Rain, rain, go away!

We've been getting A LOT of rain this past week and I'm over it!  It's been torrential at times and has been constant to the point of flooding in some suburbs.....thankfully, not our area.  The good news is that the drainage installation in the backyard has been doing a great job....normally, the backyard would have been a swimming pool by now.  Unfortunately, it's been a wet honeymoon for Michelle and Alex but, while they haven't been able to go to the beaches, they have still been enjoying themselves at the motels along the way.  They are due home tomorrow. YAY!

They sent me a beautiful flower arrangement as a 'thank you' for all my help with their wedding.  Of course, I just had to sketch it in my journal.

Drawn directly with Pigma Micron pen and coloured in with Derwent coloured pencils in Moleskine sketchbook.

I did this quick sketch while we waited for Brad when he had his MRI scan

Drawn directly with Pigma Micron pen in my small Moleskine Watercolour notebook.

I later used watercolours and coloured pencils for colouring.

We weren't happy with the Neurologist at all when we went back for Brad's MRI scan results.  Basically, he said there was something going on with the grey matter of Brad's brain yet couldn't tell me what.  He immediately started writing a script for Tegretol without even talking about it with us.  Naturally, I asked questions which he clearly resented and we still came away without any clear answers. I had no intention of putting my son on a medication used for epilepsy and bi-polar conditions when Brad has had no seizures, does not have epilepsy nor has he ever shown any signs of being bi-polar.   I decided to get the script filled at the hospital but fully intended to do some research when we got home.

I had asked the Neurologist if Tegretol would interfere with Brad's other medications, one of which is for a life-threatening condition, and he said no, that it would be fine.  However, alarm bells started ringing when the Pharmacist told us that it would significantly diminish the job of Brad's other medications. I was NOT impressed at all!  The Pharmacist also mentioned something about getting a base-line blood test.  I researched this later only to find out that Tegretol can cause damage to the liver, kidneys and the blood which is why Brad would have to get frequent blood tests once he started taking Tegretol.  On top of that, Tegretol has been known to cause severe skin reactions in some people and when I watched a video at this link showing these types of reactions, I was absolutely horrified!  NO WAY is Brad going on Tegretol!!!  The risks in taking Tegretol far outweigh Brad's mild neurological symptoms (see this post) and I'm angry that the Neurologist would not have considered this.  To each their own but, personally, I don't like mind-altering drugs as I believe it causes more damage and long term problems.  This one even warns to watch for changes in moods and the possibility of suicidal thoughts while taking it.   NOPE, this drug is not for my son.

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On another note, I ended up being carted off to hospital by ambulance on Thursday.  I had been having a numbing, pins and needles sensation down the left side of my body for a couple of days, particularly in the hand and foot.  On Thursday morning, I went to my doctor and he was concerned about stroke when my blood pressure showed as being quite high.....this is not normal for me .  Long story, short....I was kept in the ER for hours under observation, then cleared to go home with an outpatient MRI request to scan my brain and neck plus a follow-up visit to see a Neurologist.  The good news is that the numbness and pins and needles sensation has dwindled right down to barely being there at all.  For peace of mind, I'll still go ahead with the MRI because they were also concerned about the severe head pain I suffered for three whole weeks not that long ago.   It it doesn't rain, it pours, right?!

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I  have been doing the blog rounds and was quite tickled to see that Suzana over at Creative Therapies had featured my blog in a recent post HERE.  Thanks, Suzana!

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Stay tuned over the coming days as I plan some Blog Lovin' of my own.

~ Love, light and peace ~