This is a new beginning for me. I've had a
Facebook page for a couple of months however blogging is a new adventure so
please have patience with me while I get started.
To tell you a little bit about myself I've been
struggling with chronic illness for over nine years. It all began after having
a severe reaction to a fluoroquinolone antibiotic called ciprofloxacin. Since
that time my health has never been the same. I've had numerous tests over
the years and seen a number of doctors in various specialties some of whom were
top specialists in their fields. Over and over I was told how I was difficult
to diagnose and that whatever I had it was extremely rare. Tests all came back
normal or negative. I was also told that there was nothing they could do to
help me and that I would only get worse. Eventually I even came away with a
diagnosis of a rare neurological disease called Primary Lateral Sclerosis (PLS)
in the ALS family of mitochondrial diseases even though I was told I'm missing
two key markers for it, one of which is the brain pattern. That is because what
I really have is FluoroQuinolone Associated Disability (FQAD) as defined by
the FDA.
One might think that an antibiotic couldn't
possibly create chronic illness and I would tell them that I'm living proof
that it can. Like so many in our support groups I always believed antibiotics
were safe because they were made from natural substances but I've learned
that's not true. Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are chemotherapeutic synthetic chemical antibiotics that contain a fluorine atom (a known neurotoxin) added and they are designed to cross the blood
brain barrier which is the last place you want a neurotoxin. There are
thousands of people like myself suffering as a result of the damage these
medications cause and people continue to join our support groups on Facebook at
an alarming rate.
Here is a link to the FDA's write up on Cipro which contains a long nightmarish list of side affects; http://www.fda.gov/downloads/Drugs/DrugSafety/ucm246794.pdf .
Although it's been a long and arduous journey for me I'm here
to say that given the right tools our bodies can recover and heal. We might not
return to our former health but many can and do go on to lead a full life. It's
important to remember that recovering from FQ toxicity is a marathon not a
sprint but we can improve.
Whether your chronic illness was caused by a
medication, a vaccine, pesticide or chemical exposure or some other unknown
cause I'm here to tell you that our bodies are amazing in their capacity to
heal. And while it might seem that its one step forward two steps back some
days never give up! A year ago I was in extreme pain, losing my ability to speak, and resorting
to hand gestures to communicate. In the past year I've improved my speech,
enunciation, and projection as well as my swallowing, reflexes and balance.
I've still got a ways to go but as someone very wise once told me; strive for
progress not perfection. Healing can and does happen even for someone who's
been as sick as I was.
I hope you find comfort and hope in what I write
here as I share my journey and messages with all of you.
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