Thursday, May 29, 2008

A big mistake and step backward


This whole experience has been the two steps forward with one step backward from the beginning. This week was a big step backward because of a stupid mistake on my part. On Mondays at dinner time I take my dexamethazone. I take 10 pills once a week at dinner. This last Monday was a debacle. KT and Bill were over for a Memorial Day BBQ and we were all feeling good. I ate a big meal and then remembered to take my dex. I had just gotten a new refill of the pills since I had recently run out so I was opening a fresh bottle of the pills. I asked the chickenhaawk to hand me the pills. She handed me the bottle, I counted out 10 pills and took them. I noticed as I was doing it that the pills looked different than before. There was a nicer coating on them with a different color. What I didn't realize is that I had the wrong pill bottle. I ended up taking 10 compazine which is an anti- nausea med that I have only taken once before so the pills didn't look familiar. I did not realize the mistake until it was about 10 minutes too late.

I freaked out, I jumped up and started to panic like I have never panicked before. KT calmly called poison control and did doctor talk with the person on the line. They determined that I was not going to die and that I did not need to start barfing. The side effects were something that I would just have to deal with. So I have spent the last few days unable to walk due to muscle spasms, sleeping due to fatigue side effects and fighting off nasty anxiety attacks which which is also a side effect. It has been a terrible trip back to the early days of the cancer process. I am again coming out of it again but it has been a real drag. I had to put off a couple of appointments that I had planned on doing including the bone scan on Tuesday and I did not get in to do my monthly lab work until today.

The good news from this week has been getting to chat with both Louis and Janet who are just back from their sailing adventure/ honeymoon. You can read their blog here. They have had the good fortune to do something that I have dreamed of doing for most of my life. They were gone when I got the news about cancer and have kept in touch from the Caribbean the whole time sending me all kinds of pick me up items from that beautiful place that I am so looking forward to visiting again when I am feeling better. Janet came over to spot me on Tuesday when the Chickenhawk had to be out of the house and Louis came today and drove me down to kaiser for my blood draw. They are both so great about entertaining my vicarious excitement about their new cruising lifestyle. I'll put their blog up in my blog roll. It is well written and entertaining.

I have to say thanks yet again to the chickenhawk. In the last week I have been more dependant on her care and she has been great about taking the extra care of me. She has stepped up without complaint and done everything that I couldn't do for myself.

The artwork for the new Velo LoCo Jerseys is in. I will try to post that artwork. I am not sure if I am going to be able to do it so bear with me. Matt is taking orders for the Jerseys and will be coordinating information through the old Velo Loco Blog . If you are interested in getting a jersey and have not emailed Matt yet give a shout out to him soon.
Thanks for Reading.
and remember always double check your pill bottles before you take your meds.







6 comments:

Judi said...

OMG, that could have been really scary Spencer. You are so so so lucky it was only the compezine (I remember taking that stuff when I was coming off methadone, YUCK).

So you guys will make up the appts. No harm done, right?

Take care - Judi

bikesgonewild said...

...glad you're a-ok after that episode, mate...you made me realize i still had an untouched bottle of compazine left from my heart surgery that maybe the local Rx can dispose of for me...

...if you can stand another drug tale, here goes...when i had my surgery, i kept myself very calm & trouble free about the situation...i was very emotional but very intentionally relaxed otherwise...

...the day i was about to go home, i mentioned that my stomach was a little upset for the first time & a young doctor who i had talked cycling w/ previously, offered to give me something...

...he said he could me a shot so that it would take immediately & i'd be good for the ride home...a quick fix of 'droperidol' & like you, i was overwhelmed w/ severe anxiety...what a mistake...just about spoiled the lovely experience of open-heart...

...anyway, glad you're coming back around, glad you've got some old friends back w/ new tales & hoping i'm gonna look good in a velo loco jersey...cuz either way, i'll be wearing one...

Anonymous said...

I can really see how you made the mistake...a new bottle and yu thought OK they've changed the look of it ( which they do like if they go to a different manufacturer ) I figure you should never be nauseated again now that you've had all that!! tee hee.
At least it was not a set back as far as the mm is concerned, just in the way you felt and what a bitter lesson! But you learned. so there.

granny

Anonymous said...

Sheeesh!
Don't be scaring me like that vecino.
What if it was the super laxative?
Stay strong and see you in Coloma soon.
Love,Pantani.

Tessa said...

Hey Spencer,

I hope you're feeling better now! Here's a cool new cycling website to entertain you (or any other loco cyclists reading). It's a one-deal-at-a-time website that has some great cycling steals: http://www.chainlove.com/

Tessa

Anonymous said...

yet, another life lesson you and your family wish they didn't have to experience....glad everything worked out, and CH was and is there for you...you're a lucky man....stay brave, stay strong, and read the labels...