Month: September 2014

Bactericidal Antibiotics Induce Mitochondrial Dysfunction and Oxidative Damage in Mammalian Cells

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These drugs target Mitochondria in Humans and alter our DNA.

Below is an excerpt from research published last summer. Source URL included so you may read the entire thing for yourself. This and my last post may be helpful for you to bring to your Dr appointments – be sure to show them these if you’re getting resistance from your Doctor on the serious side effects of this class of drugs.

This study explicitly lists Quinolones – the class that Levaquin, Avelox and Cipro belong to. This is not the only study, just the most recent.


US National Library of Medicine – National Institutes of Health

Source URL:  http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3760005/

“It has been suggested that bactericidal antibiotics induce the formation of toxic reactive oxygen species (ROS) in bacteria. We show that clinically relevant doses of bactericidal antibiotics—quinolones, aminoglycosides, and β-lactams—cause mitochondrial dysfunction and ROS overproduction in mammalian cells. We demonstrate that these bactericidal antibiotic–induced effects lead to oxidative damage to DNA, proteins, and membrane lipids. “

 

LEVAQUIN and all FQ’s target HUMAN MITOCHONDRIA BY DESIGN

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Here is an excerpt from a Citizens Petition asking the FDA for yet another Black Box Warning on Levaquin and ALL Fluoroquinolones. This new Black Box Warning is for MITOCHONDRIAL DAMAGE –

This is just one of the things Levaquin has done to my body. I am like a battery that discharges too fast. when they drain, I am left very weak with breathing and heart issues, visual issues, cognitive issues… the list is seemingly endless after this Nuclear Bomb went off in my body. All my issues intensify as my ‘batteries’ drain.

This is how Black Box Warnings get created. This will be just one of many warnings on this class of drugs. Let’s hope this finally gets them to pull this poison from market – stop feeding it to our livestock – it’s in non-organic Beef, Chicken, Pork – its in our eggs, cheese, milk – you name it.

And most importantly: Stop giving it to our CHILDREN

The excerpt is as follows:

The Southern Network on Adverse Reactions (SONAR), submits this Citizen Petition (Petition) under section 505 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA). SONAR requests that the Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) require changes in the professional labeling for Levaquin in order to specify a more accurate benefit/risk profile for this antibiotic.
A. ACTION REQUESTED
This Petition requests that the FDA change the professional labeling for Levaquin under Section 505(o)(4) to FDCA or other appropriate FDCA section(s), in response to new safety information. This action will also strengthen the quality of the Levaquin science base and decisions based on it.
Possible Mitochondrial Toxicity
 
Fluoroquinolones, including Levaquin, may cause Mitochondrial Toxicity
due, in part, to an insufficiency of ATP. Mitochondrial conditions that are
due to an insufficiency of ATP include developmental disorders of the
brain, optic neuropathy, neuropathic pain, hearing loss, muscle weakness,
cardiomyopathy, and lactic acidosis. Neurodegenerative diseases, like
Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) have
been associated with the loss of neurons due to oxidative stress generated
by reactive oxygen species (ROS) related to Mitochondrial Toxicity.
Peripheral neuropathy, hepatoxicity, glucose disturbances, and
phototoxicity may result from Mitochondrial Toxicity.

Conversations with My Son: Death, Dying and the Dream We Call Life

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You always ask the best questions while we lay in bed on Boys night. We lay there together in the dark talking about life and all things that come with it. Last night, you asked me a question so deep it gave me pause. You asked:

“Dad? What if when we die, we find out that our life here on Earth was just a dream, and when we die, we’re really just waking up?”

You waited patiently for me to answer you. I took a moment, then I responded:

“I hope you’re right. I believe our goal here on this Earth is to gather all of the wisdom, perspective, empathy, compassion and love that we can. Share what we learn and be kind. When we ‘wake up’, we are to bring with us all the experiences and knowledge for use once we’re fully awake.”

“For what Dad’ you asked.

“I don’t know, I’m still dreaming” I said.

“Dad?” You interrupted… “When will we die? Do we get to pick our favorite age and just be that age forever?”

“You make me smile Mijo. I wish that were true” I said. “But the truth is you never know. You may live to be 100. But we never know when we’re going to die. That’s why its so important to make sure you live your life in a way that you’ll be proud to look back on once you’ve been awakened.”

I asked you if you knew how much Daddy loves you…

Being my son, you saw that as an absolutely ridiculous question. You laughed and said

“No Dad, I have no idea”…

I understood that was a silly question.

“Well,” I said, “you don’t control when you leave this Earth. BUT, you completely control how you live while you’re alive and dreaming. For me, I always want to be sure that while I’m here, you know how much I love you, how proud I am of you and I want you to know every day that you bring me joy beyond words. I could choose to live my days screaming, crying and being miserable. But if I were to ‘wake up’ (die) tomorrow, I would wish I did better. Loved more and shared more of my life with you – and I would wish I spent more time sharing in your life too. We don’t need to waste our time here on anything that we don’t want to bring with us when our time comes.”

I continued…

“Maybe that’s why God doesn’t allow us to choose when we go. Its up to us to gather all the meaningful joy and wisdom this life has to offer. Just as important is how much knowledge, wisdom and love that we leave behind. Not just for the ones we love, but for our fellow ‘dreamers’ too. That is our homework.”

You rolled over for some cuddles and just before you fell asleep on me, you said

“I love you Dada, you get 8 points for that.”  (See the “Shame and the Make Sense Game“)

You are wise beyond your years. Carry that responsibility proudly my son…

 

These are our actual conversations, as they happen. He asks me to define the words he doesn’t yet know, and he truly listens. Its clear that he processes it all and thinks deeply. We have great discussions, especially right before he falls asleep. I write these for him, I write a lot for him just in case I “wake up”.

But also for me. It helps remind me of moments in life not filled with so much ugliness. We all should spend more energy on the things that matter, there’s not many things in this life that truly do matter.

Perhaps there’s something here for us all.

I love you all.

Don’t blink – you don’t want to “wake up” only to find you could have done a better job while you were alive.

Your Brother in Fight,

/M

Desperation and the Shirt, God and the Nightlight…

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I made this nightlight for my son 2 years ago or so. It was intensely difficult and took me a very long time – a project that would only have taken an hour or two in my old life. But I did it.

Aedan turns this on at night when he is scared, he says it let’s him know Daddy is with him. And with it he feels safe.

I literally don’t have much energy to spare, physically or mentally. This fight against MetLife has really taken a toll and worn me down. No matter how hard I fight, without my disability payments I simply cannot survive this much longer. I think that realization really rocked me. I don’t allow myself to get or feel defeated this completely. In 6 years, this is the second time I had been that state. The first was a year ago – but for the same reasons. I’m simply not getting the help I need. I haven’t cried, not over the bad moments anyway. Nor have I allowed myself to get knocked down so bad that it breaks me or my will. That would only serve to cause a cascading effect.

But there are some things that are legitimately far out of my control. And being unable to afford medical attention, my treatment(s), medical supplies, utilities, food… it’s been almost 3 years now since my benefits have been paid to us.

I had a conversation with God. He reminded me that I wasn’t wearing my shirt. He told me to put it back on.

But that just made me feel worse at first. I didn’t need more fight, I have more than enough fight in me to share. That’s not the issue. I’m in an unfair fight and am powerless against this portion of my nightmare.

I’m not scared anymore – I’ve stared death in the face many times. And each time I gave it the finger – and got back up. But I guess I needed to feel safe.

I have alone time now, so I went into Aedans room and crawled into his bed. I turned the lights out and turned on this nightlight that I made for him. Usually when I see it on the wall, I feel strong. It reminds me of when I made it, what I was fighting against to get my hands/eyes/brain to work and reminds me I did it. Despite the struggles. Even if it did take me a week to do an hour or so of work, I was so proud that I did it.

Today, I sat in dark solitude. I turned this light on and I allowed myself to feel a little vulnerable for a moment, in terms of the fight I’ve been in for 6 years. And then it came.

I found myself sniffing his ‘blankie’ and staring at this light. The love and protective energy I built into this light rained down over me. And I felt what I imagine he does when looking at it. And it changed me.

I found myself standing tall, just like I did when I built this light. I found my ability to at least FEEL strong. And this light reminded me that I MUST survive this.

He doesn’t need a nightlight reminding him of his father. He needs me to be his father, and I can never give up.

So far I am still losing my battle. I am becoming weaker and weaker – my best days fewer and farther between and each best day is never as good as the last. My high water mark keeps getting lower and lower and my body continues to erode.

But…

I’m alive. And as long as I’m alive, I can tell my family I love them. An ability I had not always had – there was a time I was too weak to even speak. I can smell his head now, I can hear his sweet voice say ‘I love you Dada’. I can see his eyes and feel his hands while he studies my face as we lay in bed at night. His hands reading my face like braille.

I don’t have much, but I still can have these moments. And as a dear friend just pointed out, he needs me. Even if I am wasting away.

This light has magic powers – it replaces hopelessness with hope. Defeat with strength. Fear with love. Its rays shine strength and will forever continue to remind me of who I am.

He feels safe during his nightmares because Daddy is always there, even if only through a light. So by the same measure, I too am made stronger by the man who made this light.

I love you all, and thank you for standing by me while I take a knee here.

I won’t let my Son down. I just need a miracle.

Your Brother in Fight,

Michael

Conversations with My Son: Love…

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“Dada?”
“Yes?”

“If we didn’t have Love in this World, would it (the world) still exist?”

“Wow, good question Buddy…”

Aedan saw a picture of he and I that I posted on FB to help drive home a point to a dear friend in desperate need. What an amazing and eerily timely question.

“C’mere Boy. Let me share something with you that might answer your question…”

He sat on the “best seat in the house” – my lap for those who don’t know. I took a moment and I answered:

“Love is the “Why” of life. Love is something so amazing that I don’t know that it could ever be truly explained. It gives you the power you do things that you’re sure you cannot, and Love is what picks you up when you have fallen and cannot stand on your own.”

“What does the picture say dada?”

My Why

“It says ‘He who has a WHY to live can bear almost any HOW ”

“What does that mean Dada?”

“You know about that ‘stupid pill’ and how Daddy gets weak right? You’ve asked how I can get through the sadness because of all I cannot do. You’ve asked how come I don’t cry and you’ve asked how I have so much hope…”

I continued:

“What this means Mijo, is that no matter how hard, painful or even impossible some things in your life may seem – that’s the ‘how‘ part – If you have a ‘why‘, and my love for you is my ‘why‘, then I don’t care what each day brings for me to fight. I have you, and the power of my love for you is soooo much greater than even the ugliest of Evil forces.”

He took a second to pause and reflect. He said:

“I love you Dada… you get 6 points for that”

6 Points?!? I’ve never got more than 2 points for anything I’ve tried to explain, he must hav really gotten the message. (See “Shame and the Make Sense game” )

“So what your saying Dad is that so long as you have love in your heart, you can do anything?”

“Precisely” I said. “So to answer your question, no. The world as we know it could not exist without Love. Love for your family, fellow man, love for the critters, leaves, the sky and Sun…”

I finished by saying

“Remember this forever, never let the ugly thoughts, your pain or your fear cause you to lose the tight grip you keep on the love you still have. Then you too can bear any ‘how‘ “

Once you lose that grip, it’s all over. There exists nothing.

I don’t think this made sense. I am wiped, shaky and weak right now. I don’t understand the world at the moment, but I do understand the moment I’ve just shared and I hope you can too.

I love you all, I must rest.

Your Brother in Fight,
/M

Perception: A Tale of an Ordinary Man in a Funny Red Cape…

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I have been having a very hard time physically and with my mental abilities. Not to mention that we’re destitute now. And at times it wears on me so much that I can’t see the light anymore. But its times like this where choices, yours and mine, come to shape how the story ends. I hope this reaches those who feel as if the end has come, and I want you to know that only YOU can control what happens from here.

My story is not going to end yet. And to that, I leave you with this…

/M

Facebook: 04 September 2014 2:35pm

Perception: A Tale of an Ordinary Man in a Funny Red Cape…

This morning was another one of those mornings where I woke up and the first feeling (other than intense pain) I had was one of hopelessness. It isn’t often that I feel that way anymore, but it does happen. And I get the impression that there are some who think that I never have these feelings.

I do. We all do. But its more about what you do with and about it, than it is whether or not you still have a human reaction.

I’m just a father who refuses to give up and/or die in front of his son, that’s all.

Aedan loves taking my shirt to bed with him after I’ve properly ‘recharged’ it by wearing it all day. This morning was rough, really rough.  But instead of letting that darkness take over, I picked myself up and put on this shirt.

You see, this shirt has powers. My Boy cuddles on it at night and looks forward to me giving it back to him at night. When I get it back in the morning, after HE recharges it for me, it serves as a reminder of sorts. It reminds me that he is counting on me, reminds me how I’m needed in this world. And I refuse to fail him. It makes me feel 10ft tall and bullet-proof, and sometimes I wonder if I really CAN fly. At my weakest, I still feel strong.

I haven’t done my Saline drip in a while. I only have a few supplies left and I’ve been stretching what I have available so my supply lasts longer. When I feel weak, I don’t feel like doing this. Especially not an NSS Drip (Saline) as is far more involved than just my Glutathione IV push, and many days I just don’t feel I have it in me to do it anymore. As if the fight has been beaten out of me after 6 years.

But this morning I put this shirt on, and I forget how I actually feel – I am filled with purpose, strength and fight once again.

I’ve been weak, my hands shake and I don’t see very well at the moment. But I couldn’t just lay down and give up for the day. I’m wearing this shirt after all, and I can’t charge this shirt with weakness now can I?

You can see I CHOSE. Its always a choice, and instead of surrendering to the darkness today, I chose to fight. Even when I’m nearly certain I have none left. Today is an example, not an exception.

I don’t know that I have a clear point at the moment, perhaps other than just to be open with y’all and let you know Im human too. I can lend you all the fight in the world, but I think also being open and honest about the fact that I too struggle is equally as important.

Healthy or not, we all face times where you’re not sure you can fight anymore. And I just want you to know that’s not only normal, but you should expect it.

Times like this I remind myself I have to EARN the right to be Aedans’ Hero. He’ll look up to me no matter what, but I believe I should first earn it. Every day.

It doesn’t matter what your ‘struggle’ is. Maybe you’ve suffered from a severe reaction to FQ’s like I have. Or perhaps you struggle is to simply look at yourself in the mirror and see yourself in a positive way. Whatever it is, know that you can overcome – but you must first make a concious choice, find something – anything – that makes you at least FEEL strong… and do it.

You can see what choice I made today. I ask you, whats your choice going to be? Let’s build momentum… most times you’ll find that’s all you need.

I hope my senseless rambling here at the very least gives you something to think about.

My drip is almost done, I did 750ml of NSS, albeit expired, but it should still be okay. Drip rate of approx 120dpm. In a few mins I will be giving myself a Glutathione IV, 6000IU. Deep IM B12 shot to follow.

Walk beside me my friends. I have nothing that’s not also inside every one of us. At best, I’m just an ordinary man in a funny red cape. This gift is in us all.

Until next time…

Your Brother in Fight –

/M

PAIN, Sheer Determination to LIVE and the Power of the Human Spirit:

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A few weeks ago I posted this to Facebook. This is nowhere near a complete description of what I feel, but I think this is a pretty good summary. I haven’t had a single second of a single day without pain. Not to mention chest and heart pain, eye pain, joint pain, cramping, etc.

This doesn’t at all even address the functional difficulties I have nor does it at all describe the brutal fatigue that makes me unable to leave the house most days. I am hardly functional and heavily depend on Nikki to ensure I have at least some of what I need to continue living. And I would hardly call it ‘living’. I do nothing, literally nothing. If I actually attempt any activity most days (vacuuming, showering, anything) not only does the pain exponentially increase, so does the fatigue. And once I use whatever energy I have for the day – it’s over. And I need significantly more help to complete the day.

I don’t like talking about this stuff anymore – after almost 6 years I’m just over it. If I am going to continue living, I sure as hell won’t be complaining. All that does is make me more miserable. But I have to start getting some of this out or I’m going to lose my mind.

Like most things I write, this took me a long time. About an hour and a half. But I’m grateful that I have been able to start writing something. Writing is easier than communicating in real-time, but still not easy at all. My truth will be told, if its the last thing I do.

 

Facebook – 07 Sept 4:38am

PAIN, Sheer Determination to LIVE and the Power of the Human Spirit:

One of my Neurologists commented, during one of my EMG/NCV’s… “Wow, your ‘pain dial’ is broken”

It’s 3:20am and I can’t sleep. This isn’t a new issue, I haven’t slept much in nearly 6 years. I am in so much pain, layers. And the pain has gone from a 6/10 to 10/10. Every single fiber of my body.  I tried laying down in bed, but kept kicking and moving my arms. So I got up and tried to lay with my Boy. But I quickly realized I couldn’t control my body and I’d wake him, so I got up. When I did, I noticed my vision is not just far more doubled – my right eye seeing images higher than my left as well which is very disorienting. I stumble and lose my balance. Feels like I’m stumbling drunk.

I really tried to sleep. I always do. Most nights I just try to lay as still as I can,  I gently hold and softly smell Nikki’s beautiful long hair. I’ve laid there quietly for years doing just that.

I hate bitching, focusing energy on the negative only serves to give it more power. I don’t want to bring my family down or make them feel the torture either. The pain belongs to me, not them. But no that I have words, if I don’t start getting this out somehow, at least a little, I’m going to lose my mind. When I write here, I’m usually imagining I’m talking to myself. Let this be my release…

Right now every layer of pain has intensified. I cannot put words to this well enough nor can I possibly over-state it. Nothing like any pain I’ve experienced as a ‘normal’ Man. My face, my chest, abdomen, arms, legs. All my joints including my jaw even.

One of the layers is an intense, shooting electrical pain. From my hips, shooting down my legs. From my shoulders, shooting down my arms. Makes my arms and legs move against my will. I have gotten out of bed or stayed out so my kicking doesn’t keep Nikki awake, for years. I can’t control it, my limbs move against my will.

Another layer is an intense elecrical pain that if you were able to see it, I imagine it to look like the ‘snow’ you’d se on the TV back in the day when you turn it to a channel it doesn’t get.

Another layer is an intense ache that just throbs unlike anything I’ve experienced and an intensity unlike anything I could describe.

Another layer is an intense, squeezing, compression. Over my entire body, front and back, including my face.

There’s a layer that is Lactic Acid, more accurately, Lactic Acidosis, which a byproduct of my malfunctoning and damaged Mitochondria and Mitochondrial DNA (MtDNA). Feels like I have acid running thru my veins instead of blood. A very intense burning, searing pain that feels like my tissue is disolving in acid. *This is why I do the NSS (Norma Saline Solution) Drip as seen in my last post.

Then there’s the layer I know to be Oxidative Stress – very destructive to tissue. Oxidative Stress is precisely what causes a peeled Apple to turn brown. Feels like my entire body is dissolving, rusting away like a sunken ship does in the Ocean. Hurts like something not of this Earth, and covers 100% of my body in yet another layer of pain. ** This is ONE of the benefits of my Glutathione IV’S, makes this an order of magnetude better.

Then there are separate pains all over that move. There’s the tender tissue, constant Nausea, pain in my eyes. My lips, throat… my HEART, etc., etc.

The (different) pain in my swollen left foot – on the outside edge of foot, the ball of the foor and 3 smallest toes that started about 2 months ago and has yet to go away. Like walking on a bruise. Hurts like hell.

Speaking of bruise, I have bruises on my left leg that have been there since late April, at least, and have not even begun to change color like a normal bruise does when healing. They look like brand new bruises and just hurt.

Then there’s an uncomfortable (at best) electrical action causing my chest and abdomen to contract, causing my body to double over. Fight that all day too.

I know these are separate layers because they intensify or improve separately, my injections and/or supplement routine has a positive and distinctly separate effect.

When I lay own, immediately an additional layer of intense pain develops on the area I’m laying on. So for example, if I lay on my side, any area where my tissue is touching the bed/couch/etc becomes increadibly painful. My arm, shoulder, HIP (especially), leg… The pain continues to intensify until I move again. Like a ‘Charlie Horse’ or a terrible cramp over a bruise, this quickly gets to a 10/10 and is just one more layer.

Then of course there’s the shakes, Fasciculations and tremors.

This is NOT at all a complete list of what I’m feeling or going through at this moment. There’s far too many symptoms to list. But this is only about pain, and even at that I haven’t covered it all, by any stretch of the imagination. And I haven’t even begun to talk about the actual difficulties I have on top of just pain.

And all this is when I’m not doing anything. Moving, any physical exertion, tickling my Son even causes a significant and ugly response from my body which is on top of all the above.

Over the last 6 years, I have slept an average of 4-5hrs per night at best. And that reflects a considerable improvement since I got a Sleep Number (type) bed.

I take NOTHING for the pain. In the very begining, around week 3, I was given Neurontin for the Nerve pain – which is only one layer – but that gave me brutal headaches and caused other side effects. I knew then I’d have to face the pain someday, so I chose to face it on my own from that point on.

Let’s be clear: The ‘Medical’ system STILL can’t tell me exactly what the last pill they gave me did. There’s no way I’m taking more of their mystery pills. Nothing. Right?

Often, many people don’t seem to understand that the reason I can come across as intense at times is because I’m living thru something incredibly intense. Every single second of every single day, for well over 2,000 days and night now. I have become hardened. Galvanized even.

Somehow, despite not getting a single second of pain-free life, I have learned to transcend. I have learned not just to live, but learned to gently love through this torture.

I’m mentally blurred, my mind got whacked real hard too. I can’t see well enough or keep my balance enough to move from the spot I’m in right now.

I have been far worse, but this is still too intense to beat at the moment.

I don’t have a point, and I don’t expect that anyone actually read this whole thing. But if you have, thank you…

Your Brother in Fight,

/M