A New Year’s Wish – Medication Lists

This is something I have done for myself.  As a physician, I would wish that every person who has any medical problems would do this for themselves, too.

Please make a list of every medication you take.  Copy the name of the medication off the bottle.  If you get them from different doctors, write down the doctor’s name.  Write down the dose of the medication.  How often do you take it?  What do you take it for? 

Here’s a chart that you can copy or use notebook paper to set up:

Medicine Name	Dose	Directions	Reason	Doctor’s Name

Add as many lines as you need.  Mine is over half a page.  It wouldn’t hurt to write your allergies on the bottom or the other side.  Also put down a contact number in case you are in an accident and are unable to talk.  Your primary doctor’s name and phone number would be nice on there, too.

If you put this paper in your wallet behind your driver’s license, it will be available for any emergency personnel.  It will also be available any time you go to a new doctor or hospital. 

I tend to forget at least one of my medications when I’m stressed.  I know I’m not the only one.  I’m especially bad with the newest ones.  I actually told my medical doctor I was on the dose that was purple.  I was sure it was 20 mg; he thought it was 10 mg. We had to open up sample bottles to figure out which one it was.  I was right. 

It would save medical people lots of time if everyone would take a few minutes and write down their medicines.  I keep my list in my computer in a table like the one above.  If you don’t know how, get your kids or your local computer geek to show you how.  We will all be glad you did.

Stuff I Learned This Week:

1. The ships at Pearl Harbor are still leaking oil. 

2. If a section of instruments (like the saxophone section, for example) all play together in an orchestra, and the rest of the orchestra does not play, it’s called a soli.  Thanks, Tall Guy.

3.  During WWII, we had German and Italian Prisoners of War in many states in “prison camps”.  Their accommodations were the same as our GIs who were guarding them.  The “prisoners” in some camps took over the cooking, and cleaning.  They were also used for labor on the farms and elsewhere.

4. There is an Atlanta in Nebraska.

5. It is possible to crochet in the near dark during a choir / band concert.  It’s a bit more difficult when your variegated yarn turns black. 

Feel Good

Everyone has days when they are a little down. 

I recently made a list of some of the things that make me feel good.  I read it today, and felt better.

Here are some of those things:

 *Pictures of puppies and kitties with cute captions.

*A soft, warm comforter

*Hugs from my kids

*Sunny days after lots of rain

*A good book

*A good concert - either one I sang in or one the kids played in

*Laughing at movies

*Movies with cartoons first

*The way my kids' faces light up when I walk in the room.
*Warm, sleepy kid hugs
*The way a nice clean baby smells
*Baby giggles
*Bubble baths
*Candlelight
*Early morning silence with a cup of coffee
*Rainbows

*Watching the marching band and recognizing them. (Especially if you are related to some of them and they are getting better each week)
*Hot chocolate at football games on cold Friday nights 

That’s a partial list for me.  I recommend that you take five or ten minutes and make your own list.  If you are creative, find a way to make a photo or project that you can use to lift your spirits. 

I feel better already.  (Hurricane Irene is depressing me.) 

Medical Office Quandaries #2

“Oh, by the way”

          On my way out the door after first talking to a patient, then doing an exam, then developing a treatment plan, there is sometimes a dreaded phrase.  “OH, BY THE WAY….”  Mind you, I think the office visit is complete.  I’m thinking about prescriptions and charting and a myriad of other things.  {Squeezing in a bathroom break, a quick lunch, maybe getting to the kids band concert this evening – you know!}

          Put on the brakes.  Stop everything.  Ms Wantsitall Patient has had my undivided attention and her appointment is over.  Now she has something else she needs to have taken care of. 

          Lots of times this is followed by something “simple” like

·        “it hurts when I have sex”

·        “I have trouble holding my urine”

·        “I forgot to have you look at this spot”

·        “I have a discharge”

          None of these problems can be solved with a quick answer.  All of them take a whole visit.  I have to explain this to this woman, who often gets upset.  She thinks she can get this problem solved now since she is here at the office.  She doesn’t want to pay for another visit. 

          I have to explain that she needed to tell me before she had her examination.  I might take a quick look at the spot if I have time and schedule her to come back for a biopsy or to see a dermatologist, but the rest of those are things that need special exams. 

          So, tell the receptionist everything you need to have checked.  Tell the person that puts you in the room everything that is bothering you.  Make a list if you need to.  Put the most important things on the top.  The doctor is only going to have time to deal with one or two of your problems.  You need to plan on making another visit if you have more issues.  Then your doctor won’t have more blood pressure or stomach problems.