With the effects some of the prescribed meds we're on have on the mind, this is becoming a serious problem -moreso with the eldery. I have an aunt in her 80s, who can seemingly never remember if/when/what she has/n't taken, and it's an increasing concern for the family. I find myself beginning to have problems I never had just a few years ago. Compound that with all the supplements we take for PN, etc. and the intricate timing involved with empty stomachs, food, X/day.... My wife & I have finally broken down and gotten some (Google: pill organizers ). She gets by with a couple of one compartment per day of week type; I've graduated to one of the full blown 4 compartments/day, 7 days/week monsters. Now it's a comical ritual (for anyone watching us) sitting at the kitchen table every Sat. night with a couple dozen bottles strewn across the table, filling our next week's worth of various pills....

"You got the B12? I can't find the B12."

"It's over there behind the TripleFlex."

"No, that's the B-100. I need the B12's - the little pink ones you pop under your tongue."

"Which ones - the 1000s or the 5000s?"

"I don't know - better make it the 5s - I've been dragging by butt all week."

"Have you got the Cs?"

"Just my Ester Cs - you take the ascorbic acid."

"Oh, yeah... well I can't find it."

"Did you remember to grab it out of the cabinet?"

"I thought you had it."

"I got my stuff, and that's enuff. Can't you keep track of your own pills?"

"I thought that's what we got these things for...."

"Where's the Lipoic acid?"

"Right there in front of you."

"No, that's the NAC. I already did those; I need the Lipoic acid. They look just like the NAC but they're smaller."

"I don't see it. Some new ones came in yesterday. I'll go get one of those."

"While you're at it, did my ALC come in?"

"It was supposed to, but they emailed, and it won't ship til Tuesday."

"TUESDAY‽ What am I supposed to do until Tuesday?"

"I don't know. What do you want me to do about it - pull some outta my..."

"Nevermind. I'll just take 2 Pantothenic acids - I can't tell them apart anyway; they look exactly the same...."


It gets worse. We could/should take the show on the road...

Doc

Yup, I had forgotten the name but it was Welbutrin. I'm wish I could find one that would guarantee a 'mating dinosaur moment' for my next visit to my evil pulmonologist...

".ARE YOU GOING TO LISTEN TO ME???!! BWWRRAAACCCKKKK!!!!"
Zygo

Speaking of PILL ORGANIZERS! I need one available in ALPHABETICAL ORDER!

I just had another funny thought, maybe if we all started to vocalize in the way dinosaus did, somebody would finally listen! That will get their attention for sure. ginnie

Might getcha locked up, too!

Remember:
Doctors only hear 25% of what patients tell them (usually because they're going through possibilities in their minds).
Patients only hear 50% of what doctors tell them (usually because they're sick/upset/have no clue what the doctor's saying).

If we know that, then one way of looking at it is that if they're not listening, or we're not getting their attention, 75% of the burden is on us to be heard/paid attention to.

If that doesn't work, we may have the wrong doctor.

Q: What do they call the guy who graduated at the bottom of his class in Med School?

A: "Doctor."

Doc

OOOooooo I love doctor jokes!

"I can't find a cause for your illness", the doctor said, "Frankly, I think it's due to drinking"
"In that case", replied his patient, "I'll come back when you are sober"

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Why did the proctologist use 2 fingers?
In case the patient wanted a second opinion

Ok I'll shut up

I do too, but it wasn't (meant as) a joke!

Our PCP is a bit of a walking contradiction. The hours he keeps & his dedication to his patients are classic Type A Personality*, but his laidback demeanor and bedside manner are more Type B. He always has an anecdote (or 3) to interject about whatever we happen to be discussing, which usually has a much broader range than medicine.

With that in mind, we embroidered an apropos quote, framed it, and gave it to him as a tongue-in-cheek gift...
He loves it; it's been hanging prominently on his office wall ever since.

Doc

* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Type_A_...onality_theory

The PCP I used to see called my pulmo ' Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde.' I'm usually pretty comfortable communicating with Drs but this one really tends to brush off mere mortals and then throw temper tantrums if hes pushed at all. The last time I saw him he walked out on me, his nurse told me "You just have to let him vent and then He'll listen". Okaaaay...

It is my fault to some extent because I should have confronted him sooner, hes just so dismissive and aggressive it was easier to let things go. I did get him to admit that the only reasonable course of action right now is to titrate the meds enough to control symptoms without taking enough to cause such severe side effects. He should have done that 3 years ago, he does a lot of critical care and really just seems indifferent to quality of life issues.

I'm pretty much stuck with him, he heads the only clinic in town. Do you think it would help if I called him 'O Exalted One'?

Pardon my ignorance. Inferring that description was about your pulmonologist - not your PCP, that's very telling. It sounds like he's either got some kind of personality issue, or he's become very jaded.

I just posted something in Medications & Treatments that may apply (but who knows...?) Normally, I'd suggest thinking about finding a different doc; this one may not be the best for your team. But if that's not practicable, I guess my suggestion is be prepared for each "confrontation"/ordeal (office call ) with a written agenda (topics, talking points, questions, homework/articles, etc.), follow the nurses suggestion about his venting, be tolerant but firm and persistent, and don't be intimidated by this guy. If you find you've forgotten something, don't hesitate to call the office back. If you can develop a better relationship with that nurse, she may be able to help you with simple things, or advice on dealing with the guy; she has to deal with him every day!

I don't know about addressing him that way. I could get away with it, but everybody knows I'm a horse's patoot!

Doc

It is the pulmonogist, former PCP just had some problems with him too. Your suggestions were all good but I think I've tried many of them already.

Most Drs are disinclined to take what patients say at face value and that's appropriate because they went to medical school and we didn't. A lot of them will also take a conservative approach with respect to side effects but eventually if symptoms continue to be a problem they will 'get it' and either titrate the dose, change the med, or monitor things to see if they progress.
Pulmonary medicine is also probably harder because if patients can't breathe they can die but at this point I think he was a little negligent.

The nurse I mentioned hasn't been with him very long and I don't know if she will hang in there. He did have one for a long time but shes been gone for 2 or 3 years and hes had quite a turn over since then. His front desk employees die like flies. I used to think he was impatient because he is very smart and I thought he was just intolerant of inefficiency. That may be true to some degree but I'm beginning to think the biggest problem is that he's just a nasty little weasel. Its one thing to be angry, he becomes snide and literally vicious. I think your comment that he has some personality problems was accurate. From a mental health standpoint hes kind of funny, the little sucker is FAST and he can cut you off at the knees before you know what hit you, but its hard being a patient. I'm not sure but I have the impression he isn't married .

Thank you for listening, that in itself helped, I am going to try calm firmness more than I have been able to do recently. I think he would be quite insulted if I tried to take in an article, maybe some literature on anger management classes would be more appropriate. ha ha
Zygo