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Post by nacartwright on Jan 8, 2012 8:12:58 GMT -5
Hi - Might be a silly question, but for someone who has never really had to take a pill or pills for an extended period of time (except for recently w/ arthritis and blood pressure)....When you're traveling or even out for an entire day....let's say at the zoo...how do you keep your pills close by? lol Might be more of a "man" question - since I won't be carrying a purse  Most of the time - such as this month - I'll be in an airport, plane, hotel, or customer location. Also, Lets say you get busy one day and just forget a dose - perhaps calcium - do you take it later in the day with your other dosages or do you skip it? Actually taking the vits and sups after the surgery doesn't bother me. What does bother me is I'm an incredibly forgetful guy and this worries me. I forget to eat at times - especially if I'm working and busy. |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2012 8:35:56 GMT -5
You need to get over being forgetful or forget having WLS. Throw the bottles in a bag and take them with you.
When you're out and about, you can carry a little pill holder thing that will fit right in your pocket and take the needed dose or two with you.
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Post by nacartwright on Jan 8, 2012 10:15:03 GMT -5
I get that - I totally do - It's going to be my biggest life style change - that is needing to do something like this. I'm committed to making it work - though my question is more of "what if" you happen to miss a dose due to activity or something. After posting this I found another thread that explains it isn't really "time of day" that matters but what to and not to take together which helps me a lot. As far as pill carriers - I had NO idea there are so many options. I've always just seen the standard huge box on my grandmothers dresser. I really like this: www.amazon.com/Compartment-Pill-Organizer-DEEP-Inch/dp/B000E13BVA/ref=sr_1_74?ie=UTF8&qid=1326035310&sr=8-74 |
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Post by freckled1 on Jan 8, 2012 10:25:52 GMT -5
I throw some doses in a baggie and keep it in my purse or my pocket. It's not a big deal, quick and easy to slug back a few vitamins with a drink while I'm doing whatever it is I'm doing.
Trina
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Post by hoosiermama on Jan 8, 2012 10:28:46 GMT -5
Set your cell phone to remind you for each dose. Only prob you will have is if you are on an actual flight and have to turn your phone off.
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Post by Sandra C. on Jan 8, 2012 10:29:51 GMT -5
Traveling with pills is no problem, I am forgetful too. Depending on how many days or weeks I am away, I load up a full days worth of pills and supplements, organized by the day, morning, noon,evening and bed. Many organizational single, daily, weekly w/pop out days, and monthly by the day sets are available from drug stores, grocery,super saver stores, and on line. Special pill size ziplock style baggies are found at drug stores, lay flat in pockets.
One dose vitamin shake mixes are good too if you are forgetful about taking multiple pills spaced throughout the day. One Celebrate Bariatric Supplement ENS Multivitamin, Calcium,& Protein shake, in flavors of chocolate, strawberry, and my fav vanilla cake batter( 25g protein for Cake Batter, add Nector Sweets vanilla powder for more protein and vanilla flavor, mix in water). One ENS shake is the equivalent of 3 Celebrate Multivitamin capsules, according to my baritrician.
Forgetful, time shifting, be careful about taking calcium close to iron and caffeine with calcium, and thyroid Synthroid must be first in the day, with many hours before calcium or other supplements. This week I asked my bariatrician about taking forgotten pills/supplements the next day, answer- no, forget them, move on. Be diligent, learn to remember, set an alarm clock or set your phone multiple times of the day with reminder music, I have subtle harps on my phone alarm.
As a back-up for my most important meds, I have the smallest pill boxes with extra meds always in my purse, and around the house in different places, loaded in boxes ready to grab for fast trips out. For guys, pockets, travel shoulder bags. If no pockets, have a taylor add a pocket to the inside of jackets, with small velcro closure to insure pill box remains in the pocket. Don't store meds, or supplements in a hot car, heat may affect them. ;-)
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2012 12:16:16 GMT -5
I use these: www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001CDZPN6/I have 4 sets for a full 30 days. I take about 40-50 pills per day (I think?) and these are fantastic for their size. I don't have to play tetris to get them all my pills in my case. As for carrying them, you'll figure out what works for you. I do recommend a small bag of sorts else you'll be shoving a brick of pills into your pockets. I do have a rough schedule of when I take all my pills in my head, I've yet to find a tool to remind me that I like. |
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Post by happycatbert on Jan 8, 2012 12:17:18 GMT -5
I have calcium pills EVERYWHERE. I take the majority of my vites in the morning before I get started for my day - but the rest I stick in pockets, briefcase, purse, etc.
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Post by Jolly Rancher on Jan 8, 2012 12:21:26 GMT -5
I travel days at a time for work. I use the 30 day pill organizer and just take out the days I need with me. It is a lifesaver, otherwise, I would never rememer.
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Post by Gail R on Jan 8, 2012 13:10:38 GMT -5
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Post by callmeEJ on Jan 8, 2012 15:56:37 GMT -5
LOVE my Medcenter organizer, too. The only PITA thing about it is if you happen to lose a day, it's nearly $9 (w/ shipping) to get it replaced. |
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Post by bldeck on Jan 8, 2012 17:56:44 GMT -5
My husband puts my daily pills in a lunch baggie for me and that goes into my pocket if I am not taking a purse. When I travel the pills go in marked baggies of morning, day, and night and are divided up in my luggage. Haven't got stopped by TSA yet.
Betty
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Post by Joanne on Jan 8, 2012 19:30:24 GMT -5
I carry the daily pill thing with me. I think it could slip into your pocket for the day, for a guy who doesn't carry a purse.
I also keep "emergency" daily doses in a few places - like my glove compartment in my car, my briefcase, and my overnight bag. That way if I ever get stuck somewhere unexpectedly, or just plain out forget, I have backups.
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Post by callmeEJ on Jan 8, 2012 21:33:03 GMT -5
I carry the daily pill thing with me. I think it could slip into your pocket for the day, for a guy who doesn't carry a purse. I also keep "emergency" daily doses in a few places - like my glove compartment in my car, my briefcase, and my overnight bag. That way if I ever get stuck somewhere unexpectedly, or just plain out forget, I have backups. Emergency doses are a great idea. Im going to make some to toss in my glovebox and work locker just in case. I can be a little forgetful in the mornings, and I have shown up to work without vites before. |
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mesa0102
Junior Member
open DS 08/18/2009 Dr. Henry Buchwald
Posts: 65
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Post by mesa0102 on Jan 8, 2012 21:41:35 GMT -5
I have the same ones Talitali does, and love them. For traveling, which I'm doing a ton of this year for work-related training, I use the little pill baggies you can get at the drugstore. I can just barely fit a day's worth in them, and if I have it in my pocket or purse, I can't forget it. I usually stash half in my checked luggage and half in my carry-on, so if I lose one or the other I'm not totally screwed. I do the same with my shakes when I travel- I doctor up individual servings in the snack-size baggies just the way I like (1 scoop chocolate and 1/2 scoop vanilla Champion, instant espresso powder, and a dash of cinnamon) so I can just dump in a shaker cup and go. Be forewarned that you may get your carry-on searched at the checkpoint if you pack a blender bottle- that little wire ball must be suspicious!
edited cuz I can't spell
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Psyche
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DS ♦ 08/06/2009
Posts: 118
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Post by Psyche on Jan 8, 2012 21:56:53 GMT -5
When I am out and about and do not want to carry a purse and know it is either humid or wet conditions, I use one or two of these and attach them to my belt loop and stick them in my pocket. It worked fabulously at DisneyWorld - I got soaked and my pills didn't. I actually bought mine at REI because they do come in different sizes. www.amazon.com/SE-Small-Pill-Holder-Keychain/dp/B001167V9U |
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Psyche
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Posts: 118
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Post by Psyche on Jan 8, 2012 21:58:57 GMT -5
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mesa0102
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open DS 08/18/2009 Dr. Henry Buchwald
Posts: 65
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Post by mesa0102 on Jan 8, 2012 22:02:46 GMT -5
When I am out and about and do not want to carry a purse and know it is either humid or wet conditions, I use one or two of these and attach them to my belt loop and stick them in my pocket. It worked fabulously at DisneyWorld - I got soaked and my pills didn't. I actually bought mine at REI because they do come in different sizes. www.amazon.com/SE-Small-Pill-Holder-Keychain/dp/B001167V9UOoooh! This thing is awesome! I'm totally going to get one of these, fill that sucker with calcium, and keep it on my keychain! Thanks for the info! |
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Post by Deleted on Jan 8, 2012 22:19:42 GMT -5
I get that - I totally do - It's going to be my biggest life style change - that is needing to do something like this. I'm committed to making it work - though my question is more of "what if" you happen to miss a dose due to activity or something. After posting this I found another thread that explains it isn't really "time of day" that matters but what to and not to take together which helps me a lot. As far as pill carriers - I had NO idea there are so many options. I've always just seen the standard huge box on my grandmothers dresser. I really like this: www.amazon.com/Compartment-Pill-Organizer-DEEP-Inch/dp/B000E13BVA/ref=sr_1_74?ie=UTF8&qid=1326035310&sr=8-74 Oh yeah, there are zillions of "organizer" options. If you're just doing a dose or two, or a day's worth, it's easy enough to just throw 'em all in a baggie and stuff them in your pocket. You can make it as simple or elaborate as will work for you. I just finally went to a weekly organizer within the past few months, as I have many years of experience handling pill bottles  . Currently I only take supplements twice a day (because I now get iron infusions instead of taking oral iron), so that works nicely for me. When I'm using a type of calcium that I have to take more than twice a day, I throw a supply of them in a baggie and have it live in my purse or book bag and toss back a couple whenever I think of it. It's really not hard once you get used to it. I'd suggest starting on some supplements now and training yourself to do this. Find ways that work for you. The cell phone reminder is handy. Even if your phone has been off while on a plane, if it will beep at you when you turn it back on to show you what you've missed, that should be sufficient time to take whatever is late. Generally missing one dose is not an issue. Thing is, those missed doses can start creeping up on you before you realize it, and then you're behind and risking health consequences. A dose here and there becomes a day here and there, and so it goes. Then one day you wake up with your feet all swollen and go WTF?! And you're in protein malnutrition. Or you get nerve pain because you have a B deficiency neuropathy, or you get mental for the same reason. It happens more often than you want to know, and it happens when levels are still "within normal limits" according to lab tests. You really have to LEARN this stuff, and not rely on a doctor. It's a significant body of knowledge and it takes time and investment to acquire it and keep up on it. That's why I hang out with my DS peeps online so much. It keeps me plugged in and thinking about it and working at it. |
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Post by meredith123 on Jan 8, 2012 22:32:34 GMT -5
I really, really like the key chain pill holder idea!! I will be buying one of those next weekend once I get paid, rough week & I'm pretty broke right now or I'd order it tonight.
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Psyche
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DS ♦ 08/06/2009
Posts: 118
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Post by Psyche on Jan 8, 2012 22:42:05 GMT -5
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Post by Happy DSr on Jan 8, 2012 23:54:41 GMT -5
I make sure my most important meds are the ones I take at home first thing in the morning and at night. I keep these in my bedroom night stand. They are impossible to miss, and I don't risk forgetting to take them with me. When I travel, I still set them up in my hotel room, so I don't need to dig for them in transit.
During the day, I take several calcium doses a couple of our apart. So I stash calcium everywhere, so it will always be close at hand.
I have many containers for different uses/locations. For example, I have several plastic snap lid containers that 35 mm film came in that hold several calcium pills, one in my briefcase, in my computer bag, in my purse. I have a larger plastic tube in my desk drawer and in my car glove box.
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Post by nacartwright on Jan 9, 2012 6:45:50 GMT -5
Awesome tips! - If I am not home or in the office during the week day my computer bag is right next to me or on by back. So right there, that gives me an idea to stash some "extras" in there. The bag is already huge - I don't think a couple pills are going to hurt . I might buy a couple different options - the ones to put on my keys might work - but I rarely have keys by me if I'm traveling. Most likely I will buy the vitalady 90day kit to start out. My doctor told me to bring him the labs I need and he'll order them on our 2nd or so meeting for the insurance 6month thing. He's a real health-nut - you'd think all doctors are - but what I mean is he's a netty-pot using, vitamin taking, all natural eating kind of guy...so I THINK he'll do ok with helping with vits. Of course I always have this place - so i feel good about taking them. |
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huskerchad
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Gentleman. Scholar. DS'er.
Posts: 194
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Post by huskerchad on Jan 9, 2012 10:03:56 GMT -5
I use the smaller version of the med center that Gail linked. The great thing about a month long organizer is that you only have to mess with it once a month. When I was filling other types every week or every other week it became very tedious.
For me I have found that as long as I keep the organizer filled, I am good about taking my vitamins. If I don't keep it filled (such as right now), then I am bad about it. This one is great for travel as well because you can just throw in as many days as you will be gone.
If space is at a premium (keeping it in a hip pocket) I'd go with the smaller one. I take 12 calcium pills, A, D, sometimes a couple of B's (not every day) and 4 multis. Those all fit reasonably well into the smaller one. If you think you can spare the extra space, go with the larger.
When I forget a dose, I do take it later in the day. If I go through a day and just miss doses, I'll squeeze them in the next day.
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Post by justelizabeth on Jan 9, 2012 11:14:22 GMT -5
I love these!!!! Someone gave me a whole bunch of them while I was in Kuwait for this use and I have not looked back. |
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. Currently I only take supplements twice a day (because I now get iron infusions instead of taking oral iron), so that works nicely for me. 
