Side Effects May Include...

Last night, I finished my antibiotic (clarithromycin 500) and I'm so incredibly happy about that!

One of the things that baffles me about medication, particularly prescription medication, are all of the side effects. One of the points of a prescription is it's suppose to make you feel better. In point of fact, while it may eradicate whatever primary cause ails you, it creates residual effects that take away the blessedness and gratitude you might otherwise feel as a result of remedying the primary ailment.

I'm glad I'm no longer at risk for bronchitis or pneumonia or a pneumo-thorax from this latest battle with the crud, but some days I'd almost take the coughing, hacking, and congestion over the nausea, constipation, metallic taste in the back of my throat, and headache I had with my antibiotic regimen.

Still, I learned how to handle nausea quite effectively. If I ever have to have this antibiotic again, here's the trick: a small sandwich with some protein on it (turkey, ham, whatever), a banana, and 12 ounces of some kind of liquid (I chose really cold orange juice for the vitamin C boost.) Follow all of that with the pill you're suppose to take. To deal with the metallic taste, I followed up the pill shortly after with a stick of Trident Original flavor. As for the headache, which was actually a migraine, I couldn't do much for that. Seems the antibiotic and my migraine medication are no-nos together. (And thank goodness the pharmacist told me that, otherwise, I wouldn't have known. I love it when my doctor doesn't tell me these things, but the pharmacist does. Makes me want to call the doctor and ask for a refund on my co-pay!)

Anyway--point is, I'm done with my meds and hopefully on the road to wellness. Sunday was Daylight Saving Time (early this year in the States) and that, combined with numerous trees, shrubs, and flowers blossoming in anticipation of springtime, makes me feel hopeful and healthy and happy!

Lame, I Know

Okay, I know it's lame to point out when I'm mentioned on DC Blogs. It smacks of blatant self-indulgence and maybe even a smackerel of insecurity. Whatever. I'm having a happy moment today because one of my pictures from my photo blog is being used as the banner photo on DC Blogs! Yeah photo! See. Looky!



P.S. My friend, Tickle the Pear, was with me the day I took this picture.