Gotta love David T. Fuller who runs the research institute at fqresearch.org.Without his research, I would never have known what happened to me.Or never understand how Cipro poisoned me.  Hes been at it for over ten years, probably knows more about Cipro adverse reactions than anyone.  But no one will admit to it.  Might hurt sales of Cipro or Levaquin.  Was it he who used the word medical mystery in a recent article?  I have stopped seeing doctors.  I will only see one when I get crippled, or when the pain gets so bad I cannot move at all, or when its my annual free physical.
Yes, ever since I have been poisoned by Cipro in July 2006, I remain a medical mystery.  Before that life changing week of Cipro poison, just ten little 500mg pills, I was a happy, successful person who had all of his wits about him.  I had trusted doctors and their diagnoses.  I  followed their directions, because the drugs and their suggestions made me better.  Perhaps a life of unnecessary antibiotics and other drugs had been wearing my body down, and those pills just put me over the toxic edge.  Perhaps the damage started before.  I should have guessed those painful, unexplainable leg spasms that started in 2001 were Cipro doing its damage.  Only the poisoned, otherwise known as (a term coined by Stephen Fried in his book) believe there is something special and evil about the fluoroquinolones.  Facts and statistics the drug companies would rather you not know, and the FDA is clueless about, or wants to hide from the public.  Remember the FDA gets most of its funding from the drug companies, not from Obama.
In the good old days I had terrific hearing, perfect pitch, and would listen to music each day. It would energize me and make me happy beyond belief.  I would dance or sing to be happy.  I used to play a musical instrument.  Everyone in my family did.   Sounds never bothered me.  After the Cipro, tinnitus and hyperacusis (ringing in the ears and sensitivity to sound) set in, things were different.  I cant hear clearly now, lost some of my upper range. Every sound is distorted and too loud, the sound of silence is deafening noise from the ringing in my ears (or my head).  My local ENT misdiagnosed this as Menieres Disease, but he could not explain its sudden onset.  He put me on diuretics, which didnt do anything but made me irritable.  Not what he expected.  I went on a salt free diet, which didnt improve anything.  I had a slight imbalance when I walked, which I learned later was not due to Menieres, but the ENT at the big city teaching hospital didnt know what it was.  He did say my brain on the MRI looke smaller than he expected it would.  Didnt know why.  At least he was honest.  A neurologist recommended by my old GP said he could not see any neurological damage on the nerve leading to my brain from my ears.  It could be Menieres.  He also said I had some TMJ in my left jawbone.  Also probably the start of muscle and bone damage from Cipro.  That was in October 2006 when I couldnt figure out anything.  A neurologist I would see months later, said calmly that Cipro could cause permanent tinnitus.  Yes.  But he couldnt explain the other dozens of symptoms.  Medical mystery.
I saw two doctors at a big anxiety and depression clinic, who thought my severe depression was related to change of life or something.  Getting older.  They also explained to me that people with tinnitus are frequently depressed.  They had all sorts of excuses for why I couldnt sleep, or was depressed.  They never considered it could be a permanent adverse reaction to Cipro because they didnt do any research and my old GP said Cipro could never do that.  Didnt follow up on anything I tried to explain.  Couldnt explain why I was hit with so many adverse reactions at once.  They attributed my brain fog, or memory issues on the neuropsychiatric tests as old age.  The fatigue, muscle aches and constipation was written off to depression.  They didnt even get the diagnosis right - it was anhedonia - a very specific form of depression.  And they told me people with Menieres or tinnitus were generally depressed.  But they thought it was mostly anxiety about getting older, and so they put me on Lexapro first and then Zoloft.  The Lexapro kept me up pretty much 23 x 7 and made me more irritable.  I couldnt stop running around the neighborhood.  But the drug info said it could cause insomnia. I only took two pills and couldnt take any more.  I was a bad patient.   I had told the psychiatrist all of my dozens of symptoms again, including the one about not perspiring any more.  I didnt.  She was sure I was nuts.  When she put me on Zoloft, and my balance straightened out, after two pills, she couldnt explain why my balance straightened out, and didnt bother to research it, since it didnt help my depression (anhedonia).  The cognitive behavior didnt help with the sleep and I was wasting my money after months of talk and CB therapy.  I knew then too they were wrong, it was the Cipro, and left the clinic after they wouldnt even lift a finger to look at the research.  She hasnt even called me back in over a year to see if I am still okay.
Before the toxic dose of Cipro, I would sleep like a baby, and would nap regularly on Saturday afternoons.  I would awake refreshed.  I could barely stay awake past 11pm and would struggle to get up out of bed at 6am when I needed to.  Hardly any sound would awaken me.  Now, it is like my eyes are propped open, like I am on 100 cans of Red Bull, always awake.  Wired and tired, as another poisoned victim calls it.  If I am unconscious at night, it is briefly, but I awake unrefreshed to the sounds of ringing in my ears.  I am in a state of chronic fatigue and noise.
Before the toxic dose of Cipro, medications worked as prescribed.  I was on thyroid replacement 125 mcg since I was 37 and felt fine.  After the Cipro, suddenly no one could explain why, but I had too much thryoid.  My hear rate went to 180/90. I developed tachycardia.  I used to be 110/70 low blood pressure.  They dropped me to 50mcg of thyroid over the span of several months, and now I am back at 112 mcg.  Tachycardia on top of the tinnitus, anhedonia, insomnia, constipationI thought I would die.  I was wrong.  I cant have any caffeine, or even chocolate, because that small amount of caffeine drives me crazy for weeks.  I used to love iced tea and chocolate.  Not any more.
Before the toxic dose of Cipro, I took Fosamax which strengthened (I thought) my bones, and Nexium for acid reflux.  I didnt know that the Nexium itself was working against the absorption of calcium.  Perhaps the thyroid medicine was also.  But I felt fine, and could bear the burning sensation of the weekly Fosamax.  After all, bone density tests showed the bones were getting better.  After the Cipro, all hell broke loose.  CT scans showed severe bone loss, deterioration that I could feel as pain and discomfort.  Doctor could not explain it.  He agreed I should stop the Fosamax.  Never explained why.  GI doctor who prescribed the toxic Cipro to me, switched me to Prevacid.  Guess she got extra points for it.  When my reflux got worse, she did an endoscopy, found nothing, took out a small polyp.  Benign.  But I have really annoying neuropathy in my left shoulder ever since that surgery.  Now, the reflux is gone.  I feel nothing.  I dont even feel food in my throat or my stomach.
My teeth are pretty bad too, they used to be terrific.  I cant have routine dental work done because (you guessed it), pain pills and anesthetics dont work the way they are supposed to.  The last filling was not worth the agony, although I guess it was necessary.  I have Mitral Valve prolapse.  Guess what antibiotic my previous doctor suggested I take before dental work?  LEVAQUIN.  Really.  Like an idiot, before I made the connection, I took it.  Showed up at my old GP doctors office next day thinking I was dying.  Neurological pain, throat closing up, hard to breathe.  Nearly got thrown out of his office.  Dont you dare go to the emergency room.  ENT saw nothing with my throat.  Same GP doctor (a big time doctor too) misdiagnosed my pains in my groin as a UTI.  Prescribed Cipro.  Quick visit to a urologist confirmed there was no infection.  I wasnt going to take Cipro again.
Before the toxic dose of Cipro, I rarely ate cereal or anything with fiber, still had normal regular bowel movements.  After the Cipro (which I took coincidentally because of a colonoscopy where I had polyps removed), my bowels started getting smaller and harder, blood showed up in them.  Doesnt sound right after a colonoscopy where everything checks out.  The constipation got so bad at times I had to strain to get things out.  Of course the GI doctor took her time returning my calls,  said I wasnt eating enough fiber, and also suggested taking colace.  Passed me off to her nurse to me.  After months of a diet that was mostly 40 grams of fiber and doses of 4 colace a day, no improvement in my bowels.  My friend who could be a patients advocate couldnt believe it.  The GI doctor thought I was just complaining and was making a big deal about constipation.  Live with it.  So I stopped the fiber and colace, and things did not get worse.  Just suffered with the constipation and the tachycardia on top of the tinnitus, anhedonia, insomnia
Before the toxic dose of Cipro, my vision was terrific.  I loved sunny days.  After the Cipro, my vision became blurry even with glasses.  Opthamologist couldnt explain it, ENT chalked it up to Menieres.  But I had no vertigo, and was already told by another ENT it was not Menieres.    Cant stand sunlight or the lights from automobiles.  The light leaves an after image for a minute or two.  I have permanent photosensitivity, another documented side effect of Cipro.  Opthamologist said I was getting older, my eyes were changing and suggested sun glasses.
Before the toxic dose of Cipro, I had a great appetite, loved food and the smell of flowers or fragrant perfume.  Now, I have significant loss of smell, but I dont enjoy what I smell because of the anhedonia.  Taste buds are messed up.  Thigs dont taste the same.  Soda tastes like sewer water.  I have no appetite, and am never full after eating.   Most people would find this convenient, but yet it is another curse.  The Bible says you will eat and you will be satisfied and you will bless the Lord.  Well, I still bless the Lord, but am not satisfied.  Its convenient for fast days, or days when I am running late.  I have skipped breakfast for over 2 years now, and dont miss it.  But havent lost any weight.
Before the toxic dose of Cipro, I couldnt lose weight no matter what.  Right after 10 pills, I lost 25 pounds within 1 week.  Doctor was happy.  Havent put on weight since.  But I feel crappy and with the loss of appetite, constipation, tachycardia on top of the tinnitus, anhedonia, insomnia, chronic fatigueyou get the picture.  But no doctor can make me feel better.  I remain a medical mystery.  You figure doctors would want to solve medical mysteries.  Instead, we are considered bad patients because we dont respond to the usual therapies, and appear to be wasting doctors precious time.  If I needed surgery I dont know what I would do for the pain, since I dont think any pill works.  So I dont see doctors any more.  I may have to, since my thyroid medication is running out.
Before the toxic dose of Cipro, my hair was soft, my skin soft.  Now skin is rubbery and slimy, hair is the texture of steel wool.  Practically wore down my haircutters trimmer last time I got clipped.
My prostate is fine now, but my gonads are withering away.  You draw the logical conclusion from that.
As of yet, no doctor associated the tingling, burning neuropathy, or the weakened muscles to Cipro.  There are times that my legs or hands get numb.  Perhaps after the black box warning and Dear Doctor letter, they might now.  But they wouldnt consider the other adverse reactions.  Its like spitting in the wind.
I used to be able to multi task, type really well, remember lots of things, names, but with all these adverse reactions, I cant manage our finances anymore.  I transpose letters and numbers.  I misspell words.  Fortunately a word processor helps.  My mind, my thoughts have gone to hell, with my body.  And disability wont work.  They dont pay for people who claim they are tired, ringing in the ears,  have no appetite, muscle tendonitis that wont respond to physical therapy, or those who cant sleep but can still drag their bodies into work.  No, I am not lazy, but doctors and insurance carriers just dont recognize Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome.  And no one can cure it.  Thats the problem.  I could go on and on about the adverse reactions.  But since July 2006, no cures, no hope.  If I had the money Id hire a PR firm to tell the world, but dont.
I feel sorry for my wife and child.  (Actually, I dont feel, but it is an intellectual thought).   My wife is starting to drop things and forget things - she has acquired my insomnia and memory loss.  She used to be able to remember everything including 7 digit numbers.  She is stressed out because of living with me.  My child deserves a father who is there 100% all the time.  But I am only a zombie at this point, with no one to explain why.  But Capt Dave and the others know why.  Cipro poisoningpermanent adverse reactions breaking your body down.

Similar posts: cipro and constipation

Gotta love David T. Fuller who runs the research institute at fqresearch.org.Without his research, I would never have known what happened to me.Or never understand how Cipro poisoned me.  Hes been at it for over ten years, probably knows more about Cipro adverse reactions than anyone.  But no one will admit to it.  Might hurt sales of Cipro or Levaquin.  Was it he who used the word medical mystery in a recent article?  I have stopped seeing doctors.  I will only see one when I get crippled, or when the pain gets so bad I cannot move at all, or when its my annual free physical.
Yes, ever since I have been poisoned by Cipro in July 2006, I remain a medical mystery.  Before that life changing week of Cipro poison, just ten little 500mg pills, I was a happy, successful person who had all of his wits about him.  I had trusted doctors and their diagnoses.  I  followed their directions, because the drugs and their suggestions made me better.  Perhaps a life of unnecessary antibiotics and other drugs had been wearing my body down, and those pills just put me over the toxic edge.  Perhaps the damage started before.  I should have guessed those painful, unexplainable leg spasms that started in 2001 were Cipro doing its damage.  Only the poisoned, otherwise known as (a term coined by Stephen Fried in his book) believe there is something special and evil about the fluoroquinolones.  Facts and statistics the drug companies would rather you not know, and the FDA is clueless about, or wants to hide from the public.  Remember the FDA gets most of its funding from the drug companies, not from Obama.
In the good old days I had terrific hearing, perfect pitch, and would listen to music each day. It would energize me and make me happy beyond belief.  I would dance or sing to be happy.  I used to play a musical instrument.  Everyone in my family did.   Sounds never bothered me.  After the Cipro, tinnitus and hyperacusis (ringing in the ears and sensitivity to sound) set in, things were different.  I cant hear clearly now, lost some of my upper range. Every sound is distorted and too loud, the sound of silence is deafening noise from the ringing in my ears (or my head).  My local ENT misdiagnosed this as Menieres Disease, but he could not explain its sudden onset.  He put me on diuretics, which didnt do anything but made me irritable.  Not what he expected.  I went on a salt free diet, which didnt improve anything.  I had a slight imbalance when I walked, which I learned later was not due to Menieres, but the ENT at the big city teaching hospital didnt know what it was.  He did say my brain on the MRI looke smaller than he expected it would.  Didnt know why.  At least he was honest.  A neurologist recommended by my old GP said he could not see any neurological damage on the nerve leading to my brain from my ears.  It could be Menieres.  He also said I had some TMJ in my left jawbone.  Also probably the start of muscle and bone damage from Cipro.  That was in October 2006 when I couldnt figure out anything.  A neurologist I would see months later, said calmly that Cipro could cause permanent tinnitus.  Yes.  But he couldnt explain the other dozens of symptoms.  Medical mystery.
I saw two doctors at a big anxiety and depression clinic, who thought my severe depression was related to change of life or something.  Getting older.  They also explained to me that people with tinnitus are frequently depressed.  They had all sorts of excuses for why I couldnt sleep, or was depressed.  They never considered it could be a permanent adverse reaction to Cipro because they didnt do any research and my old GP said Cipro could never do that.  Didnt follow up on anything I tried to explain.  Couldnt explain why I was hit with so many adverse reactions at once.  They attributed my brain fog, or memory issues on the neuropsychiatric tests as old age.  The fatigue, muscle aches and constipation was written off to depression.  They didnt even get the diagnosis right - it was anhedonia - a very specific form of depression.  And they told me people with Menieres or tinnitus were generally depressed.  But they thought it was mostly anxiety about getting older, and so they put me on Lexapro first and then Zoloft.  The Lexapro kept me up pretty much 23 x 7 and made me more irritable.  I couldnt stop running around the neighborhood.  But the drug info said it could cause insomnia. I only took two pills and couldnt take any more.  I was a bad patient.   I had told the psychiatrist all of my dozens of symptoms again, including the one about not perspiring any more.  I didnt.  She was sure I was nuts.  When she put me on Zoloft, and my balance straightened out, after two pills, she couldnt explain why my balance straightened out, and didnt bother to research it, since it didnt help my depression (anhedonia).  The cognitive behavior didnt help with the sleep and I was wasting my money after months of talk and CB therapy.  I knew then too they were wrong, it was the Cipro, and left the clinic after they wouldnt even lift a finger to look at the research.  She hasnt even called me back in over a year to see if I am still okay.
Before the toxic dose of Cipro, I would sleep like a baby, and would nap regularly on Saturday afternoons.  I would awake refreshed.  I could barely stay awake past 11pm and would struggle to get up out of bed at 6am when I needed to.  Hardly any sound would awaken me.  Now, it is like my eyes are propped open, like I am on 100 cans of Red Bull, always awake.  Wired and tired, as another poisoned victim calls it.  If I am unconscious at night, it is briefly, but I awake unrefreshed to the sounds of ringing in my ears.  I am in a state of chronic fatigue and noise.
Before the toxic dose of Cipro, medications worked as prescribed.  I was on thyroid replacement 125 mcg since I was 37 and felt fine.  After the Cipro, suddenly no one could explain why, but I had too much thryoid.  My hear rate went to 180/90. I developed tachycardia.  I used to be 110/70 low blood pressure.  They dropped me to 50mcg of thyroid over the span of several months, and now I am back at 112 mcg.  Tachycardia on top of the tinnitus, anhedonia, insomnia, constipationI thought I would die.  I was wrong.  I cant have any caffeine, or even chocolate, because that small amount of caffeine drives me crazy for weeks.  I used to love iced tea and chocolate.  Not any more.
Before the toxic dose of Cipro, I took Fosamax which strengthened (I thought) my bones, and Nexium for acid reflux.  I didnt know that the Nexium itself was working against the absorption of calcium.  Perhaps the thyroid medicine was also.  But I felt fine, and could bear the burning sensation of the weekly Fosamax.  After all, bone density tests showed the bones were getting better.  After the Cipro, all hell broke loose.  CT scans showed severe bone loss, deterioration that I could feel as pain and discomfort.  Doctor could not explain it.  He agreed I should stop the Fosamax.  Never explained why.  GI doctor who prescribed the toxic Cipro to me, switched me to Prevacid.  Guess she got extra points for it.  When my reflux got worse, she did an endoscopy, found nothing, took out a small polyp.  Benign.  But I have really annoying neuropathy in my left shoulder ever since that surgery.  Now, the reflux is gone.  I feel nothing.  I dont even feel food in my throat or my stomach.
My teeth are pretty bad too, they used to be terrific.  I cant have routine dental work done because (you guessed it), pain pills and anesthetics dont work the way they are supposed to.  The last filling was not worth the agony, although I guess it was necessary.  I have Mitral Valve prolapse.  Guess what antibiotic my previous doctor suggested I take before dental work?  LEVAQUIN.  Really.  Like an idiot, before I made the connection, I took it.  Showed up at my old GP doctors office next day thinking I was dying.  Neurological pain, throat closing up, hard to breathe.  Nearly got thrown out of his office.  Dont you dare go to the emergency room.  ENT saw nothing with my throat.  Same GP doctor (a big time doctor too) misdiagnosed my pains in my groin as a UTI.  Prescribed Cipro.  Quick visit to a urologist confirmed there was no infection.  I wasnt going to take Cipro again.
Before the toxic dose of Cipro, I rarely ate cereal or anything with fiber, still had normal regular bowel movements.  After the Cipro (which I took coincidentally because of a colonoscopy where I had polyps removed), my bowels started getting smaller and harder, blood showed up in them.  Doesnt sound right after a colonoscopy where everything checks out.  The constipation got so bad at times I had to strain to get things out.  Of course the GI doctor took her time returning my calls,  said I wasnt eating enough fiber, and also suggested taking colace.  Passed me off to her nurse to me.  After months of a diet that was mostly 40 grams of fiber and doses of 4 colace a day, no improvement in my bowels.  My friend who could be a patients advocate couldnt believe it.  The GI doctor thought I was just complaining and was making a big deal about constipation.  Live with it.  So I stopped the fiber and colace, and things did not get worse.  Just suffered with the constipation and the tachycardia on top of the tinnitus, anhedonia, insomnia
Before the toxic dose of Cipro, my vision was terrific.  I loved sunny days.  After the Cipro, my vision became blurry even with glasses.  Opthamologist couldnt explain it, ENT chalked it up to Menieres.  But I had no vertigo, and was already told by another ENT it was not Menieres.    Cant stand sunlight or the lights from automobiles.  The light leaves an after image for a minute or two.  I have permanent photosensitivity, another documented side effect of Cipro.  Opthamologist said I was getting older, my eyes were changing and suggested sun glasses.
Before the toxic dose of Cipro, I had a great appetite, loved food and the smell of flowers or fragrant perfume.  Now, I have significant loss of smell, but I dont enjoy what I smell because of the anhedonia.  Taste buds are messed up.  Thigs dont taste the same.  Soda tastes like sewer water.  I have no appetite, and am never full after eating.   Most people would find this convenient, but yet it is another curse.  The Bible says you will eat and you will be satisfied and you will bless the Lord.  Well, I still bless the Lord, but am not satisfied.  Its convenient for fast days, or days when I am running late.  I have skipped breakfast for over 2 years now, and dont miss it.  But havent lost any weight.
Before the toxic dose of Cipro, I couldnt lose weight no matter what.  Right after 10 pills, I lost 25 pounds within 1 week.  Doctor was happy.  Havent put on weight since.  But I feel crappy and with the loss of appetite, constipation, tachycardia on top of the tinnitus, anhedonia, insomnia, chronic fatigueyou get the picture.  But no doctor can make me feel better.  I remain a medical mystery.  You figure doctors would want to solve medical mysteries.  Instead, we are considered bad patients because we dont respond to the usual therapies, and appear to be wasting doctors precious time.  If I needed surgery I dont know what I would do for the pain, since I dont think any pill works.  So I dont see doctors any more.  I may have to, since my thyroid medication is running out.
Before the toxic dose of Cipro, my hair was soft, my skin soft.  Now skin is rubbery and slimy, hair is the texture of steel wool.  Practically wore down my haircutters trimmer last time I got clipped.
My prostate is fine now, but my gonads are withering away.  You draw the logical conclusion from that.
As of yet, no doctor associated the tingling, burning neuropathy, or the weakened muscles to Cipro.  There are times that my legs or hands get numb.  Perhaps after the black box warning and Dear Doctor letter, they might now.  But they wouldnt consider the other adverse reactions.  Its like spitting in the wind.
I used to be able to multi task, type really well, remember lots of things, names, but with all these adverse reactions, I cant manage our finances anymore.  I transpose letters and numbers.  I misspell words.  Fortunately a word processor helps.  My mind, my thoughts have gone to hell, with my body.  And disability wont work.  They dont pay for people who claim they are tired, ringing in the ears,  have no appetite, muscle tendonitis that wont respond to physical therapy, or those who cant sleep but can still drag their bodies into work.  No, I am not lazy, but doctors and insurance carriers just dont recognize Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome.  And no one can cure it.  Thats the problem.  I could go on and on about the adverse reactions.  But since July 2006, no cures, no hope.  If I had the money Id hire a PR firm to tell the world, but dont.
I feel sorry for my wife and child.  (Actually, I dont feel, but it is an intellectual thought).   My wife is starting to drop things and forget things - she has acquired my insomnia and memory loss.  She used to be able to remember everything including 7 digit numbers.  She is stressed out because of living with me.  My child deserves a father who is there 100% all the time.  But I am only a zombie at this point, with no one to explain why.  But Capt Dave and the others know why.  Cipro poisoningpermanent adverse reactions breaking your body down.

Similar posts: cipro and constipation

Ive been rambling about my illness, since July 2006, but havent given you much insight into my economic status.  Now, its like the perfect storm.  I thought I had a job, and could work into retirement.  After the Cipro poisoning, I was doubtful of this, but I am still working and struggling to stay coherent throughout it.   But the illness has taken a severe emotional and now an economic toll on the family.
The Cipro poisoning that I experienced in July 2006 has ruined my life. Socially, economically, spiritually.  It is a time bomb waiting to explode from which I cannot escape.  Even if the disease doesnt physically cripple me yet, the inability to take logical actions because of my confusion, and my wifes doubt of my ability to reason, has put us into an economic disaster.  No, its not sour grapes over the economy.  Before Cipro I was a clear thinking, multitasking individual with 3 college degrees.  I had already survived one layoff from a company, and jumped back to a new career.  I managed the families finances.  Since the illness, I had to delegate that all to my wife.  Not good.  Prospects of layoffs at work loom large.  At 54, doing that hat trick again of finding a new job is going to be challenging.  No one wants a well educated 50 something person who wants a decent salary in this economy.  Cant get disability from the side effects - I am still ready to work - no one cares that I dont enjoy it, or have to deal with blurry vision, headaches, ringing in the ears.
For over two years I have handled staying awake most of the night and making it into work without fail.  I beat the dizziness and brain fog.  I havent even taken a sick day because it was of no avail, nothing could make me feel better.  No cold, virus, toothache, pain or whatever has stopped me from working.  I sit in bed on weekends, however to try to rest my muscles, which have been taking a beating, and are always achy.
By now I have faint recollections of what it was to be healthy.  I had nightly refreshing sleep, and could even nap in the afternoons if I desired.  I was proud of my work, and felt the support of others.  I felt the love of my family, and recalling memories of those who have passed from this earth gave me strength and hope.  Simple pleasures like listening to music, smelling flowers, drawing, or even eating, fulfilling a hunger for some specific food, brought me comfort and happiness.  Each day seemed different, and my memories of days gone past were comforting.  I had terrific recall and meditated for relaxation when I was stressed.  I felt that, despite minor problems, I could live and work forever.
I was motivated to work forever, because there was hope for a comfortable retirement. We had sufficient savings to last us for many years.  Now, all of our parents are dead, we have no brothers or sisters to help us out in our economic and emotional misery.  Friends just look at me and wonder why some doctor cant heal me.  I am sure others feel the economic pinch, but many around me have already paid off their homes and are working to keep up their standard of living.  They have relatives they can fall back on if times get tough.  We are alone.  I am alone physically and mentally.
The Cipro poisoning has created a mental illness, anhedonia, and chronic fatigue that has robbed me of all these good feelings, and my ability to think clearly at times, and the urge to keep going.  I do so only out of the knowledge that I must keep working.  Besides, what will I do with all those days sitting and being unable to gain any joy from the time off.  This years summer vacation was a total waste, as I tried desperately to get as much sleep in bed and rest my body as is possible.  And as I sat in bed, or blogged to support the cause, checking the yahoo board each day the economic crisis unfolded.  I cant believe I didnt check my portfolio each day.  I could have.
My wife told me not to worry and that she was watching our investments.  She wasnt.  She was more concerned with my day to day agony and getting my son off to college.  And like they say, you snooze, you lose.  We lost big time.  When the Dow started dropping, she refused to let me sell.  Now our brokers say to stay put.  Probably some plot to prevent a mass run on the market.  My wife again believes in them, and expect things to come back, but I have no more energy to fight her.  They say, you need to be , but they dont consider my impending possibility of job loss.  We will be out of our home, who knows where, by then.  And I will be seen as dead weight - someone who constantly tries to stay in bed because of chronic fatigue or depression, and people wont see the other symptoms.
I tried to persuade my wife that we were going through hard economic times for two years, coincidentally with the onset of the symptoms in July 2006, and to cash out of many of our investments.  She believed that was only another of my paranoid mentally ill beliefs caused by the Cipro.
Now we all know it wasnt, and although I had a comfortable cushion of money behind us, thats gone.  We are living on the edge.  As if I need more anxiety above and beyond the Cipro induced anxiety I have.  Actually, at this point, the illness is frustrating me, because I would normally be worried enough to want to commit suicide.  But I have no energy to do so.  I could take an overdose of pills or drink myself to sleep each night, but the pills - any pill doesnt work.  Alcohol doesnt work either.  No way out, except the street. Perhaps someone would take my son, so he could survive.  He needs to complete college.  Everyone in my family has.  Concerned that in this economic situation things may be different.
Losing my job would make it impossible to continue to live here, and with my health concerns, and difficulty with learning and concentration brought on my the Cipro, it would be a big problem anyway finding a new job. Even for a 54 year old.  We have no relatives to move in with, let alone, in this economy, be able to sell the home.
We have 50% equity in our home, but couldnt make the payments for much longer if I lost my job.  All that would go down the tubes if we defaulted.  No bailout for us.  Bank could easily sell our home at fire sale prices and still pocket the remaining cash if any.  All our possessions would go.  No one in my family has ever experienced this.
I would need health insurance, which doesnt do me any good right now but my family needs.  We are several years short of retirement or social security.  With my deteriorating health I doubt I will make it, but the concern now is staying in a warm place.  And I know people are working longer, but the fatigue would make it difficult.  I regularly transpose letters as I type this, or have difficulty with numbers.  Memory of names and whatever doesnt work.  Learning new tasks seems impossible.  I used to multitask and be a whiz at numbers.  So even without the Cipro illnesses, we are in trouble.  More anxiety to add to the list of adverse reactions from Cipro.
People see me as severely depressed, and now will attribute it to bad economic times.  I never smile from bearing the pain and anedonia and depression. Stumbling into my current job, I raise no suspicions - they are used to me, and my lack of emotion, and hard of hearing .  I can sit down when I need to.  But what will we do when the cash runs out?  At least I have no hunger pains and will not miss the food, I seem to be doing well without it.  Havent had breakfast for over a year.  But I do need a place to sleep, or at least sit up.  I cant deal with the heat or cold.
When I was a child my mother could make everything better.  Didnt have to worry.  Now there is plenty to worry about.  Think my wife is starting to lose sleep too, and becoming more stressed out.  My illness is taking a toll on her.  Its always the healthy one that gets sickened by dealing with the sick one in the relationship.
Me, its just the same Cipro poisoned day each day and night, each minute by minute.  Chronic fatigue, depression, anhedonia, ringing in the ears, insomnia, no appetite, constipation, neurological tingling and pain.  Must have missed some symptoms.  Worst case, cant even enjoy where I am living while I can live here.  Dont qualify for disability, every doctor will certify my as ready to work, though my powers of concentration are shot.  And I will compete with other healthy people out on the street looking for jobs.  My college degress are useless - companies only want to pay people entry level salaries.  To my wife - sorry I have been badgering you for the past two years about this - but I tried to tell you.  Dont know why you didnt listen.  We are in serious trouble and we have no one to help.
Even worse, who will take care of my son?  He deserved a father who was there emotionally and economically for him.  Not likely he will get a paying job if he is in college, and graduates will compete with people out of work for positions.  And I wouldnt have even enjoyed a minute of my life over the past two years.  If I was healthy, my wife would have believed me.  Thanks Cipro, for killing me mentally, physically, and economically. The perfect storm?  You bet.  And no one would even believe the Cipro part.  We have been suffering in silence for years.  Actually it is totally silent outside except for a bird chirping.  Yet, the Cipro induced ringing in my ears is deafening.  All day and all night.  Should I have sold my investments - yes - did I have the time to? Yes.  And I cant even enjoy the time I have left.
Too educated to get welfare, will be lucky if my wife keeps her job at less than half my salary.  If my 401 k would only hold up.I believe I have until June 2009 until the perfect storm hits.  Just in time for my son to come back from college for the summer.  Terrific.

Similar posts: cipro and constipation

They dont understand that damage has been done, or has been set in motion and is irreversible. Its at the DNA level.  Same way Cipro takes bacteria apart DNA strand by strand, some people get taken apart, cell by cell also.  I am one of those unlucky ones.
Unfortunately society is not spending enough money to do research to pin the damage on Cipro.  We dont have the technology, or no one wants to fund research that could point to a smoking gun.  Much of the research that says Cipro and Levaquin (related quinolone) is safe is funded by big pharma.  They want to sell more drugs.  Once the FDA (also funded by big pharma) approves their drug, there is no serious postmarketing research when ADRs are reported.  Unless of course, people are immediately killed, or commit suicide.   Random reports of psychiatric illnesses are rarely tied to these drugs - they are antibiotics - how could they cause these injuries?  And if a doctor saw one of these cases in the thousands that had bizarre reactions to Cipro, it would be considered an anomaly.  But the FDA is supposed to collect all this information to better inform doctors.  But they are not doing their job.  No surprise.  Like many other drug victims, we are considered collateral damage.
Background related to my thyroid: I had been on thyroid replacement pills since I was 37 when I had my thyroid removed.  I had been taking 125 mcg of Levoxyl since then until July 2006.  I had been taking Fosamax for some bone loss.  I had been gaining bone density and feeling great.  Couldnt lose a pound of weight if I tried, diet or nothing.  Everything is fine for years.  Got a terrific job. I was 52.  Happy family life.  Had a colonoscopy, polyps removed, told to take Flagyl and Cipro to prevent infection.
During the week I took the medicines, felt like my head was getting bashed in, but was so tired, the medicines knocked me out.  At the end of the week, I wake up.   The world is not right, but cant figure it out.  Then all of a sudden, a few days later, for no explainable reason (yes, now I know it was the Cipro poisoning), ringing in the ears, no sleep, palpitations, tremendous anxiety and fear.  I am dying.
I had too much thyroid said my doctor, was diagnosed by an ENT with Menieres disease, and Mitral Prolapse by cardiologist.  My GP said to stop worrying, and I better dare not go to an emergency room.  He couldnt explain why my thyroid levels all of a sudden went wacko.  He couldnt explain why all of a sudden I cant sleep, or my ears ring constantly. Couldnt explain the constipation after a perfectly good colonoscopy.  My bones and joints hurt.   CT scans showed degenerative Bone loss after years of building it up from Fosamax. Actually my body wasnt using they thyroid medicine because the Cipro destroyed the cells and tissues, and in a span of a year, I had to be brought down to 50 mcg and then back up to 112 mcg to reduce the tachycardia.  In addition to all the other side effects.  Doctors think Its all anxiety and depression causing the other body symptoms to shut down.  They wont acknowledge the brain damage by Cipro thats wrecking all the endocrine systems, and has fried my emotional and cognitive functions.
The most honest doctor I saw - very big ENT in big city - said no, you dont have Menieres, your brain seems smaller for your frame and age, but sorry, I have no idea what happened or why.
Well, I ran out of thyroid pills, and because my wife thinks my body is still absorbing the thyroid, and I cant live without them,  supposedly, I had to see my endocrinologist for a refill.  He asked how I was feeling, and I said, not much different than a year ago.  I hadnt lost any weight, even though I am eating 1/2 of what I was eating before.  Didnt gain any weight, I am taking less thyroid and am less active.  Should be gaining weight.  I guess my body doesnt use the food, or anything I ingest goes nowhere, because the stomach, colon, or whatever organs are just fried by the Cipro.  Stomach and colon are muscles that have probably atrophied.  If Cipro can cause tendon damage and degeneration, it can cause degeneration in any other bodily organ.  All the fiber and colace I could eat hasnt helped the painful constipation.  So I stopped it. Still just as painfully constipated.  And my endocrinologist wants to reduce my thyroid medicine - again.
Cellular aptosis, cellular death, but in a slow painful way of cell destruction.  All over my body.
In my prior life before the Cipro poisoning, if I missed a thyroid pill or took too much, it was really noticable - I would be way too tired, or too hyper.  Now, I just feel like garbage all the time, and more or less thyroid has no effect.  No quality sleep, but I am so wide awake it is painful.  People keep commenting that I should try some other thyroid, but they dont understand that all the body systems have been injured, fried, or are in process of collapsing.
Blood results July 2008 - Free T4 is normal 2.1 (should be 0.8 to 2.7) but the TSH was suppressed, meaning my pituitary is saying I have too much thyroid. Doctor says the thyroid is NOT why I am tired.  And I need less of it.  Yep.  Got that.  body doesnt actually use the thyroid I am putting in my mouth.

Perhaps the pituitary is damaged and cant make any TSH.  More likely the scenario.  Impossible to figure this Cipro poisoning and what will go next.  The brain and psychological trauma (insomnia, anhedonia, anxiety, depression) and five senses were destroyed first. Two years later, the bone and muscle trauma gets really noticeable.  Doctors would ask if I am taking calcium for my osteoporosis.  But also have hypergonadism, so it compounds the risk of bone and muscle loss.  They will never attribute it to the Cipro.  Am I taking testosterone?  No.  I know it wont do anything.  If things arent breaking down directly because of the Cipro DNA damage, they are because they arent absorbing nutrients and hormones.  Or maybe its simultaneous.  I vote for the direct destruction by Cipro.  In any case, my first doctor admitted he couldnt improve my condition - Ive been completely worked up. Thanks Cipro.  I have great medical coverage, just cant use it to heal me.

Big pharma wont spend any money to research WHY quinolones cause muscle damage in some people and not others, and wont even admit to the dozens of other permanently disabling ADRs.  Research may find out if Cipro destroys muscles it can destroy other tissues, like brains or nerves. Theyre on to the next quinolone, because Cipro is now generic, and they need to make more money.  I would be glad to spend more on a drug that could cure me, but there is none that we know of.  The FDA medwatch system is so antiquated, they cant even analyze the data they receive, no less tie any of the reported ADRs to Cipro.  Nobody can or is reading the data.  They just collect it.  Its up to public citizen and other organizations to get the data and tell the FDA something is very wrong.
Enough people are reporting these bizarre declines in their health, but doctors and the FDA close their eyes and ears to them.  Whats wrong with this picture?
Will someone call the media and tell them the FDA and big pharma arent telling the truth about Cipro, Levaquin and quinolones - that in some people it destroys multiple organs and cells down to the DNA?
Press the links button on my blog for the news and research, or see www.fqresearch.org for research that speaks to me.  I am off the blog for a while until a new ADR shows up, or my blood work shows something else of note.
P.S.

Similar posts: cipro and constipation