I thought I would wrap up the medication series by talking about what happens when you get medication overload. I hate taking medicine. I will deal with a headache all day, just because I don’t like taking medicine. Now I think of my wife, who has to take a couple dozen pills every day, and it doesn’t surprise me that occasionally she just doesn’t want to take anything ever again.
There have been numerous occasions over the past decade when my wife was reluctant to take her lupus medication. In some cases she either limited the amount to a lower dose or stopped taking the medication entirely.
In my experience, there have been three reasons that my wife has been resistant to taking medication since I’ve known her. She’s either been afraid of possible side effects, afraid of becoming addicted to the medication, or has been afraid that it was the medication that was causing some of her problems.
The most common medication with side effects that has caused her concern is Prednisone, which has been an important part of her treatment in various dosages, but trying to convince a woman to take large amounts of medication that can cause sudden weight gain, increased hair growth, fragile skin, and make your face swell up, well, that’s a tough sell.
Her concern with addiction is associated primarily with her pain medication; although, she has also been concerned with taking sleep medication for long periods of time as well. I just try and remind her that while her pain medications should be handled with caution, her doctors have prescribed them for a reason. She needs to be able to keep the pain in check so that it doesn’t make her overall condition worse than it is already.
It is usually through the often well-intentioned advice of a colleague that my wife becomes concerned that it is actually her lupus medication that is causing her lupus. It is often accompanied by offers to sell her some type of juice or herbal supplement. Reviewing her medical history and initial diagnosis is usually enough to get her back to taking her medicine.
This was re-written from a draft of an article that I wrote for Lupus Now.
Good article, so true of the prednisone and other meds- the side effects yuck
Hi Jeff;
I am having a spiritual feast! For the past 24 hours, it feels as if God is leading me from one site to another to help me with an overwhelming fear I have developed. My first husband left me after 20 years, gave me 3 hours notice. He was patient and polite about my lupus, but that’s about it. I got remarried 3 years ago but my husband has been in the war zone. In those 3 years, the stress of worrying about him and trying to care for 3 terminally ill family members has almost destroyed me. Last July I was given 1 year to live, so just 2 more weeks and I can laugh at the doctors, but technically they would say they were right because my heart did stop twice this year. Anyway I have been s afraid of having my husband come home to such a sick wife, and afraid of ruining his life, being a burden, etc. It is severe enough that I have considered getting the marriage annulled (which would kill us both emotionally) and also times of just wishing I would die before he gets home so he doesn’t have to deal with my illness. In the past 24 hours I was led to some sites PERFECTLY suited to helping me with that problem. God is good! He knows us, our worries, and is willing to help if we let Him lead us. These sites I found might also help you and your readers. I have listed them on my blog, and I will list your site there too. The blogs that have the words “couples” or “for men” are the ones I found in the middle of the night. Just finding you, a husband who didn’t leave your wife due to lupus, and who is communicative enough to share your life, is a precious gift to me. I could not imagine a man loving me. My first husband never even brought me a drink of water in 20 years, and I was still expected to do EVERYTHING, and if I couldn’t do it, I hired a college girl to help out. I don’t know what it’s like to have a loving, supportive husband living with me. My new husband is that kind of man, but I don’t know how a supportive husband acts or thinks, which just makes me wonder how soon this husband will also leave. I have even tried to push him away a husband times, sort of “I’ll dump him before he dumps me” but he is not going anywhere, and wants to help me and my family. I am sure the Lord is trying to show me that not all men are like my first husband, and that we will be able to handle any struggles that come up. THANKS SO MUCH for sharing your life!
Blessings,
Bluebirdy
This is very true for anyone who takes a large amout of meds. I have put my health in a horrible place due to my on again, off again relationship with meds. I have SLE. I agree with everything your wife is feeling. I have also seen the frustration in my partners eyes when I refuse to take the meds and I am in pain. I know he wants nothing more than for me to feel good, but he is coming to terms with my stubborn refusal. In the end I will come around. Please check out my blog when you get the chance. http://www.mommysbroken.blogspot.com
Thank You and keep up the bloging, we need all the awareness we can get.
Karen