Tired of taking pills

Posted by mrmacabre @mrmacabre, Mar 3 3:23pm

The title says it all, who else is tired and fed up with having to live your lives around your medication schedules? Oh crap, I forgot to take my pills, now I'm behind schedule. Did you take your pills yet? No, I forgot.
Or were you just tired of having to do it every single day for years?

I've been retired and living with chronic pain for 10 years now, which is pretty hard to wrap my head around. I can't believe how fast the time's gone by. Anyway, I'm currently taking 12 prescription drugs, and 9 supplements. I've added it up in my head, that's 37 pills every day. I only eat 2 meals a day, so I take 12 pills before my first meal, then another 12 around 3 pm. Then around 8pm I start taking my nighttime medications over the course of a couple of hours.

I take most of my supplements in the afternoon, so my morning and nighttime pills are my prescription drugs, those are the ones I have to take on schedule. My afternoon batch has a couple of important ones in it as well, but if I forget to take them, the evening ones can make up for it without any problems. But some days, I just don't want to deal with having to swallow all those pills. I have to eat a piece of bread with my afternoon pills so there's something in my stomach since it's been 5 or 6 hours since my first meal of the day.
I have to tell time by my medication schedule, and I'm tired of it.

Interested in more discussions like this? Go to the Chronic Pain Support Group.

Leonard | @jakedduck1 | Mar 3 4:35pm

@mrmacabre
I definitely understand.
I have been taking seizure medicine for almost 60 years. I asked my neurologist if I could take all my pill first thing in the morning, he agreed. I still hate taking them and want to throw them outside as far as I can but if I miss any I’ll end up in the hospital which is worse yet. So taking them is "the lesser of two evils," I just grit my teeth and choke them down.
Take care,
Jake

calmmylife57 | @calmmylife57 | Mar 4 1:05am

Hi,
I feel your frustration, I made the decison 10 years ago to stop taking some of the medication my GP gave me otherwise I would have ended up not working and on disability benefits. The drugs they gave me made me drowsy, I lost my cognitive abilities and could not function.

I only take Pregablin, co-codamol and high strength gummies, I use to take Tramadol, I could not sleep they made me feel wired all the time.

I have lumbosacral radiculopathy and fibromyaliga,caused by a car crash in January 2013, I use a walking aid, I see myself in a wheelchair if I don't keep up my regime, as sometimes I have to crawl on the floor and stairs to move as standing and walking can be too painful sometimes, as can sitting, laying down, even breathing hurts when the fibro and nerve pain from my spine both flare up together. I mask my condition every day to the outside so that I can work.

I use Pregablin, co-codamol and natural herbs
To ease my condition: breathing exercises, meditation, TENS machine, cupping as it affects the deep tissue muscle massage can't reach, sports massage, hydrotherapy, swimming, walking, Qi Gong and Yin Yoga - to keep my body moving with gentle exercise and activity

Epsom salts baths or mix with olive oil and rub and massage into the part of my body where it hurts. Put a towel down and wear old clothes as the oil will stain them.

Magnesium is good for reducing muscle spasms/ cramps
I take B12 and vitamin D spray and vitamin C to boost my immune system
No caffeine that agitates the condition- research foods which are good and bad - that will help- nutrition is very important - foods that reduce inflammation- alkaline based foods- berries, pulses, organic ginger- freshly made juices- I reduced my meat intake and I feel better. Find what works for you.

I am in pain 24/7 and I wonder how I even get out of bed some days
I pay privately for a counsellor and have been seeing her for two years now, it's great to have someone to talk to who will listen, support and motivate me. I find I need to have a healthy and positive mindset as the pain can overwhelm me and in the past it caused me deep depression and I just didn't function.

I also work in the cultural sector and appreciate how art can help alleviate stress, so my job is part of my therapy, and I use it as my distraction. I am self employed, I can only work 7 months of the year due to my condition, I inform my employers of my condition and they put accomodations in place to support me, it's not easy when neuropathic pain with all the other symptoms is your disability, it's tough. Living on my own I need a good support system around me, healthcare professionals who care and will listen and that isn't always the case. I live in England and my healthcare is free.

Stay positive, take care