'Twas the night before Thanksgivng
@GardenGerty (169474)
United States
November 30, 2019 8:06am CST
'Twas the night before Thanksgiving and my sister-in-law was baking pies. I was visiting, and my older sister was taking her bed time medicine.
She discovered that the needle had disappeared from her insulin pen. She did not have a working spare.
Problem solving 101. I called the local ER, who said "the only way we could help her would be to admit her, then give her insulin". "Why don't you call the 24/7 Walgreens in the next town over."
Before leaving the house to drive twenty miles, we called them. They said "yes we have any kind she needs, over-the-counter, she will have to buy a box of 100.
She checked the balance on her benefits card, my sister-in-law grabbed her coat and keys. As a precaution, we drove past the local Walgreens, which was definitely closed. Away we went.
My sister felt bad, my sister-in-law did not mind. All was well. The new box of 100 needles, minus one, is in her case with the rest of her travel meds now.
Happy Thanksgiving to all, and to all a good night.
Just one of our many "family moments".
11 people like this
12 responses
@owlwings (43897)
• Cambridge, England
1 Dec 19
It's been around since the mid-1980s. My daughter (Type 1) had one initially but now she uses a semi-automatic doser which is connected via a cannula and has en electronic sensor which monitors blood sugar levels and delivers a calcuated dose when needed.
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to navigation Jump to search Two types of modern, pre-filled insulin syringes. An insulin pen is used to inject insulin for the treatment of diabetes. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas. It is composed
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
30 Nov 19
Instead of needing to draw up insulin into a syringe, the insulin comes in a cylinder that they call a pen. It has a needle on one end and you dial the amount prescribed at the other hand and inject it. It is much more accurate than filling syringes.
1 person likes this
@BarBaraPrz (51819)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
1 Dec 19
@GardenGerty I'm guessing this is something relatively new?
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
30 Nov 19
Well, atleast she was able to get some more needles. I am thankful that pharmacies are open during the holidays. We just never know when they are needed.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
30 Nov 19
Yes. I do not know how serious it would have been for her to miss her insulin two nights in a row, but I am glad we did not need to find out.
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
1 Dec 19
@ScribbledAdNauseum Her solution was going to be to take double of her oral meds, which is not the same as insulin and could have made things worse. It was good to just keep her on her regular routine as it is working for her right now.
1 person likes this
@ScribbledAdNauseum (104615)
• United States
30 Nov 19
@GardenGerty Yes, I imagine that it could have landed her in the hospital, and I know that no one wants to be there.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
30 Nov 19
I am glad my sister in law was available to drive us, she knew just how to get there.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
1 Dec 19
@LadyDuck This pharmacy never closes. It is a good thing for emergencies.
1 person likes this
@LadyDuck (502464)
• Italy
1 Dec 19
@GardenGerty You are lucky that some stores where opened the Thanksgiving Day.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
1 Dec 19
thank heavens y'all'd a place to get those. goin' to the e.r. this time 'f year aint a good idea. germs jest 'bound!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
1 Dec 19
Yes, plus it was not really an emergency. Likely she would have done okay without the insulin. I did not like her plan which was to take double of her oral medication the next day. It works differently than insulin and she may have been in trouble if she did.
1 person likes this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
2 Dec 19
@GardenGerty no ma'am, but could'a turned 'nto such. i worked the e.r. fer many years 'n sadly saw the sufferin' 'f those that missed one med 'n thus took more 'f 'nother. didn't 'lways work out well :(
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
30 Nov 19
Wow quite the adventure..Glad it all worked out.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
30 Nov 19
One or another of us always has something. Last Thanksgiving my hubby had to find a place to get a catheter leg bag in the middle of the night more or less. So thankful we found a doctor who fixed that problem. We have had other health emergencies over the years. Makes us thankful there is help.
1 person likes this
@Happy2BeMe (99353)
• Canada
1 Dec 19
@GardenGerty I am glad that things always work out
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@Butterfingers (66603)
• India
30 Nov 19
Happy thanksgiving. Don't they deliver at ur place?
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
30 Nov 19
Not at midnight in a different town.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
30 Nov 19
Yes, she will just leave the extra box in her suitcase.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135744)
• Marion, Ohio
30 Nov 19
I would not mind either. She needed them.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
30 Nov 19
We were actually able to laugh about it.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (91086)
• United States
30 Nov 19
She is lucky that she was able to get her insulin pen and all turned out well
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
30 Nov 19
Yes. She actually had a pen, but without a functioning needle she was basically out of luck.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
30 Nov 19
Yes, I am glad it was that easy to fix.
1 person likes this
@andriaperry (118793)
• Anniston, Alabama
30 Nov 19
That sounds exactly like my sister.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
30 Nov 19
I think usually she has a spare pen with her, but she was interrupted so much while packing she did not get it in this time.
@GardenGerty (169474)
• United States
30 Nov 19
Yes, this was urgent, but not a disaster and we were able to work together to solve the problem.
1 person likes this
