Hilltowns Senior News for Friday, June 24, 2016
TMI. In contemporary parlance, that stands for “too much information,” and usually refers to something embarrassing, or too gross to imagine.
However, even for us more “mature” (hopefully) folks. It’s a real issue. The last time you went to the pharmacy for a prescription, along with the pills you were given a lovely five-page set of instructions. In my opinion, this serves the purpose of providing an out for the drug company in case you die, so it can say “but we told you about that side effect” in court.
In practical terms, it’s largely useless, because even if you read all the instructions for all the meds you’re taking, you’re no further ahead than you were when you started, because you have no way of evaluating which parts of what to pay attention to.
Would you take a drug that could cause abnormal liver function, giant hives, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, or vocal cord swelling? That’s part of the list for acetaminophen, sold under the brand name “Tylenol.”
How about depression, anxiety, or headaches, which are often included on those lists? If you’re telling me that my thinking may be affected, then how am I supposed to know whether my thinking is affected? If the tool used to measure depression (my analytical powers) is depressed, then it isn’t working right and isn’t much use as a tool.
If I find one of those symptoms, at what point should I pay attention to it? Is an annoying headache a symptom, or just too much television? How bad is bad? If it’s really bad, but only lasts a couple of hours, or it’s bearable, but goes on for two or three days, which should I pay attention to? A category five hurricane is classed as “catastrophic,” but a slow-moving category three can do just as much damage.
If you have a computer, or other access to the internet, a site called “WebMD” (www.webmd.com) can be a big help. They will at least list the likelihood and severity of various side effects.
Your doctor is of course your primary source of information, but his or her job is to know what’s wrong with you and recommend appropriate treatment. Insurance companies often require that they see a large number of patients every day, so they don’t have the time to talk that they used to.
The two people who can save your life in this maelstrom are you, and your pharmacist. What you can do is carry a list of your meds with you at all times (OK, you could leave it on the beach with your towel when you go swimming).
I think those “vial of life” tubes that you keep at home are essential in case emergency medical personnel are called, but not every medical event occurs at home, and each new prescription or over-the-counter preparation you take can drastically change the medical picture. Some of us have medical insurance plans that require mail-order refills, and mail order doesn’t talk with you.
The second thing you can do is to open your mouth and ask questions! If the drug says “avoid grapefruit,” does that mean all the time, or only at the time when I take the pill? Do “fermented foods” (prohibited with some drugs) include beer? Pickles? Salami? Some other specialty that my gourmet tastes have developed a yen for (Kimchee, or Kombucha?). You have to ask!
Nobody expects us to have memorized the periodic table of elements and every organic chemical compound possible under the sun. Research chemists still use reference books, so not asking questions is almost an indication that we are not thinking.
Your pharmacist is the one whose job is to assure that you get you get what you need, and know what to do with it. A good pharmacist will take the time to discuss your concerns, and warn you about any possible extra things to keep in mind.
That little “counseling” window is there for a reason. Use it!
If the pharmacist is too busy to talk, you might want to go elsewhere for your medications. He or she can tell you whether it really matters what time of day you take your pill. Your pharmacist can answer a question like “What do I need to know about this drug that may not be clear in all those printed instructions?”.
Ask them to write down the important points. If somebody else picks up your prescriptions, a good pharmacist will be available by phone to talk with you. If George, or Ron, always understands your concerns, whereas Mary seems to brush you off, it’s OK to ask George and Ron about their work schedules, so you can be sure to come in when they are on duty.
Try to use the same pharmacy for all your prescriptions; that way they can get to know you, your conditions, and your lifestyle.
Make that list now, and put it in your wallet! Include the cold pills, miracle weight-loss products, and painkillers along with the prescriptions. Once you do that, it’s done, and you only need to change it when you buy something new, or stop using something.
Dawn Jordan, a retired licensed pharmacist from Berne, took time out of her busy schedule to give me a lot of the information in this article, and she is knowledgeable enough that even I paid attention. Excuse me while I grab a scratch pad and go look in the medicine cabinet.
June is Dairy Month
June 27 is PTSD Awareness Day. June 28 is National Columnists' Day, and June 30 is National Hand Shake Day.
July is Herbal/Prescription Interaction Awareness Month, Cell Phone Courtesy Month and National Ice Cream Month. July 1 is Canada Day, and International Chicken Wing Day.
Tuesday, June 28, there will be a lunch presentation about the Weatherization Assistance Program, put on by Albany County Cooperative Extension.
Altamont Seniors are having their next trip on Wednesday, July 20, with a cruise on the Hudson River. Village residents pay $45, and others $55. Call Kathy Adams at 861-6258 to sign up.
Next week’s lunch menu for the Hilltown Senior Center is here, and we will be celebrating the Fourth of July on Friday, since the Center will be closed on Monday, July 4. With summer in full swing, if you could give us a hand for a couple of hours (especially on Friday) it would make a big difference! Swap tales with friends, and enjoy a lunch that you don’t have to cook. Doors open at 11 a.m., and lunch is served promptly at noon
— Monday, June 27: Spaghetti with meat sauce, romaine salad, wheat roll, tropical fruit, and milk;
— Tuesday, June 28: Chicken cacciatore, rice, broccoli, wheat bread mandarin oranges, and milk;
— Friday, July 1: Hot dog with sauerkraut, cole slaw, baked beans, watermelon, and milk;
Please call Linda Hodges 24 hours in advance to 872-0940 to reserve lunch, or email her at: , or sign up when you come in. Tell us how many are coming, your name, and your telephone number. If you’d like to come and help out, give Mary Moller a call at 861-6253, or email her at , and put “volunteer” in the subject line.
Lunches are provided by Helderberg Senior Services, the Albany County Department of Aging, and Senior Services of Albany. The Hilltown Senior Center is located at 1360 Helderberg Trail (Route 443) in Berne.