Anyone get tired of taking tablets? - British Heart Fou...

British Heart Foundation

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Anyone get tired of taking tablets?

Callie456 profile image
42 Replies

Does everyone get sick of taking tablets? I'm feeling a bit down today, and looking at all my tablet packets is not helping. I never took anything before my heart attack and now I've got about 5 plus the nitro patch, and another 2 as needed. I realise I'll be on it all forever and it feels depressing for some reason. I don't really know why since they're helping my heart. But today it's just making me cry.

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Callie456 profile image
Callie456
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42 Replies
jeanjeannie50 profile image
jeanjeannie50

I know exactly how you feel. I hate all the tablets I take too, but if the alternative to them is having a stroke or dying well (swear words here). I'll just have to darn well get on with taking them. Why not have a medication review with your pharmacist to see if he can suggest any reductions?

As I said I know how you feel. Shall we all get together and throw all our pills into the sea, eat, drink and party all night? That's what we feel like doing isn't it.

We can dream.

Jean x

Callie456 profile image
Callie456 in reply tojeanjeannie50

Thanks Jean, yes that's exactly what I'd love to do! A no more pills party! Oh well, that's true; we can still dream.

Prada47 profile image
Prada47 in reply tojeanjeannie50

Please can I be invited

I will bring Drink and Bad Foods promise oh and my 8 a day pill ration.

Regards

Callie456 profile image
Callie456 in reply toPrada47

Absolutely! Everyone's invited, the more the merrier 😁

Hello :-)

Yes I do and have from the start of been given them all and since then I have had more added even though not for my heart but other things to it does not help that I get side effects from some and I get really down when they keep swapping them and it makes it worse it gets me down and I have days where I feel I could just throw them all in the bin even though like you say I know I need them it just feels depressing

I do not think it helps me either because I have always had a med fear to

Maybe seeing all the meds reminds us every day of what has happened and reality I am not sure but you are not on your own feeling this way even though as you say we know they are needed :-)

I hope after a low start your day gets better :-) x

Callie456 profile image
Callie456 in reply to

Thankyou, it sounds like you have a lot, having them for other conditions too. I wonder if one day some pharmacist can mix them all together into one tablet for us. I think that feels true, what you say, it is a constant reminder of what happened and that life isn't the same. Thank you for your kind words.

in reply toCallie456

Hello :-)

It would be nice if they could just make one tablet and that is all we had to take but doubt that will happen :-)

You are not alone though in how you feel hopefully in time we will get used to it :-) x

Callie456 profile image
Callie456 in reply to

It's good not to be alone in all this, I'm very thankful for this community 🙏

in reply toCallie456

:-) x

Norton profile image
Norton

you are not alone Callie456 I’m sure we all get overwhelmed and sometimes just out of the blue I know I do.

I try to “walk off” my blue moods and I appreciate my blue times are slight in comparison to others who have clinical depression and or anxiety as I have neither, but exercise genuinely does help release the feel good hormones

Hopefully your down feeling this morning will pass soon, if it doesn’t and or you are feeling like this often please see your Gp the emotional affect following heart attack is very real and very common and ladies also have all the other regular hormones at your age to deal with

That’s why they made us so strong although it doesn’t feel like it sometimes

Just jump on here when you need to someone will get back to support you in a short time

It’s a club we don’t want to be in, but it’s a marvellous club nevertheless

We get you x

Callie456 profile image
Callie456

I know what you mean about following in your mum's path. I guess I didn't think it would start so soon. I too watch my mum take many tablets morning and night, probably even more than my gran did. My gran lived to 98 though, she was amazing. Cyber hugs gratefully received and sending some back for you too 🙏

Callie456 profile image
Callie456

Thankyou for your kind message and advice, I appreciate your support, it really helps a lot.xox

Dear You,

Not that it will help much but I really do understand were you are coming from with your post.

Like many I went from none to many tablets a day { in my case 18 to date } split over two lots.

Every time I take them and the whole bloody rigmarole behind it,

{ open the box, chuck away the leaflet, pop the pill out of that annoying silver plastic stuff, replace the strip into the box , close it etc etc }

All it does is remind me how ill I am { even if, at that particular time, I might feel ok }

So I have a pill despiser { dispenser } that allows me to group them together and swallow.

Like you I find the whole thing depressing and have { temper temper } chucked the whole thing across the room more than once, then panicked incase the Dog ate any.

If one more person { medical or not } tell me they are for my own good, I swear I shall force feed them my left over ones.

Why can't medication taste like gin and tonic ? { please add your own fantasy taste here } instead of wind producing, acid making, headache forming { again add your own side effects } powdery slimy capsules / tablets ?.

Now I have had a rant hopefully you can see that your not alone.

I totally understand that without having taken my meds like the good boy I am, I would not be here to answer your post { but that doesn't mean we can't moan about it }

Take care my Sunday afternoon job is to fill my dispenser up, if you're free I could do with a hand..........Bloody thing { there I go again }

Callie456 profile image
Callie456 in reply to

Dear friend, that is all so true! Every single bit of what you say :) It's not a nice boat to be in, but at least we're in it together. Your understanding is helpful, thankyou.

Now about that dispenser...it must be quite a size for that many tablets, maybe there's room to add a chocolate to each section to have after the darn pill swallowing is over 😉

in reply toCallie456

What a fantastic idea, would be like having your own, year round advent calendar ! X

Callie456 profile image
Callie456 in reply to

Love that idea! 😂

MrsSuzuki profile image
MrsSuzuki

I can only agree with all the above posts. I feel just the same as you; I'm on 7 different tablets since my heart attack 16 months ago. Doctor at A&E the other week diagnosed atrial fibrillation as well so that's an extra tablet to take.

I'm fed up of some of the side effects, but they are manageable, now I'm scared that if I don't take the new tablet I'll be a high risk of a stroke. It's a no win situation.

I'm on a bit of a downer myself today, just fed up, so I completely understand where you're coming from. Sending you some great big hugs 🌹 X

Lily

Callie456 profile image
Callie456 in reply toMrsSuzuki

Hi Lily, I'm sorry you're feeling down too, there sure are days that just get to you. You're not alone, we're all here for each other.It's definitely hard to be told there's something else you need more tablets for and I totally understand about the side effects. Sometimes you end up taking extra tablets to take away the side effects of the first ones!

I hope your day improves, I like your landscape profile pic, it looks like a pretty spot.

Take care 🌷

Yumz199725 profile image
Yumz199725

Yeah it can be tough having to take tablets I only have one heart tablet and vitamin b12 tablets to take and I hate taking them I used to have a fear of swallowing tablets I always forget to take them aswell I think it's my mind rejecting the thought of taking them 😅😉. How many tablets do you have to take?

Callie456 profile image
Callie456 in reply toYumz199725

I have 5 tablets, I find dinner ones harder to remember than breakfast because if I eat in the lounge room instead of at the table, then they're not in front of me.Then I might go to bed and have to get up later to take them, because I usually remember when I'm about to go to sleep!

That's tough having tablets though when you have a fear of swallowing them. I just have mine with water, but I know some people find it easier with something thicker, like fruit puree, yoghurt or a thickened fluid drink.

Anon2023 profile image
Anon2023

hi. I’m on tons of medication and it’s a constant reminder of my health problems. I’m 51 and take 16 tablets each day which I get made up into dosette boxes because I can forget to take them. Sometimes I feel like I could cry but most of the time I just shovel them down and get on with things. It isn’t easy though and I completely understand how you are feeling today. You are not alone Xx

Callie456 profile image
Callie456 in reply toAnon2023

Thank you, I appreciate your understanding, yes it is a constant reminder. Thinking of you with your 16 tablets, wow it sounds like a tablet meal in itself. If only they were tastier!

LadyZ13 profile image
LadyZ13

Totally feel you. I had a heart attack 3 weeks ago due to a congential heart defect that we'd only just discovered. I was doing OK mentally until they discharged me with enough meds to sink a battleship. That's when I broke down thinking I can't do this.

I now have a system for managing what I take when and am gradually getting to grips with what they all do. But the feeling of being fed up and overwhelmed does come and go in waves.

It's miserable at times but keep at it and keep taking. I'm sure that helps an awful lot. We're all here for you xx

Callie456 profile image
Callie456 in reply toLadyZ13

Thank you very much, yes it does seem to come in waves, one day it's ok, but the next it's overwhelming. I get how you feel too.It's hard to get used to new things and learning to manage such big changes in our health.

Hoping for a smooth recovery for you, 3 weeks is very recent, mine was 3 months ago. It probably took 2 months for me to learn and remember the names of all the medications. I think I just didn't want to accept it before.

Thanks for being here xoxo

Jackdaw44 profile image
Jackdaw44

Absolutely ! I hate taking pills, any pills, and now to take these heart meds that make me feel tired and rubbish everyday. 😞🥺 To be honest I’m so SICK of the whole thing, the anxiousness, the thoughts of more HA’s the medication the diet everything. It would have been so much easier for me and everyone if I didn’t survive, life has completely changed and it’s definitely not for the better.😞

Sorry but it’s how I feel, I just can’t move on.

Callie456 profile image
Callie456 in reply toJackdaw44

I'm so sorry for the pain you're feeling, I feel it too, it comes and goes. I haven't been able to articulate it, but you put it so clearly, some days I feel just like that. Though I wouldn't wish anyone to know what this feels like, I'm glad to hear I'm not the only one.Sometimes I think when I had the heart attack I entered a foreign land but noone gave me a map!

I don't know what's around any corner now, I'm trying to focus on people and things/hobbies that I enjoy as much as I can. I find watching movies can be a great respite for my busy mind too, especially if they make me laugh.

Thank you for replying to me and I hope that something brings you some joy today, whether it's the sun, a flower, a pet, a hot drink or even a nice rest on the sofa. xoxo

Jackdaw44 profile image
Jackdaw44 in reply toCallie456

🙏🏻❤️🙏🏻

Heather1957 profile image
Heather1957

Absolutely I do but I know they are life saving.

I take 12 tablets a day 9 of them different ones.

Callie456 profile image
Callie456

Wow, that is a lot, but yes, it's amazing what medicine can do for us these days.

Callie456 profile image
Callie456

Thankyou for replying, yes the drs do give quite the cocktail.That's an interesting article. It reminds me of how my dad used to talk about the computer at work which took up a whole room and it always gave me the giggles since now we can hold them in the palm of our hands! 😅

Coopergirl52 profile image
Coopergirl52

Hello Callie456

I know how you feel I went from not taking any medication to taking 7 a day which is not as bad a some are taking.

I agree it can be a chore taking them what I did straight away was to get a colourful daily pill box as knew getting a plan box would make the daily task boring plus it lifts your mood looking at the pretty lid covers.

Also something the pill manufacturers could do is make the pills different colours mine are either white or yellow which can be confusing if you are taking a dissolvable Asprin which can sometimes look like another pill of the same colour or shape.

Hope this helps.

Callie456 profile image
Callie456 in reply toCoopergirl52

Thankyou, that is helpful. I've just been keeping my tablets in the plastic bag they came home from hospital in. I suppose I haven't really accepted them yet. I like your idea with a colourful box.

Coopergirl52 profile image
Coopergirl52 in reply toCallie456

Yes I had mine in a big bag but decided to get a weekly pill box so I only have to get the pills out of the blister packs once a week instead of daily as it would of taken forever.

Hrty profile image
Hrty

I'm currently on 6 tablets a day, 5 with breakfast and one at bedtime. I was on 9 at one point! Some of mine will stop at one point but I may need something for stomach again, got a call booked in to discuss that on Wednesday. Get's me down at times, especially with some of the side effect but I've got into a routine with them at least. Hopefully with changes to lifestyle and diet I can either stop some or, at least, reduce the dosage. Take care.

Callie456 profile image
Callie456

Thank you for your encouragement, I really appreciate your support.

Callie456 profile image
Callie456

Thanks Hrty, it's good to hear how others feel with it too. All the best for Wednesday.

MummaSoap profile image
MummaSoap

Thank you Callie for your honest post; I’m only on 2 medications now but some days it’s the knowing that this is a permanent daily activity now for the rest of my life makes me feel down.

I’m only in my 30s and sometimes I resent my body because it feels like it’s giving up on me when I should be living the best years of my life and enjoying my young family. Then I give my head a wobble and remind myself that I’m lucky enough to still be here to watch them growing up.

You aren’t alone and I applaud your bravery for both acknowledging how you’re feeling and also sharing those thoughts with us 🙂

I hope that the sun has been shining on you this afternoon and you’re feeling better than you were.

Best wishes

Soap

Callie456 profile image
Callie456 in reply toMummaSoap

Dear Soap, thankyou for your kind words and understanding. I am feeling very encouraged by everyone sharing their stories and being so supportive. I hope that the sun has been shining on you and your family today too 🌞

Callie456 profile image
Callie456

Dear Soap, thankyou for your kind words and understanding. I am feeling very encouraged by everyone sharing their stories and being so supportive. I hope that the sun has been shining on you and your family today too 🌞

Bichon76 profile image
Bichon76

Hi I’ve been taking at least 15 drugs a day since I was 17. I’m now 60 I have had multiple operations etc and have had ill health all my life. I used to resent taking all my drugs. But how I cope is by calling the tablets my little heroes as without them I would not be here. So try thinking positively about them and you will find it easier to accept the situation

Best wishes

Callie456 profile image
Callie456 in reply toBichon76

Thankyou Bichon, yes that is a positive way to think about it! Thankyou for your helpful advice :)

Maxbar profile image
Maxbar

hi Callie I know exactly how your feeling its like some weird science has taken over your body . you once felt in charge but now you realise that's no longer the case. and it's hard to deal with it I'm s70 so probably not as bad for me a lot of the time it doesn't bother me but now and again I just sit and stare at the 6 meds I have to take and think what happened ,I was fine until a year ago. but at the end of the day you just need to get on with it and get as much out of each day as you can, and love anything that's good in your life.I hope you are well enough to keep active as I find that is the key.

Good luck you are not alone in dealing with this 😍

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