There are hundreds of similar stories to mine on here and other websites but I wanted to
open up a new discussion to support people who are currently going through the Doxy tornado!
My story:
I was put on 5 weeks of Trimethoprim and then 5 weeks of a Doxycycline (100mg per day and then 200mg a day for during week 5 of doxy) last year, finishing on May 13th when I become unwell. I was put on the antibiotics for a condition called Epididymitis. It turned out that I simply had a varicocele in my left testicle and never had any bacteria present, so I was needlessly put on the antibiotics....like so many! But I digress.....
During the last week of the doxy I started to feel unwell with different symptoms and went to the GP who advised me to stop taking the medication. Over the next two weeks I continued to decline and thought I had picked up a bug or something. I felt like I had the flu. Then two weeks after stopping doxy I was lying in bed one night I had the first and worst panic attack of my life. I ended up in A&E with a very fast heart beat and completely freaking out. I ended back up in A&E about
4 times during this last year.
I have had numerous blood and urine tests with both NHS and private doctors. The only thing they could ever find is that my liver ALT, haemoglobin and haemocratic levels were elevated. My liver ALT has only just normalised and the other two are still elevated but hopefully will follow suit. This is a similar story for many others in that medicine cannot find an answer to what causes these issues in many many people!
I have had the following symptoms:
-panic attacks
-irregular heart beat and palpitations
-severe anxiety
-severe tension headaches
-feeling of flu
-dizzyness
-brain fog
-swollen glands
-tremors
-digestive issues
-weight loss (lost 2.5 stone)
-no appetite
-bad acid reflux that has caused constant sore throat with hoarseness and shortness of breath. Shortness of breath was so bad on one occasion I ended up in A&E because it felt like I couldn't breath. Acid reflux also caused bloating, tenderness in stomach and constant belching.
-pins and needles in hands and feet
-chronic fatigue
-constant jaw pain
-pain behind eyes on occasions
-feeling like I was going to pass out when some of the above were really bad.
I am now just over 14 months out and although things have improved...it's still a struggle. I have only just returned to work after 12 months off and it is still a struggle everyday!
I have made contact with lots of people who have had the same disastrous reactions. Some have recovered very quick, some are still waiting to recover 100% after 2.5 years.
I have made contact with some journalists and some medical experts...but as I am sure you will agree...there is not a lot of interest in listening to our stories...we are considered collateral! I am continuing to push some of these avenues until someone listens or we get some media coverage. I hate to think how many people are having these reactions and don't make the link!
Please feel free to post your similar stories and if you need help or support through the doxy tornado please email me at (edit)
EDIT: For safety reasons, we ask that you only post your personal contact information in your profile, and not within the body of your posts. Thank you.Post Edited By Moderator (Merrida) : 7/9/2014 10:13:35 AM (GMT-6)