Yesterday, was how can I say was stressful.  Apparently the medication that was given to Lauren for her pneumonia did have an interaction with her other meds.  Lauren was very sick during the night, throwing up after taking the second dose.  There is a big lesson here.

I let me guard down.  Over the years I have learned, Dr’s. are not always right.  The quote “medicine is a science”, keeps popping into my head.  What works for one person doesn’t always work for the next person.  Everyone is different.  Yes, you need to trust your Dr., but there is nothing wrong with questioning their decision.  Before Lauren took the antibiotic that was subscribed to her, I should have done a little more homework on the medication first.  After doing so, I found that it interacts with a couple of her medications that she is presently on.  One being one of her rejection meds.  Not good.

These are the medications that Lauren takes every day, so keeping track of them could be like a full-time job.  When a new medication is introduced into the list, homework is a must.

Lauren has Dr.’s here in Chicopee and also in Boston.  So yesterday, we had them do a conference call to each other to decide what is the best solution on how combat the right medication to clear up the pneumonia.  The whole time in the back of my mind I kept saying (please, no admission in the hospital).   The decision was made, they prescribed her prednisone. Prednisone is a corticosteroid. It prevents the release of substances in the body that cause inflammation. It also suppresses the immune system.    Lauren was on that medication at the beginning after her transplant, so I knew that it would not interact with any of her other meds.  Prednisone is a very strong steroid.  They only prescribed it for 3 day.  It has some strong side effects.  One to mention is shakes.  So the sooner Lauren is done with it the better.

Now this is important, I need to share.

When we were speaking with her Dr. here in Chicopee yesterday morning, explaining how Lauren felt, and after I looked up interaction with the medication they prescribed this is what the Dr. said to us.  “What pharmacy did you go to, it should have come up in their system with all the medication you take”.  It was told to us, it is a two point system.  First one is what a Dr. prescribes, then the pharmacist is the second to check if this should be prescribed.  I guess it is a good system, but before taking any new medication, you should personally question everything.  Inside I feel like I let my daughter down.  Between the two of us, this will never happen again, God willing.

When you are prescribed any type of medication from your Dr., question it.  What works for one person may not work for you.  We are all individuals, no two people are alike.  Here’s another quick tip.  When you go to the Dr’s., they are on a time schedule by law.  For an office appointments they are only scheduled 15 minutes per patient.  That is what the insurance companies allow.  Don’t let a Dr. rush you if you have questions.  The insurance companies dictate to the medical community to some point how to run their practice.  Don’t let them rush you out if you feel confused or if you have questions.  Remember you are the important person in that room.  It’s all about you. Get the right facts and information.

Lynne