Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Guest blog: Storytelling will Save the World… Yes, Even Yours


Storytelling will Save the World… Yes, Even Yours
By Josh Rivedal

Captain’s log, Stardate January 2011. Where unfortunately many have gone before. I’m twenty-six years old and thinking about dying… actually I’m not being entirely truthful. I’m dangling halfway out the fourth floor window of my bedroom in New York City.

I don’t really want to die. I just want the emotional pain to stop… and I don’t know how to do that. Hell, two guys in my life—my father and grandfather—each didn’t know how to make their own terrible personal pain stop and now both were, well, dead.

My grandfather, Haakon—a Norwegian guy who served in the Royal Air Force (35th Squadron as a tail gunner) in World War II—killed himself in 1966 because of the overwhelming post traumatic stress he suffered because of the war.

My father, Douglas—an American guy who was chronically unhappy and an abusive man—killed himself in 2009, the catalyst being a divorce with my mother along with some long-term depression and other mental health issues.

How did I get to such a dismal place in my life so quickly, just a month shy of my twenty-seventh birthday? Coming out of secondary school and high on optimism, I thought by the time I reached my mid-twenties I’d have it all together. After a couple of years singing on Broadway, I would have scored a few bit parts on Law & Order, and transitioned seamlessly to being cast with Will Smith in the summer’s biggest blockbuster. After which, my getaway home in the Hamptons would be featured in Better Homes & Gardens, and my face would grace the cover of National Enquirer as Bigfoot’s not-so-secret lover. Not to mention, I’d have my perfect wife and perfect family by my side to share in my success.

But instead, “perfect” was unattainable (it always is). I only managed to perform in some of small professional theatre gigs and on one embarrassing reality television show; and over the course of the previous eighteen months my father killed himself, my mother betrayed me and sued me for my father’s inheritance, and my girlfriend of six years broke up with me.

This storm of calamity and crisis had ravaged my life… and I wasn’t talking about it to anyone. My silence led to crisis and poor decisions—to the extent that I was hanging out of a fourth story window.

Both Haakon and Douglas suffered their pain in silence because of the stigma surrounding talking about mental illness and getting help. I too felt that same stigma—like I’d be seen as “crazy” or “less of a man” if I talked about what I was going through. But I didn’t want to die and so I had to take a chance.

I started talking. I pulled myself back inside and first called my mom. She helped me through that initial crisis and we became friends again. She never called me “crazy.” I then started reaching out to the positive friends I had in my life. They hugged me and helped me with open arms. They never told me I was “less than a man.” Soon I got more help by seeing a professional counselor, and by writing down what I was going through in a journal.

But this idea of keeping silent continued to bother me. I did some research while in my recovery and found out that each year, suicide kills over one million people worldwide… and that many of those one million never speak up about their emotional pain because of stigma.

I had to figure out a way to reach people like that. So, like any other actor, writer, or comedian living in New York City whose life dealt them a crappy hand, I created a one-man show… and it toured theatres and universities in the United States, Canada, England, and Australia—and people were getting help.

But I had to keep talking because this isn’t just a Rivedal problem or United States problem… it’s a world problem.

I had to get other people to tell their stories, so I started The i’Mpossible Project. Why? Because storytelling is one of our oldest traditions—yes, even older than the hokey pokey. Stories can make us laugh or cry… or both at the same time. They can teach, inspire and even ignite an entire movement.

The stories of The i’Mpossible Project are about overcoming obstacles, reengaging with life, and creating new possibilities—a son’s homicide, a transgender man finding love, and even coming back from the brink of suicide (you can read a couple of the stories HERE)… because it’s okay to be struggling, it’s okay to need help; people have your back… there’s hope.

While searching for other movers and shakers, people who have a powerful story—I came across Rachel Brummert and the Quinolone Vigilance Foundation. Talk about someone who has been to hell (several times… phew) and back all because of one antibiotic, a quinolone called Levaquin that turned out to be poisonous. Rachel fought hard, and is still fighting, taking care of the harmful physical effects Levaquin had on her body, and then using her experience to help others. This is the beauty of the human experience and the power of storytelling. This is why I had to have Rachel as one of the fifty authors in the new i’Mpossible Project book.

It’s been four years since my own crisis and life is definitely looking up. The acting and writing thing is going well, I have a great girlfriend; but most important I’m able to give and receive help and love, and with hard work I’m able to stay mentally well—all because I took a risk and told my story.

No matter what society says, it’s COOL (as in “okay”) to tell your story. Don’t ever forget that you are important, and your story needs to be heard so we, the human race, can learn how to live and love better. #iampossible

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Effective September 16, 2015, you can pre-order a copy of the new The i’Mpossible Project book at www.iampossibleproject.com/one. The book will be released on January 13, 2016.

Press Release: http://www.bizjournals.com/prnewswire/press_releases/2015/09/16/MN02683



About the Author


Josh Rivedal (founder, executive director of The i'Mpossible Project) is an author, actor, playwright, and international public speaker on suicide prevention, mental health, and diversity. He curated the 50-story inspirational anthology The i’Mpossible Project: Reengaging With Life Creating a New You. He wrote and developed the one-man play, Kicking My Blue Genes in The Butt (KMBB), which has toured extensively throughout the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. He writes for the Huffington Post. His memoir The Gospel According to Josh: A 28-Year Gentile Bar Mitzvah, based on KMBB and published by Skookum Hill in 2013, is on The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention’s recommended reading list.


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About Rachel Brummert

Rachel Brummert, one of 50 authors in the The i’Mpossible Project: Reengaging With Life Creating a New You book, is Executive Director of the Quinolone Vigilance Foundation. She became disabled after taking the fluoroquinolone antibiotic Levaquin in 2006, which was inappropriately prescribed to her. Ms Brummert shares her story of Fluoroquinolone Toxicity  and how she worked to overcome it. 100% of the proceeds from Ms Brummert's participation in the book will be donated to the Quinolone Vigilance Foundation.












Note from the Quinolone Vigilance Foundation:  It is a well established fact that fluoroquinolone antibiotics such as Avelox, Cipro, and Levaquin can cause depression, anxiety, and suicidal thoughts. In addition, people who suffer adverse reactions from these toxic medications can be in enormous pain, which also lead to suicidal thoughts. We have compiled a list of suicide hotlines in the United States and worldwide. If you have suicidal thoughts, we urge you to reach out to a hotline in your geographic location. 

Sunday, September 6, 2015

What I Want People To Know About Fluoroquinolone Toxicity







Explaining fluoroquinolone toxicity can be challenging. At Quinolone Vigilance Foundation, we hear from many people who are affected by fluoroquinolones, and many of us within the foundation have been affected ourselves.

We have compiled some information that we “floxies” want you to know about Fluoroquinolone Toxicity.



Everyone is different

  • The adverse reactions run the spectrum. What one person experiences can vary greatly from someone else.



Physical and emotional toll

  • Fluoroquinolone toxicity can steal my self worth every day. It keeps me from things I enjoy and things I need to do.

  • My “good” days are not the same as your good days. In my world, a good day might mean I don't cry from pain, or it might mean I made it off the couch for a few minutes. On a really good day it might mean that I can make it to the store and there is no guarantee of when I will be able to do that again. It varies from day to day. Sometimes even minute to minute.



The role of family and friends

  • I can't control when I will have a flare-up. I could have a flare up minutes before I have plans, and I am not using it as an excuse to cancel plans. I need you to not take it personally and be understanding. I hate it just as much as you do, if not more.
  • This requires my loved ones to be understanding and open minded. Not everyone can be and that is detrimental to my health if I have to battle this alone.

  • THIS IS A REAL CONDITION  with research and data backing it up. Do not reject something you do not understand and if you want to help me, please educate yourself about what I am going through.

  • The most important and helpful thing you could do for me is BELIEVE ME.



The struggle is real

  • Fluoroquinolone toxicity can injure, disable, and kill. It is a serious condition that has no blanket treatment and no cure.

  • It does not change who I am. It does change what I can do.



  It's not what you think

  • I am not lazy and I am not making this up.

  • I did not choose this. It happened to me because I was not warned by my doctor and I may pay for that for the rest of my life.

  • Fluoroquinolone toxicity is an invisible illness, just like 96% of chronic illnesses. I could look fine on the outside and suffer immeasurably on the inside.

  • This has no cure. The remedies you try to push on me could actually put my health in more jeopardy. What works for one person, could kill someone else. If I say no to the remedy you suggest or push on me, it is not rejecting you. It is valuing my health enough to know what could make me sicker.




I also want you to know what adverse reactions are associated with fluoroquinolones.



Adverse Reactions Associated with Fluoroquinolones

  • Tendinitis
  • Tendon rupture
  • Ligament rupture
  • Meniscus tear in knee
  • Joint pain/popping
  • Muscle atrophy/weakness/pain
  • Degeneration of spinal disks
  • Peripheral neuropathy/nerve pain/nerve damage
  • Fatigue
  • Dental pain
  • Facial pain/numbness
  • Muscle twitching/involuntary spasms
  • Tremors
  • Insomnia
  • Brain fog
  • Anxiety/depression
  • Impaired memory
  • Speech/aphasia
  • Suicidal ideation
  • Seizures
  • Visual/auditory hallucinations
  • Non-allergy itching
  • Poor wound healing
  • Swallowing deficit
  • Persistent gastric problems
  • Mouth sores
  • Food/chemical sensitivities
  • Dry/itchy eyes
  • Lack of tear production
  • Visual changes
  • Retina tears
  • Vertigo
  • Tinnitus
  • Palpitations/arrhythmia
  • High/low blood pressure
  • Dysautonomia



And I want you to know the names of fluoroquinolones so that this doesn't happen to you too.




Oral Fluoroquinolones
  • Avelox (moxifloxacin)
  • Cipro (ciprofloxacin)
  • Factive (gemifloxacin)
  • Floxin (ofloxacin)
  • Levaquin (levafloxacin)
  • Noroxin (norfloxacin)
  • Maxaquin (lomefloxacin)
  • Penetrex (enoxacin)

Fluoroquinolone Eye Drops
  • Besivance (besifloxacin)
  • Cetraxal, Ciloxan (ciprofloxacin)
  • Iquix, Quixin (levofloxacin)
  • Ocuflox (ofloxacin)
  • Vigamox (moxifloxacin)
  • Zymar (gatifloxacin)
  • Moxeza (moxifloxacin)

Fluoroquinolone Ear Drops
  • Cetraxal, Ciprodex (ciprofloxacin)
  • Floxin (ofloxacin)
  • Xtoro (finafloxacin)
Veterinary Fluoroquinolones
  • Advocin, Advocid (danofloxacin)
  • Baytril (enrofloxacin)
  • Dicural, Vetequinon (difloxacin)
  • Floxasol, Saraflox, Sarafin (sarafloxacin)
  • Ibaflin (ibafloxacin)
  • Marbocy, Zeniquin (marbofloxacin)
  • Orbax, Victas (orbifloxacin)



For more information, go to www.SaferPills.org

Tuesday, September 1, 2015

Washington Post article about Fluoroquinolone Toxicity by Idelle Davidson






Excerpt from Washington Post article 'It pays to read the warnings when you open up a prescription' by Idelle Davidson. To read the full article, click here

"Plaintiffs claim that the company failed to adequately warn physicians of the risk of tendon injuries associated with Levaquin, a drug with about $1.3 billion in sales in the United States in 2010. Most cases have been settled or dismissed.


Separately, about 60 product liability cases are pending in federal court against Johnson & Johnson and against Bayer for Cipro and Avelox, alleging their products caused irreversible peripheral neuropathy or nerve damage and were sold without adequate warnings of risk. Helping coordinate the effort is the patient advocacy group Quinolone Vigilance Foundation

Rachel Brummert, executive director of the foundation, says the pharmaceutical industry should do more to warn physicians of the risk of injury. “Doctors are largely in the dark,” she says. “The few patients who are warned are not told that these adverse reactions can be permanent.”



This article has been picked up by Tulsa World and the Hartford Courant.




Author Idelle Davidson Davidson writes about health and is co-author of “Your Brain After Chemo: A Practical Guide to Lifting the Fog and Getting Back Your Focus.”
 Idelle Davidson