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Wednesday, September 17th, 2003 09:53 pm
me and my doctor chat
First of all, he's way too young to be my doctor, which I think means I can officially say I am an adult. He's about thirty, which makes him my age range, and for some reason, that makes me nervous. I don't trust myself with a thermometer, so why the *hell* would I trust someone *my age* to decide what the hell to do with a sinus infection? I remember college, and I remember the pre-med guys on Saturday nights, 'kay? I want someone over fifty. Someone there is absolutely no possibility I got drunk with at any time during my experimental period at college, and absolutely no possibility my best friend slept with and I had to give coffee before kicking him out.
I mean, zero.
But this is what I got.
He did the exam thing, as when he finally came in, I was laying out on that extremely uncomfortable examining table, hoping against hope he'd just say, you're dying, here, let me sedate you so you can get some sleep before the great hereafter. But really, when has my luck been anywhere near that good? The saddest part is, I almost fell asleep lying there, becaue it was cool, dry, and for the first time in days, I couldn't smell anything vaguely floral. If I'd been able to *breathe*, I'm sure I would have been embarassed, but I ran out of humiliation around the time I had to explain all the body fluid issues I was having thanks to this horror. So I stared at him dumbly and wracked my brains for bad jokes to lessen the nightmare.
He was kind enough to laugh, but unfortunately, he took my entire "let me die now" as the joke. Dammit.
Anyway, he kicked up my antibiotics to what I'd lovingly describe as small bowling balls and issued me a steriod called prednisone, which is basically my last faint hope of enjoying life, the great outdoors, and clear breathing again.
Which I was *all for*, you know, but then the stupid idea that patients should be aware of the side effects thing suddenly kicked in and the bastard turned out to be ethical.
Him: There's some side effects.
Me: Mmm hmm.
Him: You might have some insomnia.
Me: Welcome to my life.
Him: *laughs politely* Also, a little nausea.
Me: Okay.
Him: If you begin to throw up blood, however, call me immediately.
Me: Blood?
Him: Also a little dizziness. However, if you pass out, call me immediately.
Me: Pass out?
Him: Also can cause mood swings--you may find yourself crying one second and just overjoyed the next for no reason.
Me: How will I distinguish this from my normal behavior?
Him: *more polite laughter. Poor man.* But if it becomes too severe, go to the ER and discontinue use. Also eat a meal before you take this.
Me: ER....
Him: This can cause your stomach to bleed. And here's a handy reference sheet to explain the other possible side effects. I hope you feel better soon, Jennifer.
Me: ER?
Of course, the pharmacist gave me the OTHER fact sheet, with a laundry list of how many millions of ways this can slowly cause me to wish I'd never been born.
Yay health officials.
But as everyone can see, I'm an optimist. I've heard meteors can hit unexpectedly and destroy all life, and so you know, there's always hope.
*****
Reasons to Live
After sleeping half the day away, fighting with everyone that held still long enough to ask how I was, and generally creating a climate of unrelenting hostility that I am sure is going to pretty much fuck up any possible decent eulogy anyone will ever write for me, I ducked away to drown myself in SV and QaF vids and fics.
1.) Brian, naked. Like![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
sisabet says, the man gives and *gives*
2.) Lex, naked. Unfortunately, not canonically, but with any kind of decent luck, someone will catch MR skinny dipping and sell the photos to whatever degenerate magazine takes those so I can buy them and obsess over them in the privacy of my home. What the HELL happened to the evil papparazzi anyway? They are totally falling behind here.
3.) Hershey's Hugs. I ate--too many. Let's leave it at that.
4.) I weigh one forty-eight, which is so good for my ego you have no idea.
5.) Provided I survive, meeting Bethy for five days of absolute nothing on a beach in two weeks. I have every intention of making her help me stalk any male worth the effort of shaving my legs for.
6.) The sheer joy of baiting my sister with pictures from her pregnancy when her ankles swelled up.
7.) Child telling everyone about Jesus Christ Brian and how Lex will rule the world. I *love* this kid.
8.) The survival of the hermit crabs, despite a jail break leading to a house-wide search for teh little fuckers. In the bathroom, by the way. Living rocks with feet, I tell you.
9.) Mint chocolate cheesecake.
10.) I still fit into my cheerleading uniform and am considering it as a Halloween costume. Because I really, really am pathetic. Anyone know where I can pick up some discount pom-poms?
/drama queen day
I mean, zero.
But this is what I got.
He did the exam thing, as when he finally came in, I was laying out on that extremely uncomfortable examining table, hoping against hope he'd just say, you're dying, here, let me sedate you so you can get some sleep before the great hereafter. But really, when has my luck been anywhere near that good? The saddest part is, I almost fell asleep lying there, becaue it was cool, dry, and for the first time in days, I couldn't smell anything vaguely floral. If I'd been able to *breathe*, I'm sure I would have been embarassed, but I ran out of humiliation around the time I had to explain all the body fluid issues I was having thanks to this horror. So I stared at him dumbly and wracked my brains for bad jokes to lessen the nightmare.
He was kind enough to laugh, but unfortunately, he took my entire "let me die now" as the joke. Dammit.
Anyway, he kicked up my antibiotics to what I'd lovingly describe as small bowling balls and issued me a steriod called prednisone, which is basically my last faint hope of enjoying life, the great outdoors, and clear breathing again.
Which I was *all for*, you know, but then the stupid idea that patients should be aware of the side effects thing suddenly kicked in and the bastard turned out to be ethical.
Him: There's some side effects.
Me: Mmm hmm.
Him: You might have some insomnia.
Me: Welcome to my life.
Him: *laughs politely* Also, a little nausea.
Me: Okay.
Him: If you begin to throw up blood, however, call me immediately.
Me: Blood?
Him: Also a little dizziness. However, if you pass out, call me immediately.
Me: Pass out?
Him: Also can cause mood swings--you may find yourself crying one second and just overjoyed the next for no reason.
Me: How will I distinguish this from my normal behavior?
Him: *more polite laughter. Poor man.* But if it becomes too severe, go to the ER and discontinue use. Also eat a meal before you take this.
Me: ER....
Him: This can cause your stomach to bleed. And here's a handy reference sheet to explain the other possible side effects. I hope you feel better soon, Jennifer.
Me: ER?
Of course, the pharmacist gave me the OTHER fact sheet, with a laundry list of how many millions of ways this can slowly cause me to wish I'd never been born.
Yay health officials.
But as everyone can see, I'm an optimist. I've heard meteors can hit unexpectedly and destroy all life, and so you know, there's always hope.
*****
Reasons to Live
After sleeping half the day away, fighting with everyone that held still long enough to ask how I was, and generally creating a climate of unrelenting hostility that I am sure is going to pretty much fuck up any possible decent eulogy anyone will ever write for me, I ducked away to drown myself in SV and QaF vids and fics.
1.) Brian, naked. Like
sisabet says, the man gives and *gives*2.) Lex, naked. Unfortunately, not canonically, but with any kind of decent luck, someone will catch MR skinny dipping and sell the photos to whatever degenerate magazine takes those so I can buy them and obsess over them in the privacy of my home. What the HELL happened to the evil papparazzi anyway? They are totally falling behind here.
3.) Hershey's Hugs. I ate--too many. Let's leave it at that.
4.) I weigh one forty-eight, which is so good for my ego you have no idea.
5.) Provided I survive, meeting Bethy for five days of absolute nothing on a beach in two weeks. I have every intention of making her help me stalk any male worth the effort of shaving my legs for.
6.) The sheer joy of baiting my sister with pictures from her pregnancy when her ankles swelled up.
7.) Child telling everyone about Jesus Christ Brian and how Lex will rule the world. I *love* this kid.
8.) The survival of the hermit crabs, despite a jail break leading to a house-wide search for teh little fuckers. In the bathroom, by the way. Living rocks with feet, I tell you.
9.) Mint chocolate cheesecake.
10.) I still fit into my cheerleading uniform and am considering it as a Halloween costume. Because I really, really am pathetic. Anyone know where I can pick up some discount pom-poms?
/drama queen day
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From:Hey, do me a favor real fast and email me your AIM name?
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From:Encouragement? Love? Support? *sighs* Modern life. No sympathy what-so-ever.
Your DOG? *blinks*
*curious* What does he take it for?
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From:I'm more concerned that your doctor asked you to call him should you pass out. This *may* be a physical impossibility. Personally, I've never been able to make a call while unconscious. That my be just me.
*Still mulling Lex naked*
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From:See, THIS is supportive! *hugs* especially teh meteor thing.
I'm more concerned that your doctor asked you to call him should you pass out. This *may* be a physical impossibility. Personally, I've never been able to make a call while unconscious. That my be just me.
I didn't think of that. Wow, and to think I'd thought I'd hit all worse case scenarios. Maybe some kind of out of body experinece thing going on? Must consider.
*Still mulling Lex naked*
If everyone did it more often, we'd be a happier world.
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From:Prednisone is something that an asthmatic (like myself) takes when oh, having trouble breathing for about a week. It makes you flushed- and there may be some testiness. But on the upside, any floatiness is usually welcomed- as you feel like crap anyhow, and it works. Truly.
Feel better.
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From:*hugs* Thanks for the vote of confidence.
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From:You're welcome.
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From:Mmmmm... Cheerleader!Jenn... *leers* Okay, can we tell someone recently watched "Bring It On" (yet again)? Eliza Dushku, Kirsten Dunst and very short skirts...
Well, I help the medication works without any horrors occuring, Jenn. Meanwhile, this piece of advice cracks me up:
However, if you pass out, call me immediately.
Heh. The logic of this astounds me.
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From:So far so good. I really, REALLY need to stop being so upbeat. This is always when the guy wiht the hocky mask comes out of the closet with a knife.
Yep, I'm a cheerful girl.
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From:*wonders at Jenn's logic*
Nah, better to be cheerful. Most people have to pay to feel this good. Enjoy it while it lasts. *g*
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From:Bwahahaha! So is he pitching these theories to receptive people only, or to all and sundry? And how are all and sundry reacting, if they're hearing the pitch?
Should you ever get bored with Child,* I think I could be prevailed upon to adopt him. Any six year old who prosthelytizes about Lex ruling the world is OK by me.
*an impossibility, I know
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From:The survival of the hermit crabs, despite a jail break leading to a house-wide search for teh little fuckers. In the bathroom, by the way. Living rocks with feet, I tell you.
You probably already know this, but just in case. They were probably in search of humidity. They can breathe air but only if it's very humid. If you have a humidifier, it would be a good idea to set it up over their tank. If not, they need to be misted several times a day. I just read an article in the paper recently about their recent popularity as pets, and it said most of them die because of a lack of humidity.
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From:You probably already know this, but just in case. They were probably in search of humidity. They can breathe air but only if it's very humid. If you have a humidifier, it would be a good idea to set it up over their tank. If not, they need to be misted several times a day. I just read an article in the paper recently about their recent popularity as pets, and it said most of them die because of a lack of humidity.
We keep them in the kitchen. Luckily, Texas is humid as hell and we soak them every other day in a bowl of water. They're vaguely cute, at a distance. But please never ask my first reaction to seeing one on the bathroom floor during the search.
Child STILL laughs about that. Grrr.
*hugs happily*
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From:Every time I go to see him I think that I am dying. He involves me in conversation about the latest Star Trek incarnation and gives me some drugs. I love this man.
I don't think you do anyone any favors by telling them about side effects, however. Last time I used a medication I made a point of not reading the side-effect list -- that way, a few days later when I got some mild ones, I knew I wasn't psychosomatizing them. Did you ever read the side effect list on birth-control pills? Temporary blindness. My god.
Hope the meds work.
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From:When companies test drugs, they are required to list all of the side-effects people have while on the drug. So, for instance, if someone with undiagnosed epilepsy has a seizure while taking medication for high blood pressure, even though the seizure had nothing to do with the medication, they're still required to list it. It's CYA to the Nth degree.
Hope you feel better soon.
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From:Prednisone? Well, it's an... interesting medication. I don't want to alarm you, but apart from the mood swings and joint aches, you might gain some weight since it messes with your metabolism. You'll store more fluid and burn less fat. You can also get food cravings like you wouldn't believe. :) The good news is that it really works very well (and quickly.) Most of the side effects occur after long-term usage and/or with higher dosages. Vomiting blood is an *extremely* rare side effect, so it's nothing to worry about.
Hope you feel better soon.
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