Sick.. need medicine!

Nurses Recovery

Published

You are reading page 2 of Sick.. need medicine!

Specializes in Primary Care, LTC, Private Duty.

If you can tolerate and like spicy foods, I've found them to be really helpful during a cold. You can usually still taste them (since taste gets so funky with a cold), and they also help clear those sinuses right up!

Yeah, I wish I had something better to tell you but I'd probably go to my PCP & call my case manager. It's a pain in the butt for sure & I had to do it a few months ago when I had a simple URI that I let bloom into full blown super-sick nurse complete with bilateral ear infections. Its starting again and instead of simply going to the pharmacy for some OTC meds that would knock this out but here in Nazi Monitoring Land we gotta play the game

From the beginning I had my PCP write otc meds as prn so I could take some robitussin if I need it. I got the talbot recovery guide and took it to my appt and showed my np and haven't had a problem

Farawyn

12,646 Posts

Sounds like you guys and gals need a script for all. I'm sorry. That sucks.

Hey everyone..

im a few months into my states monitoring program, have yet to sign my contract and go through all the what if scenarios. But of course this weekend I've come down with a cold and I feel like crap.. would love to take some NyQuil/Benadryl to stop my post nasal drip but I was told not to take anything over the counter besides ibuprofen and APAP. If I went to a walk in tomorrow AM and got a script for benadryl, NyQuil or some equivalent, would I be able to send these to my program and therefore be in the clear to take them.. or do I need to wait for the okay to use prescription meds. Anyone have experience with this? Thanks so much in advance!

You cannot have Benadryl???? Nyquil has a very high ETOH content so I can see that but limiting nurses in monitoring to APAP and Ibu sounds absurdly strict. Glad this was my 2nd career; the only thing the restaurant owner where I worked demanded of me was 30 days sobriety to prove I was serious.

From what I have seen re monitoring you cannot take any of those medications...

Monitoring really sounds like the 7th circle of Hell! Ya'll make me feel grateful I got clean and sober years before even returning to college.

Specializes in OR.

Yeah, we medical professionals can't even treat a common cold without asking permission. I'm not sure if it's a take and inform after or have to ask "mother may I" beforehand. If that's the case then Lord help us if it's the weekend and/or no one responds. I usually don't bother and just stick it out and hope it doesn't blossom into full blown dengue fever or something.

mimifromtx

42 Posts

So, I got really super sick a couple of months ago (and still don't feel well). I took my copy of Talbot recovery guide (that most monitoring programs use) to my appointment... And one of the OTC's that I even got an RX for was a huge No No even though it wasn't on the list; and the nose spray I was prescribed was a problem because evidently it has caused MANY positives for alcohol. Got an email from my program monitor that even though I had an RX; my PRESCRIBED medications were absolutely not allowed. So be wary. Just because you have a script, doesn't mean they are OK.

Persephone Paige, ADN

1 Article; 696 Posts

I have severe sleep apnea. My tumors were in my chest, that and weight gain from steroids hasn't helped. When my nose gets stopped up, I can't wear my CPAP. I began sticking Q-tips in my nostrils ( I know, unsafe ) in an effort to stay in compliance. It usually works, I just can't sleep with my nose thing on. I have resorted to Theraflu ( I think it has benadryl in it ) during sickness, and Q-tips. I finally got some sleep and did not puncture my brain either. I declared that on a recent history. I will probably get death by firing squad.

I still use all natural remedies first. A lot of times they help. Only when I can't take it anymore do I use Theraflu. Get a script...

mimifromtx

42 Posts

TheraFlu was the HUGE NO NO from my state's monitoring!!! Evidently it's got a lot of alcohol AND benadryl in it!!! Even though it wasn't on the Talbot guide, it's almost like taking Nyquil! Like I said, I got shut down from my case manager about taking that (AFTER I had taken several doses..Talk about having poopy pants!!!). and Flonase/Nasonex are also a giant problem because they can cause positive alcohol screenings....Ughhhh!!!

Specializes in OR.

Ha. Not allowed to treat ourselves, despite being nurses. Being told NO on medication prescribed by my doctor by a program that claims to not be able to interfere in what my doctor recommends. Soooo....a person does nothing and the common cold virus gets a piggybacked bacterial infection--> bronchitis--> pneumonia--->hospitalization with q2h albuterol nebs. Poor schmuck would probably come up positive for stimulants and be forced to drop $1000 on an evaluation.

mimifromtx

42 Posts

Yeah Cats,

This is really stupid! And for Eff's sake...DO NOT take any medications until the RX is approved! I'm sure albuterol would pop positive for something! AND (the best of the best advice)..My case manager told me that she isn't a nurse so she can't provide "medical advice"....UMMMMMM...... you are supposed to guide my RX's not give medical advice. But she said since she's NOT A NURSE she really couldn't help me with my prescriptions! Damn!!!! But, she could sure tell me my prescriptions weren't approved :(

Persephone Paige, ADN

1 Article; 696 Posts

TheraFlu was the HUGE NO NO from my state's monitoring!!! Evidently it's got a lot of alcohol AND benadryl in it!!! Even though it wasn't on the Talbot guide, it's almost like taking Nyquil! Like I said, I got shut down from my case manager about taking that (AFTER I had taken several doses..Talk about having poopy pants!!!). and Flonase/Nasonex are also a giant problem because they can cause positive alcohol screenings....Ughhhh!!!

I took one pill at night on the two worst nights, back in February. I didn't see alcohol on the contents of the pill, but I did see Benadryl. I guess we'll see. I declared everything I had ever taken. Which hasn't been much.

+ Add a Comment