In which FHC experiences some benzodiazepine side effects

While I was painfully running today at lunchtime (ref. previous entry), a small jogger in his forties bearing a moustache started chatting with me. I looked closely at him to see if he was some acquaintance or colleague of mine but he was not. I concluded that he was some crazy person and as I was not really in the mood for crazy people, I kept my headphones on and started running a little faster. I probably still had in mind the story Ari told me about Supreme Court Justice David Souter being attacked while jogging and the fact that nothing indicated that the attackers were not small jewish men with moustaches. He ran next to me for a little still talking vehemently. I just kept on glancing at him panicked that he may have a weapon hidden in his shorts or something. Eventually he stopped and went the other way, nodding to me with a smile. A few miles later, I deduced that the unidentified man must actually have been my primary physician. It is the second time we meet on a jogg path and that I do not recognize him. He mentioned a first similar occurrence last time I had him on the phone. He must now think I am mentally retarded, snobbish and contemptuous of the medical profession (and if I was why would I spend so much time with doctors?). That also probably explains why there was not any follow-up to my check-up.

But after all, isn’t it the same guy who slipped me some benzos prescription acting as if they were innocent sleeping pills?. Side effects clearly list forgetfulness and confusion particularly for patients with a chronic alcoholism history. Even more anterograde amnesia is also apparently a somewhat common side effect, which might explains why I still cannot build a sentence in Portuguese after several weeks of lessons or in English after years of residence in the states.

Comments

[F's Primary Care Physician]

You forget another likely cause of your forgetfulness.

One of the most famous cases of anterograde amnesia is that of Clive Wearing, who was featured in the documentary, The Man with the 7 Second Memory. Wearing fell ill with a herpes simplex virus which attacked his brain. The affected area was the hippocampus, which has a major role in handling memory.

[LL]

FHC we don't understand how when he gives you drugs you complain, but you also complain when he takes them away.

[FHC himself...yes... yes]

I am not a whiner...it's just my voice.

[Frederico C]

FHC, tu vais aprender rapidamente a falar portugues quando o teu professor for PORTUGUES e nao brasileiro!