Get the Ricochet app
Ricochet will work fine in a browser on your mobile devices, but for the best experience please download our app.
Please excuse the ramble of this post; things are still a bit fresh. My mom died this past weekend at the age of 75, and she was an old 75. Her health had been impaired since she survived an aneurysm (it didn't burst) more than 20 years ago. Since then, she's been on a host of medicines prescribed by a host of doctors for her ever-mounting medical issues. But I didn't have a full appreciation of the pill trap she was in until this week.
To be certain, my mom didn't do much to help her health situation. Her diet was horrible. She didn't really exercise. She was a homebody. And on. And on.
However, as we, her children, cleaned out her house, we found scores of pill bottles that still had medicine in them. (I should put scare quotes around the word medicine.) We collected the pills for proper disposal, and they filled a gallon ziplock bag to the brim like a bizarre bit of sand artwork. It was my job to clean out the room where she kept all of her paperwork. I found a few hundred prescription refill notifications - each with two pages of patient information and three to five pages of drug side effects and interactions. The volume of paper wasted to cover butts (legally speaking) is astounding, especially since they're almost certainly rarely read.
Indeed, I find it impossible to believe that any one of my mom's doctors really understood how all of the drugs she was put on really interacted or the long-term consequences of her being on those drugs. She certainly didn't and couldn't. And she was on some for a very long time. (I won't get into the list of drugs she was on, but we're not talking baby aspirin here.). And what did all of those do for her? I don’t know. But I think it’s reasonable to think that in the long term, they were detrimental to her health. I can’t imagine it being any other way.
All of that is not to say that had she not been on so many medications she would not only be alive but healthy. I’m not so naive as to believe that. But I can’t imagine they really added life to her years. They were, the pills were, the easy answer for doctors to give. And the easy answers for Mom to follow, at least in theory. They were easy until they took over her life and the living of it. Then she was a slave to them.
Discussion (18)
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
I hope the physicians here will chime in but it’s common for us to get a bag full of pill bottles when we transport a patient. It’s usually easier to grab the bottles and take them to the ER so it’s clear what they have been taking. (The alternative is to take a picture, technically a HIPAA violation). I’m not sure how multiple physicians can reliably deconflict drugs. We had one patient (a frequent flier) in her early 70’s who purposely used multiple doctors to obtain opioids. Eventually she had alienated all of her family members and friends. She ended up being found in her home a week after she passed.
That having been said, I recently saw my PCP for a small issue and they knew all of the prescription eyedrops I had been taking after cataract surgery and asked me about each one. So at least some of the systems are working.
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
We saw that build up of meds with parents. A large(r?) issue is how well older and infirm or weak or otherwise compromised people faithfully follow the directions for the meds. Eat with or without food, drink a full glass of water, take Xtimes a day, no alcohol, etc….. Finding full bags/bottles suggests someone wasn't taking them and who know whether they got any benefit.
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
I am so sorry for your loss.
I understand your frustration with the health care system. It is hard for anyone, especially those who trust that the doctors have the answers, to know if the medications they are prescribed are actually helpful or are interacting in a way that makes things worse.
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
True. And each new reason a doctor is seen results in 1 or more new medications with specific instructions (see @EODmom's comment). It's a spiral (descending, I think).
To read this bio, please join Ricochet.
I too am sorry for your loss. That is always hard. My mother-in-law was also on a dozen meds when she passed at 83, some were long term. I thought that also was excessive and her lifestyle mimicked your mom so I guess she lasted longer and beat the odds. She was also diabetic and ate sweets!
I remember during my property management days a customer asked me to go back to their house and find her husband's meds and ship to him so I did. He barely shuffled when he walked and I never asked what his ailment was. His wife was extremely fit. I found the meds. They filled a large duffle bag!!! It cost over 90 dollars to ship overnight! I thought it was horrible that this poor man was on so many meds and surely these doctors had no clue. The interactions alone !! He did pass from cancer I heard.
I don't think docs communicate and there should be a database where they can review what the patient is taking and for what. You also can't rely on the elderly to remember.
I cannot imagine that European medicine is like that. I know it is socialized but I think they live a healthier lifestyle and eat fresh foods..........
You're seeing five of 18 comments. Sign in, or join for just $5 per month, to read them all and add your own.