This is your brain-on aspirin

Did you know, if you fall, you could get a small papercut on your brain.  Go ahead and then treat your aches and pains from the fall with significant doses of aspirin and it's quite possible that your head will fill up with blood, push your brain out of the way and cause you to slur your words like someone after closing down the bar at 2:00 a.m.  The next thing you know, you are in intensive care after being treated for a subdural hematoma.

This is what your brain looks like on aspirin.  We have been warned about the dangers of drugs for years and how many of you can recall the fried egg sizzling in the pan when talking about our brain on drugs?  But aspirin?? Really??

I am going to cop right now to being an aspirin abuser in the past.  I was the one who would pop one Excedrin (ok, two) in the mid afternoon (particularly after a late night) to get that extra edge.  And who among us didn't subscribe to the theory that Excedrin was a performance enhancer for tests?

Even now I will still take the occasional Excedrin for a headache. More of a recreational user you could say -with a medical need of course. And it is still legal.

But.  I have learned a valuable first hand lesson this week.  This is what I know sure.  Even good intentions have risks.  The intensive care unit is a grim place to spend time waiting. And while we are waiting and winning the battle-others have been losing and leaving.

Until next time,

#heartbreakisallaround

#prayersforpeace

Your pal,

Kari