Two Dangerous Words

[Scoofer33]

As we advanced Pca guys know the odds of us taking unplanned trips to the emergency room increase as we journey further along this path. I recently found that two simple words on the label of a pain prescription can create a nightmare scenario.

In early June of 2020 I had a slip and fall accident in my own home. I was admitted to the hospital with herniated discs at L4-L5 & L5-S1 creating moderate to severe caudal neural foramina narrowing and moderate central canal stenosis. A pain specialist inserted a steroid package into the space around my spinal cord to try and decrease my pain level, but it had little effect. I spent a week in the hospital in intense pain during which the hospital controlled the dispensing of the various drugs I usually administer to myself for bone pain from cancer.

However, since my general practitioner who prescribes my pain medications added the words “As Needed” I did not receive my pain meds at regular intervals as I was accustomed. I queried the nurses about this omission and was told I would only receive pain meds if I asked for them at the appropriate time intervals. I tried to get them to understand I did not want to get behind the pain, but that I indeed needed them given to me on schedule the whole time I was in the hospital, but the nursing staff refused stating they were only following the hospital's protocol.

I had to set alarms on my watch to alert me when each interval had been reached so I could request pain relief, which I assumed they would have ready at the nurse's station to deliver to my room. I called and requested my usual pain med only to have it delivered two hours after my request. The nurse explained she had been busy helping another patient. I was in such pain that I slept only a few hours the entire week I was admitted.

I'm just sharing from my own experience, but you might want to request that your doctor leave the words “as needed” off the prescription so you don't experience what I went through. Has anyone else had this happen to them?

[Hidden]

Hasn't happened to me and I hope it doesn't. Sorry it happened to you.

[j-o-h-n]

We should never pay a doctor's bill immediately, send it back "unpaid" stamped" AS NEEDED.......Then they may get the point....

I remember credit officer's in banks who processed automobile loans returning finance applications to the automobile dealers with the stamp 'Are you kidding?'. The dealers got the point......

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 01/29/2021 12:39 PM EST

[depotdoug in reply to j-o-h-n]

I've gonna post paste those words "As NEEDED" on my Prednisone med Rx bottle.Yesterdays' hyper excited energized annual Eye Exam was terrible experience. Bad bad 30 min trying to read, say reply to all the EYE reading questions from my Optometrist.

Mask Face Doug with my eye glasses and or eyes fogging up and blurry was a nightmare.

Prednisone 5mg that morning plus too much caffeine did me in.

Prednisone steroid med "As Needed". Almost walked out of Eye Exam office in middle of visit.

[j-o-h-n in reply to depotdoug]

Masks suck!!! Can't see fog up glasses, Can't hear except for mumbling....

Every Ophthalmologist must learn three words before he gets his Doctor's degree.They are "BETTER OR WORSE".... repeated often......

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 01/29/2021 1:03 PM EST

[depotdoug in reply to j-o-h-n]

AYE Aye! Said the pirate. I was out of my Opthamalogy chair once. With angst of not being able to see with my foggy eyes. Prednisone did not help either.

Next post will explain Pred decision.

[Hidden]

I spent one night in the hospital after a-fib ablation surgery. On being admitted they asked for a list of my medications. I came to find out that if it wasn't on my list they wouldn't give it to me. I had a terrible time with insomnia due to the anesthetic drug they administered. They absolutely would not give me a sedative or sleeping potion since my list didn't include that. I finally talked them into going out and buying some melatonin at the local Walgreens. Ridiculous. So think about that the next time you are hospitalized. Lie and put down a sleeping potion and industrial strength pain med just in case.

[j-o-h-n in reply to Hidden]

I wouldn't call that a lie....I would call it creativity......

Good Luck, Good Health and Good Humor.

j-o-h-n Friday 01/29/2021 5:52 PM EST

[depotdoug in reply to j-o-h-n]

Curiosity killed the cat they say.

Oh you mean creativity.

Good idea and me next.

I could add Catnip to my med list.