The Struggle Continues

I first experienced tendon pain in my arms and Achilles tendons 4 days after taking Levaquin in 2020. I stopped taking it and saw my PCP, who made a note and prescribed a different antibiotic for my bronchitis. Three weeks later I developed acute, chronic hip pain from out of nowhere and was told I had bone-on-bone arthritis that required an immediate full right hip replacement (FHR). I was so sick after that surgery. I told my daughter I felt as if I had been poisoned. Three years later the same chronic pain attacked my left hip, with the same result: immediate FHR. Following this second surgery I experienced profound shaking and stuttering on multiple occasions. These were labeled "TIAs" although testing showed no "mini-strokes." At that time I requested that a fluoroquinolone allergy be put in my medical notes.

Fast forward to October 2024. Chest infection again, and I was prescribed levofloxacin. Ten days later I stood up, took one step and felt my Achilles tendon rupture. The doctor at the ER explained that levofloxacin was the generic name for Levaquin. I was surprised, and angry, and filed a lawsuit against my PCP (same practice, different nurse practitioner). After surgical repair I noticed the neuropathy in my feet (which had started after the initial Levaquin exposure, but I had not related it to the drug at the time) was much worse. I recovered from that surgery well, but 2 months later I started experiencing weakness in both thigh muscles that got progressively worse, along with extreme pain in my left rectus femoris muscle, which put me back into the wheelchair. And despite 12 months of (gentle and targeted) PT, I am still unable to walk very far, and only by using a walker. My energy levels are extremely low. My circadian rhythm is shot. I have frequent daylong headaches, no appetite and regular "pseudo-TIAs."

My lawsuit continues, but my attorney will only sue for ignoring the drug allergy and the documented Achilles tendon rupture and repair, since I have not been able to find any doctor who has knowledge of FQAD and will attribute all of my problems to fluoroquinolones. I feel incredibly trapped. I have completely lost my independence. I cannot go shopping for groceries or anything else and have to have them delivered. I cannot perform simple daily chores like changing the bedsheets or vacuuming and mopping. Taking a shower is exhausting and I feel very unsafe despite having installed hand rails and using a shower seat. I have a 5 inch riser on my toilet. My tinnitus and hypnic jerks, along with the circadian rhythm upset, mean that some nights I cannot sleep at all, and then I'll crash for 10 or more hours and still wake up tired.

Eighteen months into my lawsuit and my attorney is now threatening to withdraw if I do not comply with his wish to keep within the bounds of prescription error and Achilles rupture and not seek any restitution for all the other, life-changing injuries that I have sustained. I feel as though I have been let down by all the "professionals" in my life and basically feel defeated. I have prescribed for myself iron folate tabs, astaxanthin, CoQ10, magnesium glycinate and electrolyte drinks, and discovered these quickly restore me when a "TIA" threatens. I have talked my hematologist into giving me B12 shots since my iron levels are so low.

I find it incredibly annoying that more physicians aren't aware of how toxic these antibiotics can be, and I don't know what will happen going forward. It is literally exhausting having to battle the medical and legal establishments to be heard whilst advocating not only for myself, but to try and spread awareness of FQAD so other vulnerable people don't have to face the same hurdles. That is my sad and sorry story. If you are reading this it probably means you or a loved one have had similar issues, and I wish you well.