Linda's Story

I was damaged by Gentamicin
I went into the hospital on April 22, 2000 for a back operation. I had suffered for many years with terrible sciatic pain. It got to the point that I just couldn't do any more. I wasn't able to walk or stand without being in pain. At times my legs would go numb and I couldn't tell if I was actually taking a step. It's a wonder I didn't fall. I finally decided to have the back operation so that I could walk again. I enjoyed many activities that I could no longer participate in, like bike riding, hiking, singing in the choir and playing hand bells at church. The operation was a last ditch effort to regain my ability to walk. I had been a hike leader in our club, the Cleveland Hiking Club.

Three days after the initial operation my doctors told me I had developed a blood clot and an infection and that I would need a second surgery. After the second surgery they put me on 3 antibiotics, Amoxicillin by mouth and Cipro and Gentamicin by IV twice a day. I finally came home from the hospital on May 13 and had a visiting nurse come twice a day to administer the IV's. The only thing I was told was to let them know if I noticed any difference in my hearig. Since I didn't notice any difference I thought everything was ok..

A few days before Memorial day I felt sick to my stomach and I vomited a few times. I thought it was either from taking so many different medicines at the same time (I was also on blood pressure medication) or that I had picked up a virus. On the Saturday before Memorial day, May 27, 2000 I got up and was dizzy. I told the visiting nurse and she called the doctor. I had been taking oxycontin for pain and he thouhgt that was what was causing the dizziness so I stopped taking it. The dizziness was worse on Sunday and I was in tears because I felt so bad. The nurse called the doctor again and he decided to stop the Gentamicina. I went into his office on the Tuesday after Memorial day, May 30, 2000 and he had a audiologist administer another hearing test. My hearing had not changed since the first test that was taken in the hospital right after my surgery. I kept saying to the audiologist and the doctor that I sure hoped this dizziness wasn't permanent. The audiologist did confirm at that time that Gentamicin was toxic to the ear and that she hoped it wasn't permanent either. That's when I started to worry. The doctor's explanation was that it would take several months for the dizziness to go away so that I could get back to normal. As I have found out since then there is no such thing as getting back to normal. After reading many articles on the internet and conversing with others I have discovered that this damage is irreversible and I will never be able to focus my eyes while walking or riding in a vehicle again.

After repeated visits to the doctor he finally decided to refer me to an otologist that specialized in vestibular problems. He mentioned therapy to me. It has taken forever to get an appointment and get any therapy started. I finally had to throw a mini tantrum to get an earlier appointment with the otologist. I still have not started therapy although I have an evaluation appointment on July 13, 2000. This therapist is not a specialist in vestibular problems but has taken classes and treated a few people with balance problems. That seems to be the best they could do.

Unfortunately I am my sole support. It appears that I will lose my job and about $900 a month from my pension by being forced to retire early. I don't see any way that I will be able to go back to work and they won't hold my job much longer for me. I think I will be forced to file a lawsuit. I really don't know how I will live on what little pension I will get. I am not eligible for Social Security. I am 60 years old and this is not the way I had expected to live out the rest of my life.. I can't even drive myself anywhere . It is devastating to have to find someone else to do everything for you. I have friends that are bringing me my mail and cleaning out my cat's little box but I can't impose on them forever. I just can't believe that doctors continue to give this medicatin knowing fully well what it can do over the long term. It is such a tragedy to have ruined so many lives. Gentamicin shuold have been taken off the market years ago. I wonder how many more unsuspecting patients will have their lives ruined by it. I tell everyone I talk to not to let their doctor give them Gentamicin.

Some days I get so depressed that all I can do is cry. I just can't. I just can't accept the fact that I will live the rest of my life in this dizzy world. It is such a struggle just to do even simple things.I can't even see straight in the mirror to comb my hair. How I wish I could just go for a simple walk in the park but I'll never be able to do that again all because a doctor wasn't careful about the medicine he prescribed. I warn everyone I know about checking out any medicine their doctor prescribes to see what the possible side effects are before they take it.
Well this is my story, it probably sounds very familiar to everyone else damaged by Gentamicin.

Linda

LBlystone@stratos.net