*The following is an individual’s story of surviving fluoroquinolone toxicity. It is not medical advice. Please see the disclaimer at the bottom of the story. Thank you, and please be cautious with all treatments.
Richard told me his story in June, 2013.
Richard’s health problems began several years before he was floxed. He got mercury poisoning from some dental fillings in 2009 which led to candida and other parasitical type infections, and he had been working on detoxifying his system for a couple of years. On one hand, mercury poisoning and parasites had weakened his body and getting floxed added insult to injury. On the other hand, his experience with dealing with the mercury poisoning helped him to know what to do to get his body back to health.
In June, 2012 Richard got an acute UTI that spread to his prostate and caused painful prostatitis. He went to a urologist for treatment and was prescribed a 30 day prescription for Cipro (1000 mg. 2 times per day). Because of his experience with mercury poisoning and his knowledge of the dangers of adverse drug reactions, Richard requested a milder antibiotic. The urologist assured him that Cipro was safe and refused to give him anything milder. In addition to Cipro, Richard was prescribed and additional steroidal like drug which was supposed to aid with the pain. Richard asked the urologist, at the time of receiving the prescription, if he should continue taking Advil instead of the one he prescribed for the pain and the urologist assured him that it would be fine (fluoroquinolones and NSAIDs are contraindicated – it says so on the prescription insert).
After 3 days of taking the Cipro, Richard started experiencing excruciating pain throughout his body. His breathing became labored and he “sounded like an emphysema patient.” He started having convulsions and seizures and broke out in a fever. He felt tingling throughout his body and most intensely in his spine. After four days of being on Cipro he collapsed when he got out of bed because his ankles couldn’t hold him. He couldn’t walk and became bed-ridden. After 5-6 days of being on Cipro, Richard developed Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. At this point it was obvious that his body was falling apart, but he didn’t know what the cause of his ailments was. After doing some research online he realized that Cipro was the culprit and he stopped taking the Cipro.
Richard called the urologist’s office where he had gone for his fateful Cipro prescription to find out what to do about his adverse reaction to Cipro and he was told that all of his issues were listed on the Cipro package and that he should have known not to take it.
Richard contacted a few lawyers in the Atlanta area but none would take his case.
From his experience recovering from mercury poisoning, Richard knew about detoxifying/cleansing his body, outside of mainstream, treatments. He had done cleansing diets, clay treatments, liver and gallbladder cleanses prior to being floxed and he knew that they had worked well for him while he was sick from having too much mercury in his system.
After much research Richard came across Progressive Medical Center (http://www.progressivemedicalcenter.com/) in Atlanta and was advised by several other people who had been floxed to go there.
Progressive Medical Center treated him with the following:
• Glutathione IV
• Blood auto-hemotherapy (Blood purified by OZONE gas)
• Hyperbaric oxygen chamber
• A pain management machine called “The Matrix”
The glutathione helped to repair his liver and remove the toxins from his system. The ozone, blood auto-hemotherapy and oxygen also helped to remove toxins from his system and helped his body to repair itself through getting proper amounts of oxygen to his tendons. “The Matrix” helped to repair his connective tissue, especially the tendons in his ankles.
Richard went to Progressive Medical Center 2 times per week for 4 months, until he was feeling significantly better. All of the therapies that Richard received at Progressive Medical Center helped him greatly. He recommends every one of them to all Floxies.
Alternative, holistic treatment centers like Progressive Medical Center are typically not covered by insurance. Richard used Care Credit (http://www.carecredit.com/) to pay for his treatments.
In addition to the treatments that Richard received at Progressive, he cleaned his diet significantly. He removed all grains and gluten, red meat, dairy, sugar and alcohol from his diet. He added bone broth to his diet and drinks it throughout the day. (Bone broth helps support joints and collagen, helps relieve joint inflammation and is good for the skin.) He started taking a probiotic called Latero-Flora (from Global Healing Center http://www.globalhealingcenter.com/). He also eats garlic regularly.
Richard’s Liver cleanses were modeled off information in the book, “The Amazing Liver and Gallbladder Flush” by Andreas Moritz (http://www.amazon.com/dp/0976571501).
Another key to Richard’s healing was his faith. He tried his best to focus on the positive and to stay away from negative influences. He focused on positive self-talk. He noted that the mind is a powerful tool for controlling your health – if the mind sees fear, it will not see health. He prayed and had faith in God that eventually the pain and suffering would pass. A positive attitude and faith helped him immensely in recovering.
A year after being floxed, Richard has recovered. He is able to do everything that he could do before he took cipro.
To recap the timing and progression of Richard’s floxing, he took cipro and was adversely effected almost immediately. For almost 2 months he was bed-ridden. Through glutathione, ozone, blood auto-hemotherapy, hyperbaric oxygen, The Matrix, diet modifications, cleanses and faith/prayer/positive thoughts, Richard was able to recover fully about 7 months post cipro.
Richard continues many of the treatments that helped him to get better, including glutathione IV’s , Mineral & Vitamin IV’s and other cleanses (though he gets them less often now) while remaining faithful to a diet free of grains, red meat, dairy, sugar and alcohol.
He is happy and healthy. He has recovered.
** The story above is truthful, accurate and told to the best of the ability of the writer. It is not intended as medical advice. No person who submits his or her story, nor the people associated with Floxie Hope, diagnoses or treats any illness. The story above should not be substituted for professionally provided medical advice. Please consult your doctor before trying anything that has been mentioned in this story, or in any other story on this site. Please also note that people have varying responses to the treatments mentioned in each story. What helps one person may not help, and may even hurt, another person. It is important that you understand that supplements, IVs, essential oils, and all other treatments, effect people differently depending on the millions of variables that make each of us unique. Please use appropriate caution and prudence, and get professional medical advice.
Congratulations Richard! I hope that all of us have the opportunity to find a competent clinic like that, so that all our problems created by CIPRO can pass!
congratulations once again Richard! Thank you Lisa
Because the treatments that Richard used are controversial, it has been recommended that I insert a disclaimer onto it. Richard’s story is his own. It is the truth in his experience. However, it is IMPOSSIBLE to do a controlled experiment on oneself. What worked for him may not work for you. Glutathione and the other treatments listed above helped Richard, but they have not helped, and even hurt some other people who are suffering with Fluoroquinolone Toxicity Syndrome. I am in no way trying to endorse these treatments. Please consult a doctor if you are considering any of these treatments. Please also note that there are specific genetic markers that make glutathione unhealthy for some people. An easy and inexpensive way to get your genes mapped is through 23andme. Please get genetic testing and interpretation of those genetic tests before you start glutathione, or any other, treatments.
Great story that illustrates the lengths that floxies must go through to find recovery. Persistence and the desire to challenge established protocols seems to be key in recovery – and yes, everyone is different.
Thankyou for your story Richard . My Fiance Jeff is currently attending Progressive in Atlanta and having the same treatments . he is back there tomorrow and Thursday for his 5th round of Glutathion and Ozone IVs and Matrix . he has noticed improvement since stating them . im glad to know hes on the right track for him as well . xx
Hey Lisa :D,
I thought about trying Glutathione even before I read this. I am from Germany. How and where can I test whether I will respond badly to Gluthatione? Thank you Richard for your story. May you stay as healthy as possible for the rest of your life!
Thank you Lisa for this wonderful site!
My story is similar to Richard’s, and I’m convinced that the treatments I was doing for mercury cleansing prior to being floxed have lessened my reaction and recovery time. Thanks for sharing your story, and for the links.
One question – he was prescribed a “steroidal like drug” and asked about Advil. And it is stated “fluoroquinolones and NSAIDs are contraindicated – it says so on the prescription insert” but Advil (ibuprofen) is a NSAID – “non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug.” Aleve is also OTC NSAID. I don’t know what drug he was given but the implication here is that Advil would not have caused the problem the Rx did.
I’m not doubting anything said here, only encouraging people to realize that any other drug – prescription or OTC – could make FQ reactions worse. Or perhaps the writer meant steroid drug rather than NSAID?
I was wondering how Richard healed his prostate? Being he did not finish the planned cipro duration, I don’t think it was mentioned in the story but maybe my floxed brain missed it! I’m in the same boat 4 months out, I think I’m getting there, brain fog gone, dizziness less, pain in tendons, shoulders, feet all less, but as the body wide pain reduces I can feel my original problem more, prostatitis, like sitting on a golf ball, it’s milder than it was although I have heard of cipro causing frequent urination and pelvic/prostate discomfort! I managed a month of trimethoprim before the true cipro symptoms hit me so maybe my prostate is fixed and it’s just cipro damage left, I have sit bone bursitis and groin pain which is definitely cipro!
Tim
I’m floxed. I took 21 pills of cipro due to UTI. I have a bad headache, left side only. Pain in neck. Frequent dizziness.. Insomnia and tachycardia are killing me. Episodic of anxieties and panic attacks. Can anybody help me? I need something to read to do!
hi lisa. i am recently floxed ..can u give me some advice on how to heal?? also how is philip doing now?? i read his story and im curious..thank you for your help…you can email me at simon.david21@yahoo.com thanks
WHAT IS THE MATRIX?!
Is there even a spoon?! Hahah. No but seriously. What’s the matrix? My Achilles are screwed.
But is that considered fully recovered? Has Richard tried eating dairy, etc. to see if he’s had any reactions to it?
The biggest concern I have is diet. A lot of people say they heal, but don’t provide insight on what they eat once they’ve healed.
I’m curious to know if it’s okay to eat those things even as you’re Floxed (dairy, etc.).
Lisa, I think you said you ate whatever after a month, right?
but can he ever drink ???? if if would like to can he eat red meat or is it for life i was thinking about going to progressive medical center
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