HER2 Support Group Forums - View Single Post - Meds-keeping track

Cannon · 10-22-2008, 08:03 PM

Thanks for the tip Bill.

I actually have a large # of pills to take (crohn's, thyroid, depression, etc.) and they need to be taken at 3 different times of day. I got multiples of the 7-day pill boxes - small for AM, medium for midday, extra large for evening, marked them week 1, week 2 and week 3, and made index cards with a list of everything that's supposed to go in each box. I often can't remember.

I try to fill up all three weeks at once, and then I'm on top of when I need refills also. It takes a long time, but then I can just look at the box and know if I took the meds or not (as long as I can remember what day it is!).

I do also keep an excel spreadsheet with my meds and supplements, dosages, and who prescribed them. Any time I have to see a new doctor, I take a copy with me. Often they would rather hear it and write it down themselves, but at least I don't have to try to remember it. If I were smart, I would also keep a copy in my pocketbook for those unfortunate times I end up in the ER (last time it was gallbladder - nothing cancer related).

10-22-2008, 08:03 PM	#4
Cannon Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 203	Thanks for the tip Bill. I actually have a large # of pills to take (crohn's, thyroid, depression, etc.) and they need to be taken at 3 different times of day. I got multiples of the 7-day pill boxes - small for AM, medium for midday, extra large for evening, marked them week 1, week 2 and week 3, and made index cards with a list of everything that's supposed to go in each box. I often can't remember. I try to fill up all three weeks at once, and then I'm on top of when I need refills also. It takes a long time, but then I can just look at the box and know if I took the meds or not (as long as I can remember what day it is!). I do also keep an excel spreadsheet with my meds and supplements, dosages, and who prescribed them. Any time I have to see a new doctor, I take a copy with me. Often they would rather hear it and write it down themselves, but at least I don't have to try to remember it. If I were smart, I would also keep a copy in my pocketbook for those unfortunate times I end up in the ER (last time it was gallbladder - nothing cancer related). __________________ Dx 8/06 Age 43 Stage IIIA multifocal throughout breast, largest tumor 5 cm, grade 3, comedo, ER+PR+HER+++ Neoadjuvant A/C 4X Dose Dense 11/06 Bilateral Mastectomy (no choice on the right, my choice on the left) Taxol+Herceptin weekly x12, continuing with Herceptin, finished one year in 12/07 33 Rads Femara for 5+ years, staying on (started with Arimidex, switched after about a month, much happier) Abnormal brain MRI shows no cancer, but "extensive white matter diease" - unknown cause BRCA negative - lots of cancer in my family survivor of thyroid cancer also have Crohn's disease CT and bone scan say NED as of 5/13 dx with severe cardiomyopathy 5/12 (likely due to chemo and Herceptin), ejection fraction in low 20's, now up to 40, went to 50, latest read 12/13 is back down to 35 1/13 Acute pancreatitis - are you kidding me? 9/13 started Humira for Crohn's. starting to have some energy again B12 and Vit D both needed supplementation Cataracts in both eyes noted 6/12 - surgery in the next 2-4 years? 4/14 Kidney stones/blockage/infection - related to Crohn's Disease 5/14 My aunt passed away - she was diagnosed after I was with Stage I - not Her2+, then Stage 4 for about one year 6/14 Scans - still NED, thank God. However, broken rib (I didn't notice) lots of bone degeneration osteopenia/osteoporosis. I also still have cardiomyopathy secondary to chemo.