far about this.

I am glad you are going to get evaluated. PCOS is very common. I had/have it.
But it did not make me weak, fatigued etc. Just infertile. I didn't even have the acne.

PCOS will cause diabetes eventually, so please do get checked out. Ask for
tests for Cushing's syndrome while you are at it...to cover the hormone bases well.

Good luck.

Also, the NIH papers says you need to be cleared for Cushing's disease before you can really be diagnosed with PCOS... http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m..._99410457/pg_1 (see 6th paragragh)
a lot of people with Cushing's are mis-diagnosed with PCOS for years when they really had Cushing's. So, er, not impressed. He is not following protocols and just guessing.
I had the misfortune of having both. If you do not fit the criteria, you do not have it. I tried the medications and they did not work as the cushing's over-rode the PCOS. I also had periods where I would gain and lose weight as I was cyclical. Doctors, for some reason, rarely believe in the cyclical form of Cushing's as, one doctor told me, hormones don't cycle. I asked him then, what is a freaking period??? He did not respond. I did not return to his office.
Did you have blood tests and an ultrasound?

I just found this on Cushing's Syndrome -

http://www.endocrine.niddk.nih.gov/p...s/cushings.htm