According to the Canadian Institute for Health Information, “on average, seniors use more drugs than any other age group in Canada. This release describes the number and most common types of drugs prescribed to seniors (including those living in long-term care settings) between 2017 and 2021 by sex, age, neighbourhood income and geographic location.”
Think about that for a moment. Then think about it again.
Then there’s this, from Hospital News, Canada’s health care news and best practices: one in four Canadian seniors on 10 or more prescription drugs. Ten or more! If that’s not an OMG moment, I don’t know what is!
Genetics and lifestyle significantly contribute to how one ages; I’m testament to that. Genetics wreaked havoc in my family with two siblings succumbing to implications and complications of Rheumatoid Arthritis and another to Psoriatic Arthritis.
Since my late teens, I have lived with fibromyalgia Treating physiatrist felt that presenting symptoms suggested I had, in fact, lived with ‘fibro’ long before it was officially diagnosed, given that it mimics other conditions, particularly those in the arthritis family, though it is not an auto-immune disease as inflammation is not a feature. Interestingly, it’s frequently found in women aging with cerebral palsy, regardless of type of CP. I live with spastic diplegic cerebral palsy and at soon to be 70, I still walk and still maintain my own home; housework is perfect exercise to keep this spastic body toned and moving albeit slowly. I also live with osteoarthritis of the thoracic spine, diagnosed in the 80s. My concerns about genetics and disease connection bore out in a recent experience that revealed a range of issues that were going to affect my home alone living going forward.
In recent weeks my world has been turned upside down by an assault on two very important assistive devices – my hands! Grip strength dropped to barely there. I’d pick up a cup of coffee and couldn’t grip. Lots of sloshing of hot liquid on floors, counters, desk, followed by stopping midway in the task before me to clean up messes. This became a feature of my days. It was exhausting! And those little side trips took me away to many important tasks that ultimately were put on the back burner. Thank goodness I had lots of frozen main dishes and didn’t have to compromise my daily health habits with a lot of commercially prepared heat n eat dishes.
I was determined to get ahead of this assault on my life. My family doctor was on holiday and I needed immediate relief; getting drugs I take routinely but infrequently take on board to get a handle on extreme pain in wrists, elbows and shoulder. I was a right wreck!
That’s why Maple Health NB was created — to make virtual health care accessible in New Brunswick and the rest of Canada. Going this route avoids congested hospital waiting rooms and walk in clinic. Many common health concerns can be resolved online in minutes. My first contact with them was excellent and I was pleased with how promptly my situation was treated.
Unfortunately, I was in a bit of a pain-induced brain fog and didn’t ask for scripts for 2 drugs I take for fibro flares specifically. Best course, in the circumstance is to be seen. And so I was.
And so, on Wednesday, 15 May, I began a 9 hour ER journey, from being efficiently registered to first contact with care. Swelling is pronounced, making daily tasks difficult. First consult in the ER led to bloodwork; 3 different draws through my time there. There were 3 ECGs (I informed care team of my wonky heart); there was X-ray of my hands and wrists. Once I explained my need for full autonomy as a person with disability I was ‘team leader’, primarily to protect and preserve my upright mobility. One wrong ‘helpful’ hand could cause me to fall, and in my world, one such action could find me at a nursing home’s door, a reality not lost on me. I was verbalizing what I was doing as I did it so clinician could observe a wobbly walking old broad in action; they were being educated. From rising up out of my wheelchair to positioning myself on a stretcher, to returning to standing and then sitting position. It’s all about precision and being fully aware of surrounds and what might impact my safety. The ‘average Joe’ doesn’t have to think about any of that.
Though I sat in my wheelchair for almost 9 hours, not lost on me was how hard front line staff worked; some were working double shifts. They checked in on me several times to see if I needed anything and as always, I said – “I need food!”. That elicited smiles. I have the metabolism of 3 men and a boy had only only a few sandwiches and a couple of cookies. If there’s a next time at the ER, I’m packing a picnic lunch, dammit. There might be a flask of Glenmorangie tucked away under the table napkin!
Ultimately a diagnosis was made – septic arthritis. I was given three 5mg tablets of prednisone at discharge and sent home with prescription for 6 more days worth. Within minutes of dose, an OMG moment – prednisone is miracle drug! Pain was significantly diminished. I went from an 8 to a 1. “I feel good!”
Carla MacInnis Rockwell is a freelance writer and disability rights advocate living outside Fredericton, NB with Miss Lexie, a rambunctious Maltese and Mr. Malcolm, a boisterous Havanese. She can be reached via email at Carla MacInnis Rockwell
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