He needs a caretaker
@GardenGerty (169406)
United States
March 18, 2022 11:47am CST
I think hubby needs a caretaker.
I asked him when he was scheduled to see the cardiologist next. He did not know. I asked if he had refilled a certain prescription, he did not know. So I went poking around.
I do not know when he ran out of the particular heart medicine I was asking about. He must have thrown the bottle away. I also found another prescription that needs refilled and all the refills have expired.
So I got the cardiologist's number and called to find out about the appointment. While on the phone I asked for sure if he was still to be taking those two medicines, and was told "yes". I explained to the nurse what I had discovered, and gave her our new pharmacy.
Hubby had already asked me to refill one medicine for him, and then these other two will also be ready. It is in the town where we go to church, so we will pick up the medicines on Sunday. It scares me that he has been out of the one heart medicine for who knows how long. I will set it up on an automatic refill system.
Of course I would benefit from having a caretaker as well. Is there anyone who wants that job?
12 people like this
12 responses
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
18 Mar 22
Yes I will take the job
I understand this dilemma well.
I have to try to keep track here also.
It is no fun.
I remember Walgreens used to give reminders for refills either through text or email or call.
I understand this dilemma well.
I have to try to keep track here also.
It is no fun.
I remember Walgreens used to give reminders for refills either through text or email or call.3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Mar 22
We have fresh prescriptions for those two, and a new pharmacy that will automatically refill them. All those weeks when he was sleeping way too much he messed up a few things, not just meds, but bills, and the checkbook. I understand it was from too much medication and I am glad we have taken steps to fix it.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Mar 22
Having you here would be fun. I would even get gorgeous hair out of the deal.
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91299)
• United States
19 Mar 22
@GardenGerty I am glad he is okay..so dangerous missing meds.
@Vikingswest1 (7443)
• United States
18 Mar 22
For now, buy a calendar and write the meds in the date boxes and have him cross it out when they are taken. Put the calendar and meds in the same place and check daily to see that the meds are crossed off.
Put the refill dates in red so you know when to call in for more.
A caretaker might be paid for with insurance and be able to help around the house too. Do your homework before bringing someone into your home.
3 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Mar 22
@marlina @Vikingswest1 I was over thinking things, I guess. He takes his meds from a pill box, which he fills weekly. I am sure that two or three months when he was sleeping almost round the clock caused him to fail to refill, plus we were having an unsatisfactory experience with the pharmacy. I am not sure where we put his appointment card for the cardiologist, but I was able to get it all figured out.
1 person likes this
@marlina (154103)
• Canada
19 Mar 22
@GardenGerty ,
Good that you were able to get it all figured out.
@shaggin (74988)
• United States
19 Mar 22
This must be hard on you. I’m glad you realized he was out of meds and that nothing happened in the meantime. That is scary he was out of them for who knows how long yikes! Being on automatic refill is excellent. Most of ours are that way as well. I love getting the text that the refill is ready for pickup.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
20 Mar 22
He is working on having his energy and focus back. He just says to me "See, nothing bad happened" but the one I am unsure when he ran out is supposed to strengthen how his heart pumps. So maybe he will get some energy back from that too.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174237)
• United States
18 Mar 22
I set up automatic refills through Walmart for both my prescriptions and Pretty's. The annoying thing is that instead of just sending me a text saying our meds are ready, they send me a text telling me to follow a link and SEE if it's time for refills. (I don't use unknown links on my phone, so I call and tell them I apparently need refills on our meds. The pharmacist always asks me if I want the refills set up to go automatically and I remind him that we've set them up that way and STILL have this conversation every month! 
)
Pretty keeps track of our doctor appointments.
)
Pretty keeps track of our doctor appointments.1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Mar 22
We are now filling 90 days at a time and they are supposed to do it automatically. It will be 90 days until we know how that part works.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (174237)
• United States
19 Mar 22
@GardenGerty I hope it works better for you than it does for me.
@wolfgirl569 (135582)
• Marion, Ohio
19 Mar 22
I have enough trouble remembering my one pill 
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Mar 22
We have pills and vitamins set up in daily doses on the table. Then we can see the rare occasion we completely forget them.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135582)
• Marion, Ohio
19 Mar 22
@GardenGerty I forgot my pill this morning But with a 4 year old here I cant have the pills in easy reach either.
But with a 4 year old here I cant have the pills in easy reach either.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Mar 22
He said he just ran out of the one. The other he does not remember when it ran out. For about two months he was sleeping much more than he was awake and I am sure that is what was wrong with him getting refills.
1 person likes this
@RubyHawk (99367)
• Atlanta, Georgia
19 Mar 22
@GardenGerty I hope he remembers to get refills when he runs out again.
@kareng (80243)
• United States
18 Mar 22
Oh no, that is scary! My hubby does the same thing. He decided he didn't need one of his medicines and I told him no, he was wrong. He does need it. He had a cardiologist appointment in just a couple of weeks so I just let it slide. The cardiologist put him back on it. I find that this man is so stubborn.
I like Viking's suggestion below of putting refill reminders on your calendar!
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Mar 22
Oh man, that is kind of what hubby said--"See, nothing bad has happened" he says. Our refills are going to be made automatically, and they will text when they are ready, or give a reminder call. We pick it up in the town where we go to church, so that is set as well.
1 person likes this
@kaylachan (84699)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
19 Mar 22
No, sorry. I hope things work out for you, though.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Mar 22
I got it straightened out, and fresh prescriptions have been filled for us to pick up. He will likely do better now that he is not sleeping so much. It was concerning for me to discover this.
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Mar 22
Nope, I will be the care giver. Actually I got it all straightened out. This is part of what happened when he was sleeping so very much. I am glad the doctor got that taken care of.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
18 Mar 22
My medication is on auto-refill with Walgreens. I also use a pill minder so I know if I remembered to take it that day. It really helps. Especially since I hate taking any kind of medication but know I need it.
Sometimes, I think I need a caretaker too.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Mar 22
We are getting automatic refills as of today. Yes, we use pill minders. I could not remember what it was called earlier. I kept calling it a "daily box". Guess it means the same thing.
1 person likes this
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
20 Mar 22
@GardenGerty Whatever you call it, if you miss a day, the slot will have your meds still in it. I've done that. I'm not worried about missing the supplements I need to take, but the blood thinner is another story.
@Dena91 (17029)
• United States
19 Mar 22
You do need to get automatic refills on prescriptions.
As far as him remembering to take them, the best thing I can think of is to have him put a mark on a calendar or on a piece of paper with the days of the week written down, where you can see it to be sure he has taken his medicine.
As far as getting a caregiver, ask around, do checks. We had some shady ones who worked through an agency for when Mike's dad was on hospice care (not the hospice workers but a different group that came in on days hospice didn't) at home.
I'm praying for you both. 
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Mar 22
He fills a pill box and is very good at taking the pills from there. I believe while he was sleeping so much (16-18 hours daily) he was just too tired to remember things like ordering refills, then we were having trouble with a snooty pharmacist. He should be on the right track now. I was just flabbergasted that he had done this.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
19 Mar 22
He counts them out and puts them in a daily box, and once that is done, he remembers to take them. He just is really bad about getting them refilled, but now we have it straight.
1 person likes this
