Saturday, January 27, 2007

Osteoporosis and the Flying Nun

Many years ago Sally Field starred in a cute little show called "The Flying Nun". Her nun's headiece had these extensions that looked like wings and she'd take off on the updrafts at unexpected moments.
This past week, during the 6 p.m. news, she was on a couple of times advertising a drug called Boniva, used to treat osteoporisis in post-menopausal women.
The commercial starts off with Sally lamenting about a friend who has to set aside time "once a week" to take her op pill, when Boniva only needs to be taken once a month. The first time I saw this, I was livid, thinking about how would these people cope with diabetes, which needs attention throughout each day - and here she is (or rather the script writers) attempting to appeal to consumers
with "once a month" versus "once a week". Give me a break.
This morning when I got up I was going to write a post about how once again we have evidence that those on the outside "just don't get it" blah blah blah. But instead, my heart suddenly started to swell with immense pride. Pride for all of us, - that we, in a noble, effective manner deal with the "daily grind" (as Chrissie puts it) of diabetes self-care. That, in itself, is a soaring victory.
I left to go shopping and my neighbor across the street said, "Hi Kathy, you look like you day's off to a good start". And it was, even when the cash machine ate my card.
Look for the good - it's out there.

13 comments:

Christine said...

I personally think it's easier to remember to do something you do daily then remember to do something once a month.

That commercial irritates me beyond belief.

BetterCell said...

"Look for the good - it's out there".
I think that "Good" is a state of mind that appears spontaneous, like a puff of smoke lasting but a brief time to come back again on its own terms.
Btw, Welcome Back!

Vivian said...

I have missed your posts! I am glad you chose to have a great day. I hope you will have an awesome rest of the weekend.

Scott K. Johnson said...

Bravo!

Chrissie in Belgium said...

Kathy - glad you are back after all your computer troubles!!!!! I I have always liked Sally Field as an actor - this is kind of disappointing. Wasn't she also in Steel Magnolia's? "Stop analyzing, Chrissie" I say to myself! But, but, but look at it this way, compare diabetes to other illnesses out there, and then how can we even open our mouths to whine. OMG, now your card got eatten. Maybe today the good is hidding deep in your closet, under the soffa or try under the dirty laundry..... It is out there - right? Somewhere!

Lyrehca said...

I;ve always been surprised at ads for drugs that talk about the convenience of once a day or once a month dosing or whatever. I mean, what are you people worried about? But then I get cynical and think, "everyone has something to deal with," and if it's not diabetes, maybe it's some other ongoing mental anguish that's not health-related but still requires a ton of mental energy to get done right. That's my twisted way of looking for the good out there.

Bernard said...

Kathy

Thank you for such an upbeat post. It's great to read early on a Sunday morning!

Zazzy said...

I think it's a silly commercial too. But then, I think most of the drug ads are pretty silly. Okay, maybe some of them are usefully informative but most of them make me laugh. I'm going to run to my doctor and demand this or that pill because some actress said to?

Minnesota Nice said...

Thanks to you all! Here it is Monday morning and I'm still in a great mood and certainly plan to take that momentum into the week with me. Hope you all do too.
-Kathy

Kevin said...

Hungry cash machines...
And a smile still.
Good for you!

Michko said...

oooooo! I hate those commercials, too! I love Sally Field, but that commercial is ridiculous. I mean, come on, who really has to "set aside time" to take a pill. Phooey.

Sarah said...

how did I miss this post? Sally Fields and everything....

Anonymous said...

Everyone is missing the point! If you take a bisphosphonate, Actonel or Fosamax, and had the terrible side-effects it can cause, the idea of putting up with the discomfort once a month is very appealing. However, one better study up before taking one of these drugs. They can be toxic in your system and very harmful. One or two Boniva pills can cause esophagus bleeding, a plunge in blood pressure and a massive heart attack (AMI). So, beware and take the poison warning seriously.