It is an absolutely beautiful day, today! The sun is shining and it is not too hot; the birds are singing; and all of the plant life has burst into bloom! While I already shared my beautiful iris plant, that is double blooming like crazy, I cannot help to think that it is not the only gift that keeps on giving.

It has been many years since I my body was permanently damaged by the antibiotic Cipro. (a commonly prescribed antibiotic for bladder,  sinus infections, and UTI's) I am grateful that the reoccurring pain, due to the damage caused by Cipro, is no longer constant, and that I have periods of time, that I actually forget that it even happened, but boy, oh boy, let me tell you, when it flares back up, I am reminded just how life altering a "simple round" of the antibiotic Cipro, can be.

I believe that this latest flare is directly linked to the night of dancing, a week ago. It was the third time that I had been dancing since my shoulder surgery, and since my pleural effusion has improved, due to a change in leukemia medications, and I am sure that I just over did it. My heart and soul,  just do not know when to say, when! lol

The nerve pain in the bottom of my feet began as soon as I stepped out of the car; after arriving home. I was a bit annoyed, yet hopeful that it would be gone by morning; of course, as my luck would have it,  that did not happen. The nerve pain has just continually gotten worse, and I am hobbling, with every step.

Two days ago, the nerve pain started traveling up the back of my left leg; It is so severe that it makes, sitting, standing or lying down miserable. Ibuprofen seems to bring some relief and today I am trying heat. UGH!

My reason for sharing this information is purely,  to warn you; warn you against taking the risk of ending up with side effects from an antibiotic (Cipro or Levaquin or any florquinolone)that may be permanent. I swear I would not wish this pain on anyone; it SUCKS!

I know that it is very hard to believe that an "antibiotic" can cause permanent nerve, tendon and muscle damage, to name a few,  and I know that most medical professionals just do not believe the severity of the side effects, or the number of people damaged by them, but what I can tell you, from my personal experience, and from speaking to others who actually realize where their unexplained pain has come from, is that it just is NOT worth the risk.

For those of us that have been damaged by this class of antibiotics, we know how life altering, that decision has been, and I know we all wish we had been "warned", or at least counseled, like the Black Box Warning states. (this rarely happens)

I know that people probably think I am a bit obsessive about this subject, but every single time I am physically reminded how my body has been destroyed, I want to save others from the same fate.

I believe in my heart of hearts, that a large number of people that have tendon tears and ruptures, and others that are diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, are actually suffering from Cipro or Levaquin side effects; sad, but true. I believe that the FDA recorded number of cases, is grossly under reported, as I believe that few actually correlate their pain, and/or tendon ruptures to an antibiotic that they are currently taking, or have taken in the past.

If you suffer from unexplained pain, or tendon ruptures, or any of the side effects listed below, delve into your medical history and see if you have taken Cipro or Levaquin. Best case scenario, is to avoid it, unless it is your LAST drug of choice!

Side effects include, and are not limited to: (remember, some of these may be permanent)

Swelling or inflammation of the tendons
Tendon rupture
Tingling or pricking sensation (“pins and needles”)
Numbness in arms or legs
Muscle pain
Peripheral neuropathy (nerve damage)
Depression
Hallucinations
Suicidal thoughts
Confusion
Anxiety
Abnormally rapid or irregular heartbeat
Ringing or buzzing in the ears
Vision problems
Skin rash
Sensitivity of skin to sunlight
Fatigue
Worsening of myasthenia gravis
Aortic aneurysm
Aortic dissection

On a side note; as I was looking for the side effects of these antibiotics, I was FLOORED to see  how  "hidden" the possible permanent damage is, on the internet. You really have to dig, or search; Black Box Warning. Truly unbelievable, and absolutely infuriating.

At this point, who is responsible? The pharmaceutical company? The prescribing physician? The pharmacist? Or the person who trusts, all of these people?

Related Links: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/class-of-antibiotics-gets-stronger-warning-due-to-dangerous-side-effects-says-fda/

https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/fda-amps-up-black-box-warnings-antibiotic-class-includes-j-j-s-levaquin-bayer-s-cipro

https://www.drugwatch.com/news/2016/05/16/fda-black-box-warning-for-levaquin-cipro-antibiotic-risk/

https://floxiehope.com/2016/08/19/updated-black-box-warnings-for-fluoroquinolones/

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Sprycel Vacation: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly!!

Interestingly enough, I have noticed many different things that Sprycel does, and doesn’t do, to my body. After a nearly three week vacation, it has been difficult in some ways to return to my CML treatment, but comforting and even helpful, in others.

The major disappointment in returning to treatment is my missing “spark”; Sprycel seems to have a way of diminishing my inner “happy” glow! I know that sounds silly, and I am still an extreme optimist, but the bursting-over joy, that I have when I am not on Sprycel, just is not the same. This coupled with the fact that when I am not on Sprycel, the leukemia has an opportunity to kick start its engine.

That being said, there is a comfort to returning to the battlefield. The most difficult part being the return of the side effects; I have suffered greatly from muscle spasms in my back, am extremely tired, and once again, my hair is starting to fall out! Ugh, it was finally beginning to grow again. The afternoon, flu-ish, fever-y feeling has returned, along with the headaches.

The Good news is that the peripheral neuropathy, from the Cipro damage, is beginning to subside again. I still cannot believe how taking Sprycel keeps the pain in my feet, and joints in my legs, at bay. I suppose this really is the golden lining to living with a chronic cancer; totally strange!

My belief and hope is that it will not take as much time, as it did when I first began taking Sprycel to adapt to the medication and for the side effects to seem less severe. I often wonder whether the side effects actually lessen, or if we just learn to better adapt to them.

What do you think?

Peripheral Neuropathy, from Cipro, Returned; Not Good!

As many of you may already know, four and a half years ago, I suffered severe side effects from an antibiotic, in the floroquinolone family, called Cipro. The first time it happened, I suffered a ruptured tendon. I did not correlate the ruptured tendon to the antibiotic, Cipro.

Eleven months later, I was nearly crippled by the drug. I was given it a second time for a urinary tract infection; I took five pills and my body was destroyed. I mean literally destroyed; I suffered from the worst pain I have ever felt, in my entire life. It was mostly located in my hips, legs and feet. The pain was constant, excruciating, and never subsided. This time I DID realized that it was caused by Cipro.

I also suffered from light sensitivity and total brain fog. This is not something that you would wish upon any one, not even your worst enemy. There is no way to reverse these side effects and doctors simply shrug their shoulders when presented with a floxed patient.

Oddly enough, I suffered with this destruction and peripheral neuropathy, right up until I received chemotherapy treatments, after being diagnosed with CML. Oddly enough, there is something in the chemotherapy that can reduce symptoms in RA patients, and now I have experienced the same thing; pain relief. I was ecstatic and figured that this pain relief was the golden lining, in having leukemia.

Fast forward two and a half years; the peripheral neuropathy and the light sensitivity have improved drastically, although I cannot say the same thing about the brain fog. All was well until I developed pleural effusion and bronchitis last month; I had to go off of my Sprycel treatment, until my lungs were functioning properly, again.

 Within ten days of ceasing the Sprycel, the peripheral neuropathy began to return. I started getting extreme pain in the balls of my feet and toes, (my hardest hit area), skin sensitivity and the feeling that my Achilles and other tendons could rupture if I was not careful. I was horrified and angry. It really makes me ponder the correlation between the peripheral neuropathy and the TKI’s, as well as the chemotherapy; AND just how damaging this class of antibiotics, really are.

Moral to the story; I am actually blessed to have CML because living with that sort of pain is truly unbearable. It literally made me wish I would die; I would rather have cancer than the pain associated with the damage from those drugs. How sad it that?

In my opinion, unless it is an absolute, last resort, life or death situation, the floroquiolone, antibiotics Cipro, Levaquinn and Avelox, should be avoided like the plague!

FDA Announces New Black Box Warning!

Apparently there has been a change to the Black Box Warning for Floroquinolones. The FDA announced on August 15, 2013, that fluoroquinolone drugs such as Levaquin, Cipro and Avelox will be required to change packaging inserts to contain a warning for severe, permanent and disabling peripheral neuropathy. The FDA states that the damage may occur very soon into the administration of the drugs and the damage may be permanent.

If you are wondering what peripheral neuropathy is, this is the description from the FDA: Peripheral neuropathy is a nerve disorder occurring in the arms or legs. Symptoms include pain, burning, tingling, numbness, weakness, or a change in sensation to light touch, pain or temperature, or the sense of body position. It can occur at any time during treatment with fluoroquinolones and can last for months to years after the drug is stopped, or even be permanent.

Permanent: I cannot even imagine the pain that I suffered during the first two years, after being floxed, lasting forever. I swear that I would have jumped in front of the bus, if I had not begun to see a slight decrease in pain, during the first six months. This pain relief was minuscule, yet gave me hope.

I am telling you that the pain was the absolute worst pain, I have ever experienced. It is not like a cut or a bruise, it is not like a broken bone or a migraine; it is like you are walking on burning glass. It is constant and never subsides; even the air hurts the affected parts of your body.

I was unable to touch my feet or toes; I could not wear socks or shoes and could bear absolutely no weight, on the front part of my feet: for years. My hips, knees and Achilles felt as though they would burst at any moment. This pain is indescribable. Not only did I have pain in my legs and feet, I was unable to open my eyes in the morning, because of the light, for hours, and even then I had to keep the house dim. I couldn't remember things, I was easily confused and literally just wanted to sit in a dark corner and cry. The skin on my body hurt to the touch and wearing anything other than really, really soft material, was excruciating. This is not something I would wish on anyone!

There was not a doctor, or pharmacist that had any advice on how to control the pain, or if it would ever go away. The only person that gave me any sort of advice on how to try and detoxify my body, and rebuild the damage was Dr. Leland Carroll; a chiropractor. I believe that it is with his help, my persistence and a round of chemotherapy, (due to my leukemia diagnosis) that I am much improved. It absolutely floors me, that once you have suffered the toxicity of these drugs, that there is absolutely no protocol on how to stop, or reverse the damage. No one can tell you that someday, you MAY get better.

I will bet you that the orthopedic surgeons that are repairing torn tendons and the Fibromyalgia doctors that are treating tons of patients with chronic, unexplained pain, are thanking these drugs; all the way to the bank. You can bet that they never even ask their patients if they have taken a floroquinolone. This is disturbing and unconscionable.

I am certain that many physicians are completely unaware of the Black Box warning placed on fluoroquinolones in 2008; and I am certain that most have never seen the outcome of those of us that have suffered these side effects. Probably the biggest reason for this, is simply the lack of correlation, to the pain and the antibiotic; not many figure out what has caused their pain, therefore, it goes unreported. 

Fortunately, the internet is bringing these issues to light, and hopefully our voices are being heard. We need to report these side effects to the FDA and the drug companies, and once made aware of the risks, we must refuse this class of antibiotics, unless there is no other choice. Trust me, you do not what to take the chance, that you will become the next victim.

I do not believe that any doctor or dentist would knowingly prescribe an antibiotic that is so dangerous; unless they were completely unaware of the consequences, or there was no other option. I also understand that all drugs come with their own list of precautions and warnings, risks and side effects. These must be carefully weighed; and you must decide if the result, outweighs the risk. Believe you, me; if I had had a choice of diarrhea or a rash, over being crippled and in chronic, extreme pain, I would chosen the diarrhea or rash; every time. Usually, there are alternative antibiotics, but you must ask.

I believe that it is the pharmacist's responsibility to inform a patient of the Black Box Warning, prior to filling the prescription; I know that this was not the case on the two prescriptions that I filled. What good is a Black Box Warning if no one knows about it? Education is key here, for physicians and pharmacists, not to mention the patient, We, as patients need to take these warnings seriously.

Thanks to the internet, the dangers of Cipro, Levaquinn and Avelox are finally getting the wide spread attention they deserve.There are petitions and lawsuits, and there was even a march on the capital lawn, in Washington, bringing awareness and looking for retribution for victims. Victims are tired of being victims and they are realizing that they really are not just one in a million, but one of many. 

Do not fall prey to the antibiotics Cipro, Levaquinn or Avelox; it is not worth the risk. If you have suffered peripheral neuropathy you may wish to contact the Floroquinolone Victims Advocacy Network. 

New class action suits are being prepared.

Cipro Poisoned? Visit a Chiropractor

For those of you out there that are newly poisoned by a floroquinolone; Cipro, Avelox or Levaquinn, you may find the assistance of a chiropractor, likeDr. Jeff Parton of Bellevue Chiropractic, much more beneficial to your recovery than a general physician.

As you have likely began to suffer from extreme muscle and joint pain, you will begin to notice that you are walking and sitting differently than you had before suffering the side effects of these drugs. This will cause your entire body to change and to become totally out of whack.

At Bellevue Chiropractic, you will find that you treatment will help to stabilize and maintain a strong foundation that will likely help you to survive the effects of the extreme muscle and joint pain that is likely to plague you for years to come.

If you live in the Bellevue, Washington area, you can check out Dr. Jeff Parton to see what kind of relief that he has to offer. Without frequent trips to my chiropractor, for his suggestions and treatments, I really do not think that I would be walking and dancing nearly as well as I currently am.  It has been just over two years since my latest Cipro poisoning and I feel truly blessed that I am 90% back to “normal” of course, that normal now also includes a diagnosis of chronic myelogenous leukemia, as of February 2011, but oddly enough, after my first round of chemo, my muscles, joints and tendons are much improved!

Cipro Encouraged Me to Have a Garden!

Two years ago I was poisoned by an antibiotic called Cipro. I took the antibiotic for a bladder infection, and with two days of taking Cipro, I was nearly crippled. The pain in the balls of my feet was excruciating and my hips, knees and ankles felt as though they would explode if I bent them. MY skin felt as if it was on fire, and my brain was so fogged that I could not even think.

I immediately sought medical advice, only to be told over and over again, that there was nothing that they could do for me, and they had no idea how long these “side effects” would last’ possibly forever. Two years ago dancing was my profession and my passion. After being poisoned by Cipro, walking was so painful that dancing was out of the question.

A dancing friend of mine, also a chiropractor and kinesiologist, offered me some advice in trying to rid my body of the dangerous floroquinolone, as well as advice on what to take and eat to help my body to repair the damage done by the antibiotic. After several months, I was able to get around better, and learn to dance on my heels. The hardest hit area for me was the balls of my feet. For eighteen months, I wore braces on my ankles and knees and walked and dance very carefully.

Since that time, I have been very mindful of what I eat and have even taken to growing, canning and freezing my own fruits and vegetables. Gusseted poly bags have been a great addition to my freezing practices because they are able to stand up, and stay open all on their own. I also like the Ball canning jars. Having home grown vegetable and fruit all year long is not only a treat, but a very healthy alternative to eating over processed food that is full of pesticides and synthetic fertilizers.

I also am eating eggs from chickens that belong to a friend; I can hardly believe how yellow the yolks are. Now, if I can only bring myself to raising my own poultry, meat and fish, you could call me a “real” farm girl!

Taking antibiotics ruptured my tendon: The hidden dangers of everyday drugs we assume are harmless

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Taking antibiotics ruptured my tendon: The hidden dangers of everyday drugs we assume are harmless

By JO WATERS

Last updated at 3:43 AM on 7th February 2012

• Comments (13)
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'The pain was so sharp I felt like I'd been shot or kicked,' said Judy Thomas

When Judy Thomas was prescribed a strong antibiotic to shift her chest infection, she didn’t think twice about it. 

‘It was a few days before Christmas and I was just relieved to get something before the holidays,’ says Judy, 59, a housewife from Ferndown, Dorset.

‘It was a high dose of 500mg of ciprofloxacin twice a day for five days. My GP didn’t mention any possible side-effects.’

Three days later, Judy woke up with an all-pervading tight feeling in the backs of both calves.

‘I could barely walk; I thought the tendon was going to snap,’ she recalls. 

‘Ten days later, when I was standing making tea in the kitchen, something did seem to snap in the back of my left calf. 

'The pain was so sharp I felt like I’d been shot or kicked, and I blacked out for a few seconds. Afterwards, I was in excruciating pain.’

Next day, she went to A&E with her husband, Geoff, 64, and her left leg was put in plaster because doctors suspected a ruptured Achilles tendon. 

‘I was baffled because I hadn’t been doing any exercise and it’s something I thought you only got with running or sport,’ says Judy.

‘It was my sister Sally, a retired nurse, who Googled it later that evening and discovered tendon rupture can be a side-effect of taking ciprofloxacin. 

'Imagine my horror when this was confirmed by my GP the next day.’

It can take six months on average to get back to normal activities after an Achilles tendon rupture, but in some cases much longer. A month after taking ciprofloxican Judy is still incapacitated. 

‘I’ve been left unable to walk properly,’ she says. ‘I can’t bear weight on it and have been confined to the house.

'Now I’m terrified the tendon in my right leg will rupture, too, as the doctor I saw in A&E said it was showing signs of severe damage. 

‘I’ve got pins and needles in my left arm and shoulder, too, which started at the same time. I’m worried this is also connected to the antibiotics, and might be permanent.’ 

One in six of all prescriptions in the UK is for antibiotics, with the drugs given for everything from ear infections to sore throats. 

But what many patients don’t realise is that like all drugs, antibiotics can cause side-effects.

Amoxicillin, the most commonly prescribed antibiotic in the UK, can cause rashes and diarrhoea, but also nausea, wheezing, itching and a swollen tongue. 

One in six of all prescriptions in the UK is for antibiotics, with the drugs given for everything from ear infections to sore throats

Another antibiotic, Flucloxacillin, can cause diarrhoea and nausea, and in rarer cases breathing difficulties, jaundice, bruising and abdominal pain. 

And erythromycin, used to treat middle ear and throat infections, cannot only cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea and a rash, but less commonly temporary deafness, skin blisters, jaundice and fever.

‘There’s been a perception that antibiotics are a bit like vitamins in that it won’t do the patient any harm to take them, even if it’s not absolutely certain they do have an infection,’ says Dr Kieran Hand, consultant pharmacist at Southampton General Hospital and a spokesman for the Royal Pharmaceutical Society. 

‘We are realising antibiotics are not completely harmless, and prescribing them is not a decision to be taken lightly.’

This is particularly true for a class of powerful broad spectrum antibiotics called fluoroquinolones, which include ciprofloxacin (the drug Judy was prescribed), levofloxacin, moxifloxacin, ofloxacin and norfloxacin. 

Just under a million prescriptions for these drugs were given out in the UK in 2010 for conditions such as chest infections and urinary tract and gastro-intestinal infections.

Some of the alarming side-effects listed for fluoroquinolines include inflamed or ruptured tendon, chest pain, rapid heart beat, black outs, swelling, hot flushes, sweating, pancreatitis (inflamed pancreas) and tinnitus. 

It’s only the fluoroquinolone group of antibiotics that have been linked with tendon problems and other muscolo-skeletal issues.

These may start immediately after taking the drugs, or months later. 

As a result, doctors and patients often fail to make the link with the antibiotics.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, the UK’s drug safety watchdog, received reports of 2,269 ‘suspected’ adverse reactions associated with fluoroquinolone antibiotics, including 67 deaths, since January 2000. 

Four years ago, concern about the potential side-effects led to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration telling manufacturers to add a ‘black box’ warning to fluoroquinolones. 

This is the most serious warning, short of pulling a drug from the market, and indicates that it carries a significant risk of serious or life-threatening adverse events. 

In the UK, the British National Formulary, a prescribing guide for doctors and pharmacists, added a specific warning about fluoroquinolones in 2009, stating they should be used ‘with caution’ in patients over 60, those taking corticosteroids, and patients with a history of epilepsy or tendon disorders.

But Judy says she had none of these risk factors. 

Nor did Rebecca Robinson, a 44-year-old self-employed hairdresser from Bristol, who was prescribed five courses of ciprofloxacin over a 12-month period after developing cystitis and then a kidney infection in 2006.

Five years later, she is still suffering persistent lower leg pain and other unexplained symptoms, including pain and burning in her lower legs, cervical dystonia (neck spasms), tinnitus and muscle twitching — some of which are recognised side-effects of ciprofloxacin. 

‘The reaction started immediately after the first dose: I felt giddiness, back pain and needed to pass urine frequently,’ she says. 

‘But it felt just like the kidney infection coming back, so I was prescribed more of the drugs. 

‘I’d never felt right since I took those antibiotics but doctors told me there was no connection. 

'After three years of tests and no answers, I went online and discovered there were thousands of other people who had taken ciprofloxacin and had similar side-effects to me.

'I have lost half my customers as I have balance problems and find it difficult to stand for long periods. 

'I’ve never claimed any disability benefits and always worked to support myself, but what happens if I get worse? 

Doctors stress that we must finish a course of antibiotics and don’t mention adverse reactions, so people continue taking the drugs, not realising they are causing them damage.

Philip Howard, consultant pharmacist and a specialist in antibiotics, says although ciprofloxacin has been around for 25 years, it’s only in the past ten years that more side-effects have emerged.

‘When ciprofloxacin was first introduced, it was one of the first broad spectrum antibiotics which could be given as a tablet, so patients didn’t need to stay in hospital. 

'That was a major advantage but also came to be one of its major failings, because it then was over-prescribed.

‘As with all drugs, the rarer side-effects sometimes don’t become apparent until large numbers of people have been treated with them.’

He says there are few reasons why ciprofloxacin should still be prescribed by a GP except where there is no alternative, such as where the patient has an allergy to penicillin or where other antibiotics haven’t worked.

‘There is this assumption that antibiotics have no side-effects, but all drugs carry risks. I’d say that unless you need treatment, don’t take them.’

Neal Patel, pharmacist with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society, says serious side-effects from antibiotics are rare, but patients should be aware of the risks.

‘If patients notice anything untoward while taking antibiotics they should seek advice from their GP or pharmacist as soon as possible.’

A spokesman for Bayer, manufacturer of ciprofloxacin, said the drug has been used in millions of patients worldwide and has a well-established safety profile.

It added: ‘The product information includes information about tendinitis and tendon rupture, which are recognised but very rare adverse drug reactions.’

Judy Thomas, though, remains convinced ciprofloxacin is the most likely explanation for her ruptured Achilles tendon and pins and needles.

‘I feel very strongly that there should be more prominent warnings on patient information leaflets,’ she says. 

‘Antibiotics are something that all of us take without thinking, but we all need to be aware that they have risks as well as benefits.’

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2097415/Taking-antibiotics-ruptured-tendon-The-hidden-dangers-everyday-drugs-assume-harmless.html#ixzz1lvz7dbpO

Not Spending Valentine's Day in the Hospital this Year!

With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, I am starting to look around for unusual gifts for him…..if you know what I mean. Valentine’s Day is supposed to be a special day, and I often find myself a bit overwhelmed when trying to choose a perfect gift.

Last year, my “perfect gift” was actually leaving the hospital, after spending eight days being treated for chronic myelogenous leukemia. While I still have CML, it is much more under control, and I have been able to stay out of the hospital for almost the entire year. That has been wonderful….but now the pressure is on! What do you get a guy that needs nothing, and has everything? We still have massages and wine tasting from Santa, so that will not do, and I am not getting into a hot air balloon or jumping out of a plane, soooooo…….suggestions, Please!

Love to Buy Fabric Online!

One of my greatest weaknesses is my love of fabrics and beads. Having been an interior designer for the past 30-ish years, it is apparent that I pay a bit more attention to the fabrics, that I see, than most people. With the availability to now purchase fabrics on-line, I have been able to afford to purchase P Kaufmann fabric, instead of a knockoff. Fabric and bead sites offer a great variety and price, to otherwise, often un-affordable goods. Now I am able to point and click, save money, and get exactly what I want without ever leaving home! Love it!!

My current project is creating "Gone with the Wind" draperies for my best friends, "Gone with the Wind" memorabilia room. She and I just both love "Gone with the Wind," whether it is the book of the movie. She has the greatest collection ever, and I cannot wait to see her completed room. Of course, this means that I need to get my act in gear and get those draperies sewn. Pictures will definitely follow!

New Year Cipro Goal!

OK, so the New Year has brought on a new and renewed vow to continue to strengthen my Cipro poisoned body. It has been nearly two years since I was poisoned, for the second time, by the anti-biotic called Cipro, or Ciprofloxen. I feel as though I am one of the very fortunate, as I have seen a remarkable improvement to my condition over the past 6 months.

I am now able to use and bend my toes again, and am also able to go up and down stair cases, like a normal person. I no longer feel as though my Achilles will rupture if I a wrong step, or that my knees will blow out if I waltz. I am no longer, regularly dependent upon braces on my feet, ankle and knees and can get in and out of the bath tub, without help. All of this is a huge improvement and I am eternally grateful.

So, this year, I am going to attempt to continue to strengthen by damaged body, in an attempt to return to my pre-Cipro poisoned body. One of the way that I am going to do so, is yoga, the other is walking. Being that I am a dancer, the walking must include tunes! For Christmas, “Santa” got me the coolest bluetooth stereo headphones; I absolutely love them, since there is no dangling wire. I know that this may not seem like a big deal to some, but it is for me. You see, even though I am a dancer, I am also a klutz. Before, when I used to walk with my I Pod, I had the headphones that connected to it; and as I walked, I would yank the daggone ear buds out of my ears at least four or five time on every walk. Now, with the bluetooth stereo headphones, not only can I hear music in both ears, I can actually swing my arms around to the music without pulling the headphones out of my ears.

Yes, if you ever see me walking down the road, I will be the person that everyone is pointing and laughing at! Cheers, to me!

Cipro Poisoning Sucks!

So, I guess there are two things bothering me today:

1. Cipro poisoning SUCKS! I know that I should be grateful for the improvements that I have made, and I AM however, I am still so irritated that my body has been so compromised by Cipro. The fact that they continually dispense this drug without informing the patient of the potential side effects is criminal!

Of course, my small improvement of being able to slightly bend my toes caused me to test my limits and try to walk and dance like a normal person. That would be USING my toes and pushing off with my toes as opposed to walking and dancing on my heels. That unfortunately led to a bit of a toe injury on my right foot, yup, the BIG TOE! Ugh, wonder how long it will take that to heal?

2. I hate the inflammation underneath the skin that causes the skin itself to be so tender that you don't want to sit or lie on it. The back of my thighs are killing me today, thank God it seems to be an intermittent side effect. It is so strange because een the slightest touch makes them feel as tough they are on fire! It has been long 5 months now.

So that being said, I hope those of you that have never been effected by Cipro, Levaquinn, Avelox, or any other floroquinolone, take my advice and steer clear of this poison! For those of you in the same boat or worse off, my best wishes to you and I hope you are having one of those "good" days!

Beware of the Antibiotic Cipro!

I am writing this article based on my own personal experience. I am hoping to bring awareness of the side effects of the antibiotic Cipro or Ciprofloxin. I understand that Levoquin and Avelox have the same side effects.

I will preface this article with the knowledge that I have been dancing regularly, 4-5 times a week for 3 years and that dancing is not a new activity for me.

On April 16th, 2010 I started taking Cipro for a bladder infection. On April 17th, 2010 we taught a 4 1/2 hour dance workshop, something we do every other weekend. On April 18th, 2010 I could barely walk. Upon getting out of bed, my feet felt as though I were walking on razor blades and the joints, muscles and tendon in my legs were in excruciating pain. As the day progressed, the pain remained and I was puzzled as to how the workshop could possibly be responsible for my inability to walk. I continued taking Cipro.
On April 19th, 2010 I awoke with the same pain, plus additional hip pain. I just kept thinking that something was really odd and that this leg pain could not possibly be from dancing. That evening I started getting sharp, stabbing pains in my left leg. I began to wonder if I could possibly have a blood clot, so I went to the internet to look up the side effects of Cipro. While I was pleased to realize I didn't have a blood clot, I was appalled that my muscle, joint and tendon pain was a side effect of Cipro. I stopped taking the drug immediately and contacted my doctor and two pharmacists.

My doctor was shocked and claims he has never seen this side effect and offers no management, treatment or prognosis. The pharmacists are more aware but have a "it might get better, it might not " attitude. After hours of research I have found that Cipro has landed many in wheelchairs and walking with canes. It can hit your body while taking it or months later. For some it seems that the side effects reverse themselves as soon as the medication is out of their bodies, for others the suffering lingers for years. You can develop symptoms months after you stop taking the drug. If you have or have had unexplained muscle, joint and tendon pain, or ruptured tendons or been diagnosed with fibromyalgia or rheumatoid arthritis and have taken Cipro, be sure to alert your Dr. and never take it again.

I believe that the percentage of incidences that the drug companies report are way understated. It occurred to me, after this episode, that one year ago I suffered from a popped tendon in my right foot. It took 7 months for that injury to heal. I confirmed the dates and sure enough, I was on Cipro when the injury occurred. I never put 2 and 2 together to make the correlation of the injury as a side effect to the antibiotic. I know know differently and have reported my side effects to the drug manufacturer and the FDA.

The World Wide Web!

Looking for a job today is certainly very different than it was when I was growing up. When I was young, the first place you looked for a job was either in the window of the place of employment or the newspaper.

Now to find a Technical Writer Jobs you can just simply fire up your iphone or computer and search the world wide web. Twenty years ago, if you had told me that this would have been a possibility, I would have told you that you were nuts!

Helpful Suggestions Post Cipro Poisoning

Yesterday I saw Dr Leland Carrol, he is a chiropractic Kinesiologist He has studied extensively to learn alternative healing techniques to help patients with their individual needs. My only and I say that in jest, problems are muscle, joint and tendon pain in my legs.

I will share the regimen that he has suggested to me. I am NOT a doctor, these are just what I am trying. A lot of what I will be eating and taking are to remove as much as the toxin as I can. He suggested that I eat 1 cup of mixed brussel sprouts and broccoli and 1 whole red beet everyday. These should be steamed and the red beet should be steamed whole. It is the "red" in the beet that is supposed to thin the bile from the liver that can become thicker after Cipro poisoning.

In addition to those veggies I am "drinking" Green Vibrance. It has 25 billion probiotics per dose. It is also used for detoxification.

I am taking 3-4 Magnesium Malate (1250mg) per day, 2000mg of Vitamin C per day, 1 tablet 4 times a day on an empty stomach (be sure to eventually wean yourself down to a normal dose if you take this much Vitamin C). Bromelain, 2 capsules, 4 times a day between meals. Fibrozym, 3 tablets in the morning. Vitamin D and Calcium. These are all in addition to my "regular" everyday vitamins!

By the time I am through sucking down all of these pills and eating those veggies, I think I might just explode!

He also suggested epsom salt baths and light massage. Movement , especially in a pool, and to not push to the point of damage. He also pressed on tendon connections and did something like spreading the muscle tissue. None of this was painful.

Today is day 12, since the side effects began. Last night was the first night that I did not wake up in the middle of the night an hour or two BEFORE I could take Ibuprofen. I actually woke up one hour AFTER I was supposed to take it. I am taking 600mg every 6 hours. My "other" Dr. recommended that as it IS an anti-inflammatory. It helps me tremendously. I seem to be moving a bit faster, at the moment! Hoping for a good day.

Cipro Destroys Collagen

One might wonder what this has to do with Cipro poisoning, so this is my belief; I am not a doctor and I do not have scientific proof, however, I do believe that the Cipro not only damaged the collagen in my feet, but also my face!

Do you suppose our parents felt the same way about aging that we do, or do you suppose that since there were not so many options available, that they just accepted the inevitable graciously? I think that the next time that I visit my mother, I shall ask her. The only “beauty” ritual that I ever witnessed my mother doing was putting Ponds Cold Cream on her face.

Today, with all of the advertisements to shed decades from your face, it isn’t a wonder that when we look into the mirror, that we long for a more youthful appearance. It also seems that I am seeing fewer and fewer advertisements for full, surgical face lifts and more and more ads for things such as laser treatments, botox and restilylane.  

Another treatment that used to only be available in the plastic surgeons office is LED light treatment. The light treatment is supposed to firm and tone your skin, reduce fine lines and wrinkles, minimize your pores, correct color pigmentation, fade scars, erase sun damage and clear acne. All of those are good things, if you ask me. I understand that these treatments can be very costly in a doctor’s office, but with the Baby Quasar, you can administer these treatments to yourself, right at home. Sometimes, I think, that if I were to win the lottery, I would purchase one of these little gadgets just to see whether it really worked or not. Fortunately, it does come with a money back guaranteed clause. So, if you give it a try and look ten years younger, please let me know!

Check Out This Video Exposing Floroquinolone Damage

Finally a report that recognizes the potential dangers of floroquinolones: Cipro, Avelox and Levaquinn  are among the front runners of this class of antibiotics. I have personally been floxed by Cipro on two occasions. I, like many, did not even have a clue the first time that i was floxed. I was given Ciprofloxcin for a urinary track infection. On the fourth day of my treatment, I ruptured a tendon in my big toe while dancing. I heard and felt the "Pop" and wondered what on earth had happened. I continued to take my prescription of Cipro without ever realizing that it was what had caused my tendon rupture.

Fast forward eleven months; my ruptured tendon was finally healed. I was "healthy" for exactly five weeks before I contracted another UTI. Once again I was prescribed Cipro. I willingly took the prescribed drug as it had alleviated my bladder infection the year before. On the second day of ingesting Cipro, upon awaking, I went to step out of bed and nearly collapsed onto the floor. My feet felt as though they were on fire and that I was stepping on broken glass. I could not bend my toes, ankles, knees or hips. The pain was excruciating and I needed assistance just to walk to the bathroom.

I did not know what was wrong with me and I continued taking the Cipro. It wasn't until the following day that the pain intensified so much that I began to wonder if the Cipro was causing blood clots or some other reason for the pain. This sent me to the internet where I saw the "Black Box Warning." I immediately stopped taking the Cipro and called my doctor.

I began a fifteen month journey full of pain and frustration. The amount of people that I have met who have suffered from the same symptoms as I have, are staggering. The most staggering realization of all is that very few of them correlated their pain and suffering to the antibiotic. It is my belief that the supposed 1% of people affected by these antibiotics is grossly under-reported simply do to the fact that affected people simply cannot even begin to imagine that they have been crippled by an antibiotic that was intended to cure them.
The below video is one of the first videos that I have seen that acknowledges the possible dangers of floroquinolones.

Healthy Living is a Plus!

When you live in chronic pain you may often be viewed as a whiner, complainer, or hypochondriac. Having lived through the excruciating pain caused by Cipro, I can totally relate with people that have and live with chronic pain. Being sympathetic to a person with intangible pain can often be a difficult task for family members, friends and co-workers. They seem to think if they cannot see it, then it must not hurt. Life for the person in chronic pain is not only difficult from the physical aspect, but the emotional one as well. Having your life stolen from you is frightening, devastating and frustrating. There are many reasons that people live in chronic pain, mine just happened to result from taking an antibiotic.

I think that regardless of the reason, one of the best things that you can do for yourself is to take care of yourself. Devise a health plan and stick to it. Exercise as much as you possibly can, eat well, get plenty of rest. Healthy living will probably not cure your pain, but it will help to prevent other health issues that may arise from an unhealthy lifestyle. There are many things that we all can do to improve our overall health.

Healthy living literally means taking care of yourself; body, mind and spirit. The last thing that any of us that live in chronic pain needs is to have any other health issue crop up and cause additional health issues.

Collagen And Cell Extracts; Could They Be An Answer To Our Prayers?

I believe my dear mothers' downward spiral began with Cipro!

There has been quite a lot of controversy over exactly just what Cipro does to damage a body’s muscles, joints and tendons. There seems to be even less known about what can be done to reverse the damage. I believe that all involved agree that floroquinolones can damage and destroy collagen. I also believe that Cipro may destroy the sheath that surrounds your muscles and tendons.

 I wholeheartedly believe that Cipro caused the padding on the balls of my feet to completely disintegrate and that at one time, I was literally walking with the bones of my feet directly against the floor. It was extremely painful to take even one step. After taking 2000 mg of Vitamin C every day for four to five months, I began to notice some improvement.  I understand that Vitamin C can promote collagen production and I often wonder if that has been what has helped to restore at least some of the padding on the balls of my feet.

While searching for more information on collagen production, I ran across this site that produces cell extract for a variety of uses. I have heard the term cell extract in the past, relating to laboratories actually growing skin from cells, to use on patients with extreme burns or other injuries. I do not know their effectiveness in rejuvenating the collagen, inside of our bodies, due to the damage sustained by the side effects of floroquinolones, but I certainly wish that someone would begin to research this avenue since no one in the medical field seems to have any suggestions, remedies or protocol on just how to handle the thousands of us that have been either permanently or temporarily crippled by this class of antibiotics.

Maybe someday, someone will have an answer for all of us that have been inadvertently damaged by antibiotics that are labeled as “not a first drug of choice”: oddly enough the two times that I was prescribed Cipro, it was not only a first drug of choice, it was the only choice given to me. I was not warned of the damaging side effects, despite the current black box warning attached to Cipro. Come on medical professionals, start abiding by the guidelines that have been given to you and stop handing out Cipro, Avelox and Levaquinn as though they were candy.

Addictions are a Royal Pain!

Addiction has been defined as a physical and psychological dependence on psychoactive substances such as alcohol, tobacco, heroin and other drugs which cross the blood-brain barrier once ingested, temporarily altering the chemical milieu of the brain.

Addiction can also be viewed as a continued involvement with a substance or activity despite negative consequences.  Some addictions have serious health consequences while others carry serious lifestyle consequences.

Smoking is probably one of the most difficult, yet damaging addictions around. I say this because it is not an illegal behavior, therefore there is few restrictions as to where a person can smoke; thus allowing others to be put at risk by the smokers addiction. This is particularly true for infants and children that live in a home with smokers. I cannot count the number of times that I have seen a nursing mother smoking a cigarette, or children in a car with the windows rolled up, with the drivers’ of the car puffing on cigarettes. I find it hard to believe that any parent would chose to put their child at risk, so I must deduce that the addiction is stronger than ability to refrain from smoking.

I am always researching ways to help my friends and family to stop smoking and after I did a Cigarrest Review, I realized that there are homeopathic solutions that may help smokers. I realize that the choice is that of the individual, but in the event that I am ever given the opportunity to be instrumental in any way, on some one’s path to stop smoking, I want to be prepared with answers.

I am sure that there are many cigarrest complaints and doubts, as many people do not believe in homeopathic remedies, but my cigarrest review left me a bit intrigued. I have been using more and more homeopathic remedies since being poisoned twice, and almost crippled by a medically tested antibiotic. My mother has been deaf for two years after two doses of gentamicin, another antibiotic. So needless to say, I am open to other schools of thought.

Here is a list of the active ingredients that help a smoker to be more comfortable during the very trying time of ceasing to smoke. See if you find them as interesting as I do.

Lobelia inflata (Indian Tobacco) - is an herb whose pharmaceutical properties are similar to nicotine. It is dual in its activities, acting as both a relaxant and a stimulant.

Cinchona officinalis (Peruvian Bark) - treats edginess, nervous exhaustion, indigestion.

Daphne indica (Spurge Laurel) - helps with tobacco cravings and inability to sleep.

Plantago major (Plantain) - produces disgust for tobacco in those who chew it and cures neuralgia resulting from tobacco.

Calcarea phosphorica (Calcium Phosphate) - used to treat headaches, hoarseness, burning throat and cough which can be made worse from tobacco and tobacco smoke. Smokers are usually deficient in calcium.

Nux vomica (Poison nut) - is an herb used in minute amounts as a restorative preparation.  Used to treat insomnia and irritability as well as coughing and scraping in the throat made worse by smoking tobacco.