` |
| Little Jane and the Pistol Whips |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I Have a Confession ........... I Took Drugs this Weekend
My daughter recently had a three-week bout with that terrible flu. She insisted I get aspirin or advil or whatever those drugs are that check pain, just to have on hand in case I got the flu. She insisted I would need it. I stood in the pharmacy looking at all the labels and finally bought Aleve. I honesty do not remember ever taking any of these so called, pain-killers. I've been lucky my whole life because I seem to have dodged the pain bullet (well having babies hurt a little).
On Friday my daughter and I went to lunch, followed by our usual walk. Half way I knew I wasn't my energetic self and asked if she'd mind if I went back. By the time I got home I had pain, pain, pain from my waist to my ankles. I had no idea what it was but I read a lot. Was it sciatica or my tail-bone out of whack? I only knew it was more pain than I've ever had but I also knew it wasn't the flu.
I went to bed and tried to sleep but the pain just got worse. For the next 12 hours I tried every position I could contort my body into......without relief from any. I was silently screaming and clutching at my sheet. Finally, at 4 AM and feeling like I was betraying myself, I remembered the Aleve. I opened the bottle and found tiny little blue pills. I swallowed one with much guilt. The directions said it would relieve pain for 12 hours. Oh boy, I needed sleep badly.
I could feel the grips of pain slowly releasing and the pleasant waves of sleep overtaking. I realized why people take drugs as it tends to make things seem better than they really are. Although the pain is greatly reduced, the pain-killer was no cure and I'll be going to my natural-path to find out what was the cause.
OK, so I've learned something. Pain killers do have a place. I've always done the natural cures and I have books galore. I have since looked up "tailbone" because that seems to be where the pain stems from and there are 2 natural remedies I'll try until I see Mary Jo. One is to sit on a pillow filled with poppy seeds and another is apply oil of sassafras and oil of wintergreen to the tailbone.
Adios Bloggy Friends
With a title like that, people will flock in today. Every one wants to know the dark secrets in someone else's life. Now we know you're a druggie...teasing.
ReplyDeleteI like your granddaughter's band name. May she be noticed by people who will pay her money. Her talent is gift enough but it would be wonderful to work at what you love.
Gail....Ha ha ha... I am a druggie for the very first time. ME.... I've always been on my soapbox and so against anything that smacked of drugs. But, I also found out that certain pain is unbearable too.
DeleteYou must have the best genes, making it this far in life w/o pain. I'm happy for you. I don't like to take any kind of medicines, but I will if I have to. Fortunately, they are few, more than your none, but less than many, many people my age.
ReplyDeleteInger,
DeleteI agree. I have known just about no pain in my lifetime. But perhaps I just forgot. I think after each baby was born, I always said, never again but then I'd forget and have another. Oh gee, see we tend to forget the pain in our lives. I'm very sorry for your diabetes and the pain you go through.
Glad you did find some relief from the pain you had; it does sound excruciating. I'm not one to take meds, but will take the occasional Advil for a headache if I know its not going to go away on its own. I'm thankful I've been blessed with good health in that I don't have to take any prescription meds, I think I'm going to have a hard time with taking them, it seems once some gets on them, its hard to get off of them and the doctors want to keep adding more.
ReplyDeletemay today be pain free!
betty
Betty, I have many home remedies that I remember from my grandparents. They never went to a doctor or took medicine. My grandfather would use different grains in a poultice and that cured just about anything. I have books and more books on natural healing and I devour them. There is always a natural cure for every illness.
DeleteGood for you for not resorting to prescription meds.
I have absolutely no qualms about altering my consciousness. However, many of the painkillers are insidious little things and I've learned to be very careful with the scripts doctors give me.
ReplyDeleteI hear pot helps with pain. It's natural. When I move to Washington, I shall give it a try. Meanwhile, ibuprofen must do the job when necessary but it is terrible for our liver.
Well, where have you been? Out looking for houses in Washington? You say when you move..... when will that be?
DeleteThey say pot really helps the cancer patient and it's a crime that those people have to get it illegally. I hate an altered consciousness. I don't even like one sip of wine. But I say hurray for those that are helped by it. Why make them buy the expensive drugs that don't work anyway.
Once up a time I stayed away from aspirins, tylenol, and other painkillers. Then a couple of years ago, I was going through the worse pain (for me) with my ankle. I hobbled around for months and months. Finally, I gave in and took couple of ibuprofen pills. It amazed me. By taking them, now and then, I was able to work the kinks out of the ankle. Since I use ibuprofen to deal with unbearable pain, I ought to research a natural equivalent. Yes, I ought to.
ReplyDeleteI hope your pains and that virus go away soon!
Yes, QT, there is a natural remedy for every pain, so I am told and so I believe. But that night (for me) I didn't know where the pain was coming from and it hurt too much to look it up. I didn't know you hurt your ankle. You never mention it so it must be healed by now and no pain. Linda (Ruybe jack) just said ibuprofen is hard on the liver. I think they all are actually. That is one good reason to do it naturally.
DeleteLOL Gail took the words right out of my mouth - that title will indeed bring people here today!
ReplyDeleteKeith.....Funny bunnies, you and Gail. My deepest darkest secret would most likely be pretty mild and terribly uninteresting reading compared to some dark secrets.ha ha ha
DeleteYour granddaughter is GORGEOUS!! Wow!!
ReplyDeleteOh Manzanita - I am too feeble to not take pain killers when in the midst of a viral attack!! LOL!! It does help me anyway!
Please get better though!! Take care
x
Old Kitty,
DeleteYou know what I especially see when I see granddaughter's picture..... her arms. I hope she appreciates them and always wears sleeveless tops. But she won't. You never appreciate anything until it's gone and arms go pretty fast, even with weight training. (I've noticed, ahem.)
It's helped me too. I was screaming before I took it.
1. Great photo- pretty, pretty! 2. Best line (well, having babies hurt a little) 3. I hope the pain goes away -- soon--and completely!
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, Thanks on all three. Well, one good thing about number 2, we never remember the pain until we are in labor and then .... whoops, it's too late. Ha
DeleteYour granddaughter is beautiful! Good that she is beautiful on the inside as well. I can't believe that you took a painkiller for the very first time. How amazing is that?! They certainly do have a place, but good for you for going down the natural route.
ReplyDeleteOh Diane, I wrote your reply down below. I must still be behexed with my painkiller. Ha
DeleteOUCH! I had my first ever, and hopefully the last ever, migraine headache on Christmas day. Flashing lights--the whole shebang. Sonny Boy "turned me on to" Liquid Advil 400mg. caps. They literally saved my life--I thought I was abot to die!!! Yes, there is a place for pain relief. And a place/time to stop too.
ReplyDeleteRosemary
Rosemary, Where are you now, out there sailing the ocean so blue and avoiding sunburn. You must really be enjoying that.
DeleteI'm sorry about the migraine. I've heard horror stories about them but I've never had one. Perhaps if I had, I would have experienced a painkiller long before now. Most people seem to get Advil, sounds like. I stood at the pharmacy and didn't know what to buy so I chose Aleve. Hope I never need any more but if I do, I'll remember Advil. I wonder what brought on that first migraine for you.
Nice to hear from you but I know you often don't get to use your computer.
ps. The post title will surely bring you tons of internet traffic :)
ReplyDeletethisisme, Thanks. I am happy she was given a talent but I mostly think of her as being just a really nice sweet and caring person. Maybe I did take a painkiller somewhere but I can't recall because I always made a conscious effort to seek out the natural. This time the pain had me stymied. I must be wimping out in my old age. ha
ReplyDeleteManzanita, that is so cool you don't do drugs and rely on your naturopathic doc. Good for you!
ReplyDeleteWell Chuck, it's just that I stayed old fashioned and didn't grow with the times, I guess. But I've also been extremely lucky and never needed medical attention.
DeleteShe really is a pretty woman and to be talented also--how wonderful.
ReplyDeleteCan't believe you made it this far with no pain killers. Sadly I have stuck my toe in the water many times with 10 years of migraines years ago and sciatica for the past 15 years or so. I try hard to find alternative relief but when push comes to shove,I will hit the Ibuprofen.
I don't wear a hat but if I did, it would be off to you. You go girl.
Patti, That is nice of you to say but I've noticed too, that as she grows more into woman hood she seems to get prettier. I should have asked you what sciatica symptoms were like. I kept looking up things and I knew sciatica runs down the back of your bum and can go down into your legs but the pain seemed real different. I can faintly still feel it and hope I can find out what it was before it ever returns. Most people do take the commercial meds but I just never really needed it.
DeleteHATE stupid pain meds with a passion because they do just mask it, but they have their place too, all I ever take is a tylenol and that hasn't been in years. But yeah now that pain allllll toooo well. Still suffering from that crap for the last six months, have to walk everywhere in shoes or my legs are way too painful. Stupid SI joints crapped out on me at the moment, between that and crappy nerve pain everywhere, making me do all my typing with one arm, life sucks..lol.. there is my little rant.
ReplyDeleteOh Dear Pat, Do you mean you do all that typing with one hand? Who would guess you were in pain and you answer everyone's comments and visit blogs. You have good reason to rant. Keep in touch with Terry.... She knows so much about natural healing and she is always seeking new answers. We talk on the phone too. Your blog and the rhymes are such fun and your humor is so appreciated. You provide a blog where people really have fun. Thank you so much.
DeleteYep all with my left hand, good thing I'm ahead in posts or things would be more drastic haha trying everything i can to get rid of this nerve crap.
DeleteOh Manzi!! I hope like heck this doesn't come back. I usually take white willow bark for any pain I get.... but if I needed it, I would do the same as you. Good thing your Daughter talked you into buying it.
ReplyDeleteMy love to you ... I hope you stay pain free.
Terry, Well, I never before needed anything for pain and we just hadn't talked about it. I was beside myself, stifling screams and I wanted something natural but too hurting to look up anything or think about it. All that stuff is bad the liver, too. Just what I need. I'll talk to you soon. Love to you back.
DeleteYou don't have pain?? Wow! How amazing!
ReplyDeleteWell, not to be contrary exactly, but I do have pain from time to time. Most people do. I don't see any problem with taking medications when it is appropriate. As long as one follows directions, doesn't try to self-medicate, and uses good sense, a couple of aspirin for a headache or a toothache, relieve the pain and whatever side effects that people are concerned about, generally only appear after long-term usage (and mis-use) or inappropriate dosages. The same is true of most prescription medications for some of life's uncomfortable physical ills. Use them correctly and they will help most people. It is a matter of personal responsibility. So I took Vicodan after a surgery, had a codeine cough syrup for one of the worst colds I ever had and take aspirin whenever I have a bad headache. They did what they were supposed to do and then I didn't take them any more.
I think of it like this: If I was on a boat and fell into the water 100 miles from land, would I refuse a life preserver because it wasn't natural?? Not a chance!
There isn't anything wrong about natural treatments if that's what works for you, but, used appropriately, most medicines can be real life preservers when you need saving! :)
One other point, ignoring serious pain (and pain that keeps you awake is on the serious side) is dangerous and depending on the source of the pain, potentially life threatening. And so often those serious pains occur at a time when your (doctor, osteopath, neuropath, or natural whatever) are not available. Just be sure that you know the warning signs for things like stroke, heart attack, aneuryisms, and so on. Because when those things show up, you will need a traditional ER and doctors and you'll need them right away! :)
Dear Mell, Thanks for expressing yourself so eloquently. You always tell such honest truths and people listen. After all, you are an actress and people listen to you.
ReplyDeleteWishing you a wonderful coming week
Just the other side of the coin. :)
ReplyDeleteThat is balance. Are you a Libra?
ReplyDeleteOil of wintergreen is wonderful stuff and I used to rub it on sore muscles and joints every winter. now, out here in Aus, it is no longer available as a pure oil, only diluted at a greatly increased price. I can't afford it anymore and the diluted stuff doesn't work as well anyway. So now I'm a big fan of painkilling tablets. To be able to continue working I take far more than I should, which is one reason I'm thinking of retiring instead.
ReplyDeleteRiver, I can get the essential oil on line. I ordered some and I wish I had it last Friday when I was hurting. It's interesting to know that you used it and that it works. Thanks for telling me.
ReplyDeleteJust a little P.S. I think you would be happy if you retired and if it wasn't a burden to you.
Pain is no good no matter the age, but yeah the older we get the more of it that seems to find us.
ReplyDeleteJohn, Well, next it comes look'n for me, I'm going to hide. Ha
ReplyDeleteDear Manzanita, I don't know what is causing the pain nor do I have any deeply felt opinions about pain medication and alternative types of help. The one thing I do know is that I get Meniere's headaches and that take two tablets immediately--and I do mean as soon as the pain niggles in my right-side forehead--helps within a half hour.
ReplyDeleteThe tablets contain aspirin, acetemetephin (spelling?), and caffeine. And they work for me.
I'm hoping that you are feeling better today and that the pain has abated. Peace.
Dee, I'll probably know tomorrow as I have an appointment with the natural path. It must feel glorious when that pill kicks in. Thanks the pain has subsided .
DeleteWhat a lovely young woman!
ReplyDeleteTo live with pain robs me of everything else. Poorly healed broken ankle, back injury, and migraines--have to take pain relievers.
Susan, I hear if you injure your body, it bothers you more and more as you age. I'm sorry you have injuries to your body and then arthritis sets in too.
DeleteManzie: Your granddaughter is beautiful, the name of the band is fantastic, but that's it for the drugs! I don't take any, and you're my idol. Get well soon, my friend.
ReplyDeleteJJ I wouldn't think you did and usually neither have I but but there comes that one critical point when the pain is so intense and I never knew that before.
DeleteKaren, It feels better but I'm seeing the natural -path tomorrow. Good old western medicine
ReplyDeleteMy my, you DO live life on the edge, don't you?! Seriously, sorry to hear of your troubles - but why feel guilty about allowing your body time out for the rest that will make it easier to track down and treat the real problem??
ReplyDeleteHope it's better soon, and LOVE the pic of your granddaughter!
Hey Red Love,
ReplyDeleteBut I do know the real problem now that I've done a little research. It is the tailbone and that is such a vital part of the anatomy. I just hate myself when I put alien substances in my body because the damages are always far-reaching. White willow bark is what I should have had on hand for pain. (Dumb saying.)
Your poor thing. I hope you're feeling better now. I fell on my tailbone once (because another girl thought it would be funny to pull the chair out from under me when I was preparing to sit down) and I can still remember how painful that was.
ReplyDeleteThat was a dumb trick. Some friend. You are right about the pain. I have no idea what I did, but Mary Jo figured it out. Have you ever heard of "Asea?" It's expensive salty water in a bottle sold on the pyramid plan. Supposed to be a miracle water. Yeah, you know. Bob, my ex-handi man approached me with bla bla how good it is for you, etc. He wanted to sell me a case and that would relieve me of a lot of money (that is why Bob is my ex-handiman.)So finally to get rid of him, I said I would buy ONE bottle. I was in the process of taking this when I got the pain in the butt. Then I saw my natural path lady and she does muscle testing on everything. I took the water for her to test but I never thought water would cause my painful tailbone, just wanted to find out if I should take the stuff. No No No..... all my muscles went weak. Throw it out. She thought it was so bad for me that my muscles wouldn't hold the tailbone in place. Make sense? Hard to believe but I'm much better. She said she has tested that stuff for others and it never agreed with any one. She put my tail bone back in place and I'm OK but the pain was so intense, I fear it will come out again. Boy that was a lengthy answer to "I hope you're feeling better.Ha
DeleteHave a great weekend.
I've been using Motrin, but have been getting hives lately. Perhaps I'll try Aleve next time I get any pains. I'm glad you were able to get some relief.
ReplyDeleteKay, That is a terrible side affect. Aleve really worked well in taking the pain away and fast. It said it lasted 12 hours and it did, almost exactly. But I didn't feel right about taking it and I now have White Willow Bark in the house if I get any more pain.
DeleteEnjoy the week end.