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Need help to remember pills

daisy1

Legend
Messages
26,457
Location
Switzerland
Type of diabetes
Type 2
Treatment type
Tablets (oral)
Dislikes
Cruelty towards animals.
Does anyone have any ideas which could help me to remember to take my medication? :shock: I have recently started forgetting to take it. I have to take pills 3 times a day (met, statins, BP meds and others) including one which can have serious consequences if I stop it suddenly. I bought myself a pill box as I could never remember if I had taken them or not so I can at least see if I did or didn't. Just recently I have been getting out my pill box to take the morning's dose and seeing that I have forgotten to take all 3 doses the previous day. Normally I have a very good memory. Don't know what to do :? Suggestions would be most welcome
 
Set a reminder on your phone to go off at a certain time? That's what my other half does.
 
That's a very good idea but my phone doesn't do that I bought the simplest one I could find as I am a technophobe. :shock:
 
Then you need to find someone willing to send you a telegram when it's medication time :wink:
 
:lol: When I saw your name come up again I thought you were going to tell me to buy a new
phone :roll:
 
Some simple ideas I use with my son who is learning to manage his own medication - may or may not work/apply to you but maybe could be adapted.

a simple ordinanary alarm clock set to ring when his meds are due - when he takes his meds he resets the alarm clock for the next dose

a chart on the wall - we have it on show but you could put in a cupboard - its a tick chart with days of week split into times, he ticks the appropriate box when he has taken the meds

a notice board with the words "have you had your tablets?" written on it and the times he should take them

If he is going out I put his meds in little plastic resealable bags and label them with day and time to take and put them in his wallet where he keeps his change so he sees them frequently.

a note on the fridge to remind him to check his meds box

all a bit "in your face" ideas but maybe they will get to into a routine so it becomes second nature then you can get rid of some of the prompts - which is our plan

one I had reccomended to me but haven't tried is wear an elastic band round your wrist - when you notice the band you remember why it is there and prompts you to check - a bit like a knot in your hankie approach!
 
I will try the elastic band idea Thanks
My husband reminds me to take the second dose of the day as he has to take some then too. Even then I get distracted and forget to take them :shock:
 
I work with the elderly, and a few of them have a pill box with an alarm and it vibrates too,

Sue
 
Sue, how does this work? Do they carry the boxes in their pockets as they move around?
 
I pop all mine out first thing, into a bowl which I keep next to my water jug and the kettle. Then whenever I go for a drink, hot or cold, I notice them.

I am in the house most of the time, though. If I'm out all day on site or whatever, I'll take a lunch box and put the lunch-time ones in with that.

It still doesn't stop me forgetting them sometimes, though But fortunately none of mine is life-threatening if I don't take it.

Viv 8)
 
I stuff 50 odd tablets down my gullet Every day plus a few liquids
plus top up morphine

Wife puts them all in boxes labeled for Each time of day most are with Meals so that helps
Each box has its own Colour That helps a lot

Alarm and Dig in the Ribs at 7:00 to take MST (Morphine) in small white box
Red box handed to me with breakfast (wife or carer)
Blue box handed to me with lunch (wife or carer)
Green Box handed to me with evening meal (wife or carer)
Phone call at 19:00 if wifes on late MST (Morphine)
Yellow box at night 22:00

if you go out for the day take the same boxes with you

The box system works well to prevent taking the same Dose twice Done that
Once you have a regular routine /system each day find that helps

If your not a Tec person try 4x Alarm clocks

or if you wish to splash out Google Pill box with alarms

REMEMBER TO SET THE ALARM :lol:
 
Hi Viv :wink:
Thanks for your advice.
I keep mine in my weekly pill box which is next to where I sit and eat (as two of the doses need to be taken with meals). So I see it and it should remind me but it doesn't always as I'm so used to seeing it there. :shock: I could try alternating different coloured boxes so I might notice them more. I've decided to try the elastic band idea first (nice cheap idea and I'm already wearing one now), then the beeping pill box if the elastic doesn't work.
 
Hi Bob and thanks for your help
50 pills a day - you really have to be organised with so many and you seem to have worked it out well. I only take 12 but have enough trouble with those :roll: Multiple coloured boxes seems like an idea to try out.
 
daisy1 said:
Sue, how does this work? Do they carry the boxes in their pockets as they move around?
Click to expand...

Daisy the ones ive seen are small hold a days pills and can fit into a pocket , the alarms not very loud, and of course you have to remember to fill it up and set the alarms (up to 5 alarms a day)
 
I find it works better with more boxes , A pill box for each med time

Plus my daily tablet dose will not fit in one pill box :?

Hope You find a system that works for you


Tablets Grrrrrrrrr :?

Bob
 
Hi Bob
Yes they're a pain in the proverbial.

My husband came home tonight with FOUR Cadbury's Flakes. Oh dear :roll:
17.8g carbs apiece.
 
Made me lol @ four Flakes.
Had hubby been to the Co-op, by any chance?
I popped in there on the way home and noticed they have a 4 for £1 offer on flakes right now....I deliberately looked the other way lol.
 
I only ate one yesterday, and only one today - wasn't I good 8) My husband has eaten the other two thank goodness. As for special offer - it didn't apply to us as we don't live in the UK. What willpower to look the other way - well done :wink:

I am going with the elastic band idea and have taken it a step further - I bought some pony tail elastics in different colours so I will wear a different one each day so I don't get used to seeing it. Hope it will work. If not I will try the pill boxes. At least I remembered my pills last night and this morning
 
Er Daisy, have you taken your pills today :wink:
 
Ooh yes thanks for reminding me :lol: Want a job? :wink:
 
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