This post is going to be a bunch of things that I’ve been thinking about. There isn’t necessarily a theme or connection between any of them, but they are things that I want to share, and even discuss (feel free to comment below), with the floxie community.
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First, Henk. Henk Noordhuizen has been contributing to the floxie hope community through his comments on the site (primarily the home page) for several years. He has provided information, insight, support, advice, humor, and friendship to the community through the years that he has been floxed. He is appreciated and adored by many. Sadly, Henk has recently been diagnosed with cancer of the esophagus. He is very weak and his prognosis is poor. I’m so sad about his illness, and I know that many others are too. Henk is in my thoughts, and I wanted to let others in the floxie community know what is going on with him so that they/you can send healing thoughts (and prayers if so inclined). If any of you want me to forward messages to Henk, please send them to me through the Contact link above, and I will send them to Henk. Thank you. And, Henk, if you read this, know that we are thinking of you. Hugs!
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Next, some COVID-19 stuff. I don’t know any more about COVID-19, or what to do about it, than anyone else, so I’ll keep my thoughts and opinions brief.
It’s bizarre that use of hydroxychloroquine for treatment of COVID-19 has become a politicized and polarizing issue. I suppose that it’s because Trump mentioned it, so now support or opposition of use of hydroxychloroquine is an indicator for whether a person supports or opposes Trump. This whole line of thinking, on both sides, is nonsense. It’s a drug. It has effects, and it has side-effects. With proper studies and experiments it will either be shown to be a safe and effective treatment for COVID-19, or it won’t. Randomized double blind studies have not yet been performed though, so we honestly don’t know how safe or effective hydroxychloroquine is for COVID-19 patients. I’m sure we’ll know with time whether or not it is considered a safe and effective treatment for most people (though not all people – some will suffer from adverse reactions that may be awful). Hydroxychloroquine has been around for a while, and we do know that it has some serious “side effects” (I really hate that term because it doesn’t encompass the horror of adverse drug reactions) that are worrisome. It is also chemically similar enough to fluoroquinolones that I think it’s appropriate for the “floxie” community to be cautious and wary of it. As I said in my last post, I would try to avoid it if possible, but that’s just me. I also think that it’s ridiculous to be either for or against hydroxychloroquine as a potential treatment for COVID-19 based on politics, and I’m glad that Trump has never said a thing about fluoroquinolones.
A lot of people who get COVID-19 are going to join the unfortunate “club” of those who are chronically ill, and it is likely that many of them will also join the unfortunate “club” of those who have been hurt by pharmaceuticals. Unfortunately, there are going to be some COVID-19 victims who are also floxies because, sadly, co-infections are being treated with fluoroquinolones. It’s all sad and scary and I’m not sure what else to say about it other than to point out the obvious that YOU DON’T TREAT VIRUSES WITH ANTIBIOTICS.
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On another, personal, topic – my Dad had a pacemaker put in about 10 days ago. The electrical system for his heart stopped working entirely, and we are all lucky that his backup system kicked in (apparently some people don’t have a backup system, or it doesn’t kick in), and that he had an appointment with a cardiologist when he did. The cardiologist said that people who have a heartbeat that is as slow and erratic as my Dad’s was usually come into the ER on a stretcher. As soon as my Dad got to the cardiologist’s office, he was told that he’d have to have a pacemaker put in ASAP. They did so that day, and he is now doing well. The pacemaker saved his life – the doctors who diagnosed him and put in the pacemaker did too – as did the entire medical system that made his surgery possible. This is the second time that medical interventions have saved my Dad’s life. The first time was about 15 years ago when he had cancer (non-hodgkin’s lymphoma) and a single round of chemo kicked it. We have been lucky and grateful twice.
It’s hard to be angry with the medical system when it saved my Dad’s life twice – once very recently. I’m grateful that pacemakers exist, that the surgery is so remarkably uninvasive, and that he is doing well. This in no way negates that I wish that the medical system was better at acknowledging, treating, and even curing multi-symptom chronic illnesses – especially those caused by pharmaceuticals. I don’t want to throw the baby out with the bathwater as they say, but I do want the bad drugs, and bad doctors, and bad practices, and bad studies, to be abandoned as they deserve. I think, and hope, that there’s room for both embracing the good and criticizing and abandoning the bad. I hope that our collective criticism of the medical system makes it better. It needs to get better – it is hurting too many people. But it also saves people, and right now, I am grateful that my Dad’s life was saved and that he is doing amazingly well.
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I was just thinking about Henk, when your post popped up Lisa. He has shown a lot of courage and I hope his strength and courage help him in this dreadful time for him.
I also have had so many mixed feelings about our health service (Spain). Cipro changed my life over five years ago for the worst, but the health service also saved my husbands life when he got kneck cancer. He had a five hour operation, three chemotherapies and 33 radiotherapies.. I had to feed him through a tube in his stomache for three months. His poor body was ravaged and at one point I didn’t think he’d make it.
On that horrendous journey together, we met the worst and the best of health care workers, we saw the best and the worst of humanity. The Surgeon that saved his life was an amazing compassionate Doctor, I shall be eternally grateful to him and his teams amazing life saving work. I shall never forget him, but at the same time I shall never forget those that had no idea about compassion and how to treat ‘the whole’ and not just the disease.
We are not a disease or a set of symptoms, we are human beings at our most vunerable when we are ill. I know there are great amazing Doctors out there, and even though my life was devasted by a Doctor, and a chemical company, I want to maintain a balance in how I feel about Health workers.
It’s been two years since my husbands diagnosis, and I am happy to say, even though it took a long recovery time, he is well and getting on with his life.
I’m really happy for you that your Dads doing well now, long may it last. Like you I hope with all my heart the medical system will change for the better and that the teaching and training of Doctors will improve to treat the whole person and not just the disease or symptoms.
I think so many of us floxies have been so badly burned by the system there is no longer any trust in it, I know thats how I feel personally.
Thank you Lisa for all your good advise. Always great to hear from you and especially during this trying time for all of us. It is lovely to hear how great your dad is after his traumatic time in hospital. He is amazing! Our time on earth brings us many challenges. My journey with Cipro is proving to be a great challenge the last 9 months. I have been treated for Bilharzia recently and it has been a very difficult time dealing with seizures and the effects of parasite medication. Take care and wish you all the best during this difficult time.
Much love
Desiree Parkes
Healing thoughts & prayers for Henk! ????????
Dear Lisa, Thank you for your post and good to hear that your Dad is o.k. and was helped by medical professionals. Sending you and your family all the best.
COVID-19: what is not often found to read; vitamin C food sources or supplements & IV, sunshine on exposed skin, fresh air, oranges, grapefruit, lemons, berries, dark green veggies, all build the immune system. Millions and millions have had and will get the virus and most won’t even know it Meet the needs of the elderly, those with health issues, and many deaths will be avoided. This is a difficult place to share this; but I’m 81 don’t have memory of when I may have had a cold or flu, take no shots either. Eat the things that feed the immune system, that is where the need is and the failings.
Lisa, I’m sorry to hear the news re: your dad. I’m glad your dad’s health has now stabilized and that he’s doing well again. I can imagine how difficult this has been for you, but once again, you and your family have overcome this latest life obstacle and I couldn’t be happier for you. Your dad’s story does restore some faith in the medical system for me, but like you mentioned, it’s a matter of good vs. bad medical professionals. Some of them should never step foot into the industry, while others are knowledgeable, highly skilled, compassionate and possess remarkable life-saving skills. It’s these personnel the industry needs more of.
Re: Henk. I’m absolutely gutted to hear the news. I’ve exchanged quite a few messages with him in the past and he has always been a pleasure to chat with. He’s helped so many of us with his knowledge, advice and humour. Most of all, he always reminded me to keep positive through all this turmoil. I’m very grateful to him for that. I will certainly pray for him and hope that he’s able to overcome this latest setback.
Also, good advice re: COVID-19. Among all the chaos and confusion, it’s easy to forget that viruses don’t respond to antibiotics. I’m sure a lot of people don’t realize this and it’s setting them up for a health disaster. By throwing this reminder out there, you’re helping to prevent others from walking in our shoes. Too many of us have been duped and manipulated by the medical system. We need to be more aware.
Sometimes a sheep is actually a wolf and the medical industry, unfortunately, is full of wolves.
I am thankful for you Lisa and your work for the Floxie community. And I am overjoyed that your father’s condition was identified and successfully corrected in a timely manner. Our opportunities to rejoice these days are limited so we need all the good news we can get! Peace and love to you and yours.
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