Old People Problems

While I'm not an old person by age, my body is somewhat older than my chronological age. I've suffered from hypertension since I was a teenager, and refused to have it treated until my mid-20s (simply because only old people would have such a disease, right?).

Since then, I've been prescribed a medicine cabinet of anti-hypertension medications. The thing about these drugs is they do have side-effects. Today I was reminded of one side-effect if you fail to take one of your pills. In downing my grandma-sized handful of pills this morning, I unknowingly dropped a pill on the floor. It turned out that pill was a beta-blocker. By 3PM I was out of my mind, a heart rate of 100+/minute, and lightheadedness.

Luckily, a bought of collective sanity allowed me to deduce that I must have not taken one of my pills this morning. Returning to the location of my pill dispenser, I spied a white pill on the floor; it was the culprit! I went ahead and took it, because I couldn't imagine a night spent in that shape. My heart pounding out of my chest and my ears ringing were enough to set my mind.

Some people say they don't notice when they miss a dose of their blood pressure meds, but, unlike them, I certainly know when I've missed a dose!

Now with almost 30 minutes passed since I took my little white pill--and a resting heart rate safely in the 70s (and still falling)--I feel much more at ease and calm.

Strange Dream

Unlike Freud and Jung, I give little credence to the validity of dreams outside of the realm of sleep.

But last night gave me pause to reflect on what dreams may really mean, in terms of the body communicating with the mind.

My dream consisted of being a student. I was working on a worksheet. Strangely, I was the teacher and also the student. Someone said that the worksheet was very hard, so I decided to sit down and work out the answers myself.

While the majority of the worksheet was incredibly easy, I was baffled by a particular word. The word that I kept seeing and saying to myself was syncope.

Strangely, syncope is a medical term. I knew that in my dream; however, I couldn't relate it to the history worksheet that I was completing. I scanned through the chapter in the textbook that the worksheet covered. I could read the other words, but no sign of syncope. Being a dutiful student, I turned to the glossary. No help there. Then I turned to the index, feeling more anxious and confused. Still, there was no help.

I knocked the book off of the table where I was working. I wrote down, it deals with the heart and fainting.

Ironically, the feelings that I had in the dream were signs of syncope!

What does it mean? Was my dream attempting to tell me about something going on in my body? Is it a foreboding message?

Merry Christmas to me!

Healthcare

The CDC reports that about 2.5 million more Americans now have health insurance because of what Republicans have termed "Obamacare."

I say if there are 2,500,000 people (and young people, too) who now have access to decent healthcare insurance, then Obamacare is a perfectly acceptable program in my book!

Sinus & Allergies

I spent part of today at the doctor's office. My allergies have been killing me this season. I usually can control them with Zyrtec or Allegra and a little Flonase, but not this time. In fact, it had escalated--like things often do--into a sinus and lung infection.

I received two shots in the butt: Rocephin and Decadron. Also, prescriptions for Cipro, Prednisone and Singulair. I felt like I could run a mile shortly after receiving my Decadron injection! There's nothing like a steroid to take you out of a funk.

I was also quite surprised when my opinion was sought on my preference for an oral antibiotic. I was asked how I liked the infamous Z-Pack. I said, "No way!" Usually, I have to bring up that conversation. I just don't care for it. So I opted for Cipro. I don't know why some doctors see azithromycin as the cure all for all ailments. One day I'll be diagnosed with AIDS or cancer and the doctor will put me on a Z-Pack!

Seriously!