MT Connections
Go to Source
Perhaps that title is not to be taken verbatim–I actually was sleepless in Bethlehem! Modern medicine came to the rescue with a steroid taper to help my aching neck. How often had I transcribed “steroid taper” and never envisioned what that may mean for the patient? Did I even read the fine print of the zillion side effects on my patient information sheet from the pharmacy? I could say I was in too much pain to read, but the reality is I don’t read those very often. I figure the side effects I get will make themselves apparent in due time and if I read about a side effect, it may somehow prompt my body to have that side effect. Warped thinking?
Anyhow, during my sleepless nights, I caught up on my reading, organized some lectures for teaching, wrote some notes for snail mail and even found some time to shop on eBay. Those may not be medical side effects, but that was the reality of sleepless nights and a racing mind. I took the attitude of sleeplessness being a good side effect–more time to do those things that never seem to make it off the “to do” list. I actually made lists during the day of things to pursue at night that would not wake my husband, as I didn’t think he would appreciate a vacuum cleaner at 2 a.m.! In other words, instead of being annoyed with the sleeplessness, I turned it into an opportunity instead. It’s all in the attitude!
I am thinking about writing the drug company to suggest “free time” or “extra hours of productivity” be listed as a side effect on this drug … but for now I am headed off to a much-needed night of sleep!
