Is your collection of medications getting bigger?

fuzzybuddy

fuzzybuddy

SF VIP
Location
The Sticks, Northeast PA.
If you want to know how old a tree is, you count the rings in its trunk. If you want to know how old a human is, you count the number of meds in the medicine cabinet. Is your collection of medications getting bigger? I'm up to 8,= 73.
 

fuzzybuddy said:
If you want to know how old a tree is, you count the rings in its trunk. If you want to know how old a human is, you count the number of meds in the medicine cabinet. Is your collection of medications getting bigger? I'm up to 8,= 73.
Click to expand...

Oh yes. and the ones that bug me the most are the three that I will have to take for the rest of my life. I hope to be able to drop the other three at some point.
 
Three here and all will have to be taken until I draw my last breath. However, I've finally climbed on the advocate-for-myself bandwagon. From the time I can remember, it's been drummed into my head by a whole herd of medical professionals in the family that the patient doesn't prescribe to the doctor. I also wouldn't dream of going to a doctor and asking for a script for something advertised on TV. I do speak up now, though, if a script either doesn't seem to be doing the job or has side effects that I simply can't to live with. (Dr. Google is my friend!)

As a result of mentioning side effects to scripts, I'm finally taking meds that don't make my feet and ankles swell, make me feel weary, cause "lacey" nights (wakefulness), or whatever all else. Even had one that created such excrutiating pain in the balls of my feet that it took a gargantuan effort just to get from my chair to the other side of my sitting room. My sitting room is just a little smaller than 10ft x 10ft!

Years ago our family doctor told me that if I'm ever prescribed more than three meds, to make absolutely sure that what each one was intended for was explained in detail. So far, we're only up to three and all from the same doc. Whew!
 
My doctor wanted to put me on 3 daily medicines in early 2012, said I would have a stroke or die if I didn't take one of them (BP drug). I refused and am still here almost 8 years later. I will only take a drug if it's for an infection or very short term. I don't take any medicines at all at this time, not even over the counter for the occasional headache or aches and pains. I guess I'm a believer in the adage ''What doesn't kill you makes you stronger''. And, at 77, I'm past my expiry date so I'm doing great for my age.
 
C'est Moi said:
Thankfully, I only have one prescription medication for high blood pressure.
Click to expand...
Is your ''high blood pressure'' taken with a machine or by hand? One day my machine reading was 164 and when I asked for second reading about 20 minutes later a different nurse took it with a hand machine and the reading was 142. I asked why such a wide result, she told me that machine readings are ''calibrated 20 points higher''. I always felt the machine was very tight and painful.
 
PVC said:
Is your ''high blood pressure'' taken with a machine or by hand? One day my machine reading was 164 and when I asked for second reading about 20 minutes later a different nurse took it with a hand machine and the reading was 142. I asked why such a wide result, she told me that machine readings are ''calibrated 20 points higher''. I always felt the machine was very tight and painful.
Click to expand...
It doesn't matter how I take the measurement; it's high. My mother died of kidney failure brought on by untreated high blood pressure. I don't intend to spend my final years on dialysis, as she had to do.

It's surprising how many nurses don't know how to take an accurate BP reading. They barely let you get seated before they begin, then they keep asking questions... the patient should be seated, both feet on the floor, relaxed and QUIET during the reading.
 
I have my meds on the coffee table in @ plastic container and another container below or I tend to forget them. About 5 prescriptions and then some additional vitamins and supplements..They keep me going.
 
I'm up to 13 prescription medications and supplements, some are taken twice a day.

The thing that annoys me is the automatic reorder by mail that sends me a new supply well before the current supply is exhausted. It's creating a wasteful stockpile of items that may or may not be needed in the future. Just another example of our current healthcare system run amok.

canva-bowl-of-pills-MAC8RL0elmA.jpg
 
Last edited:
Aunt Bea said:
I'm up to 13 prescription medications and supplements, some are taken twice a day.
Click to expand...

I really think you need a second and even third medical opinion. Maybe your doctor(s) is a pill pusher? All those prescriptions can't possibly not be messing with each other. Not being snarky here, Bea, I'm just being concerned.
 
PVC said:
I really think you need a second and even third medical opinion. Maybe your doctor(s) is a pill pusher? All those prescriptions can't possibly not be messing with each other. Not being snarky here, Bea, I'm just being concerned.
Click to expand...
I appreciate the concern but I agree with my former PCP's approach to prescribing a cocktail of generic drugs to treat things like diabetes, high blood pressure, etc... instead of using one of the modern wonder pills that have not been proven to be effective over long periods without harmful side effects.
 
PVC said:
I really think you need a second and even third medical opinion. Maybe your doctor(s) is a pill pusher? All those prescriptions can't possibly not be messing with each other. Not being snarky here, Bea, I'm just being concerned.
Click to expand...
Aw, c'mon. Where would Elvis Presley & Michael Jackson be without their doctors' prescriptions?


ooooops......
 
PVC said:
I really think you need a second and even third medical opinion. Maybe your doctor(s) is a pill pusher? All those prescriptions can't possibly not be messing with each other. Not being snarky here, Bea, I'm just being concerned.
Click to expand...
My last doctor was a pill pusher.
I was up to 5 prescriptions a day and never felt worse in my life. When he retired my health improved so much.
 
PVC is almost certainly correct: There's little way that a dozen, or more, prescription meds, over time, will not cause more problems, somewhere down the line, due to unforeseen interactions. Find a group of docs who are not pill pushers.

I have a pcp who's a pill pusher. I know he is, so I'm on guard, and rarely go through with anything he prescribes. One prescription he wrote was for an allergy med that has so many contraindications I knew there was zero chance I'd take it. Both my pharmacist and allergist asked if I ever took it, and were relieved when I said I hadn't. Another time, he prescribed a mega mega dose of a vitamin, that was so high it required a prescription. When i read up on it, I found that it could have been toxic, over time! I like bs'ing with the guy, so I keep him. He's actually a good guy for swapping the stuff with. As long as I am on guard, things are cool. I use him to confirm any health issues I already know I have before I ever see him for the same.
 
Last edited:
Only two, one of which (thyroid) I've been taking since age 20. Unless you're counting supplements like vitamin D3, turmeric, B complex and glucosamine. I seem to be fairly healthy, knock wood.
 

You must log in or register to reply here.

Back
Top