Having medications to treat several different illnesses can be daunting, which is why I think having them organized in an area of your home to remind you to take them is extremely beneficial.

I take prescriptions, compounds, and supplements every day trying to feel my best. Want to take a guess at how many? 
.
.
.
.
.
.
20.

I take up to 20 on any given day depending on what’s going on. 

I’m currently on prescriptions for the kidney stone procedure I just had done on the 22nd (Flomax, ciprofloxacin, Pyridium, and hydrocodone). I have 4 compounds I use every day (magnesium capsule, dhea capsule, progesterone cream, and biest cream), 1 compound as needed (phenergan), supplements I try to use every day (optiflora probiotic, vitamin d, osteomatrix,  gla complex, adrenal rebuilder, adrenal c formula, l-glutamine, l-theanine), supplements I use when needed (vitamin e, cal mag, fish oil, stomach soothing complex). Below, I have what I use each medication for.

• Flomax- increase urination
• Ciprofloxacin-antibiotic for kidney infections 
• Pyridium-urinary symptoms 
• Hydrocodone-pain for the stent
• Magnesium-hormone imbalance 
• Dhea-cortisol 
• Progesterone-hormone 
• Biest-estrogen (hormone)
• Phenergan-nausea 
• Optiflora probiotic-digestion 
• Vitamin d-bones 
• Osteomatrix-bones
• GLA Complex-Women’s health 
• Adrenal rebuilder-cortisol (stress hormone)
• Adrenal c-formula-cortisol (stress hormone)
• L-glutamine-cortisol (stress hormone)
• L-theanine-cortisol (stress hormone)
• Vitamin e-inflammation 
• Calcium magnesium-bones 
• Fish oil-heart
• Stomach soothing complex-nausea, stomach issues 

Bioidentical hormones resemble more closely what our bodies make and can be compounded for men and women depending on the individual’s needs. (My progesterone, biest, and dhea are bioidentical hormones.)

​This is how I have my medications organized in case you find it helpful. ​The two clear trays have morning and night medications separated. I have my supplements in the middle black tray.

I’m 28 years old and often feel trapped in a 60+ year old's body because of chronic illnesses. I have to plan every day around medications to make sure my body is getting what it needs to function. This. Is. A. Lot. Some days maintaining my schedule for medications is overwhelming, aggravating, and time consuming, but I’m thankful to be able to take them. If you feel this way, you are not alone!

I try to avoid prescription medications because of the harsh side effects, but when I'm in pain, I don't have much choice. I’m slowly transitioning into a more natural approach of treatment for endometriosis, hormone imbalance, vitamin d deficiency, osteoporosis, polycystic ovary syndrome (insulin resistance despite having a complete hysterectomy), and irritable bowel syndrome.

Do you take medications and/or supplements every day? Is it overwhelming for you? Does staying organized help decrease how overwhelmed you are? Leave a comment below!

Take care, 
💛 Samantha ​

With the new year (or even year round), finances are a huge burden for those who have chronic illnesses that need to be treated with and without insurance. If you have insurance, you have to meet a deductible for plans to start covering health care costs on top of paying the monthly premium to have the plan. If you don’t have insurance, you have to pay for all of your health care costs out of your own pocket.

Let’s be real for a minute. Those who have chronic illnesses may have a harder time finding a job they can physically do because of their health. This puts a financial strain on their lives. They may not be able to work full time thus not qualify for health insurance or afford health care costs. If your job doesn’t offer health insurance, you may not qualify for federal assistance if your income isn’t high enough.

Why is our health care system this way? Every single person DESERVES basic health care. If you’re in pain, you should be able to have tests done to determine why you’re in pain and receive the necessary treatment. If you have diabetes, you should be able to receive your insulin. If you have asthma, you should be able to receive your inhalers. These are all life saving measures that should be provided to each of us in a timely manner.

About three weeks ago, I woke up to use the bathroom and all of a sudden had excruciating pain that I’ve never experienced before. I took a Percocet I had from a previous surgery and a bath, but no relief. I asked my parents to call for an ambulance because I was experiencing so much back pain on my right side and didn’t know what was going on. I don’t have ovaries, a uterus, an appendix, or a gallbladder so there wasn’t much it could be. As soon as the EMTs saw me, they said it was a kidney stone. I thought oh great . . . .

Once I got to the emergency room, I had to wait in the waiting room even though I was brought in by ambulance. I waited about 20-30 minutes before I was wheeled back to a room. After about three hours, I had a CT scan done and was given Toradol for pain and Zofran for nausea. I was told I had a 3mm kidney stone that I should be able to pass on my own. I was told I didn’t have an infection.

About two weeks later, I received the bill in the mail just for the emergency room costs. I don’t have insurance because I can’t pay $300+ a month for premiums for myself. The CT scan was $6,642. Are you kidding me? Am I making a payment on this machine for the hospital?! The total of this bill was $10,710.32, but I was kindly given a discount of $6,426.19. I’m responsible for paying $4,284.19.
​


​













​I haven’t passed the kidney stone and I had to go to the er a week later because I was having trouble urinating and ended up having an infection.

This is why people don’t seek the health care they need. This is ridiculous. Am I saying all health care should be free (tests, appointments, prescriptions, etc.)? No. What I’m saying is we shouldn’t have to pay astronomical amounts of money to try to receive the health care we need.

How am I going to pay $4,000 for this one bill? Why is our health care system so broken? What can be done to fix it? Do you have an experience similar to this? Leave a comment below.

Take care,
💛Samantha