Peace, it's wonderful.

For the first time since last week, I'm peaceful. I awoke this morning from a full night's sleep, well rested and ready to take on the day. I'm over the effects of a sinus infection and the medicine to cure it.

It all started last week; post nasal drip that left my throat raw. The day after that, convulsive sneezing. Felt like a sadist was raking my sinus cavity walls with a fork, while pouring pepper in my nose. I lost count of how many times I peed while I sneezed. (Don't laugh, it'll happen to you one day.) Claratin didn't help. I tried Benadryl, but all it did was knock me out and give me bad dreams.

I woke up the third day and guess what? Nothing happened. No sneezing, no blowing my nose until it looked like a strawberry. A normal person would say, "Hooray! Some relief at last!" Not me, I knew this sinus infection was up to something. Sure enough, the doctor said they could hear "something in your lungs." Aha! Then she gave me a laundry list of medicines to take.

The cure was almost as bad as the disease. Don't misunderstand, the Ru-Hist and Cipro did the jobs they were intended for. Unfortunately, they curb stomped me for three days.

Cipro is a powerful antibiotic--at least it should be at 500 MG twice a day. It eradicated all bacteria, both malignant and benign. After a couple of days of taking Cipro, my stomach felt like someone was cleaning it out with a drain snake. My poop was technicolor. I was afraid of eating for fear of digesting.

Ru-Hist is an antihistamine that can block every allergen known to natural man or invented by science. Unfortunately its side effects are a loss of concentration, high emotions and--at times--hallucinations. My nerves were tight with the high. As I drifted off to sleep I thought "If I open my eyes, I'm going to see a man with no eyes." The worst part was not being able to concentrate. I couldn't hold onto a thought if I used both hands. It was scary. I wondered if this was what dementia was like.

Another side effect the information sheets don't cover: certain foods tasted and smelled terrible. The beef from my veggie/beef soup smelled rotten. I kept nagging my husband to taste it. I knew it had to be good, I just bought the meat last week! But for some reason, the bread I baked tasted delicious. Go figure. And serve with butter!

I can't begin to describe what it's like to wake up with a mind at peace. Instead of every thought coming at me at once--and leaving just as quickly--I only have one at a time. I can create. I can plan. I can think about sex.

On Sunday I decided that I was cured and gave up the meds.

If you have to take this medicine, here's my advice for surviving it:

1) Have someone else do the driving.
2) Have help watching the kids. Seriously, don't do it alone.
3) Take out and delivery food is your friend. You're sick, don't cook.
4) Rest as much as humanly possible.
5) Go on the BRAT diet: bananas, rice, applesauce, toast.
6) Try to isolate yourself from external stimulation. If you don't, you'll cry at Phineas and Ferb like they're Dr. Zhivago.
7) Stock up on baby wipes. Be good to your bottom.