Medication anxiety

[Eyak1971]

Anyone else had moments where you become overwhelmed with the strict regiment of medication that if you mess up just once, it could be terminal? For 5 years I have consistently followed doctors orders when it comes to medication. I set an alarm on my phone to remind me and faithfully order my medication when needed as well as separate it into my daily pill box each week. Sometimes it becomes so automatic that at times I second guess myself and try desperately to remember each action. Recently I was taking my daily medication and questioned if I had taken my tacro or even put it in the pill box. I just could not remember. I looked at the other days and tacro was there for each day but had I accidentally skipped a day. Should I take an additional dose or trust that I had dispensed my medication correctly. I had a blood draw the next day and my tacro had dropped. Then came the anger toward myself for failing at a simple task and possibly affecting my transplant negatively. I can always choose to do better and learn from my mistakes but these mistakes are not simple or minor when you have had a transplant.

[Bassetmommer]

Did you ever do home hemo dialysis????

[Eyak1971 in reply to Bassetmommer]

No. I did pd for almost 5 years.

[Davidkidney]

Iv’e done this 2 or 3 times over nearly 7 years, I think it’s the repetitive nature of taking so many pills. I take the tacro and mycophenolate every 12 hours and set alarms for each. The realisation after you make a mistake is a bit sickening isn’t it.

[Eyak1971 in reply to Davidkidney]

Thanks for sharing. Nice to know others have experienced this.

[Winner76]

Try not to worry . In my 5 years I missed them maybe 2 or 3 times. One time I took my morning ones and took the morning ones again that night instead of the night ones 🤦‍♀️ My consultant has told me that mistakes every now and then will not cause any issues to the kidney. You’re doing a great job don’t be so hard on yourself.

[Eyak1971 in reply to Winner76]

Thanks for the support.

[Blue-Quilter]

At five and a half years post-transplant, I'm still on 14 Rx's and half a dozen supplements. I would set my meds up for the week only to find errors when I took them days later. It happened more frequently than I liked, so I researched the bubble pack option.

Two pharmacies in my area offered the service. One charged an additional $10 per Rx, in addition to the co-pay. The other charges only the co-pay. Obviously, I went with that one!

They don't include my OTC supplements, but having all my Rx's portioned out for AM & PM makes managing the rest a breeze. So I put all my supplements in a daily pill minder box and add the Rx's. I double check that the Rx's are correct because I still want to be sure, but I haven't found any errors yet, which is a huge relief!

I have a set order in which I take all my pills, basically from largest to smallest. Each pill has a "buddy" so I dump the dose in my hand, pair them up and send them down the hatch. Just another system to check for accuracy one more time.

Check with your team to see if bubble packs (or blister packs) are available in your area. It has simplified my life immensely! Best wishes!

[Eyak1971]

Thanks for sharing. Great ideas.

[LisaSnow]

Fill pill boxes such as this one, for one or two weeks at a time. The visual progression of daily container will help you remember if you take them correctly and on time.

Pill box

[A-A-B-J in reply to LisaSnow]

I fill my med box for 1 week and then no problems. I have missed a few doses. When I got sick from second shot for pandemic and couldn’t keep the meds down, Dr said it was ok and just take asap later.

[Eyak1971 in reply to A-A-B-J]

Thanks for sharing.

[A-A-B-J in reply to LisaSnow]

where did you get that pill box.

[Eyak1971]

Thanks. Great idea.

[MusicalEighth]

Like you, I worry about making sure I take my medications on time and correctly. Also like you, I have a couple of different things I do to help me remember and be sure. I set an alarm on my phone and I have a chart where I write down the date and time when I take each set of meds. I also use a pill box like the one Lisa Snow referenced in her reply, and when I fill the pill box, I have another chart where I check off the meds as I put them into the box. I know how many meds I need to take at each time of day, so I also count them each time before I take them. My husband helps me, too. After writing this all down, it sounds like a lot, but it has been working pretty well for me and it makes me feel better. Sometimes I switch the routine up a little so it doesn't become too mechanical. One example is I recently switched the location where I keep my meds. I think we all try to do the best we can.

[Eyak1971 in reply to MusicalEighth]

Thanks for sharing. You are super organized. All great ideas.

[FelineFandom146]

Hello Eyak1971: First don't beat yourself up for forgetting one time. I don't have a transplant yet, but I am several medications I can't miss. Most of the time, I don't forget but every now and then, it happens. We're human. Just stick with your regimen and don't quit! Just keep going. My trick to remember is pull out my pill bottles for the day when I'm home and place them upside down once I've taken them for the day. I use pill boxes when out. As with all meds, I'm guessing as long as you are regular most of the time is what counts. Wish you the best. stay safe.

[Eyak1971 in reply to FelineFandom146]

Thanks for sharing.

[Palmtreeguy]

I am 3 years post-transplant. And, yes, 2-3 times a year, i forget someting. No harm done, so I don;t worry. I do use a 7 day pillbox. Could not manage without it.

[Eyak1971 in reply to Palmtreeguy]

Thanks for sharing and have a happy easter.