Drugs!

Medication:  All my use of drugs!

When I use the word ‘drugs’ I of course mean the doctor prescribed, pharmacy, kind and not the shady street corner deal kind!!

I, very literally, could not live without my medication.  If civilisation as we know it ended then I would be gone as soon as the medication ran out!

So what is it all for?  Well, I can’t remember if I have mentioned this before, but there is no cure and no treatment for my condition, Friedreichs Ataxia (though some FAers take vitamin E and Co Enzyme Q10 and have reported a slowing of the progression of the condition*).

So my ‘drugs’ are all for the control and alleviation of the plethora of symptoms that come along with the ‘natural’ decline of an individual with Friedreichs Ataxia.  From Insulin injections for diabetes type 1 to bladder spasm medication, I take a total of 8 tablets per day and have three injections and four finger-prick blood tests.  And I count myself lucky.  I am a firm believer in the phrase ‘there is always someone worse off then you’.  My mum has used this phrase ever since I was little and yet again…she was right!

Living with and having to rely on medication in order to just function halfway ‘normally’ is not fun.  Dealing with Doctors Surgery Receptionists and Pharmacies just to get a prescription can be trying enough without the mention of unwanted side effects!!

* Friedreich's Ataxia

Friedrich's ataxia is a hereditary disease that affects the nervous system as well as the heart. It causes coordination problems and muscle weakness. There is no cure for Friedreich's ataxia, or FA. But clinical trials have shown that CoQ10 in combination with vitamin E can mitigate the symptoms of FA by increasing the energy production of muscle and heart tissue, reports the Muscular Dystrophy Association. A synthetic version of CoQ10 has shown promise in reducing enlarged hearts in FA patients. The FDA has not yet approved the use of CoQ10 or vitamin E for ataxia ailments, however, so medical insurance doesn't cover this treatment.
From http://www.livestrong.com/article/272962-what-are-the-benefits-of-coq10-combined-with-vitamin-e/  2013