The Patient Speaks!

June 8, 2003

How is your summer going so far?  It doesn’t officially arrive until June 21st, but according to my calendar, summer is gone already!  With all there is to do, summer has come, been experienced, and has disappeared – just that fast.  Oh well….  We did have one great day, though.  Yesterday wife and I were at the friendly confines of Chicago’s great Wrigley Field watching our beloved Cubs trounce the New York Yankees and Roger Clemens 5 – 2.  Perhaps trounce isn’t the correct word, but a win none-the-less.  In no way do I wish to offend any Yankee fans, but CUB’S WIN!!  CUB’S WIN!!  Made me almost forget my migraine for a while – NOT!  Now back to reality.

When I got in the headache game over two decades ago, I did something to make it easier for me as I went from doctor’s office to doctor’s office.  It was purely selfish on my part, as I am basically a very lazy person and rebel at the thought of any extra effort.  I made a personal “Patient’s Drug Inventory Sheet” that I could hand to the doctor or nurse at each new office I visited.  This eliminated the need to recreate my current prescriptions every time.  See?  I told you.  Laziness.

The reaction from the doctors were stunning.  To a person, they were surprised, grateful, thankful, and extremely pleased.  This totally eliminated the standard battery of questions of “what” I take, plus gave me credibility when explaining “why”.  Doctors have also told me they, the doctor, feel more comfortable and informed when attempting to diagnose.  The list contains who the prescribing doctor is, the filling pharmacy, what the medicine is plus the prescribed dosage.  In addition, I list all my known allergies.  An example:

Prescribed by Dr. Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 12345 ABC Road, Anytown USA, 98765-4321 
Telephone 555-555-5555, FAX 555-555-5555
XXXXXXXXXX yzmg oral tablet up to four times per day
XXXXXXXXXX yzmg injections as needed
XXXXXXXXXX yzmg tablets as needed
XXXXXXXXXX yzmg injections as need
XXXXXXXXXX yzmg oral capsules as needed
Pharmacy – Xxxxxx Drug, 12345 ABC Road, Anytown USA, 98765-4321 
Telephone 555-555-5555, FAX 555-555-5555

The XXXXXXXXXX is prescribed because of my chronic, non-classical intractable migraine headache.

MEDICINAL ALLERGIES: Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx.  Additionally, I have had difficulties and/or undesirable results/side effects from the following: abcd, efgh, ijkl, mnop, qrst, uvw and xyz.

In addition to communicating with doctors, my employer requires random drug & alcohol screening.  When I take the “test”, I provide a copy of my Drug Inventory to the Reporting Medical Officer up front.  The air is clear, well communicated and I have never had a problem.

Now, back to the fleeting summer.  This is Sunday, which means tomorrow is Monday.  You know, my day job really gets in the way of my social calendar.