topic Re: Advice Needed in Community Spirit

Advice Needed

jean2579 — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 02:29:25 GMT

I am sorely in need of advice.

My OH has developed a pattern of going to his GP and requesting a particular script and the GP is simply writing it.

My OH is now taking so much medication it is very worrying.

The Chemist has also commented on the number of scripts.

It is only August and we have now reached the safety net.

I can't speak with the GP as he says that it is patient confidence.

It has now reached the stage where I am embarrassed to go into the chemist.

Any suggestions? I really am worried.

Re: Advice Needed

lionrose.7 — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 02:54:43 GMT

Jean are the tabs Pain killers or sleeping pills, is your husband sick and in need of the medication, hard to comment unless I know what sort of medication OH is taking

Re: Advice Needed

imastawka — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 03:04:04 GMT

Patient confidentiality?

Jean, I go to the doctor's with my hubby and sit in with the consultation.

He forgets what the dr tells him after 10 minutes, so I monitor his medication.

He doesn't have dementia or anything. He just chooses not to remember stuff.

Says he doesn't have to. But on the odd occasion that I haven't gone, he can't tell me

the conversation. So I have to go. Can't see the dr objecting

So,unless you OH objects, I would go with him and question the dr

Re: Advice Needed

joz*garage — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 03:04:34 GMT

depends if your OH can manage without this medication, if so.. report the doctor

Re: Advice Needed

justpolls — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 03:15:18 GMT

I agree with Imastawka. You should definitely try to go sit in with him on his next appointment. It's not a bad idea to have him see another doctor as well. I'm not suggesting he switch doctors permanently, but it's sometimes good to get anothers opinions.

Re: Advice Needed

harley_babes_hoard — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 03:26:41 GMT

I would pull the chemist aside and have a chat to him about it. Tell him you are worried and ask if he can perhaps talk to the doctor about the amount of tablets being dispensed.

Re: Advice Needed

harley_babes_hoard — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 03:34:30 GMT

I'm pretty sure all pharmacists have a legal obligation to report drug abuse

Re: Advice Needed

youcandoityoucandoityoucandoit — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 03:35:53 GMT

That sounds v worrying Jean. Am I right in understanding that your OH goes to the Dr and asks for a new script when the old one finishes??

What I would do, is get out all your OH meds..write a list of all of them, and include the dosage info.

Then make an appointment with his Dr and the 2 of you go to his Dr together and ask the Dr if any of the meds have been double dosed, or if they would interfere with one another, or even if they are still necessary...

If the Dr gets tense, dont worry about it- explain that the Chemist made a comment the last time you went to get a prescription filled, and you both wanted to just double check on things..

I hope your OH feels better soon- and maybe he can come off some of the meds he is taking, once the Dr is made aware how much he is taking simultaneously..and yes, the Dr would have all this info on file, but perhaps they may need to revisit the bigger picture...

Good luck.

PS I wouldnt worry at all, or take any notice re what the Chemist has said to you..no need to feel embarrassed either..their comment may have been a bit- 'gosh, you people do come in often', or maybe it was truely out of concern..Whatever the reason, dont feel you need to react to it..it may have just been dumb chitchat.

Re: Advice Needed

j*oono — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 03:40:27 GMT

For a start I would be getting him to pick up his meds from the chemist. He might feel differently when it's him standing in there feeling like a junkie.

If it's pain meds then he might be feeling that he needs more because they are not working as well now, so perhaps suggest to him that you can visit the doctor with him and you can all discuss better ways to manage his pain or condition. If he flat out refuses to have you there I don't know.

Re: Advice Needed

justpolls — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 04:08:37 GMT

Just curious....have you discussed your concern with your OH and if yes, what does he say about it?

Re: Advice Needed

punch*drunk — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 04:50:55 GMT

You said you cant speak to the GP because he says its patient confidentiality? Does that mean you did try to speak to him? I am a bit surprised that he wouldnt see you and at least listen to your concerns, theres no confidentiality issues as long as he doesnt pass on information about your husband.

Maybe you need to find out when this doctor goes on holidays and book your husband in to see a different one.

Re: Advice Needed

jessicadazzler97 — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 06:39:07 GMT

@j*oono wrote:
For a start I would be getting him to pick up his meds from the chemist. He might feel differently when it's him standing in there feeling like a junkie.

If it's pain meds then he might be feeling that he needs more because they are not working as well now, so perhaps suggest to him that you can visit the doctor with him and you can all discuss better ways to manage his pain or condition. If he flat out refuses to have you there I don't know.

I agree with this. Perhaps ask him to collect the medication himself - it might help wake him up to the fact that he's going to get them pretty often. If that isn't possible, then I really think sitting down with him and discussing it is the best course of action. That said, I know some people are pretty hard to talk to, even if you know them really well.

Re: Advice Needed

go-tazz — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 07:05:06 GMT

Ask the doctor to get a medication review,(which is done by a pharmacist).

http://www.nps.org.au/topics/how-to-be-medicinewise/managing-your-medicines/home-medicine-review

That way you can go with him and voice your concerns.

Re: Advice Needed

springyzone — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 08:43:57 GMT

I would do what one other person said:

What I would do, is get out all your OH meds..write a list of all of them, and include the dosage info.

Next, make an appointment at another clinic. Tell your OH you are concerned and just want an opinion about whether he is on the right track with diagnosis/medication.

I say that because I have a friend whose father used to always get prescriptions renewed then one day he had to go to a different doctor who was shocked-asked how long he had been on some particular tablets (answer was about 20 years). He said those tablets should only be taken a few months continuously or there was a danger they could cause organ damage.

He changed the medication immediately.

The other thing that comes to mind is your OH may be under treatment for a lot of different conditions but he needs to have a check up-there may be something more serious. My brother was under various tablets for various aches and pains. Turns out he had brain/lung/liver cancer. His GP had never bothered with a full check up to see what was going on.

Re: Advice Needed

jean2579 — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 08:58:24 GMT

Sorry for not replying before. I have been in bed with flu all day.

he has a lot of his meds in a Webster pack and these are not an issue.

He is going into hospital in 2 weeks for a hip replacement and the ones that are worrying me are a very heavy duty pain relief called Targin and now there is another one which is similar.

I can not even get past the receptionist to speak with the GP as I am told he will only speak to the patient and my OH does not want me to go in with him.

Re: Advice Needed

springyzone — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 09:08:34 GMT

Hopefully you will have a good chance to discuss all this when he goes into hospital.

If you have to, ask at reception there to make a time to see the supervising doctor. They will be able to tell you the best time to come in etc. Otherwise you might not get to see them. Just say you have some concerns and issues you need to clear up.

Have that list of medications & doses written down, ready to show them.

Good luck.

Re: Advice Needed

nevynreally — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 09:09:58 GMT

@jean2579 wrote:

He is going into hospital in 2 weeks for a hip replacement

I'd be asking at the hospital.

GP sounds shady

Re: Advice Needed

imastawka — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 09:17:28 GMT

Targin (oxycodone) is highly addictive

Do a google search and have a read

Re: Advice Needed

lyndal1838 — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 09:50:17 GMT

If the chemist who is dispensing the Webster Pack has concerns about the other medications he is the perfect one to contact the doctor.

That is actually the responsibility of the chemist to keep an eye on what they are dispensing as some patients "doctor shop" and get medications that do not work together.

I have heard my local chemist ring a doctor and query a prescription.

Have a word with the chemist and see what he can suggest....if he is concerned enough to say something to you then he is probably concerned enough to contact the doctor.

My OH and I always have joint appointments for our regular checkups. That way we always know what is going on. If either of us was rushed to hospital but unable to answer questions the other one would have the answers

Re: Advice Needed

grandmoon — Sat, 08 Aug 2015 09:56:46 GMT

You mentioned that he is taking a large number of pain killers and he is waiting for hip replacement. I did the same before my hip replacements, but have taking almost none after I came out of the hospital.