posted
I know this is repetitive, but I'm desperately looking for levaquin-and-tendon-recovery-success stories. I've seen enough of the horror stories.
As posted earlier I quit levaquin 3 weeks ago and am freaked out with anxiety and/about tendon pain.
Heart hammering causing me major anxiety, though EKG last week showed normal and HR monitor shows pulse rate near normal but with quick elevation with minimal exercise.
I have not been this anxious thru my entire lyme experience to date. Still have no idea if it's levaquin toxicity, bart return, or some other gawdawful phenomina.
I am dosing on magnesium malate per llmd advice but dread of what's going on overwhelming...
lm
Posts: 212 | From Eastern CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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posted
LM, I can not give you time table for tendon repair due to levaquin. I'd welcome such stories as well.
I do know how you feel. I was clinically dx in Dec of 03 with lyme. I was taking bicillin shots with tinadazole. In August of 04, my liver enzymes were high so my doc had me go off abx for 2 weeks. In that period of time my anxiety and panic symptoms went through the roof. I, like you, am a competitive runner with a resting heart rate in the 40s range. During this period, I couldn't even walk with my kids for 20 minutes without thinking my heart was going to explode. When I did get back to running I'd take about an hour afterwards convincing myself I wasn't going to die.
Shortly after and with a positive bart test I was put on Rifampin which suppressed the anxiety (but didn't totally get rid of it). It was two-three full weeks of this anxiety/panic syndrome before I felt some semblance of normalcy. Point being, anxiety has been my number one bart symptom. I could learn to live with the head creepy crawlies if that's all there was. But the anxiety/panic is out definitely another thing.
Hang in there. I know your spirit as a competitor will pull you through this and you'll be back out there winning races before long.
Chris
-------------------- dx in Dec 2003 tested 2x positive for bart Lightly Chelating 3 weeks off abx and 1 week on:
10 day course a month: Plaq/Ceftin/Rifampin/Biaxin with Tindamax on last two days Posts: 187 | From PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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jamescase20
Unregistered
posted
I dont know your whole story, but when I started taking floroquones I got massive pains everywhere, but I just kept going, as I felt it was a herx reaction, and so it appears it was. The pains rapidly diminished over 3 weeks. Seems it stings when it kills barts. In bone, on bone, etc.
If I was hurting, and worried, I would take natural suppliments for this stuff. Flax seed oil, hyaluronic acid, gluca, shark cart, etc. Tendons NEED water, they tear often when dehydrated, I had it happen years ago and NEVER took a floro before that. Flax helps your bodys kidneys hold water, so hydrating.
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posted
I agree with James, you get pain everywhere as the Bart is dieing off. You need to protect your tendons obviously but levaquin is bringing it all out and your immune system is in overload for the rest.
Posts: 74 | From United Kingdom | Registered: Dec 2007
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posted
Thanks I really do appreciate the encouraging words. I have to believe them. most recent history: -levaquin 500mg/day for 9 weeks, quit 3 weeks ago -septra 5 months now -malarone 3 months now -minocyline 100mg/day 3 weeks now -plaquinil long time
Pain now digging into heels. Just did MRI of 'good' shoulder & knee. Dosing on mag malate 3000mg/day. This tx was not clear to me from start of levaquin. Afraid to do much of anything with bod...and I live for that.
lm
Posts: 212 | From Eastern CA | Registered: Apr 2007
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jamescase20
Unregistered
posted
Now that tick guide (05 dr B) says to watch for achilles tendon pain, THATS when you can be worried, but again it seemed to hurt fromt he bug death too, hard to tell. You follow me? But always ask llmd of course.
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posted
I've also had some heel pain that seems to come and go. I took a day off levaquin last weekend because of it. I'm 3.5 weeks into this now and *only* taking 250 mgs daily. Something to watch, obviously.
Question for six goofy or others who have had sucess with levaquin. When you stopped herxing did you feel totally *normal* while on levaquin? Is it a gradual process or did you wake up one day and feel great?
I'm still feeling spacy/herxy but not quite as bad as I did the first couple weeks.
Chris
-------------------- dx in Dec 2003 tested 2x positive for bart Lightly Chelating 3 weeks off abx and 1 week on:
10 day course a month: Plaq/Ceftin/Rifampin/Biaxin with Tindamax on last two days Posts: 187 | From PA | Registered: Apr 2008
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sixgoofykids
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 11141
posted
I had the worst pain I had all through treatment on the Levaquin for six weeks. It then let up and I felt totally normal while still on Levaquin.
I never had heel pain as a symptom, but my knee pain became the worst it had ever been ... as did my shoulder/back pain. I literally felt that every cell of my body hurt.
I also had a significant flare of cognitive symptoms.
I can't remember if it was a gradual improvement or all of a sudden one day .... because I can't remember, I'd say it was probably somewhat gradual.
Second time around, I didn't have the pain.
-------------------- sixgoofykids.blogspot.com Posts: 13449 | From Ohio | Registered: Feb 2007
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Rianna
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 11038
posted
Take the advice of your LLMD, lots of rest and saturate with Magnesium and let your tendons recover - I honestly beleive when you stopped levaquin the bart thought it was safe and came out with avengence and will need another blast of levaquin. Did your LLMD say to restart levaquin when tendon pain goes???
posted
I cannot tell you how glad I am to hear from everybody that the pains are a herx and probably not the beginning of tendon problems.
With all the bad press that Levaquin is getting here on board I'm scared to death. And this fear is contributing to my problems.
Two days ago - in good mood - I read here about the possible anxiety that one can get while treating with Levaquin. Ooops, I thought, I completely forgot about that!
And what happened, I ask you? Anxiety started! I had been suffering from panic attacks for 18 years and I know how easy it is to THINK myself into panic. There is a "fear from fear" and that's what happened to me.
Since I'm on Bart treatment I'm more nervous and excited and I know that a good part of it is coming from the Bart. But a big part is also the homemade fear.
Luckily I managed to pull myself out of this roundabout again by distracting myself successfully with a very complicated intellectual task.
Gabrielle
Posts: 767 | From Germany | Registered: Feb 2004
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Jill E.
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 9121
posted
I developed pain and weakness in both Achilles tendons due to a short course of Levaquin. It started with pain in just a small spot on each heel. Went off Levaquin, pain continued to the soles of feet, then up the Achilles Tendons (I do have a very bad case of Bart despite prolonged treatment). Read that the quinolones could cause damage even after being stopped.
I could barely walk for 15 months - had to use a cane if I walked up or down even the slightest slope like my driveway. Couldn't drive for months.
I had been using oral magnesium before, during and after this.
Had to wear athletic shoes all the time -even in the house - could no longer go barefoot.
Eventually, the pain and weakness improved by about 95%, although still can't wear high heels. And the pain and weakness does flare at times. At the moment I am off antibiotics briefly due to other problems and the sore soles/tendon problems are back, so probably Bart, not post-levaquin this time.
GOOD NEWS FOR YOU: A Lyme/Bart friend of mine who developed shoulder blade and Achilles tendon problems from Levaquin improved dramatically by doing physical therapy and getting IM magnesium injections.
Jill
-------------------- If laughter is the best medicine, why hasn't stand-up comedy cured me? Posts: 1773 | From San Diego | Registered: Apr 2006
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