Well, that was a difficult lesson to learn, but maybe I needed to learn it. I suppose with all that I have been doing, I have been lulled into a false sense of security when it comes to my medications.
So here’s what happened…
I take pramipexole three times a day, breakfast, lunch and dinner. So yesterday – being Sunday – I had quite a busy day. I took my breakfast meds, tick! I took my lunchtime meds, tick! Then it all went wrong – unbeknown to me – I forgot to take my dinner meds, no tick! I remember getting up and saying to my husband that I needed to go to the bathroom, bring back some muffins we were having for dessert and last – and certainly not least – take my dinnertime meds. It turns out I did the first two, but must have been so focused on the muffins that the most important thing – my meds – got missed. I, however, went to bed blissfully unaware of that fact!
So, this is what happened this morning. I woke up and started to get my breakfast ready and saw the dosset box for Sunday on the counter top, complete with my dinnertime meds. Oops!! I thought there was no harm done and took my breakfast meds as usual.
I got to work and was sitting in our morning meeting and first my hand and then my leg started to shake. I thought I had previously only had minor tremors, but to me this was very noticeable. I had to focus really hard to try to still my tremors and I must say, none too successfully. Next thing, I had some things to type and again my left hand had a mind of its own, double and triple pressing keys like a crazy thing! It took me several stabs and back spaces and misspellings to get anything at all out of the keyboard. An experience I don’t want to repeat in a hurry. In fact as I type this, I’m still none too flash!
So, lesson learned! I am on meds for a reason, not least of which is to control tremors so that I can function at work. I usually pride myself on being organised with my meds, but this time everything just went wrong. My husband usually asks me if I have taken my meds and sometimes I know I might reply with a marginally snippy ‘of course!’ (what does he think I am? An idiot?). This time I think if he does, he’s not far wrong!!
I know now that my meds are essential and I publicly pledge not to get snippy if I am reminded. Looks like I need it sometimes…..
My journey with Parkinsons 