JIM BUTTON,
TELLING TALES.

Drugs

A while ago when I wasn’t doing so well Tracey figured it might not be a bad idea for me to outline my medication schedule. She rightly understood that if I wasn’t able to recollect the program that perhaps she best have an understanding of it.

It’s actually more complicated than just taking the pills. Some have interactions with others, each has a specific timing element such as “not within two hours of eating” or “take with meal” or “take one hour prior to meal”. It gets complicated but after a few years I finally have it committed to memory. Now Tracey does too. And so do you.

Restorolax

·      Bowel hydration - working with water to hydrate and soften stools

·      1 cap in morning

Creon enzymes

·      Digestive enzyme used to treat malabsorption syndrome due to certain pancreatic problems.

·      8 pills, taken prior to start of meal (sometimes half at beginning other half in middle)

Metoclopramide (Metonia)

·      Relieve heartburn and speed the healing of ulcers and sores in the esophagus, also helps with nausea and motility (bm)

·      2 pills taken each breakfast and dinner (could do up to 3 x day)

Pantoprazole

·      Heartburn, acid reflux and gastro-oesophageal reflux disease

·      1 pill one hour prior to breakfast and dinner. Usually take it off nightstand just as getting out of bed.

Dexamethasone

·      Steroid - provides relief for inflamed areas of the body

·      2 pills twice a day (breakfast, dinner). Will be adjusting downwards once I start recuperation.

Synthroid

·      Treat an underactive thyroid (hypothyroidism). It replaces or provides more thyroid hormone

·      1 pill taken before bed, hour after last food item (11pm)

Cabozantinib

·      Chemotherapy - is a targeted therapy. It is an oral receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor        

·      1 pill taken two hours before, two hours after a meal (usually at my 3 am pee)

Blextin

·      Antihistamine (Skin, nose)

·      Taken first thing in morning. Usually with pantoprazole just as I’m getting out of bed

 

Caregivers Dilemna

Spazz