Pharmacology is not always our friend

For a while now (almost 6 years) I have been dealing with a hernieated disc in my neck and the resultant pain and suffering.  I have tried accupuncture, massage, narcotics, chiropractic, you name it for pain. Then my doc prescribed what, at the time, seemed to be a wonder drug for me.  It took away the pain and *hey* I lost a couple of pounds too.  What could be better.

Except then I started having some wicked side effects from said wonder drug.  I will spare you the details, suffice it to say, my GI tract hated me. 

So I decided that neck pain was better than feeling like I was dying in the abdominal area all the time and I started tapering off the medication (on the advice of my MD).  The taper went well, I started feeling better in the tummy area and finally I was human again (except for my neck). This lasted about a week.

Suddenly I woke up one morning about 4 days ago and I felt a bit like Alice in Wonderland when she eats some of the good drugs.  My body was all disconnected from my brain in ways I cannot even explain.  The literature calls it "brain zaps".  The best way I can explain it is that it feels like my nerve endings are fried and not connecting to each other, a sort of shocking feeling and my vision is all stuttery.  Add to this a constant migraine (oh yes, this is also a known withdrawal side effect).  I.HATE.THIS.DRUG.  This can all go on for WEEKS.  Even though I tapered off very slowly, the side effects too a week after my last dose to even show up.

Dear friends, I will admit.  I woke up this morning and took one of my Cymbalta pills, and then called my MD and asked for a lower dose, slower taper.  This is unbearable.  And unconcionable.  How this med made it past the FDA is beyond me.  It should be banned. 

I am not a happy nurse right now.  :(

Typing with one eye closed is a bad idea

I just reread my last post and giggled at all the typos and bad grammar. Very tired was I and quite possibly a little high on some pain meds. But I am pleased with my new blog design (except for the font color of the bio...still have to work on that).

Today was spent on an ethics test. Tough subject matter (physician assisted suicide and passive and active euthanasia) and in the middle I decided to research transferring to U of Maui finish my degree. I'm not sure it is possible but I am still considering looking into it. I am not excited about leaving this beautiful place or my amazing husband in 6 short weeks.

Ok I know I promised a breezy update and it IS coming but it is 12:10 AM and I will no doubt be awake at 5:00 when the roosters start up...yes Maui has a chicken problem. Oy.

Aloha!

First blog on my newly redesigned blog

I'm in Maui, I am sick, I have taken some serious medications to help me to sleep and hopefully not alternatively cough and say "ow" all night related to that pesky kidney stone that doesn't seem to ever want to come out.  This could have effected some of the color choices and text decisions  of my new blog design (do you like it?).  And of course any of the odd words that may appear in this blog.  I am making a disclaimer up front.  I am typing with one eye closed because, of course when you are seeing double it only makes sense to close one eye, right?

I need to go to bed and get some rest and hopefully feel better.  I promise a long and windy update soon.  My one sad thing I need to say today is that I accidently fell in LOVE with a house in Kula today.  So did Allen.  We were so in love with it we were considering how to write offers etc (this is totally not in our plan right now).  Then we emailed the listing to our daughter and she called and said, "What does this mean where is says you have to be 50% Hawaiian to buy and qualify for blah blah blah?  I stopped listening at the 50% Hawaiian part because I immediately knew that it was a Hawaiian Family Homes property and we would never be able to buy it.  I also lost a part of my soul  It was so sad.  I almost cried.  Alas, there will be other homes..but this wat the home.   Ah well.

Ok my eyes are crossing, time to drag my carcass to bed.  Love to you all!  More on my adventures when I am actually conscious!

~R

R