OK... What am I doing wrong?
My nurse practitioner sort of goofed and gave me twice the dose of Lipitor than I needed for my cholesterol. When I asked her about it on the phone, she said I could pick up a pill cutter from the hospital pharmacy and cut them in half. Well... here are my efforts. The pills don't really get cut in half very precisely.
It really amazes me what nurse practitioners do these days. Kathy is our Primary Care Provider (military). We never see a doctor. If she has a question, she'll consult a doctor and get back to us. She prescribes all our medicines, does all the examinations, orders all the tests and analyzes what needs to be done. She really is wonderful and we love her but it's pretty amazing, don't you think? She's doing everything a doctor used to do for us before and so far... it's been pretty darn good. I imagine this is saving the government a lot of money. But is this the best care for the vets?
Still... it's pretty amazing isn't it?
POSTSCRIPT: OK, I got it! Cheryl just told me how to do the pill and it works fine now. I just love you bloggers!
I have great faith in nurse practitioners. I've had a couple. I like that they are usually female, and I find it easier to talk to a female about many things.
ReplyDeleteDon't know about those pills. I have a splitter, and it works beautifully. I don't think you can use those examples.
I think it depends on the pill, how well those cutters work. One of my prescriptions comes in a tiny, hard, shiny pill that just shatters when I try to cut it, but for another one it works fine.
ReplyDeleteWe have a national healthcare system and our service sounds much like yours. It's confusing these days, knowing what a nurse does or a doctor or a specialist or a pharmacist...the lines all seem so blurred.
One way to look at it I suppose, is that your nurse practitioner likely knows much more about caring for your health (thanks to advances in modern medicine) than many doctors knew just a generation ago. I used to work in the library of a medical university and was AMAZED at what nurses and med students had to learn these days.
those pills are pretty funny until you realize you have to take them...good luck
ReplyDeleteWait a minute, SHE made the mistake and YOU had to buy a cutter and do all the work? tsk
ReplyDeleteAnd what if you had not noticed they were twice the dose?
Kay, are you placing the pills in the pill cutter so that they are laying across the cutting area? Whew, now does that sound confusing or what?? I have had the same experience in cutting pills and finally have got it right! We too have a PCP through Mark's military retirement and we have been more than happy with our care. I have NP for my care and they are more than wonderful.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had to use a pill cutter, but I have had to cut some pills in half, but I just did it with a knife and not lengthwise. So far I'm still able to see my regular doctor, he is a Medicare provider so I only have a $10 co-pay. But who knows what will happen by this time next year. I do have to admit that I agree with Dina, and I would have some questions to ask.
ReplyDeletewhat a strange coincidence ... I just bought one of these gizmos for cutting pills yesterday
ReplyDeletemy prescription for polymyalgia is gradually being reduced until I can get off it completely ... so now I'm to take 1-1/2 pills. The pills are tiny tiny ... I was cutting them with an x-acto knife but not working out well
the little guillotine works like a charm
what's amazing to me is the coincidence across the miles ... it's a small world, isn't it?
Bobbie: I really do love Kathy and feel she is even more competent than some doctors I've had but I guess I've just been used to having a doctor do all the body maintenance. I don't know what I'm doing wrong with this pill cutter.
ReplyDeleteSusan: Ah haaaa! This is also a pill with a shiny coat!
Lin: I guess I'll just cut them 1 at a time when I need them so that I'll get the same dosage every two dys.
Dina: Actually the pill cutter was free from the pharmacy. I guess I'm OK with her goof because I've had doctors make goofs, too.
Cheryl: Aaaack! I just tried it that way and it worked! Thank you, thank you! I thought you had to stabilize the pill into that V area and since it's a long pill it was the only way it could fit. I do really like my NP, too.
Sylvia: We are fortunate that medication is still free for us.
Janice: With Cheryl's advice, I just got my pill cut in half. Whoo hoo! Yes... coincidences are amazing!
Kay;
ReplyDeleteI have not used one of those pill cutters before. I have used a knife before and always got an uneven cut. Oh well. Thank god I don't have to cut pills everyday.
Love you new header...you are such a good photographer!
Kay, I'm glad you found out the dose was wrong and you will be taking the correct dose from now on! I use a Nurse Practitioner and I really like her. She's the one that found out my neck and shoulder pain wasn't a pulled muscle but it was a disc issue.
ReplyDeleteTo me pill cutting is the pits, we have the same cutter. If the pill is small, no problem, but if they are big like yours, you can never get a good cut.
ReplyDeleteHaven't had to deal with that yet but I guess I'll know now with all the correct instructions on here. I have a nurse practitioner too. She's great.
ReplyDeleteI'd just be happy if someone listened to me. My healthcare is lousy.
ReplyDeletePill splitting is the pits. Sometimes works, sometimes not. I don't have to do it now but my husband does. You just have to take a chunk the first day and leave the residue in the cutter for the next day and hope it evens out.
ReplyDeleteOur health care provider is Group Health, a non-profit co-operative. Nurse practitioners are an important part of the system.
Peggy: Thanks, Peg. I got more where that came from.
ReplyDeleteSherri: I love my nurse practitioner also. It was another nurse that found the lump in my thyroid, not a doctor.
Margaret: I'm very pleased to meet you. I think the pill cutter should work better now that Cheryl has corrected what I've been doing. I hope.
Denise: I'm surprised at how many bloggers have nurse practitioners now and how happy we are about it. What does that say about our doctors?
Kay: I have to say my nurse practitioner does listen very carefully to what we say.
Linda: I cut one pill horizontally like Cheryl said. I hope they will work better now. I hope.
Ugh! This doesn't look like fun. I am glad you may have figured out a better way to split your meds.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kay, for your frequent visits! I have been away from you for too long! Have been reading your posts from the past week and catching up! Have missed you!
Oh boy Kay...I have two medications that have to be cut and I have so many medications that I fill a pill keeper by the month...I see you found out how to cut it...
ReplyDeleteWe, Patty and I, have never had anyone so helpful either in the Arm or out. LOL And our pill cutter works the same way, worse than a fingernail or thumbnail.
ReplyDeleteOh yez ... I had trouble with pill splitters until someone taught me to use them correctly.
ReplyDeleteHugs and blessings,