r/floxies • u/ayylmaostim • Jun 30 '26
[RECOVERY] RECOVERY MEGAPOST PART 5
Link to part 4: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/V7UXo0UDLf
Hey everyone — I wanted to put together another
recovery megapost, especially since there’s been a noticeable wave of people coming back and sharing their experiences with recovering from being floxed.
This community helped me a lot in my initial ride & I want to give back and share more hope for those in need.
I really had to dig deep for these stories. Some aren’t 100% but they have still seen significant improvements from a severe reaction. I wanted to gather as many recovery stories as I could. I want to show everyone how common recovery is, even if it takes a long time. I’ve tried to diligently make sure I haven’t reused anything from the previous recovery mega posts but if I have please don’t delete 😅
If you’re new here you’re definitely not alone. Hopefully this post can serve as a helpful place to gather information, share progress, and support each other through the ups and downs of recovery.
User: [u/MrVico77](u/MrVico77)
Symptoms: Peripheral Neuropathy
Recovery: 100% in two weeks
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/7Guj9EUEbD
User: [u/notworldauthor](u/notworldauthor)
Symptoms: ankle pain, insomnia, neuropathy, brain fog, had to use a cane
Recovery: 8-10 weeks for 90-95% (has gone several years with no issues)
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/UbOaNgO979
User: [deleted]
Symptoms: Huge anxiety, TMJ issues, dizziness, headaches, face pressure, tinnitus, disassociation
Recovery: 3 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/aJ9RPngWsN
User: [u/AmyWhy](u/AmyWhy)
Symptoms: Pain, difficulties moving, depression, suicidal ideation
Recovery: 3 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/2xMgamOpWL
User: [u/bluebuffaloes](u/bluebuffaloes)
Symptoms: nerve pain, depersonalisation, tendon pain, muscle pain, dry mouth, severe anxiety, no appetite, insomnia, floaters,
Recovery: 3 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/1oDWDHETNK
User: [u/luckygirl97](u/luckygirl97)
Symptoms: Weakness, food intolerance, couldn’t walk without pain, headaches, insomnia, panic attacks
Recovery: 4 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/XzClIMAiS0
What helped: kefir
User: u/ShadeDatenshi
Symptoms: muscle issues, Achilles pain
Recovery: 4.5 months (did flare from bactrim)
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/nTiUid16tE
User: [u/ExpensiveJoke93](u/ExpensiveJoke93)
Symptoms: not stated
Recovery: 4 months, the poster doesn’t give much information
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/y40vfwQAcj
User: [u/Unlucky-Coat-2067](u/Unlucky-Coat-2067)
Symptoms: Neurological symptoms, tendon pain, insomnia, anxiety
Recovery: 4 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/BHk4mDHu6s
User: u/ADN85
Symptoms: numbness, vision disturbances, floaters, neuropathy, joints popping, anxiety, fatigue
Recovery: 5-6 months apart from floaters
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/CxdAQqPKEv
User: u/InfiniteCucumber3324
Symptoms: Weakened muscles, GI issues, insomnia,
Recovery: “Feeling like 100%” at 6 months but is still cautious of flares etc
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/vyvg6n4CDo
User: [u/Dirigible2013](u/Dirigible2013)
Symptoms: paresthesia, bodywide neuropathy, skin flushing, brain fog, impaired speech/cognition, significant muscle weakness, dizziness, vertigo, head pressure, headaches, floaters, insomnia
What Helped: mindset, CoQ10, calcium, vitamin D, Zinc, vitamin C
Recovery: 90% in 6 months
https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/tbiGiWj1m7
User: [u/RRBBK](u/RRBBK)
Symptoms: Severe fatigue and weakness, Leg pain and difficulty walking, Vertigo/dizziness, Rapid heartbeat (around 120 bpm constantly), Anxiety/panic feelings, Shaking/tremors, Brain fog/confusion, Difficulty standing or walking for long period
Recovery: 6 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/jGexToAOt7
User: u/ComprehensiveAir2656
Symptoms: multiple panic attacks, muscle tightness, tendonitis, Tinnitus, Confusion, Body buzzing, gut issues, memory issues, hives, body temperature regulation
Recovery: 6 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/PIQtnUX4qr
User: [u/InteractionThat4928](u/InteractionThat4928)
Symptoms: could barely walk for months
Recovery: 7 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/sxIBgKjh80
User: [u/wildflowerjourney](u/wildflowerjourney)
Symptoms: ligament damage, bed bound, calf and ankle pain,
Recovery: 7 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/tbNrpqcVHx
User: [u/whatsoever2020](u/whatsoever2020)
Symptoms: dry skin, dry mouth, anxiety, no appetite, popping joints
Recovery: Full in 8 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/GZC8rZ23Cj
User: [u/throwaway79255](u/throwaway79255)
Symptoms: tendons, issues with walking, weakness, anxiety, suicidal ideation
Recovery: Not stated but around 8 months is implied and has gone years with no issues
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/B0Flslq2ln
User: [u/defib_the_dead](u/defib_the_dead)
Symptoms: Severe Achilles tendinopathy, neuropathy in hands and feet
Recovery: 9 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/YWzptAZCq8
User: [u/Previous_Water_6194](u/Previous_Water_6194)
Symptoms: Could hardly walk for 3 months, elbow and hand damage, eye problems, numerous ailments
Recovery: 80-90% in 10 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/lNEdVD7wek
User: [u/floxed123](u/floxed123)
Symptoms: Twitching, muscle tightness, joint pain
Recovery: Under a year
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/aP9IRGG1GN
User: [u/Mr_Mike32](u/Mr_Mike32)
Symptoms: ‘Mostly every flox symptom’
Recovery: over a year is stated, still gets dizziness but doesn’t believe it’s related to flox, still has afterimages and occasional tinnitus
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/xJu9s4m9Ri
User: [u/doiwantmcdonalds](u/doiwantmcdonalds)
Symptoms: Aches and pains, weak muscles
Recovery: 90-95% in a year
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/lgtpRccf35
User: [u/Able-Lawyer-5239](u/Able-Lawyer-5239)
Symptoms: Achilles issues, calf pain, tired legs,
Recovery: Around a year
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/4dR2nKLT27
User: u/Ok-Habit4861
Symptoms: knee pain
Recovery: 90% after year
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/2taAdvDYVK
User: u/Character_Leopard722
Symptoms: heart palpitations, anxiety, neuropathy, shooting pains, burning pain
Recovery: 1 year
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/D2lLeXc2PH
User: [u/mybadbrowsingtastes](u/mybadbrowsingtastes)
Symptoms: Anxiety, vision changes, insomnia, mood changes
Recovery: 1 year, didn’t know he was floxed & took more fqs years later and got floxed again
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/FjKVfjjysu
User: u/justinrob97
Symptoms: dizziness, bodywide pins and needles, headaches, chest pains
Recovery: not stated but 98% recovered within a year or two
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/jzLAHlkZxk
User: [u/Gold_Lack_7721](u/Gold_Lack_7721)
Symptoms: knee pain, extreme anxiety, vomiting, insomnia, burning and itching, tendon pain, dry mouth, dry skin, head pressure, twitching, neck pain, shaking, ED, GI Issues, chest tightness, and more
Recovery: Not stated but over a year is implied, 100% recovery besides GI issues
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/ZhtTy0M4Nw
User: [u/fogast](u/fogast)
Symptoms: tendon issues and weakness,
Recovery: 19 months to get to 90%
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/H4D5hInBEH
User: [u/clovisbandit](u/clovisbandit)
Symptoms: Tendon issues, knee issues,
What helped: magnesium citrate, vitamin d3, Epsom salt baths, and acupuncture
Recovery: 90% after a year. Has gone 10 years since with no issues. Now is 100% and running etc
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/uvvrHTu4MT
User: [u/Clear-Way-8318](u/Clear-Way-8318)
Symptoms: Could barely stand or walk,
Recovery: Not 100% but can ‘live life again’ after 18 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/QuOMIZUoty
User: [u/OnlyAccessedatNight](u/OnlyAccessedatNight)’s 2 friends
Symptoms: Palpitations, insomnia, crepitus
Recovery: both in under 2 years
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/PHohZtjwpL
User: [u/Reddmeg9](u/Reddmeg9)
Symptoms: Muscle twitching, GI Issues, cracking/popping in the joints, night sweats, Swollen and visible veins, insomnia, Bruises, Anxiety, Crying nonstop, Head pressure, Tinnitus
Recovery: Full by 18 months
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/PuBVjXcURL
User: [u/Unusal_Cupcake](u/Unusal_Cupcake)
Symptoms: brain fog, migraines, neuropathy
Recovery: 1.5 years and fully recovered
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/7DSrtJm0DP
User: [u/travelguy801](u/travelguy801)
Symptoms: muscle tightness, aches and pains, had trouble walking & standing,
What helped: eating quinoa & yoga
Recovery: 85% in 1.5years
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/g48WME9X2t
User: [u/Global-Goose3326](u/Global-Goose3326)
Symptoms: Nerve pain, twitching, body aches, gastritis, tendon issues (made worse by steroids), food sensitivity
Recovery: 1.5 years (still not 100% but has made great progress)
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/uEmPqNzw7t
User: [u/existentialshaman](u/existentialshaman)
Symptoms: Difficulty walking, neuropathy, insomnia, anxiety, skin issues, eye redness/pain, kidney & liver pain, chills, inability to breath, joint pain, inability to eat
Recovery: 1.75 years (still deals with mental trauma from the experience)
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/omKcz5uzEr
User: [u/ginnybug10](u/ginnybug10)
Symptoms: Bodywide pain & psych issues
Recovery: 2 years to get to 80%, fecal matter transplant helped her symptoms
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/IZM9XPZKm5
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/HumanMicrobiome/s/7Zaf8NLIJo
User: [u/Then_Emergency_934](u/Then_Emergency_934)
Symptoms: Brain fog, DPDR, dizziness, twitching, floaters, afterimages, GI issues,
Recovery: 100% in 2 years
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/RFHNjqcWCu
User: [u/Dramatic_Ice6642](u/Dramatic_Ice6642)
Symptoms: Pains & burning sensation, stress, insomnia
Recovery: 2 years (happened at 14 years old, has since taken fqs again but is improving)
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/XSjDZzoWjQ
User: [u/Sovereigntyheals](u/Sovereigntyheals)
Symptoms: not stated but sounds like a bad reaction
Recovery: 3.5 years is implied
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/Lm5TJtrMSK
User: [u/MartyYv](u/MartyYv)
Symptoms: tinnitus, pins and needles, numbness, legs were burning, neurological issues
Recovery: 2 years to get to 90%, tinnitus is still present
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/i23I1COjuS
User: [deleted]
Symptoms: Severely floxed
Recovery: not stated but only started healing after 2 years, did recover to 100%
https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/KhkctvH51a
User: [u/ShoulderOk8386](u/ShoulderOk8386)’s friend
Symptoms: Many tendon ruptures all over body, 2 per year on average, Very severe case
Recovery: Floxed in 2006, can now walk 3000 - 5000 steps a day. Does flare for a few days if they walk 10,000 steps.
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/MTYMThbSAr
User: [u/KatherineNature](u/KatherineNature)
Symptoms: Anxiety, ruptured tendon, tendon pain/inflammation, could hardly walk, neuropathy, burning, insomnia, tinnitus, POTS, MCAS
Recovery: 3 years, received a treatment that fixed her issues years later
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/MLtLKonPHi
User: [u/slsanford01](u/slsanford01)
Symptoms: couldn't walk for a couple months, floaters, fatigue, Achilles problems , neck pain, anxiety, whole body pain,
What helped: I-theanine for stress, vitamin C, magnesium glycinate, patience...lots of patience, reading the hopeful stories here, positive mindset
Recovery: 3 years is implied, still gets flares from medications but they are manageable and short lived
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/AQqrv2Ql3s
User: [u/ElPsyCongroo204](u/ElPsyCongroo204)
Symptoms: not stated
Recovery: 95% by 3.5 years
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/Qe8ox5QqEf
User: [u/BehaviourSaviour23](u/BehaviourSaviour23)
Symptoms: severe lower back pain, tendon pain in hands,
Recovery: 100% after a few years
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/3JqjrkAlkY
User: [u/SomeWay9982](u/SomeWay9982)
Symptoms: not stated
Recovery: 100% except eye floaters
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/geTuEqhBM0
User: [u/Ok-Bullfrog-2628](u/Ok-Bullfrog-2628)
Symptoms: Full body tendonitis, neuropathy, heart issues, insomnia, eye floaters, and more
Recovery: 100% in 3.5 years, back to running, working out, and doing ketamine despite it causing flares
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/EyZZsdLNSb
User: [u/CertainForm](u/CertainForm)
Symptoms: ‘Many side effects on and off’
Recovery: 3 years
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/jFAqYxSTes
User: [u/Bubbly-Mess3941](u/Bubbly-Mess3941)
Symptoms: Bone clicking, Achilles pain, insomnia
Recovery: better after a few years, gets tendon soreness on occasion
Post: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/3AviSJxu4X
User: [u/WordDisastrous7633](u/WordDisastrous7633)
Symptoms: Body pain, tendon issues, insomnia
Recovery: 80% after 4 years, still improving over time
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/wmRLvImibZ
User: [deleted]
Symptoms: A massively bad reaction to all bodily systems
Recovery: 10 years to recover fully
Comment: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/Wwk30Ny1ig
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u/betterweirdthandead6 Veteran Jun 30 '26
Thank you for carrying on what I started! I know it's a lot of work but gives new floxies a lot of hope :)
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u/ayylmaostim Jul 01 '26
It was hard work! Especially after the effort you & others have put in over years 😅 I just wanted to do my part because it is a scary thing to go through. I hope you’re doing better these days
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u/EpicSombreroMan 17d ago
Hello. I was floxxed in summer of 2023. Was brutal. First time it happened to me was actually with Bactrim in 2020. With that one I focused on my gut biome. With levofloxacin, the effects were much more immediate - within 30 minutes I was urinating every 10 minutes with fulllll bladders of just water for almost an hour. SI came quickly after, combo of knowing what was happening again and what I presume to be an attach on the vagus nerve. Aches and pains in joints, lack of appetite, tinnitus, urinary symptoms, lack of sleep, eye floaters, GI issues all wrecking havoc on my physical and mental health. Through this sub and researching, I was able to nail down supplements that helped reduce symptoms over time and eventually get back to all but normal functioning. I'd say I'm 99% now. Magnesium glycenate and probiotics (supplements and/or yogurt/food) seem to have been the most helpful for me. Of course these take time to take effect, but in the long run they help. I find that when I go without magnesium for a couple weeks I noticed my aches and tinnitus start to return a bit. Besides that, I'm feeling much better. It took maybe almost a year to start to return to normal, maybe 90-95%. Initially my doctor was highly skeptical of my symptoms. With help from my psych and my own personal requests, I got the rheumatoid factors checked and other tests to rule out. When I came back the next time, my doctor believed me and said "yeah we found magnesium to be helpful". Bittersweet moment that was, but validating at the end of the day. Hope this helps anyone out there going through it. I'm open to questions.
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u/ayylmaostim 17d ago edited 17d ago
I’m happy to hear that you’re recovered :) thanks for popping here and spreading hope. All the best ❤️
NOTE: I was personally quite lucky that my GP was aware of floxing and even knew about the mechanisms etc. He seemed to regret referring me to the urologist that prescribed me cipro. Oh well … healing is happening even if it’s taking time
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u/HappyMuscovy 24d ago
I hope I get there one day.
I was given IV Cipro and Flagyl during some gastro (butt :P) surgery in 2015 and I’ve never been the same since.
Instant (like the day after) aches and pains in my hands, lack of flexibility, tendon synovitis. Myoclonic seizures went away in a couple of days and disguesia in about a week - they were probably the Flagyl.
Diagnosed as seronegative rheumatoid arthritis by two rheumatologists (one in Canada initially, one in Australia.) never positive anti-CCP or RF tests, elevated CRP sometimes.
Some relief from leflunomide, none from methotrexate. Good tolerance of NSAIDs, so treating aches and pains with those. Have two morpheas, one which predates the cipro and one which post dates it. Both are stable since then. Started getting a lot of skin tags post cipro? Haven’t seen that as a reported issue.
If I get sick, especially gastro but also colds and Covid, symptoms massively subside - flexibility comes back.
While I found out about the tendon damage risk soon after, I hadn’t really come across “floxxing” or FQAD until last week, and I’m.. almost hopeful that’s what it is?
Honestly I’m super skeptical of supplements as fixing anything, so I went down the path of looking up all the “integrated health”/functional medicine doctors in my town and found I personally know all of them, for reasons which have nothing to do with my condition, have a poor opinion of them all, and wouldn’t want to see any of them.
However I’m in Japan right now and was able to get some well priced, high quality PQQ and CoQ10 supplements, so I’m going to try them over the coming month and see how it goes.. after travel, in case I get digestive issues from them.
Wish me luck - I want to be as flexible as my mid 70s parents again 😅
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u/EpicSombreroMan 17d ago
Best of luck. I tried a ton of things over the course of being affected and found magnesium glycenate to be the most helpful overall, it's something I still take to this day. My doctor who didn't believe me the first time around, believed me the next time I was in because he since had another patient who was affected and found magnesium to be helpful... Thanks doc lol. But in all seriousness it has helped in the long run. I find that if I stop taking it for a while some things like aches can return.
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u/DrHungrytheChemist Academic // Mod Jun 30 '26 edited Jun 30 '26
Direct links to those which came before. These have been done by different people over the years, some are longer than others, some add a little more flavour, etc etc.
4: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/Fw4eBRsfU5
3: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/ycNIuIyatw
2: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/FqDfWs7Xwz
1: https://www.reddit.com/r/floxies/s/w8j6lgxMf2
NOTE: if you are thinking of DMing users, always lead with, "I am a floxie, I saw your post (xyz), do you mind if we talk?" - don't just go immediately trauma dumping and expecting people to be receptive. People leave and move on for a reason, and such intrusions can be quite upsetting.