Whenever it has to do with drugs, I am someone who is always very careful, probably because it's not something I really enjoyed doing when I was a lot younger. I drank a lot of herbs growing up, so when injections and drugs were suddenly introduced to me, it was difficult for me to cope.
It took adults to hold me down for injection, and I found it difficult swallowing drugs back then. Most times, I dispose of pills given to me for headaches, colds, and other minor illnesses because they're usually not easy to swallow.
I remembered a time when we decided to clean our sofa, and while doing the task outside the house, my mom started picking pills from the sides of the chair. Without stress, she knew it was me, and I was severely punished for doing that.
As I grew older, my attitude towards drugs changed gradually, but I only take them when I am completely down. Common paracetamol, you won't find me taking it ordinarily, and I prefer to boil lemon grass, moringa leaves, and others to make tea when I have access to them.
My terrible experience with taking drugs happened sometimes in 2013 when I was working as a paster I was part of a team; we got work at different companies weekly and spent the whole week there. Most times, we don't go home until the job is completed, and it's always not easy. Because the job is based on target, we work at midnights even though it's not compulsory. Midnight work was just a routine for many of us since we wanted to go home with something tangible at the end of the work.
That particular week, I wasn't feeling too well, but money must be made. I resumed work like every other person but wasn't as productive as I used to be. The majority of my colleagues have drugs they take at night for bodyaches and others, but it was different with me. Once I take dinner and shower at night, I hit the bed for a few hours to regain my strength before resuming for midnight work. My routine had always worked, but that week, I struggled.
Luckily for me, the job ended on Friday night, and I just wanted to go home. I had severe headache, bodyache and ran temperature all through the night till daybreak, I could barely lift my finger or move around.
Immediately my colleagues knew, one of the elderly women among us took pity on me and gave me some of her medications. The drug was a transparent capsule with some tiny colored balls in it. I can't forget that drug, even though I didn't bother to know the name till today.
I quickly took the drug because of how I was feeling and just relaxed, waiting for the magic the woman claimed the drug does.
All I remembered was sleeping off, and by the time I woke up about an hour later, my face and lips had swollen. It was so bad that the first person who saw me screamed like she had seen a monster. I was feeling cold, and my body was covered in goosebumps, which was probably one of the drug reactions in my body. I managed to see what I looked like, and yes, I was scared.
The woman who gave me the drug saw me and burst into tears; she kept saying that she had killed someone's child just because she wanted to help. I sat down waiting for the swollen face to go, but it didn't go immediately.
I went to a pharmacist nearby covering my face with a scarf and after checking the drug I took, she said the drug had a high dose of aspirin, which my body is allergic to. I was given a tablet and told to stay hydrated, which I did, and the swollen face eventually reduced.
I felt relieved, but my face didn't go back to normal until around 2 p.m. that day. The experience made me know I was allergic to aspirin, and you can't find me taking pain relievers other than paracetamol except it was prescribed to me.
Once I have to visit a pharmacist, I tell my allergy so they know what to give me. My doctor is aware of my allergies, and I haven't had a severe reaction like it happened that day. You won't see me taking drugs randomly from someone, and it's one of the reasons I don't do self-medication.
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One or my friend use to have allergy to same aspirin and it wasn't until a senior medical professional observed him that it was discovered and since then he was been cautious about it and like you, telling any one that wants to treat him about it.
It's sad we don't have and keep medical records here because if it was abroad, I bet some of these things will be discovered at a tender age. It's a good thing I knew that I was allergic to aspirin even though the experience wasn't cool.
I can't imagine what must had gone through that woman's mind, she must have been sacred to death.
Just like you, I don't like taking medicine, so I didn't take it any how unless it is prescribed by a certified doctor
As in, she was crying and I wished I had turned down the drug when she gave them to me. The experience was scary but it exposed me to my allergies and that's the only thing good about the whole drama.
Self medication is really not a good thing because we can't tell what those drugs we take consist of, it's better to have that prescription from a doctor.
Yea, you are right. Do have a blessed day ahead 💖