Stoned
In the ongoing search for a combination of tablets to get my seizures under control, I went, 2 weeks ago, to see a new neurologist (the original one had a very long waiting list and was only seeing serious cases – my problem being purely pharmacological, it doesn’t count as such). Dipping his hands into the lucky bag, he came out with the name Zonegran. Sounds kind of 1950’s Science-fiction’y. The idea is (as always), to introduce it slowly, and pull out one of the other treatments.
The side-effects on this one were, (as always – you get the pîcture?) terrifying, and I twittered that I had a 1 to 10 in 1000 chance of having suicidal thoughts. What I didn’t mention was that it specifically advised you to drink plenty of water as there was a possiblity of developing kidney stones of having other kidney-related problems. I took this to heart (and bladder), and upped my water consumption to approximately 2.5 litres per day.
Exactly 1 week after starting the treatment, in mid-afternoon, I started getting pain in my back and by early evening peeing was impossible without excruciating pain. Straight to the doctor who gave me a potential diagnosis of kidney stones and a shot of anti-inflammatory in the arse.Kidney stones are scary things and I didn’t fancy passing one of those things, so I didn’t sleep too well, even though the anti-inflammatory did the trick.
So obviously, I stop the tablets against the doctor’s “better” judgement, and whatdya know, the next day, I’m feeling, if not 100%, well, 75%. Blood tests show higher than usual levels of creatanine (so the kidneys have been under stress), and the X-rays and ultrasound show no stone (jesus did that relieve me, in all senses of the word).
It’s 4 days since I stopped the Zongran, I’m seizure-free (unlike with the Zonegran where I had one every day), my kidneys are on top-form (as far as I can tell). I guess that’s another one I can strike from the list. I’m beginning to feel that the best way to treat this is for the doctor to give me my own prescription pad and let me work it out on my own – I’m a responsible adult, I know what’s best for me, what’s working and what’s not, what combinations should be taken together and which shouldn’t and I’m not gonna give all sorts of prescription drugs to my mates (unless they pay). It would be cheaper in the long run.
