Embracing Medication: A Personal Journey Through Aging and Health Challenges

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 terrified of needles as I am, I now inject myself with testosterone twice a week.

Another area where I occasionally had problems, which most men would not dare talk about, is in the bedroom. My soldier still rises to the occasion, but at times he’s not as strong and powerful as he once was. This is another inevitable fact of life, and as embarrassing as it might be, it’s very real. All one has to do is look at the statistics to see how real it is.

As I mentioned before, most men would deny this or not talk about it. However, based on those numbers, clearly, many men are taking these pills. They wouldn’t be so popular or readily available if they weren’t. Because our masculinity is based on our man parts, it is a source of shame for many men, just like not having a massive penis. Sadly, we tie our worth to how our penis looks and performs. Admit it or not, it’s just a fact.

Painkillers have also made it to the party. Due to my herniated disc injuries, I found myself regularly taking Advil, Tylenol, Meloxicam, and many other medications whose names I can’t even remember. From muscle relaxers to seizure medication, I have taken them all.

Finally, as if that wasn’t 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 perpetual state of anxiety. It is absolutely the worst thing I’ve gone through in a very long time.

The anxiety is not only present when I am awake, but it also takes over when I lay down to sleep. The feeling is that of complete and total terror. For no real reason at all, you are panicking and unable to 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 that which I swore I never would, taking a shit load of medication.