Throughout my whole life, I have avoided taking medication. As far back as I can remember, I have had high blood pressure. Even when I was a young child, my doctor used to tell my mom, “Don’t cook with salt; his blood pressure is very high for his age.”
Fast forward 40 years, and I still have high blood pressure. Now, I’m older, heavier, and I have to take medication to prevent even worse issues. This was the first medication that I had to accept that I needed. Unfortunately, it was not the last.
As time has continued to pass, other health issues have arisen. For instance, at my age, I should have a specific range for testosterone. My doctor told me that mine was at the level of an 80-year-old man.
For years, I tried to raise my testosterone with foods such as cruciferous vegetables, specific nuts, and other supplements. I have tried multi-joint weight lifting and even intermittent fasting. None of it worked, and eventually, I had to accept that I would either continue to have low testosterone or start to take it via injections. As nervous as I am around needles, I now inject myself with testosterone twice a week.
Another area where I occasionally had problems, which many men find difficult to talk about, is in the bedroom. My ability to perform is still present, but at times it is not as strong and consistent as it once was. This is another natural part of aging, and as uncomfortable as it might be to discuss, it is a very real experience. Statistics show how common this is.
As I mentioned before, most men avoid talking about this, but based on those numbers, many men are taking medication to help. These treatments would not be so popular or available if they were not effective. Because our sense of masculinity is often tied to sexual performance, it can be a source of shame for many men. Sometimes we link our self-worth to how our bodies perform. Whether we admit it or not, it is a fact.
Painkillers have also become part of my routine. Due to my herniated disc injuries, I found myself regularly taking Advil, Tylenol, Meloxicam, and many other medications whose names I cannot even remember. From muscle relaxers to seizure medication, I have taken them all.
Finally, as if that was not enough, I currently require mental therapy and anti-anxiety medication. After an MRI attempt, I began to have terrible panic attacks. Without my medications, I remain in a constant state of anxiety. It is absolutely the most challenging thing I have been through in a long time.
The anxiety is not only present when I am awake, but it also takes over when I lie down to sleep. The feeling is one of complete and total terror. For no clear reason, you panic and cannot control it.
I am presently taking what appears to be a balanced protocol of medication to address these health concerns. I do hope to one day eliminate as many as I can. However, for the time being, I am doing what I once vowed I never would, taking a significant amount of medication.
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