I'll Keep My Cough Thanks

I have this weird thing about taking medications.

I don’t know when it started and I don’t know why it started but it has started.

As long as I can remember, I hated taking medications. I am huge advocate of “sticking it out” through the pain because our bodies were meant to fight infection or whatever on their own.

Seems simple enough right?

Well… It has turned into a bit of a phobia. Ok maybe a big phobia. I won’t take any medication if I have any alcohol in my system. I won’t take more than 2 Ibuprofen, Tylenols or etc. in a 24 hour period. I won’t take Immodium (why would you ever tell your body to clog itself up?). I won’t take experimental dietary supplements and I track my vitamins/minerals so I don’t overdose on any of them. I will only take half of Dayquill or Nightquill (I will only take Nightquill if it is past midnight and I haven’t fallen asleep). I won’t take Tylenol PM at all. In fact, I won’t take anything that is supposed to help me sleep. I won’t take any cough suppressants (we are suppose to cough!). I hate taking my birth control pills (been on 8 different kinds) because I have had nothing but negative reactions…ever. But hence, I do not want to be pregnant. Running nose? Cough? Sore throat? Normal. Won’t even take ibuprofen. My mom usually has to convince me to go to a doctor. Cramps? Forget Midol! That stuff has caffeine in it!

Oh, and I avoid caffeine and all stimulants.

And truthfully a big reason why I do is that my body is so dang sensitive to all medications.

The thought of combining any medications ie: Gas X and Pepto, Tylonel and Ibuprofen, Dayquil and a decongestant is absolutely horrifying to me.

I get panic attacks.

It’s a little nuts.

So it is always difficult when I go to my dermatologist to get a cortisone shot for my severe eczema. I try to pretend that I don’t need one (as my hands crack, bleed, ooze) and topical steroid creams don’t work.

But I need them. And they have helped in the past.

I allow myself to get one once a year (though my doctor tells me I can get more). I don’t ever want my body dependent on any drug.

So today I went into the doctors office and the nurse whipped out the shot. I sat there and began to panic. Really really bad. It took everything in me to not pass out.

I google search everything and there is a lot of negative feedback about cortisone shots but there is nothing else I can do for my eczema at this point (I have had it for years…trust me, I have tried everything even if it made me anxious).

I mean, you could die from a cortisone shot, it could cause heart failure or you could lose tissue in your body. It lowers your immunity so I kept thinking, “What if I got the flu? Would I die? Would my body be able to fight the infection?’

I’m sure there has to be some sort of moderation somewhere. But I genuinely hate taking medicine. Our bodies are so fickle and at any point a negative reaction could lead to one thing, then another…then death.

It feeds my anxiety and thus I avoid medication at all costs. So when Cohen drank half a bottle of children’s ibuprofen, I don’t know who felt worse: Me or Cohen?

Am I the only one like this? As individuals it seems we are always trying to mask the symptoms or make our selves feel better when our bodies is suppose to do it.

I hope one day I can get a shot and walk away feeling better instead of feeling worse.

I just have this belief that pharmaceutical companies just want your money and want you to take their drugs even if you don’t need them.

Ugh, but that is for a different post.