Friday morning I took my meds. Cipro for my sinus infection and something called Meclizine for vertigo. It’s suppose to help me not feel dizzy until my "ear rocks" dissolve or whatever they’re gonna do (fall out my years?). I had a conference Friday all day where I was presenting with a good friend of mine in a relatively informal setting. A couple of hours in, I wasn’t feeling too hot. I felt really groggy and tired. I just thought it had to do with being sick and always tired. I drank more and more coffee, but nothing worked. By lunch I would barely stay awake. I suggested we cut out early, but the afternoon key note workshop was coming up soon. I stuck it out, and when they put us in groups and it was my turn to share, I couldn’t do it. I couldn’t open my mouth and talk. I just sat there like some idiot who had nothing to say. But inside I felt more like I was trapped and couldn’t talk.

As soon as he was done with the workshop, I grabbed my stuff and ran. All I could think about was my bed, but I had to drive 40 miles to pick up my daughter. I quickly got on the highway and realized that my mother had mentioned that Meclizine might make me drowsy. Drowsy?? I felt like I hadn’t slept for a year, I felt like if I was any worse I would sleep all the way down the high way. I knew I had to pick up Claire, but could I do it? I drove south to Basha and by this time, I knew it was the meds. I got there, put claire in the car, and called my mother. I told her to talk to me all the way home and keep me awake. She and my sister did just that. I made it the last 17 miles, hobbled into the house, tossed a DVD in the machine for Claire and fell into my bed for three hours. I woke up, ate, and went back to bed. This morning I stayed far away from the Meclinzine. I would rather be dizzy than doped.