Cleaning & Organizing
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Organizing medicine/medical supplies

I have Lupus and many other random dx's that pop up from time to time.  Over the past few years I've built up quite a supply of anything medical you could ever need.  OTC meds for everything from fevers, colds, pains, aches, etc.  I have hundreds of bandaids, wraps, etc.  I know it might seem obsessive, but since I/we go through them pretty consistently, I like to keep a large supply and restock whenever there are sales. 

I also have dozens of half-used medicine bottles (some that are current, some that are used sporadically, and some I just like to keep on hand (like antibiotics)). 

My problem is that I've been trying to get all my stuff in the same spot and get it all organized, but the more I try to get them all together (they were previously strewn throughout the entire house), the harder it is to find a solution to organize all of it. 

Currently, an entire courner and table is devoted to all of my meds and supplies.  I was thinking about organizing in boxes according to use, but I still need to find room and figure out if it is even viable.

How do you guys organize your medical supplies?  Any suggestion is encouraged and welcome!  :)

Re: Organizing medicine/medical supplies

  • The first thing you can do is throw away anything that expired more than six months ago. Also, you should never have antibiotics 'left over' because you are supposed to take the entire prescription for the illness for which it is prescribed. By not finishing your antibiotics you're giving the bacteria the opportunity to become drug resistant. So, if amoxicillin works for your ear infection but you only take it for six days and not the entire ten, that bacteria does not get completely killed off and gets a chance to become immune to amoxicillin. Next time you get an ear infection the amoxicillin might not work at all. 

    Are any of your OTC medications contra-indicated for your lupus medications? Are there any side effects to worry about if you have to combine meds? Talk to your pharmacist and get a list of meds not to take while taking your lupus meds. 

    As far as storage, I would really have to see everything you have. The meds should be kept out of the way and out of warm damp areas (like the bathroom) because those conditions can cause some meds to break down. 

    I keep all of our prescriptions and OTC stuff in a small three-drawer plastic 'dresser' in our master closet. It's out of the way, kept at a good temperature in a dry area, and is not fair game for visitors/guests. The first aid stuff is kept in an open clear plastic bin under our master vanity.                                      

  • You are right - use all the antibiotics given.  I guess I wasn't clear there.  My immunologist gave me a scrip for a week's worth of amox because I am IGG/IGA deficient and was getting UTIs, strep, and a few other infections on a monthly basis. 

    And I know, that might seem 'unwise' for a dr. to just have preemptively rx'd me antibiotics, but in my situation it was determined to be reasonable.  I didn't go into super detail before because I was more concerned with just how to organize them. 

     I was pre-med before I had to drop out due to my illnesses.  I have three drs in my family (and a few nurses in the extended family).  I have been fighting numerous battles because my body, as my dr. recently put it, is something we 'just have to accept is different' then everyone elses. 

    Going out in the sun inflames my Lupus, but I am also Vit D deficient.  I've had more cysts and benign tumors than I thought a person could have.  My skin does not heal well, and even when it is healed it is still at risk - I had a nearly-healed scar tear open three weeks after surgery and I ended up in ER due to hemorrhaging.  I am allergic to almost every antibiotic, and the only one that doesn't causes scary swelling and itching (amox), makes my heartbeat go super wonky.  I form scar tissue at the drop of a hat, without provocation.

    Recently, my body has started to metabolize some drugs too quickly.  Had IV sedation twice in the last year during surgery, and both times I 'woke up'/became aware of my surroundings within 5 mins (and remember every second of it - the worst thing to ever remember).  The last three 'local' shots I've recieved wore off almost immediately.  My favorite new problem is the chunks of memory I've lost in the last year - almost like when you blackout when drunk.  My recall is almost completely absent.  Oh, and the double compression fracture in my spine that occured spontaniously a few years ago and lead to DDD.

    I have 7 different specialists.  And thanks to our wonderful medical system, none of them talk to each other.  At one point, I was on over 19 meds, some of which were contra-indicated.  I had so many that I didn't even know what half of them were for, and I typically kept awesome medical records.  Finally, about a year ago, I said 'enough', weaned off all of them, and stopped going in except to my general Dr.  Didn't see the point to follow up if none of them communicated.  I still go to them occasionally when something acts up, but not regularly. 

    I hate antibiotics, almost as much as I hate going to the dr.  With all my 'issues', it really felt, for a long time, like I was a hypochondriac... except that when I did go it, tests would show something was actually wrong.  For almost 2 months I refused to go in for a UTI, which got so bad I had to go to the ER and have IV antibiotics.  In the end, my dr. decided it was better for me to have a one week dosing on-hand for emergencies than to not have it at all.  I personally would rather not have it, but after the last battle with my immune system, it makes my DH feel better for me to have it.  After a long conversation, I agreed to take it home, but will honestly most likely never use it.

    Long and rambling, I know... but THAT is why I have antibiotics lying around my house.  They aren't expired or half-used.  But that was my fault for not being more clear the first time around. 

    I do keep my meds in a cool/dark place.  I'll try the 3-drawer method... two of those should hold everything.  Each drawer could be dedicated to a different thing - meds, wraps/bandaids, 'tools' (stethescope from school that I cannot justify tossing, b/p monitor and blood glucose monitor dr. advised me to purchase and utilize, esp. when sick).  Thank you for your advice. Big Smile 

  • Hi there, I'm a lurker.  Sorry to hear about your health problem.  I have an acquaintance with lupus.  I would go through all of your medications/supplies and divide them into categories - cold/flu, ointments, bandages, antiseptics, etc.  Just divide them out according to how it's going to work best for you.  Then search out a dedicated space.  If you really have a lot of stuff, I think a closet shelf might work better than a drawer (unless you have plenty of drawer space).  Find some size appropriate baskets and bins, and fill them up by category.  You can attach labels to the outside if you want so they are easily identifiable.  There are tons of organizing blogs out there that have great tips on how to organize that sort of thing.  Here's one for example.   Good luck!
  • Thank you so very much!  I will try that out - that is exactly what I was looking for.  Big Smile
  • I would divide up the meds by use and then put them in large half or full gallon size ziploc bags and stash those under the bathroom sink. Bandages etc can either get similar treatment or go into plastic drawers -- just make sure they're protected from moisture. I personally like the ziploc and toss storage just because it's easier to grab the whole bag and see what's inside so I don't have to dig around under the sink.
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