If you’re caring for an individual, no matter what age they are. You need to know what medication they are on, what dosage and how often they are required to take it each day. Keep a list and keep it in the same place each time. Use your computer or a spreadsheet for this. You want this to be a medication journal for who you’re caring for. You cannot rely on them to remember or even your doctor. You need to be the one in control of this information. Be Fearless!
Here are some basic tips on when you are pickeing up medication for the first time:
1) What is it?
2) What are they taking it for?
3) When and how to use it?
4) What are the possible side-affects, if any?
5) Could this cause any complications with any other medications currently being taken?
Each time you go to the doctor or the pharmacy you need to do the following:
Bring a list of all the medications being taking each time.
Depending on how many doctors you might see, medications and there dosage might change between visits. You need to keep this list current and up to date. This will help your doctor or pharmacist check for interactions with various medication combination.
Pharmacy Tip: Know your pharmacist by name and make sure they know you. Take a few minutes to explain the circumstances going on in your family and then you will have another safegaurd in place for your family member. Pharmacists are an amazing ally and can even catch a doctors mistake on medication combinations or allergies.
My story began 8yrs ago. I was dating my wife at the time and we were enjoying a meal at a casual restaurant when the conversation turned serious. My date at the time told me that 2yrs earlier she had been diagnosed with Chronic Lymphocytic Luekemia (CLL). I then made the decision over the next few weeks that I loved Heather and could not imagine my life without her. We were married and now have one child, who is a miracle and another story for later.
