Bit of a scare ....

[AnnW]

I went unexpectedly 200 miles from home for a bit of a family emergency , I picked up a sheet of metformin and simvastatin as I ran .... I stayed for a week instead of the 2 days planned and ran out of both meds . I contacted my doc and requested that they could send an urgent fax to the chemist near where I was. They wouldn't accept a phone call as a request , 'come in ', they said 'I'm 200 miles away I said , I have meds at home and wouldn't need to come in. They agreed an email would do - I gave details , mine and the local chemist's . They eventually agreed to help . I contacted them next day before I called at the chemist - no knowledge of my request , eventually they found my email in their deleted folder . I went to the chemist on the following 3 days - nothing .
Fortunately the young woman I was staying with had the same med as me for metformin ( she was also a nurse) so she gave me some of hers .
This neglect is , in my opinion very poor indeed - is this normal? It was, to be honest , very upsetting .

 

[margie]

Sorry to hear about this Ann. Its hard to know where the request broke down and I have no idea how normal it is.

It's too late now but you can register with a local GP as a temporary patient. There is information about this at this link - but you will need to scroll down. Given your situation I think they would have taken you on, or there could have been a drop in facility where you could have seen a Dr - not ideal and hopefully you will not have to use these options.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/health/support/talking_to_your_doctor/gp_choosing.shtml

I hope that you and your family have come through the emergency and things are improving for you.

 

[Steff]

Hi Ann,

Nice to see you posting x

I would say i would be quite upset to, yes you could be anyone but the fact you gave all the right details and stuff etc and they still did'nt sort you out to what i would say was anything like satisfactory, its a small miracle that a friend had the same meds..

P.s I hope the emergency has been sorted out for the family

 

[Copepod]

As well as seeing a GP as a temporary resident, tou can also get medication from a pharmacist, who can also supply prescribed medications, provided they are convinced that you have been prescribed the drug before eg showing a label on a packet of pills and / or repeat prescription form.

Does sound like pharmacy email folders, fax system etc need sorting out, though! Hope the family emergency has resolved by now?

However, I would always suggest taking more medication than you expect to need. Every time I leave my house, even if just to the local shops, I carry a blood glucose meter with up to 50 strips, plus a pencil case containing my short acting insulin in a pen, plus a spare cartridge of each short and long acting, which would keep me going for at about 10 days (limited by long actiting cartridge).

 

[caroleann]

I keep all my spare meds in a vanity case so if i have to go anywhere in a hurry i just pick the case up,the only thing i have to add to it is the insulin from the fridge,i even keep a spare tub of needles in the car.
Hope every thing is well now.

 

[lauraw1983]

I keep all my spare meds in a vanity case so if i have to go anywhere in a hurry i just pick the case up,the only thing i have to add to it is the insulin from the fridge,i even keep a spare tub of needles in the car.
Hope every thing is well now.

thats a good idea! I haven been wondering where to store all the diabetes stuff that seems to be overtaking my house now!! 😱

Poor show on the medication by the pharmacy etc, glad its ok now x

 

[trophywench]

I went all the way to Wales once to visit some friends for their silver wedding party. I forgot my insulin - no idea how it happened but it did. They had a T1 friend - he used the same insulin! How lucky was that?