Rant
 

What is with providers?! :mad: I was not getting results from the Gyn providers so saw a PA last Friday at my primary because my doctor was off that day. He tried to give me Flagyl again and we had a fight about that, "How do you know you have neuropathy?" etc. He thought I had diverticulitis and prescribed Augmentin and Cipro. I knew better than to take the Cipro but he made me feel like a hypochondriac so didn't say anything and hoped I would survive.

By Monday I was so sick they told me to go to ER for fast imaging. I was admitted and had IV antibiotics for a couple of days and came home Wednesday and restarted oral antis as was told to do. GUESS WHAT!!! Got up this AM with severe neuropathy symptoms and have just spent an unpleasant interlude on the phone with PCP nurse, "What kind of symptoms are you having? How do you know the med is triggering them?" On and on and on....

I am so tired of fighting with doctors about my side effects, I have been sick enough that if she calls back and says PCP said I have to continue the Cipro I will have to do it.

judi (wah)

Print this out and give to your doctor's office... ask them to put it in your file after they read it.
Quality of life is important to YOU... ask them if it is important to them....

http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/809520

If you don't have a Medscape ID it is free and quick to sign up first. I stay logged into it forever. They have a strict copyright against copying any of the pages.

Thanks, I might have gotten it. when it asks for an ID I go to google search and put in appropriate search terms. In this case "Medscape Cipro Neuropathy", and I think I get in. I got three articles,

'Antibioticss and Cipro - Whats the Latest'

'FDA Strengthens Neuropathy Warning For Fluoroquinolones' ( or something like that)

'Peripheral Neuropathy Associated with Cipro' (older article)

Were any of those the article you meant? I think one of the first 2 ware 2013 and 2014..

I'm not sure the issue was that they were unaware of the connection or more likely that my neuropathy was not documented properly by the doctor I had when I was having so many problems and they don't think it is significant, I never saw a neuro or had a biopsy, just supposed SFN. I haven't had many problems for a couple of years because I FIX them but they don't seem to get that. I have an appointment on Tuesday and he will learn this. :D The nurse had to call him at home and he just said to D/C the med until then.

After all the fighting I did to even get semi diagnosed I have recently found articles saying that neuropathy can be a comorbidity of COPD, doctors do not know this. They don't know very much about it yet but consider hypoxia the most likely culprit but systemic inflammation and the medication may also play a role. It said it was an axonal type neuropathy but I had no nerve damage on the conduction test?

I am better but still having some issues I HOPE will resolve (dumb to have taken it, I got complacent since I have had it under control). I'm numb from mid thigh and upper arm down but the burning seems to have retreated to my toes instead of 1/2 foot like it was last night. I hope it doesn't get worse when I go for a walk. It took 5 days for the reaction to Flagyl to go away, this isn't as severe but it feels more like it could hang on.

Thanks, this forum really helps.
judi

It was the FDA Strengthens the Neuropathy Warning....one.

Ha! Ha! I assume you know the title I meant was" Antibiotics and Neuropathy - What's the Latest". I should never try to post on my first cup of coffee...:)

judi

Judi,
I hope you're feeling a lot better today.
Take care of yourself.

Thank you, yes, I still had a little yesterday but it was gone today.

I saw my PCP today, he said "Tell me what you think' happened when you took the Cipro. I told him what did happen. Doctors are so annoying sometimes.

The Cipro was not as bad as the Flagyl (metronidazole), do not ever take that people. I even had neuropathy burning in my butt cheeks. :D

judi