Adjusting

I've been taking my meds flawlessly. This is big for me since I'm HORRIBLE at remembering to take pills. Even when I'm sick--hacking up a lung from bronchitis, for example--I'll often forget. So being so diligent when I feel "well" (which, right now, I do) is a bit more challenging. Still, it hasn't been an easy few days, as my body adjusts to the medicine....

Day one: became flushed and starting sweating my ass off about 3 hours after my first dose.Was so miserable that I ALMOST felt bad for making fun of Mom and all of HER hot flashes. Menopause must be a whole different level of hell. Oddly, however, this profuse sweating was NOT one of the posted side effects so not sure what was going on there. Continued all day. Changed my Tshirt 3 times.

Days two and three: Sweating was gone but the thirst kicked in (this IS one of the known side effects). Drank 8 cans of pop and even more water each day. Moved into the bathroom since I was in there peeing so much anyway.

Days four and five: the thirst subsided and the drowsiness kicked in. Of course, "drowsy" is a typical state of being for me even when I'm NOT on drugs so I guess it was pretty much business as usual.

Day five: took a dose too long after eating. Laid in bed and prayed for death as a relief from the agoning, burning pain in my stomach. Had other gastronomic side effects as a result as well, of which I will spare you the details.

And that's where I am right now--pretty much drowsy but otherwise okay. Other than that, not feeling or seeing any changes yet, but I know that it'll be at least enough week and a half. The drowsiness sucks but it may be the lesser of evils, since many drugs have weight gain as a predominent side effect. And I'd rather be sleepy then gain back the weight I lost during my heartbreak phase a few weeks ago (hell, even with that little diet jump-start, I'm STILL carrying around that 8 extra pounds I picked up during my first year of teaching).

(Many people do report that lith. "numbs" or "dulls" them--I don't feel that yet.)

On the plus side, I finally mastered the pole back-bend that had me stymied. It was weird--one day, I was just able to DO it. Whoo hooo! Now I just have to nail the standing spins (I keep getting dizzy and staggering around like a drunken sailor--NOT as sexy as one might imagine).