Of course you all know that I am a fake medical professional. So you should never ask me for medical advice.
But I am a real live professional patient. So I can speak from experience when I talk about medical stuff, too.
It’s all so confusing.
You know what else is confusing? Taking your medicines so you get the most bang for your buck. Or for your insurance company’s buck. Or so you just feel better.
But taking medicines, especially if, like me, you take a zillion different ones, can really be mind numbing.
But there’s help!
October is “Talk About your Medicines Month!”*
I was recently contacted by Judy from NCPIE, The National Council on Patient Information and Education. She asked me to write a post letting you guys know that October is “Talk About Your Medicines Month.” My sister Judy got me into the habit of doing whatever Judy said, and even though this was a different Judy, I’m doing just that. Because it’s important, and it’s a good way to make sure you’re using medicines, both prescriptions and over the counter (OTC)stuff the way you should.
But WHO should I talk to, Elyse?
Personally, I talk to my pharmacist. He’s easier to get on the phone than my doctor is.
Besides, he always knows the answer to my questions. Seriously! Before I became a fake medical expert, I thought that all pharmacists have to do is count pills and put stickers on bottles. I bet you thought so too.
Nope. That’s not true at all –although they are damn good counters, I must say. Pharmacists nearly always have PhDs! They understand the chemistry, the interactions between drugs and between drugs and foods! They know what side effects to look for. They know all kinds of things about how a body processes drugs, and what the drugs do to a body. YOUR BODY! Who wouldda thunk it.
Seriously, you can talk to them about all kinds of things:
- Can I drink my daily 12 glasses of wine/5th of bourbon while I’m on this?
- Do I have to take it before I gorge myself with ice cream?
- Will it make me feel better after my wine and ice cream?
- I’ve been taking this drug for 14 years and it was always white and oblong — why is it green and round today?
- Will the drug that my GP gave me put hair on my chest (and if so, what the hell do I do about it?)
- Whether stopping a drug cold turkey will turn me into a cold turkey
You can also ask them real questions.
And you know what? They’ll know the answer.
Because pharmacists are even smarter than I am.
They’re good at ‘splainin’
Google Image, natch.
* Eat your heart out Frank (of AFrankAngle)
FiftyFourandAHalf 