Opps - I missed a Dose

[JimChicago]

I guess I gotta get a better system of keeping track of whether I took my nightly coumadin - I wasn't sure if I had taken it or not Tues nite - I had been pretty steady at 2.5 the last few weeks - today it's 1.9 - the coumadin nurse says take an extra 3mg and go back to the old schedule.

 

[geebee]

The best way to remember is to have a 7 day pill box. Then you can see at a glance if you took your pill or not.
I resisted for a long time because I thought I was "smart" enough not to forget until I forgot too many times.
I use a 14 day pill case that saves me from having to fill it but every 2 weeks. I never forget pills anymore.
Good luck,
Gina

 

[Granbonny]

Jim

Jim

I have the clear plastic 1 month pill box..
The 4 weeks..Sun-Sat..I load them up(coumadin pills and leave in kitchen.) I get up every A.M...make the coffee, throw the cat out..and take my pill. If I think sometime during the day..did I forget..Can look at the day..and tell. I used to take my coumadin at night..but evenings get too confusing..Dinner, friends dropping over, ect. My early morning quiet time works best for me.. :Be sure and spread that extra 3 mg. out over the next week. Bonnie

 

[bvdr]

I fill up my pill containers for a couple of weeks in advance. I don't like leaving a container out during the day because our young grandson is frequently at our house. I pull out the container when I go to bed and take my night pills then leave it next to the sink for the morning. It works for me as my pill reminder box has seven individual containers in it. I have yet to miss a dose with this system.

 

[ALCapshaw2]

I use a 7 day pill box AND a 31 day chart for all my medications, symptoms, and exercise.

In 2 years, I missed 2 doses each year. I follow a technique recommended by one of our members when I miss a dose:

Divide the missed dose by 3 and add that amount to your dose for the next 3 days. This way you don't 'overload' on any given day, but by the end of the week your weekly total is the same as if you had not missed the dose. I like this system and Al Lodwick didn't see anything objectionable in it's use.

'AL'

 

[Dee]

Same here.....I use a 7 day pill box. I resisted at first too, thought that was just for really old people that couldn't remember to take their meds, but found out that I was right there with them, I must be getting old!! I haven't forgotten once since I started using that...or should I say, when I foget if I've taken them, I can go take a look and see if the pills are gone or not.

 

[Harpoon]

I'm so less sophisticated...

I've gotta little blue plastic box that's got all of my meds in it that sits on the kitchen table. Every morning I sit down, usually with a glass of orange juice, and start picking out bottles from the box. I get one each, 40mg lasix, 20mg lasix, spironolactone, digoxin, lisinopril, and prilosec. Down the hatch.

In the evening, usually about 5:30 or 6, I'm in the chair again picking out my lasix, spironolactone, and I'm alternating 7.5 and 7mg of warfarin right now. This time usually with some milk and Ovaltine.


My trick is when we eat out or I'm on vacation. If it's more than a night out, I lug the whole box of pills with me and go through my normal routine wherever we happen to be vacationing. If it's just a night out, I'll either take my evenign dose before leaving the house or I have a little pill container that I put my evening dose into before it gets dropped into my pants pocket.

I've been late on meds once in a while, but have only missed doses when I've neglected to get refills on the scrips. I've never missed Coumadin though, I've got enough "extra" pills from having to alter dosage that I can make up the combinations I need if I don't have my regular 2mg 5mg and/or 7.5mg pills.

Granted, once I had to take seven 1mg pills, but I didn't miss the dose!

 

[tommy]

I use two 7-day pill boxes. Coumadin at night and Claritin in the morning. I also wear a medical necklace. When I take my evening meds, the necklace comes off. When I take my morning meds, the necklace goes back on.

 

[Karlynn]

I have an A.M P.M 7 day pill box. I've always had to have it. It has nothing to do with the old brain/young brain issue. Or maybe I've just always been scatter-brained.

Bonny - have you ever been so sleepy when you got up that you throw out the pill and try to swallow your cat???

 

[Bryan B]

Dee said:

Same here.....I use a 7 day pill box. I resisted at first too, thought that was just for really old people that couldn't remember to take their meds

"Old Man" Bryan swears by his 7 day pillbox. I did have to change my daily meds time to dinner time though since I continued to forget to take them in the morning...even if the pillbox was sitting right in front of me (not a morning person at all).

 

[catwoman]

I also have a 7-day pill container. Because Coumadin is the only Rx I take, most of the containers are too big to fit into my purse. Recently found one at Walgreen's that's 3/4" high X 4 1/2" wide X 7/8" deep. It's clear, I can see at a glance if I've taken my Coumadin for the day. I take it at breakfast, good time to remember it.

I keep a small container of Coumadin in each of the 3 travel bags I use and in my makeup bag, enough for 4 days for emergencies (i.e., being stranded somewhere due to weather shutting down airports, etc.).

Bonny - have you ever been so sleepy when you got up that you throw out the pill and try to swallow your cat???

Karlynn and Bonnie:
Same thought ran past me!

 

[Guest]

I'll bet that Marsha doesn't throw her cats out!

 

[Ross]

I resisted at first too, thought that was just for really old people that couldn't remember to take their meds, but found out that I was right there with them, I must be getting old!!

Pffffffffffft, old. I don't think so lady. Maybe wishful thinking, but you ain't old.

 

[Karlynn]

Karlynn and Bonnie:
Same thought ran past me!

Okay, now I'm really scared. Ross, there's just too many ways we think alike. But I'm not sure who should be more unsettled about that.

Speaking of Marsha's cats. Marsha, you posted a while back that you shave your show cats after the season is over. You MUST post a picture!!!!!

And to stay on topic: It took me a while to find a 7 day pill caddy that had only a.m. and p.m. compartments and not 4 for each day.

 

[catwoman]

Al:

No, I don't throw my cats out. Couple of 'em (Persians) don't even know they're cats.

Karlynn:

Shaved down the Persians again last Sunday. Will have to get a digital camera and post a photo sometime.

BTW, to combine this thread AND cats, I am looking for a pill box another cat breeder bought at a Wal-Mart. It's not a long rectangular box, not round, has maybe 5-6 places for pills in it. More square than anything else. I carry emergency meds for cats w/ me to shows -- amoxi, cyproheptadine, etc.
If anyone sees such a container at a national chain, let me know. Thanks!

 

[LUVMyBirman]

Hi Marsha,

Wondering about shaving the coat. Would assume it grows back fuller and thicker? Better for showing. My Birmans coat is sooooo thick right now. She's beautiful. What I like about the long hair...they don't shed but twice a year at the most. Only find a few hairs on her favoriate chair. Not a big deal. Short hair animals require much more care in the way of cleaning on a "daily" basis!

 

[tommy]

Karlynn,

Where did you find it? I gave up and use 2 7-drawer boxes.

 

[Karlynn]

Karlynn,

Where did you find it? I gave up and use 2 7-drawer boxes.

If I remember, I think it was Walmart.

 

[JimChicago]

Thanks for everyone's comments - I'm at 2.4 today for which I'm thankful - I split the missed dose over 3 days and added it that way as was mentioned. Thanks.

Now I've got a sore throat cold - it's always sometthing I guess.

 

[Lorraine]

I occasionaly have forgot to taken my Coumadin. I usually remember it, when I've gotten up to go to the bathroom at 2 or 3 in the morning. I promptly take my dose then. I do have a 7 day pill container also. If I'm out at the time to take my dosage, I have a small am/pm container that I carry with me.

Tom, I like your idea of associating it with something else you have to do at the same time. I don't get home until 7:00pm and the first thing I do when I get home, is go to the bathroom and take my pills. The problem is either on weekends, when I'm on a different schedule, when I take a day off work, or when I come home earlier from work. Those are the occasions when I may foprget. I guess I should get an alarm to remind me.