The year I was was almost done in by a type A strep infection, I spent months on heavy-duty antibiotics and other drugs, some of which had bizarre and frightening side effects. Fortunately, when I stopped taking the drugs, the side effects mostly went away. As those drugs undoubtedly saved my life, I can't complain. I hope your hearing improves, Rapaire, now that you are off the medicine.

I don't know why, but in my family we called a calf muscle cramp a Charlie Horse, a silly name for such a terrible thing to awaken you in the night. Years ago I was taught an accupuncture technique to deal with them; when the muscle spasms, grab your upper lip with your thumb and forefinger just below your nose and pinch as hard as you can without damaging yourself. For about eight seconds nothing will happen, except that you feel like an idiot, and then the cramp will relax. Sometimes you have to hold on for a minute more, or the cramp starts to return. When you feel the cramp is gone, do a little stretching or walking on that leg, to minimize stiffness later.I hope this helps; it works for us.

Carly