Mom Says

By Sherril Johnson Friday, August 01, 2008

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Mom says

"You look sick, you REALLY look sick.

Maybe if you did not take all those medications

You would not be so sick."

I am not sick because I take medications.

I take medications because I am sick.

Mom says

"So they're going to blame ALL THAT on the environment?"

Heavy metals, toxins, pesticides, viruses and chemicals in the foods we consume.

How could these things NOT be affecting us?

Mom says

"Why is it that all you read is stuff about your physical problems?

Maybe concentrating on them to the exclusion of everything else

Could be adding to it. (Or Causing it?)"

I am not sick because of the books I read.

I read the books because I am sick.

Mom says

"Well I just think that you focus on every little pain and problem you have

And maybe if you didn't it wouldn't be such a problem."

I am not sick because I think about the pain and the problems.

I think about the pain and the problems because I am sick.

Mom says

"Maybe the fact that you get angry should tell you something."

I am not sick because I am angry.

I am angry because I am sick.

Why do you want to blame me for being sick?

Note: I have lived with my mom since May of 2001. I have only been able to work full time for one year out of the almost seven that I have been dependent upon her hospitality. While she doesn't always understand where I'm coming from, she always tries. The fact that she gave the OK to my putting this poem out there in the blososphere is testament to her open minded and agreeable attitude. To thank her for all she has done for me is a formidable task, and one that I don't try to do often enough! I dedicate this poem to her. Thanks Mom!!!

Comments (3) | Add comment

Betty Boop Too

8/ 3/08 9:53pm

Sherril

Thank you very much for sharing your poem with us. I could really relate to your words, I'd just have to place my own family members name in and my MIL's especially.

Everybody thinks they have a solution to our illness. They've never lived a day in the type of pain we are in, yet they are so sure they've got the answer.

Thank you, well done

Gentle hugs & hope to see you around

Betty

Sherril Johnson

8/ 4/08 2:15am

Thank you!

COmtnmama

8/ 7/08 1:12pm

Thanks so much for sharing this! You have distilled the many issues we deal with in regards to our family and friends and their limited understanding of our pain and made them universal.

It can be so much more difficult to deal with life on a daily basis when our nearest and dearest don't or can't understand what we are going through. Nevertheless, your Mom remains supportive, concerned and caring. You are lucky!

I was very struck by your first verse about medications. I want to share something with you. I just had the worst year of my life. (I'm 49 and have been sick for 11 years now) I was taken off Lyrica due to breathing problems and weight gain. I immediately experienced severe "bounce back" nerve pain which persisited for months. I was placed on a muscle relaxer and become mostly house and bed ridden but the doc insisted I take it. The pain became worse and they put me on methadone and I vomited and couldn't tolerate any solid food for two weeks, lost 11 pounds, before he believed it was the drug causing the side effect. Then they put me on Nuerontin which caused extreme emotional side effects, crying jags, anxiety, aggression, etc. So they put me on Topamax and I became psychotic and had panic attacks and blackouts.

I fired my doctors and found a new one who is willing to treat my pain with opiods without subjecting me to all these experimental drugs which were meant for other conditions and only help relieve pain as a side effect. I have finally had a few good weeks although I have had to adjust to a higher pain level again.

I encourage you to look at your mother's statement about the medications you are taking in a new light. Many of them can cause side effects which are worse than the symptom they were intended to treat.

Bless you for sharing, I loved the poem. All the best to you.

Christine

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