Medications

Hi, sorry it's been quiet out here.

I was very busy this past week, and when not busy, I was taking a chill to reduce my headaches. Yes, I do get headaches from time to time but I mostly don't take anything for them except to drink lots of water, get some shut eye or soak my head in water and if all that fails, grab a pair of scissors and cut off my hair so the scalp can get "air time". I do occasionally take medications if it gets consistent, or unbearable. However, I prefer to not take medications.

Okay, not dwelling on headaches, treatments and causes here. I want to talk about Medications, or drugs as we  like to call it in my part of the world- Nigeria that is.

You may relate with this, if like me, you have a thing or two against meds, or you just might not.

I have more than a thing against prescription or over the counter medications. To me, there's just something very unappealing about those little, and sometimes not so little devils in tablets, or caplets form. Not only does looking at them turn me off, the smell of some, and most especially the bitterness just kills me.

I asked this question once: is there an unwritten law that medications have to be bitter and unappealing?. I remember loving this vitamin syrup - Becombion as a growing child. We all loved it, simply because it tasted nice. I mean I would happily pop pills if they were like skittles, Maltesers or even our back in the day GOGO. But no, they have to be rectangular, chalk-like, big circular tablets, and mini cylinders. I wonder if the pharmacists just decide, lets put this bitter stuff in it so the recipients can understand no pain no gain. Is the bitterness a primary component that cannot be tampered with? or there just has not been any thought put into making the medications tongue, and gut friendly.

I have had quite some experiences, I will share a couple:

Back in Secondary/High School, I had Malaria fever and went to the school clinic. The nurse on duty decided they were running low on injections to treat malaria; so because I did not look like I was about to pass out, she decided I was to be given Chloro-quine tablets. For those that were not 'fortunate' to know about Chloroquine tablet, it came in the form of tiny pills with the worst possible taste ever.  I tried to argue my case that I could not take it, but they were not having it. Eventually, I made an attempt to swallow the pills under the supervision of the nursing assistant, but it was a futile attempt as everything came right back out from my mouth and even my nose. I think it splashed at the attendant who sent me off angrily.

Same thing repeated itself on another occasion when I was given the same Chloroquine. You would think that after the second episode,if there was no injection available, the nurse would have nicely told me to go back to the hostel or maybe assign me a bed in the clinic to rest. We had an understanding, no Chloroquine or other tablets for me.

Over time I realized that I could not continue to dodge or spit out medications like a baby, so I made friends with Eba or any available food that could be molded nicely to hold my medications and swallow conveniently after taking a swirl in draw soup.

Life was good until a time, back in England, when I was in the hospital.I can't remember my specific complaint, but the doctor handed me some pills and  assigned a bed for me to rest till the 'Meds' took effect. For those that are familiar with the foreign way, you may have an idea of the size of the 'cup'  of water I was given to take the Meds. I didn't know what to do, so I asked for more water. The nurse gave me a surprised look, but nicely got me more water. So here I was, stranded in a hospital abroad, in need of my faithful Eba and soup but how do I tell this Oyinbo nurse? I knew I could not attempt to swallow and spit it all over the place as that would be very embarrassing. So I pretended. Drank just water and managed to wrap my meds in tissue and laid in bed. After 30 minutes or more, when the meds should have taken effect, the nurse came back to check on me. I lied that I was feeling better while hoping there was no way to test if the meds were really working.

After what seemed like forever, I was released to go home, armed with my pain and wrapped up medications. It wasn't until I got home that I was able to take the meds with Eba. Hubby did not quite get it. He found it ridiculous that I snuck my meds out of the hospital rather than take it immediately. He still doesn't get, in fact I doubt he ever will. But good thing is that he does not hassle me over it. As a matter of fact, he encourages me to make a batch of Eba on standby anytime I have meds to use for a couple of days.

Yup, that is me, that's just the way I'm wired. I hate meds, never liked it, never will. I can barely tolerate it and the few times I have taken meds without Eba, I did with perhaps more than half a bottle of juice and then I felt it stuck right in my throat. My doctors know that unless it's absolutely necessary, they don't give me tablet, or caplet medications.

Okay, if you are wondering why I am sharing this story, lets just say I am hoping

1. Someone would read this and be inspired to make the greatest invention of  
    our time - yummy replacement for every bitter medication out there.

2. This link will be shared till it gets to the right people who can and will make that invention.

And also because I am planning to soon share some home remedies I have tested, and some really unusual ones I have heard or read about.

 Here goes an unpaid announcement: Miss Tee, thanks for introducing me to 4head and if you're reading this, please be informed that i am out of stock, and would really really appreciate your help with new stock. Thank you.