In the Valley of the Shadow of Death…

There is nothing so pleasant as living with a cat and having him near you while busy and at rest. There is also nothing so motivating to get well during a serious health scare as the desire to not be separated from your furry friend. I know this from experience, because I recently took the drug Cipro for a minor but persistent sinus infection in my right maxillary sinus and all hell broke loose in my body.

Ciproflaxin has two FDA Black Box warnings on it—the strongest measure the FDA takes before finally just pulling the drug off the market. Several other drugs in the flouroquinolone and quinolone families have been pulled already. The reason Cipro causes so much damage begins with the fact that it can push the magnesium out of your cells, causing calcium to come rushing in. Your body undergoes stress losing such an important element, so after awhile Cipro also strips you of your antioxidants, causing severe oxidative distress and damage to cells. The science behind all of this is available online, in medical research journals, research studies written by doctors for other doctors to read.

All I knew at the time is that I was having severe panic attacks each time I fell asleep. My brain would yank me out of sleep and throw me right down into hell. That is the only way I can describe it. I knew that I could die.

In the morning I took magnesium and ate an orange and felt a lot better. Research confirmed that I needed to heavily supplement with magnesium and antioxidants. That is what I have been doing, and I think with time I will recover. I will also be seeing a local anti-aging doctor who has had quite a bit of success treating patients harmed by these antibiotics. He gives magnesium and powerful antioxidants intravenously. I wish I could have gotten that immediately, but he is the only doctor around who will do chelating therapy as it is considered very controversial.

I told my doctor about the AMA recommendation to test magnesium levels before giving this drug. She kept insisting, “But nobody does that.” I had to convince her that what I was saying about the mechanism of the drug was true. But because I did the research myself on the Internet, it was suspect and not easily believed. I probably saved myself from a lot of damage to my body by supplementing as soon as possible, once I understood. When I called my doctor and said I was having a reaction she did not tell me to take magnesium and Vitamin C because she didn’t know! I had to find that out on my own.

How does all this relate to cats? I’ll bet some of my anti-declawing friends are already seeing the connection, because they have compiled mountains of evidence that declawing is bad for cats, much of it from vets like Jennifer Conrad and Ron Gaskin and others. They have radiographs that show the damage and they can explain every reason amputating a cat’s toes is bad for the cat from every perspective. But it doesn’t matter. Few people look at the mountain of evidence, or take the time to understand. They, like my doctor, basically say, “But we’ve always done it this way!” The “don’t rock the boat” philosophy is stronger even then the desire to protect people or animals. You can state facts like: Declawing changes a cat’s gait and predisposes him to arthritis– yet be told that yours is the emotional argument because you are cat crazy or against freedom.

It’s a very hard battle to win, as hard as the battle to get the medical community to recognize the risks of drugs like Cipro. If they followed their own guidelines those risks would be mitigated, but they don’t. Hmmm… sounds just like the AVMA’s recommendations concerning declawing. Those aren’t followed either.

This is why we have such a hard road ahead of us trying to change this world and protect people and animals. We are the ones rocking the boat while the rest of the world yells, “But we’ve never done it that way!” I know that since I have told this story my PoC friends will do their own research and fight also to get Cipro off the market, or at least for the members of the AMA to follow their own guidelines for its use!

These quinolone antibiotics are sadly used on livestock who live in crowded filthy conditions. I’m sure at least some of those poor animals go through the hell I went through, but with no help, no supplements, no comfort found, no release given until the day they are slaughtered. These drugs were given to puppies in research studies! The study called them “immature dogs” because I suppose that doesn’t sound so bad. Every puppy went lame from the Cipro. Those poor dogs suffered and died to test this to make it safe for humans—and yet I was given it and am suffering! The dogs died for nothing! While we animal lovers may be accused of not caring enough about people, only for animals, there are obviously many people in the world who care for neither.

Although my life is very changed, at least for awhile, I am so glad for the support of our little community here at PoC. Monty has been right by me through it all. Sometimes I think he understands how seriously ill I am, other times he seems unaware. I’m not sure. I know that he is the same and I am different and it is a very sad feeling. I envy him his body that works right. But with time and care, maybe mine can work right again too.

My belief as a Christian is that there can be no poison in the cup that my Father sends me. He will use all things for good for me.

Though visitors to PoC perceive me as someone with a lot of religious faith, in truth, that faith has been at a low ebb lately. I hadn’t prayed in a long, long time. I guess Jesus wanted to talk to me, because in that horrible night of panic attacks and the fear of death or permanent disability He was there, and I prayed. I prayed knowing that even though I was in hell, Jesus was there with me and had been there before, for me, when He died on the cross to take away my sin. I was definitely walking through the valley of the shadow of death. Yet I feared no evil, for my Good Shepherd was with me.

The way I see it, I belong to God. It is He who owns me. People think they own their cats, but it isn’t true. No created being can own another. The one who owns all things is God. I’m just glad God saw fit to bring Monty and I together four years ago and to keep us together for awhile longer yet. I am also thankful that He directed me to PoC and all the friends I have here who have been so supportive. Thank you all for your prayers and words of comfort and support.

Ruth and Monty

(who is doing a good job watching over his mom while she is sick)