by Teresa LeYung-Ryan
This is 2 of 4 of my blog posts entitled “Parkinson’s Disease, My Chinese Papa, and My practicing The Four Agreements”
I didn’t know that I would be enjoying my new part-time job as my father’s exercise coach, appointment escort, and advocate OR that I would be practicing The Four Agreements (from Don Miguel Ruiz’s timeless book).
Agreement #2 – Don’t Take Anything Personally
Would you say that I ” took it personally” (in Blog Post 1 of 4)?
Well, here’s what happened this time… I escort Papa to his quarterly appointment with his podiatrist; Papa’s feet have diabetic nerve damage. The doctor’s assistant is named Geri; I tell her “What a lovely name, I know another Geri.”
I meet the podiatrist (male doctor) and give him a copy of the “After Visit Report” from Papa’s neurologist; I see him (podiatrist) reading the neurologist’s report that includes the recommendation to continue Carbidopa/Levodopa (the drug that helps alleviate some of the Parkinson’s symptoms)
A minute later, the podiatrist is asking Papa: “You’re taking what I prescribed? Gabapentin. No side effects?”
Papa looks confused. The doctor writes a prescription refill and hands it to me. Then he proceeds with clipping my papa’s thick and discolored toe nails.
Later in the lobby while waiting for SF Yellow Cab, I tell Papa and his sweetheart Mary that I would gladly go to Target Pharmacy for him, to fill this prescription. Mary says in Cantonese “Don’t bother, he already takes too many pills.” Papa is nodding in agreement.
“Okay,” I say and I start for the elevator. “I’ll give back this prescription.”
“Don’t!” Mary leaps to her feet. Papa looks agitated.
I’m raising my voice. “I told the doctor that I would fill the prescription. If I’m not going to, then I want to let him know that.”
Papa speaks in Cantonese: “He won’t like me if he knows I’m not taking his medicine.”
“You’re worried about being liked,” I snap. “Okay, it’s your life, not my business.”
Later, at my own home, I realized that I was taking it personally (not practicing Agreement #2) and getting upset with my father (not practicing Agreement #1). Oh, Angel Mom, please give me strength.
The researcher in me wanted to know what the heck is Gabapentin. So, I go to Mayo Clinic’s website. According to:
http://www.mayoclinic.org/search/search-results?q=gabapentin
Gabapentin (Oral Route) is used to help control partial seizures (convulsions) in the treatment of epilepsy. This medicine cannot cure epilepsy and will only work to control seizures for as long as you continue to take it.
Gabapentin is also used in adults to manage a condition called postherpetic neuralgia, which is pain that occurs after shingles.
Gabapentin works in the brain to prevent seizures and relieve pain for certain conditions in the nervous system. It is not used for routine pain caused by minor injuries or arthritis. Gabapentin is an anticonvulsant.
This medicine is available only with your doctor’s prescription.
Once a medicine has been approved for marketing for a certain use, experience may show that it is also useful for other medical problems. Although this use is not included in product labeling, gabapentin is used in certain patients with the following medical condition:
- Diabetic peripheral neuropathy.
WHY IS A PODIATRIST PRESCRIBING THIS DRUG WHEN PAPA’S DIABETES DOCTOR AND NEUROLOGIST ARE ALREADY PRESCRIBING OTHER DRUGS?
The next time I saw Papa, I apologized. Also, I composed a letter to his primary care physician and diabetes doctor, asking them for guidance.
Gee, practicing the four agreements is hard work.
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Author & Fanbase-Building Coach Teresa LeYung-Ryan says: “Reach out, not stress out. Enjoy your writer’s journey.”
http://WritingCoachTeresa.com
http://lovemadeofheart.com/blog/
https://www.youtube.com/user/teresaleyung
Teresa LeYung-Ryan is the author of:
· Build Your Writer’s Platform & Fanbase In 22 Days: Attract Agents, Editors, Publishers, Readers, and Media Attention NOW (workbook);
· Love Made of Heart: a Daughter’s Journey Through Self-Forgiveness, Sparked by Her Mother’s Mental Illness (novel used in college classes, recommended by the California School Library Association and the California Reading Association, and archived at the San Francisco History Center);
· “Talking to My Dead Mom” Monologues (the first monologue received an award from Redwood 10-Minute Play Contest and was staged at the 6th Street Playhouse in Santa Rosa, CA);
· Coach Teresa’s Blog (which attracts tens of thousands of writers) at http://WritingCoachTeresa.com helps writers build their platforms before and after publication