I went to the pharmacy to pick up a prescription for an antibiotic. I hate to take these things, but after blowing bloody snot into Puffs for three weeks, I decided I wasn't going to get better on my own, so I saw the doctor, who diagnosed a sinus infection, and prescribed some powerful antibiotic to cure me.
As the pharmacist handed me my powerful pills, I asked him if there were any side effects I should watch out for.
"Well, take it at night," he said, "because it will make you very drowsy, but eat something with it, and drink lots of water."
OK, drowsy I can handle - a bed time snack and a bottle of water and I'll be fine.
Then he continued: "Yes, take it at night. You will go to sleep and not notice that your heart feels funny".
Not notice that my heart feels funny? "What do you mean funny?"
"Oh, you know - just funny".
"You mean my heart might race?"
"No . . arhythmia - irregular heartbeat. It's only dangerous if you have heart disease".
I confess to having an enlarged left ventricle, but he says that won't be a problem.
"Just drink lots of water, and go to sleep, and you will be fine. It's not very risky".
I go home and read the package insert, which also warns me of drowiness, dizzyness, nausea, diarrhea, headache, and trouble sleeping. I am to notify my doctor if I get yellowing of the eyes or skin, a yeast infection, or a rare, but serious intestinal condition that can occur weeks after taking the medication and produce abdominal pain and bloody stools.
Then I call my sister, who is a certified medical assistant, and she is very reassuring. Her doctor has prescribed this antibiotic many times, and she has never heard of anyone having serious side effects or any kind of heart problems. My 92 year old father is taking this antibiotic and has not had an irregular heart beat. He did develop a yeast infection, and the whole bloody stools thing, but he is, after all, 92, and recently had surgery for colon cancer. So I decide to take a chance on the medicine.
I take it at bedtime, with food and water, and go promptly to sleep. My heart feels no funnier than is usual for one who sometimes suffers from panic attacks. My sinuses feel better all ready.
The Land of Counterpane
When I was sick and lay a-bed
I had two pillows at my head,
And all my toys beside me lay
To keep me happy all the day.
And sometimes for an hour or so
I watched my leaden soldiers go,
With different uniforms and drills,
Among the bed-clothes, through the hills:
And sometimes sent my ships in fleets
All up and down among the sheets;
Or brought my trees and houses out,
And planted cities all about.
I was the giant great and still
That sits upon the pillow-hill
And sees before him, dale and plain,
The pleasant land of counterpane.
Robert Louis Stevenson
