Levaquin and cardiologist

I was diagnosed as having Bronchitis. I have cardio vascular disease; have had 4 heart attacks. A doctor prescribed Levaquin 500mg for seven days. I started getting pain in my left leg about the 4th day of taking the Levaquin. I started having difficulty breathing and found myself gasping for air especially at night. I just thought the infection was getting worse and I finished the 7 day of pills. After that time I got a rash on my body, shortness of breath continued, my eyes were swelling up, had little urine flow, got cramps in my feet, thighs, neck and arms and I gained 20 pounds of fluid even though I was not eating much and swelled up like a water balloon in my abdomen and down to my feet. I went back to the doctors office, had a different doctor which she said I was having heart problems. She ran blood tests to check the heart and liver, took another x-ray, gave me a drug to test my urine flow and when the results of the blood test came back I was told I had an enlarged heart, fluid in my heart cavity and referred to schedule an appointment in two weeks with a cardiologist.

Then the doctor asked me if the previous doctor knew I had heart disease and I said yes. This doctor informed me it looks like you had an allergic reaction to something. She then prescribed a blood pressure and diuretic for me to relive fluid and released me, I took the diuretic one day did not relieve any additional fluid became constipated and I immediately stopped taking the water pill.

I then went to a third doctor four days later since I got no help from the first or second doctor for the shortness of breath, fluid retention,swelling and shortness of breath.
This doctor asked me what medication I had taken I informed him Levaquin and he proceeded to tell me they were having trouble and bad effects in some people taking Levaquin. I felt relieved because I had read the warnings that came with the medication and I confirmed I had certain allergic effects from the drug. The doctor then took a blood and urine test told me to come back in four days until the blood test results come in. I am extremely angry at the medical profession and the treatment I have received for their failure to treat the side effects of the prescribed medication I was given, I even read Lefaquin has caused cardiac collapse in some patients so why on earth would a doctor prescribe this medicine to a person with cardio vascular disease? I am sitting here suffering the side effects and they are out of the office not having a concern to my suffering just lining their pockets Monday through Friday with cash, Our medical and drug systems are broken and no one is attempting to repair them to my knowledge.

PLEASE PEOPLE, LIST YOUR PROGRESS! DON'T JUST POST A COMPLAINT AND NOT FOLLOW UP.

However, here's what happened to me. I took one pill of levaquin on january 20th, 2007. One hour after taking the pill i felt my heart beating hard. I had night sweats and hallucinations and i refused to take another pill. The next night I awoke breathing heavily. My arms felt havy, my arm pits felt swollen, and my left leg, my calf and heel were feeling tight. I am only 31 yrs old and a non smoker/non drinker, and I thought I was having a Heart Attack. I went to the ER and everything was normal... EKG, Blood to oxygen levels were fine and so forth. However, the symptoms subsided after a week, then suddenly returned on februrary 16th... heart pounding very hard, sense of anxiousness, dread, confusion, left arm hurt, left leg felt heavy and hurt once again. So went to a cardiologist... he took an echo, and ran some blood tests... everything was FINE!!! I don't understand this at all. I am no feeling better and its march 1st. I really hope the side effects don't return once again. My heart is finally beating ok. Any one else with similar side effects? AND DO THEY EVER STOP!!! LOL... GEEZ. I only took ONE PILL... Also, I will check back in after a month and update all of you on my progress. Unlike these other people who post these horrible side effects, and never repost.

Until I read some of these stories, I didn't know it might be the Levaquin tearing my whole body to pieces. I have been on 750mg. once daily for 2 weeks now for a severe sinus infection. I have 9 more days of it, but I'm calling my doctor in the am. I've had diarrhea for 2 weeks, and increasing muscle and bone pain that started in my lower back, now down through my legs, hands and fingers swollen and going to sleep all the time, tho this seems to have stopped...not the pain in every joint in my body is excrutiating. I really can't walk anymore, can't pick up my legs, have tremors in my hands, fingers, unbelievable pain in every bone in my body! I also have an active infection in my gall bladder and now a gall baldder attack. My gall bladder has to be removed asap. My potassium dropped to critical, 2.4 and my Internal Medicine Dr. can't seem to get it back up. I take blood tests every day to check my potassium level.

My sinus specialist prescribed this med for me. My hips and legs keep locking up and I'm afraid of what's happening to me. I have to have surgery now, and my body won't function. I will talk to both doctors tomorrow...and to my cardiologist. This medicine shouldn't be on the market. I hope there's a lawsuit...My neice went into kidney failure from Levaquin a few years ago. I didn't have any idea it was the meds until I found this site.
Is this reversible or permanent?