I’ve achieved polypharmacy
Posted by melonkoly81@reddit | Xennials | View on Reddit | 64 comments
A moment to vent: For the first time I can remember, I’m taking five prescriptions at once: antibiotic, anti-cough (post bronchitis) pravastatin, blood pressure and lexapro.
This is not an achievement I want to celebrate at age 44. I feel discouraged and want to do better with my health.
A decade ago I didn’t need any prescriptions. I feel like I’m aging in dog years and will soon cross the rainbow bridge.
Secret-Spinach-3314@reddit
Is it bad that me, a 1983, never been to the doctor?
speck_the_ride@reddit
I would a REALLY be a good idea to get a wellness check, just to make sure there's nothing going on, even if it's just high cholesterol and nothing major that diet and exercise can't fix.
Secret-Spinach-3314@reddit
I live a really healthy lifestyle other than smoking pot. I drink alcohol maybe once a month, eat fruit every day and cook from scratch, go to the farmers market etc etc. Work at a physical job, still play soccer regularly, and weigh the same as in high school. But than again, there are 1000 things that could kill ya. Used to know this herbalist guru who died from brain cancer at 61. Guess he didn't have an herb for that, huh?
MotherofaPickle@reddit
You’re probably going to have a stroke or heart attack next week. Or some cancer that leaves you with three months.
If you have insurance, go get your free checkup.
Sinead_0_rebellion@reddit
That's great, but a healthy lifestyle will only take you so far. High cholesterol, high blood pressure - lots of things that are easily testable are just genetic. If you're clear, great - but if not, now is a good time to find out so you can start taking measures to live that healthy life for a longer time.
osteopathetic1@reddit
There are some easy, basic things you can do at the doctor to reduce your risk of dying unnecessarily. Blood pressure, blood sugar, colon screening (age 45) and discussion off safety, diet and exercise.
Don’t ignore your health.
speck_the_ride@reddit
Was gonna bring up colon screening but I was at work. I actually had to get mine at 41 instead of 45 because a sibling was having stomach problems and had one, and they found something (nothing major but her doc said I needed one) So yeah, colon screening is important!
FemaleMishap@reddit
You could be dying and not know it. Or you could be perfectly fine.
holdyouin@reddit
Schrödinger's health.
Metzger4Sheriff@reddit
Three reasons to go to a doctor, even when you feel healthy, that have nothing to do with finding secret illness:
1) So you have a baseline for some objective measures when you are actually healthy. For instance, some people have benign arrhythmias that don't/will never cause them a problem, but if they're only discovered when you're feeling poorly, it could be a red herring and make diagnosis harder.
2) So that you're an "established" patient somewhere and you don't need to scramble to get an appointment if you ever need one.
3) So you don't develop a complex about going to the doctor! If you go regularly (eg annually) it becomes no big deal-- you don't have to build it up in your head bc you know what to expect.
ValancyNeverReadsit@reddit
PlaneLocksmith6714@reddit
Wait until you get an exotic diagnosis and then talk to us
nucl3ar0ne@reddit
Currently taking an experimental drug because I can't take what would normally be prescribed. Since it's experimental though I get it for free and the drug company gives me a 15k credit card to purchase it with.
Do I win?
PlaneLocksmith6714@reddit
Oh man. This is 40.
Wolf_Parade@reddit
You can get those in singles now?
PlaneLocksmith6714@reddit
Hahaha 😂 never
Ok-Potato-4774@reddit
Taking meds for bipolar disorder and diabetes. I'm turning fifty here pretty soon. It sucks, but it could be worse.
Misanthropebutnot@reddit
I’m 50 now. You are quite the glass half full person. I spent the past five years seriously bitching and moaning about getting old getting Covid and menopause. I’m finally at a point where I might be able to manage all of my health issues and actually improve my health finally. Life is on the upswing again. I just wanted to point out to you that you are an absolute trooper. It could absolutely be so much worse.
Ok-Potato-4774@reddit
I'm glad to hear you're on the upswing. Yeah, I just soldier on through things. Maybe if I'm stuck in bed, I might start worrying. Then, just bring me my books, show me some movies, and let me play my music and I'll be good.
no_clever_name_yet@reddit
That’s all? WEAKSAUCE.
URfwend@reddit
Wrong-Jeweler-8034@reddit
I was going to make a similar comment. I take so many pills in the morning that mg husband calls me “Judy” ( it’s a Judy Garland reference. She really liked her pills.)
BoltsGuy02@reddit
I think a lot of our generation would be on less meds if we hadn’t mocked healthy lifestyles when we were hunger.
speck_the_ride@reddit
What do you mean the fast food I ate 3 times a day for the first half of my 20s wasn't good for me?
Z3r0star@reddit
Clearly someone doesn't go to the VA 🤣
I had to get an AM/PM pill counter before the age of 40
Throw-away17465@reddit
Every night at 7 PM I have to take a handful of ‘em.
And then even larger handful at 7 AM.
Because they keep me alive for another 12 hours each time.
Find something worthy to whine about
chefriley76@reddit
LiteUpThaSkye@reddit
I take 6 a day and have for a couple years. I'm 42.
Wait no.. 5 now. Had to drop one of the headache medicines because it was giving me kidney stones.
Natural-Hospital-140@reddit
UNDERACHIEVER. I joined the club at 19.
dishwasher_mayhem@reddit
Rookie numbers
OJimmy@reddit
I complained when they put me on bp meds in my 30s.in my 40s and I still bristle that I need external drugs to keep healthy.
Advice is take them.
Hyper tension will creep up and damage you prematurely and permanently.
My dad was a macho tennis player rock climber in to his 40s but gained weight.
He didn't get statins until like '05, he's still with us knock wood but they had to put him through a heart surgery. My uncles a little older and has 5 stents. he's struggling to even bend down to place a golf ball on a tee now. These men are physical models of my genetics aging up. They are examples that exercise and moderation are not enough for some people including me. If prevention meds keeps me functioning and mobile into my 80s, it's worth it.
My cousin is a healthy physical vegetarian mom 7 years younger than me and she's on bp meds.
HoyAIAG@reddit
I take a bunch of prescriptions and I am fine with it.
Potential-Budgie994@reddit
I’m 46 and no prescriptions yet but I do have a pill minder for my 5 daily supplements!
MoriartyAvalon@reddit
Not quite these numbers on prescription, but hammering back a few supplements on top of omeprazole and sertraline gives me 7 daily. I'm 43, and the impetus to try and steer away from ill future prospects has only recently hit
RedDemonTaoist@reddit
Welcome to the club!
Now you get to add the stress of refilling prescriptions to your life. You'd be surprised by how much can go wrong in what should be a simple process.
Plane_Chance863@reddit
My pharmacy texts me asking if I need a refill, I just need to reply Yes and they refill it, then I can go pick it up (I imagine I could even ask for delivery). Maybe you need a better pharmacy?
RedDemonTaoist@reddit
It's rarely the pharmacy itself. It's psychiatrists and insurance companies that make life annoying.
All the psychiatrists I've ever had, and I've had a lot, refused to use the pharmacy's refill service. In fact, I thought nobody ever used it because it never worked for me. You have to call their office every month, wait for them to get the request at the end of their day, then they'll send in the e script. Sometimes they'll have a single assistant who can send in some refills.
I could list out all the random problems I've had... Doctors out of the country for 2 months without leaving enough refills (urgent care where you'll be lectured about using urgent care for refills (this happened twice with 2 different doctors)). Insurance randomly deciding not to cover something anymore, or only covering the brand name. Random prior authorizations for new meds or dosages... There's all sorts of shit that can happen.
Plane_Chance863@reddit
Ah, can't say I've had those issues, but I haven't had to deal with psychiatrists (or American Insurance companies).
lonely_nipple@reddit
ADHD scripts, only good for 30 days at a time, no refills, gotta remember to call in the request with enough wiggle room for the pharmacy to get your doc to approve, if your doc doesnt insist on seeing you every month anyway, but you can't do it too early or they can't fill it cause its restricted.
Oh, and there's a nationwide shortage. Good luck!
RedDemonTaoist@reddit
There are always Adderall shortages. I took it for 10 years and it was always a problem.
Thankfully I don't take anything controlled anymore, so I don't have to deal with those headaches anymore.
lonely_nipple@reddit
I've had to flip flop between Vyvanse and Adderall a few times over the last year. I prefer Vyvanse but sometimes my Walgreens just isn't sure when they'll be restocked.
PopsiclesForChickens@reddit
I have 4 plus some supplements. It happens to the best of us.
Helgafjell4Me@reddit
I've been on omeprazole and rosuvastatin for years now. I remember bragging in my early 30s that I didn't have to take any prescription meds. Well, by 35, my acid reflux changed that, and by 40, my cholesterol added another lifelong med. Booo. Getting old sucks.
Sinead_0_rebellion@reddit
Heya - fellow acid reflux survivor here. Just in case you didn't know, omeprazole can be really damaging to your kidneys long term. You may want to talk to your dr about a different option. I've been on pantoprazole for a few months and it works great.
Helgafjell4Me@reddit
Im just on low dose 20mg, for maybe 8 years now. Had kidneys and liver checked recently, and both were fine. I'll keep it in mind, though.
indecisivesloth@reddit
Seems like you're in good company. I take five myself.
shrimpcreole@reddit
The rainbow bridge
FrequentEmphasis2109@reddit
My pharmacist recognizes me by name when I come in. Brad and I are tight. 5 is a newbie game when 2 are short term!
ONROSREPUS@reddit
That is a big Viagra pill!
Born-Agency-3922@reddit
You should see the orgy I’m having
melonkoly81@reddit (OP)
I’m part of the hctz club too. That was my first Rx.
Wolf_Parade@reddit
I have to beg my providers to keep my pills below 12-15 a day. 9 meducations? A couple years ago my daily waa 24. I should be taking vitamins and supplements but I just can't bring myself to do it yet.
melonkoly81@reddit (OP)
I agree my doctors are paying attention. Many of my family members have metabolic disease (diabetes, blood pressure, etc.) I don’t want those issues to get out of control. I’m just shook by how much has changed in 10 years.
chesterforbes@reddit
Bitch that’s like half of what I have to take in the morning. There’s night ones too. And multiple injections
LadyMirkwood@reddit
I have three, one for mental health, one for regular pain and the other is for neuropathic pain.
rob132@reddit
Ha! I only take one pill for my heartburn. My dad's weekly pill dispenser will remain at the back of my medicine cabinet. Waiting.
MetaVulture@reddit
I am on two blood pressure meds, metformin, and two others. Healthier than I have ever been now that I am under treatment as they all started preventative before I had full blown issues. As long as I have access to meds, I should live to the ripe old age of 65 so I can enjoy a single day of retirement before I die.
But who am I kidding... I'll be working until I am 89 and then keel over at my third job.
speck_the_ride@reddit
I have 7, and 3 of them are morning and night. Been doing it since 2018. Was 12 but I was able to come off some due to my body healing.
Immune suppressants, blood pressure, baby aspirin, and the stereotypical vitamin d living in the northern rust belt.
It sucks, but it keeps me going and pretty healthy given what I've been through
Searchlights@reddit
4 in the morning, 6 at night and an injection once a week.
New-Distribution637@reddit
Here's me chugging on 9 tablets everyday, 10 tablets on a Saturday, and Insulin injection every day.....
FemaleMishap@reddit
Rookie numbers
OkBaconBurger@reddit
Gout, mental health, and some allergies and I found myself with a pill organizer. lol. It’s game changer.
chronicnerv@reddit
I could barley speak a sentence for 3 years on the perscription medication for spinal issues. Little ptsd reminder seeing all those tablets. Hope you get better soon.
CDRAkiva@reddit
Two of them are for a specific infection, one is for mental health, and two of them are cardiac maintenance drug to prevent further problems and are commonly prescribed to anyone every approaching borderline because they have almost not negatives and enormous net positives.
You’re fine. These are all signs your doctors are paying attention. With the exception of the bronchitis drugs, the rest is basically preventative maintenance.