Day 156: Progress Update - Spiriva Respimat

My Project: 365 Creative Writing Prompts

Day 156: Progress Update - Spiriva Respimat

For those who have been following my illness and recovery ... I’m slowly, ever so slowly getting better. While there was a time that I could hardly brush my teeth and wash my face, I can now shower, wash my hair (when needed) followed by teeth brushing and facial cleansing.

I won’t say that I’m okay, far from it, but I can feel an improvement. Part of this recovery may or may not be due to a puffer the lung specialist prescribed.

When he mentioned this puffer to me to improve my breathing, I was all for it and let Dieter pick up the medicine from the pharmacy. The cost was nothing to sneeze at ... $79, from which I won’t get a cent back because I don’t have medical insurance.

Once I had the medicine, I started reading the accompanying pamphlet and got scared ... there were so many possible side effects. By treating my labored breathing, I stood the chance of something far more serious. Just look at the list:

Spiriva Respimat

If experienced, these tend to have a Less Severe expression

• Dry Mouth

INFREQUENT side effects

If experienced, these tend to have a Severe expression

• Chest Pain
• Nosebleed
• Rash
• Urinary Tract Infection

If experienced, these tend to have a Less Severe expression

• Arthritis
• Constipation
• Cough
• Dizzy
• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
• Heart Throbbing or Pounding
• Inflammation of the Nose
• Itching
• Sinus Irritation and Congestion
• Throat Irritation
• Throwing Up
• Thrush
• Voice Disorder

RARE side effects

If experienced, these tend to have a Severe expression

• Angina
• Atrial Fibrillation
• Blocked Bowels with Decreased Peristaltic Movement
• Giant Hives
• Hives
• Hypersensitivity Drug Reaction
• Increased Pressure in Eyes
• Infection
• Paroxysmal Supraventricular Tachycardia
• Worsening of Glaucoma

If experienced, these tend to have a Less Severe expression

• Blurred Vision
• Cannot Empty Bladder
• Difficult or Painful Urination
• Difficulty Swallowing
• Dry Skin
• Inflammation of The Gums
• Inflammation of The Voice Box
• Painful, Red or Swollen Mouth
• Painful, Red or Swollen Tongue
• Paradoxical Bronchospasm
• Skin Ulcer
• Throat Pain

You have to admit, this is scary stuff. Unfortunately, it’s not just Spiriva Respimat who has a string of side effects, just about all medications do. They treat or cure one thing, but the patient risks an equal or worse condition.

So, what I do is, I spray the mist from the puffer into the air and inhale it from there. I don’t get the full dosage, but that doesn’t bother me. I have the constitution of a child anyway. Fact is, I’m getting better, so I’ll just keep doing what I’m doing.

In addition, I’m going to try something natural. I’ve read online that garlic is good for the lungs. One of the recipes is to crush a clove of garlic, put it in water and drink the water. Since I’m not a vampire, I’m gonna give that a shot.

Why do people do this?

I nearly suffered a heart attack this morning.

There I was, checking Facebook updates on my phone. Alex shared a little something from her garden, Grace posted a political comment, Norleen showed a beautiful cat moment.

I casually scrolled down when suddenly … EIH !!! (loud scream) there was a picture, posted by Lisa B, of an ugly spider (is there such a thing as a beautiful spider?).

My phone went flying. Literally, I got such a fright of seeing this ugly monster, and was so disgusted by it, that I threw the phone away from me as far as I could. Fortunately, it went sailing in the direction of the sofa where it landed with a soft thud (after hitting Dieter’s knee).

And I wondered … why do people do this? The majority of folks are afraid of spiders, so why post pictures of them?

Anyway, along with the picture, Lisa B. posted the question if anybody knew what kind of spider this was. And I thought … WHO CARES?

I do realize that spiders play an important role in nature, and if I see one outside I wouldn’t harm it in any way, but if a spider dares to set one or all of its eight feet in my house … it’s toast.

As such, in my opinion, there are only two ways to deal with a spider … squash it, or suck it up with a vacuum cleaner. Not that I perform either of these options myself. I scream, run away, and let someone else take care of the monster.

Some might say that there is another option … treating the spider to an anti-bug spray. All I can say about that is … it doesn’t work. Bug spray might work on ants and other little critters, but spiders … they just pretend to be dead.

Many years ago I came across a spider on the kitchen floor. Since I was home alone I realized I had to do something before the spider took off to a place we’d never find it. So after I had recovered from the initial shock, I grabbed a can of bug repellent and sprayed so much on the spider I nearly gassed myself.

The spider lay there, curled up in a ball. Now all I had to do was get the dustpan and a brush, sweep up the body and get rid of it. Could I do that? No, I couldn’t. I tried, I honestly tried but I couldn’t bring myself to brushing op the black ball.

And then I got an idea … I would vacuum it up. With a vacuum I wouldn’t have to go near the spider, I could use the long metal hose and do the deed from a safe distance.

Off I went to get the vacuum cleaner, plugged in it and dragged it into the kitchen. Much to my surprise to spider was gone. The bloody thing had bided its time for me to leave the room, unfolded its legs and ran off.

For days I looked for the spider, but it seemed to have disappeared. As such, I can only assume that it went outside for some fresh air. Which is fine by me. Outside is where spiders belong.

Which also leaves me wondering about their Creator. If He can create animals so cute and adorable like kittens and bunnies, why make spiders so frightening? A sense of humor perhaps?

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