Dexamethasone

You'd think that when you go into the hospital and they think you've had a stroke, they'd give you more than an aspirin.  Or later, a couple of Tylenol.  Hey guys, I've got a big headache!  I need to develop my complaining techniques.

Finally a doctor in the field showed up and she said "you've only had that? Sure, we've got something better."

Indeed it was.  Called dexamethasone.  It didn't work right away, and I had to develop another nmemonic (my brother, whose name is like "dex", snorting meth in a school zone), but it turns out to be remarkable stuff.  While I was at the hospital, by injection, and since by pill.  A declining amount over a week.

No more headache.  After a few days, no scary word loss.  (OK, c'mon.  I'm 63!  I'm still going to forget where I left the keys once in a while.)  In fact I feel really good.  I think just as clear-speaking, if not more, and a lot of thinking about life and liberty.  And it clears up my nasty psoriasis.  I'm looking fine.

It's a steroid!  Finally I get to be like a pro athlete.

So........... how about I stay with this stuff for the next, oh, 15 years or so?

When you read about it in places like Wikipedia it sounds strongish but not brutish.   But when you ask the doc about the idea of longer prescriptions they look at you like you are nuts. Lots of bad physical things and it could make you crazy.  Bad idea.  Bad results.  OK OK.

I don't want to destroy my body.  But the other thing - the mind?  Is this some kind of Awakenings? Once I stop taking this stuff, will I go to dumber and dumber?

We may find out soon enough, because today is the last day of the prescription and there ain't no refill. But they say no.

And I don't think so.  I think the drug is great and I'm sure it brought things around.  But I think that as to the mental consequences - I really have been re-examining life, and facing choices - I think it's about having had a second chance to seriously greet the Reaper once again and say nope, still not now, still not yet.