Tone Parsons

I don’t like the drugs (but the drugs like me)

It’s already been a long day.

In the mornings, my wife drives me downtown to catch the bus. We’re always in a rush to get me there before it leaves the last stop (around 7:15) before getting on the freeway and heading out to Liberty Lake (the town I work in). Today, we missed it by about 30 seconds.

No problem, I can just hang out at the corner and catch the next one. There are several other buses that stop at the same corner, so while I wait, I wave them off (no point in stopping if I’m not going to get on). Unfortunately, after waiting 30 minutes for my bus, when it arrived I misread the number on it and waved it off.

Shit.

Now I have to wait another 30 minutes or so.

Of course, it was only about 22° (-6° c), so waiting outside for an hour pretty much sucked.

And that’s why I hate the damn drugs. They make me confused, rather unsteady on me feet, and for the most part, make me feel like total shit. Better living through chemistry, my ass! I did look up the side effects of the drug that’s kicking my butt. They are as follows:

drowsiness, tiredness or weakness, dizziness, headache, shaking of a part of your body that you cannot control, double or blurred vision, unsteadiness, anxiety, memory problems, strange or unusual thoughts, unwanted eye, movements, nausea, vomiting, heartburn, diarrhea, dry mouth, constipation, weight gain, swelling of the hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs, back or joint pain, fever, runny nose, sneezing, cough, sore throat, or flu-like symptoms, ear pain, red, itchy eyes (sometimes with swelling or discharge).

“Strange or unusual thoughts”? Hell, that’s me without the drugs!

This, of course, will pass… hopefully. The drug I’m on is for long term use so I’m stuck with it indefinitely (or until my Doctor decides to put me on something else). And I can’t just stop taking it…. that can cause seizures (and those aren’t fun!).

So… until I can drive my car again… if you’re in the downtown Spokane area around 7:10 am and happen to drive by Riverside and Brown, give me a wave… I’ll be standing in front of Praga (the Argentinean cafe on the corner).

2 comments

2 Comments so far

  1. Mike S February 2nd, 2007 2:20 pm

    I totally feel for ya about the drugs. I’ve been on so many for so much for so long that I no longer know what does what if anything for what symptom. Where do the drug induced symptoms leave off and the bodily symptoms begin, or vice versa. As you can tell, part of the side effects of each of my drugs is mental function disruption. Do ya ever feel as though you’re supporting a large part of the drug industry by yourself? How many pharmasists(sp) kids have we put through grad school? Take care & stay as warm as possible.

  2. Dad February 2nd, 2007 3:54 pm

    Damn, I got the same symptoms and I’m not even taking the drugs.