Fiercely Independent Pam

Tag: medications

  • Yes, I Have Anxieties and I Know How to Stop Them!

    A plant and hand holding a piece of paper that reads, "Never let your fear decide your fate."

    I found this image on social media and realized I do this all the time. My fears or anxieties win all too often. I am so busy processing the “what ifs” that I never process the actual events and facts. Take today’s drama- my wheelchair is out of commission still and requires over $1000 in parts alone. I, fairly quickly had myself out on the street because I was paying for my wheelchair repairs and would not have enough to make rent. I get “revved” up and just can’t stop the what if thoughts and negative consequences.

    It is definitely true that my anxieties have anxieties. Sometimes I dive down a rabbit hole so deep that I lose connection with almost anything that makes sense. I have gotten so much better about this in recent years, through recognizing early symptoms and practicing grounding techniques such as breathing exercises, prayer, meditation, and most importantly- fact checking. It is NOT a fact that I will be on the street tomorrow!

    Anxiety is a strange force. It sometimes comes out of nowhere and throws you far off your goal. For me, it is the truest example of devilish behavior. The only way I have learned to defeat this behavior is to confront it with my faith. I need to believe in myself, those that love me, and most importantly to my God.

    My Catholic faith has taught me that God will overcome any worries and tribulations. My faith tradition has also taught me some very helpful actions. I have learned to “work my rosary beads” to ground myself. I have a special devotion to Mary Undoer of Knots. The very image of our Mother undoing our anxieties and stressors of life provides so much comfort.

    I am a believer that you should seek help from all areas of life when faced with troubles. I utilize medications to help me get out of the rabbit holes I find myself in all too often. I do not see this as a crutch or the easy way out. I see the medication as a tool, just like my rosary or even the dance party I have privately in my apartment.

    I have learned that it is important to name behaviors as a result of anxiety. You do not have to be ashamed of having these behaviors, it is a force working against you and with time, practice, and faith, you can overcome the force.

    When I made a change in my life a few years ago, I adopted the mantra- “Don’t let the hard days win!” This includes tackling the anxiety monster, the over-thinking, and finding ways out of all the rabbit holes. Utilize the tools you practiced with, pray for help, and remember to check the facts.

  • Medications: Am I Just A Seagull? Organizing my pills and more!

    I have completely lost count of how many medications I take throughout a week or even daily. I try to cut out medications as much as possible, but it seems that someone always wants to add “just one more!” I believe on average I take 12-15 pills in the morning and at night, plus a mid-day dose of 2-3. This is of course not including pain meds or other “as needed” medications or injectables.

    I see many specialists for my various conditions and each prescribe medications as needed. My primary care nurse practitioner is wonderful and she does the best she can to stay on top of all of my meds. Unfortunately, mostly due to cost or insurance rules, I have to use multiple pharmacies. This causes some confusion, especially to a provider that is new to me.

    You may ask, “How do you manage all those medications?” I try very hard to stay organized. I use a google doc that I update with every change in medication. I print this form and give a copy to my PCP, in my “Vial of Life” that sits on my fridge, and one goes in my purse. The advantage of using google docs is that the updates are easy, and it lives on my phone for emergencies.

    Another way I manage medications is through a device called HERO. A HERO machine is a pill dispenser that allows up to a 90 day supply to be inserted into capsules in the machine. Then, using an app on my phone I can program the machine to remind me to take my medicine and needed times of the day. It’s also great for caregivers, as you can get alerts if someone misses a dose or tries to take an extra dose. Unfortunately, the HERO doesn’t allow for all my meds (it takes up to 10), but I use it for my most often (longest used) meds.

    The pills that do not go into the HERO, as well as the ones that are dispensed from the HERO, I usually take all at once. I have always been a great pill swallower, and I greatly appreciate my ability to swallow many pills. I saw this quote below, I laughed so hard that I knew I needed to share it with a blog post. It paints such a visual of what I feel I must look like swallowing so many pills.

    How do you manage your medications? Do you use a pill box or something else?