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I’m dropping this special episode because I want you to hear directly from my students why Toxin Free in 3 has changed their lives, and today’s conversation with Jenn might be the most powerful one yet.

In this raw and real interview, I’m talking with Jenn Cicci (Beauty in the Green), an integrative health practitioner who survived two rounds of fluoroquinolone antibiotics that left her unable to walk without braces due to tendon rupture, known as being floxed.

This was a well-known side effect her doctor never warned her about! Seven years later, she still can’t run and lives with permanent damage from what should have been informed consent.

But here’s what really got to me: Jenn told me she left my course completely fear-free after years of following practitioners on Instagram who were constantly sharing scare tactics. 

She said, “I left that course with no fear,” and I honestly got emotional hearing that because that’s exactly my goal: to give women mental and emotional armor to navigate the clean living space without panic.

In this episode, we’re chatting about:

• Fluoroquinolone toxicity
• Fear-based wellness content
• Functional medicine accessibility
• Alternative breast health screening

Jenn’s Story With Fluoroquinolone Antibiotics

Jenn got pneumonia about seven years ago and went to the emergency room. They put her on fluoroquinolone. 

People do not know this, but fluoroquinolones are given out like candy. They’re given out for urinary tract infection, which is so common. She just listened to my doctor. You go to the hospital and you just listen to what they want you to take. 

Jenn went home and after a couple days, her ankle was hurting and she couldn’t walk. She called her doctor and told him that she couldn’t walk and there’s something going on. She asked if it could be from something she’s taking. Her doctor reassured her that it was probably part of the virus. 

Jenn got sick again about a month later. Her doctor didn’t want to see her. He just put him right back on a fluoroquinolone and Levaquin.

A couple days later, her other ankle was hurting. At this point, she’s pretty much bedridden. 

Her aunt, who was teaching nursing, came to her house and Jenn started to explain her situation.  Her aunt asked to see what she was taking and said, “Oh my goodness, I’m teaching this right now in my class. This causes tendon rupture. You cannot take this. You need to call your doctor immediately.”

So Jenn called my doctor again and asked if he knew about this. He didn’t say anything. She started to do the research and there was a class action lawsuit happening at that time. She missed it by about a month. 

Jenn spent thousands on braces and everything else you could think of, like supplements and  steroids because she couldn’t walk. Steroids are contraindicated with fluoroquinolones and since that day, Jenn has not been able to run or go on long walks and has to wear a brace all the time. 

She has spoken to so many people who have also dealt with this and specialists to see if there’s anything else she could try. She’s finding out that there’s really no hope. If she has to take an antibiotic, it goes right to her ankle, which is crazy. If you have fluoroquinolone toxicity, they call it being floxed, you can’t take antibiotics because it goes to the point in your body that is the weakest, and that’s Jenn’s ankle. 

She’s still doing research, but is learning to live with it. 

She joined the podcast today to share the dangers of fluoroquinolone because it’s given to women all the time. It should be the absolute last resort, not the go-to option.

The Switch to Holistic Medicine

More and more women are flocking away from Western medicine and looking for functional, holistic medicine that doesn’t come with all these crazy side effects.

I had a wild experience with Claritin, which is an over the counter medicine for allergies. Millions of people take it, and might not realize that it’s causing some scary side effects.

We are desperate for doctors to listen to us, which means we have to advocate for ourselves. That’s one of the main things I teach in Toxin Free in 3. Advocacy is one of the best things you can learn. 

Take it from Jenn!

“It is worth every single penny. Honestly, I’ve taken so many different courses and this was the one course that I still re-listen to. It was one of the best investments that I made in terms of my education, for sure.”

Join the waitlist for Toxin Free in 3!

FAQs About Being Floxed

What causes fluoroquinolone toxicity?

It’s not fully understood yet, but research points to a mix of biochemical and physiological effects. Fluoroquinolone toxicity appears to be a multi-system, biochemical injury triggered by oxidative stress, mineral depletion, and interference with connective tissue and nerve repair. This is why symptoms can show up in muscles, joints, tendons, nerves, brain, and even the gut.

How soon after taking the antibiotic can symptoms appear?

Anywhere from a few hours to weeks after shopping it. The timing depends on your metabolism, health history, and the specific drug taken.

Are these side effects permanent?

Most side effects are temporary, but there are rarer cases where fluoroquinolones cause long-term or permanent damage, like it did for Jenn.

How can I prevent being floxed?

Avoid taking fluoroquinolones as much as possible, only taking them when absolutely necessary. Ask your doctor if there are safer alternatives for your infection. Do your own research to find more holistic alternatives.

Episode Links:

• Register for the Private Podcast: Toxins, Truth, and Taking Control
• Get on the Toxin Free in 3 Waiting List

Related Episodes:

Episode 5: 5 Holistic Remedies for Anxiety with Kristen Ramirez

Episode 108: My Crazy Side Effects From Claritin + Natural Remedies for Seasonal Allergies