I just had to vent today... I was watching a news program the other night (I think it was on people with fibro and their pain). It was plugging alternative medicine (which I have no problem with and try to incorporate into my life as well as modern medicine). There was a mother on there who had a few children and chronic pain, and said something that has stuck with me all week. She said "Nobody who takes narcotics can be a good mother." 
Well... this just made me so incredibly angry. It made me feel for all the other mother's like myself, who were watching this and also had just put the kids to bed after a very long day, bodies aching, taken their meds, were ready to hop into bed for a few hours of rest before doing it all over again. I felt as though here we are with another idiot making those of us who take medication feel like we are awful people....like we should all be gathered and hung in the courtyard in front of the townspeople. I was completely insulted!! I have only been a mother for nearly eight months, but let me say that if I can pat my own back.. I think all things considered I'm doing a pretty good job in my new role. I have bad days, but let me say that if I didn't take medicine I'd have a lot more of them! It IS hard living with pain and being a mom... and a wife.. and a friend, daughter, etc. etc.. I just wanted to ask this woman WHY would she say such a thing on national tv...and why would she think that? I am one of many women who are proof that you CAN be a good mom and have pain management with narcotic medication. Does she have any idea how many people suffer from chronic pain, and how many people take medications and have children AND function normally... live their lives well and have wonderful mothering skills? Why do people constantly make us feel like you can't have pain AND be a mom... or you can't have pain AND be a successful career woman, or have pain AND ____ fill in the blank. It always seems as though there are those that think having pain has to be your entire life and you can't possibly do anything else...or do it well anyway. There is this mindset that is really getting to me!
Maybe she doesn't realize that it is in part because of the medication that I AM able to be a good mother in the first place!! If I didn't, I would suffer and my child would suffer... I don't want to live my life constantly in pain if I don't have to! I am sure that my child benefits from me being as functional as possible! This doesn't mean that narcotics are the only remedy... I do incorporate many other things such as massage, aromatherapy, breath work, chiropractic, injections, walking, journaling, networking, etc...
I just had to vent... this really really got me going. People are so quick to judge, and while I know I need to let it roll off my back (I got enough of it during my pregnancy I should be used to it by now), but it still stings to hear people say such ignorant statements. I try so hard not to be mad at my pain, but it's people like this that bring up those feelings. They make us feel ashamed, guilty and scared to reach out for help... to find good doctors and stand up for ourselves... to be truthful and advocate our rights as patients... It's people like this who should be hung in that courtyard! (Ok, that's a little harsh... but you get the idea).. :)
