On April
4, 2006 I had to go to the hospital with pain in the kidney level, they saw
immediately a stone was stuck between kidney and bladder (urether). I had to
stay in the hospital since the lithotripter wasn't successful. After three
days, the urether was inflamed because of the lithotripter and the stuck
stone, so they had to remove it via the bladder under an anaesthetic. I had
to stay 4 days in hospital.
On the
7th of April they told me to take Tavanic [levofloxacin=levaquin], an
antibiotic to make sure the infection couldn't get worse. I think I took it
for at least 5 days and my first symptoms started on the 10th of May. Stiff
hands and swollen when hot or when I used them a lot. Since
I found it so specifically starting after taking the antibiotics, I read
immediately the instructions and side effects of Tavanic. Indeed, it
indicated tendonitis in 'rare' cases. So I stopped immediately.
On the
8th of May I went to a radiologist for an ultrasonography and the diagnose
was 'bilateral tenosynovitis of the hands'. The problems got worse every day,
I woke up in the morning and could not
use my hands, opening the tap of the shower was so painful. Getting dressed,
putting my bra on, brushing my hair, my knees became soar as well as the
tendons on my feet . I became really scared since I had arthritis symptoms
and none of the NSAID's helped (Feldene, Brufen etc...about 5 different
sorts)
On the
20th of May we left for a holiday to Istanbul, during that week my symptoms
were surprisingly ok, although it was very hot there, they didn't get any
worse until the last night when we went out and I danced until 4am in the
morning. When waking up the next morning, my feet were like elephant feet.
We took the flight home and that made it even worse , they were so swollen,
I could hardly wear shoes. This swelling didn't go away anymore, also my
knees became more swollen and painful.
I saw
the rheumatologist for the first time on 31st of May who prescribed me
braces, rest and NSAID's, but the swelling became worse with these NSAID's.
The braces didn't have any effect at all. I kept on working during the whole
period.
Then I
started to get a lot of pain during the night! This was unbearable, shooting
nerve pains to my fingers, all the time when lying down. When sitting up it
disappeared. This was the limit for me since I tried sleeping sitting up,
but I was exhausted after one week. In the mean while all kinds of blood
test were done for rheumatism, thyroid, even HIV and all sorts of sexually
transmitted diseases, infection of urine, intestines, hart, longs, etc.....a
pile of examinations, all negative...
Then, my
husband called the rheumatologist to say he had seen enough misery and I had
to start to take cortisones, he prescribed Medrol 16mg, which I start taking
26 May 2006. Within 2 days I was free of all symptoms! They told I could
expect to gain a little weight, swollen face or belly, but on the contrary,
I lost about 3kg (6 pounds). The schedule of my cortisones were the
following:
-4 days
16mg
-4 days
12mg
-2weeks
8mg
-2 to 3
weeks 6mg
-2 to 3
weeks 4mg
then I
took 2mg daily until 2 weeks ago when I started to take 2mg once every 3
days.
The
reason why I kept on taking 2mg was because I started an attempt of In Vitro
Fertilization which failed. The gynaecologist said cortisones were an
indication for patients with risks, therefore I had to proceed taking them.
I still
have pain in my hands, my tendons have cysts especially in the palm of my
hand, I have carpel tunnel syndrome with symptoms at night, tingling fingers
and sore nerve pains due to this. I have pains here and there, but I noticed
this sometimes depends on what I eat, I haven't figured out what exactly,
but I can for instance eat something and all of a sudden my hands are
swollen. If I don't have breakfast I feel mostly good. 2 cups of coffee have
become too much for me, I easily get nervous and literally begin to shake.
The light in my office started to bother me from the beginning and I had to
turn it out ever since. When I don't sleep well, it troubles me usually more
than other days.
I have
to say, ever since, I have done 2 full hormone schedules for IVF during
which I had hardly no symptoms, afterwards when failing, they were bit worse.
I also had (1month ago) Pelvic Inflammatory Disease due to the IVF attempt
and that's when I became really scared to take any other antibiotic! I told
them clearly nothing of the kind of Tavanic, since it is mentioned in my
medical file. They gave me Augmentin (peniciline) which seemed to work fine
until now.
There is one thing I remember clearly, and although doctors did not
believe me, I told my husband and family 'several' times:" I can not
describe the pain, but I feel like I have taken some kind of terrible poison!!
"