Gabapentin and hyponatremia

Oddly enough, in my two professional careers, I had both attended MLA conventions and written about gabapentin (Neurontin, Parke-Davis)! I'm glad to see that the initial 3,000 mg dose didn't kill poor Christina: the world NEEDS more English professors like her (unless of course her department is French & Italian). Actually, the story had me thinking of a different class of drugs from anticonvulsants: Facetime reads like a JBEdwards story on steroids. Yet another wild & fun romp--this one even wilder than usual. Thanks yet again, JB.

A very special day in any girl's life: when she experiences her first kiss and her first father-brother threesome! The Ecstasy in the punch seems to have worked even better than the gabapentin they gave to the keynote speaker at the MLA, several stories back (although she had a fun night too).
This story is great fun; it's sexy too. I especially enjoyed the heroine/narrator's personality, including her fairly strong—but decidedly quirky—ethical principles. I do feel sorry for her uncle, though. He got left out of the action entirely. Perhaps there will be a Part 3? Fine with me, if so.

Story progress ~ zip.
Not much good news. Went to my neuropathist on Wednesday for a series of tests. 'Yes', I have nerve damage and 'no', the doctor looking at the results couldn't understand why. Essentially, they ran an escalating electric current from various spots on my lower leg and foot to toes to see how I responded. I highly recommend this as a means of torture.
On the downside, I am becoming resistant to my pain medication, so life sucks coming and going. My psychiatrist upped my Gabapentin from 300 Mg to 400 Mg [3x a day] and it isn't helping. Woot? I'd kill for a decent night's sleep.
Thank you for asking. I really wish I had better news.
James aka FinalStand

At this time the prognosis is not good. Not only do I have other stories far closer to completion, my latest medicine, Gabapentin is KICKING MY ASS! It is a pain-killer, for those who care, and it is doing its job. I can walk with minimal pain now. Sadly, I can barely walk now because my whole world is spinning (a cautioned side effect is Dizziness). Typing this is 'fun' and not in a good way. I feel like I'm constantly about to tip over out of my chair so creating anything is going to be a chore.
On the beneficial side, I know where I want to take Chapter 5 in this tale. I have much of it mapped out in my mind.
They travel to the mainland in pursuit of the Atlanteans ... which completes the 13th Circle of the Black Witches Coven (whoops!) ~ giving the descendants of the other 7 the power they have been long denied. There is still the government task force on the serial killings to deal with plus the on-going conflict with the White Coven. The main mystery remains ~ what was an Atlantean doing breeding with an Abenaki and teaching at least one half-breed offspring magic over 400 years ago ... and why would a normally amoral Altantean 'noble' be interested in said half-breed today?
God - sometimes I really wish I had a clone ... or two.
James aka FinalStand

bornwildnfree, I sent you a private message. Please contact me.
As for everyone else ... life keeps adding on the 'happy' {sarcasm}.
My neurologist decided to prescribe a more powerful tool to manage the pain in my feet. So, he gave me a foot cream. What wasn't obvious was the non-prescribed 'side effects' of the foot cream which included ... (sigh) ...
Well, as my feet have been hurting like sons-a-bitches, I was slathering that cream on three and four times a day. It had minimal positive effect which was leagues ahead of the pain I was going through. Besides, it was foot cream. What was the worse that could happen?
Baclofen (2%) ~ [Lightheadedness or fainting, trouble seeing, severe tiredness, weakness],
Cyclobenzaprine (2%) ~ [Anxiety, restlessness, seeing or hearing things that are not there, severe drowsiness, fainting, or confusion],
Diclofenac (3%) ~ [Sudden or severe headache, or problems with vision, speech, or walking],
Gabapentin (6%) ~ [Behavior problems, aggression, restlessness, trouble concentrating, moodiness (especially in children), problems with coordination, shakiness, unsteadiness, unusual moods, or behaviors, thoughts of hurting yourself, feeling depressed, dizziness, drowsiness, sleepiness, tiredness],
Lidocaine (2%) ~ [which, somewhat stunningly, isn't trying to fuck with my head]
So I've been staggering around in a semi-lucid state for the past several days, unable to figure out why I couldn't do much, if any, writing. It took me complaining to my wife to provide some clarity.
I repeat - it is freaking foot cream!
I've stopped with the foot-crack and am back to dealing with the pain. Hopefully I'll be back to writing soon too.
James aka FinalStand

Can't believe I did not read and review this. Strawberry definitely qualifies as ditzy, but many times it works for her--and especially regarding the reputation Shanghai girls have.
***
While her syntax matches typical Chinese phrasings in English from my experience--and although I understand the addiction to using the word so--that word and several phrases repeat often where many could have stayed but there should have been reduced. Sometimes those about Alan or especially the girl we later discover as his sister Gwen, did interrupt the flow enough to make me stop and refocus. While it hardly sinks the story and no reader would say Strawberry was unjustified in traversing this love-hate view of Alan, I kind of imagine strategic editing would probably have cut half a page.
***
It proves funny when the story reveals Gwen and now Strawberry reinterprets. One can understand Pete's behavior, but it's clear he's still taking advantage instead of being the gentleman. While she diffuses the possible conflict, there's no way the other roommates didn't get some idea from their screaming. It remains to be seen if a conflict occurs because really it should or she gets off a little easy and Pete escapes unscathed.
***
It surprised me you were somehow unaware of one of the best foods that remedy hangover--especially since Strawberry ate it in ch 1--CONGEE. It's best for absorbing some of the alcohol and rehydrating. Also, ginger (and it's assumed ginger tea) do an excellent job. Chinese homeopaths typically use ginger tea to help prevent colds, although it helps fight nausea, dizziness, and diarrhea. The cups of jasmine tea and Tylenol presented as too hyperbolic, because more than 3,250 mg of that can damage the liver, possibly causing jaundice; had she drank 200 cups of tea, it would have caused her hyponatremia. You researched so many other things that I have to kind of rib you about this by channeling my inner Number Five from the movie Short Circuit, saying this: Chloe Tzang, Ph.d not know this???
***
I absolutely loved the end notes you used and of course all of the linguistic elements you fuse to the story. To even culminate the narrative with a communal meal is a very nice touch. You certainly pictured her well according to how Shanghai girls are, as verified by my own research--and the reason why the guys tend to do more in the house is because many Shanghai girls that were the only children by policy never developed many housekeeping skills because their parents allowed them to study to do their best in school, and so the parents did all the housework. This also partially explains Strawberry.
***
I enjoyed this edition, especially by liking it. Despite the need to rid the tale of sometimes-excessive repetitions above, it didn't hinder communicating the story, nor did it detract from how entertaining it was. 4