June 24, 2005

Side Effects Gone Wild

I read what the pharmacist gave me with Stacey’s prescription, the info sheets with the side effects and contraindications and all that stuff for the methyl prednilisone. I don’t know that the information is relevant since she is taking 125 of the 4 mg. pills per day. The pharmacist didn’t want to fill the prescription. You’d think that I was trying to get the day-after pill. I convinced the pharmacist I wasn’t working for the Cleveland Indians, but she had only a one-day supply in stock and I was able to get that.

Nowhere in the info sheets I read does it say anything about several side effects of the medication. We got home at 10 minutes to 10 at night, and Stacey told me to get the vacuum cleaner. We cleaned the entire downstairs, washing all the floors. We hulled eight quarts of strawberries and Stacey made some kind of cottage cheese, strawberry, and cool whip concoction. We rearranged the living room furniture, and I carried a chair out to the garage. I suggested that we head upstairs to go to sleep, but her steroid-enhanced observational powers detected that the rug in the family room was slightly misaligned; so, I had to move the futon and align the rug properly to her exacting specifications.

It’s 1:35 a.m. I finally got her upstairs. Who remakes the bed before getting into bed? Apparently, before turning down the covers, they had to be perfectly smoothed out. I am afraid to object. Who knows what havoc she might wreak upon me in a ’roid rage. She continues to talk. She will not shut up as she shakes her leg while it sticks off the edge of the bed. The whole bed is shaking. The only break I get from the incessant talking and the quivering bed is when she cycles her bedside fan on and off and sings songs to the dogs. This behavior is found nowhere in the literature.

We have plans tomorrow. SHE has plans for me tomorrow. So far our plans tomorrow are Starbucks, grocery shopping, clean entire upstairs, dismantle Jackson’s loft bed and move it to the garage for the yard sale she is planning to hold on Saturday, borrow a friend’s truck and pick up new deck furniture, clean pool, weed pool area, some cooking, including making her pasta-tuna salad with the fresh peas that I have been instructed to buy at a roadside stand on the way back from my trip to the post office. Oh, yeah. I forgot about cleaning out the refrigerator, cleaning out under the kitchen sink, and cleaning the garage. Then I will take her to get the MRI done. I pray that I can crash on a couch in the waiting area and get some rest.

Unfortunately, I don't know what is in store for the evening after the MRI. I'm going to try to convince her that the yard sale is a bad idea. Maybe. I'll see how things are going.

Posted by Bill at June 24, 2005 01:51 AM
Comments

Oh my. I really feel for both of you. I once had an experience with prednisone, due to extreme poison oak. It is a miserable drug...and I was certainly no where near 125 pills a day.

Poor Stacey. Poor Bill. This all really sucks for you both. I am sending you every good wish and thought I can.

Posted by: moonandsun03 at June 24, 2005 12:31 PM

oh my. wow. i never even thought. they should have given her a mild sedative while she is on the steroids. i bet she didn't sleep, and wont until she is off. i am completely sympathetic to both of you. chronic illness bites the big one. for patient and caregiver.

that said. i totally want that strawberry stuff!

Posted by: jenB at June 25, 2005 01:44 AM