Question of the week.

[YollyD_NKF]

How do you keep track of all your medical information and/or prescriptions?

[Bobbiereed]

This is a great question. I do have a suggestion to offer that has helped us to resolve this important issue.

After transplant, we did not have the support of the dialysis center to manage our medications. While waiting in line at the local grocery store I noticed a sign which read: "Ask about our Specialty Pharmacy Service". I asked and this is what I learned:

Specialty Pharmacies are a pharmacy service that manages medication for people who have chronic illnesses. CKD is a chronic illness. They provide FREE of charge a nurse case manager who keeps track of your medications. When a prescription is going to be expiring or need renewing, it is the nurse case manager who contacts your physician and gets the renewal--not you. They send via FedEx all medications either once of twice a month after speaking with to you verify the medications. This is also FREE. The Specialty Pharmacy bills your insurance and you make your co-payments as needed directly to them. They accept prescription cards too.

This is different from the typical Mail In that your regular insurance makes available. That type of service does not work with you in management of your medications, contacting physicians for renewals etc.

How do you find our about Specialty Pharmacy in your area?

The first thing I would do would be to ask your physicians. PCP & Nephrologist would be a good starting point. Another option would be to as the hospital system in your area if they have one right there at the hospital. Also, remember--You always have access to the NKF Cares Hotline number. Give them a call and ask them to research it for you.

Hope this information helps you--It certainly made a big difference in our lives.

Bobbie Reed

[LadyLuv]

I have it written down in several parts of my home and I carry the list in my wallet

[mhawk123]

I bought two folders from the dollar store. The one I keep all records of labs and tests with notes from doctors. I keep my medication list in the other folder. Every time I purchase my medications, I put this in this folder and I circle the date received and the time for renewal and refill information. I have a calendar that I put in the date of renewal for my medications that way if I get a three month refill I know when it is needed. I put all my information neatly in the folder by paper clipping pages together. I use a yellow marker to highlight the type of record at top. If you really want to keep track of blood pressure, weight, blood glucose and exercise, I recommend the Walgreens Balance rewards program where you daily input the information in chart and get paid for this information by accumulating points.

Your doctor can give you a printed list of your medications at each visit, so that you can have this in your wallet. Good luck with information gathering.

[cs65 NKF Ambassador]

I keep a copy of my med list from dialysis in my handbag and update it as necessary. All my doctor appointments go in my Berkshire Health Services folder, my transplant info and appointments go in my Baystate Medical Center folder, and my dialysis info goes into my dialysis folder. (I need a new BHS folder cause it's so stuffed!)

[Readingrainbow]

I have Kaiser so it’s actually kind of easy. They have a medication management program that calls every other month to clean up my medicine list. Most smartphones have an app you could use to keep track of them, my sister uses one just for me in the event I can’t answer any questions. I also have a paper list next to my bed that I update after every doctor appointment. I just got a transplant and adjusted meds were a nightmare! I think it’s best to have both digital and paper lists just in case.

[Gotthecall_123]

Hi my name is Dave you dialyses nurse can give you a list of your meds,your pharmacy should also have a list! What I do is I keep my day time meds upstairs near the kitchen,and my bedtime meds on a tabel next to my bed that way I don’t mix up daytime and bedtime meds. You can also get a pill dispenser or in some cases a blister pack 😃

Dave

[WYOAnne NKF Ambassador]

I keep a list of all of my medications on my computer. I keep a current list and can print off a copy for a doctor appt. and to keep a list in my purse.

So page 1 is my current meds

Page 2 is a list of meds I have been on in the past with a brief reason why it was discontinued.

I was diagnosed with ckd for 7 years and now 19 years post transplant. That adds up to a lot of medicines that I was on and no longer take. Why? That's why I keep a list of the discontinued ones. You never know when a doctor may suggest a med that I have already been on, and maybe it didn't work well or I had bad side-effects. So, I keep both of the lists to avoid more problems.