Tuesday, May 17, 2011

One Year Update after Being Floxed; There is Hope

It has been one year and one month since I was poisoned by the drug named Ciprofloxacin. It is in a class of drugs known as floroquinolones and while it may be a miracle drug for some; it can be a devastating, debilitating drug for other. It is my continued belief that the side effects of these drugs are highly under reported thus allowing them to continue to be distributed freely.

Three days after taking my first dose of Cipro, I was crippled. I walked as if I was an 85 year old woman that had been hit by a train. My feet felt as though I was walking on razor blades or shards of glass; my toes would not bend. My knees were swollen and felt as though they would explode if I bent them. I could not bend at the hip without excruciating pain. Sitting down and getting back up was nearly impossible. Even just the plain air on my feet hurt. I have never experienced such pain before; or since. I also could not stand bright light; it hurt my eyes and it was often noon before I could open my drapes.

You can search my blog to follow my progress and all of the remedies that I experimented with.  I am elated with the progress that I have made with my physical issues. I can now dance with little pain, bend my toes, bend my knees and bend my hips. While my toes are much improved, they still do not bend like they used to, but I am actually able to send myself from one foot to another, instead of having to lift my leg and put it on the floor. I walk like a normal person again. I am able to bend my knees and squat down about half way to the floor. I still cannot put them completely under myself in order to stand from a sitting position; such as getting out of the bathtub but the overall improvement is grand.

My hips are pretty much back to normal. My ankles and Achilles still give me just a little trouble when I dance. Sometimes after dancing for an hour or so I will have to revert back to my ankle braces for some additional support, just to be on the safe side. The light sensitivity is 80% improved and the overall achiness, muscle joint and tendon pain is relatively gone.

The latest development in my health has been my diagnoses of Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia. I was diagnosed in February 2011. Seems as though someone thought that since I had survived my Cipro poisoning so well, that I needed another challenge! So forgive me for not keeping you all informed and updated on the poisoning from Cipro, but I have been busy fighting cancer; Go Figure!

Anyway, I know that we are all different and we all deal with pain and illness in different manners; but for me, I pushed myself every day since I was floxed.  After the first three to four weeks, when I literally was bound to my bed or sofa, I pushed myself more and more every day. I started dancing again; knees, ankles and feet braced and taped. I took too much Ibuprofen in order to be able to do what I loved; even if it was just one or two dances at a time. Dancing fed my soul and helped me climb the very large mountain of tackling a poisoning from a drug called Cipro. My best wishes to all of you out there suffering from the side effects of these drugs. I really never thought that the day would come that I would walk normally again and not be in constant pain. I wished the last year of my life away in hopes of feeling better a year down the road. Don’t give up; there is hope for you too.

11 comments:

  1. Michele,
    Thanks for the update and I pray that you will also be healed of Leukemia. I took 5 days of cipro 15 months ago and still have much soreness and pains in my achilles/ankle and hip area. Any suggestions would be greatly appreicated. I took this drug as a prevention from a needle drainage of a cyst from my knee which I find out later should not have been touced nor should I have given antibiotics for this as the needle is sterile. I have tried many supplements and am trying ozone therapy now. I live in Germany and am a teacher on the military base. I try and workout but feel like I am 90. My hips and ankles are still bad and wrists hurt. I pray to get 100% as well as try these alternative therapies. I don't want to hurt my feet more but I don't like not working out. Any suggestions feel free to let me know. My email is davatelis4@yahoo.com or I can look at your website for a reply. God bless.

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  2. Ugh! I stopped taking the drug after 5 doses because I couldn't walk. It was a fluke that I figured it out. The shooting pain down my legs sent me to the computer to see if Cipro caused blood clots. What I found was much more terrifying. Wishing you well, it is odd that it took me getting leukemia to start feeling as good as I do. My feet actually much improved after chemo...weird, huh?

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  3. Michele, I read that you took fibrozym also. Do you think that helped you? I don't want to spend anymore money on supplements but was considering purchasing this? I also am taking several of the same supplements you have taken. I also have popping in my left ankle now and in my shoulder for several months. The shoulder popping does not hurt but my left ankle has gotten worse. I was wondering if you had any popping in your joints? I am getting worried as I really thought I would be getting better now not worse. Thanks, Ari

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  4. Hi Ari, yes I used to "pop" everywhere! Now that popping seems to mostly be in my right knee. Other joints pop occasionally, but my right knee pops all of the time. As far as the fibrozym, who knows! I was told that it helps with the inflammation in inflamed tissue and promotes overall health in tissue, so it would stand to reason that it would be helpful.
    I was so miserable that I was willing to try many things and all I can say is that I am 85% overall improved.
    I have fewer set backs than I used to and I only know what I did in order to get to this point.

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  5. Michele, How long did you take the fibrozym? Do you still take the extra supplements such as magnesium, extra vitamin c, green vibrance etc. Thanks for your help and sorry to keep bothering you as I know you are working on other issues currently. It is very positive to view your site as you know there are such terrible websites leaving you feeling negative. I appreciate your help.
    Ari

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  6. Hi Ari,
    I believe that I took the fibrozym for 3 months. I am still taking 2000 mg of vitamin C as per my oncologist, but he does not want me taking anything else for right now. I was taking all of the other supplements up until I was diagnosed with leukemia.
    You are never a bother...I know how devastating these side effects are. I am not easily depressed but I tell you I was often near tears during this past year.
    How long has it been for you?

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  7. Hello,

    I relate to your story because I have found that there IS hope long term.

    The difference between our stories is I am a very healthy/active 25 yr old male. I was floxed 25 months ago with Cipro for Prostatitis. My initial side effects included almost all of the reactions to some mild/moderate/severe extent. For me the worst time peaked at about 8-13 months.

    It has gotten better slowly and surely each month. But, being 25 now I still feel waaay to old when I go to the gym. I am still concerned of achilles and knee injuries from basic physical activities.

    Maybe I'm lucky b/c of my age and ability to regenerate, but I would not wish this on anyone.

    I did find multivitamins, glucosomine, fish oils, and alcohol very helpful in my recovery. Two years on and I'm 70-80% of what I would've normally been. Not terrible, and a hellofa lot better than the darker days earlier. (I still have the knee & ankle braces as reminders)

    GodSpeed to those who suffer,

    May the industry burn in hell for using us as guinea pigs in their for-profit drugs.

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  8. This moved me extremely as someone who is going through a much more mild case than you suffered. I nonetheless lose hope at times, due to the unpredictability of this syndrome and the fact that my job would be physically taxing on a totally healthy person. This post alone has restored my faith that I too will heal. Thank you immensely for your encouragement.

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    Replies
    1. Please keep me posted...it IS nice hearing that some DO finally recover.
      It has been a long hard road, and now I have Leukemia; makes me wonder....

      Best wishes,
      Michele

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  9. can you lead me to your list of what you did to get so much better from cipro poisoning? sorry you had to deal with cancer on top of that.

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  10. Try this link: http://www.cipro-poisoning.com/2010/04/helpful-suggestions-post-cipro-poisonng.html

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