@bustrbrwn, Jen, I appreciated your post and how your pharmacist reassured you. I just believe strongly that no one should suffer pain of any kind if there are legal ways to alleviate it. Please be grateful that there are meds that can sometimes relieve the pain. No one feels badly about the need for blood pressure meds or others; we're just thankful that they can help. We are responsible to ourselves and others to do the best we can to maintain our health the best we know. Nothing shameful about that; in fact, to me it is the most responsible action we can take.

However, I can relate to a feeling of shame I experienced years ago now when I made an appointment to apply for a gov't sponsored college loan for my daughter. Education was very important in my family and the fact that as a single mom and school teacher, I didn't have the funds necessary to send my daughter to college without the help of loans made me feel very ashamed that I hadn't been able to save more toward that. The act of applying in person for that loan brought me to tears. Fortunately, the loan counselor was very kind. I still remember how I celebrated the day I sent in the last pmt for that loan; my daughter graduated as a result of that aid.

It took me many years to grow beyond wanting everyone's approval for whatever decisions I made. Finally decided it was no one else's business what an individual does to create a happier more successful life. Others don't live in our shoes and have no right to judge. If they judge, it is their bad and not our concern. I am so happy to have prescriptions that daily make my life much easier and healthier. Best to you.