Today I went to the urgent care clinic in town. Not my normal doctor, but my normal clinic is a bit of a drive and I had a lot to do today, so I thought I'd save time and just use the clinic here. The wait wasn't long, and the check-in nurse was pleasant (though he didn't even bother to look at the medication list I was told to fill out). When the doctor came in she really didn't do anything at all. She asked me if I had suffered an injury - not that I know of - then asked me to walk on my tip-toes, and on my heels, hold my hands out to the sides, then listened to my belly. Then she prescribed me an anti-inflammatory and a muscle relaxant, and told me that I should see a physical therapist and a family practice doctor because it may be my "girl parts" that are causing a problem. She did no tests, scans, or actual physical check of my back, and couldn't tell me what was wrong, just told me to take my pills and make follow-up appointments.
This left me frustrated. How can you prescribe me medications when you don't know the cause of the problem - or even what body part is the problem!? I'm no expert but I'm pretty certain the treatment for a herniated disc is not the same as the treatment for ovarian cancer or something related to "girl parts" (her words, not mine).
I'm leery of taking medications without absolutely needing them, and even then I try really hard to avoid taking any kind of medication. I was very clear with the doctor, I am the primary caretaker for five children. I absolutely cannot take a medication that will effect my ability to be conscious and aware. She assured me that neither medication would make me sleepy.
Both medications have a big label on the side that says "Caution: May Cause Dizziness" and both listed sleepiness as a potential side effect. One even said not to do anything that required concentration! Both have to be taken with food, and by then it was about lunch time, so we stopped and got some teriyaki chicken. I ate, and took my pills, and then we went home. I was sore and went to lay down until the pills kicked in. I put on Netflix, started watching a documentary, and soon started dozing off. I was freezing, so I bundled up under the blanket. I was shivering, but Tony said it was over 70 degrees in the house. I had to stop my show and pretty much blacked out. Several times Tony came in to ask me questions, and it felt like I was drowning. I heard him, and I woke up enough to gain some consciousness, but my body just wouldn't cooperate. There would be about a two second delay between me trying to respond and my body completely shutting down and me - still somewhat aware in my mind - thinking "but I'm still here... I'm trying to answer your question... I can't get my body to respond!" before I'd pass out again.
About four hours later I was finally able to start shrugging off the effects of these pills. I was simultaneously too hot (sweating in the blanket) and too cold (still needing a blanket), and my newfound headache was almost as bad as my back pain. I told Tony there's no way I can take these medicines on a day when he's off at work because I have to be awake and able to take care of #5 (he's two), keep #2 on task (he's doing online school at home again this year), and be aware enough to unlock the door for the girls when they get home after school. He insisted I take another dose with dinner and see what happens.
So we had a late dinner, and I took more pills just before 9pm with dessert (more Amish apple pie from the farmer's market this morning - yum!). I took a shower, worried I'd pass out while in the bathroom if I didn't hurry up. But here it is almost 11:30 and I'm still awake. And my back doesn't hurt - but my head does. I worry about taking these pills tomorrow. Will I stay awake or black out?
Above is a photo of Aspie showing off the new autumn decoration and the new mat. Below is a closer look at the tomato cage project.
Tonight we are expecting a low of 37 degrees and we have our first Frost Advisory of the season. I'm hoping it doesn't get that cold and that we avoid frost. I still haven't gotten any tomatoes from my winter sown plants. For whatever reason they just have been very slow this year. I have several green tomatoes on the plants, and a couple melons that aren't ready yet. I'm hoping for the best, but nothing I can do to change the weather. Maybe some day I can have a greenhouse where I can grow things in pots and not have to worry about late and early frosts.
Our car died last Wednesday. My brother thinks it's the alternator (which is replaceable), but Tony is worried the entire engine has finally given up. My dad has been kind enough to borrow us his truck, so that's what Tony has been using to get to work and home. It doesn't fit all seven of us, which makes it difficult to do anything together - it either requires two trips, or someone has to stay home, or someone has to give two people a ride in another vehicle. Good thing we don't go out very often!
With the car potentially dead, our house-hunting is on hold. We can't afford to buy a house and a vehicle at the same time. As much as we want to move and have a new home, the car is the priority for now. I'm still hoping that we can just swap out the alternator and our dear old vehicle will spring back to life. It used to be Tony's mom's car, but she gave it to us when she got a new one. She passed away a few years ago, and I know it sounds stupid, but it has sentimental value to me. Tony disagrees, reminding me that "it's just a car" and "there's no point in keeping a car that doesn't run." Legally it still belongs to Tony's dad, though we pay for the insurance and such. It would be his dad's decision what to do with it if it really is done being functional. I would love to park it "out back" when we get a new home with some land and either let the kids use it as a hang-out, or strip it and modify it to be a potential chicken coop, though chances are Tony's dad will just sell it for scrap. :(
In more sad news, one of Elizabeth's kits passed away. She had eight, but there are only seven left. Or at least there were when they were two days old. I'm usually on top of daily nest checks, but I haven't been able to get outside lately with my back. I'm hoping the cold weather doesn't kill any of them. She's got a nice wooden nest box and a good stash of fur to keep them warm, but you never know. Hopefully I can get outside tomorrow to check again. It should be a chilly morning! This will be the J litter, and #1 already wants to name two of them Jensen and Jared (after Jensen Ackles and Jared Padalecki - actors from the TV show Supernatural).
The bitten bunny from the white (I) litter is healing up nicely, or again, was as of the last time I was outside. I've been relying on the kids and Tony to get them all fed and watered every day. I miss my bunny chores and checking on my little furry pals.
We did go ahead and buy a steel-framed tarp covered "auto shelter" to be the new bunny barn this winter. It will hopefully go where the new side garden was this year. The garden didn't do so well, so I figure the space might be better used for the new bunny barn. It's not the steel sided building I was hoping for, but it was within our budget and will offer better protection than their current set up. The new bunny barn will be 10x20 feet. I forgot the original measurements but that sounds roughly like the amount of space the current set up takes up. We will have to re-build some of the stands for the cages I think, but it shouldn't be too terribly difficult (or at least that's what Tony says).
Tony has this weekend off, so I'm hoping (if all goes well) that we can rent a dumpster for the weekend and get rid of everything in the basement that got wet last time it flooded. It's time to de-clutter anyway. The less we have to pack, the less time it will take to get moved. That's what I'm going to keep telling myself anyway. Because I sell things online, I tend to collect random stuff. I've got everything from old glass bottles to handmade jewelry, vintage sewing patterns to picture frames, and clothing in all sizes to books of all genres. It is about time that I either sell it or donate it. I hate to throw away things that are still useful. Maybe a spur-of-the-moment yard sale - just toss everything I've been stashing for online sales into the yard, put up a sign - "Make An Offer" - see what goes, donate the rest. I wonder if the old ceramic molds would sell well, since local sales wouldn't require shipping (they're heavy and fragile - a bad combination for shipping).
Here's hoping the new medications work to fix my back without knocking me out again so I can get caught back up on housework, get some stuff done, and possibly get some stuff sold.