Day 9 : Take Your Medicine

Take Your Medicine

A merry heart does good, like medicine,

But a broken spirit dries the bones. 

Proverbs 17:22

You might expect that once you get your diagnosis, you can breathe again. But many times, this is when the fight really begins. This is when you start seeing the specialists, doing the therapy and adjusting the medications.

Medicine is a great thing. Think of all the discoveries that have been made which have saved so many lives. But there is also price to pay. And I’m not talking about the cost of the medication, which in itself can be a challenge. I’ve often thought when I see commercials for medications and you hear all the side effects, that maybe, you are just trading one problem for another. 

I had such a regiment of medications, at times, it was hard to keep it all straight and not miss a dosage. I found an app on my phone that would remind me throughout the day to take medications. Everyone around me knew my ringtone for medications! 

Steroids are excellent for reducing swelling and pain; they were “wonderful” or me.  I could walk around and do all kinds of things but I worried about what it was covering up. What was the real problem and was I damaging my body more by taking the steroids.  Not to mention the rapid weight gain. I had just recently lost weight to my lowest weight since before pregnancy.; but now, I am back to my highest weight ever. And there are more severe effects on your organs if used for a long time.

By the time, I was diagnosed, I had already been on high dosages of prednisone for 6 months. I was placed on the right drug for the fibromyalgia pain and we began trying to reduce the steroids. But it would take a long time as we had to do this very slowly. The slightest reduction of steroids would cause my pain to return with a vengeance. After four years, I am still trying to get completely off the steroids.

Now I want you to understand that these medications only take the edge off of the pain. They bring lie to a place where one can function .. at least a bit. When I visit the doctor or the therapist, they ask what your level of pain is on a scale of 1 to 10. Mine averages out at around 5 or 6. When the weather is bad, it might be 8 or 9.

I have learned there is a mental attitude you need to keep the pain at bay. It’s a big job, but having a positive attitude does make a big difference in how you can handle it all. Of course, there are days that are just plain bad, but if I work at it most days can be bearable. 

 The best medicine for that is laughter. So I try to find ways to keep laughter around me. Here’s a few ideas …

1. Share a joke or something funny on Facebook every day.
2. Watch funny sitcoms. I like the old re-runs that are much cleaner.
3. Watch comedy movies.
4. Christian Comedian DVD's [Tim Hawkins, Mark Lowry, Ken Davis, Etc]
5. Reminisce about the good old days.
6. Invite your funny friends over for a visit.
7. The hardest thing to do, is to talk positively. Don't tell everyone all about your aches and pains.  Of course DO tell your health care people, but try to keep a positive attitude around your friends. It helps you and honestly, your friends don't really want to hear about it.
8. Your suggestion?

Maybe this is the “Spoonful of Sugar” that Mary Poppins was talking about.

                                         I Love to Laugh from Mary Poppins

CHALLENGE:

I’ve been reading 3-5 Psalms and a Proverb every day. I challenge you to give it a try.. Try this one today:

Psalm 9                                                                  MY JOY DARE

Psalm 39                                                                   1. Medicines

Psalm 69                                                                   2. Comedians

Psalm 99                                                                   3. DVDs

Psalm 129

Proverbs 9

Waiting with a smile?,