Here is another very tragic story sent to this blog.  

I’ve had chronic recurring epididymitis ever since I was young which was usually treated with anti-inflamatories just to come back later. I was prescribed 500mg of Cipro for 3 weeks in fall 2005 even though I didn’t have any signs of infection. As soon as I had finished the course my foot swelled up with gout and I was unable to walk. I went to urgent care and asked if it couldve been caused by the medicine they said no. A week later I went to urology because I was still having pain. Again I asked about the connection between gout and the medicine. I was told no again and prescribed Levaquin for a month which didn’t work either. Later I was told by another urologist that the swelling could indeed have been caused by the medicine

The pain resolved on its own after several months in spring 2006 and I was ready to get back to life. I had gone back to school because I wanted to get a degree, join the military as an officer and then come back and teach PE. That summer I started getting earaches. I had no infection and was diagnosed with a Eustachian tube disorder. 1 week later the headaches started. It was so bad I thought I had meningitis and was going to die. I wanted to cry so much from the pain. My neck hurt and was stiff. I couldn’t keep my head up straight nor keep my eyes open. My head pounded and burned. I had increased pressure and the outside of my head hurt to touch and my sinuses burned. At one point I even passed out and was taken to the hospital. I had a CT scan done and was told I had a sinus infection. I was given antibiotics but this time a different kind (Probably amoxicillin.) That didn’t work as well. So then they changed their diagnosis to allergic rhinitis. Went to a neurologist
 who ordered an MRI which came back negative as well. Gradually this pain went away as well. The headaches still return a couple times a month although not as severe.

Then In Fall 2006 the joint pain started. At first, It was just my shoulders and my back which I thought were related to weight lifting. So I stopped for awhile but the pain didn’t go away. Next, the knee pain started. They were stiff, popped a lot, and when I would take a step I would get a sharp pain which made it feel like my knee had locked up. X-rays were performed which showed know damage. I was sent to physical therapy for six months which only aggravated the symptoms. Later pain showed up in other areas such as my Achilles, feet, elbows, hips and wrists. I have seen two orthopedists and a rheumatologist. One orthopedist didn’t believe me. MRIs were done of both knees know damage shown. The other has heard about the damage but says its just case reports and that what’s done is done. He tried to reassure me by saying if anything is ever damaged he can fix it. Rheumatologist said that antibiotics can cause autoimmune disorders and performed a lot of blood tests all
  of which were negative or within range. He then sent me to genetics thinking I might have Marfan’s which I don’t have either. I contacted him following my genetics appointment and was told he didn’t have anymore tests to perform so not to come back.

I have all the typical symptoms of the reactions to the medication. Joint pain, joint popping, numbness, tingling, spasms/twitches, headaches, eye pain, eyes burn, always tired, always cold. I’m sure some things have even slipped my mind. I can’t get anyone to look at even part of the Flox report. Most recently I’ve been diagnosed with Seborrheic Dermatits and I get coldsore outbreaks around my mouth every two weeks when I used to get them about twice a year.

I have no idea what I am supposed to do. My whole life is on hold. I can’t work. We pay more than $500 a month for health insurance because of all the appointments due to medicine I was prescribed. I’m 26 years old I haven’t been able to workout or play sports in years. My girlfriend left me, she didn’t feel like I could protect her anymore, and said I wasn’t man enough and wanted some one she could kiss. My mom wants me out. My “friends” just say I’m getting old or need to workout and eat more. I am completely out of time and out of options. How can I get a job like this? How can I get MY job like this? I shouldn’t have to compromise. I just pray that one day soon I’ll be strong enough to end my suffering and that people will regret not taking me seriously.