June

July can't get here soon enough. Why? Because June has been a buzzard for me.

Lovey and I got each got a ridiculous case of chiggers after hanging out at the property with a builder and an architect. Seriously, I have never itched so much in my natural life. I wanted to get my nails done just so I could adequately scratch.

A few days later, I noticed a bruise-like feel in my lower abdomen. When it still hurt a day later, I called the doctor to get it checked out. Because I hadn't seen our new primary care provider yet, I was considered a "new patient" and could only schedule an appointment for a week and a half later. Um, no. Googling suggested it could be several things - appendicitis, ovarian cyst, ectopic pregnancy among others. Did I mention Google is scary? After another call to the doctor's office, I headed off to the emergency room with a sweater (it's always cold in there) and the latest Jen Lancaster (because I figured the wait was going to be long, at best).

Surprisingly, the ER of my local hospital isn't that busy at 10 on a Friday morning. I was sent right back and started on an IV. After interrogations from the doctor and several nurses, I was ordered a CT scan. Long story short, the CT scan dye is scary (thought my heart was going to explode), the catscan was negative (good sign) and I was diagnosed with a urinary tract infection and sent home with an antibiotic. Ok, didn't think of that one.

See, I've never had a UTI before. I always heard how painful they were. My only sympton was the bruise-like feeling. Anyway, I started my antibiotics like a good girl.

A few days later, I had two more bruise-like feelings above the first spot. Really? Back to the doctor I went. This time, he said I had an inflammation and was prescribed prednisone. Lovely. The days passed and I completed my course of each medicine.

Yay. The month was looking up. So what if it was the 22? Better late than never.

And then......

Thursday morning I woke up at 3 AM with pain in my legs. Sharp pain in both ankles and both knees. Mind-numbing, throbbing pain. I could barely even put weight on my right leg when I stood up. Lovey was in Virginia for work so I counted the hours to daybreak until I could call the doctor - otherwise i would have revisisted my friendly neighborhood ER.

Luckily, the doctor could work me in at 9. He took some blood, gave me another prescription and I went home. All day yesterday, I laid on the bed with my legs completely still so they wouldn't hurt. It's the craziest thing I ever felt. Since I had some time on my hands, I started thinking back to a conversation I had with one of my former clients. She told me that she had been given Cipro for a sinus infection and how she had had so many side effects with it. She said she had joint swelling and that her doctor told her it could take months to leave her system.

Hmmmm. This morning, I got the call that the bloodwork was normal. Then I google-bombed Cipro. (And sometimes Google is awesome!) Wow! I found a forum where people were talking about their Cipro side effects. Yikes! So many people shared my experience with the pain (as well as the inflammation from the week before looking back). Many people experienced even harsher, more long-term side effects. The word "toxic" was used frequently. Yeesh.

Hopefully, my legs will feel better in a day or so (my ankles already feel better than yesterday), and I can get back to life. It's excruciating to be home on a weekday and not be able to do a project. And there are only so many Amsale Girls you can watch back to back. Trust me.

Bottom line: stear clear of Cipro. It's the devil.