When I started this whole new lifestyle with the onset of sarcoidosis, then heart failure and pulmonary hypertension, one of the biggest adjustments I had to make was taking medicine, every day, several times a day, on time. Prior to this life change I never took medicine, unless it was absolutely necessary. Headache? I just rode through it. Never took Tylenol. When I had my open lung biopsy, I took the pain killers that were prescribed for one day and stopped.
Now I live a life where I have alarms set to remind me to take medications multiple times per day. At one time I took medication five times a day. I’ve worked it now so that I only take them (9 prescriptions) three times a day.
All of my medications were tablet form until recently, when I began taking the inhaler Pulmicort. I take that twice a day, but it’s inconvenient. I take my usual mediations at 9am, 3pm and 9pm. No problem when I use my handy dandy pill sorter that fits neatly in my pocket. At the movies? Just pop what is due and wash it down. Easy.
Now I have a prednisone inhaler. Not so convenient. I need to take two doses at a time. Exhale, put inhaler to mouth, take a deep breath in and hold. Repeat. Then here comes the inconvenient part. Rinse mouth thoroughly. Argh. At the movies? Spit out on the person in front of you after rinsing, well because they just gave you the evil eye because you are doing some deep inhaling behind them and they can’t hear the movie.
Like everything else, I know I’ll eventually adjust but it’s good to complain every now and again.
Filed under: COPD, Health, Heart Failure, Life, Prednisone, Sarcoidosis Tagged: | Heart Failure, inhaler, medication, Pulmonary Hypertension, Sarcoidosis
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