Goofies

Strange, but neither my PCP nor the current neurologist had heard the expression "goofies" applied to Gabapentin side effects. I understand the expression comes from drug culture, but while the origins may refer to recreational drug jollies, the side effects of Gabapentin and Carbamazepine (Tegretol) aren't all that amusing. People who take these drugs are trying to get control of their pain, not trying to get high.

It is frustrating as hell to have the drugs that do control neuropathic pain, pain that nothing else controls, randomly turn on you. It's not pain, fine. But it's called goofies because it throws such treats at you as dizziness, disorientation, and distorted vision (because your eyes roll). That especially sucks when it happens whilst driving or doing some job that requires dexterity or concentration.

My two main drugs between them fill nearly two pages with side effects, and when one adds such extras as Clonazepam and Baclofen (or a few others I don't have) it's a wonder we can get out of bed. One couldn't, if one didn't spend several weeks adapting to the drugs. One can never be totally sure.

Goofies are on my mind because I've had them yesterday and today, today combined with a couple of moderate TN jolts. Life is fun.

Dinner and a show

In honour of my wife's birthday yesterday, and the end of the four days a year when she can say she's younger than me, we went out to a pretty good Indian place in Salem. Toward the end of the evening, I suddenly became aware of her saying "are you all right?" I pulled my wits about me and said "Of course I am," although I was somewhat lost in admiring the very hot chutney. She replied that my eyes were rolling, that my face was pale and had tremors, and I looked like I was about to fall out of my chair. All this on the tandoori, the hot chutney, and a half glass of wine. As usual, the colour was the first to come back as the server came over to help, whereupon every eye in the room was upon me. Embarrassment is as much a part of this business as pain. My wife insisted on driving home and I didn't resist. When I got there the combination of signs and symptoms interested me enough to check them against the meds.

Sure enough: right out of the Gabapentin playbook.

I'm supposed to be dividing my monster doses into three equal ones with meals, which isn't how I'd been taking the lower dose for years. Force of habit has had me taking the last dose at bedtime. Just this weekend, I determined to get the timing of that third dose under control, so for three nights I had taken it before supper.

Hindsight suggests that wasn't a good idea, and that I'd do well to return to the old schedule.

It ain't over til it's over.