I was on the ‘pill train’ after I got out of the hospital. My sister is on it now but will not even think of getting off it. Same as with me back then, pill bottles all over, taking them 6 or more times a day! I had TWO large weekly pill thingies, largest slots I could find and needed two to fit them all in. What a mess.
I finally got to the point I really started wondering what they were all for, so I did some research. Yeah, I was my own ‘web doctor’ there. I looked into each one, what it was for, side effect, alternatives… Seems half of them were for symptoms that another one gave me! Honestly, most were for an ailment that another one caused.
I was taking a potassium pill because one drug drained the potassium from me. Another drained salt, so I had a salt pill and was told to salt foods. Another caused restlessness so I had an evening relaxing pill. And on it went. I get a new pill, it caused a new problem that I needed another pill to take care of! Endless cycle, a perpetual customer!
Well, I stopped cold turkey. Yeah, something likely bad and the Dr’s was aghast I would think of it, but I did. None of the drugs were for life threating things though. Mostly just imbalances, pains, blood thingie levels and such.
I did go shopping before I stopped. Got foods that contained what some of the pills were replacing and ate a really odd diet for a few weeks. And ya know, I never had any really bad side effects or withdrawals from any. I think it took a week or so and I started feeling much better. Been three or so years since and all I ever take now is an aspirin or two.
Anytime I see the Dr, the tests always show an imbalance here, or this level is a bit too high or low… They want to prescribe a pill, I ask what else I can do. Is there something I can change, eat or don’t eat? They hand me a brochure about what ailment they found. Lists all the symptoms and why the special drug they are advertising is what I need. I go home, be an internet doctor and find out what I can do to ‘adjust’ whatever they found.
Latest was really bad leg cramps at night. I have neuropathy in the lower legs so would not feel the cramps until I tried to turn over or get out of bed. Then they would near to cripple me half the mornings until I walked them out. I found two glasses of water with some lemon two hours before bed, then a nice short walk took care of them.