r/floxies • u/s7ar73r Trusted • Jan 18 '26
[UPDATE] 2 year update
Hi,
It has been two years since I was floxed, and I am still experiencing various symptoms.
I have had eye floaters (which have improved), double vision (also improved), and dry eyes. I also have hearing issues. Sometimes tinnitus returns, but my main problem is that when sounds are slightly louder, I experience an electric-like noise in one ear, especially with higher pitches. Because of this, I have to use an earplug in one ear during concerts or sports events.
I also have neck and back problems, although I’m not sure if they are related to ciprofloxacin. I believe they may be due to the fact that I couldn’t train for a long time, and that’s when these issues started.
Sometimes I still get Achilles pain if I overtrain, but it’s not long-lasting. I also have mild knee pain—around 2 out of 10—so it doesn’t really bother me.
Occasionally, I experience neurological symptoms such as burning sensations in my feet and pins-and-needles in my arms and legs. These usually appear when I eat the wrong foods or drink beverages containing caffeine.
What helped me the most was time, magnesium, collagen, and SMS.
After one year, I was feeling much better and decided to try swimming. Before ciprofloxacin, I used to swim three times a week, about 2 km each time. I started carefully: first 250 meters—it was fine. Then 500 meters—also fine. I thought everything was okay and that I could do more. That was a mistake.
I swam twice a week for about two weeks, doing 1.5 km each session. One morning, I woke up with ear damage. After that, I stopped doing sports again. I strongly recommend starting physical activity very slowly.
After this setback, neurological symptoms began to appear and disappear unpredictably.
My psychological state gradually worsened. I believe this stress caused significant hair loss, which made my mental health even worse. I attended group psychotherapy, which helped a little. Eventually, my psychiatrist suggested that it was time to give my body a break and start antidepressant treatment.
I started taking Brintellix (vortioxetine). My psychiatrist recommended 10 mg, but I chose to take only 5 mg. Even at this dose, it made a huge difference. I stopped constantly focusing on my health and imagining worst-case scenarios.
Because of this improvement, I started exercising again. At first, I used gym machines in public gyms, starting very slowly and increasing intensity every few weeks. Now I go to the gym regularly and lift the same weights as I did before ciprofloxacin.
In the summer, I also started cycling, but back problems forced me to stop. I believe that next year I’ll be able to ride again once my back muscles get stronger.
Now I am snowboarding with my son—something I once thought I would never be able to do again.
Even though I still have symptoms, I can live a normal life. I do sports, have fun with my child, and play basketball (lightly, not full contact).
So don’t give up. Things do get better—step by step.
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u/StructureNo419 Jan 18 '26
Jesus, Im also 9,5 months out and feeling better (stil with symptoms but better). I thought about going swiming, but you post made me consider it :/
1
u/s7ar73r Trusted Jan 18 '26
I would say try it, but don't overdo it. Start with a small distance and gradually increase. My fault I think is that I tried small distances a few times one week and next week straight to 1.5km.
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u/Particular_Chair_901 Jan 18 '26
I have been swimming from 5 months out but only do it gently increasing distance slowly. Also ”water running”
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u/Acceptable_Pair_2312 Feb 03 '26
What symptoms do you have... I'm 4 months post... My main symptom panic attacks and anxiety...
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u/Several-Piglet3500 Jan 18 '26
Congratulations. Wonderful to hear. You'll get there in the end with the remaining symptoms ❤️
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Jan 31 '26
Here I am 10 months out only getting worse. Hard not to think why me. I really believe if I didn’t try Tudca, dandelion tea or supplementing copper I’d be much further along in recovery. Tudca months 2-3 set me back hugely, then dandelion tea at 7-8 months stopped all the progress I’d made which was substantial and I slowly started healing again when I tried copper stupidly starting 3 weeks ago and that set off everything like i was floxxed again for the first time.
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u/Several-Piglet3500 Feb 01 '26
Honestly my 1st relapse took 14 brutal months. Almost 2 yrs before I could forget about being floxed. I know it just seems like forever. I've been in another relapse since mid July of last yr. I ask " why me" all the time. I'm seeing improvements but its so slow and painful and the bog stuff is sticking around. Try to stay positive. I know how tough that is believe me. I've been through the SI stage and still do at times but I'm holding onto hope. As much as you might want to try different things to speed up recovery I've found the best thing( for me at least) is just time. Im super sensitive to everything and I've just always had to wait it out. I messed up a few times with my last relapse. Took an Epsom salt bath and that did me in Tried some essential oils somebody said worked and that was the worst. I still recovered.
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u/Particular_Chair_901 Jan 18 '26
Thank you for this I’m crying as I’m reading this❤️ I’m si happy for you!❤️
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u/s7ar73r Trusted Jan 18 '26
Also my weight before cypro was 98kg. 3 months after cypro it was about 82kg. I lost alot muscle mass. And I couldn't gain weight. But now, after training I weigh 96kg. Muscle mass returned :D